Chapter 5
Chapter 5
Nikolai chuckled and touched her cheek. “Come on, don’t pout. Dance with me.”
Anneliese turned away, still clearly pissed, but let him lead her onto the dance floor anyway.
Veloura watched them glide around the center of the ballroom. Weirdly, she felt… nothing. Just this strange, empty calm.
She packed up the violin and headed for the door.
She’d barely made it five steps when a group of women cut her off. Before she could say anything, they dragged her into a corner.
‘Well, well, if it isn’t the former Mrs. Virellic. Oh wait–he dumped your ass, didn’t he?” One woman held up her left arm, which ended in a stump. ‘Remember this? All because I accidentally brushed against you. Nikolai had my fucking hand cut off.”
‘And look at my face.” Another woman pulled off her mask, revealing horrific scars. “I said you weren’t that hot, and someone threw acid at me.”
My family lost everything because I mentioned you used to live on the streets!”
More women stepped forward, each with their own horror story.
Veloura’s chest tightened. She knew Nikolai had done all of this…
He’d protected her with psychotic brutality. Now that she’d lost his protection, it was payback time.
What do you want from me?” She tried to pull away.
The first woman grabbed a fistful of her hair and backhanded her across the face. “We’re gonna make you look just like us–a fucking monster. See
how much Nikolai wants you then.”
Annie promised whoever could really mess you up would get special treatment from Nikolai.”
Anneliese said that?” Veloura was stunned. While she was processing this, they forced her to the ground.
¡omeone grabbed her jaw while others took turns slapping her. Then they pulled out needles and started jamming them under her fingernails.
AHHH!” Veloura screamed before a hand clamped over her mouth.
The pain shot straight to her brain. Tears poured down her face as her whole body convulsed.
When they shifted positions, she shoved the nearest woman away and bolted.
Veloura stumbled forward and crashed into the champagne tower. The massive crash made everyone turn and stare as she went down hard, glass
verywhere, wine and blood soaking through her dress.
‘Really, Miss Belcour? We’re doing the whole damsel in distress thing?” Anneliese strolled over, voice dripping with fake concern.
You hired them to attack me,” Veloura said through gritted teeth.
‘Me? Attack you?” Anneliese laughed, wrapping herself around Nikolai’s arm. “Honey, I have everything I want. Why would I waste time on you?”
The words hit like a physical blow. Everything Veloura had ever owned came from Nikolai. Without him, she was nobody.
“You’re right,” she whispered, eyes filling with tears. “I’m nobody.”
One of her attackers suddenly rushed forward and shoved her back onto the broken glass.
Veloura gasped, shaking from the pain cutting into her back.
“Don’t feel sorry for her!” the woman announced loudly. “She tried to pay us to hurt Miss Waverly. When we said no, she pulled this whole fake victim
routine to make Annie look bad.”
17:15
Go Play Your Duet with Your Mistress: My Life’s Melody is Going Solo on My Own
Chapter 5
The other women all nodded, backing up the lie.
Veloura couldn’t defend herself. The whole room turned on her instantly.
“Psycho bitch!”
“Nik’s done with you–get over it!”
“Go back to the gutter where you belong!”
Wine glasses and insults flew at her from every direction. Everyone knew Nikolai didn’t give a shit about her anymore, so they were free to unleash years of pent–up jealousy.
Veloura’s eyes moved from face to face–all these people who used to kiss her ass now looking at her like she was garbage. Finally, her gaze landed on Nikolai.
He was watching the whole thing with complete indifference. No concern, no anger on her behalf. If anything, he looked annoyed that she was causing
a scene.
That look broke something fundamental inside her.
All this time, he’d been telling her Anneliese was just a game, just temporary. But here he was, letting his “game” orchestrate her public humiliation.
She stared at him, feeling the last bit of hope die in her chest.
Suddenly, she was done. Done explaining, done fighting, done being the tragic third wheel in their twisted love story.
Veloura hauled herself to her feet. When Nikolai made no move to stop her, she started limping toward the exit. Every step drove glass deeper into
her feet, but she didn’t slow down.
She was getting out of here. Getting away from all of them.
