Let Me Stay The Night

Melanie was utterly dumbfounded. She would have thought she was dreaming if her cheeks were not burning in pain.

She screeched, “I’m telling the truth! Why did you hit me?” Years of experience in show business had hardened Melanie’s character, and she hardly feared Victoria’s family background.

Melanie continued, “I have evidence. I recorded all the sweet-nothings that Mr. Taggart said to me yesterday!”

With that said, Melanie grabbed her phone off the bedside table and began playing a recording in front of everyone.

The voice in the recording had barely uttered two words when Victoria rushed forward like a mad woman. She wrenched the phone from Melanie’s hand, flinging it onto the floor and trampling it.

Victoria was far from done. She smashed a nearby vase and clenched her right fist around one of the ceramic shards. Her eyes were bloodshot as she glared at Melanie and shrieked, “A recording? The thing I hate the most in this world is other people touching my things. I’ll teach you a lesson. Then, it’s his turn!”

Christina sensed that Victoria was on the verge of losing control. She immediately shouted at Lyle “Hurry! Hold her back!”

Alas, Victoria had already launched herself nimbly at Melanie.

“Victoria!” Sebastian acted on reflex, placing himself in front of Melanie. Victoria’s shard-wielding hand was forced to a stop just half an inch away from his heart.

Disbelief filled Victoria’s gaze. She stared at her boyfriend through tears and accused him, “How can you defend her?”

Hastily, Sebastian explained, “I don’t want you to be blamed for harming someone else.”

Victoria’s judgment. She could not calm down and consider his concerns rationally. Tumultuous emotions welled in her chest, fueling

waved the shard in her hand and gave Sebastian an ultimatum. “I’ve never been a clingy person, Sebastian. Give me an answer

flames by goading, “What man

up! You have no right to speak here!”

expression soured. She replied scornfully, “Don’t think you can erase what happened between Mr. Taggart and me because you’ve destroyed my evidence.

claims were immediately refuted by Sebastian, who said coldly, “I’m not the least bit interested in you. In fact, I don’t even know your name. Why would I confess to you while drunk?” He turned to Victoria and pleaded, “I didn’t touch

not a hundred percent sure if he had uttered any flirty words to Melanie, he was confident that he had never bedded

when he was drunk. Alcohol turned

when he was drunk out of his mind, it was

With her evidence gone and Sebastian insisting on

was, unless, she took a

force you to admit to your actions. We both got what we wanted out of our

her clothes and things off the floor,

leave, Christina stepped forward, stubbornly-blocking Melanie’s path.

Melanie demanded, “What

to you?” Christina stared at her probingly and dropped her bombshell. “You sent me a bunch of provocative texts and photos, demanding five million to keep you quiet. When you realized you couldn’t blackmail me,

calmly, “What photos? I have no idea what you’re talking about. I know who you are, but we’ve never had any past interactions. I know my place, and I would never try to steal something

her text history. She displayed her screen to everyone in the room and declared, “You’re the texter. Did you think

a celebrity, and I value my reputation more than anyone else. I didn’t send you those texts, and that’s that! Don’t