Owned By Mistake

"Who told you to seduce my fiancé, Benjamin?!"

The woman in a sleek black Gucci dress stood near the counter, her voice sharp and loud enough for the entire restaurant to hear. Her eyes were burning with fury as she pointed straight at Cherry.

Cherry froze. Benjamin... That name made her heart sink. This woman had to be Olivia Ace Carter, his fiancée.

Cherry opened her mouth, about to explain, but before she could say a word, Olivia turned and snapped at the two women standing behind her.

"Well? What are you waiting for? Beat her up!"

Without hesitation, the two women rushed toward Cherry and slapped her hard across the face.

"You flirt!" one yelled.

"Who are you to steal Olivia's fiancé?!" the other hissed as she yanked Cherry's hair.

Pain exploded in her cheeks. Her scalp burned from the harsh tugging. Cherry tried to stay calm, tried to explain.

"Please," she begged, her voice shaking. "You've got it all wrong. I didn't do anything."

But they didn't listen.

One of them grabbed the collar of Cherry's uniform and yanked, tearing the fabric with a loud rip.

"I'll strip you in front of everyone, you snake!" Olivia shouted, her hands now pulling at Cherry's clothes as well.

Cherry clutched her torn shirt, terrified. She had a spare t-shirt underneath, but still, the humiliation crushed her. She tried to fight back, tried to shield herself, but three against one left her no chance.

The restaurant was full. People were watching. Whispering. But not one of them stepped forward to stop it.

A hard fist struck Cherry's stomach. She gasped and bent forward in pain.

Another hand pinched her side again and again, leaving burning marks on her skin.

She was dizzy now. Her legs wobbled. Her body throbbed with pain, but she gritted her teeth, forcing herself to stay upright.

Olivia wasn't done.

With a cold, cruel smile, she raised her designer bag and slammed it into Cherry's back.

"Let's see if you try seducing my fiancé again, slut," Olivia sneered.

"You deserve to be beaten for this," one of her friends added, her voice full of scorn.

"You shameless tramp," the other spat.

The pain from the attack made Cherry feel like her body wasn't her own. Blow after blow blurred her vision. But as the shouting and slapping continued, her mind drifted back to a darker memory. One that still lived under her skin.

Two years ago, she had almost died from beatings. Not from strangers, but from her own mother. It was the day her mother tried to force her to drop out of college and marry a man more than twice her age. Fifty years old, rich, and cruel. When Cherry refused, she was locked in a small room with no windows and beaten until she couldn't stand. Blood filled her mouth. Her skin was swollen and purple from bruises. But even then, she didn't give in.

Not then. And not now.

She wouldn't let people like this break her.

When the three women started to slow down, tired from their rage, Cherry stood up with trembling legs and straightened her torn clothes. She looked around, spotted a glass of cold juice left on a nearby table, grabbed it, and without hesitation, threw it at the three women.

The cold liquid splashed all over their expensive clothes.

"You little! Do you want to die?!" Olivia shrieked, her eyes wide and her face flushed with shock and fury.

Cherry didn't say anything. She reached into her pocket, pulled out her phone, and started to call.

"Hello? I'd like to report an assault at Quick Cravings Restaurant."

Before she could finish, Olivia lunged forward and slapped the phone out of her hand. It clattered to the floor.

"What are you standing there for? Grab her!" Olivia screamed at her friends. "Hold her down! I'm going to finish this!"

Cherry backed away as one woman rushed her, but another grabbed her from behind. A sharp grip around her neck pulled her down to the floor. The others pinned her arms and legs. She couldn't move. Couldn't fight back.

Olivia's breath was heavy with rage. She snatched a steaming cup of coffee from a nearby customer's table.

"Let's see if you still dare to flirt with my fiancé after this!"

Cherry's eyes widened in horror as she stared at the hot coffee raised above her.

She braced herself.

But before Olivia could pour it, a foot slammed into her arm with a forceful kick.

The cup flew from her hands and crashed against the wall.

