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Marcus stepped closer, drink sloshing in his hand, eyes flicking from me to Damien and back. The room quieted, people leaning in, phones still up.
“Interesting,” he said loud enough for everyone to hear. “You disappear for months, show up looking like this, hanging on some guy like he’s your sugar daddy. What happened, Sienna? Finally decide to sell it?”
My stomach dropped. I felt heat rush to my face. “Marcus, stop.”
He laughed, short and mean. “Stop? Come on. Everyone knows you were desperate. IVF didn’t work with me, right? So you go get knocked up by whoever’s paying the bills now?”
People murmured. Jess covered her mouth, eyes wide. Someone whispered “damn”. I clenched my fists. “That’s not what happened.”
He stepped even closer, voice rising. “Isn’t it? You were always so ‘pure’, so ‘wait till marriage’. Then suddenly you’re pregnant and shacked up with him. Bet you spread your legs real quick for the money. How much did he pay? Or is it just the cock?”
Damien’s arm tightened around my waist. “Watch your mouth.”
Marcus ignored him, staring at me. “You used to cry about not being able to have kids. Now you’re parading around like some trophy wife. Slut move, Sienna. Real classy.”
Tears burned my eyes. I shook my head. “You cheated on me. Multiple women. You don’t get to talk about class.”
He snorted. “Yeah, I cheated. But at least I didn’t whore myself out for a kid. Look at you. Dress barely covering your ass, makeup thick, hanging on him like he’s your lifeline. Everyone sees it. You’re not fooling anyone.”
Jess laughed once. “She’s really changed.”
I felt my chest tighten. “Shut up, Jess.”
Marcus kept going. “Bet the kid’s not even his. Probably some random hookup. You always were easy when you wanted something.”
Damien stepped forward, body shielding me a little. “Say one more word about her and I’ll break your jaw.”
Marcus smirked. “What, her bodyguard now? Cute. She needs one after the reputation she’s building.”
I pushed past Damien’s arm, voice shaking. “You don’t know shit, Marcus. You never did. You cheated, you lied, you made me feel worthless. I left because I was done with you. This?” I gestured to Damien. “essed on. Not selling out. Not whoring.
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Just done with your bullshit.”
Marcus rolled his eyes. “Sure. Keep telling yourself that. Everyone here knows the truth. You’re just the girl who fucked her way into a better life.”
A few people nodded. Others looked uncomfortable. I felt sick, like the room was spinning.
Damien’s hand found mine, squeezing once. Hard. “Enough.”
Marcus raised his hands. “Hey, I’m just saying what everyone’s thinking. Don’t shoot the messenger.”
I looked at him, tears spilling over. “You always did love tearing me down. Guess some things don’t change.”
He shrugged. “Truth hurts.”
I wiped my face quick, chin up. “Yeah. It does. But I’m not the one still stuck in the past.” The room stayed quiet. Phones kept recording. I felt every stare like needles.
Marcus opened his mouth again, but Damien cut him off, voice low and dangerous. ” Walk away. Now.”
Marcus hesitated, then turned, shoving through the crowd. People parted fast.
I stood there shaking, Damien’s hand still in mine. The reunion kept going, but the whispers didn’t stop.
The party picked up after Marcus stormed off. Music thumped louder, people started dancing, drinks flowed. I stayed close to Damien at first, but he nudged me toward a group of old classmates who waved me over.
“Go,” he said low. “Have fun. I’m right here.”
I hesitated, then walked over. Sarah from my old dorm group hugged me tight. “Sienna! Girl, you look amazing. Where have you been?”
I laughed, real for the first time tonight. “Long story. Family stuff. But I’m good now.” They pulled me into the circle. We talked about old professors, bad dates, who got married, who got divorced. Someone handed me a drink-I sipped slow, feeling the buzz hit soft. My hips swayed to the beat. I danced with Sarah and two other girls, laughing when we messed up the steps.
“Remember when we tried to sneak into that frat party?” Sarah yelled over the music. I grinned. “We got caught in five minutes!”
We danced harder. Sweat beaded on my neck. My dress stuck to my skin. I felt light, normal, like the last months were a bad dream. People smiled at me now, not mocked. Phones were down. Whispers turned to cheers when the DJ dropped an old song we all knew.
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i spun, hair flying, arms up. Damien watched from the wall, arms crossed, eyes on me the whole time. Not smiling, but not mad either. Just watching.
Sarah grabbed my hand. “You’re glowing, babe. That guy treating you right?”
I glanced at Damien. “Yeah. He’s… intense. But yeah.”
We danced another song. I laughed so hard my stomach hurt. Someone passed me a glow stick. I waved it around like an idiot. The room felt warm, safe, like I belonged again.
Then Damien pushed off the wall. He cut through the crowd fast, face serious. He reached me, hand on my elbow.
“Hey,” he said close to my ear. “We need to leave. Now.”
I stopped dancing, glow stick dropping to my side. “Why?”
He leaned in lower. “I just smelled a rogue in here.”
My stomach dropped. Music still thumped, people still laughed, but everything tilted. “A rogue?” I whispered. “Here?”
He nodded once. “Strong scent. Close. We’re out.”
I looked around quick. Faces blurred. Sarah was still dancing, oblivious. I swallowed hard.
“Okay,” I said, voice shaky. “Let’s go.”
He kept his hand on my elbow, steering me toward the door. People bumped us, but he moved them aside easy. I felt eyes on us again-curious, confused.
Sarah called after me. “Sienna? You leaving already?”
I turned back. “Yeah, sorry! Family thing. Talk soon!”
She waved, frowning a little.
Damien pushed the door open. Cool night air hit my face. He didn’t slow down. We walked fast across the parking lot, his grip firm.
“Is it following us?” I asked, glancing over my shoulder.
“Not yet,” he said. “But it’s here. Somewhere in the building. We leave before it gets closer.”
I nodded, heart racing again. The fun night crashed down hard. Music faded behind us.
He opened the SUV door for me. I slid in, hands shaking in my lap.
He got behind the wheel, started the engine fast.
“Seatbelt,” he said.
I buckled up. “What do we do now?”
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“Drive. Get you safe. Then I deal with it.”
I stared out the window as we pulled away. Campus lights blurred. The party kept
going without us.
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