I asked a stranger.

*Katherine*

I wake up the next morning feeling like my skull is splitting in two.

My mouth tastes very weird. The room spins a little even though I’m not moving. For a few seconds, I just lie there and squeeze my eyes shut, trying to remember where I am and how I even got here.

I remember Derek and Elena. How I lost all my savings to Darek to buy an apartment that ended up not being mine. God!! I exhale, getting a relief because I remember I left for a club house. 

My throat immediately tightens up and I feel like crying all over again from the beginning.

But at least I can use this weekend to think of what to do next. I can't let my father and his family have what my mother built for years.

I press both my palm against my head and turn on my side, ready to curl in and go back to sleep because I can’t handle this yet.

Only then I feel a heavy warm arm. My eyes open slowly and I gasp when I see a man lying beside me shirtless. I do a mental check as I draw my face closer to have a clean look at him. He looks too peaceful and beautiful in his sleep. His hair curls up in this adorable way that makes you want to cry. 

I look away from him and down at myself only to realize I'm naked. God, I'm naked! I feel like screaming my lungs out. 

The sheet is the only thing covering me and it’s barely doing its job. I look around the white room. My dress is on the floor, twisted like I fought it off. His shirt is hanging on a chair. 

And It's very much obvious that I had s*x with this stranger.

God, how did it get to this???

I shot my eyes briefly as last night rushes back in pieces that don’t make a full picture. The last thing I remember was holding his phone briefly, returning it happily and asking him to pleasure me for the night. 

I'm so embarrassed right now. Regret hits me so hard I almost gag. Anger follows right after. Angry at Derek. Angry at Elena. Angry at myself most of all.

I quickly slide out of the bed carefully, like the man might explode if I wake him. I grab my clothes and pull them on with shaking hands. My body feels sore in places I don’t want to acknowledge but I ignore it.

Because I should leave before this man wakes up. I find a bottle of water on the nightstand and drink it up. 

I open my purse and stare at what’s inside for a while before pulling out a 100 dollar note.

I find a pen and a little notebook on the nightstand. My fingers hover for a second before I tear a piece out and write quickly.

“Thanks for the night. would’ve paid you more than this but that’s all I have. I hope it covers your work though. Don't worry, I rate you employee of the year”

I know rating him employee of the year when I can barely remember if he did well or not sounds ridiculous but I've already written it down. I wrap the money in the paper, drop it on the table, and leave without looking back.

Once outside the clubhouse, I check my phone.

Missed calls from Aria.

Messages from my father and Derek. Ignoring all, I head straight back to the apartment—I know that by this time, Derek is mostly out with his friends. 

I should get my things first when he's not home before thinking of where to go next. 

On my way in the taxi, I call Aria. 

“Kat, where have you been? I've called you like ten billion times” she says immediately the call starts to read. Her voice sounds very worried. 

I swallow before mouthing a reply “I'm alive.” 

“Ahh, thank God. I was calling to ask how the fitting went if you got your dress and also because we need to go for the cake tasting today in like an hour against your big day tomorrow” she rambles on and on. 

I shut my eyes and breathe out. I haven't told Aria that Derek and I won't be getting married. In fact I haven't had a chance to call off the wedding. “I don't think there would be any wedding, Ari. I'm—” 

“What do you mean?” She cuts in. 

“Don't worry, I'll tell you everything when I meet you today” I say and hang up, brushing off the tears that managed to slide down my eyes. 

When the taxi pulls up in front of our, sorry, Derek's house, I step down after paying him and proceed inside. 

I get to the door and insert my key but it refuses to open. 

“Stupid key” I mutter and throw the key into my bag with frustration. I decide to input the password instead but after I'm done, it's suddenly a wrong password. I try again yet it's the same result.

Letting out a sigh, I pull out my phone with so much confusion to call Derek.

As I'm about to start dialing his number, I see his message first and open it. It reads: “Just know that you are no longer welcome in my house. I've changed the locks and passkey. Go on and follow that stupid wh**e you are f*****g. And for your information, your name is not on the lease” 

I close my eyes and breathe in. This is so unfair. How can a person who loved you for so long suddenly switch up on you? I can't believe Derek is doing this to me. I can't believe this life is even real. 

Brushing a hand over my face, I find my way out and head to Aria's place. She's sitting outside when I get there and reading a book. The minute she sees me, her mood lightens up and she runs to come and hug me. 

But at this point, I can't hold myself anymore. I let myself loose and started shedding all the tears that I've been holding back since yesterday. For seconds, she doesn't say anything. She just rubs my back and allows me to cry on her shoulder.

Seconds later, we go inside when I've stopped crying. She offers me water and I drink.

 I start telling her what happened down to the part where I asked a random stranger to marry me and slept with him right after. 

“That good for nothing Derek” Ari barks “I should deal with him. I'll deal with him” she suddenly holds my hand “you should report him. No, we should hire people to raid that house, maybe burn it down” 

I shake my head “we can't do that Ari, I'll handle it. I'll fight them” I say. Ari knows about my inheritance ultimatum. In fact she knows everything about my life. 

She sighs “That's what you've been saying since your mother died but you've never fought anyone. Is it until you die?” 

I don't say anything but Ari continues. “And that of your sister, Elena. She has no sense at all. I should just tell Mackenzie. He'll go with his men, they'll capture her, they'll—” 

“Please no, Ari. All I need to do is get married tomorrow. Maybe even marry Derek if he shows up. I just can't lose everything to them”

“But you can't marry Derek not with what he's done to you. Remember this is not the first time he's cheating on you” Aria says. She's holding my hand and she's right but I don't have any option. 

“I don't know what to do. I promised my mom that I'll make sure to get married before I'm ready to take over” 

“But you know that getting married to Derek is totally not going to help your situation at all, right?” Aria asks. 

I'm about to say something when my phone starts to ring. I pull it out from my purse and stare at it for a very long second.