Chapter 14

Nicole hurriedly scrambled off the male stripper and quickly put on her clothes. The other strippers were equally flustered and unsure of what to do. Brandon's eyes reflected his fury as he slowly approached her. "B-Brandon… L-Let me explain…" Nicole stammered. She knew he lusted for her. So, forcing a smile, she wrapped her arms around Brandon's waist and ground against him. She just needed to sweet-talk him a little. Then, he would drop everything and believe her like he usually did. Nicole continued, "It's her fault for making the bet in the first place, so it's par for the course that she accepts her loss and follows through with the consequences. I didn't force her to leave. Please, believe me!" Brandon gently cupped her face as he intensely studied her. Nicole leaned into his touch and placed her hand over his. She believed he had fallen for her charms yet again. However, Brandon's hand suddenly dropped to her neck. He squeezed her neck forcefully. Nicole was in pain. She grabbed his wrist and desperately hit his arm. "Wha-What are you doing, Brandon…" Brandon's eyes were bloodshot as he forced his next words out through gritted teeth. "Oh, I've believed you. I've always trusted you. I've endured going from being your boyfriend to your stepson for you. And I married Roxanne in secret for you. I even defended you in public because of all the years we've spent together!" Nicole's face was already turning purple. Her mouth was agape, and her expression was twisted in pain. Brandon ground his teeth from misery as he continued, "And look at how you've treated me. Even now, you couldn't wait to fool around with these scum. If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, would you have tried to claim that you had been drugged again?" "Brandon, I… I just had… a lapse… in judgment…" Nicole said breathlessly. "Did you orchestrate the previous incident with the male strippers too?" Brandon continued interrogating her. However, Nicole didn't dare answer. "Answer me! Did you!" Brandon demanded as he squeezed harder. In unbearable pain, Nicole finally admitted, "Yes…" "Did you also pressure Roxanne into divorcing me?" Brandon questioned. Tears pooled in the corners of Nicole's eyes as she resentfully confessed, "Yes! I did it! It was all me! But it's her fault that she wasn't good enough! I gave her plenty of chances to seduce you, but you still kept coming back to me! Since she lost the bet, she should let me have you!" So that was how it was… More memories flashed through Brandon's mind. It turned out all those times Roxanne had tried so hard to entice him were so she could stay by his side. Yet, what had he done? He had pushed her away and humiliated her time and time again. If Brandon had given in to just one of her advances, Roxanne wouldn't have dejectedly left! Instead, he had driven her away for the sake of the deceitful Nicole. Releasing Nicole, Brandon staggered back in anguish and slumped dejectedly against the wall. Nicole collapsed onto the floor, coughing vehemently. Meanwhile, the strippers didn't dare make a sound upon witnessing the situation before them. Just then, the sound of approaching footsteps was heard, and Joseph appeared. "I've found the recording from back then, Mr. Slewman!"