Chapter 3

Rachel rushed back to the apartment, her face pale as she took in the scene: me, battered and bruised, crying hysterically on the couch, clothes torn, and David sprawled unconscious across the room.

“Emily, what happened?” she asked, her voice trembling.

“Rachel…” I sobbed, throwing myself into her arms. “David… David attacked me!”

It was so satisfying to spit out those words—David attacked me.

Rachel looked like she might pass out. Her eyes locked onto David, fury and disbelief bubbling up.

She slapped him across the face, shouting, “Wake up, you bastard!”

When David groggily woke up, completely unaware of what had happened, Rachel lost it. “You disgusting pig!”

I grabbed my phone and ran out of the apartment, draping myself in a coat as I faked a sobbing exit.

Rachel had clawed her way up using her looks and charm to hook wealthy guys, and David Lawson was the biggest fish she’d ever landed. She wasn’t going to let him go so easily.

Sure enough, as I reached the sidewalk, Rachel came chasing after me. “Emily!”

I pretended to shiver as I tried dialing 911 on my shattered phone, knowing it wouldn’t work. I was buying time, letting her true nature surface.

“Rachel…” I said, voice shaking. “I need your phone to call the police. I won’t let that monster get away with this.”

Rachel’s face went pale, and she grabbed my hand. “Emily, calm down.”

“How can I calm down?” I cried. “Do you know what he did to me?”

Tears streamed down my face as I continued. “He ripped my clothes, groped me, and… and he assaulted me. I’m going to make sure that man goes to prison! And if you defend him, we’re no longer friends.”

Rachel’s expression hardened, and I saw the cold, calculating woman behind her fragile exterior.

She forced a smile. “I’m not defending him. I’m just worried about your reputation. Let’s wait a couple of days and talk this through. I’ll get David’s side of the story and make sure you get justice.”

Her smile was as chilling as it was fake. But I knew what she was planning. She was getting ready to strike.

Everything was going exactly according to plan.

Now, it was time to push Rachel over the edge.