CHAPTER TWO

The air hit my face as we pushed through the stadium doors. My feet ached from running, but I didn’t stop. I didn’t want to stop. The man walked beside me, silent, his steps steady.

His presence was strangely comforting.

We reached a sleek black car parked near the exit. He pulled open the door. “Get in.” I hesitated. “I don’t even know your name.”

He tilted his head slightly. “And yet, you kissed me, and asked me to take you home”

My face burned. “I… I wasn’t thinking.”

His lips twitched in amusement, but his eyes remained unreadable. “Angie, right?” I frowned. “How do you know?”

He gave a small chuckle. “Everyone knows.”

Right. I was Angie Harper, the pop sensation. The girl whose wedding just turned into a national scandal.

Tears pricked my eyes again, but I blinked them away.

“You’re not going back in there, are you?” he asked. I swallowed hard, shaking my head. “No… please just take me away from here to an hotel or something.”

“Then get in.”

Something about him made me trust him, though I had no reason to, maybe I just needed to escape. I thought.

I slid into the car. He shut the door behind me and got into the driver’s seat. As we pulled onto the road, the weight of everything settled in my chest. The betrayal, the embarrassment, the heartbreak.

“I gave him everything,” I whispered, almost crying

The man didn’t say anything. He just listened. Tears slipped down my cheeks. “I was so stupid.”

“No,” he said firmly. “He was.”

I turned to look at him. “Who are you?”

He didn’t answer right away. Then, with a small smirk, he said, “Just a waiter.”

I frowned. “A waiter?”

He nodded. “At one of those five-star restaurants. I was on a break when I saw your concert.”

I studied him, he didn’t look like a waiter. His suit was too expensive, his watch too sleek. But I was too exhausted to question it.

“Why did you help me?” I asked.

He glanced at me, his green eyes holding something I couldn’t decipher. “Because you looked like you needed saving.”

I didn’t say anything after that. I couldn’t help but think about today.

The hotel room door clicked shut behind us, and I let out a shaky breath. My body still tired, exhaustion was creeping in. The stranger my unexpected savior, walked ahead, loosening his tie. He hadn’t said much on the drive here, just kept stealing glances at me like he was waiting for me to break.

I didn’t want to break.

I wanted to forget.

He moved to the minibar, grabbed a bottle of whiskey, and poured two glasses. “Drink?”

I nodded immediately. “Yeah.”

I took the glass and downed the burning liquid in one go. It was hot down my throat, but I welcomed the pain. It was better than the ache in my chest. He raised a brow but didn’t comment, just refilled my glass.

Minutes passed in silence as we drank. I didn’t know why I was here, why I trusted him. But right now, nothing made sense anyway. My life had just exploded in front of thousands of people. My career, my love shattered.

Another gulp. Another burn.

His green eyes watched me closely. “You going to be okay?”

I scoffed. “yes.’”

A smile appeared at his lips. “Fair enough.”

The alcohol was hitting fast, blurring the sharp edges of my pain. My head felt lighter. I leaned back against the couch, letting out a bitter laugh. “You know, this wasn’t how my wedding night was supposed to go.”

His gaze darkened. “No, it wasn’t.”

Something in his tone made my breath hitch. He was close now, sitting on the edge of the couch, his knee brushing against mine. The air between us suddenly went high.

I should stop. I should get up, go to bed, sleep this night away.

But I didn’t.

Instead, I reached for another drink. He caught my wrist, stopping me. “You don’t need more.”

I met his eyes, something desperate building at my chest. “Then what do I need?” A long pause. His fingers brushed against my skin, slow, deliberate.

I slowly stood up, kissing a stranger was enough, sleeping with him would make me something I am not, thought he was tempting. I stood up strolling to the bed, I collapsed on the bed and drifted off.