Chapter 8

All eyes in the private room were on Gloria.

No one thought she'd kneel today.

Gloria was known for her pride.

But within seconds, the woman at the door lowered her head and knelt.

The room fell into an eerie silence.

People exchanged glances, doubting their own eyes.

Could they have mistaken her identity?

Kneeling on the ground, Gloria felt their stares but stayed calm.

They might think making her kneel was the ultimate humiliation.

Little did they know, she had done this countless times in prison.

At first, she fought back against the bullying from her cellmates, never willing to compromise even when she knew she couldn't win.

But as her injuries piled up and her health deteriorated, Gloria eventually gave in.

To survive and find out about her family, she did whatever they asked.

Kneeling had become the simplest and most familiar action for her.

Ignoring their skeptical looks, Gloria lowered her head, hands on the ground, crawling step by step, her eyes void of emotion.

It was just pride, after all. For the Russell family, she could give up anything.

"Why are you crawling so close? Gross!" Someone snapped as Gloria reached the table.

She obediently stopped, her body slightly hunched, exuding extreme humility.

This made them doubt their eyes even more.

"Lift your head." Someone nudged her chin with their toe.

Gloria's heart tightened as she was forced to look up.

In three years, she had become gaunt, her eyes losing their former luster.

She looked like a different person.

"Maybe she's not really Gloria. But she looked so much like her when she danced earlier." The man who first spoke grumbled.

The others seemed equally disinterested.

One of them said, "We've already paid. Might as well get our money's worth. If she dances like Gloria, let her keep dancing."

The suggestion quickly gained approval.

Gloria bit her lip, tasting blood.

Amid their jeers, she slowly stood up.

"Wait, dancing on the floor is boring. Dance up here." A small space was cleared on the table, and the man ordered with a twisted smile.

Gloria stood on the table, like a lifeless puppet.

There wasn't even any music. She danced silently.

One of the rich kids couldn't resist filming and posting it on social media.

The others were thinking of more ways to torment her.

In the next room.

Sebastian sat on a single sofa, long legs crossed, one arm resting on the armrest, a phone on his knee, expressionlessly handling work.

Beside him, Benjamin Johnson spoke with a hint of frustration. "Sebastian, this is a bar, not your office."

Without looking up, Sebastian replied, "I know."

"Then why are you working here? Are you trying to show us up?" Samuel Harris groaned.

The three had been friends since childhood, so they were quite casual with each other.

Samuel poured a full glass of wine and handed it to Sebastian, snatching his phone away. "We finally got you here. Relax a bit."

Sebastian took a sip of the wine, reaching for his phone.

Samuel suddenly exclaimed, "Oh my God, is that Gloria? Isn't she supposed to be in prison?"

He shoved the phone in Benjamin's face.

Seeing the woman in the photo, Benjamin gave Sebastian a meaningful look. "That's a question for Judge Windsor."

Back then, Gloria's pursuit of Sebastian was the talk of Majestic City. Everyone online knew about them. Sebastian even agreed to marry into the Russell family, making it a legendary story. Their friends thought it was a done deal, but it ended with Sebastian personally sentencing Gloria.

Samuel held the phone up to Sebastian. "Did you give her a shortcut?"

Sebastian's face darkened as he saw the photo. "Where did this come from?"

Samuel replied, "Someone posted it on social media. It looks like they're in the same bar as us."

Sebastian took the phone, scrolling through the post, then stood up and walked out. Samuel and Benjamin exchanged a look and followed him.

As soon as they opened the door to the next room, they heard the jeering inside. "What's a stripper if she doesn't strip? Take it off! And I'll believe you're not Gloria."

Gloria stood on the table, slowly raising her arms at their command. The room suddenly filled with a dangerous tension. Gloria felt a familiar gaze on her back. She didn't need to turn around to know who it was. How humiliating, to be seen like this by Sebastian again. Sebastian must be pleased, seeing the person who hurt Amara end up like this. Thinking of this, Gloria's nose stung, but she held back her tears.

"Mr. Windsor, what brings you here?" Recognizing him, the crowd's arrogance vanished, replaced by respectful greetings. Sebastian's cold gaze moved from Gloria as he stepped inside. His broad shoulders and long legs cast a large shadow, enveloping Gloria. She shivered, wanting to flee.

"Just passing by. Your room seemed lively, so I came to check it out." Samuel, hands in his pockets, swaggered in behind Sebastian, signaling the rich kids to make room. The three sat in the middle, Sebastian directly facing Gloria. Gloria clutched her skirt, head bowed in shame. Sebastian's eyes were deep, unreadable.

"Mr. Windsor, you're just in time. We found a dancer who looks just like Gloria. She dances exactly like her." The rich kids, drunk and eager to impress Sebastian, spoke without thinking. "Gloria did such inhumane things. Three years in prison was too lenient. When she gets out, we'll help you deal with her. For now, let's practice on this dancer!"

With that, one of them yanked Gloria. She teetered on the edge of the table, about to fall. "Dance for Mr. Windsor. And whatever he decides to do with you, you'd better comply. Gloria hurt Mr. Windsor's loved one. You look too much like her. Any punishment is deserved."