As expected, the thugs came for me five days later, but I was more than prepared.

I had always known Victor kept a watchful eye on me. Anticipating Raphael’s next move, I reached out to him before returning to Paris, requesting protection.

He agreed instantly, delighted that I was finally allowing him to spoil me again.

When the thugs arrived, they never even got the chance to lay a hand on me. Instead, they were swiftly subdued, their fear making them easy to break.

Under pressure, they confessed everything—their orders, Raphael’s involvement, every disgusting detail.

And just like that, the trap was set. The hunters had become the hunted. That time, it was my turn to play the game.

Two days later, as I arrived at the banquet with Raphael, instead of a warm welcome, I was met with sneers and condescending glances.

"Why did our rival's daughter come to such an important event?" Raphael's mother scoffed, looking me up and down with barely concealed disdain.

Raphael’s grip on my hand tightened. "Mom, I told you to be nice to my girlfriend."

She simply snorted, turning away as if I were nothing more than an unpleasant stain on the evening.

His father remained silent, but the cold, measuring look he gave me was enough to tell me what he thought. I was unwelcome.

But I did not care, since I disliked them too.

Before Raphael could say anything else, the mood shifted.

Colette arrived with her parents, and suddenly, the ice in Raphael’s mother’s eyes melted into warmth.

Her lips stretched into an eager smile, and without hesitation, she pulled Raphael’s hand away from mine.

"My daughter-in-law has arrived," she cooed, leading him toward Colette. "Let’s go greet her properly."

"Mom, wait…."

I did not let him finish. I refused to stand there like a fool, clinging onto someone whose own family was parading another woman in front of him.

"I'm going to get some lemonade," I said flatly, slipping my hand from his grasp before walking away.

Raphael hesitated, looking torn, but in the end, he let go and followed his parents toward Colette.

I inhaled sharply, keeping my head high. I despised being underestimated, being dismissed so easily.

If they thought I was weak, they were wrong. I would show them that I was perfectly fine without Raphael by my side.

From a distance, I observed the scene unfolding. Raphael’s parents strategically positioned him and Colette together, ensuring that no one missed the picture-perfect image of them side by side.

Colette, always one to seize an opportunity, played her part flawlessly. Her fingers trailed teasingly along Raphael’s sleeve, her eyes shimmering with a coy glint.

"Raphael, praise me, our parents are watching," Colette whispered, leaning in ever so slightly.

Raphael exhaled, rubbing the back of his neck before reluctantly giving in to the act. His arm snaked around Colette’s waist, pulling her closer. "You're so beautiful tonight, sweetheart."

Colette’s lips curled in satisfaction. She did not even bother hiding her triumph as she deliberately glanced in my direction, her eyes gleaming with silent mockery.

Then, as if to drive the dagger deeper, she moved in closer, her body pressing against his as she rubbed against him in an almost indecent manner.

Raphael stiffened slightly, clearly uncomfortable, but before he could step back, Colette went on tiptoe and kissed his cheek.

"Thank you, honey," she purred, her voice dripping with sweetness.

Whispers rippled through the room.

Guests murmured about how radiant they looked together, how perfectly matched they seemed.

Raphael’s parents beamed with pride, their eyes gleaming with satisfaction at how smoothly their plan was falling into place.

But no one except me seemed to notice Raphael’s scold as he leaned into Colette’s ear. “You’ve crossed the line, Colette.”

So, I just chuckled in satisfaction.

To any outsider, it would have seemed like an intimate exchange, a clandestine confession between lovers. But I saw it for what it was—a warning veiled in pretense.

Colette’s confident smirk wavered for just a moment, her mask of seduction slipping, but she recovered quickly. Her father-in-law’s voice cut through the moment, calling for her attention.

“Sorry to interrupt your little moment, lovebirds,” he said, his voice dripping with amusement. “But tonight is Raphael’s introduction to the business world. You’ll have to restrain yourselves.”

Colette’s expression shifted instantly, the practiced charm returning.

“No problem at all,” she purred. “I was just about to greet some of my friends anyway.”

