Chapter 6 Chapter 6.

(Rebecca)

Before I could process anything, my veil was yanked off me by him, Lucian Davis, the Lord of the Underworld, the Devil himself. My heart raced at the sight of him here at the game. What was he doing here? Had he gone broke and was gunning for the prize money like the rest of us?

Gasps enveloped the room, and the reality of my exposed identity hit me hard. I felt like I was standing in front of a firing squad, no one saw this coming.

“Babe?” Daniel said, stepping forward with shock etched on his features.

“Oh wow, a couple!” Lucian’s voice dripped with amusement, bemusement lighting up his face. “Interesting!”

Ignoring Daniel’s confusion, I turned my full attention to Lucian. “What did you just do?” My voice was tight, battling between shock and annoyance.

“My job,” he replied with a smirk that made my blood boil. “My job as a bully.”

The glint in his eyes was infuriating. “You’ll pay for this,” I warned, my voice low and steady.

“No,” Lucian countered, leaning closer with that same smug smirk. “I already got paid.”

“The look on your face: the anger, the shame, is my payment,” he added, relishing the effect he had on me.

Fury ignited inside me, and I clenched my fists at my sides, fighting the urge to lash out. The flashing lights of cameras pulled me back to reality, and I spun around to find the other contestants capturing the moment—my humiliation was going viral.

With a scoff, I addressed the crowd. “Hey, just so you know, expect a call from my lawyer tomorrow.”

A man in the front scoffed. “Is that a threat?”

“Think of it however you like,” I retorted firmly. “Just know I’ve delivered my message. Let no one say they were ignorant.”

I would do no such thing as I've just said, I mean I don't even have a lawyer. But I had to make sure I stopped these jerks from getting this out to my father.

Applause erupted from the crowd, causing me to turn once more. My eyes widened in shock as I recognized the figure stepping forward—Tina Lohande, a well-known influencer and social media celebrity.

"Bravo!" she exclaimed, cutting her applause short, an eyebrow raised. "You have no shame being in a place like this, wanting to participate in a game of this sort, and here you are, threatening people after being discovered? Wow!"

"And you? What are you doing here?" I shot back, frustration bubbling under the surface. For a moment, her expression faltered before she regained her composure.

"Content, obviously," she smirked, as if that explained everything.

"Of course," I nodded. "As expected from a creatively challenged blogger."

Her smirk faded into a glare, and I couldn’t help but provoke her further with a smirk of my own.

Just as hell was about to let loose, I felt a tight grip around my wrist, and Daniel pulled me away from the escalating confrontation.

Once on the balcony, he stopped and released my hand. "Are you crazy?!" he lashed out. "A receptionist job at Albany? Really?"

I scoffed, defiance surging within me. "A company field trip? Seriously?"

Daniel shut his eyes, exhaling sharply as his anger deflated somewhat. "Until when were you going to tell me?" he pressed, his voice heavy with frustration.

"Until when were you going to tell me?!" I shot back, my heart racing.

"You were never meant to know!" His voice was sharp, but I could hear something deeper, a hint of his own shame.

"Oh, really? Wow! I was supposed to be oblivious that my boyfriend, who told me he’d be on a company field trip for a month, was actually headed to a ninety-day reality game? Really wow!"

"I'm doing this for you!" He insisted, desperation creeping into his tone.

"How the hell is this for me?!" I asked, incredulous.

"Who in this equation has an enormous, useless debt to pay and no real means to settle it while leeching off my resources?!" he replied, frustration etched on his face.

"So I’m the worthless one now? The one leeching off you?" I snapped, disbelief coursing through me at his words. "Well who fucking begged you to help me?! Have I ever begged you to help me pay off my bills?! You fucking did that on your own accord!"

"Yes! Because I didn’t have a choice!" he shot back.

"Well, you have a choice now. Stay out of my life and everything that concerns me!" I snapped before turning to leave. But then he caught my hand, refusing to let go.

"Let go of my hand," I demanded, irritation bubbling beneath the surface, but he stayed silent. As I fought to suppress a smile that threatened to escape, pride surged within me, urging me to maintain my defiance. "I don’t want to hear what you have to say."

"Why would I hold you back? Besides, what's there really to say?" He finally replied, his words slicing through like a knife. Confusion washed over me; I quickly glanced back and realized what had caused our stalemate.

My bracelet had hooked onto the rail. A jolt coursed through me as Daniel's words resonated. He was literally letting me go, and in that moment, I felt the sting of their meaning. I attempted to unhook my bracelet, my fingers trembling slightly from the adrenaline.

Finally free, I turned to Daniel, attempting to mask the whirlwind of emotions roiling inside me. "Good riddance," I declared, forcing a nonchalant tone.

His eyes narrowed, a flicker of hurt flashing across his face, but he remained silent. Without another word, he turned and walked away, leaving me feeling as if the ground had shifted beneath me. I inhaled deeply to steady myself, battling against the rush of disappointment. I had to remind myself that I was better off without him.

Just as I was about to turn and leave, a voice cut through the air behind me. "Well, that was quite a show."

I spun around to see Lucian Davis leaning casually against the doorframe, a playful smirk playing at the corners of his lips. "Enjoy the view?" I asked, attempting to mask my unease with sarcasm.

He chuckled, an amused glimmer in his eyes. "Oh, I did. You're quite the firecracker, Rebecca. I think I'm going to enjoy getting to know you."

A shiver danced down my spine at his words. What did he want from me? And what did he mean by "getting to know me"?

"I'm afraid you won't," my internal monologue was abruptly interrupted by a familiar voice.

Daniel reappeared at the entrance to the balcony, his demeanor charged with an intensity I hadn't expected. Hadn't he just left now? Why was he back here again?

Daniel approached me, his expression intense and resolute. Before I could process what was happening, he reached for my hand, surprising me completely. After our recent quarrel, this sudden gesture felt like a spark igniting a smoldering fire within me.

"You won't get the chance, because I won't let you," he declared, his gaze locked onto Lucian, with a fierceness that sent a rush of warmth coursing through me. My heart leaped at the display of protectiveness; pride swelled in my chest, and I found myself smiling at him, my internal turmoil forgotten for the moment.

Turning my attention back to Lucian, I elevated my chin defiantly, a smirk forming on my lips. To my surprise, rather than anger, he met my challenge with a sly wink. "We'll see about that," he shot back, his playful confidence somewhat unsettling yet undeniably captivating.