Chapter 5: Hand-Me-Downs and Heat

When he snapped out of it, the bald man’s booze-reddened eyes bulged. "Bitch, you dare hit me?"

His hand curled into a fist, muscles tensing. I braced for the impact, refusing to back down. I’d spent too long being afraid. I was done running.

Just as his fist was about to fall, Derek stepped in front of me, snapped his wrist with ease, then kicked him aside.

The sound of bone cracking echoed through the hall. The bald man stumbled, clutching his arm. Derek’s eyes flashed—not at me, but at anyone who dared to touch what he considered his. He pulled me close, his body a shield.

He pulled me into his arms, the familiar scent of cedar and aftershave wrapping around me.

His cologne was the same as always—a warm, woodsy smell that reminded me of winter. For a moment, I leaned into him, comforted by the familiarity. Then I remembered who he was, and stiffened.

"Touch her again and see what happens."

His voice was cold, deadly serious. The room went quiet, everyone watching. I felt a surge of pride—he was defending me, but I knew better than to trust it. Everything with Derek came at a price.

The commotion caught the newlyweds’ attention.

The music stopped, and all eyes turned to us. Caleb and Natalie made their way over, concern on their faces. I wanted to disappear. Instead, I stood my ground, refusing to show weakness.

"Megan, why are you still tangled up with Derek?" Caleb’s worried voice made my heart clench.

He looked older than I remembered, the weight of adulthood settling on his shoulders. His concern was genuine, but it only made me feel worse. I didn’t want his pity—I wanted to be strong enough to stand on my own.

"Mr. Caleb, you’ve already married my goddess. Can’t you at least leave me your hand-me-downs?"

The words stabbed into my heart like a knife.

Derek’s words were calculated, meant to hurt both Caleb and me. I felt the sting of humiliation, as if I were back in high school, trapped between two worlds. The crowd whispered, gossip spreading like wildfire.

I shrank back, flustered and defensive. "Even you want someone’s leftovers?"

I hated myself for saying it, for playing into his game. But the words were out before I could stop them. I felt everyone’s eyes on me, judging.

"Hand-me-downs are more durable…"

Derek shot Caleb a provocative look, then grabbed my chin and bit my lower lip in front of everyone.

The taste of blood filled my mouth. The chandelier above was so bright it made everything swim, like I was staring straight into the sun.

I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to block out the world. The pain was sharp, but nothing compared to the humiliation. The chandelier’s light blurred everything, like I was underwater. I tasted copper and forced myself not to cry.

Yeah, how could I compare to his goddess?

I was just a toy he dragged into bed…

The thought echoed in my mind, a truth I couldn’t escape. No matter how hard I tried, I’d never be more than a plaything—a distraction from his real life. In America, everyone loves an underdog, but no one wants to be one.