The young lords of the Capital City elite watched us like we were circus animals. One of them let out a low whistle.
"Hey, Aiden—this one's dressed like a peasant, but the face isn't bad. Why not keep her for a drink?"
Finally, Aiden deigned to lift his head.
Those eyes—the ones that always seemed half-lidded, serene, almost merciful—were now cold enough to freeze blood.
His gaze landed on my face.
One second.
Just one second.
No panic. No guilt. Not even a flicker of the embarrassment a man should feel when caught red-handed.
Only pure, undisguised contempt.
"Disgusting."
The word slipped from his thin lips like something foul he needed to spit out.
Then he lowered his head again and pressed his mouth to that girl's lips. His hand slid beneath the hem of her blouse without a shred of shame.
"Get out. Don't make me say it a third time."
Glen looked ready to wet himself. He half-carried, half-dragged me out of the room.
The moment the door swung shut behind us, I heard her voice—sugary, simpering: "Mr. Stephens, you're so bad..."
The corridor was frigid. Cold air knifed down my collar.
My phone buzzed in my pocket.
I pulled it out, numb, mechanical.
A message from Aiden: [Baby, why aren't you answering? Did you fall asleep?]
I stared at the screen. My stomach heaved.
I opened the chat. My fingers trembled as I typed.
[Not asleep.]
[Just saw a dog eating its own shit.]
I hit send and powered off my phone.
Glen dragged me all the way out of the bar. Only when we were standing on the street did he finally dare to breathe.
"Sis, have you lost your mind? That was Aiden Stephens!"
Glen wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, still shaken. "If you've made an enemy of him, our whole family is done for!"
I looked down at the blood on my ankle. It had already dried, crusted into an ugly scab.
"I don't know him."
My voice came out rough, barely above a whisper.
Glen blinked, then let out a breath of relief. "God, you scared me. I thought you were staring at him because you'd gone into shock or something." He shook his head. "Sis, don't come to places like this anymore. I can get myself back to school."
His eyes fell to the wound on my foot, guilt flickering across his face. "Does it hurt?"
"No."
Compared to the gaping hole in my chest, this was nothing.
After dropping Glen off, I returned to the marital home I shared with Aiden.