My Pain, his gain

Bandy drifted back to consciousness, a dull ache throbbing through every inch of her body. It felt like she'd gone ten rounds with a heavyweight boxer–and lost.

‎She blinked, her vision blurry, and then… there he was. A man. Close. Too close. All she could see at first was the back of his head: thick, raven hair, and then the curve of his shoulder, the smooth expanse of his back, bare beneath a rumpled sheet. Panic clawed at her throat, but she managed to stifle a scream, clamping a hand over her mouth.

‎Last night's memories flooded back each frame replaying in her mind. Bandy felt a desperate urge to punish herself for what had happened.

‎Her boyfriend's betrayal had driven her to drink at a bar, and this was the result!

‎She couldn't even bear to dwell on the details, let alone look at the man's face. Quietly, she slipped out of bed, gathered her scattered clothes, and fled without a backward glance.

‎Three years later–

‎Brandy boarded a plane back to her home country, holding her phone and watching short videos of her children from birth to two years old, all saved on her phone.

‎"Mommy!”

‎"Mommy!"

‎"Mommy!"

‎"Mommy!"

‎The babies' sweet voices, their cute and delicate faces, melted her heart and brought a soft smile to her lips.

‎Five years ago, after that night in the presidential suite, she discovered she was pregnant, still a college student. Her first instinct was to terminate the pregnancy.

‎But when the doctor told her it was quadruplet, she hesitated.

‎She ran away from the operating room just as they were about to administer the anesthesia.

‎Now, looking at her adorable three boys and one girl, she was grateful she had kept them.

‎They were also healing her anxious heart as she returned home alone after so many years away. How long had it been? Four or five years, or maybe even six?

‎If she'd had her way, she would never return in her lifetime.

‎But her aunt had been kind to her, and her uncle's wedding anniversary was approaching. She hadn't seen them in a long time and missed them dearly.

‎It wasn't that Brandy didn't want to see her aunt; it was that Elite City held too many unpleasant memories for her.

‎She planned to leave as soon as the party Ends

‎Brandy stepped into the hotel's banquet hall, wearing a white Chanel-style dress and high heels that accentuated her delicate ankles. The luxurious building buzzed with the unfamiliar sights and sounds of mingling guests.

‎She felt overwhelmed.

‎"Brandy?"

‎Bandy turned to see her aunt standing a short distance away, calling out to her name with a hint of uncertainty. They hadn't seen each other in years. She walked over. Seeing her uncle beside her–still vigorous despite being well into middle age–a rush of memories flooded back.  "Auntie Linda... Uncle Diego."

‎"I told her it was you, but your aunt insisted I was wrong. Bandy, welcome back! It's been so many years." Diego said, looking pleased.

‎Linda’s eyes filled with tears as she hugged Brandy. "Brandy, it's really you! You've finally come back. Auntie missed you so much. Why did you stay away so long?"

‎Brandy felt guilty. After her mother's death and her father's neglect, her aunt had taken her in and raised her as part of the William's family. She would never forget this kindness for the rest of her life...

‎"Let me take a good look at you." Linda released Brandy, gazing her up and down. Overwhelmed with joy and amazement, she exclaimed, "My Brandy is such a beauty. The men's eyes were glued to her the moment she walked in.."

‎"Just like you," Diego chuckled.

‎"Of course, anyone from the Baron family takes after me," Linda said proudly, her gaze lingering on her niece with satisfaction. "Don't leave this time. Auntie will find you a good husband."

‎"What?" Brandy thought of her four children overseas. "Auntie, I'm only twenty years old. There's no rush..."

‎There discussion was interrupted by A commotion which broke out at the door. Several men entered, moving with practiced efficiency to stand on either side, effectively taking control of the scene and instantly shattering the cheerful atmosphere of the banquet hall.

‎Just as she was beginning to wonder, a tall, imposing man came into view. Dressed in a sharp, dark suit, he appeared nonchalant, yet his powerful presence permeated the entire banquet hall, creating an almost suffocating tension..

‎Brandy stared, stunned, at the face that haunted her deepest memories. His handsome features were now sharpened with a fierce edge, with a pair of hawk-like black eyes fixed on her with chilling detachment.

‎"Jose?" Diego said, surprised.

‎A wave of numbness washed Brandy's scalp. At that moment, the world around her dissolved, leaving her utterly alone as fragmented, chaotic memories began to coalesce..

‎The night in the presidential suite five years ago...

‎The resemblance of her son's faces...

‎Any remaining hope for a lucky escape vanished in that instant...

‎How could it be possible... how could he be the man from that night?

‎How could it be Jose, her aunt's stepson...

‎Jose strode over, his long legs eating up the distance. His powerful presence, amplified by his towering frame of nearly two meters, created an intensely oppressive atmosphere..

‎"Jose, when did you arrive?" Diego never expected his estranged son to appear on his and his wife's wedding anniversary.

‎Standing beside him, Linda grew visibly restrained, her expression betraying a growing anxiety.

‎She had always been afraid of Jose, even though he was her stepson. It was the palpable menace that radiated from him.

‎"What, no welcome?" Jose's voice, deep and resonant, carried an inherent authority that didn't need anger to be intimidating. His gaze pierced Jose's face.

‎Brandy dropped her gaze, her face draining of color. A shiver racked her body, the chilling sensation of being pinned by a viper's gaze..

‎"What do you mean? Linda and I are so happy you could come! What a coincidence, Brandy is back too!" Diego looked towards Brandy and asked, "Do you remember Brandy? She lived with us when she was in junior high."

‎Jose stared at Brandy's face, his dark eyes intense, "Very memorable."

‎Brandy didn't dare to look at Jose's face from beginning to end, avoiding his gaze, "Aunt, I... I need to go to the restroom."

‎Without waiting for marie to speak, she turned and fled as if escaping, bumping into someone and offering only a quick apology before hurrying away.

‎In the restroom, Brandy looked at herself in the mirror, as if bearing a tremendous fear psychologically.

‎What should she do?

‎Did Jose know that she was the woman from five years ago? He couldn't possibly know, could he? If he did, the Jose who loathed her would never touch her!

‎But no matter what, she couldn't continue to stay here! Especially with so many photos and videos of the children stored on her phone.

‎A shrunken version of that face... wouldn't Jose suspect?

‎No, she couldn't let him find out!

‎There must be a back door here, right?

‎Brandy didn't even want to say hello and left, following the route to the emergency exit. Just as she took two steps, two men blocked her path. Her legs immediately turned to jelly after she recognized them as Jose’s bodyguards. Just then, a waiter carrying a tray of drinks passed by. Brandy stepped back and threw the tray at the bodyguards, crash!

‎At the same time, she turned and ran!

‎"Get her!” the leader of the bodyguard shouted, Covered in alcohol, the bodyguards didn't dare to be negligent.

‎Brandy ran as fast as she could, darting into the hotel kitchen...

‎"No entry for unauthorized personnel!"

‎Brandy thought, I don't care! She rushed towards the back of the kitchen, where there was an exit where the chefs usually smoked and rested.

‎After bursting out, she found herself in an alley.

‎