Chapter 8
The slap hit Summer so fast she barely had time to react.
Lena was already rolling up her sleeves, her eyes full of fire. “Who the hell are you, showing up here looking like me? What–see me getting all this attention and think you can just slide in and take my place?”
“I’ll tell you right now–it’s never happening. I’m Mrs. Clark. Only me. And today, you’re going to find out what happens to women who try to seduce Alan.”
That’s when it clicked for Summer. This was the stand–in Alan had found. He obviously hadn’t told Lena about her, so Lena assumed Summer was just another woman trying to steal her spot.
Summer drew in a shaky breath, about to explain, but Lena lashed out and kicked the back of her knee. Pain shot up Summer’s leg and she crumpled to the floor.
She tried to get up, but Lena’s friends swarmed her, pinning her down. She couldn’t move, couldn’t fight back.
“So this is why Alan’s been sneaking out at night? For you? You homewrecker,” one of Lena’s friends sneered.
“You know he’s crazy about me, so you went and got my face. You thought that would make him look at you, didn’t you?” another chimed in.
Summer almost laughed at how ridiculous it sounded, but she could tell Lena was just as fooled by Alan as anyone. Swallowing her anger, she tried to reason with her. “You should go. When Alan comes back, he won’t let you off easy.”
But Lena just burst out laughing, throwing her head back. “He won’t let me off? Please. And who are you to threaten me with Alan?”
“Do you have any idea how much he loves me? Did you know I’m pregnant with his baby? Even if I killed you right now, he’d just help me hide the body. You should be worrying about yourself, sweetheart.”
A chill ran through Summer. “What are you going to do?“}
Lena yanked her up by the hair, looking her up and down with a nasty, twisted grin. “Gotta admit, whoever did your face did a pretty good job. Even I almost can’t tell us apart.“2
“But don’t get too comfortable–it won’t be your face for long.”
With that Lena dug her sharp nails into Summer’s cheek.
Summer screamed as pain ripped through her, white–hot and blinding. She tried to break free, but Lena’s friends held her tight, forcing her to take it as those nails tore at her skin, blood welling up and dripping down her face.>
As if that wasn’t enough, Lena’s friends started kicking and hitting her too, fists and heels landing everywhere. The pain numbed her whole body until she curled up, trembling on the floor.2
Lena watched, satisfied, a cruel little smile playing on her lips.
Summer finally couldn’t take it anymore. She shouted, voice hoarse, “You’ve got it all wrong! I’m not after Alan–I am Mrs. Clark! I’m his wife!”
Lena and her friends started cracking up like she’d told the best joke of the year.”
Lena wiped tears from her eyes, her laugh sharp and mocking. “You’re his wife? Then who am I supposed to be?”
“Yeah, right!” one of her friends snorted. “Nobody’s heard about Mr. Clark being married.”
Lena shook her head, looking Summer up and down with pure contempt. “You’re hilarious. If you want to sleep with Alan just say so–don’t go making up stories. Keep talking, and Alan really will skin you alive.”?
“Cailing yourself Mrs. Clark–give me a break.“}
“What kind of fairytale are you living in?“%
Summer stared up at them, breath coming in gasps. When she and Alan got married, she’d kept it private–almost no one outside his inner circle knew she was Mrs. Clark. Now that secret was being used against her.
And Alan–he’d made sure the world saw him and Lena together, arm in arm, laughing and close, just to hurt her.”
No wonder everyone thought Lena was the one he’d end up with.!!
But did Lena really believe Alan would pick a girl from an ordinary family like hers, out of all the women in the world? Did she really think he’d make her the mother of
his child?E
Summer clenched her fists and forced herself upright. “I’m telling the truth. If you don’t believe me, call Alan right now!”
Lenia just stomped down on her hand, the sharp heel of her shoe grinding into Summer’s fingers.
“Still putting on an act? Looks like you need another lesson.“%
She glanced over her shoulder and snapped, “Go get a sharp knife from the kitchen. I want to see how long this bitch can keep running her mouth.“%
