Chapter 23

Cecilia's pov I hit the floor hard, feeling the cold marble against my palms. The pain was sharp but distant compared to the turmoil in the room. Xavier hadn't even recovered from the shock of my divorce bombshell when Cici's next words stunned everyone in the ballroom. "Xavier, she's contaminated now!" Cici screamed, her perfect makeup falling apart under her rage. "Last night she slept with eight men! One of them even has AIDS! She's gross, she's ruined—she's absolutely disgusting! How could you still want her?" I fought to control my rage as I pushed myself up from the floor, my injured wrist throbbing with each heartbeat. The entire ballroom went dead silent. I could practically see the thoughts forming in everyone's minds: Eight guys in one night? Someone with AIDS? Was this even real? Then came the inevitable question that flickered across every face: How did Cici know these details so perfectly? From the corner of my eye, I saw Dora sway slightly, her face going completely white