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.”

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

never been a

fearless Melanie fanned the flames by goading, “What man would ever fancy a shrew like you?”

to

“Don’t think you can erase what happened between Mr. Taggart and me because you’ve destroyed my evidence. They say alcohol is a truth serum. I believe

interested in you. In fact, I don’t even know your name.

if he had uttered any flirty words to Melanie, he was confident

outrageous when he was drunk. Alcohol turned

his mind, it was near impossible to wake

gone and Sebastian insisting on

unless, she took a risky bet.

Mr. Taggart? Fine. We’re all adults here, and I can’t force you to admit to your actions. We both got what we wanted out of our one- night stand. I may have failed to win the

things off the floor, making a move to leave.

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

demanded, “What

that be my question 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, you

know who you are, but we’ve never had any past

room and declared, “You’re the texter. Did you think I wouldn’t be able to track you down

my phone a while back. Someone’s using my phone to do horrible things; I’m a victim here too! I’m a celebrity, and I value my reputation more than anyone else. I didn’t send you those texts, and that’s that! Don’t try to accuse me of