Third Person Pov.

Evans Rings stood up to make a toast, his face split into a wide smile as he spoke in a loud, cheerful voice that reflected his happiness.

"I want to use this gathering to thank everyone here for coming," he said, raising his glass.

"I also want to specifically thank my fiancée, Lena Smith, for everything she has done for me, for promoting me and making me the general manager of her company, Smith Enterprises."

He paused to take a breath before continuing a few seconds later.

"Thank you, Lena. I can't wait to become the CEO of Smith Enterprises in a few days."

Lena couldn't hold back her smile as he stopped once again, staring deeply into her eyes.

"Lena, I want you to know that I won't let you down. Thank you for trusting me. Cheers."

With a clink of glasses, his friends began drinking their wine and pouring more for themselves, everyone except Lena Smith.

The dimly lit room buzzed with celebration as a small group of friends marked a major milestone.

From a corner of the room, Ashley Coleman, Lena's longtime friend, sat seething with anger. When she could no longer contain herself, she decided it was time to humiliate Lena and carry out her plan for the evening.

"Why aren't you drinking your wine?" Ashley asked, false curiosity dripping from her tone as she stared at her supposed best friend.

Lena glanced up, surprised that Ashley, who knew very well that she never drank alcohol, not even in the smallest quantity could ask such a question.

Ashley, having gained the attention of everyone at the table just as she intended, continued without hesitation.

"Are you afraid Evans poisoned the wine," she sneered, "or do you look down on us and think you're too good to drink the same wine as everyone else?"

Lena was stunned. She tried to explain herself.

"No… that's not true. I—I just…" Her voice trailed off as she looked at Evans, silently hoping he would defend her.

Instead, he turned away, avoiding her gaze and ignoring her unspoken plea.

Freya, one of Ashley's friends, laughed loudly, her amusement clearly meant to mock Lena.

"If it weren't for the fact that you're Evans's fiancée and Ashley's best friend, you wouldn't even be here," she said.

She paused, her eyes turning cold as she muttered under her breath,

"Always acting like you're better than everyone."

James, Evans's friend, echoed her words with a snicker. His expression carried an unsettling glint that made Lena shudder.

"We don't even want you here," he added.

Ashley smiled in satisfaction, clearly enjoying the chaos she had orchestrated. Pretending to take Lena's side while further fueling the tension, she spoke again.

"Evans went out of his way to get the best and most expensive wine just for you," she said sweetly. "He even toasted to you. Can't you at least honor him by drinking the wine to show your appreciation for everything he does for you?"

Evans sighed as though the situation bored him. He pulled Lena closer and whispered softly into her ear.

"Behave yourself. Can't you see you're embarrassing me in front of my friends?" he murmured. "I've already given you my word that I'll marry you next week, and all I'm asking is that you drink a little alcohol to please me."

He paused, as if reconsidering, then nodded to himself.

"Fine. I promise I won't make you drink much. After today's celebration, you won't ever have to taste alcohol again."

To everyone watching, it looked like a loving couple sharing an intimate moment, one of the most admired pairs in all of York City.

Lena smiled faintly and closed her eyes. Her hands trembled slightly as she picked up the wine glass and brought it to her lips.

The scent alone made her gag, but she forced it down. She gulped the wine in one go, suppressing a cough as the liquid burned her throat.

Evans reached for the bottle to pour her another glass, but she quickly stopped him, subtly covering the rim with her palm.

"I drove here," she whispered urgently. "I need to be able to drive back myself to avoid any inconveniences."

She expected him to understand, to support her.

Instead, Evans turned his face away once more, his brows tightening in irritation.

...

Third person pov

Ashley, clearly enjoying everything happening around her, forced a smile and deliberately added pressure to an already uncomfortable Lena.

"Just celebrate with Evans today," she said sweetly. "He'll definitely drive you home. After all, you'll be husband and wife in just a few days. He won't let anything happen to you, even if you drink too much."

