Chapter 1

Two months ago…

Tonight was everything I had always dreamed of. The music was soft and the weather was just right as if even the universe knew this day had to be perfect. 

“And it would be,” I told myself as I powdered my face in the washroom ready to go downstairs and celebrate with the love of my life. 

Eric was my world, the air I breathe and I couldn't imagine a future without him, without us together. 

I had everything planned out for us, our children's names, honeymoon spots, schools, wedding colours, everything! 

The door to the bathroom opened and I leaned up from the sink. 

“Oh hey, I didn't know anyone was here,” some woman apologised and then laughed as she pushed the man that was with her behind her. 

I smiled and waved it off. “Have fun!” 

Who was I to stop anyone from having a fun time when that was how Eric and I met? 

I had just gotten the worst news of my life; my mum had relapsed and the cancer was even more aggressive than the last time. 

I had accidentally entered the men's washroom at a party and he found me there. 

It had been awkward at first but when he saw I was crying, all his judgement vanished and he focused his attention on me. 

Before him, no one else cared. 

He had loaned me money for her first consultation and like they say, the rest is history. 

I took the stairs one by one and entered into the ballroom ready to start my new life with the man I loved. 

“Everyone, gather around,” Eric's sweet and happy voice greeted me as I walked into the hall and I stopped in my tracks, tears welling up in my eyes. 

“I want to introduce you to the love of my life, the woman who has stolen my heart…” he trailed off and the crowd erupted in ooos and ahhs causing tears to roll down my cheeks. 

I took two steps forward ready to appear once he said my name and then…

“Fiona Davies, come here darling let everyone look at you.” 

And just like that, my world stopped. Fiona? Who was Fiona? My name was Naomi. 

Right before my eyes, I watched as my fiancée slipped his hands around another woman's waist and kissed her passionately the way he used to kiss me. 

“Eric?” I whispered, my voice hushed and wounded. 

It was then everyone turned their attention to me, his rightful fiancé. 

“Naomi? What are you do-doing here?” He stammered, fumbling over his words. 

“Babe,” that other woman, Fiona, called his name so sweetly I almost gagged and placed her hand on his chest. “Who is she and why is her dress so similar to mine?” 

“Who is this Eric?” I asked refusing to believe was standing in front of me until he said it himself. 

“She's nobody babe, ignore her.” Eric chuckled and waved his hands dismissively in my direction. “Remember that charity case I was telling you about? Yeah, that's her. My father helped pay for her mother's hospital bills through his foundation.” 

The crowd erupted in oohs again but this time my heart fell. 

“Charity case?” My voice broke as I said the words. “That's all this was to you?” 

“Of course Naomi, what did you think this was?” Eric asked, laughing. “Is it because of the ring I gave you? Oh that was just me doing something nice. I saw the way you were looking at it from the window and thought I'd do something nice for you.” 

More oohs and I wanted to crawl into a hole. Eric was calling me a charity case after said he loved me and couldn't wait to spend the rest of his life with me, by my side!! 

“Oh baby, you're so sweet!* Fiona gushed and began peppering his face with kisses. 

My stomach churned as I took in the sight and I looked away, tears blinding my vision. 

How could such a beautiful night turn into a horror movie? 

“Come on Naomi, you didn't honestly think I'd marry you, did you? You're way beneath my level and you can't give me or my family anything.” 

I had heard enough. I wiped my face with my hands and turned just as a waitress passed by with a tray loaded with glasses filled with champagne. 

I wasn't going down without a fight, I thought as I picked one off the tray and flung it at Eric. 

He didn't expect it and it hit him right in his face and trickled down to his suit. 

“I wish you all the best, you asshole. Have a nice life!” I yelled and turned on my heels. 

Fiona shrieked. “How dare you? After everything he's done for you?!” 

“No, leave her babe. She just needs some time to cool off. I'm sure she'd be back to apologise.” 

