HARPER
I looked down at the jacket that I was wearing for the first time. This was Dominic Fletcher's jacket?
Shit.
How could I not have known? I'd thought the scent coming from it felt familiar, but I couldn't exactly pinpoint where I had perceived it from. Also, I didn't know what to feel about Dominic Fletcher being the one who had saved me from drowning.
To some extent, I wished it were someone else. Not just a Fletcher or even a Wilson. But not to be an ingrate, I'd probably find him to thank him later.
"I asked you a question, you dirty tramp. Is my uncle that great in bed that you can't even wait for that damned move you pulled last night to be over with before you crawl back in?" He said through clenched teeth, his hand gripped mine tightly.
"She's the Wilson's illegitimate daughter from last night!"
"How could we not know?"
"And it's weird she showed her face here like nothing happened. She's such a slut. I'd fire her right away if I were Mr Fletcher!"
Murmurs began to spread. It didn't even help that many of the workers were outside and right behind me. Heat infused itself into my cheeks, and I bit back the rude retorts at the tip of my tongue.
Firstly, Owen was my boss. I reminded myself. It was against office policy to talk back at your boss, even if they were rude to you. Now that we weren't together, my response would probably lead to being fired. I suppose that'd be better. But I work so hard to get where I was. I didn't want to toss it away because of a cheater.
"Unhand me, Owen," I murmured, pulling my hand back, but he didn't budge.
"Owen? How dare you call me by my name?!" He snapped, shoving me.
I stumbled backwards, my leg striking the edge of the rectangular concrete planter behind me. I winced as the cold stone bit into my skin. But Owen wasn't done yet. No. He must have thought about all these last night, on how to punish me for what I did.
He closed the distance between us, his hand grabbed a fistful of my hair, and brought it to his face. I grunted as his hand tightened, and I grabbed his wrist to loosen his grip.
"You think you have the right to say all these things to me?"
"I have every right to say anything to you." He answered, his voice cold.
"For seven years, Owen, I loved you. I should be the one ranting and making threats right now after what you did. I am the victim. But I guess to this day, victims don't have the right to become the victim anymore!" I hissed in retort.
"Love?" Someone in the crowd guffawed. "How can Mr Fletcher love someone like her?"
"That's giving Delulu. Not even the useless uncle will want anything to do with her. He only wants to fuck her and dump her."
I gulped against the knot in my throat, tears prickling hot at my eyes. Owen's lips curved into a smirk. He seemed to be enjoying my humiliation.
"I am free to choose whomever I want, and I did. As for being with you for seven years, I never said I'd end up with you. You were only a placeholder for Camilla. My perfect Camilla isn't a whore who sells her body for money. I enjoyed it while it lasted, though." A sick grin formed on his face, and his eyes twinkled with mischief while his fingers undid the top button of the jacket, then he yanked.
Well, since the jacket was too big for me, it came off easily. I gasped, covering my bare shoulders. Many eyes drilled holes into my body while I stood there shivering. Owen clasped my shoulders, turning me around to face the crowd that had formed. Their phones were out, recording, and their cameras were ready. I blinked, squinting to shield my eyes from the flashes.
Owen's voice thundered. "Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you, Harper Wilson, the woman who's so desperate to fuck a Fletcher so she can be at the top. Too bad, Fletchers don't do Illegitimates and sluts. Although I've tasted those goodies she has to offer many times, and I'd say it was really bland."
The crowd burst into a peal of laughter, and my head lowered with shame, tears gathering in my eyes, begging to spill.
"Why are you doing this? I've never done anything to hurt you." I whispered, my heart clenching as I clutched my chest, sniffing hard to hold the tears back.
Again, he forced me to face him, his gaze locking onto mine, dark with intent. "This is a payback for embarrassing me last night," he whispered for my ears alone.
"You betrayed me with my sister!" I let out a shaky breath. "How can you not care about my feelings?"
God. I should have known he was such a narcissist! A fucking bastard. The signs had been there from the onset. I had been stupidly blinded by love.
"Your feelings? Really, Harper?" Owen let out a scoff, glowering down at me. "How can you make this about yourself right now? You almost ruined me last night. Thank goodness for my influence in this world. Who knows what those greedy bastards might have put up!"
He wasn't remorseful. I thought he'd have a good enough reason. He hadn't even given me something I might have done wrong for him to do this to me. Maybe I wasn't just good enough for him. It was the truth I could live with right now, no matter how cruel it seemed.
There was no way a nobody like me could marry Owen. Really, our relationship had always been that 'too good to be true' and I wished I hadn't lost myself in it. This betrayal wouldn't have hurt me that much.
"Everyone inside, show's over!" Owen snapped, and the workers began to scurry inside while continuing to film. He approached me, grabbed a lock of my hair, and twirling his finger. "I'll only give you one last bit of advice that'll help you in the long run if you wish to survive the harshness of this world. Stay away from my uncle else—"
"Didn't your father teach you manners on how to treat a woman?"