A sharp, searing pain shot through her scalp.

Elara understood now. These were Chloe's fanatical followers.

But Chloe was the other woman. She was the Alpha's rightful mate.

How, in their eyes, did this become her fault?

Besides, she had used her own credit card today. It had nothing to do with Damian.

Elara tried to explain, hoping to calm them down.

"I haven't spent a single dime of Damian's money. Let me go. You know this is illegal, right?"

The girl holding her hair sneered.

"Tch, still lying."

"Girls, let's get her! Let's teach this bitch a lesson for Chloe!"

At her command, the other girls closed in, kicking and punching Elara with all their strength.

There was no way Elara could fight back against so many of them. She could only curl up and endure the beating.

She had parked in a more secluded area of the lot, and there was no one else around.

The girls grew bolder, their mouths spewing a constant stream of insults.

"Old hag, you think you can compete with our Chloe for the Alpha? This will teach you to know your place."

"Best Actress? I bet you slept your way to the top. The Alpha must have been blind, but thank God our Chloe saved him."

...

Elara could feel clumps of her hair being ripped from her scalp. Her insides ached, feeling as if her organs had been rearranged.

"What are you doing?!"

The fists and feet raining down on her suddenly stopped.

Elara struggled to open her eyes and saw several mall security guards running toward them. Only then did her body finally give out, and she collapsed into unconsciousness.

When she woke up, she was in a hospital bed.

Damian, whom she hadn't seen in two weeks, was sitting by her side, holding her hand.

Seeing her awake, he asked with concern.

"Elara, how are you feeling? Are you any better?"

Elara silently pulled her hand away and stared out the window.

"Did they catch the people who attacked me? I want to press charges."

Damian looked at her, covered in bruises, a flicker of pain in his eyes.

"The mall security called the police immediately. Those girls are being held at the station. I..."

Before he could finish, the door opened and Chloe walked in, immediately linking her arm with Damian's.

"Damian, darling. Oh, Elara, you're awake."

She looked at Elara, her expression a mask of apology.

"Elara, I'm so sorry. My followers caused you so much trouble."

"They were just looking out for me. They felt you were standing in the way of my happiness with Damian, and they acted out of anger."

Her words were apologetic, but the triumphant gleam in her eyes and the mocking tone of her voice revealed her true feelings.

Chloe was clearly thrilled to see her beaten and bruised.

A fire of rage ignited in Elara's heart.

If she hadn't protected her face, she could have been disfigured.

For an actress, a scarred face meant the end of a career.

"Chloe, if you can't control your followers, then I'll do it for you."

"I'm not letting them get away with this. They can expect to be sued."

At that, Chloe immediately jumped to their defense.

"Elara, I've already apologized to you. Why are you being so relentless? I won't let you hurt my followers!"

Her eyes welled up with tears as she turned her watery gaze to Damian.

"Damian, I'm your girlfriend now, and Elara is your ex-mate. Whose side are you on?"

Seeing the usually proud woman on the verge of tears, Damian's heart went out to her. He pulled her into his arms, forgetting everything else.

"Do you even need to ask? I'm on your side, of course."

"Don't worry, they'll be released without any trouble."

His words left Elara's mind blank. She stared at him in disbelief.

"Damian, are you really protecting your lover like this? Do you have any idea how close I came to being disfigured?"

Chloe frowned, interrupting with a dissatisfied tone.

"Elara, I call you 'senior' out of respect, but that doesn't give you the right to slander me."

"Damian and I got together after you signed the rejection agreement. I am his official girlfriend."

Elara found it laughable.

It takes two to tango.

If Chloe had truly kept her distance from Damian, an Alpha, before the agreement was signed, then given his arrogant nature, he wouldn't have pursued her relentlessly for two months.

Chloe just wanted it all—a powerful Alpha like Damian as her backer, without the stigma of being labeled a homewrecker.

Damian gently stroked Chloe's hair, then turned his gaze back to Elara, his tone leaving no room for argument.

"But you weren't disfigured, were you?"

"How much compensation do you want? Just name your price."