As Travis spoke, he cut open my pants with scissors to find the source of my abdominal pain.
“What happened? How did it get this bad?” he asked in a trembling voice.
The pain made my body tense. I met their stunned gazes and replied softly, “I’m a woman, and they’re brutes. Did you think I’d get away with just a few scratches?
“They treated me like a toy, like they wanted to tear me apart.”
Distressed, Reed looked away.
Travis held me close, his body trembling.
“Grace, just stop. I’ll do my best. I’ll make sure you’re as good as new, even your face.”
Reed followed, promising to put a hefty bounty on the two thugs and make them pay.
Even so, Travis held off on the surgery as instructed. He just stopped the bleeding and gave me painkillers.
In my haze, I caught his voice.
“Dad, Grace is already suffering. Do we really have to post this incident?
“And saying she lured those thugs? People online are gonna tear her apart.”
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Reed said firmly, “We don’t have a choice. Antonio’s obsessed with her, and just her injuries won’t be enough.
“We need to ruin her reputation so the Kaufman family will shut her out completely.
“And I’ve got a backup plan–wipe it all after the wedding and pay people to clear her name.”
I broke down silently.
That night, I went out for a night run. Then those thugs dragged me into the woods.
How could my family twist that and make me out to be some loose woman?
A few minutes later, my phone buzzed. It was a message from my best friend with a Tik Tok link.
“Grace, check this out. Someone’s talking about you.”
I tapped it. The video showed “me” flirting with the two thugs and willingly following them into the woods.
My gut told me Reed and Travis were behind it.
As the victim, I knew it was fake. The comment section was filled with insults. “Isn’t this Ms. Grace Parrish? I didn’t know she was like that.”
“She’s marrying Mr. Kaufman tomorrow, right? Guess she’s having fun while she still can.”
“Fuck, she’s gross. If she were my fiancee, I’d break her legs!”
“Antonio’s gonna dump her after this for sure.”
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“Her family must be losing it. LOL!”
The comments left me shaking with rage. The pain in my body flared up, overpowering even the strongest painkillers.
Travis came over, took my phone away, and hugged me.
“Grace, I believe you. I know you’re nothing like that.”
Reed glanced at the screen and smashed my phone to the ground.
“How can they say this about my daughter? I’m getting that video taken down right now.”
He stormed off, phone in hand.
Travis said softly, “Grace, don’t worry. Dad will handle it. The video will be gone in no time.”
I stayed quiet, watching them.
Did they even feel ashamed? They were the ones who started this rumor, yet here they were, acting like they cared.
A few minutes later, Reed walked back in. “Grace, the video’s gone. I’ve got your back. I won’t let anyone hurt you.”
Travis nodded. “And I’ll always protect you.”
But the damage was done. The video had already been shared tens of thousands of times, and the Kaufman family had seen it.
What would Antonio think of me now?
I was worried, though I knew it was over between us.
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By tomorrow, Nicole might get her wish, walking down the aisle with him.
The thought made my heart ache.
Travis grew worried and called his assistant to do a full checkup for me.
After that, he gave me a pitiful look. He then pulled Travis aside and handed him a report.
“Travis, your sister’s organs are damaged. She needs surgery right away. Without it, she risks infertility, and her overall health will suffer.”
