Chapter 2: Secrets After Sunrise

They fell back onto the bed together, the stranger's weight pressing down as his hands pinned hers gently against the mattress.

Petra stared up at him, her heart pounding wildly inside her chest. Even through the haze clouding her thoughts, she couldn't ignore how strikingly handsome he was.

Despite being in his early 40s, Benjamin’s sharp appearance couldn’t be possibly missed.

His sharp features, dark eyes, and commanding presence seemed unreal.

But her mind was no longer her own.

The drug coursing through her system continued to blur her judgment and weaken her resistance.

Neither of them was thinking clearly.

Benjamin was intoxicated by alcohol.

Petra was trapped under the influence of something far more dangerous.

Their gazes remained locked for several long seconds.

The pounding on the hotel door outside had stopped.

The hallway had gone silent.

Benjamin lowered his head and captured her lips again. Petra's fingers trembled against his chest as she responded instinctively. He pulled back briefly and removed his shirt before tossing it aside.

Petra, lost in confusion and fear and the overwhelming effects of the drug, tugged her own night gown away.

Benjamin bent toward her again and claimed her lips while one hand moved down her side, caressing her breasts.

Their breathing were fast, the sounds of their lips lapping against each other’s filled the room.

Slowly, he released her lips, moving down, in between her legs. His eyes caught her inner chambers. The soft, watery compartment stared back at him.

He swallowed.

Then, he stretched his head to look at Petra.

She was burning, yearning to have him inside her already.

“Please, I need you inside me.” She whispered, her breathing fast. “Now.”

Even Benjamin was feeling the same way. The effect of the alcohol was pulling him into the forbidden garden.

He held his stiff cock towards Petra’s inner chamber. He slapped it continuously on the surface as if knocking at a door.

Petra released a soft moan.

Then, he pulled in softly.

At that moment, Petra could see herself riding in the curtain of the heavens.

He continued thrusting in and out, his both hands cupping her both breasts.

Petra’s moaning filled the entire room.

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

Morning sunlight spilled through the curtains.

The room was quiet and Benjamin was already awake.

The headache behind his eyes reminded him exactly how much he had drunk the previous night.

He stood beside the bed buttoning his shirt, his movement slow.

The events of the previous night drifted through his memory in fragments.

Everything after that was blurred by alcohol.

Behind him, Petra shifted slightly and slowly, her eyelids fluttered open.

For a few seconds she simply stared at the unfamiliar ceiling.

Then reality crashed down on her.

Her eyes widened in horror.

Benjamin turned around at that exact moment and their gazes collided.

Petra immediately sat upright and clutched the white bedsheet to her chest.

"Who are you?" She asked, her heart pounding, her eyebrows furrowed.

Benjamin studied her expression.

She was shivering. Panic swallowed her whole.

He reached into his wallet and removed a black card.

"There's ten million dollars on this card." He said, placing it on the bed before continuing to button his shirt.

Petra stared at it as though it were poison.

"I don't want your money," she muttered nervously. "I was drugged last night. I know you're a victim too. So can we pretend nothing happened last night?"

Her voice was barely above a whisper.

Benjamin's hand froze midway through fastening a button.

For a moment, he found himself genuinely surprised.

He slowly turned toward her again, staring at her without saying a word.

Most women would have jumped at the chance to use his identity and wealth to their advantage.

Yet this woman wanted the exact opposite.

Inside, Benjamin found himself strangely amused. ‘A woman actually wants to draw the line with me.’ He whispered in his mind.

Meanwhile Petra hurriedly gathered her clothes.

Her hands trembled as she dressed.

She refused to meet his eyes again.

"I... I have a husband," she said quickly. "I hope you can keep what happened last night our secret."

She finished dressing and waited anxiously for his answer.

Benjamin stared at her for several seconds.

‘Playing hard to get?’ The thought crossed his mind, but somehow it didn't feel right.

The fear in her eyes seemed genuine.

He turned away without responding.

Petra swallowed nervously. She grabbed her handbag and hurried toward the door.

