Chapter 2

I was dragged out of the VIP room by security.

Logan claimed I had ruined the mood. In front of all his friends, he threw me out.

"Go back to the apartment! Stop embarrassing me here!"

Dragging my injured, bruised leg, I limped all the way back to the apartment.

The moment I unlocked the door, I froze. The living room was a complete disaster.

My makeup, my expensive skincare products—everything had been swept off the counters, shattered into a million glass shards on the floor.

My clothes had been ripped out of the closet and scattered everywhere.

The bedroom door was wide open. Chloe was standing by the bed, giving Logan directions.

"Logan, this bedding is so tacky. Red? It looks so cheap and trashy, just like a certain someone."

Without a second thought, Logan stuffed the expensive wedding duvet I had carefully chosen into a giant trash bag.

"Throw it out! All of it! What color do you like, Chloe? I’ll buy it right now."

"Let's go with pure white. Clean and elegant."

Chloe turned around and saw me standing at the door. She gasped, feigning surprise as she covered her mouth.

"Oh, Scarlett, you're back? I'm so sorry, but I'm a bit of a germaphobe. I really couldn't stand the smell of your cheap perfume in here."

The moment Logan saw me, his face darkened instantly.

He threw the trash bag right at my feet.

"Get this garbage out of here. It’s an eyesore."

Through the plastic, I could see a corner of the matching hoodies we had bought for our wedding photoshoot.

"This is my apartment," I said, stepping over the trash bag and walking into the bedroom.

"Who gave you permission to touch my things?"

Logan took a few steps forward and shoved me back.

"Your apartment? The deed has my name on it!"

"I paid the down payment! I pay the mortgage every single month!"

"So what? You did that voluntarily!"

Logan spoke with sickening righteousness. "Besides, where did your money come from? It's all dirty money you earned by selling smiles to random men! Me spending your money is helping you wash it clean!"

He pointed at my nose, his face twisted in disgust.

"Scarlett, have some self-respect, will you? Chloe is an Ivy League graduate. She’s an artist. Her staying here brings status to this place."

"Look at you. Covered in alcohol, caked in makeup. You make me sick just looking at you."

Chloe walked over, wrapping her arm around Logan's. She waved her hand in front of her nose dismissively.

"Logan, tell her to take a shower. The smell is too strong. It's giving me a headache."

Logan’s face softened instantly into a tender smile as he looked at Chloe.

"Of course, babe. Anything you say."

Then he spun around and yelled at me, "Get into the bathroom! Scrub yourself at least three times before you come out! Don't bring your bacteria near Chloe!"

"And another thing—you’re sleeping on the couch tonight. Chloe gets the master bedroom."

My entire body shook with rage.

"By what right? I'm your fiancée!"

"Because Chloe is a guest! Because she is cleaner than you! More noble than you!"

Logan shoved me into the bathroom and slammed the door shut.

"Don't come out until you're clean!"

There was only cold water.

They had turned off the water heater. Logan said Chloe didn't like the water too hot because it would ruin her skin.

I stood under the freezing water, letting it wash over the burn mark on my hand.

The sting was agonizing.

Through the door, I could hear their giggles and whispers.

"Logan, she probably used this bathtub too, right? That’s so gross. I want a new one."

"We'll get a new one! First thing tomorrow! I'll have the whole bathroom remodeled for you!"

"Oh, Logan, you’re the best..."

I turned off the shower and looked at myself in the mirror.

My lip was busted, my hair was soaking wet and messy, and I looked incredibly pathetic.