Back then, when Ethan went bankrupt and hit rock bottom, I was the one who pulled him back up.

Without my connections and the influence behind me, there would be no Ethan Gilbert today. Even that piece of land Serena mentioned—it had already been arranged for him.

Now? No need.

I lifted my head and met his eyes with ice in mine. "Since that's the case, let's break off the engagement."

He froze for a moment, then let out a cold laugh. "Alex, that playing-hard-to-get routine doesn't work on me."

I clenched my fists, trying to stand, but the men holding me down wouldn't budge. I swallowed my rage and stared at him. "Ethan, I'm advising you—have them let go. Now."

His expression softened slightly.

Serena immediately latched onto his arm. "Ethan, just now, trying to stop Alex from driving that crappy domestic car and embarrassing you—my hand got cut."

She held up her finger—barely a scratch, nothing that even needed a bandage—and gazed at him with wounded eyes.

He took her hand, all concern, then turned a dark look on me. "You let Serena get hurt? Kneel and apologize to her. Right now. Or I won't let this go."

My gaze hardened. "And if I don't?"

His expression went colder. "Then I'll announce in public that we're breaking off the engagement. Let's see who'll want you after that—a woman who got dumped. Secondhand goods."

His entourage joined in, mocking faces all around.

"What's the difference between getting dumped on your wedding day and being unwanted leftovers? You'll never get married!"

"Just apologize! Besides Ethan being generous enough, who else would marry a country bumpkin like you?"

"Miss this chance and there won't be another. Once your reputation's trashed at the wedding, you won't be able to show your face anywhere!"

His words stabbed through my chest like a knife. I could barely breathe.

Three years. Three years of feelings—and they meant nothing to him.

I clenched my fists until my nails bit into my palms. "Then let's see who really gets their reputation trashed when this engagement ends."

His expression turned sinister. He waved at the men holding me down. "Since you still don't understand what you did wrong, don't blame me for what comes next."

The man behind me swung an iron rod down hard on my other leg.

Crack.

My knees slammed into the ground. The searing pain nearly made me black out. I swallowed the blood rising in my throat and glared at him. "Ethan Gilbert. I won't let you off for this."

He chuckled softly. "Right now, it's me who won't be letting you off."

He had them force my head down, shoving me into a kowtow at Serena's feet.

I struggled wildly, but a boot slammed into my shoulder, and I pitched forward, sprawling at her heels.

Somehow, she'd gotten her hands on a cup of liquor. She smiled sweetly at Ethan. "Let's not make things too hard for Alex. After all, today's supposed to be your wedding day."

She tilted her head, all innocence. "How about this—if she drinks this, I'll pretend today never happened. Okay?"

Ethan glanced at me, took the cup from her, and crouched down in front of me.

"Aren't you going to drink it? Say thank you, Serena."

I was done arguing. I stared at the glass, my expression ice-cold.

"If I drink this, you'll let me leave?"

Serena smiled and nodded.

"Of course. I'm a woman of my word."

I looked at the liquor, grabbed the glass without hesitation, and drained it in one gulp.

The burn slid down my throat—and my consciousness began to erode. A sense of dread hit me instantly.

My vision blurred. I turned toward Serena, teeth clenched.

"What did you put in it?"

She let out a soft laugh.

"Something to make you obedient."

Then she looked at me and enunciated each word clearly.

"Kneel."

My body moved on its own. With a hard thud, my knees hit the floor.

Serena gazed down at me, smug.

"That liquor had something colorless and tasteless in it. Now whatever I tell you to do—you'll do it."

The room erupted in laughter.

"Serena really knows how to have fun. Slipping that new drug into her drink—now we can make her kowtow however we want."

"She's got a whole system for training dogs. First time I've seen this kind of play."

"To discipline a country bumpkin like her, you need special methods. Otherwise she won't even know who her owner is."

I dug my nails hard into my palm, forcing myself to stay conscious. I looked at Ethan.

"You're just going to watch them humiliate me like this?"

He only stared back, cold.

"If you did something wrong, you accept punishment. After the wedding, I'll give you the compensation you deserve."

Blood welled in my mouth. I stared at him.

"Don't regret this."

The moment the words left my lips, Serena's palm cracked across my face.

"You country bumpkin—what could possibly make our Ethan regret anything? Even if you became my dog, I'd still think it drags down my status."

She looped a leash around my neck.

"Come on. Bark twice for me. Maybe I'll reward you with a bone."

She yanked hard, forcing me to crawl forward.

The humiliation shattered my pride piece by piece. My consciousness began to slip. My body was moving on its own, about to crawl. I bit down hard on my tongue, fighting to stay awake.

Bright red blood kept dripping from the corner of my mouth. Ethan didn't react at all.

When I refused to move, Serena grabbed a leather whip and lashed it across my back.

"Letting you be my dog is already giving you face. I advise you not to refuse a toast only to drink a forfeit—or you'll have a hard time."

Burning pain surged through me. I endured it without making a sound.

Serena tossed a bone in front of me.

"Good girl. I'm rewarding you."

She looked down at me, smug, but her eyes held a threat.

"Hurry up and bite it. After you finish, I'll dress you up properly. How about I make you a one-of-a-kind bride?"

I met her mocking gaze, pulled a knife from my sleeve, and stabbed it hard into my thigh.

Blood poured from the wound. My consciousness sharpened.

Serena crouched in front of me, grabbed the knife still embedded in my flesh, and twisted.

"Since you love hurting yourself so much, let me help."

Her voice dripped with mock sweetness.

"Beg me, Alex. Beg me to let you go, and maybe—just maybe—I'll show mercy."

Agony ripped through me. I clenched my fists until my nails bit into my palms, fighting to stay conscious.

Gritting my teeth, I glanced at my watch. Then I locked eyes with her.

"Serena. What's coming for you? It's already here."

The moment the words left my mouth—

A helicopter's roar thundered overhead.

Then, from the distance, a massive motorcade of black Bentleys rolled in like a storm cloud.

Everyone froze.

"What the hell?"