On the night of my husband’s birthday 13

Posted by adminh, ? Views, Released on February 21, 2025

Chapter 13

FLORENCE’S POV

+25 BONUS

The VIP booth Daniel had booked at the club was lined witlo bottles of premium liquor. I couldn’t figure out if he really meant to poison the with copious amounts of alcohol or was testing my resolve.

Yes, maybe Mason hadn’t been the best husband. Maybe he could have been kinder, gentler… more present. But I couldn’t betray him. And somewhere in me… I still loved hit. I would take even this bullet for him.

Daniel leaned back, arms crossed, watching me expectantly Emily smirked, her lips curling as if she knew i wouldn’t go through with it.

I grabbed a bottle and twisted the cap off, the sharp scent of whiskey burning my nostrils. Without hesitation, I tilted 111y head back and downed the entire thing. I felt son of it dribble down my chin while the rest burned my throat. I wanted to cry, but I didn’t want to give Daniel the satisfaction.

As I slammed the empty bottle down on the table, I noticed Daniel’s face: surprise. And… a little impressed? “Well, well. I underestimated you!”

I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand, ignoring the way my stomach churned. I reached for the second bottle. Then, the third. The club was a blur at this point; the people, music, alcohol, and neon lights all meshed into one noisy, painful entity that I couldn’t make sense of All I could clearly picture was Mason… Mason hugging Jade. Mason running to save Jade.

I was no longer drinking for the deal. I was drinking to forget the last few weeks of pain. I slammed the third bottle down and grabbed the fourth, sure that I would pass away in the middle of this nightclub.

Seeing that I was slowing down, Daniel took the bottle from my hands. “Let me help you.”

Before I could react, his grip was rough against my face. He yanked my head back and poured a stream of whiskey over me, the liquid spilling down my cheeks and neck, burning my skin.

I gasped, coughing, my vision spinning.

“Daniel!” Emily snapped, her voice cutting through the haze. She stood up, her face twisted in something close to concern. “That’s enough.”

He smirked, his grip tightening. “How about you do it?”

Emily hesitated.

Daniel’s eyes gleamed as he extended the bottle towards her. “Go on. You want to prove yourself, don’t you?” She didn She didn’t move.

For a moment, I thought she might actually defend me. But before anything could happen, I watched Daniel get ripped away from me and sent flying across the room with a sickening thud.

I barely registered the movement before I was pulled into someone’s arms–strong, steady arms that carried the familiar scent of cedar and something inherently… Mason.

“Florence,” his voice was sharp, cutting through the blur in my mind. His hold was firm, protective.

My body sagged against him.

The last thing I saw before my vision swarn into darkness was Daniel, doubled over, clutching his stomach, his face twisted in rage.

Chapter 13

I also remember Emily’s mildly concerned face as I was yanked out of the club.

+25 BONUS

I woke up in the car, my head lolling to the side. The cool leather beneath my cheek felt nice against my burning skin. The smell of alcohol invaded my head, and I felt disgusted. I stirred slightly, which told Mason I was awake. “What the hell were you doing with Daniel Lockwood?”

No time wasted to ask questions.

I swallowed, my throat raw from the alcohol. “Work–related encounter.”

His knuckles turned white against the steering wheel. “Work? With him?”

I sighed, rubbing my temples. “I wasn’t exactly given a choice. This model stole a watch-”

“You need to quit,” he interrupted me.

“What?”

“Quit. You don’t even need a job, you have credit cards that pay for.”

“I’m not quitting. Raiden has given me a rare chance, I can’t walk away from that.”

At the mention of Raiden’s name, Mason’s expression darkened. “Quit, Florence.”

Something inside me snapped. “How come when Jade wants to be an influencer and a model, you’re all supportive, but when I want to work, you belittle me?”

Mason exhaled slowly, his fingers tapping against the wheel. “Jade’s been through a lot. She’s lost her memory, she has no friends. I’m not going to lecture her when she’s so… fragile.”

“Fragile?”

“And she’s our friend. I feel obligated.”

“Right,” I laughed sadly. “Such good friends.”

The words tasted like poison.

My head throbbed. Maybe it was the alcohol, maybe it was the years of buried resentment finally breaking free, but I couldn’t stop myself. “And what about me, Mason? What about the things I’ve been through? What do feel obligated to do for me?”

He didn’t answer.

Instead, he reached into his pocket and pulled something out. A small, silver device.

The listening bug.

you

I stilled.

she really going to confess right now?

Know anything about this?” he asked instead.

I scoffed. “You mean the thing you’ve been using to spy on me?”

His expression remained unreadable. “I didn’t plant this, Flo. I need the truth.”

I met his gaze head–on, my voice steady despite the haze in my head. “I know nothing about it.”

+25 BONUS

Chapter 13

Silence.

Then Mason sighed, slipping the device into the car cup holder. “Fine. When you’re ready to talk, let me know.”

I let out a shaky breath, my body finally giving into exhaustion. My eyelids felt impossibly heavy. I leaned my head on the cool window and watched the city lights blur as I drifted off into unconsciousness.

I heard my own voice whisper–so quiet I almost wasn’t sure I’d said it out loud. “Did you ever love me?”

I heard an answer… but I couldn’t make out the word. I was gone,

1 blinked, the soft glow of morning light filtering through sheer curtains. Even the gentle golden light felt like an assault on my eyes… my head felt like it had been pounded by cars and trains repeatedly, and a ravenous hunger gnawed at me.

I recalled last night’s activities… Mason’s rival, my sister’s sudden appearance… the missing watch. So much to deal with before I went in for work again.