Then, her gaze landed on Raphael. “Find me when you’re done, honey.”

Raphael did not reply. He merely followed his father, leaving Colette to turn her eyes toward me with a sharp, knowing glint. A storm was brewing behind her gaze.

I tried to slip away, already anticipating what was coming, but she strolled toward me, a glass of wine in hand, acting as if I were invisible.

Before I could react, she was suddenly in front of me, feigning surprise. And in the next moment—chaos erupted.

Colette stumbled back dramatically, the glass slipping from her hand and the glass shards hit her leg. Red wine splattered across my white dress, an ugly stain spreading like a wound.

And then she cried out.

“Blood!” Her voice rang across the room, loud enough to turn every head toward us.

I barely had time to process what had happened before Raphael appeared, his face clouded with concern.

“What happened?” he demanded.

Before I could speak, Colette’s voice trembled as she clung to his arm.

“It’s my fault,” she sniffled, the perfect picture of innocence. “I accidentally bumped into Nadine. Ah… my foot, it hurts so much.”

Gasps and murmurs rippled through the crowd. Eyes turned to Raphael, waiting for him to act, to be the gentleman they all expected him to be. And he did not disappoint them.

Without hesitation, Raphael bent down and scooped Colette into his arms.

The crowd sighed in approval, as if they were watching a romantic drama unfold before their very eyes.

He barely spared me a glance, but when he passed, he whispered, “Wait for me here. I’ll be back soon.”

Then he was gone, disappearing through the doors with Colette in his arms.

I stood there, frozen, as laughter and chatter resumed around me, as if I were nothing but an insignificant extra in their grand affair.

They might have thought I was foolish for agreeing to come, but the real fools were them—they had no idea what my true intentions were.

I exhaled slowly, steadying myself. Without hesitation, I turned away from the glittering ballroom and stepped onto the balcony.

**

As Raphael drove her to the hospital, Colette glanced at him and murmured, “Sorry for bothering you. Nadine must be jealous seeing this.”

“It’s fine. Leaving you there would’ve been worse,” Raphael replied coolly. “I can explain it to Nadine later. Besides, it’s just acting, remember?” His voice carried a warning edge.

Suddenly, Colette clutched Raphael’s upper thigh, wincing. “Argh… it hurts so much.”

Raphael instinctively reached for her hand, trying to pry it away. “We’re almost there. Just hold on.”

“Raphael… pull over,” Colette gasped, covering her mouth. “I drank earlier, and with you speeding, I feel like throwing up.”

Sighing, Raphael finally pulled over. The road was deserted, quiet beneath the dim glow of streetlights.

But the moment the car stopped, Colette did not step out. Instead, she climbed onto Raphael’s lap.

“Colette, what the hell are you doing?” he growled, his hands gripping the wheel.

She smirked, leaning in. “What do you think I’m doing?” Her voice dripped with provocation.

She had felt the way his body reacted, and knew he would not be able to resist much longer. A slow grind of her hips was all it took for him to stiffen beneath her.

“Stop…” Raphael’s protest was silenced by Colette’s kiss, deep and deliberate. Before he could regain control, she guided his hand to her chest, pressing against him.

Breaking the kiss, she whispered against his ear, “Raphael, I want you. Just for tonight. And I promise—after this, I’ll tell our parents to cancel our engagement.”

Then, with a teasing bite to his ear, she left a faint hickey on his neck.

Raphael exhaled sharply, his restraint hanging by a thread. The promise she dangled before him, the way she fit against him—it was all too much.

Smirking, he met her gaze. “You better keep your promise, Colette.”

And just like that, the night spiraled into an unstoppable, heated frenzy inside the car.

As I stepped onto the balcony, I found myself cornered instead.

A familiar group of men strutted in, their tailored suits and smug grins radiating entitlement.

Raphael’s so-called friends—men who once laughed as they dissected my most intimate moments with him like it was some late-night gossip.

“Well, well, look who decided to sulk in the shadows,” one of them sneered, his voice dripping with amusement.

