"Lucas, am I the one you love the most?"
"Of course it's you."
"Then when are you going to break up with Mia Ashford?"
"Today. That boring woman—I’ve been sick of her for ages," Lucas growled, pressing his body down onto Evelyn Scott.
Outside the bedroom door, Mia stood frozen, peering through the narrow gap. Through the crack, she saw the two of them tangled together on the bed.
Crude, filthy words stabbed into her ears, and her entire body trembled with rage.
One was her boyfriend of many years.
The other, her closest friend.
The two people she trusted most in this world had betrayed her in the cruelest, most intimate way.
Her chest heaving, she turned, grabbed the electric kettle from the table, and shoved the door open with a sharp kick.
Before either of them could react, she flung the scalding water straight at them.
Amid Evelyn’s piercing screams, Lucas quickly shielded her, his face twisted with anger.
"Since you’ve already seen it," he snapped, "let’s just end things now."
"Mia, Lucas and I are truly in love. Please, just let us be happy," Evelyn whimpered, her voice dripping with fake sorrow.
Mia let out a cold, brittle laugh. "Truly in love? More like a bitch and a dog—perfect for each other. Go to hell, both of you!"
The sight of their naked bodies twisted her stomach into knots. Sickened, she spun around and stormed out of the room.
Behind her, Evelyn’s expression flickered briefly before she feigned concern.
"Lucas, I feel terrible about Mia," she murmured sweetly. "I should go check on her—she might do something reckless."
Outside the apartment complex, a bone-deep chill wracked Mia’s body.
Her glassy eyes scanned the street, then locked onto the neon lights of a nearby nightclub.
Without hesitation, she marched toward it, unaware that Evelyn lurked close behind, her figure melting into the shadows.
Inside Dynasty Supreme—the most exclusive nightclub in the city—Mia clutched a liquor bottle in her shaking hands.
One shot after another, she poured burning alcohol down her throat, each swallow barely dulling the pain in her chest.
Raising another glass, she gulped the fiery liquid and slurred bitterly, "Scumbag... slut... trash... shameless bastard..."
The alcohol scorched her throat, but it didn’t touch the agony gnawing at her heart.
If anything, the fire in her belly only grew hotter, crueler.
Staggering to her feet, she stumbled toward the restroom, weaving between tables.
The moment Mia disappeared from sight, a waiter in a crisp uniform slipped over to her booth, glancing around nervously.
With a quick, practiced motion, he emptied a packet of white powder into her glass, then vanished back into the crowd.
Still oblivious, Mia emerged from the restroom, looking even more unsteady than before.
She slumped back onto the plush seating, grabbed her drink, and took another heavy gulp without a second thought.
From the shadows, Evelyn stepped out, stilettos clicking smartly against the polished floor.
Her lips curled into a cruel smile as she loomed over Mia, her tone dripping with icy superiority.
"Who plays the innocent virgin these days?" she sneered. "If you hadn’t kept Lucas at arm’s length, he wouldn’t have turned to me."
"Get lost!" Mia slurred, lurching to her feet and swinging a wild arm.
But the alcohol betrayed her—her body pitched sideways and crashed back onto the couch.
Evelyn’s eyes glinted with satisfaction.
The drug was taking effect.
She leaned closer, whispering mockingly into Mia’s ear.
"That drink just now?" Her voice was saccharine. "Let’s call it a little... enhancement. Since I stole your man, how about I return the favor tonight?"
She laughed softly. "Dynasty’s most expensive male escort—consider it my parting gift to you, sister."
Mia struggled to rise, but her head spun violently.
Her body collapsed backward, the world fading into darkness.
Evelyn snapped her fingers at the lurking waiter.
"Take her to Room 602. Upstairs," she ordered coldly.