Chapter 1 Bachelorette Party

"Ugh..."

Laura Hartley let out a soft groan as she felt a wet feeling on her neck. A man's ragged breath tickled her ear.

'Who is it...?' Laura wondered, her eyes fluttering open to figure out the identity of the person beside her. But her vision was blurred, a messy haze from the alcohol swimming in her system.

"Ah!"

A moan escaped Laura's lips as she felt something of his begin to push from below.

"No... don't..." Laura whimpered, a clear voice in her drunken mind screaming that this shouldn't be happening.

The man paused, hesitating for a moment. But an unbearable surge of desire demanded that he continue.

"Stop it..." Laura pushed against his chest, but her strength was pitifully weak.

Her rejection only made the man lock both her hands above her head.

"I'm sorry... I can't hold back." The man's deep, husky voice was strangely tempting, sending shivers down Laura's spine.

"Ahh..." Laura's eyes went wide as her core was penetrated deeply.

Her beautiful blue eyes welled up with tears. 'No... it can't be like this...'

Clear tears streamed down Laura's face. She didn't know who this man was—could he be her fiancé? But the question became irrelevant as her mind went blank the moment he began to pick up his rhythm.

"Ah!" A groan, sharp with pleasure, couldn't be stopped from escaping her lips. "No... no!"

Moans clashed within the room, continuing until, finally, the peak of satisfaction was reached.

In that very moment, the man offered a gentle touch to Laura's face, wiping away the falling tears.

"I... will take responsibility..." he whispered.

-

"Hah... hah!"

Laura woke up, gasping for air. She sat up in bed and wiped the sweat from her forehead.

'A dream?' Laura asked herself.

But when Laura pulled back the blanket covering her, her eyes immediately flew open. She was wearing absolutely nothing!

'Where are my clothes—'

Before she could finish the thought, Laura's eyes caught her knee-length pink dress crumpled on the floor. Her underwear was scattered here and there!

As she was busy staring at the messy state of her clothes, a deep groan sounded. "Ugh...."

Laura's body froze instantly. That was clearly not her voice.

Slowly, she turned to the side, only to gasp when she found a strange man sleeping with his back to her. Just like her, he wasn't wearing a thing!

'What... what happened?!'

Had she slept with him?

With a look of horror, Laura tried to recall what she had done last night.

Last night, her sister, Nora, had dragged her out to celebrate her bachelorette party at a hotel bar because she was getting married in two weeks. Having never been to places like that, Laura had initially refused. But Nora had whined and badgered her until she reluctantly agreed.

At the hotel bar, Laura drank alcohol for the first time and ended up heavily intoxicated. She had tried to ask to go home, but Nora had refused and kept partying.

Trying to sober up, Laura intended to wash her face in the restroom. But moments before she stepped inside, her consciousness completely faded.

Now, she had ended up in a hotel room with a strange man she didn't know!

'This... this absolutely cannot happen!' Laura shrieked internally, terrified that someone else would find out about this incident.

Laura was getting married in two weeks to Noah Myers—her first love and the man her grandmother had arranged for her to marry. If anyone knew what happened in this room, Noah would be disappointed, her father would be furious, and her wedding would be off!

No... Laura wouldn't let that happen! Laura wanted to marry Noah! Her childhood friend and the man she adored!

With that thought, Laura made a swift decision. 'I... I have to leave!'

Quickly, Laura slid out of bed and snatched up her clothes scattered on the floor. She didn't care at all about the pain that shot through her sensitive area every time she moved.

After getting fully dressed, Laura hurried out of the hotel and took a taxi home. A flurry of questions swirled back into her mind.

How could this have happened? Why couldn't she remember anything at all after she reached the restroom door?!

Most importantly... where was Nora when it happened? Her sister had promised to make sure everything would be fine!

Laura sobbed uncontrollably throughout the ride, ignoring the concerned driver who kept asking about her condition. Her mind was focused only on the fear of facing her family and her fiancé.

Remembering Noah's face made Laura's tears flow even harder. Guilt slammed into her chest.

"Noah... I'm so sorry," Laura murmured faintly.

Noah was so kind to her, but... Laura had betrayed him.

When the taxi stopped right in front of her house gate, Laura slipped inside quietly through the back door. She didn't want anyone to know the reality of her not coming home all night.

However, just as Laura pushed the door open, Simon Hartley, Laura's father... was standing right in front of her.

"Dad?" Laura stammered out his name. "You haven't left for—"

Slap!

Before Laura could say another word, Simon struck her with a resounding slap.

The deep lines around Simon's eyes showed intense tension and profound disappointment. "How dare you come back to this house after everything that happened!"