Julien was out, for now.

Before he bolted, he snarled, "Hand over the dowry and pay me for the emotional damage!"

The doctor just shook his head and peaced out. After all that drama, a sharp pain shot through my lower abdomen, followed by a coughing fit that nearly broke my ribs.

A few days later, the doc’s orders were clear: transfer to a bigger hospital. The cancer, my unwelcome guest, had started to spread.

I hauled my aching body out of the hospital's main entrance.

The sun was brutal, stabbing at my eyes, a harsh reminder that I was officially homeless.

At least Drake hadn't been a thorn in my side lately.

Besides the few hundred grand chilling in my bank account, I had nothing. In this messed-up world, nobody gave a damn about me.

But I wanted to live… I needed to see if the people who ghosted me would get what’s coming to them. For the rest of my life, I owed myself some self-care.

"Bitch! How dare you play Mr. Alexander?"

Before I could even process what was happening, a water bottle smacked me near my eye. Then, a pack of women descended, yanking and kicking.

Slaps rained down like confetti. I crumpled to the ground, defenseless. Amid the cacophony of shouts and curses, Drake’s voice cut through.

He scared them off and hustled me into his whip.

Turns out, they were his exes, acting on his behalf after seeing some bogus reports.

Drake zoomed to a convenience store, snagged an ice pack and a hard-boiled egg, and went to town on my bruises.

In my daze, it felt like a throwback to our younger days. Whenever I got jumped, he was always my knight in shining armor.

Back when we were grinding through part-time jobs, he’d blow his savings on gifts and take me out for fancy dinners.

Then he discovered his rich-kid status, and it was all shopping sprees and designer threads.

He’d whisper sweet nothings every day, promising to marry me, legit and out in the open, once his big project took off.

He didn't want to be seen as a trust fund baby, and I was there, cheering him on.

But the pressure from his elite circle turned him into a volatile, insecure mess. I swallowed a ton of his unreasonable demands and his foul temper.

Still, the plush interior of the car and Drake, looking sharp in his custom suit, snapped me back to reality. He wasn't the kid in the white tee on the playground anymore.

After a beat, he spoke. "Why are you ditching the hospital solo? Where's your ride-or-die husband?"

I stayed mum. He pressed on, "Let me take you home."

I nodded. I still needed to grab my stuff from the hospital, after all.

The car glided to a stop in front of Julien's place. As I stepped out of Drake’s ride, Julien’s mom was chilling on the porch.

She gave me the stink-eye, muttering about why I was back.

But then she clocked Drake, and her whole vibe shifted.

I bolted upstairs to pack, hoping to bounce before Julien returned. The thought of him losing it again had me shook.

Bags packed, I cracked open the door, ready to head downstairs. Julien’s mom was there, blocking my escape, a smirk playing on her lips. "Well, well. Made up with Mr. Alexander?"

I shrugged off her hand and made a dash for the street, only to run smack into a looking-rough Julien.

Seeing the luggage, he ignored the nosy neighbors and started dragging me back.

"Damn it, you got me fired, and now you think you can just dip? Get back inside!"

I fought his grip, begging, "I'll give you the dowry, just let me go!"

We hit the porch, and his mom swooped in, putting herself between us. "You can't hit her, you hear me?"

"Mom! Why are you protecting this deadbeat?"

She sidled up to him and whispered something. I caught a snatch of it – something about Drake bringing me home.

The fire in Julien’s eyes flickered out. He hauled me up, saying, "Looks like you've still got some use."

I had no clue what he was on about. He continued, "Head upstairs, slap on something clean. You're going to see him. Get pregnant again."

I shrieked, "You’re a psycho!"

He raised his hand, about to swing, but then he saw the sheer terror in my eyes and smirked.

"Can't mess up that pretty face. It's your cash cow."

He turned to his mom. "Mom, I'm taking her upstairs for… some business. Don't come up just yet."

Then he dragged me upstairs. I latched onto the bedroom door like a barnacle, but he kicked me, sending me crashing to the floor. He pinned me down, tearing at my clothes.

His hand tightened around my throat. "I didn't touch you before 'cause I thought you were carrying Drake's kid."

I shook my head like a bobblehead, pleading. I offered him every cent in my account, begging him not to do this.

He let out a vicious sneer. "Always wondered what Drake's girl tasted like. I'll take the money, and I'll take you too!"

My blouse ripped open, and I squeezed my eyes shut in despair. The next second, Drake's furious roar filled the air.