“Heartbroken already, Nadine?” another chimed in, swirling his glass of whiskey as if he were making a toast to my misery.

“Did you really think spending a night with Raphael would change anything?” a third one chuckled. “Sweetheart, you’re in London. Colette’s the queen, and you’re just… the entertainment.”

Laughter rippled through them, their words sharp as knives, each one slicing deeper.

My hands curled into fists at my sides, but I refused to let them see me falter. I had already made up my mind—I would leave. Soon, none of this would matter.

So, I stood there, silent, enduring their mockery, because in the grand scheme of things, their words meant nothing. As long as they did not cross the line, they were not worth my breath.

Then, as if summoned by fate, Raphael’s presence cut through the suffocating air. His arrival silenced the jeering, but the relief that should have come with it never did.

Because my eyes landed on the crimson stain on his collar.

A perfect imprint of Colette’s red lipstick.

A bitter chuckle rose in my throat. So, they were not heading to the hospital but sneaking off to a bedroom for a quick tryst?

Raphael really just made his own downfall effortless for me.

But still, he acted as if he was my hero. "Leave. I want to be alone with Nadine," Raphael ordered, his voice low, almost dangerous.

His friends clicked their tongues in disappointment. "Tch, no fun," one muttered as they slinked away, leaving behind only the scent of expensive cologne and lingering malice.

Raphael turned to me, his gaze briefly softening as he took in the stain on my dress. “Are you okay?” he asked, his voice quieter now.

I let out a short, humorless laugh. “Feels like déjà vu, doesn’t it? Another ruined dress, another night where I’m the fool in this story. Just like the night of the accident a week ago. And the culprit….”

Before I could even finish, he cut me off. "Colette didn’t mean it. She was hurt too. Let’s not prolong this."

His words struck something deep inside me, something raw and fragile.

Oh. So that was how it was then. He had already made his choice, hadn’t he?

Colette’s warmth was enough to justify leaving me in the cold.

I swallowed down the lump rising in my throat and forced my expression into something unreadable. "Fine. Since I waited for you like promised, now I’m going home."

Raphael straightened, a glint of something unreadable in his eyes. “Stay, please. You wouldn’t want to miss my speech after I’m announced as the next Moreau successor, would you?”

“In this dress?” I arched a brow, my voice laced with quiet defiance.

“That’s right,” he said smoothly, a smirk playing on his lips. “Then I’ll take you to a boutique nearby. Let’s get you something exquisite.”

“No need,” I said flatly, already stepping away.

“I insist,” he pressed, and before I could protest, his hand encircled my wrist. His grip was firm, not rough, but firm enough to tell me that arguing would be pointless.

With a sigh, I allowed myself to be guided to his car.

But as soon as I slid into the passenger seat, a scent invaded my senses. Not his usual clean, woodsy cologne.

No, this was something else. Something sour, cloying—a mix of perfume and sweat. The unmistakable smell of a heated night.

And the moment he leaned in to buckle my seatbelt, something caught my eye—faint at first, then unmistakable. A dark, bruised mark peeking out from his collar.

“Who gave you that hickey?” My voice was steady, but my hands clenched into fists on my lap.

“What hickey?” He feigned confusion, glancing into the mirror.

For the briefest second, I caught the flicker of panic in his eyes before he masked it with nonchalance.

“Oh, that? Must’ve been an insect bite. Got it at the hospital.” He even had the audacity to chuckle. “Didn’t realize it was that bad.”

I let out a slow exhale, my fingers trembling slightly. “Do you really think I’m that stupid?”

Raphael sighed, gripping the wheel. “Nadine, you’re overthinking again.”

"Overthinking?" My voice was sharper now, laced with frustration and hurt. "You always say that. Every time. But can you explain your closeness with Colette at the event earlier?"

Raphael exhaled, gripping the steering wheel tighter. "Nadine, that was just acting to show to our parents."

I scoffed, my fingers tightening into fists on my lap. "Acting? But you promised to introduce our relationship more deeply to the public, didn't you?

