Suddenly, I felt a forceful shove from behind I crashed into the champagne tower. Glass shattered around me, slicing my arm open in dozens of places.
Slumped on the floor, I scooped up a piece of ruined cake with trembling fingers and took a bite.
The cake was sweet. But my heart was bitter.
As I staggered out of the room, I overheard sharp whispers from the restroom:
“Eleanor Sinclair, how pitiful.”
“Mr. Alaric just ditched her to go fight it out upstairs with Ruby? Judging by the sounds, it’ll be two or three hours!”
“Even while pregnant, still that intense? Alaric’s stamina is something else! What a player!”
Clutching my chest, I fled.
Back at the villa, I packed my bags through the night. By the time my tears had dried, dawn had barely broken. Dragging my suitcase to the door, I was ready to leave.
When the door was kicked open violently. Alaric stormed in and slapped me so hard I collapsed to the ground.
“Tell me! Where the hell did you hide Ruby?!”
Holding my burning cheek, I stared up at him, stunned.
“What are you talking about? I don’t know anything.”