Chapter Two

Thea opened her eyes to the sun shining on her face and a terrible headache. Her brain felt like mush, barely a thought running through her mind.

Wincing, she tried to sit up, only for another sharp pain to hit her, deep between her thighs.

“What the…?” She yanked the sheets aside and stared in horror at the red blood stain on the bed. Her inner thighs felt moist and tender.

She was naked.

Thea’s eyes shot wide as she scanned the room. She needed answers, an explanation, but the space was surprisingly empty.

What happened last night? How was she even in her room?

Her gaze landed on the mirror across the bed, and it all came flooding back. An image of her kneeling on the bed, a man thrusting mercilessly into her from behind, his huge hands around her neck, whispering sweet nothings into her sensitive ears.

‘Look at you… you’re so beautiful…’ He’d murmured, taking a playful nibble of her ear.

Thea’s heart plummeted to the pits of hell. She’d lost her virginity to a stranger, on the night of her engagement! She ran her fingers through her hair, gripping it at the roots in horror.

“No. No, no, no. No!!” She screamed, tears blurring her vision. What the hell had she done? What was she thinking?! She’d imagined Rune would be her first! How the hell did any of this happen?!

“Posy…” she muttered.

She recalled acting crazy after Posy offered her a glass of a funny-looking liquid.

“There’s no way,” Thea whispered, shaking her head. She couldn’t believe it.

Posy was her stepsister, her family. She wouldn’t drug her. What motive could she possibly have? She was her sister! They’d never had issues in the past, this… no. There was no way.

Thea’s phone beeped; strange. She didn’t have it last night. Daisy, her maid of honor, had held onto it, not wanting anyone to stress her out during the engagement party. How was it here, on her bedside table?

Thea picked up her phone.

It was Daisy. She slid to answer.

“Hey! Goodness, I was worried sick! Where were you last night? I tried looking for you when Rune called your phone, but Posy told me she would give it to you…”

Thea frowned. “Posy told you that?”

“Yes, and she said she’d give you the phone, but I never heard from you after that. Are you okay?”

This didn’t make sense. None of this made any sense!

“Where are you?”

“I’m at the cafe.”

“I’ll meet you there in twenty minutes. I’ll explain everything in person…” Thea said, trying to get out of bed, but her body felt weak, like she’d been hit by a truck.

“Alright. I’ll keep your order ready…”

The call ended, and Thea sat in silence. If Posy returned the phone, she must have seen what happened, right? The condition she was in? Or even the man she’d been with?

Something wasn’t right. Thea dragged herself out of bed, showered, and changed into spare clothes she’d packed just in case.

Who was that man anyway? He looked awfully familiar, too, but she couldn’t place him.

Thea packed her bag, ready to check out, when her eyes caught her underwear caught under the rug, torn.

Oh, she remembered how that happened. His fingers had slipped under her panties, rubbing her clitoris in a torturous, circular motion until he’d ripped them off…

Thea shook her head; no. She shouldn’t be thinking about that! What happened was a mistake…

Those strong arms, holding her in place. Yes, it was a mistake.

A tall, sexy, handsome mistake… and the thought of his whispers still sent an unwelcome shiver down her spine.

Thea pulled her suitcase out of the room and headed straight down to the reception area, where she checked out.

“Miss? Mr. Blackwood told me to give this to you…” The receptionist said as soon as she confirmed Thea’s checkout.

Thea stared, confusion clouding her eyes.

“Blackwood?” she asked. His name?

“Yes. He’d like to apologize for leaving so soon. He had an emergency. He would appreciate it if you put a call through to him.” The receptionist said, handing over a card.

Thea shook her head. “There’s no need for that. Thank you.” Thea walked out of the hotel before the receptionist could stop her.

♤♤♤

“You what?!” Daisy yelled, drawing the attention of other customers to their table.

Thea glanced around, feeling even worse under the sudden scrutiny.

“I know, but I’d appreciate it if everyone here didn’t learn about my business,” Thea said, gritting her teeth.

Daisy covered her mouth, and soon enough, everyone returned to minding their business. She leaned closer to her friend.

“You had a one-night stand?! Girl, you’re a bad girl! I didn’t know that!”

“No! Listen, it wasn’t pre-planned, okay?! I’m going to marry Rune in a few weeks, and this? This makes no sense, and you know it!”

Daisy rolled her eyes. “You know I don’t care what Rune thinks, right?! I’m telling you, there’s something very off about that guy!”

