Chapter 2 She knew their future was over

Experiencing such intoxicating sweetness for the first time, Justyn couldn't control himself. Like a wild, driven beast, he tossed and turned with her again and again. It wasn't until she passed out from sheer exhaustion that he finally stopped, still feeling a lingering hunger in his veins. The sheer intensity of the night had left him physically drained but mentally wired, a stark contrast to his usual cold, calculated demeanor.

Looking at her exquisite face, as pure as an angel in the dim morning light, Justyn actually felt a twinge of guilt. Her eyelashes fluttered slightly against her pale cheeks, and a small, bruised pout graced her lips. Had he been too ruthless? But he quickly dismissed the thought—she had thrown herself at him; he couldn't be blamed for taking what was offered. In his cutthroat world, hesitation was weakness, and he had simply capitalized on the situation presented to him. Exhausted from the night's exertions, Justyn lay back and fell into a deep sleep.

When Audrey woke up again, it was already noon. The harsh midday sun pierced through the gaps in the heavy blackout curtains, stabbing directly into her sensitive eyes.

She gasped, sitting bolt upright as a wave of blinding, throbbing pain tore through her skull. Every muscle in her body screamed in protest, aching with a profound soreness she had never known. She realized she was in an unfamiliar, sprawling presidential penthouse. The sheer scale of the room, with its modern art and panoramic views of the city, was entirely alien to her. Looking down at her body under the high-thread-count sheets, she saw the undeniable marks left from the night before. Vivid purples and angry reds painted her collarbones and shoulders, a horrifying mosaic of her own ruin.

As her mind completely cleared, the devastating reality crashed down on her: she had gotten drunk, walked into the wrong room, and slept with a complete stranger. Her clothes were scattered across the floor, but the handsome man from last night was nowhere to be seen. The empty space beside her and the mess around them were screaming testaments to what had happened. The lingering scent of his sharp cologne mixed with her own perfume made her stomach churn with violent nausea.

She had lost her innocence in the most confusing, absurd way possible. This was the intimacy her boyfriend, Alvie, had begged for over the past year, yet she had given it to a stranger in a drunken haze. She didn't even know the man's name. She had saved herself, guarded her boundaries so fiercely, only to have it all shattered because of a stupid mix-up with a hotel keycard.

Audrey wanted to cry. How could this happen? How was she ever going to face Alvie? Her mind was a chaotic mess of panic and despair. Her breathing hitched as hot, bitter tears spilled over her lashes, tracing hot paths down her pale cheeks.

After shedding bitter tears, she forced herself out of bed, her legs trembling violently. She nearly collapsed onto the plush carpet, her knees buckling under the weight of her own body. She endured the soreness and went to the bathroom to shower, desperately trying to scrub away the marks, unable to tell if it was water or tears streaming down her face. She scrubbed until her skin was raw and burning, but the physical evidence of the night was stubborn, mocking her from the fogged-up mirror. She couldn't understand how she ended up in a man's room. Where was Dessa? Why hadn't her best friend come looking for her?

No, she decided, she had to find an excuse to break up with Alvie. She couldn't let anyone know about this nightmare. She would carry this shameful secret to her grave rather than watch the love and respect drain from Alvie's eyes.

With red, swollen eyes, Audrey picked up her clothes from the floor. Thankfully, they weren't completely torn and were still wearable. She had to treat today as a terrible nightmare that had cost her her first love and her innocence. She zipped up her dress with shaking hands, her fingers fumbling over the fabric as she tried to pull herself together.

Fully dressed, Audrey opened the suite door with agonizing slowness and slipped out into the empty corridor, desperate to find a quiet place to be alone. The hallway was silent, the thick carpets absorbing the sound of her frantic, uneven footsteps.

But the moment she stepped toward the elevators, she froze. Standing right there, staring at her with icy fury, was the most familiar face in her life.

"Alvie..." Audrey's voice sounded like it was squeezed from her throat. She never expected him to be right outside the door. Her blood ran completely cold, her heart plummeting into her stomach.

"Why are you here?" Alvie snarled, the veins bulging on his neck. His hands were balled into tight fists at his sides, his knuckles turning white from the pressure.

Audrey remained silent, too guilty to meet his eyes. She knew their future was over; she had ruined it herself.

"Answer me! Why are you coming out of this room? Huh?" Alvie's voice was hoarse with rage. The glaring hickeys on Audrey's neck and collarbone pierced his eyes like needles. He stepped closer, his imposing figure casting a dark, suffocating shadow over her trembling frame.

Just last night, while Alvie was working late, he had received a text from Audrey saying Dessa was crying over a bad breakup and needed company. She had sent him her location, told him not to worry, and mentioned Dessa had thoughtfully booked a suite for them. But when he rushed over after work, he only found Dessa waiting alone. The pieces were falling into place in his mind, and the picture they formed was utterly repulsive to him.