His Perfectly Hollow Project

"Well, if it isn't Adrian's little pet. Have you forgotten your place? Just because he lets you live in the manor doesn't make you its lady."

I clutched the documents in my hand, my knuckles turning white. "What's between Adrian and me is none of your business."

Cindy covered her mouth as if she'd heard the funniest joke in the world. Then, she leaned in, her voice a venomous whisper. "I guess he hasn't told you, then."

"Adrian and I are having our engagement party in two weeks. He'll be publicly announcing me as the future matriarch of the Ashwood family."

Two weeks? I looked up, stunned.

Just last night, Adrian was holding me, promising over and over that I would be his only wife. The warmth of his body still seemed to cling to mine.

I refused to be swayed by her taunts, but the sheer certainty in Cindy's eyes was impossible to dismiss.

"What's wrong? Heartbroken?"

She extended a finger tipped with a blood-red nail and contemptuously flicked my work badge. "You're just a nobody from nowhere. So what if you've been with Adrian for six years?"

"Dorthy, you're just a charity project he hasn't tired of yet. And I am the future Mrs. Ashwood."

I wanted to fire back, but my throat was tight and raw. "I'm not," was all I could manage.

"Then what are you?" she sneered, closing in.

"Oh, right. You're just an unwanted orphan. If Adrian's parents hadn't taken pity on you, you'd have died in a ditch somewhere long ago."

Orphan...

Losing my parents was my deepest wound, a subject no one ever dared to mention in my presence.

I snapped, raising my hand and shoving her with all my strength. "Shut up!"

But I was just a girl, and Cindy had a professionally trained bodyguard at her side. He seized my wrist with one hand as Cindy raised her other and slapped me hard.

The force of the slap sent me staggering to the ground, my ears ringing. Cindy stood over me, a mocking sneer in her eyes.

Just then, the elevator dinged open, and Adrian strode out. His eyes landed immediately on me, sprawled on the floor.

"What happened?" he asked.

Cindy stood with her arms crossed, not a hint of panic in her eyes, only triumph.

"Dorthy attacked me. I was just defending myself."

"Enough," he cut her off, then turned to me.

For a heartbeat, I thought he would defend me. But the man staring down at me now was a stranger, nothing like the one who held me last night. He commanded sharply, "Apologize."

My voice trembled, a sharp pain piercing my chest. "You didn't even ask what happened."

"You started it. Now, apologize," he said with a frown.

I stared back at him stubbornly, tears stinging my eyes.

"Don't test my patience, Dorthy." His cold gaze was a tangible pressure.

"I'm sorry," I choked out.

Adrian mistook my silence for submission, while a victorious smile bloomed on Cindy's face. She waved a dismissive hand. "Oh, Adrian, don't be so harsh. She's just a commoner, I won't hold it against her."

Looking at their hypocritical faces, a wave of nausea rolled over me.