I laughed as I listened to their conversation. Even though my heart was broken, I still had my pride. 

Eric could go fuck himself. 

*** 

Somehow, I ended up in a bar after leaving the event centre. It had been close by and the music had called to me. 

Now I was seated on a barstool nursing my 50th dink of the night and begging the bartender to keep sending more my way. 

“Ma'am I think you've had enough already. You won't be able to move.” 

“Oh how the mighty have fallen,” I whispered and chuckled drunkenly. 

“Ma'am, how would you like to pay?” 

I reached into my dress and gasped. “I don't have my purse.” Then I burst into tears. “I was so sure I had it. Don't worry, I'll pay you back as soon as I find work. I just…” I hiccuped and more tears rolled down my face. 

“Ma'am please, you're going to get me fired.” 

“Charge everything she drank to my tab.” A domineering deep voice said from behind me and the bartender nodded. 

I looked up, eager to see who had him acting so squirmish and I froze. 

He wasn't the worst looking man I had ever laid my eyes on. 

“Who are you?” 

“Just someone who wants to make you feel better.” He said and reached for my arm. 

I giggled and moved away before he could grab it. “No, I'm still drinking,” 

He shook his head but I could see the corners of his lips twitch. “You can't even walk in a straight line.” 

“Hey, I can too!” I shot back sliding off the stool. I almost slid to the ground but caught myself at the last minute. 

He sighed and raised his hand. “If you can walk from here to the door, I'll let you go and won't bother you.” 

I blinked and nodded then forced myself to a sitting position. “You got it!” I whispered, drunk as hell but still conscious of my environment.

Guest all those beer pong games in college paid off. 

I stared at the wall and everything was fine at first until I face planted on the ground. 

A groan slipped past my lips followed by a ripping sound. 

Then chuckling could be heard behind me and whispers that we're way louder. 

“Her butt is out,” I heard and my face turned pale. 

“Oh sweetheart, come on.” He reached for my hand and pulled but I fought him and struggled to a sitting position myself. 

“Leave me alone.” 

He gritted his teeth and the nice guy from earlier was gone. “You can't tease me like that and then be like this, it won't work. I already saw your ass and I can't wait to bury my face in it.” 

“Hey, I'm not going with you.” I yelled and pushed him but i was weak and he grabbed both my arms. 

“Playing hard to get won't help you anymore, come on.” He carried me up and held me close to his body ignoring my pleas. 

“Please let me go,” I cried but he ignored me and I wished there and then that I had listened to the bartender. 

“I believe the lady said to let her go.” another deep voice called, this one more menacing and dark than his. 

We both looked up and all the air in my lungs floated away.

If I thought the creep holding me hostage was gorgeous, this man beat him a million times over. 

It was illegal and should be a criminal offense for anyone on planet earth to look that good. 

Strong jaw clenched in anger, straight nose and  perfectly caved kissable lips.  

“What's it to you old man?” Mr Creep asked and I pushed against him, digging my elbow into his side. 

He let out a yell and reached for me but I ran towards Mr Hero and hid behind his back. 

“You bitch!” He cursed and lunged at me but Mr Hero grabbed his arm and bent it. 

A crack was heard followed by a piercing scream. A shiver ran down my spine and I took off not wanting to be caught with either one of them. 

I toed off my heels, raised my dress slightly and ran as fast as my legs would carry me away from there. 

This night had turned out to be the worst night of my life if I didn't get away,  

Tears rolled down my cheeks as I slowed my pace and settled for a jog. 

I couldn't believe I had given so many years to Eric thinking he had my back only for him to stab me like this. 

Guess happily ever after only ever existed in the movies after all. 

Headlights from behind me suddenly illuminated the road ahead and I winced as I saw the giant rocks. 

Maybe taking off my heels hadn't been my brightest idea. 

More tears poured down my cheeks and I sank to the ground right there and cried. 

A door opened and closed then I heard footsteps walking towards me. 

