chapter 2

Winona's face turned red so fast, you could almost see it happen in real time.

She stammered, trying to defend herself, but no solid words came out.

"Quinton, you ... you're making stuff up. I didn't ... "

Quinton folded his arms, lips curled in a mocking smirk. "You didn't what? Didn't moan? Or didn't enjoy it?"

He tilted his chin toward her chest.

Just above the neckline of her low-cut dress, a few unmistakable marks were scattered across her pale skin—teeth marks and hickeys. There was no ignoring them.

Winona deliberately left those marks exposed, hoping to stir something in Ethan and remind him of how heated things got between them last night.

She didn't expect Quinton to call her out so bluntly—and right in front of Jasmine.

And he wasn't done either. "We're all adults here. Why pretend to be innocent? You bring him around like we're part of the story—gotta check him out, right Ethan?"

His tone rose at the end, the grin on his face cocky and wild.

Winona gave Ethan a pleading look, but he turned away, mumbling a weak agreement with Quinton.

Jasmine watched the three of them calmly, eyes moving smoothly over their faces. For a moment, she felt an absurd urge to laugh.

Among this group, no one could outmatch Quinton when it came to sharp tongues.

He got away with it thanks to his powerful family background. The Greystones had deep political ties, so in all of Lunaville, no one dared lay a hand on him. Otherwise, with that mouth of his, he'd have been beaten up a hundred times over by now.

Finally, the elevator reached the ground floor. The four of them, each with their own thoughts, smoothed out their expressions and headed toward the wedding suite like nothing had happened.

The wedding was grand and timeless, with an elegant vibe.

The venue was lavishly decorated. The bride's crown alone weighed 10 pounds, adorned with a glowing night pearl at its center. Everything screamed wealth and power.

When the couple started reciting their vows, Jasmine's eyes welled up for reasons she couldn't quite explain.

A beauty in tears—one furrow of her brow could stir even the coldest heart.

Ethan smiled and pulled her into his arms. "Moved by it? Don't worry—I promise you'll be even more touched when it's our turn."

Jasmine subtly pulled away. "Quit it. Just watch the ceremony."

Ethan wiped her tears, his hand lingering gently on her cheek in a tender gesture.

The moment looked tender and a little over-the-top to the people seated with them.

"Looks like we'll be toasting at your wedding next!"

"Yeah, seriously—so lovey-dovey it's sickening. When's the big day?"

Ethan replied with a hearty laugh. "Soon, real soon!"

Jasmine smiled but didn't respond.

From the moment she got together with Ethan, she had never once doubted that he wanted to marry her.

He meant it—he really did. But that didn't stop him from sleeping with other women.

As the wedding neared its end, Ethan kept glancing at his phone more and more.

Catching her gaze, he leaned in and whispered, "Babe, the guys are heading out to the nightclub later."

Jasmine waved a hand casually. "Go ahead. I woke up too early—gonna head back for a nap."

"Alright," Ethan said, sounding slightly disappointed, though his eyes were already back on his phone.

As guests slowly trickled out of the banquet hall, Ethan disappeared with a few familiar faces.

Jasmine watched the thinning crowd momentarily, then stood up and returned to the room.

It was the same elevator from that morning. Just like before, the doors were nearly shut when someone slipped in at the last second.

"Skipping out on the nightclub?" Quinton raised an eyebrow at her. She leaned lazily against the elevator wall—effortless and still picture-perfect.

"I'm tired. You didn't go either, did you?"

Quinton smirked. "Couldn't sleep last night with all the noise. Gonna catch up now."

Jasmine nodded. "Same here."

Her tone was indifferent. But Quinton wasn't ready to let it go. "Do you know who Winona was with last night?"

"Was it you?" she asked.

Quinton snorted. "A woman like that? She could be naked in my bed and I still wouldn't get hard."

Winona had said the exact same thing once. "Mr. Greystone, maybe go see a doctor."

She'd insulted him, but he didn't take it to heart.

Quinton just chuckled. "You're the one who needs a doctor. Ethan sleeps with anything that moves—and in the end, you're the one who pays the price, aren't you?"

Ding! The elevator reached the 13th floor.

As the doors opened slowly, Jasmine stepped out without a pause.

She tossed a sentence over her shoulder, her voice calm and sharp as a blade. "Thanks for the concern, Mr. Greystone. A dog eating kibble is still a pet—but trash? That's a stray."

The dress hugged her slender waist, and with each step, her skirt parted just enough to reveal a smooth, pale leg.

Quinton stared at her retreating figure, pulse racing with every step she took.