Chapter 2

• CHAPTER 2.
• DISOWN.
• Samantha's eyes crinkled into a radiant smile for a moment, but as soon as she noticed my gaze, her expression shifted to a sharp frown. She gently helped me off the floor, and I settled onto the bed while she caressed my back softly.
• “It’s okay, sis. Daddy is just angry that your naked pictures are all over the internet,” she said solemnly.
• I paused my crying and took a deep breath. “How did my pictures get out into the world? That’s my privacy, Sam.”
• Samantha cradled my head, rubbing my back gently. “Daddy is just upset. Maybe you should see him later while I help you talk to Lucas.”
• “He seems to be very disappointed in you,” she added.
• “How did this even happen, sis? You should have been more careful. If you wanted to be with someone else, you could have told me, and I would have looked out for you.”
• I turned to her, taking her hands in mine and fixing my tear-filled eyes on her. “Please help me tell Lucas it isn’t true. Everything he saw online is a lie. I’m being set up by someone.”
• Samantha shook her head. “I understand, sis. You know I always have your back. Lucas is angry and has refused to talk to anyone, but I’ll try to tell him the truth.”
• “You don’t need to worry about him. All you need to do now is take a shower; you smell a mess,” she added before leaving.
• I nodded, feeling grateful that Samantha was willing to help me. I wasn’t sure I could face Lucas right now. Throughout our years of dating, I had never seen him with another woman or heard rumors of him cheating. He had always been faithful and loyal to our love.
• In most relationships, it’s usually the man who ends up cheating, but it felt shameful that I was the one who had betrayed my fiancé. Cheating was one thing, but not knowing when or with whom I had cheated was another entirely.
• Once Samantha left, I let my tears roll down my cheeks as my chest tightened with pain. Someone was trying to set me up, but my father didn’t seem to see it. I couldn’t really blame him for being disappointed,I knew he had invested his heart and soul into building this empire, and now his daughter’s naked pictures were all over the internet.
• Minutes later, the stranger walked out of the bathroom fully dressed. Fortunately, he didn't bother to speak to me,he just walked out as if he hadn’t just sabotaged my entire career and family reputation. I sat still, sobbing, unable to ask how he had gotten into my room. My room was always locked, and the only person with a spare key was Lucas.
• Later that day, I took a bath and sat alone in my room, refusing to go outside. I wasn't ready to face the public scrutiny that came with being famous for my nudes. I clenched my teeth, trying to endure the pain that gripped my chest. I tossed my phone aside, fully aware that I didn’t want to see what the news had to say.
• After a while, I realized that sitting idle wouldn’t do me any favors, so I decided to go to Lucas myself. Maybe Samantha hadn’t been able to convince him of my innocence, so I would go directly.
• About ten minutes later, I arrived at his room using the elevator, hoping to avoid being seen. Not wanting to make a sound, I skipped the doorbell and used his passcode instead.
• As soon as I entered, my brows raised in curiosity at the sight of a pink stiletto by the door. Does he have company? I thought, pulling off my slippers to join them.
• I hesitated at the sight of feminine clothing strewn across his couch—a cropped pink top and a blue blazer. My brows knitted together as I recognized the familiar clothes; those were what Samantha had been wearing earlier when she walked into my room with Dad.
• I knew Samantha was supposed to be here, but why were her clothes scattered on the floor? Was she…? I shoved the thoughts aside, my heart racing as I made my way toward the bedroom.
• Part of my brain analyzed the situation, but I chose to ignore my instincts. I wanted to believe that Samantha had come to help me convince my fiancé that everything he saw online was pure rubbish. Maybe something had happened to her dress, or perhaps she needed to change or use the bathroom. But deep down, I knew she had her own room, and if she needed anything, she should have come to me, not Lucas.
• As I got closer, I heard Samantha's laughter drifting through the half-open bedroom door.
• “Oh my God, Lucas, you need to hear her begging our father that she’s innocent!”
• “Sam sam,please please explain to Lucas that somebody is trying to set me up.” Samantha continued, mimicking my cracked voice.
• Just as I expected, Lucas joined in the laughter, and my chest tightened.
• “She is so naive. I can't deal with her. Did you see how quickly she drank that drugged drink?” Lucas said, and my whole world crumbled down at my feet. I stumbled back, clutching the wall for support.
• Hearing those words from them was one thing, but knowing that Samantha had come in there and pretended not to know anything was even worse. Seeing them naked and entwined with each other shattered what was left of my heart.
• My breath caught in my throat as the realization hit me: all those times I asked Samantha to look after my fiancé, she was betraying me and fucking him. They had drugged me and taken pictures of me. The sting of betrayal cut deep. Tears blurred my vision as I backed away, racing to confront my father. I couldn’t let them get away with this.
• But when I reached the door, I couldn’t believe my card was declined. The officers escorted me out, and I fought back tears as I packed my bags. I hated when people felt pity for me, so I tried my best to hold it together. I had less than thirty minutes to vacate the hotel room meant for the Brown family.
• This meant only one thing: I had been disowned. I was no longer part of the Brown family. My father wouldn’t even listen to me or hear how my supposed fiancé and sister had betrayed me. Now, I was sure they were happily watching as I was kicked out of the family.
• Minutes later, I finished packing my bags. When I opened the door, I was met by two hefty guards standing ready to escort me outside, like an outcast being thrown from her kingdom. A tight feeling clutched at my chest, but I kept my chin up as we stepped into the elevator.
• Inside, I heard the host announce, “Welcome to the stage, the new heiress of the Brown Group… Samantha Brown!” At that moment, I allowed myself to break down, embracing the grief that accompanies loss. I had lost everything—my family, my fiancé, and now my position. Samantha had taken it all from me.
• I cried openly in the elevator, not caring that the guards stood beside me. I had prepared my whole life for that role, and now Lucas and Samantha had snatched it away as if I had never worked for it.
• Once outside, I started my car, contemplating where to go. I couldn’t return home,I know I would also be banned from there, too. I wanted to avoid anything that reminded me of them, including my father.
• I drove on, tears blurring my vision, until I collided with another vehicle. The screeching of tires and the sickening thud snapped me back to reality. My car swerved violently, and before I could hit the brakes, it crashed into the Audi Q8 in front of me.