Everyone froze.

"Ouch!" Olivia screamed, staring at her hand, which had been partially scalded by the hot coffee.

Behind her, her two friends were now crying out in pain too, nursing bruises after being kicked away.

"How dare you hurt me and my friends?!" Olivia shouted, pointing furiously at the man who had intervened. But when she looked up and recognized him, she froze.

It was her cousin's secretary.

"Mister Smith?! How dare you kick me?!" she cried, clutching her burnt hand. "You should've punished that sly girl instead!"

"Why her?" said a low voice that cut through the air like a blade.

The entire restaurant went quiet.

Gilbert Ace Carter stood at the edge of the crowd, his hands still in his pockets. He walked forward slowly, his face unreadable, but his eyes were cold. Icy cold.

Cherry quickly scrambled to her feet, then bent down, hugging herself. Shame wrapped around her like a second skin. She couldn't bring herself to look at anyone. Her uniform was torn, her hair was a mess, and her body stung from the scratches and bruises left behind.

Olivia's expression changed the second she saw her cousin.

She lowered her voice and ran to him like a helpless child. "Brother Gilbert,"

Gilbert didn't respond right away. His gaze swept over Cherry's small, crumpled form before shifting back to Olivia.

"What happened here?" he asked, his tone flat but heavy with weight.

Olivia sniffled loudly. "She seduced Benjamin," she said, pointing at Cherry like she was pointing at a criminal. "I just came to confront her, but she threw juice at me and my friends! Look at my dress! This is a limited-edition Gucci, and she ruined it!"

"She's a slut!" one of her friends chimed in.

"Yes, and she even threatened to call the police!" the other added.

Cherry didn't move. She didn't speak. She knew there was no point in explaining, not to Gilbert. Not after what happened with Benjamin. He had already shown her before that he wouldn't take her side.

Still, she didn't regret what she did.

If she had to pay for it, so be it.

"Why did she hit you?" Gilbert asked again, his voice low but sharp.

Olivia felt her chest tighten. "W-What else? Because she's guilty, of course!"

Gilbert narrowed his eyes. "But from what I saw, you were the one who hit her first, Olivia."

Cherry's head slowly lifted in surprise.

Olivia's heart dropped. She hadn't realized Gilbert had seen everything. Panic flashed across her face.

"B-Brother Gilbert, she hurt me too! And she flirted with Benjamin, that's why I slapped her!"

"Do you have any proof that she flirted with him?" Gilbert asked. He didn't necessarily believe Cherry, but he knew Benjamin well, and not in a good way.

Benjamin's reputation as a womanizer was no secret. Everyone whispered about it. Gilbert had chosen not to get involved, as long as his cousin's engagement remained intact. But now, this crossed a line.

"The guidance counselor told me," Olivia insisted, her voice cracking. "Why would he lie?"

Gilbert's jaw tightened. That name told him all he needed to know.

"So you hit her without proof?" he asked, his voice calm but cold.

Olivia blinked. "Brother Gilbert, why would I need proof? Just look at her!" she said, pointing at Cherry. "She looks like a desperate little flirt!"

"Yeah, right!" her friend added with a mocking snort.

Gilbert shot the woman a sharp glare. She paled and fell silent instantly, looking down like a scolded child.

Gilbert turned back to Olivia. "Whether she did something or not, you don't beat someone like this. Who taught you that? Where did you even learn to treat people this way?"

His voice was sharper now. Everyone around the scene grew quiet.

Olivia's confidence cracked. She didn't understand. Why was Gilbert talking like this? Why did it sound like he was defending Cherry?

Her voice trembled with emotion. "Why are you blaming me, Brother Gilbert? Why do you care about someone like her?" she cried. "She's a nobody! A lowly whore! I can do what I want with her! I'll beat her again if I want to!"

Gilbert's face darkened.

His expression turned cold, his tone sharp as ice. "Apologize to her."

Olivia looked stunned. "W-What?"

"I said apologize," Gilbert repeated.

