“You are lying.” My heart thumped as I took a step back, my fists clenching as I controlled the storm of emotion surging in me.

“Lies?” She laughed coldly “Bitch do you think the agreement he made you sign before marriage was a property paper as he said? That was a prenuptial agreement Henry drafted to get rid of you without even losing a single penny!”

“Oh, and do you know why he was drunk the very first night he slept with you?” she sneered. “He wanted his mind so hazy he could pretend it was me in bed. That’s how repulsed he was by you.

But tonight he would not need any wine because from now on I will be the one sharing his bed.

We will do it on the desk where you wrote love letters to him, in the hall where you got engaged, in the room where you got ready as a bride, since you shamelessly snatched my man I will taint every small memory you have with him.” Casey declared with a flash of provocation in her eyes.

A strange pain erupted in my chest as the reality of what transpired behind my back was revealed layer by layer. The memory of our playful banter as I welcomed Henry with his kiss after a long trip, when he embraced me telling me how much he missed me was all marred.

Casey smiled innocently as she came forward, the wine in the glass slowly dripping on my dress all sticky and messed.

“Don’t worry sister, when I marry your husband, the first thing I will ensure is to cut off your prostitute mother’s life support!”

“If you dare touch my mother. I will kill you!” My vison turned red and without another word my hands snatched the wine glass away from Casey and turned the contents upside down on her head making her eyes widen.

Flashes of cameras caught the scene as hungry reporters roaming rushed to capture the scene.

Click! Click!

Reporters pounced. Cameras snapped. Gasps turned into mocking laughter. Whispers crackled through the room like fire catching dry leaves.

A moment passed a soon a teardrop trailed Casey’s features as she covered herself crying bitterly yet her eyes focused on me lining with cold and calculative intent. It was at that moment I heard a furious shout.

“Elena! What the hell did you do?” Henry rushed forth clutching Casey’s trembling form protectively as his eyes burned into me with rage and disgust.

“I-Its was her! She said that she will pull out my mother’s life support-”

“Shutup!” The ruthless roar made me stumble back.

Are you not fucking tired of always playing the victim?” Henry’s laugh was sharp, cruel. “You are a disgrace Elena. Do you even realize people are recording this? Look at them!” He pointed at the crowd. “Do you enjoy making a fool of me?”

Each word lashed at me harder than the last. I stood frozen as Henry looked at Casey crying and then to my horror, said-

“She is your culprit Casey, you are free to decide her punishment. Whatever you say, I will made sure Elena does that”

My heart stopped.

“How can I punish Elena? I don’t want her to endure any hardships. I mean… she is my sister.” She paused, her red eyes glanced at me with provocation.

“A toast would be enough. For me. Just a glass of white wine and an apology.”

My eyes widened in terror.

“Y-You know I am allergic to wine!” On my eighteenth birthday Casey said the same words and even accepted me as a part of their family in front of all her friends and family and then asked me to toast. Naive and happy I simply followed her words, the next thing I recall was coughing blood before waking up in the hospital.

“Allergic? You still have the nerve to lie? You have tested my patience enough Elena…crossed all limits. Drink now.”

“No!” I resisted but Henry had already picked up a full glass of white wine from the server’s tray before holding me tightly.

“Henry please! I can’t. I will choke! I will-”

“You should have thought of that before humiliating me and maligning my image damnit!” he growled.

Before I could move, he grabbed my jaw with one hand and forced the glass to my lips. Cold liquid rushed into my mouth, and I gagged, pushing at his chest will all my strength.

My baby. The though of my child made me struggle angrily as I thrashed in Henry’s arms.

“Stop!” I gasped. “Henry! I not pretending..stop..I can’t-”

“Swallow it, now!” he hissed.

The world blurred. I stumbled back, the wine burning in my throat.

But it wasn’t over.

“It seems like I have spoiled you too much Elena, but worry not, today I will teach you a lesson you will not forget in your life.” Henry spat. His fingers curled around my arm, yanking me to my feet as if I weighed nothing. “We’re not done here.”

“No! please,” I was barely able to breathe “I need water. My throat…”

But he didn’t hear me.

Henry dragged me down the long hallway, his grip bruising, ignoring my faltering steps. When we reached the ballroom doors, he shoved them open with one swift kick.

The music paused. Conversations died.

Hundreds of eyes turned toward us.

Like vultures.

And then he pushed me hard into the center of the grand ballroom. I stumbled, barely catching myself from falling to the floor as the chandeliers overhead cast a harsh spotlight on me.

Sharp murmurs along with the blinding light from the chandelier made me unable to even breathe as flashes from all sides clicked my pictures in soaked clothes with tears streaming down my face.