Freya echoed her words with a grin. "Yes, Lena. Drink a little with Evans so he doesn't feel sad. I'm sure he'll take you home himself. He loves you so much we're sometimes jealous." She winked at Lena.

The statement made Lena blush furiously as she turned to look at Evans.

Evans swallowed the urge to gag and forced a convincing smile before facing her.

"Yes, beautiful. You don't need to worry about anything," he said warmly. "I'll take you home myself. I'll be your husband soon enough, so what better time to start my duties?"

With practiced ease, he uncorked the bottle and gently took Lena's glass from her hand, pouring more wine into it.

Mesmerized by his smile, Lena didn't protest. They would be married soon, there was no reason to keep her guard up anymore.

She nodded and drank the wine in one gulp, unaware of the subtle shift in the atmosphere.

She felt happy, relieved even. Soon, she and Evans would finally fulfill the promises they had made to each other.

Evans kept refilling her glass, and Lena kept drinking, encouraged by his soft words and the cheers around her. Before long, a strange heat spread through her body, and her head began to spin.

Clutching her purse, she tried to steady herself. "Evans," she murmured, "I feel dizzy. I think we should go home. I don't feel well."

She looked up, but Evans was no longer beside her.

Instead, she saw him a short distance away, holding Ashley far too closely. Even through her haze, Lena could hear fragments of their conversation.

"She got what she deserved," Ashley said quietly. "If she'd just given you what we needed, we wouldn't have had to do this."

"She disgusts me," Evans replied coldly. "I can't pretend anymore. I just want the company finalized and to be done with her—so I can finally be with you."

He pulled Ashley into his arms, smiling flirtatiously. "You're the only woman I've ever loved."

Lena's heart shattered.

Ashley pulled away with a sly smile and walked toward Lena, who was too weak to move. Somewhere in her foggy mind, Lena heard herself whisper, "Why? When did this start?"

Ashley bent closer, her smile widening. "I've hated you for years. You always looked at me like I needed saving, as if I were beneath you."

That wasn't true. Lena had loved her like a sister.

"I decided to take everything from you," Ashley continued softly. "Rest now. When you wake up, your life will never be the same."

She straightened and walked back to Evans.

"Evans… don't you think this is too much?" Ashley asked suddenly, tears shimmering in her eyes.

Evans studied her expression, utterly taken in. "You're too kind," he said. "After everything she did to you, you still want mercy?"

His voice hardened. "Don't worry. I promised you justice, and I'll deliver it."

With a sharp gesture, he summoned a group of men and gave them quiet instructions before turning away.

To the others, Freya and James he promised them promotions, favors, and opportunities, if they seal their mouth and forget everything they saw and heard that night.

each agreed to seal their mouth.

Smiles were exchanged. Heads nodded.

Ashley and Evans left together, they both decided to celebrate their victory by spending a night together elsewhere.

...

Third Person Pov.

Lena woke up feeling unbearably tired and sore, as though a truck had run her over in the middle of the night.

As she struggled to open her eyes properly, she noticed something was wrong. The ceiling above her looked unfamiliar, nothing like the one in her bedroom.

Panic surged through her. She hurriedly tried to sit up, only to realize she was completely naked. Her body ached so badly that she could barely move, and in that instant, the truth of what had happened the previous night crashed down on her.

Her heart pounded violently.

She searched the room and spotted her clothes scattered carelessly across the floor. Fighting through the pain, she quickly dressed herself and rushed out of the hotel room as fast as she could, before anyone noticed her leaving a hotel just days before her wedding.

What a scandal.

Tears streamed down Lena's face as relentless questions flooded her mind.

How did I get here?

How do I explain this to Evans?

Will he believe me if I tell him I was raped?

She tried to walk faster, but the pain between her legs was excruciating.

In frustration, she almost screamed aloud,

"Is he a beast? How can I barely walk?"

Shame wrapped tightly around her as she made her way downstairs. She quickly hailed a taxi, got inside, and gave the driver her home address. Exhausted, she closed her eyes, hoping to rest, even if only for a moment.

