Chapter 2
As expected, Rowan won the race. Riley ran onto the stage with all the cameras aimed at her and planted a kiss on his lips.
I got to my feet listlessly and left the racecourse. Late that night, Rowan called me. “I’m at Mystique’s Silver Room 1. I’ll give you ten minutes to get here.”
Someone else’s voice rang out. “Ro’s gonna belong to someone else if you don’t get here in time!”
After that, Rowan hung up. I hesitated for a few seconds before throwing something on and leaving. I had to leave on such short notice that I only had time to grab a black coat.
My place was at least half an hour from where Rowan was, yet I still managed to get there a second before my time was up. When I pushed the door open, I saw him and Riley sharing a passionate kiss as everyone cheered them on.
The dazed look in Rowan’s eyes instantly disappeared when he saw me, and he released Riley. He asked, “What are you doing here so soon? Don’t get the wrong idea—I was only doing that because I lost a dare…”
“Don’t be mad, Geri! Sit down and have fun with us!” one of Rowan’s friends said.
Rowan looked pissed by how he’d addressed me. He snapped, “Don’t call her that!”
The guy shut up.
I suppressed my bitterness and stepped forward to tug on Rowan’s shirt. “Let’s go home, Rowan.”
He smirked, looking like a rogue. “Why are you in such a rush to leave when you’re already here? It’s my celebration party—aren’t you gonna have a drink?”
He looked into my eyes. For a second, I was so entranced by his gaze that I forgot I was allergic to alcohol. I only snapped to my senses when the liquid burned my throat. I bent over and coughed violently.
One of Rowan’s friends said, “You’re being unfair, Ro. Riley didn’t need to drink anything!”
Rowan dropped his roguish attitude. “How can a young lady like her drink alcohol? Fruit juice is enough for her. I’ll drink on her behalf if you insist!”
“Whoa, look at you being so protective!”
Riley came up to me with a glass of fruit juice. She patted my back and asked gently, “Are you okay, Geraldine? Do you want to have some of the fruit juice Ro got for me?”
“No, it’s fine.” I pushed away the glass that was practically pressed to my face.
“Ah! Why have you done this, Geraldine?” she cried.
I felt liquid slosh down my front. Meanwhile, Rowan pulled Riley, who looked aggrieved, into his arms. He gave me a disgusted look. “You could’ve just said no if you didn’t want to drink. Why’d you push her?”
My eyes reddened, and I bit my lip hard. “I didn’t!”
Riley suddenly cried, “Look at what she’s wearing inside, Ro! It’s so… disgusting.”
Everyone’s gazes landed on me. I looked down at myself to see that my coat had come unbuttoned. The drink had soaked my nude-colored silk nightgown.
The liquid trickled down my chest, making the nightgown cling to my body, highlighting my perky chest.
Rowan’s gaze darkened at the sight. I hastily pulled my coat around me, feeling self-conscious. Meanwhile, the other men swallowed.
“Is Geraldine in such a hurry to take Ro home because she wants…” Someone snickered.
“I wouldn’t have expected this of you, Geraldine. You’re so horny on the inside when you look so conservative on the surface!”
I flushed and lowered my head, wanting to leave the place before I died of embarrassment. I didn’t know whether it was because my allergies were acting up, but I felt hot all over. My arms and thighs were especially itchy.
Rowan grabbed hold of my wrist. His gaze was mocking yet also carried a hint of desire. “Where are you going? You’re dressed like this because you want me to fuck you, right?”
“Ro!” Riley cried, her expression hideous.
He glanced at her before turning back to me. “I’ll give you a chance, then. Get on the couch.”
I jolted as humiliation washed over me. “I may like you, but that doesn’t mean I can discard my pride and dignity for you!”
I broke free and fled in shame. Then, I headed to the hospital to get medication for my allergies. When I got home to apply the medication, I saw that Riley had updated her social media.
