Chapter 23 Changed Sides


    Just as Tracy reached the hotel entrance, someone stepped in her way.


    “Hold up, Miss. I need to see your invitation,” the security guard said with a serious look, blocking her path.


    Tracy froze. This is the Jackmans’s event-why would I need an invite? Nobody gave me one.


    Liam was always kind of impulsive and forgetful, so she figured he’d probably just skipped that part.


    She kept her cool and exined, “I came with the Jackmans. I got held up a bit, that’s all. If you don’t believe me, go inside and ask them.”


    The guard, however, just scoffed. “The whole Jackmans showed up 30 minutes ago. So how exactly are you to them?”


    He narrowed his eyes. “Let me guess-you found out they booked out the entire hotel and invited half the city’s elite, and now you’re trying to sneak in for a free ride?”


    Tracy could sense hostility the second it appeared.


    She instinctively took a small step back and spoke coldly. “Don’t believe me? Ask them. I’m Tracy Yarwood.


    “It’s just a quick question. Doesn’t take much effort.”


    She had been as direct as possible. It would’ve taken him less than a minute to walk in and confirm it.


    But the guard didn’t even pretend to listen. He gave her a dirty look and said, “Look at you-dressed like that, acting like you belong with the Jackmans. Do you think we’re idiots?”


    The other guard joined in. “I’ve seen plenty of girls like this-just gold-diggers trying to sneak into rich parties. Disgusting.”


    They weren’t whispering. People nearby started turning to look, some even whispering among themselves while eyeing Tracy.


    Her brows furrowed as she looked at the guards. “Did I do something to you? Why are you bothing at me like this?”


    She didn’t remember ever seeing them before, but their attitude was nasty.


    The first guard snapped back, “Nobody’sing at you. We’re just sick of women throwing themselves at wealthy men.”


    Then he leaned in, lowering his voice while letting his eyes roam. “But I’ll admit, you’re kind of cute. If you’re that desperate to get in, maybe there’s another way.”-


    The second one caught on quick, giving her a sleazy grin. “Yeah … nothinges free. But if you make it worth our time, maybe we’ll let it slide.”


    As he spoke, his hand reached toward her face.


    Tracy froze. A chill raced up her spine and hit her like a wave.


    In that moment, his disgusting face blurred with the image of a ck mask-a twisted, grinning mask that had haunted her dreams during her time at the Angelic Etiquette Academy.


    That mask had appeared in her nightmares far too often. It had woken her up in cold sweats more times than she could count.


    Her body shook, and the color drained from her face.


    No… Don’t touch me.


    The second his fingers grazed her cheek, her whole body jerked away. It felt like something rotten and filthy had crawled across her skin-no, even worse.


    “Don’t touch me!”


    She snapped, flinging his hand away with everything she had. Her sharp nails left a deep, bleeding cut across his cheek.


    She started furiously wiping at the ce he touched, as if trying to scrub off something vile. Even when the skin turned red from rubbing, she didn’t stop.


    The guard was stunned. The p had knocked the breath out of him, and he didn’t even dare touch the painful sting on his face. He already knew that it was swelling fast.


    “How dare you!”


    He stared at her in shock and raised his hand, ready to strike.back.


    “Back off!”


    A voice rang out from inside the hotel. Someone rushed out and stepped between them just in time, shielding Tracy with his arms stretched out.


    He red at the guard. “Are you blind? She’s the young woman the Jackmans raised for 18 years. She’s a VIP guest. And you tried toy a hand on her? Are you out of your mind?”


    Tracy looked at the person standing in front of her. She wasn’t sure if it was the shock messing with her, or if two years really had changed familiar faces that much.


    But when he turned around and asked, “Tracy, are you okay?” with genuine concern in his voice, she finally remembered who he was.


    It was Simon Dunn, son of the Jackman Enterprise’s deputy CEO.


    Back in the day, he used to follow her around all the time, saying he wanted to be her knight, her protector.


    Even knowing she and Norris were childhood sweethearts and engaged, he’d always smile and say, “As long as I get to see you happy, that’s enough.”


    She had believed he meant it, and even though she couldn’t return his feelings, she did what she had helped him whenever she could.


    Not long after, Simon’s dad climbed the corporatedder and became deputy CEO.


    But after the whole baby swap scandal broke out, Simon changed sides and supported Erin. He even went


    as far as calling Tracy “vicious and heartless” for how she treated Erin.