:
Chapter 14
:
95
55 vouchers
“Matilda, what are you going to do?” Shelby’s body shook uncontrollably.
“Aren’t you smart? Figure it out yourself.” Matilda’s expression twisted as she suddenly yanked at Shelby’s evening gown with a loud rip.
Shelby screamed. She threw her hands across her chest, left only in her underwear and pasties.
“Matilda, hit me if you want, but please give me back my clothes!” she begged.
“When you ruined my dress, did you think this day would never come? Shelby, this jewelry set looks better without the dress anyway. Don’t scream. Don’t make a sound. Just sit tight and wait for Brandon to find you,” Matilda said coldly as she walked out, her eyes flashing with mockery.
Shelby curled into the corner of the sofa, hugging herself and crying silently. There was nothing to cover up with, and this was the men’s area–anyone could walk in.
Footsteps outside drifted past now and then, pounding in her ears like death knells. Shelby didn’t dare call for help and only prayed in her heart, ‘Brandon, where are you? Please save me!
Brandon was holding a wine glass, chatting business with others, when a tall figure brushed by.
A faint, familiar scent hit him–it was exactly like Matilda’s. He looked up, and the figure’s back looked just like hers.
He was about to follow when someone said, “One of the servers said there’s a surprise in one of the men’s lounges. Let’s go check it out.”
Brandon barely reacted–until he heard the “surprise” was a naked woman. That jolted a memory from years ago. His face darkened. He dropped his wine glass and rushed off to find Shelby.
“Don’t take pictures! Please don’t!” The desperate cry struck Brandon like lightning.
It was the exact same scene from back then–Shelby’s hair messy, her body curled up in the corner, tears streaking her face, trembling.
Brandon snatched the phone from a man nearby and smashed it against the wall. “Anyone else dare take photos? Get out! All of you!”
He threw off his suit jacket and wrapped it around Shelby, forgetting about appearances as he helped her
cover up.
When Matilda left the venue, she spotted Tessa’s car. She waved and walked over.
Tessa frowned at her. “Why are you dressed like that?”
“Snuck in to find Shelby,” Matilda said casually.
9:16 Mon, Oct 13
Chapter 14
“Shelby? She is here, huh? Then I don’t want to go in.” Tessa rolled her eyes.
“You should. There’s a good show waiting,” Matilda said with a faint laugh.
Suspicious, Tessa didn’t press further. She handed Matilda the washed dress.
55 vouchers
When she stepped inside, she noticed people’s faces carried strange, gossipy looks. They were whispering about a naked woman and how the Grimes family was swimming in scandals.
Still puzzling over it, Tessa turned just in time to see Brandon storming out with Shelby in his arms, his face full of fury.
Matilda didn’t feel the rush of revenge she thought she would. Those two still hadn’t really paid for what they did to her.
She headed downtown, hoping the noise and chaos could drown out the emptiness inside. That was how she ended up at Solace Bar.
Cassandra had once joked that Matilda was like a warrior woman–unbeatable, except by three drinks. One would make her tipsy, two would get her drunk, and three would knock her out cold.
Matilda hadn’t believed it. But after three cocktails, stars were spinning over her head.
That was when Allen appeared. From her blurred view, he wore a white shirt, his figure blending into the smoky atmosphere.
The top button was undone, his sharp Adam’s apple showing, making him look like a seasoned, dangerously attractive man.
“Who are you?” Matilda squinted, trying to focus on his face.
“Allen,” someone answered.
Matilda smiled faintly, her eyes unfocused, and pointed to the side. “Dr. Saunders.”
Allen caught her wandering hand and placed it back. “I’m right here.”
“I know you are!” Matilda said stubbornly.
Allen gave a helpless smile.
“Dr. Saunders, let me tell you a secret. But you can’t tell anyone else,” Matilda said.
Yet the moment she said it, she raised her voice like she was showing off. “I ripped Shelby’s clothes right off her, every single piece. She ruined the dress my mom made me, so I made sure she had nothing to wear. I even grabbed her-”
Allen quickly covered her mouth, coaxing softly, “Yeah, I know. She deserved it.”
“She deserved it?” Matilda suddenly looked upset. “But once Brandon finds out, he’ll definitely come after me. Dr. Saunders, you’re a good doctor. Can’t you treat his brain? Why can’t he understand I’d never bully Shelby
9:16 Mon, Oct 13
Chapter 14
for no reason?”
Allen lowered his gaze, meeting her sad eyes. “You still expect something from him, huh?”
55 vouchers
Matilda shut her mouth, fists slowly tightening as her thin shoulders trembled, like she was fighting hard to hold back.
Allen gently patted her back. “It’s okay, Matilda. Forget him. Don’t think about him anymore.”
Matilda’s body gradually relaxed. Before long, she fell asleep leaning against him.
Allen already knew where she was staying. He had seen her go into her friend’s villa yesterday, then leave, and finally check into a hotel.
He bent down, scooped her up, hooked her purse with one finger, and carried her out of the bar.
Matilda tossed and turned in her sleep. Nightmares haunted her–Brandon sending her to prison, Shelby tying her up and making her watch as she and Brandon undressed each other, kissing and touching.
Pain, anger, humiliation, and longing all tangled together, suffocating Matilda.
Her body was drenched in sweat. She felt torn open inside. She struggled hård, but the emptiness only grew
heavier.
She wanted to scream, to grab something, anything, to fight back against the storm inside.
“Matilda? Matilda?” someone called softly.
She jolted awake, breathing hard. Her eyes reddened within seconds.
Without thinking, she grabbed Allen, yanking him down so his chest pressed against hers–solid, heavy, real.
Tears shimmered in her eyes as she bit his wire–rimmed glasses off his face. Her voice came out hoarse and
broken. “Kiss me.”
田
