Chapter 1: A Trap Unveiled

"Vanessa," Petra whispered inwardly. “Why was Vanessa here? I thought Hubert called me over.”

Petra Hudson felt herself being thrown onto a bed. Her body bounced slightly against the mattress before settling.

Her head felt heavy, and the room around her spun endlessly. She tried to move, but her limbs felt numb and weak.

It was as if all the strength had been drained from her body.

A man stood beside the bed, half his body covered with only towel. A thick scar ran across his cheek, disappearing beneath an unkept beard.

He turned around with a grin plastered across his face, revealing a row of crooked teeth.

Petra's blurry vision struggled to focus, but when it finally did, her heart nearly stopped.

Vanessa Shaw.

Her thoughts felt sluggish. Even turning her head seemed impossible.

"She's been drugged," Vanessa said with a smirk as she walked toward the bed.

The man laughed.

Vanessa sat down beside Petra and playfully traced her fingers from Petra's lap to her face before gently touching her cheek.

"Better be quick. Later, take more photos."

Petra's chest tightened.

Vanessa rose from the bed and looked at the man.

"When Hubert divorces her, I want her reputation ruined, and for her to get nothing from the divorce."

Petra's eyes widened.

Divorce?

Her husband wanted a divorce?

And Vanessa was behind this?

Vanessa Shaw was the adopted daughter of Benjamin Shaw – the wealthiest man in the United States and the CEO of Shaw Group.

Ever since she met Petra’s husband – Hubert West, she couldn’t let go of him. When Hubert found out Vanessa was an heiress, it rather strengthened his resolve to discard Petra for Vanessa.

The man grinned eagerly. "Sure, Ms. Shaw."

Vanessa smiled with satisfaction before turning around and walking out of the room.

The door clicked shut behind her.

The man's eyes gleamed with excitement. He pulled out his phone and started recording. After finding the perfect angle, he placed the phone on a side table where it could capture everything.

Petra's heartbeat quickened.

Fear crawled through every part of her body.

The man removed the towel covering his nakedness and approached the bed completely naked.

He laughed again as he climbed onto the mattress.

Petra wanted to scream. To run. But the drug kept her trapped inside her own body.

The man grabbed her shoulder and kissed her cheek.

Petra struggled weakly, trying to pull away, but her weakened strength wasn’t enough.

He carefully lifted her and removed the nightgown she wore, leaving her completely exposed.

Tears formed in Petra's eyes.

"Vanessa, we have nothing against each other. Why are you doing this to me?" she whispered inwardly.

The betrayal hurt even more than the fear.

When Vanessa started visiting Petra’s home regularly, Petra started having a thought that something wasn’t right.

Each time she raised the matter with her husband, Hubert had dismissed it with the excuse that Vanessa was just a business partner.

Nothing more.

Petra's fingers tightened weakly around the bedsheets as the man tried to force himself on her.

No.

She couldn't let this happen.

She couldn't.

Gathering every ounce of strength she had left, Petra suddenly lifted her leg and kicked him as hard as she could.

"Ah! Argh!"

The man screamed and rolled off the bed onto the floor, clutching himself in agony.

Petra didn't waste a second as she forced herself out of the bed.

Her legs trembled beneath her weight.

The room continued spinning.

She nearly fell twice before reaching the door.

Then she opened it and ran.

She ran down the hallway as fast as her weakened body would allow.

*********************

"Benjamin, you're a billionaire, but you're really bad at drinking!" his assistant – Nathan Douglas, scolded as he supported Benjamin Shaw through the hotel hallway.

Benjamin let out a tired laugh.

His vision wasn't exactly steady either.

The business dinner had gone on longer than expected, and he had consumed far more alcohol than usual.

"Should I send you back to your old house?" Nathan asked as they reached the door to Benjamin's suite.

Benjamin leaned against the wall and rubbed his forehead.

"It's okay. I'll stay here tonight." He said, his voice hoarse.

"Alright. I'm leaving now." Nathan said, turning to leave.

Benjamin nodded.

Benjamin unlocked the door and entered the room.

Just as he stepped inside, an angry voice exploded from somewhere down the hallway.

"You bitch!"

Benjamin frowned. The voice sounded furious.

"I’m going to teach you a lesson!" Came the angry voice again.

At that moment, Petra appeared.

She was running.

Her steps were uneven. Her breathing was ragged, and fear written all over her face.

She glanced behind her and saw the man chasing after her.

Panic tightened its grip around her heart.

Then she noticed the room door that hadn't fully closed yet.

Without hesitation, she rushed toward it.

She slipped inside just before the door shut completely.

The moment she entered, she crashed into Benjamin.

The impact nearly sent her to the floor.

Benjamin reacted instinctively and caught her before she could reach the floor.

Petra gasped.

Slowly, she lifted her head and stared at the man holding her.

His face was handsome.

His build was strong.

Even through the haze clouding her mind, she could tell he was someone important.

"Sir..." she started, her voice breaking. "I'm begging you."

Her fingers clutched his shirt desperately.

Benjamin looked down at the woman in his arms.

Her cheeks were flushed. Her breathing was uneven.

And her eyes held a mixture of fear and desperation.

He steadied her as they moved slightly closer to the bed.

His hand brushed against her soft cheek.

"Lady, do you know what you're doing?"

Suddenly, a loud bang echoed through the room.

"Come out, bitch!" a voice roared from outside the door. "I know you're in there!"

Petra flinched.

Her entire body trembled. She turned back to Benjamin and tightened her grip on his shirt.

"Mr., save me," she pleaded. "Or I'm done for."

Her eyes locked onto his.

Desperation filled every inch of her expression.

Slowly, she moved closer.

Her lips started moving up toward Benjamin’s.

Benjamin's gaze darkened. He lowered his head toward hers as their lips began to close in, their both eyes closed.