Cherry's eyes widened. She stared at him, trying to process what she'd just heard. He really ordered Olivia Ace Carter to apologise to her.

But even with that, she couldn't bring herself to believe that he was truly defending her. Not when everything inside her still screamed that Gilbert Ace Carter hated her.

Olivia laughed in disbelief. "You want me to apologize to that slut?" she said, eyes wide as she turned to face Gilbert.

Gilbert didn't blink. "Even a three-year-old knows how to say sorry. Haven't you learned that, Olivia?"

His voice was calm, but his expression was serious. Olivia could tell, he wasn't joking.

"And why would I?" she snapped. "I'll never do that. Not even to Pontius Pilate!"

Her cousin's face darkened. Olivia had always been spoiled, always convinced she was right no matter what. But Gilbert had reached his limit.

"Then let her call the police," he said, raising a brow.

Olivia froze. "Brother Gilbert! How could you do this to me? I'm your cousin!" she cried, her voice rising as her tears finally spilled.

But Gilbert didn't budge. His tone was cold and firm. "You hurt someone in public. You either take responsibility, or face the consequences."

Then he turned his sharp gaze to the two women beside her.

The color drained from their faces.

Quickly, both stepped forward and bowed to Cherry.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have hurt you," one said, voice shaking.

"Me too. I shouldn't have listened to Olivia," the other added.

Olivia stared at them, stunned. "Chloe? Nicole? What are you doing?" she hissed, but they both kept their heads down, avoiding her glare.

She had no choice now.

Olivia clenched her fists and forced the words through gritted teeth. "I, I'm sorry," she muttered toward Cherry.

Cherry kept her eyes on the floor. She didn't respond. The apology meant nothing. Everyone there knew Olivia only said it because Gilbert made her.

Olivia burned with quiet rage. She wanted to scream, but she kept silent under Gilbert's cold stare. Inside, she swore she'd get back at Cherry no matter what.

"You happy now?" she asked her cousin bitterly, but Gilbert didn't answer.

He simply walked past her, not sparing a glance.

He stopped in front of Cherry.

From his height, he could clearly see her, hair messy, uniform torn, body bruised. She stood hunched, trying to hide herself, eyes locked on the floor.

She wouldn't look at him.

Gilbert stayed silent, watching her.

"I know Olivia was wrong," Gilbert said, his voice deep and steady. "So if you want to fight back, go ahead. No one's stopping you."

Cherry's head snapped up. Her eyes met his, full of confusion. Had she heard him right?

He was giving her permission to retaliate?

Her chest tightened. Gilbert Ace Carter, dressed in a sharp gray suit that made him look even more untouchable, stood there like a wall between her and the world. Powerful. Intimidating. But also strangely, protective?

"No one will dare touch you when I'm here," he added, his voice calm but certain.

Cherry's heart pounded. She stared at him, still trying to make sense of what was happening.

What's going on in your head, Gilbert Ace Carter? she asked silently.

Before she could say anything, Olivia exploded.

"What are you saying, Brother Gilbert?!" she shouted, storming toward them.

Her face was red with anger, her heels clicking furiously against the floor.

Has he lost his mind? she thought. First, he made me apologize, now he's encouraging this low-class girl to hit me back?

But Gilbert turned his head, eyes sharp.

One look from him, and Olivia fell silent.

She stopped in her tracks, swallowed hard, and backed off.

Still fuming, she turned to Cherry, waiting to see what she would do.

Cherry lowered her eyes.

She let out a slow breath.

She could fight back. The offer was there. Gilbert would protect her. She had every right to make Olivia pay.

But she didn't move.

She thought of her past. The beatings from her mother. The pain she had already lived through. And how even when her body was covered in bruises, she never raised her hand in return.

Back then, she thought fighting back would only make her life worse.

And today, she still believed that.

Cherry slowly shook her head.

"I'm not like her," she whispered under her breath.

She wouldn't stoop to Olivia's level.

Even if no one clapped for her choice, even if she looked weak, this was her strength.