I should have stood up and run for my life but I just didn't care anymore. 

“Are you okay?” An oddly familiar deep voice asked, cutting through the quiet of the night and I sniffed. 

“Do I look okay?” I snapped turning to face whoever it was that asked such a stupid question after seeing me sitting like this. 

My breath caught in my throat as I spotted him, the guy from earlier - Mr Hero. 

“It's you.” I whispered and waited for panic to set in but it never came. 

He took a step forward and I realized how intimidating he looked up close, even more so than before. 

“Are you going to kidnap me?” I asked and he shrugged. 

“Maybe,” then he pointed at my feet. “You're going to get hurt and then get yourself a disease or something.” 

I raised an eyebrow. “A disease?” 

He nodded then pointed behind him at the black jeep he drove. “Get in, let me take you home.” 

I shook my head. “I don't have a home.” 

Eric's house had been my home but after tonight, I had no doubt I wasn't welcomed back there. 

“Will you come with me then?” He asked and I narrowed my eyes. 

He seemed harmless for the most part and I had nowhere else to go. 

A jagged sigh left my lips and I nodded. He reached for my hand and I let him, gasping in surprise when he picked me up. 

He carried me towards the driver's seat and got in, placing me on his lap. 

“How are you supposed to drive…?” 

“Scoot to the other side.” He said and I did as I was told, curling up like a wounded cat in the passenger's seat. 

He shut the door and zoomed off. 

**** 

I must have dozed off because the next time I opened my eyes, we were driving into an exquisite compound. 

He parked the car just in front of a magnificent house, the kind they used in those hallmark movies my mother loved so much and turned off the engine. 

I moved to get out but he held me back. 

“Stay,” he got out and walked over to my side.

He opened the door for me and like the gentleman he claimed to be, he carried me across the threshold like a new bride all the way to one of the bedrooms upstairs. 

He placed me on the giant bed and stepped back. “You can sleep here tonight and then figure something out in the morning.” 

I nodded and wished I hadn't as a wave of nausea hit me. “I need to…” I brushed past him in search of the bathroom. 

“It's just in front of…” he started to say but I cut him off as I did my business right there on what looked to be an expensive rug. 

“Well, or you could do it there.” He muttered, his tone not giving anything away. 

I continued heaving, the force of it making my eyes burn. 

Once I was done, I leaned up and some of my hair stuck to my face. 

“Alright, come on.” 

He took me to the bathroom and filled the tub up for me to use. 

By the time I walked into the room again, the floor was shining like it was brand new and the smell of strawberries filled my nose. “Here, it will be way more comfortable than your clothes,” 

I slipped it over my head and inhaled his perfume. “This will do.” 

When I looked up, my breath caught in my throat as I saw the unmistakable look of desire in his eyes. 

“Get some rest,” he said as he looked away, jaw clenched as if he was holding himself back. 

I went to him and whispered, “Take me and make me forget everything.” 

He didn't look convinced so I kissed him the way I knew how. 

“Are you sure?” He asked as he pulled away from me, one of his hands firmly wrapped around my waist. 

“Yes. Make me forget.” 

He placed me on the bed and just when I thought he would climb in with me and do unspeakable things to me, he pulled the covers up to my chin, tucking me in like a little girl and pulled away. 

“Get some rest now. We'll talk in the morning.” And then he was gone. 

I laid there for a bit, too stunned to speak but eventually sleep took over and when I woke up the next day, I had  the worst hangover ever and all my memories intact. 

The night that should have been the best turned out to be the worst and to crown it all, I had thrown myself at a guy who thought I wasn't sexy enough. 

Everything about it had to be wiped out of my memory so I slipped out of bed. 

My gown from the night before was now freshened clean and waiting for me on the chair close to the table by the wall 

I slipped it on hastily and looked for a pen and some paper. He had given me his home and been very hospitable. I had to at least offer my thanks.

I left him a note. 

Thanks for the worst night of my life. May our paths never cross again.