Ethan pushed Cassie onto the bed and reached for the bag, but she clutched it tightly to her chest, refusing to let go.
"Cassie, hand it over!" Ethan demanded, his anger rising. "I told you not to see that man, but you disobeyed me!"
Cassie shot back, "It's just a bag! Why are you getting so aggressive?"
Ethan's face reddened with rage. "How dare you talk back?" He raised his fist, aiming for her face, but Cassie countered with a threat.
"If you hit me, I'll terminate this pregnancy! I dare you, Ethan Halton!"
Ethan's fist hovered in mid-air, his face pale at the thought. He slowly lowered it, backing down.
Cassie breathed a sigh of relief, grateful for the leverage the baby gave her. Without it, she knew Ethan wouldn't hesitate to hurt her, just like he had Brooke.
As he left, Ethan yanked Cassie's hair and warned, "This is the last time you'll defy me. Try it again, and you'll suffer greatly." He slammed the door behind him, just barely missing the pillow Cassie threw at him.
"Ahh!" She pulled at her hair in frustration. "That bastard, how dare he treat me like this?"
Cassie wondered what the women downstairs must be saying about her. She turned to check on the bag, ensuring it was unharmed. "Thank goodness it's fine." She hugged the bag tightly, relieved.
Had Ethan damaged the bag, Cassie feared her reaction might have been uncontrollable.
She harrumphed, "That man doesn't know his days are numbered. I only used him because he was convenient. But what is the city's richest man compared to the country's wealthiest heir?"
A sly smile spread across her face as she thought of the Grayson heir. "No one gives such an extravagant gift without expecting something in return. My charm was too alluring for him to resist." She beamed with pride.
"Now, I just need to cast my net and catch the biggest fish ever!"
The next day, Serena dressed up and headed to her exclusive ladies' club, determined to carry on as if the events of the previous night hadn't occurred.
Upon her arrival, she couldn't ignore the way the other women avoided meeting her gaze, some even audibly whispering as she made her way towards the elevator.
"What the hell?!" Serena exclaimed in frustration as she repeatedly swiped her membership card at the door lock.
Despite her efforts, each attempt to access the main lounge was met with denial.
As she contemplated seeking assistance, her 'friend' Evelyn appeared alongside some of the ladies from the previous night. Serena observed as their cards effortlessly granted them access, unlike hers.
"What? How come mine doesn't work?" Serena questioned, scrutinizing her yellow card for any possible damage.
"What's the matter? Aren't you joining us inside?" Evelyn inquired, drawing the attention of passersby to Serena's predicament.
Putting on a fake smile, Serena replied, "Ah yes, I was just about to." She attempted to enter the lounge while Evelyn's card was still in the lock.
However, just as Serena tried to pass through, Evelyn swiftly removed her card. "Oops," she feigned, accidentally dropping it to the floor.
A staff member retrieved the card and extended it to Evelyn, who declined. "It seems to be damaged and won't work. I'll need to get a new one."
"Dented?" Serena raised an eyebrow. "It looks perfectly fine," she defended, unaware of Evelyn's intentions.
Evelyn turned to the staff member, her voice taking on an ominous tone, "What do you say? Is it dented or not?"
Within the exclusive club, a clear hierarchy was established based on the color of the members' cards. The white cards belonged to the lower ranks, yellow denoted a higher status like Serena's, and those with silver cards, like Evelyn, were often connected to influential figures. The elusive golden membership card, the rarest of them all, had never been spotted by Serena since she joined the club.
Under the weight of this unspoken hierarchy, the staff member had no option but to comply with Evelyn, "Ah, I do see a slight dent, ma'am. I'll have it fixed promptly."
Evelyn's smile twisted wickedly, "No issue at all. Let's have my dear friend Serena here assist us with her card."
A wave of panic washed over Serena. She was already clutching her card and couldn't claim to have forgotten it at home.
"Oh, I believe mine might have a dent too—"
Evelyn interjected, "Really? Let's have the staff examine it to determine the issue."
Serena felt her heart pound in her chest. If her card was scrutinized, it could reveal that her membership had been revoked.
"It's just a minor dent. I'll get a replacement," Serena responded, attempting to stow the card away, but Evelyn seized her hand.
"This is payback for last night," Evelyn thought as she snatched Serena's card.
"It looks fine, doesn't it?" Evelyn presented the card to the employee.
"Y-Yes, ma'am," the employee replied without inspecting it.
"Evelyn, please return it!" Serena's anxiety heightened as Evelyn approached the door with her card. The whispers around them intensified, drawing attention to the unfolding spectacle.
With eyes shut tight, Serena prepared for the worst, but Evelyn suddenly exclaimed, "Ah, there is indeed a dent! How clumsy of us both!" She lifted the card to eye level.
Handing both cards to the staff member, Evelyn commanded, "Have them repaired and returned immediately!"
"Yes, ma'am," the staff member nodded and hurried away.
Exhaling a sigh of relief, Serena began, "Thank you—"
But Evelyn wasn't finished. As the crowd dispersed, she crossed her arms, fixing a sharp gaze on Serena. "You have some nerve showing up after last night."
Tension gripped Serena as memories of her actions resurfaced.
Reaching for Evelyn's hands, Serena pleaded, "I must have been out of my mind! I didn't mean to—"
Evelyn forcefully withdrew her hand. "Oh really? Well, now that you're sober, be prepared to make amends for embarrassing me!"
"But it was a mistake—"
Evelyn sneered, "If you won't own up, know that I lodged a complaint to have your membership revoked. Until I say otherwise, you're banned from this club!"
The threat sent Serena reeling. "Please! I'll do anything you ask! Just don't take away my membership!" Being part of the club solidified Serena's place in high society.
The thought of being kicked out felt like a crushing blow.
Evelyn chuckled, "Much better. Women like you are better suited at groveling."
"Normally, you have nothing of interest to me, but there is one thing that could buy my silence." Leaning in, she whispered her demand into Serena's ear...