In the photo, she wore a black silk miniskirt as she straddled Rowan’s million-dollar motorcycle. She wore a helmet with cat ears, which he’d gotten for her. It was captioned, “My boyfriend brought me on a mountain ride to feel the speed and thrill of the wind. And again, congratulations to him for winning first place again!”
I suddenly recalled that he’d never allowed me to touch his motorcycle. Once, I insisted on riding behind him. He’d revved the engine to 200 mph after forbidding me from holding him for support. I’d almost fallen off without a helmet; the bar behind me was all I had to hold on to.
My mind suddenly turned hazy. I clutched my chest and mumbled, “Wait just a while more. Please…”
My emotions gradually calmed down, and I continued scrolling through Riley’s page. She soon shared another update.
“Ro told me that if two people who love each other kiss at sunrise, they’ll be together forever. Also, he proposed!”
I immediately recognized the diamond ring on her finger as the one that Rowan picked out with me by his side. At the time, the sales clerk envied my fortune—she said my future husband was so generous.
Just then, my phone rang. It was a call from Rowan. Wasn’t he supposed to be on a mountain?
I wanted to reject the call but reflexively answered it. His voice rang out, sounding as cold and domineering as always. “I’m outside your place. Come down.”
I headed downstairs to meet him, my lips curving into a bitter smile. “Shouldn’t you be enjoying the sunrise with Riley? Why are you here?”
He narrowed his eyes, a trace of anger flickering in them. “So, you don’t care that I was with her?”
I shouted, “What else can I do? Did you expect me to follow you two around and watch as you acted all lovey-dovey to my face?”
Rowan faltered. Then, he softened his attitude. He was about to say something when his gaze landed on my neck. “What’s that on your neck?”
I scoffed. “Rashes from my alcohol allergy. It’s all thanks to you that it’s there.”
He looked at me in astonishment. Then, his eyes flickered with emotion as he moved his lips. I looked at the two motorcycles parked by the entrance, and a bad feeling rose in me. My voice shook as I asked, “Why did you come here, Rowan?”
He leaned close and lowered his head slightly. He stuffed a key into my hand and said somewhat seductively, “I’ll agree to be your boyfriend as long as you get on the motorcycle and circle Jolline City with it once.”
My breathing hitched, and the blood drained from my face. I’d been traumatized since that one time Rowan had taken me on his motorcycle; I couldn’t even stop myself from feeling afraid when I watched him race. How could I possibly get on the motorcycle?
He pulled me to the motorcycle and charmed me with his eyes. “Didn’t you say you could do anything for me, Geraldine?”
When I didn’t respond, he cupped my face with his hands. “I’ll be yours and yours alone as long as you can ride the motorcycle for a short distance!”
I clenched my fists and parted my lips. “Fine!”
Rowan chuckled, looking pleased. I clambered onto the motorcycle, my hands trembling as I turned the key and started the engine. It roared to life, making my heart pound.
I put it into gear and pressed the accelerator, sending it forward like an arrow shot from a bow. I vaguely heard laughter ring out behind me as I screamed for help in terror.
I only stopped after crashing into a tree. My face was drained of blood, and I was drenched in cold sweat. I couldn’t make a sound when Rowan came searching for me with Riley and the others.
He got off his motorcycle to help me up, but I shoved him aside. I clenched my jaw as tears streamed down my face.
His Adam’s apple bobbed as he slowly clenched his fists, a hint of regret flashing in his eyes. “I’m sorry. I thought—”
Riley ran over and thumped his chest, pretending to look angry. She said to me, “Don’t be mad, Geraldine. I tried to stop Ro, but he insisted on proving to me that he didn’t love you!”
In that instant, all my hopes were dashed. I mustered all the strength that I had to slap Rowan. “Fuck off!”
The regret and apology in his eyes disappeared. He snorted as he snarled icily, “Don’t forget that you asked for this. Don’t come begging and harassing me like the pathetic loser you are!”
The motorcycle’s engine revved again. My gaze went slack as something surged within me. I collapsed in the bushes behind me as my strength left me.
Rowan didn’t know that he would no longer be worthy of my love.
