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Carissa's POV

"Uhh..." I groaned while holding my head, which felt heavy. "My head hurts so much..."

As I grumbled with my eyes closed, I tried to remember what had happened the night before.

Last night, I was invited to a reunion by some friends at a five-star hotel. At first, I thought the gathering was just a dinner at a restaurant to catch up, especially since I had just returned from studying abroad after graduating.

Unfortunately, I was too foolish to think it through, and I completely forgot that this group of friends preferred to spend our time drinking at the bar.

As a result, here I am now, cursing my foolishness for joining that event, getting caught up in a silly game of "Truth or Dare," and ending up drunk after being forced to drink when I lost.

As if that wasn't ridiculous enough, I suddenly remembered the worst punishment I received last night, which was... kissing a stranger.

‘Ah! A stranger!’

That thought hit me out of nowhere. When I faced that punishment, I was too drunk to think clearly. The only thing I remember is that after losing the game and accepting the punishment, I walked up to a man who was sitting alone with his back to us, and without hesitation, I kissed him!

“Fool!” I exclaimed as I recalled that moment, smacking my head in frustration, my heart racing at the crazy memory of what I did last night!

After I kissed that man, I intended to back away. However, he pulled me closer and kissed me even deeper!

My memories of the moments that followed are hazy and jumbled, swirling in my head.  

I remember moaning and enjoying what I was doing with that man. I don’t know when we moved, but I felt my body thrown onto a bed, even groaning as he explored every inch of me!  

Though it's only fragmented memories, I’m sure I acted out a wild scene like in a steamy movie with that stranger!  

“It’s a dream; it must be a dream,” I said as I tried to dismiss those memories.  

I opened my eyes, and … I was shocked.  

“What … what is this?” I murmured, my body trembling.  

The ceiling I was looking at … it wasn’t my bedroom ceiling!  

I sat up straight and looked around.  

‘Hotel, this is a hotel room!’ I gasped internally as I realized where I was.  

My gaze slowly swept across the surroundings. My clothes were scattered on the floor, and the room looked messy, indicating the heated struggle that occurred last night until, finally, I saw a solid back lying next to me!  

I gasped, immediately covering my mouth to stifle a scream.  

“No… no!” Tears began to flow down my face.  

The purity I had preserved for 24 years vanished in the hands of this stranger?!  

With a surge of emotions—sadness, disappointment, and anger—I glared at the man who was turned away from me.  

The man who had taken the most precious thing from my life.  

I had just raised my hand with the intention of hitting that jerk when the man, still asleep, turned toward me.  

And… the face of the man I had slept with last night was revealed!  

Thick, sharp eyebrows, a prominent nose, tempting thin lips, and a strong, authoritative jawline. With thick, dark brown hair, he could be called the most handsome man I had ever seen.  

But there was one problem. I recognized that face. I knew it very well. 

“Dy—Dylan?!” I gasped in shock as I mentioned his name. How could I not? That angelic face, sleeping soundly, truly belonged to Emperor Dylan Drake, commonly known as Dylan—the man I hated the most in this world and… my brother’s best friend!

Memories flooded my mind, each one sharper than the last. I recalled the countless times he had teased me, his smug smile always getting under my skin. How could he be here, in my home, in this vulnerable state? My heart raced as confusion and anger battled within me. What was he doing here, and how would I handle this unexpected encounter?

***

I had arrived home. After fully regaining my senses, I left without thinking much, abandoning my brother’s friend, who was still sleeping soundly.

“What am I going to do? What am I going to do? What am I going to do?!” I kept repeating that phrase like a mantra, covering my face in frustration. My mind raced, overwhelmed by the absurdity of the situation.

In my whole life, I had never imagined I would be burdened with such a huge and crazy problem! The thought of having Dylan, my brother’s best friend and the person I despised, in my house felt surreal. How could I face him? What would I even say? I paced back and forth, each footstep echoing my anxiety as I tried to think of a solution.

Fortunately, my parents were out of town with my brother, taking care of their family business. So, besides the servants—who wouldn’t dare ask—no one really knew why I didn’t come home last night!

However, the fact that I not only kissed my brother’s friend but also slept with him and lost my purity was a disaster!  

“Ahhh!” I covered my face with both hands in frustration.  

How could I have spent the night with my brother’s friend? As if that wasn’t bad enough, why did it have to be Dylan? My first love, who had cruelly rejected me in the past!?  

“I’m not interested in elementary school kids.”  

Recalling Dylan’s reply after I confessed my sincere feelings back then made me even more heartbroken and angry.  

The man who once rejected me ended up being the one who took my purity? What kind of bad luck is this?!  

I curled up in a ball, burying my face in my knees.  

“A nightmare… yes, I’ll just consider it a nightmare and forget everything…” I repeated over and over like a prayer, hoping it would somehow come true.