“Instead, you made it seem like you and Colette were closer than ever. Your friends teased me because of that—don’t you know?" My voice wavered despite my efforts to stay strong.

"I'm sorry, I didn’t think that far," he admitted, his expression unreadable. "But I told Colette to just act as is. Her kiss… that wasn’t part of the plan."

A bitter chuckle escaped me.

"Oh, yeah. And I suppose the hickeys and lipstick marks weren’t part of the plan either?" I sneered, my tone was sharp.

Raphael frowned and quickly checked the mirror again. His jaw tightened as he spotted the lipstick stain on his collar.

"This is normal, right?" he said, brushing at it as if that would make the evidence disappear. "I was carrying her earlier. Maybe it accidentally got on me."

Keep making excuses, Raphael. I knew better. The smell in this car, the heat of his skin, the unmistakable proof of what had happened before he came to me.

I turned my face away, staring out the window. What was the point of arguing when he would only twist the truth?

Raphael sighed heavily, then, as if trying to prove himself, he pulled out his phone and handed it to me.

"Here," he said. "Check it yourself. The only girl I chat with is you. All my other contacts are just guys."

I was shocked at first, he really made it easy for me to take revenge on him.

But I forced my expression to remain neutral. If I showed even a hint of what I was thinking, he might get suspicious.

"Okay," I said coolly, my voice void of emotion. "I'll check it. You just focus on driving, I don’t want to get into another accident."

“Don’t worry.” Then, Raphael sighed, relieved. Maybe, to him, the first problem had been solved.

Poor fool. He had no idea that he was the one who had just lost.

While he focused on driving, I took advantage of the moment. My fingers moved swiftly, deleting the videos and any trace of me on his phone.

I had spent nights making sure that no hidden cameras or CCTV had captured that moment. His phone was the only device that held the evidence.

Raphael was no tech genius—he would not have backed it up somewhere else.

He thought a single video was enough to ruin me.

Then I would show him just how much damage a single piece of evidence could do to him.

The moment we arrived at our destination and stepped into the boutique, an idea took shape in my mind.

As Raphael browsed through the selections, I sank onto a plush seat, pressing a hand to my stomach with a slight grimace.

"Raphael," I muttered, my voice laced with irritation. "I think my period just started. Can you grab me some sanitary napkins?" I sighed dramatically.

Raphael hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Alright. There's a convenience store nearby. Wait here and pick out a dress you like, okay?"

I offered him a small, weary smile, watching as he turned and walked away—exactly as I had planned.

The moment he stepped out, I moved fast.

I reached for the car’s dash cam first. My fingers hovered over the screen, and there it was, the footage.

The camera had faced the road ahead, but the sounds… they told the entire story.

“You better keep your promise, Colette,” Raphael murmured, his voice thick with desire.

The car was soon filled with the sounds of feverish kisses, their mouths colliding as they greedily exchanged breath and warmth.

Hands fumbled, clothes slipped away, and when the sharp sound of a zipper being undone echoed in the silence, it was quickly followed by Colette’s breathy moan.

“Raphael… gentle, please,” she pleaded.

Raphael let out a low, guttural groan. “It’s too late for that, Colette. You’re the one who made me lose control.”

Shaking, I pulled out the car footage’s SIM card and took it with me before leaving his phone abandoned on the seat and stepped out of the car, walked to the street to hail a taxi.

As I entered the taxi, I cursed Raphael in my heart. ‘I know it. Since then, the woman you truly wanted was never me, it was Colette. So, enjoy my revenge, you shameless man!’

I took out my phone and sent him a message.

[I'll head back to the banquet first. I want to surprise you with my dress choice at your heir announcement.]

Then I blocked his number.

I tossed my old, cracked phone into a trash bin as I walked through the dimly lit airport.

It had survived too many falls, too many painful memories, and that time, I was leaving it behind—just like I was leaving him.

I pulled my coat tighter around me as I reached the private plane Victor had arranged.

Paris awaited. And this time, I was not running away.

I was starting over...