Chapter 8 Her Drink Was Drugged
750 Words
Zoey clutched her dress, the red wine stains glaringly obvious on the soft fabric.
She hurried through the crowd of elegantly dressed attendees, making her way to a secluded garden in the back of the venue.
Feeling the calm of the surroundings, she gradually calmed down, relieved that no one else witnessed her embarrassment.
Now, she needed to figure out how to deal with the stained dress.
She had promised to be Owen's date, so she didn't plan to leave just like that, even though she understood that Owen might already have found another companion for the evening.
"Zoey," a familiar voice called out from behind her, causing her heart to skip a beat.
She would recognize that voice anywhere among the crowd.
She instinctively clenched her fists as she turned around to face the source.
Robert appeared before her, a smug smile on his face, flanked by two burly men.
"What are you doing here?" Zoey's gaze was sharp as she scrutinized Robert.
"My dear daughter, you don't need to worry about that," Robert replied with a greedy smile, his voice deep and annoying.
"Just help me with a small favor, and I won't bother you again."
"What favor?" Zoey's brow furrowed.
"It's simple." Robert pointed casually at the two men behind him. "Go with them to take some photos, and they'll pay me handsomely so that I can settle my debts."
Photos? Zoey's heart tightened. What kind of photos would require her to clear Robert's debts?!
She didn't need to think hard to know they would be unsavory.
But how did Robert suddenly show up at the banquet well-prepared? It all seemed too weird...
"Just go with them. It's just some photos..." Robert's voice was urgent as he pressed closer to Zoey.
"Impossible!" Zoey stepped back, planning to leave.
However, just as she turned, a sudden wave of dizziness struck her fiercely, spinning her surroundings into a blur.
Her world shook, and everything around her twisted and overlapped.
She immediately realized her drink had been drugged...
Who could it be?
In that split second, a name surfaced in her mind, Victoria.
She should have known Victoria wouldn't leave things be.
"Save your strength. Soon, you'll be too weak to resist." Robert sneered, watching her reaction.
Zoey trembled and exclaimed in disbelief, "Are you insane? I'm your daughter! How could you do this?"
"It was you who disregarded our familial ties first," Robert retorted coldly. "I'm being crushed by my debts, and you refused to help me."
As the dizziness washed over her like a tide, Zoey had to lean against the cold wall to support her faltering body.
She wasn't ready to be manipulated so easily. Summoning the last of her strength, she screamed, hoping to attract the attention of others at the banquet, "Help... Save me!"
Robert's expression darkened as he realized the gravity of the situation. He quickly ordered the two men, "Quick, grab her!"
The men responded swiftly, their gazes indifferent and predatory as if stalking their prey.
"Stay away! Don't come any closer!" Zoey tried to sound fierce, but her voice was weakening as she became as fragile as a feeble kitten.
"Come with us, sweet girl..." one of the men cooed deceitfully as they continued to advance.
With each step they took, Zoey's heart pounded louder.
She desperately wished for someone to appear and save her from this crisis.
But the area was silent. The revelry of the banquet hall was a stark contrast to this desolate spot, and no one was there to notice!
As the drug's effects slowly consumed her clarity, she felt her body growing heavier, about to collapse. The scene around her grew increasingly hazy as if enveloped in thick fog. She feared she would lose consciousness completely, fainting in this desolate place.
Her only savior was herself!
In desperation, Zoey's eyes flashed with resolve.
She fiercely grabbed a sharp piece of tile from the ground and, disregarding the pain, slashed it across her arm. Blood instantly flowed from the wound, spreading down her delicate skin like blossoming red flowers. Soon, the air was tinged with the smell of blood.
Everyone was shocked by Zoey's sudden action. They stopped in their tracks, staring at her in disbelief.
The intense pain shot through her every nerve, but it also brought her a measure of clarity.
Lifting her defiant eyes, she held the bloody tile in her shaking hand and gritted her teeth. "Come any closer, and I'll s***h your faces!"
- Writer
