Chapter 2

It was late at night.

Elena pulled her coat hood even lower and stepped out of the taxi, leaving a generous tip for the driver without exchanging a word. She was terrified of being recognized.

Not wanting to be seen in that remote part of the city, Elena hurried into the establishment. It was a very secluded place, exclusive to high society.

"Is your name on the list?" the security guard asked, raising an eyebrow. The tall man highly doubted that a small, delicate woman like Elena would have a reservation in that place, especially looking as frightened and disguised as she was.

"Diana Flowers," she whispered, giving a false name she used to make the reservation. The security guard confirmed the name and allowed her to enter. She could not risk being seen in that part of town, so she quickly made her way into the establishment.

Elena breathed a sigh of relief. At least she had managed to get in.

The loud music and throng of people left Elena disoriented, but she had a plan: revenge.

For three years, her marriage contract with Damon had been everything to her. To maintain peace between the families, she had accepted being a submissive wife. But that was over now. She would do the only thing she could to get back at Damon: give someone else what she never gave him.

She navigated through the crowd. The lighting was dim, and she could barely make out the drunken bodies around her.

Elena knew she did not have much courage, so she approached the bar and ordered a few shots.

The bartender looked at her with curiosity. After all, the people who frequented that place were not very shy. Elena seemed like a little mouse, huddled and looking around with wide eyes at everything.

"On the house, sweetheart," the bartender smiled kindly at her.

Elena downed the liquid without caring about the burning sensation in her throat. She needed to be quick and get back home before Laura noticed her absence, after all, Elena had snuck out in the middle of the night.

When the music became tolerable, the shame faded, and her head felt lighter, she knew she was ready.

After the second drink, Elena's body grew warmer, and she took off her coat. Her attire consisted of only a thin blouse and jeans, unlike all the other women in the nightclub, who were practically naked.

The woman continued to look around, frightened, so the bartender leaned in over the counter. "Looking for someone?" he asked.

"N-no... not exactly," Elena stammered.

"Look, I've been working here for 2 years, and there's only one type of woman who frequents this brothel," he shouted over the music.

"What type?" Elena became curious. Of course, she did not want to be mistaken for a hooker.

"The type looking for sex," he smiled as Elena's cheeks turned red. "And there's no need to be ashamed of it. You are in the right place," he leaned in closer. "See, we have some male prostitutes here too."

Elena fell silent. She could hardly believe she was resorting to a brothel to lose her virginity. What had all her education and class amounted to?

"Thank you for the drink," Elena said, stepping away from the bar.

She had abandoned the revenge plan. She simply could not picture herself sleeping with a stranger just to level the playing field with Damon. Her heart was saddened, but her morals remained strong.

But before she could move away, a tall, strong figure brushed past Elena. She was already feeling a bit woozy and could not see the man's face, but his scent caught her attention. It was a strong aroma, overpowering all the other scents in the club.

She stood near the bar, staring at the man and trying to discern his features. But the drink had already taken its toll, and Elena's vision was blurry. The only things she could make out were the man's dark hair, black clothing, and strong build.

"I am about to head out, Peter," the man informed the bartender, his voice barely audible over the din. The bartender nodded in acknowledgment.

The man took a step away from the bar. Elena's hand shot out and she grabbed the stranger's arm. She was somewhat tipsy, so she staggered, but she held on firmly. Elena never drank, and she wasn't accustomed to two shots of tequila in a row.

"You," she began, her words slurring slightly as she struggled to focus.

"Pardon?" The man turned to face her, his eyes catching the faint glimmer of the bar lights.

"Do you work here?" Elena inquired. It was a brothel. Most of the men and women there sold their bodies. This man had to be a prostitute.

"Something of the sort," he replied cryptically.

"I need your services," Elena blurted out. "I... I want you to spend the night with me."

Elena dragged her sore body as she walked slowly back home. She had gotten out of the taxi two blocks away and taken a short walk to the mansion, so as not to raise suspicions.

The man at the brothel wasn't satisfied with just doing it once. They had tried a few more times, and by the time they finished, it was almost dawn. The prostitute had fallen asleep, and Elena left some bills for him.

At least the revenge was accomplished: she was no longer entirely devoted to Damon. She was just as unfaithful and dirty as he was.

As soon as she opened the front door, she saw Laura stomping towards her. "Oh you still know how to come back? Tell me, where did you go?"

Elena was tired so she ignored her.

Laura grabbed Elena's clothes. "How daring of you to act so rudely to me? Did you forget how your family begged our Damon to marry you?"

Elena snorted coldly and pushed Laura away. "They begged you, not me, so you should go and look for them!"

Laura accidentally pulled Elena's collar, revealing the marks on her neck.

"You!" Laura's eyes widened, her voice laced with a mixture of shock and fury. The words tumbled out of her mouth, carrying an unmistakable sense of betrayal. "Elena Roseford, how dare you cheat behind my son's back?! I trusted you, welcomed you into our family, and this is how you repay us? I am going to teach you a lesson you will never forget."

Elena's heart raced, her body trembling with a potent mix of fear and rage. Laura's face contorted with anger, every line etched with disappointment and rage. In that moment, her piercing gaze seemed to strip away Elena's defenses.

"Are you going to tell me or not?"

"I do not know!" Elena looked at Laura viciously and felt triumphant at the taste of sweet revenge.

The air crackled with tension, each passing second amplifying the weight of the situation.

As the silence lingered, Elena's eyes met Laura's gaze with a glimmer of resilience and revenge.

"You do not want to tell me?"

Laura's hand descended upon Elena's face. Of course, it wasn't the first time she had been hit, but it was the first time she had truly done something.

The pain made Elena curl up and she smiled wryly. "Your son can drink and have fun outside, but I can't even find a lover? He does not have any self-control or respect for his wife, that is why I cheated on him!"

Laura staggered back, fury written across her face. "Do you still think you have any authority as the eldest daughter of the Roseford family?" she sneered, contempt dripping from every word. "Your family's luck ran out a long time ago." She scoffed. "If Damon hadn't taken pity on you, you'd be begging for scraps." Her eyes narrowed. "How dare you!"

"How dare I?" Elena laughed, sharp and bitter. "My family wasn't the only one who benefited from this marriage." She stepped away, heading for the stairs. "So screw you, screw your son, and screw this marriage!"

Laura's voice climbed to a hiss. "Fine. I'll teach you a lesson you won't forget."

Elena moved up the stairs with care. In an instant, Laura lunged for the porcelain vase on the table, fingers closing around it like a weapon. She charged.

Elena whirled, too late. The vase struck her head with a sickening crack and exploded into glittering shards. Pain detonated through her skull. She folded, tumbled down the stairs, and slammed against each step before everything went black.

"Now you know your place," Laura said, breathing hard.