"Having fun on your blind date?" he sneered. "Will you dare do it again?"


    His words hit me like ice water. Understanding dawned with horrifying rity.


    He had seen me at Canis Enterprises. He had followed me here. He had watched as Miles drugged me


    "Ethan, just because I disobeyed you and went on this blind date, you just stood by and watched him drug me?" My voice broke. "You wanted to teach me a lesson this way?"


    His silence was confirmation enough. No denial, no exnation.


    A chill ran through me that had nothing to do with the drug. I shoved him away, bracing myself against the


    wall.


    As Ethan reached for me again, the elevator doors opened. Lucas ckwood stepped out, striding toward us with purpose.


    "Miss Winters, are you alright?" His voice was gentle, concerned


    "Matriarch Stone arranged for me to be your date," he continued. "I apologize for not arriving on time."


    The pieces clicked together in my drug-addled mind. Lucas was my intended date - not Miles.


    I clutched Lucas''s arm. "Take me away."


    Without hesitation, he scooped me into his arms. My head fell against his shoulder as strength left my body "Mr. ckwood, where are you taking my woman?" Ethan''s voice cut through the hallway, sharp


    pand dangerous.


    Lucas met his stare unflinchingly. He looked down at me with respect. "Miss Winters, who do you want to go with?"


    "You! Take me away..." I said without hesitation, refusing to even nce at Ethan.


    Ethan''s face darkened dangerously. The fact that I would choose Lucas over him seemed to infuriate him beyond measure.


    "Ethan, I''m not feeling well, Victoria''s voice suddenly cut through the tension.


    She emerged from a nearby room, clinging to Ethan''s arm and swaying dramatically. So that was why Ethan was here - he had been with Victoria.


    Lucas carried me into the elevator. As the doors began to close, I caught a final glimpse of the scene.


    "Go back to the room and rest," Ethan said dismissively to Victoria.


    As the elevator doors closed, I saw Victoria copse dramatically. Thest thing I saw was Ethan turning away from her, his eyes fixed on the closing elevator. (Isabelle''s POV)


    I arrived at the Moonstone Dining Hall just in time to see Lucas carrying a drugged Olivia to his car. The sight made my blood boil.


    My grandmother had arranged for Olivia to meet Lucas - the man I''d admired for years. I''d wanted to expose Olivia''s past to my grandmother, but Mother had stopped me.


    "Don''t upset your grandmother," she''d warned. "Her heart can''t take it."


    Furious, I''d called Victoria. She suggested I arrange a "more suitable" date for Olivia.


    I''d chosen Miles Lawrence-handsome, wealthy, and known for getting what he wanted. Td told him to drug Olivia and force himself on her


    But my n had failed. Lucas had rushed to find Olivia, and now he was rescuing her like a princess.


    My jealousy turned to rage. This was Miles''s fault.


    I stormed into the hotel and took the elevator to Miles''s room. The drug hadpletely overtaken him by


    now


    He''d called for a woman to be sent to his room. When I knocked, his drugged mind assumed I was his orderedpanion.


    He ripped the door open, his eyes bloodshot. Before I could speak, he grabbed my arm and yanked me inside. "Ahl Miles Lawrence, it''s me, Isabelle Stone! Let go of me!" I screamed, my anger instantly turning to terror. Miles was beyond reason. He tore at my clothes, pushing me toward the bed.


    "You''ll do," he growled, his voice unrecognizable.


    My screams filled the room as I fought against him. Through my terror, I saw Victoria watching from the doorway.


    Our eyes met briefly. Then, without a word, she turned and walked toward the elevator.


    She was leaving me here. Leaving me to be ruined.


    In that moment, I understood Victoria cared for no one but herself. Now I would pay the price for helping her destroy Olivia.


    (Olivia''s POV)


    Lucas''s car had barely made it two blocks when Ethan''s vehicle appeared behind us, gaining rapidly.


    "Cut him off, Ethanmanded from inside the pursuing car.


    His fury was palpable. He had allowed me to defy him before, but choosing another Alpha over him was something he couldn''t tolerate.


    Maxwell Chen elerated with expert precision, forcing Lucas to brake suddenly.


    As Lucas swerved to avoid collision, my head hit the car window with a sickening thud. Fresh waves of dizziness washed over me.


    Lucas''s expression tightened with concern. He eased off the elerator, allowing Maxwell to bring us to a halt.


    Before the car fully stopped, Ethan was out, striding toward us. He yanked open the back door and pulled me into his arms.


    "Get out," Ethanmanded Lucas, his voice frigid.


    Lucas exited his car, moving to intervene, but Maxwell blocked his path. With a controlled movement, Lucas pushed Maxwell aside.


    "Mr. Stone, please behave yourself. Miss Winters just said she''sing with me."


    "Mr. ckwood, surely you don''t take a woman''s words seriously when she''s upset," Ethan retorted, shielding


    Cluster 60 Pjedatory Ba


    me from Lucas''s view.


    "Mr. Stone, are you sure it''s just being upset, and not her true feelings?"


    Lucas''s question struck a nerve. Ethan''s jaw clenched in anger.


    The familiar scent of Ethan brought me back to awareness. I recognized him fully now, and panic surged


    through me.


    "Ethan, let me go...!" I struggled against his hold, pushing against his chest.


    I would not go with him. Lucas had proven trustworthy, while Ethan had allowed Miles to drug me.


    Seeing my revulsion, Ethan''s eyes turned colder. Without warning, he bent down, his lips capturing mine as I


    gasped for breath in the drug-induced heat.