The next morning, Matthew and I were sitting at the table, having breakfast.

Georgia burst into the room, fuming.

She grabbed the hot milk from the table and threw it at me.

"Amelie Scott, have you no shame?!"

The scorching milk soaked through my clothes, and I flinched as the heat hit my skin.

But Matthew, sitting across from me, barely lifted an eyelid.

"Georgia, come here."

She shot me a hateful look and then walked over to Matthew.

"Matthew, did you forget how she treated you before?"

Matthew took a napkin and gently wiped the milk off her hand.

"Did you burn yourself?"

Georgia's expression didn't soften.

"What's she doing living here? Did she seduce you or something?"

Matthew chuckled, tightening his grip on her hand.

"I'm keeping her around because she's useful."

Then he glanced at me, his eyes cold.

"What are you standing there for? Go change. We have someone to meet."

When Matthew squeezed Georgia's hand, it felt like an invisible fist had wrapped around my heart, squeezing the air out of my lungs.

I turned and walked toward the dressing room like a puppet on strings.

A few minutes later, Georgia followed me into the dressing room.

She looked me up and down, her eyes full of mockery and disdain.

"Matthew asked me to help you pick out something to wear. We don't want you embarrassing him later."

She glanced at the corner of the closet, then pulled out a red dress and tossed it to me.

"Put this on."

The dress was ankle-length but incredibly revealing. The top was held up by two thin straps, with only a small patch of fabric covering my chest.

My entire arm and back were exposed, and through the open-back dress, you could even make out the curve of my hips.

I didn't move, but Georgia's lips curled into a mocking smile.

"Amelie, do you really think after all your scheming, Matthew's going to fall for you like before?" she sneered.

"Don't forget, you stood in front of the whole class and said he didn't have a penny to his name!"

She shoved the dress into my hands and whispered coldly in my ear,

"And now? You're just his little toy, something he's about to hand off."

Her words sent a chill down my spine. I froze.

"Oh, you didn't know?" she said softly, her voice dripping with malice. "Matthew's taking you to meet Caleb Lowe from Prostar Tech. Heard of him? That old perv? You should know what's coming.

"If I were you, I wouldn't bother humiliating myself."

At that moment, it felt like I was sinking deep into the ocean. So, this is what Matthew planned—to give me away?

The lavish, gold-trimmed club was overwhelming.

Matthew sat to one side, cigarette in hand, while I was seated next to Caleb Lowe, wrapped up in that dress Georgia had chosen. I'd stubbornly thrown a jacket over it, trying to hold on to the last shred of dignity.

The table was covered in contracts and glasses of alcohol.

"Mr. Graham, you really do know me well," Caleb said, his piggish hand resting on my shoulder, his rough fingers sliding over my jacket as if testing his next prize. "No wonder you've done so well since coming back."

I felt nauseous, but I didn't dare move, not with Matthew watching.

"You're willing to part with such a pretty little thing?" Caleb snickered, leering at me.

Matthew took a slow drag from his cigarette. "As long as you sign the contract, everything's on the table."

"Of course, I'll sign!" Caleb's beady eyes gleamed as they traveled over me.

"But before I do, how about we get a little show? I'd love to see this beauty dance."

He reached out to tug off my jacket.

"Why all the layers, sweetheart?" His hand brushed my skin, and it was like a switch flipped inside me.

I bolted up. "Mr. Lowe, please show some respect!"

Caleb chuckled, looking back at Matthew.

"Mr. Graham, what's this all about?"