Chapter 3

I answered, "No. You're overthinking it." Even without what happened last night, I'd already booked a haircut for today. Preston clearly didn't believe me. His gaze swept over me from head to toe. "You know I don't like women with short hair. If you're doing this to get my attention, that's pathetic." I ignored him and went straight to my room, pulling out a red dress I hadn't worn in ages. The bright color made it impossible to miss. From the upstairs railing, Preston sent a cool glance my way. However, his fingers tightened around the banister, veins bulging beneath his skin. At that moment, Roxanne wrapped her arms around him from behind. "Pres, Lexi has been acting differently lately. Do you think she's still sulking? "Maybe she's still upset about our engagement." He withdrew his gaze. "Let her act out. Once she realizes this doesn't work, she'll stop." I headed out without looking back and met up with the guy my mom had set me up with at a café. It was our first meeting, but talking to him felt oddly natural, like we'd known each other for years. The conversation flowed easily. We hit it off. That night, I walked home humming happily, only to find Preston slouched on the living room couch, looking uncomfortably stiff. After three years of marriage in my past life, I knew his stomach condition well. He was probably trying to tough it out, so Roxanne wouldn't worry. I wasn't planning to help him, but I was in a good mood today. I didn't want him to pass out at my house and worry my parents. After hesitating, I said, "The medicine kit is in the white cabinet. Second drawer." He lifted his head and met my eyes. He probably thought I'd fetch it for him. He stayed put, a quiet, teasing laugh escaping his lips. "What, Lexi? Are you planning to use this as an excuse to cash in on some favor?" Before he could finish, I turned and walked back to my room. I didn't notice the way his smirk stiffened, or how his eyes darkened subtly. For a few days, we stayed out of each other's way. Then one afternoon, Preston suddenly stormed in, rage twisting his face as he tossed a lace bra right at me. "Lexi, how cheap can you be?" I froze, staring at the thing in my hands. It was mine. Humiliation crawled up my spine. "What… What are you talking about?" He let out a cold laugh. "I almost thought you really gave up on me. Turns out you're just playing hard to get. "Acting like you don't care on the surface, but secretly leaving your underwear on my bed to seduce me? Are you really that desperate for a man?" I scrambled to explain, "There must be some kind of misunderstanding. I didn't—" "Stop lying, Lexi. You honestly disgust me, " he said, disappointment written across his face. Then he grabbed Roxanne's hand and walked out. "I'm taking Rox back to the Gale residence. Next time you see me, make sure you treat me as her fiance." Their wedding date was set. Roxanne didn't have many friends in Novaton, so my parents asked me to be her bridesmaid. They got home on the morning of the wedding, held my hands, and said earnestly, "Now that Rox's getting married, your uncle and aunt can rest in peace. That leaves only you." My fingers brushed over the couple's bracelet on my wrist, and my cheeks warmed. "I'm seeing someone." My mom blinked. "Since when? You didn't meet the guy I set you up with, did you?" "Huh?" Then, who the hell did I meet and chat with? Preston overheard and sneered. He probably thought I was lying. However, seeing how certain I sounded, his brows creased, irritation flickering across his face. When no one was around, he cornered me by the bathroom door, leaning close to my ear. "As long as you behave and stop having ridiculous fantasies, I'll treat you like a family and make time for you now and then." "I have a boyfriend now," I said seriously. "I won't bother you anymore." He snorted and grabbed my wrist. "Then why is there a 'P' engraved on your bracelet? Doesn't it stand for me?" "No!" A short distance away, Roxanne was watching us, eyes shining with jealous resentment. Right before the ceremony, chaos erupted backstage. The bride's wedding dress had been slashed, a huge gaping hole ripped into the fabric. On the makeup mirror, someone had scrawled in lipstick. "Go die." Roxanne sobbed uncontrollably, and as everyone crowded around to comfort her, her eyes locked straight on me. "Lexi, I know you've liked Pres for almost ten years, but you can't blame me just because you can't have him. "You even went along with the engagement when it was announced, so why are you trying to ruin the wedding I've been dreaming of?" Gasps rippled through the room. I had chased Preston recklessly in the past, with everything on the line. I was the first person anyone would suspect. When Preston arrived, Roxanne collapsed into his arms, sobbing. "Pres, maybe I should step aside and give you back to Lexi. Otherwise, who knows what else she'll do…" A sharp, heavy hand slapped my cheek. He'd humiliated me in public before, but this was the first time he'd actually hit me. Looking at his furious expression, something inside me dimmed. "Preston, have you ever believed me? Even once?" "Do you think you deserve that?" He looked down at my figure on the floor, cold and merciless. "Since you have no shame, don't expect me to show any mercy. I'll explain this to your parents. Someone, grab her." He ordered his groomsmen to tear my dress and write "BITCH" across my face in lipstick. It was meant as punishment, to make me feel what Roxanne claimed I'd done to her. I screamed and struggled, tears streaming. Until someone barked, "Stop!" A pair of familiar arms lifted me off the ground. I buried my face in the man's chest, trembling. I vaguely heard Preston's voice darken behind us, heavy with irritation and a sharp edge of accusation. "Who are you? And what's your relationship with Lexi?"