CHAPTER 3- RHEA'S POV

THAT MORNING

I was cuddled up under the sheets of a man whose first name I didn’t even know. My eyes blinked rapidly, trying to shake off the last remnants of sleep. My body ached all over, especially down there.

Memories of last night began to flood my mind—his hot breath on my neck, his tight grip, the way he choked me, and every time we came together. I bit my lower lip, smiling. It's been a while since I had good sex like that. I felt… happy. Even knowing it was wrong to sleep with a stranger, I didn’t regret it.

I turned slowly, my brows furrowing when he wasn’t on the bed anymore. I quickly sat up, scanning the room.

It was empty.

I dropped my feet to the floor and wrapped the duvet around myself. I knocked on the bathroom door, no reply. Panic started to creep in. I opened the door, and still, no one.

I sank back onto the bed, eyes shut tight, trying not to overthink it, but I couldn’t.

He had just left? Without a word?

I wasn’t expecting a kiss on the forehead but at least some acknowledgment would have been nice. I dropped my face onto my hands, feeling foolish.

I knew the truth. He was obviously relieving some stress, and I just happened to be available.

I couldn’t help feeling stupid all over again.

I sucked in a deep breath and forced myself up. I couldn’t stay there feeling like that all day. I had to find Lana. I grabbed my underwear and dress and put them on.

“How do you like being fucked?” Moments from last night tried to invade my mind, but I shut them out.

After getting dressed, I opened the drawer to find my phone—and something else caught my eye. I picked it up and scoffed, surprise and disgust written all over my face.

He had left two hundred-dollar bills.

Disgust turned into anger. My brows shot up. He thought I was a prostitute?

I struggled to control myself from throwing everything in the drawer to the floor. He thought I was some cheap whore who had spent the night with him for a few bucks.

“Who the fuck does he think he is?” I shouted at the wall, throwing the money back onto the drawer without caring where it landed. I grabbed my phone and stumbled out of the room.

I quickly dialed Lana, and she picked up before the last beep.

“Where are you?” I asked, trying not to sound mad.

“Mike just dropped me. I thought you were home. And why do you sound like you—”

Of course she noticed.

“I’m coming home,” I said, then cut the call. I stumbled out to my car and peeled out of the hotel.

My chest tightened, and my eyes watered. I gripped the steering wheel, fighting back the tears.

“Fuckkkk!!!” I screamed, letting the floodgates open. Tears streamed down my face as I sobbed hard. I hardly cried over anything—I was raised not to show weakness as a Bennett—but right then, I felt lost.

My vision blurred, and I nearly hit another car. I swerved just in time and parked at the side.

The sobbing intensified, my throat burning. I shook the wheel violently, resting my head on it.

I had never had a real boyfriend in my life. Every guy I had been with was either after my last name or because I was easy. I had never thought I was truly easy—until today.

My phone rang, breaking the silence. I pulled it from my purse, wiping my face.

It was Vanessa.

I answered.

“Hey, little sis. So, you’re still coming, right?”

I never said I was coming—I only said I would think about it.

I cleared my throat, sniffing to hide the tears, not like she cared.

“Yes,” I agreed. A little family drama could distract me from that.

“Great. Be here before eight. Mom and Dad says hi.”