Shadows Drift Beyond Memory by Xarin Vale novel Chapter 48

Chapter 1

The day before the wedding, my fiancé’s girl bro delivered a wedding gift.”

She shot me a provocative glance, then pulled a riding crop from the bag:

“Baby, want to try it out?”

Before the words even left her mouth, she yanked up my fiancé’s shirt and lashed him across the chest.

My face went pale. I immediately moved to stop her.

But she shoved me aside, sneering:

“It’s just a toy, not like they’re actually hooking up. Why’re you freaking out?”

“Besides, if I hadn’t gotten bored of him, you think you’d ever have a shot?”

Blood rushed to my head.

I clenched my fist and swung hard at her face.

She smirked and dodged smoothly to the side.

SLAP!

She actually cracked the whip again, voice low and commanding:

“Baby, tell her who you belong to.”

Drew’s body trembled from the stimulation:

“I… I’ll always be… Marissa’s dog.”

In that moment, it finally hit me-

My fiancé really wasn’t human.

He was scum. A whore. Someone else’s dog.

“You know what? The wedding’s off.”

“A bitch and her lapdog–now that’s a match made in heaven”

I got up to leave.

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His Girl Bro Lied ‘Not His Baby DN Plaved Along. But Baby IS His!

15:17 Tue, Jan 20 G

Drew frantically smoothed down his rumpled clothes and threw himself at me.

“Babe, we’re all friends here! It was just trying it out!”

“Plus, we’d be using it together after the wedding anyway. Don’t make this awkward.”

Laughter erupted around us.

Someone chimed in mockingly:

“Marissa was doing you a favor, girl! And you’re being ungrateful?”

“Seriously, can’t you take a joke?”

Amid the cruel jeers, Marissa looked even more smug.

She brazenly yanked down Drew’s pants and lashed him across the ass.

“Ah-”

Drew let out a muffled groan, released me abruptly, and turned to grab Marissa’s waist, trembling.

“Go easier~ That’s enough!”

Enough!

Yeah, I’ve had fucking enough!

Rage that had been building for months exploded in my chest.

I furiously snatched the riding crop from Marissa’s hand and hurled it against the wall.

“If you’re that desperate, go get a hotel room right now.”

“Stop this shit in front of me. It’s disgusting!”

Seeing my face turn dark as thunder, realizing I was dead serious this time-

Drew finally pushed Marissa away.

He cleared his throat softly, coaxing me:

“Lucia, it’s supposed to be a happy occasion. Don’t ruin the mood.”

“If you don’t like it, we just won’t use toys after we’re married. How’s that?”

“I promise. It won’t happen again.”

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His Girl Bro Lied ‘Not His Baby‘–DN Played Along, But Baby IS His!

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15:17 Tue, Jan 20 GD

Won’t happen again?

I let out a bitter laugh.

I’d heard those three words so many times they’d lost all meaning.

Three months ago at the reunion, Drew came home covered in hickeys.

Said Marissa got wasted and thought he was her ex.

“Wouldn’t happen again.”

Two weeks later, he stumbled in with his clothes half off.

Said Marissa got roofied and he was just helping her out.

“Wouldn’t happen again.”

A month ago, Marissa casually mentioned wanting kids.

He literally volunteered himself.

I threw the engagement ring and gave him two options:

Either we call it off, or he cuts her out completely.

After wrestling with it, Drew chose me.

Back then, I was naive enough to think it was finally over.

Never imagined in a million years-

They’d have the audacity to pull this sick stunt right in front of me today!

I don’t get it.

The man who nearly beat Marissa years ago just because she spread rumors about me stealing-

How did he end up

like this?

Or maybe from the start… I just misjudged him completely?

Snapping back to reality, I threw my head back and downed a drink without a word.

Drew thought I was backing down. He quickly pulled me onto the couch.

Started rallying everyone to play Truth or Dare.

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His Girl Bro Lied ‘Not His BabyDN Played Along, But Baby IS His!

Looking at all those fake, excited faces made my stomach churn. I stood to leave.

But suddenly–a cold draft hit my legs.

Someone had yanked my sweatpants clean off.

The private room exploded.

Whistles and screams made my ears ring.

“Lucia, thought you didn’t like playing rough? Why’d you strip yourself?”

“I only regret buying just one whip. Who knew our girl was into this kind of thing–I should’ve gotten her something way more hardcore!”

Amid all the malicious jeering, I heard Drew’s soft but piercing voice:

“Lucia, don’t be a buzzkill. Let’s all play together!”

Looking at the anticipation in his eyes, my last shred of control shattered.

Right in front of everyone-

I slapped him hard across the face.

“Drew Sullivan, inviting your fiancée to cheat alongside your mistress–real thrilling, huh?”

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