---- Chapter 5 The moment we arrived at the Grand Oak Pavilion, | felt their eyes on me. Dozens of them. It wasn't the friendly gaze of wedding guests, but the cold, appraising stare of vultures circling their prey. Every man in that room, men | once called friends, looked at me with a mixture of greed and contempt. They were looking at the "Pot of Gold." Else, standing in the center of the room like a queen holding court, saw us. A triumphant, vicious smile spread across her face. "Aleida! You made it!" she called out, her voice dripping with fake sweetness. The room fell silent. "Everyone, the guest of honor has arrived!" A wave of cruel, knowing laughter rippled through the crowd. Derek pushed me forward, his hand a vise on my back, propelling me toward the center of the room, toward Else. | stopped in front of her, my body trembling with a mixture of fear and rage. "What is this, Else?" | asked, my voice low and shaking. "What is this sick game?" She feigned innocence, her eyes widening. "Game? Aleida, | don't know what you're talking about. This is my welcome home party. A celebration." ---- "Don't lie to me," | hissed. "| know everything." Her mask of innocence shattered, replaced by a sneer of pure hatred. "You know nothing, you stupid bitch. You think you can just steal my brother and my life and get away with it?" "| tried to help you!" | cried, my voice cracking. "You tried to get rid of me!" she shrieked, her face contorting with rage. "But I'm back. And now, you're going to pay." She raised her hand as if to strike me. | flinched, but before she could, Derek stepped between us. "That's enough, Else," he said, but he wasn't protecting me. He was protecting his plan. He turned to me, his face a cold, hard mask. "You are embarrassing us." He grabbed a glass of orange juice from a passing tray and thrust it into my hand. "Now, you are going to apologize to my sister. For everything." Apologize? For what? For being the victim of their twisted revenge plot? "No," | said, my voice firm. The one word was a rebellion. Derek's eyes flashed with fury. "Don't test me, Aleida." Else stepped forward, a sly, cunning look on her face. "It's okay, Derek. Let's not ruin the party. How about a toast instead? To new beginnings. Aleida, you'll drink to that, won't ---- you?" She took the glass from my hand and held it up. It was a trap. | knew it. This was the submissive serum. This was the final act of their play. | wanted to run, to scream, to fight my way out of there. But | was surrounded. Trapped. | looked at Derek, a last, desperate plea in my eyes. He just stared back at me, his expression unreadable. | took the glass. My hand was shaking so badly that some of the juice spilled over the side. | brought it to my lips and drank. The effect was almost instantaneous. A strange, chemical warmth spread through my veins. My muscles went slack, my thoughts became foggy. My body was no longer my own. | dropped the glass, and it shattered on the floor. My legs gave out, and | collapsed, falling backward. Edison Hubbard caught me, his arms wrapping around me like a cage. His breath was hot on my neck. "There we go," he whispered. "Much more cooperative." | was conscious, but | couldn't move. | was a prisoner in my own body. | could hear them talking, their voices distant and distorted "The serum works perfectly," Else said, her voice filled with triumph. "She knows everything that's happening, but she ---- can't do a thing to stop it." "Now, let the real party begin," Edison said, his hands starting to roam over my body. | tried to scream, to fight, but my body wouldn't obey. | was trapped, helpless, a puppet for their sick amusement. | looked at Derek, my eyes screaming the words | couldn't say. Help me. Please. He just glanced at his watch. "The bet closes in ten minutes," he announced to the room, his voice devoid of any emotion. Then, a sharp, agonizing pain shot through my abdomen. It was a cramp So intense it stole my breath. "The baby," | managed to gasp, the words a hoarse, desperate whisper. "Something's wrong with the baby." Else just laughed, a high, cruel sound. "Don't worry. You won't remember a thing in the morning. The serum causes amnesia." She leaned in close, her voice a venomous whisper in my ear. "Now be a good girl and entertain our guests." The pain intensified, a blinding, tearing agony. | felt a warm gush of liquid between my legs. My last conscious thought before the darkness consumed me was of my son. My poor, innocent son. And then, nothing.