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?"

Matthew crushed his cigarette in the ashtray and waved me over. I hesitated but went to him.

The second I got close, he shoved me down onto the couch. Pinning both of my hands above my head with one hand, he gripped my jaw with the other, forcing me to meet his eyes.

"Amelie, if you want to save your father and Scott Group, you'd better learn to behave."

When did the pain really hit me? Was it when he forced me to drink until I threw up just because I needed the money?

Was it when Caleb had been groping me without a care, or was it now when Matthew threatened to use my most precious things against me?

Neither. It was when I looked into his eyes and found only boundless hatred swirling within.

"Yes."

I heard my own voice, low and shaky.

He gently patted my cheek. "That's more like it. Now, take off the jacket."

I stood up, leaving the jacket on the couch. A large expanse of skin was exposed, and I instinctively shrank back. Caleb's gaze was now more predatory…

After the music ended, Caleb pinned me beneath him. I turned my head to glance at Matthew, who sat less than two meters away, coldly watching everything unfold.

Suddenly, the scene shifted in my mind. In an instant, I was back at that class party, surrounded by people in the karaoke room, all eyes on us. Matthew, with bloodshot eyes, pressed me against the wall and said, "Amelie, don't you dare regret this!"