Chapter 1
Lucas Montenegro’s childhood sweetheart got hammered and plowed into some pedestrians. He begged me to take the fall for her
“Iris’s dad saved my life once. Can’t you do this for me? just suck it up for a couple months. The second you get out, we’ll get married.“||
I said yes through my tears. But my two month sentence mysteriously turned into SIX years
When I tried to recant my confession, they beat the shit out of me.]
“Someone on the outside is paying us real good to keep you in line, Who the hell do you think you are, dreaming about Mr. Montenegro? Look in a fucking mirror!”
They beat me until I was seeing stars. Right before I passed out, I caught a glimpse of the TV.
Lacks and Iris Lawson, all over the news, announcing their engagement
My heart died that day. After six years of pure hell, I finally got out
thwas dragging my pathetic duffel bag to the train station when Lucas’s assistant appeared out of nowhere, all polite smiles.
Miss Vanderbilt, Mr. Montenegro would like to see you“]
I sat in the car, watching the city skyline blur past my window]
SLT years. Miami had exploded into something unrecognizable.||
We cruised past a gleaming skyscraper, its massive digital billboard flashing breaking news
“Miami’s richest bachelor Lucas drops nine figures on a necklace for his new flame–couple spotted entering his penthouse.”
Nine figures. Jesus. I counted the zeros in my head like an idiot.
I glanced down at my wrist, at the bracelet he’d given me six years ago. Cost him two bucks, maybe. The string was frayed and grimy now, barely holding together
I untied it slowly and tossed it out the window without a second thought.
Before I knew it, we’d pulled up to this massive estate.
I was still spacing out when his assistant handed me a phone.]]
Lucas’s voice came through, smooth as ever.
“Brook, hey… I’m tied up right now. Just chill at the house for a bit, okay?“]
I listened to dead air for a few seconds before managing a “mm–hmm.“[]
There was this pause, like he was waiting for something more
Six years changes a person. I wasn’t that chatty girl anymore, the one who used to talk his ear off about everything and nothing
After he hung up, I just sat there in his ridiculously huge living room.]
The housekeepers were cleaning around me, shooting me looks and whispering
“Mr. Montenegro brought another one home. This one’s way too skinny. Not even pretty.“[
“Theard she just got out of prison.”
“Ugh, gross. What’s wrong with Mr. Muntenegro? At least his other girls were actresses, models, trust fund babies. This one’s postylkes ()
ey kept gening, acting; like they genuinely felt bad for turns
Whatever. I wasn’t bothered. But I couldn’t stop checking my watch.]]
It had been seven hours sunce he said “a bit.“]
I hadn’t eaten since getting out this morning, and the AC was cranked up to arctic levels. I was freezing and starving.
Finally, I worked up the nerve to ask the head butler where Lucas was.
After the second time, he gave me this look like I was some desperate side chick
“Mr. Montenegro is with Miss Lawson. They’re on his yacht watching fireworks. He’s busy,”
Iris. Her name hit me like a slap
Six years ago, she got wasted and plowed into two pedestrians.
It was for HER that I took the fall.
That’s how I went from being the Vanderbilt family’s beloved daughter, doted on by everyone, to a prisoner despised by all.