As she drifted, fragments of the previous night began to resurface. Her mind was still foggy from the alcohol, but one conversation stood out vividly, the last one she had with Ashley before she blacked out.

"Why did you seduce my fiancé?" she had demanded.

"When did it all start?"

Like a pounding headache, images of the day before came rushing back. She remembered seeing Evans, her Evans, hugging Ashley, caressing her intimately.

Lena opened her tear-rimmed eyes.

"So this is how I ended up in a stranger's bed?" she whispered brokenly.

"You all betrayed me… but why? What did I ever do to deserve this?"

She broke down again, sobbing uncontrollably.

After she finally calmed herself, Lena retrieved her phone from her trouser pocket and dialed her secretary.

"Sylvia," she said quietly, "get me the security footage from last night at Starlight Hotel. I want everything with audio."

Sylvia, unaware of the reason behind the request, didn't question her boss.

"Should the footage cover the entire hotel?" she asked.

"And from what time?"

Lena sighed, glancing at her perfectly trimmed nails before replying,

"From the moment I stepped into that hotel until the moment I left this morning. Be discreet. I want it in twenty minutes."

Exactly twenty minutes later, Sylvia called back.

"Ma'am, I've forwarded the footage to your phone," she said, her voice laced with worry.

"But… is there really a need for you to watch it? The video only shows you and Evans celebrating. Nothing unusual."

Lena stopped her immediately.

"Sylvia, don't worry. I already know what's in the video. I just need evidence."

Unable to hide her anger any longer, Sylvia blurted out,

"Those scumbags won't get away with this."

Lena cut her off gently but firmly. Knowing Sylvia's temper, she warned her to stay low and wait for instructions.

Lena then opened the footage and watched intently, like a hawk. The private suite they had booked—thankfully, was equipped with CCTV and audio recording.

She heard everything.

Every word.

She learned that Ashley and Evans had been secretly dating for two years. Worse still, they planned to use her nude photos to blackmail her into handing over her company.

Lena was stunned by the depth of their betrayal.

Meanwhile, Sylvia replayed the footage repeatedly, scrutinizing every detail. Unable to sit still, she rushed to the hotel to conduct her own investigation.

She would rather cough up blood than allow the company, one her boss had worked tirelessly to build fall into the wrong hands.

"Miss, we've arrived," the taxi driver said abruptly.

"Please pay your fare and step out so I can go about my day."

His voice snapped Lena out of her thoughts.

She apologized softly, paid him, and stepped out of the car. As the driver sped away, he glanced at her through the mirror, disgust clear in his eyes.

Lena stood there alone, her heart heavy, her resolve slowly hardening.

...

Third person

Lena limped into her house, wincing as she walked from so much pain, only to receive a hard hit to her face that sent her stumbling to the side in shock. She glanced up after realizing what had just happened only to see her father's angry face.

Mr Magnus Smith stared down at her, fuming and raining insults on her.

"Where are you coming from looking like this?" Mr Smith queried "Your wedding is coming up in a few days and you decide to bring shame to our doorstep, Evans loves you so much and has done everything he can for you and this is how you repay him?"

"Father, I can explain." Lena's voice came out so small but her father instantly interrupted her.

"What else do you have to explain when the evidence is all over your body". He spat out in blatant disgust.

"Lena I searched for you everywhere at the hotel after the celebration, I thought you went home? I didn't know you were out having fun, was it with Evans? If you were with him last night it wouldn't matter, after all the both of you would soon become a couple in a few days".

Lena could see the smirk on Ashley's face as she spat out those evil words and she was speechless because Ashley just confirmed that she wasn't home and was not with Evans either all in one sentence as if she planned to do so.

Evans on the other hand, had been restless and kept on checking his phone like he was waiting for something.

He was somehow oblivious that all eyes were on him. Ashley had to clear her throat and call his name to get his attention while repeating what she said earlier. Evans seemed to catch on quickly and got into character.

