The Ruined Bride of Velvet Nights novel Chapter 7

I finally stopped at the riverside. Would dying end all this? Would that fake crime no longer hang over my head?

As I put one foot in the river, Hayes found me. He pulled me into his arms, calming me down over and over.

When darkness fell, I finally came to my senses. My voice was hoarse when I spoke.

"Hayes, could you lend me some money? Just a little. I want to leave New York. I'll work hard to pay you back, I promise."

The day I left, I took the Visa Hayes gave me and forced a smile as I said goodbye.

He was a good man. He begged several times to come with me, but I refused. Someone like me couldn't ruin his whole life.

Only after I boarded the plane and made sure no one from the Blackwood or Lancaster families was around did I finally relax a little. I held the new phone Hayes had bought me and managed a small smile.

It was dark when I reached Miami. I took a taxi to the hotel. In the way people were all staring at me strangely.

I didn't understand what was happening. I just tensed up, only letting my guard down slightly when I reached the hotel entrance.

This weird feeling continued until they refused to check me in. I finally confirmed—they were staring at me, mocking me.

The receptionist looked at me with pure disgust. She even fanned her nose and gagged.

"Why the whore was here? Began to work already? Get out! Uh, such disgusting! If you check into our hotel, no decent person will set foot in there again."

Once she started, everyone around began pointing and talking about me.

Some even came up, comparing videos on their phones to my face.

My humiliation was on full display for everyone

Just then, my phone received a text from an unknown number, filled with familiar malice.

"Scarlett, like my gift? Congratulations—you're America's most famous whore now! Every john wants a piece of you!"

"You're completely ruined trash, I don't understand why Thaddeus still care you? You're nothing but used goods. You don't even know? At the wedding, I MADE IT ALL UP! Those marks on my body were FAKE!"

"Can't believe Thaddeus and our parents actually fell for it! Too bad they didn't kill you. Those men who fucked you daily told me you were quite the ride!"

"I HATE seeing everyone spoil you! I'm only two years older—why were YOU always the favorite? Why did Thaddeus only have eyes for YOU? Why were you even born, stealing everything that should have been mine?"