She snatched the keys from his pocket, unlatched the chain, and staggered toward the balcony. Without a second thought, she jumped.
Heat began to flood through her body, the drug already seeping into her veins. She bit down hard on her own arm, forcing herself to stay conscious.
Stumbling through the streets, she finally reached the hospital and grabbed a nurse’s sleeve, gasping for breath. “Someone drugged me… Please… help me…”
When she woke up again, the first thing she did was request a full medical examination. Then, she reported Salem’s crime and made his atrocities public.
After finishing everything at the hospital, Alannah dragged her exhausted body toward the exit—only to be stopped by Quincy.
His brows were furrowed tightly. “What the hell are you posting online, Alannah?”
His voice was low but sharp. “You’ve already damaged the company’s image, and now you’ve made Pearl cry! What the hell’s gotten into you?”
Before Alannah could even defend herself, he shoved her into the car.
Inside, she struggled to explain. “It was Salem! He kidnapped me and tried to assault me! Why shouldn’t I expose him? Can’t you see the bruises on my body, Quincy? Where are you taking me?”
From the front passenger seat, Pearl turned around, her tone gentle yet laced with poison. “Miss Alannah, I know you’re mad that my brother hit your mother, but you can’t just frame him like this.”
She smiled faintly, lowering her gaze. “You were the one who seduced him, weren’t you? You even suggested playing some kind of game. Quincy, listen—”
Before Alannah could speak, Pearl tapped on her phone and played a recording.
From the speaker came Alannah’s voice. “Salem, Quincy finally left. Now, we can…”
Then, another voice recording followed—hers again, low and teasing. “I want to try something exciting…”
Quincy’s expression darkened instantly, the fury in his eyes almost tangible. Without a word, he slammed on the accelerator, the car speeding through the rain-slick streets.
Alannah’s throat was dry, her voice barely a whisper. “It’s fake. All of it’s fake! Salem killed my mother! How could I even seduce him?!”
Pearl sneered. “Please. Quincy’s been ignoring you for weeks. You got lonely, didn’t you? My brother’s handsome enough. It’s only natural you’d be tempted.”
Her tone turned mocking. “I didn’t want to expose you, Miss Alannah. But you just had to play the victim first.”