Unfortunately, her exhausted legs betrayed her.

She stumbled.

Her foot brushed against Benjamin's leg. Before she could hit the floor, a strong arm wrapped around her waist.

Their bodies collided.

Petra looked up.

Benjamin looked down.

Their eyes met once again.

Heat rushed to Petra's face. She quickly lowered her gaze and brushed her hair back awkwardly.

Benjamin noticed how nervous she was.

"What's wrong?" he said with a small smile.

Petra's fingers tightened around her handbag.

Her head remained lowered.

"Last night," she began softly, barely able to look at him, "you were too rough on me. Also... you didn't use protection. I need to buy birth control pills now."

The words rushed out in embarrassment.

She stood there like a student being scolded by a teacher.

Benjamin's expression changed. A flicker of guilt crossed his face.

"I'm sorry." He said. “You don't have to worry or take pills. You won't get pregnant."

Petra finally looked up.

Her eyebrows immediately knitted together.

"Why?" She asked, confused.

Benjamin looked away. A shadow crossed his face.

Years of buried disappointment resurfaced.

"I'm sterile." He said, his jaw tightened. “So, you don’t have to worry about getting pregnant.”

The words sounded heavier than he intended.

‘Otherwise I wouldn't have adopted Vanessa as my daughter.’ The thought lingered silently in his mind.

For years he had accepted that he would never have a biological child. To have an heir for his empire, he adopted Vanessa years ago.

The reality still stung.

Benjamin released a slow breath before turning back to Petra.

"I booked the room for one more day. Have a good rest."

Without waiting for a response, he grabbed his suit coat.

A moment later, he walked out, the door closing behind him.

Petra remained standing in the middle of the room.

Her eyes followed the space where he had disappeared.

A strange feeling settled inside her chest.

A feeling of relief but mixed with confusion and regret.

She couldn't quite identify it.

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

Hours later, Petra finally arrived home. Her steps felt heavier with every stair she climbed.

The previous night's events continued replaying inside her mind.

She had betrayed her marriage.

Even if it wasn't intentional.

Even if she had been drugged.

The guilt refused to leave her.

When she reached the front door, she hesitated. Her hand rested on the handle.

‘How do I face Hubert about what happened last night?’

The thought made her stomach twist painfully.

She took a deep breath.

Unknown to her, an entirely different betrayal was unfolding inside.

In the living room, Hubert West lay tangled in bed with Vanessa Shaw.

Both were barely dressed.

Vanessa rested comfortably in his arms while Hubert kissed her passionately.

"Nessa, did the man we arranged do it with Petra?" Hubert asked. "Have you received the evidence? I really want to divorce that bitch."

Vanessa smiled.

Her arms tightened around him.

She was about to answer when Hubert captured her lips again.

His hunger made it clear he couldn't care less about waiting for a response.

Outside the house, Petra remained frozen.

The anxiety inside her chest only continued growing.

"How do I face Hubert about what happened last night?" she whispered to herself while staring blankly at the door.

Finally, she gathered enough courage. She turned the handle and entered.

Just then, she caught sight of what completely stole her breath away.

Everything stopped.

Her breathing.

Her thoughts.

Her heartbeat.

Hubert was on top of Vanessa, both kissing lavishly like their lives depended on it.

The sight alone was enough to shatter her.

But then she heard Vanessa speak.

"I'm an heiress," Vanessa whispered while gazing into Hubert's eyes. "I don't want money. But Petra must leave with nothing. I don't want her to spend a cent of yours."

Hubert smiled.

The smile Petra had once believed belonged only to her.

Then he lowered his head and kissed Vanessa again.

His hand moved toward her skirt.

Petra felt the room spin.

Every piece of the puzzle suddenly came together.

The hotel, Vanessa’s presence and the drug.

It was all orchestrated for this purpose.

Her fingers loosened around her handbag and the bag slipped from her grasp.

It hit the floor with a loud thud.

The sound echoed through the room.

Hubert and Vanessa immediately turned toward the doorway.

For a split second, both of them froze at the sight of Petra.