"Lena, I want to dissolve our engagement. I cannot be seen with a woman like you, who does not have any respect for her body or reputation." Lena, who had been silent since they began their charade, replied to him quickly.

"That's fine by me, let's dissolve the engagement".

Evans was shocked for a moment because the Lena he knew would always ask for forgiveness anytime he gave her attitude and she loved him so much. But the Lena before him just simply accepted without tears or pleas for him to stay, it made him feel weary.

He looked at how rough she looked and told himself. "Probably she is too ashamed to plead or cry."

He brought a file and threw it at her then told her to sign the papers to transfer her company to him as she promised. "Over my dead body" Lena said, her voice cold. "I would rather die than give my company to any of you."

"Lena, I'm warning you, you must sign the papers or else."

"Or else what" Lena angrily asked, taking a single step closer to them and something flashed in his eyes.

"You will sign it or get ready to see all your nudes on the papers and the Internet". Evans shot out loudly.

"I'm so sick of you trying to control everyone in this house. Me, Ashley, your father and even your stepmom are tired of you bossing everyone around."

He continued his righteous ignorant words as if he believed them to be true.

"So be a good little slut that you are and sign the papers and I will not release your nudes to the press, and mind you, the press are already outside. Do not test me'.

"Dad, are you going to support an outsider over your own daughter?" Lena raised her head up pitifully while looking at her dad, hoping just this once he would support her but she wasn't surprised when he looked away in disgust like she was irritating him. Her step mother Selena Smith that have been quiet since spoke up,

"Lena just give the company to Evans and Ashley, let them manage it for you, you can go to a beautiful country and live a stress-free life."

Lena smiled and asked all of them at once, "How long have you all been planning this? Dad, how can you do this to your own daughter? Pay a stranger to sleep with me, your own daughter and use it to threaten me, why?"

She felt tears choking her as she tried to understand why they were doing all this to her when she did nothing wrong to them.

*Do you know Ashley and Evans have been intimate together?" She asked her dad and the smugness in all of their facial expressions just told her that they in fact knew and were in it together.

"So you all planned it together? to kick me out and give the company to Ashley and Evans?".

"Sometimes I wonder if Ashley is your daughter and not me". She did not notice the panic on her father's face before he replaced it with an annoyed look".

"Lena just sign the papers and lets get this over and done with" her father spoke up, she slowly picked up the paper, crying bitterly "mommy I'm sorry I failed you, I was not filia, I couldn't protect your company" as she was about to sign it, a call came in and it was from her secretary Sylvia.

Lena picked up the call and told Syvia quietly.

"This is not a good time, I will call you back later" but Sylvia screamed before she could disconnect the call.

"There are no pictures! They don't have your nudes, don't sign anything! Ask them to show you the nudes first. Wait for me, I'll be there soon to explain everything to you."

Lena burst out crying and screaming into the phone. "Thank you, Sylvia. Thank you, Sylvia" continuously.

Then she burst out laughing at the same time, "Mommy, they won't take our company from us anymore, I did not fail you", Everyone present was stunned for they didn't know what had gotten into her.

Evans, lacking patience and wanting to go out and find out why the guy for the job had not sent the nudes as promised, he plans to continue using the nudes even after Lena signs the document. He doesn't have plans of letting her off so easily.

"Lena sign the damn document and stop wasting my time" Evans said, his face tight with worry and annoyance.

"I'm not signing any documents, you can do whatever you please with my nudes for all I care" Lena said looking at them defiantly.

Her father got angry and ran towards her "You unfilial child, I will kill you today. How dare you speak back, bitch", he raised his hand and slapped her, two times, about kicking her when the door opened and a man in black suit walked in.

His dangerous aura left everyone stunned and as soon as their eyes took in his face, they all stumbled backwards in shock and surprise.

Lena's father stuttered out, his face ashen with fear at who just stepped into their residence.

"Mr Black."?