A Night of Sin, A Morning of Regret

The club was dark, pulsing with loud music, the air thick with alcohol and desperation. I didn’t care. I wanted to drown. Drown the pain, the betrayal, the humiliation.

Drink after drink, I lost myself. My body swayed, my vision blurred, but I felt nothing. Numbness. That was all I wanted.

And then I saw him.

He was sitting at the bar, watching me. Dark eyes filled with something dangerous. His presence was intoxicating—more than the liquor burning in my veins. He was sin wrapped in perfection.

Before I knew it, we were tangled in sheets, lost in the night. His hands explored, his lips claimed, and for the first time in days, I forgot. I forgot them. I forgot everything.

Until morning came.

The headache was unbearable. My stomach twisted, and as soon as I opened my eyes, I bolted to the bathroom, throwing up everything inside me.

"Oh my God, what did I do to myself?" I whispered, gripping the sink.

I turned, and there he was. Lying in bed, watching me with a knowing smirk.

God, he was perfect. His jawline sharp, his chest sculpted, his abs firm. His whole body looked like it had been carved by the gods themselves.

Panic set in. I needed to leave.

I grabbed my clothes, fumbling to put them on, my hands shaking. He didn’t say a word, just leaned back against the pillows, amused.

"Running away?" His voice was deep, smooth—temptation itself.

I didn’t answer. I fled.

I made it home, threw myself onto my bed, and tried to block out everything that had happened. But I couldn’t.

His touch lingered. His scent was still on my skin.

I turned on the TV, needing a distraction.

And then my world shattered again.

There she was. My ex-best friend, glowing with happiness, standing beside him. My ex.

It was their engagement party.

The news anchor gushed over the event, replaying clips of her speech.

"Although people tried to snatch him away from me, God is so faithful," she said with a smirk, looking directly into the camera.

I knew what she was doing.

She was talking about me.

And just like that, I was trending again.

I pressed the phone against my ear, my voice barely a whisper as I pleaded.

"Please… just stop dragging me. You’ve already won. I’ve lost everything—my dignity, my family’s respect. Just please, keep me out of the media."

I was desperate, broken beyond repair. But the laughter on the other end of the line made my stomach twist.

"Oh, sweetheart," she giggled mockingly. "You sound so pitiful. Did you really think I’d let you off that easy?"

The next thing I knew, a leaked voice note of my begging was all over social media. My name trended again, but this time, I wasn’t just the girl whose best friend stole her boyfriend. I was the pathetic "rich girl crying for mercy."

Humiliation burned through my veins. I wanted to fight back, to take her to court, but my father shut it down immediately.

"Enough scandals, Selena," he snapped. "We can't afford to be dragged any further. Drop it."

I collapsed on my bed, staring at the ceiling as silent screams filled my head. How much more could I take?

Then, my phone buzzed.

Unknown Number: "I had a wonderful night with you. I’d love to see you again."

My heart exploded in panic. The one-night stand. Oh God, not another scandal.

"Who is this?" I typed back, my fingers shaking.

A response came instantly.

Unknown Number: "Oh, baby, don’t act like you forgot me already. Let’s meet one more time."

I wanted to block him, but something stopped me. A feeling I couldn’t explain. Maybe it was fear. Maybe it was curiosity. So I agreed—at a private restaurant where no one would see me.

But just as I was leaving for the meeting, my phone rang again. My father's voice boomed through the receiver.

"We’re going BANKRUPT, Selena! Our shareholders are pulling out! Everything is collapsing!"

I nearly dropped my phone.

Bankrupt? How? When?

I felt my whole world crumbling again. But I had no time to process it—I was already on my way to meet my mysterious stranger.

And when I walked into that restaurant, my entire body froze.

Seated before me, sipping a glass of wine like he owned the world, was Benjamin Lauras.

The richest billionaire in the world.

My one-night stand.