Chapter 30

Elysia’s cheeks were still zing hot at the thought of the bold move she had just made. Kissing

someone first? That was something she never imagined she’d do in her entire life.

Back in college, her friends Blossom Blythe and Winona Newsom had pegged her as the poster girl for

the conservative crowd.

She snorted, recalling the predatory look on that guy’s face. It was as if she was trying to get a free ride

or something. If it hadn’t been to shut him up, why on earth would she have kissed him? And she had

lost $250 in the process–enough to buy three sets of cozy fall clothes for

the kids!

Just as she was stewing in her misfortune, a sleek luxury car suddenly cut in front of them, performing

an elegant yet aggressive maneuver that blocked their way.

The cab driver mmed on the brakes, his heart racing with fright and anger. He rolled down the

window, ready to unleash a tirade.

“What kind of driving is that? Do you even know how to drive? You…”

But his anger deted like a punctured balloon when he saw two men in ck suits step out of the car.

He mped his mouth shut, not daring to make another peep.

Elysia peered out the window, curious. The window was knocked on, and a stern voicemanded,

“Get out.”

Sensing trouble, Elysia scooted to the opposite door, asking, “Are you looking for me? Who are you?”

The man didn’t bother with pleasantries, yanking the door open and pulling her out of the car. As soon

as her feet hit the pavement, the cab sped off, anxious to avoid any involvement.

Elysia struggled to free herself from the man’s grip. “Who are you? Let me go! Let me go!”

She was dragged onto a bridge, where a chic convertible was parked.

The car door swung open, and a woman emerged. She strode toward Elysia, her footsteps echoing

with the click–ck of her stiletto heels. She carried an expensive designer handbag and had her arms

folded across her chest.

Elysia couldn’t shake off the feeling that she recognized this woman, but the mask and sunsses

obscured her identity.

“p!”

The woman struck Elysia across the face without warning.

Elysia was stunned. Held back by two bodyguards, she couldn’t fight back and shouted, “Who are you?

Why did you hit me?”

“You slut, thinking you can seduce my man? I ought to teach you a lesson!”

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Elysia was confused. “Are you crazy? Who did I seduce?”

N, as if deaf to Elysia’s words, pped her again, twice more. “Don’t think because you’re pretty,

you can climb the socialdder. Let me tell you, Tarquin is out of your league. He’s mine! If you so

much as look at him again, I’ll make you wish you hadn’t!”

Turning to her bodyguards, N ordered, “Ruin that pretty face of hers. The sight of it disgusts me!”

N was determined not to allow any woman prettier than her to be near Tarquin. One of the

bodyguards produced a gleaming dagger, its de catching the light menacingly.

Elysia, panic–stricken, forgot to demand who Tarquin was and instead pleaded, “There must be some

mistake! I don’t know you, and I certainly don’t know any Tarquin. Let me go!”

As N took the dagger, intending to do the deed herself, Elysiashed out with a kick, sending N

sprawling backward. The high heels did her no favors; she fell, twisting her ankle, and the de sliced

her hand.

N’s scream pierced the air, “Ah! It hurts…”

e bodyguards rushed to her side, calling out, “Miss!”

Noticing that Elysia attempted to bolt, N cried with fury, “Kill that bitch! Ouch, ouch…”

Seeing the bodyguards in pursuit, Elysia took out the pepper spray her son had given to her, and she

didn’t hesitate to use it on the bodyguards. Of course, Evan’s work had always been potent, and it left

them writhing on the ground.

She took off running, making a dash across the road to the opposite side in no time at all.

Left behind, N shouted in frustration, “Ipetents! Catch her, or it’ll be your heads!”

Three more bodyguards appeared, giving chase to Elysia as she ran for her life.