Thea groaned. Daisy had always hated the sight of Rune. She always claimed she’d never had a reason to hate someone on sight, but she did when it came to Rune, without even getting to know him.

“Can you just… I don’t know! Stay with me on this? I… I slept with someone else on the night of my engagement! What I did is horrible! How do I face him now?”

Daisy sighed. “I understand. And I’m sorry for not putting my personal bias aside. But… you said Posy gave you the drink, right? What if…”

“No! Why would she drug me? She’s my sister, and besides, she had her own glass of the same drink…”

“That doesn’t mean she didn’t drug yours? Look, this isn’t your fault. You were drugged, and things happened. If Rune has a brain cell—which I know he doesn’t—he should know you’re telling the truth. And there were cameras in the hotel halls, right? There! That’s proof…”

Thea sighed, her heart racing wildly in her chest. This would be a lot to discuss with her fiancé.

“I don’t know, Daisy… this is all too much…” Thea muttered, wrapping her arms around herself.

“Do you want to keep this from him? If not, you have to tell him. Call the hotel and have them show you videos. Besides, who’s the asshole you slept with anyway? He wasn’t in the room?”

“He was gone before I woke up,” Thea replied, her voice distant.

“What an asshole! He took your virginity and just left?!”

Thea whimpered. How was she supposed to face Rune and tell him such horrible news?! How would he take it?

“You’ll be fine. And you need to get tested. We don’t know if the mystery guy is… a carrier…”

Thea’s face twisted in fear, another problem to worry about! She bowed her head on the table, a sob tearing through her. What was she going to do? Her father would be so disappointed in her! The thought of his stern gaze, his disapproval, felt like a fresh wound.

Her phone beeped, a call from her father, Robert. She glanced at Daisy in horror.

“Pick it up.”

Thea nodded. She picked up her phone with shaky hands and exhaled. She slid to answer.

“Dad?”

“I give you twenty minutes to get to the family house.”

The call ended abruptly.

“I have to go…” Thea hurried out of the cafe without another word.

♤♤

Each step she took toward the family house made her sink deeper into a hollow pit in her stomach.

What was happening? Why did Robert sound so stern over the phone? Could there have been a family emergency? Or worse, had someone already told him?

Thea pushed the double doors open to see not just her family members, but Rune and his family were there too, waiting.

She took careful steps closer, her chest tightening, wondering what was going on.

“Mum, Thea is here,” Posy said, turning everyone’s attention toward her.

Thea approached regardless, her head slightly bowed, eyes avoiding contact with anyone. Her gaze lingered on her father, Robert, a silent plea in her eyes for a hint, for understanding.

“You bloody whore!” Fiona, Rune’s mother, marched towards Thea and slapped her hard across the face.

“How dare you humiliate my son like this?! How dare you cheat on my son?!”

Thea stared at Fiona in horror, her hand over her stinging cheek. How did they…

“My son has never been humiliated like this! How could you?!” Fiona snapped once more, but Jay, Rune’s father, pulled Fiona away from Thea, a look of cold irritation in his eyes.

“There’s no need for unnecessary drama, my dear. It’s pointless.” Jay said, his glare fixed on Thea.

“What… what’s going on? I…”

“Is it true you cheated on Rune last night?” Gina, Thea’s stepmother, asked, her voice laced with a strange mix of accusation and forced sorrow.

Thea’s face went cold, her hands shaking as the bitter truth slammed into her: they all knew. But how? And who told them?

“It’s not what it seems. Give me the chance to explain…”

“What explanation could you possibly have that would change the truth? You slept with someone else on the night of your engagement party!” Fiona snapped. “I always thought the Balmeros raised dignified women! Young women with virtue and a sense of decorum, but I might have been mistaken! How could this have happened?!”

“Mrs. Fiona, it’s not what it seems. We do train our girls, and they have morals, I tell you. But Thea, I have no excuses to give. She has always been the model child, and this… this was highly unexpected!” Gina stammered, glancing nervously at Robert.

“I have never been this humiliated in my entire life! My future daughter-in-law was caught in the arms of another man. This is shameful! I can’t attach my last name to a rogue young woman!” Jay spat.

“This was your plan, wasn’t it? To humiliate us and drag our names in the mud!” Fiona accused Thea, who shook her head vehemently, tears streaming down her face.

“Please, you have to hear me out! I would never hurt Rune.” Thea cried. She turned to Rune, who had been quiet the whole time, his brows furrowed in a mask of anger and hurt.

“Rune. You know me. You know I would never do this intentionally. My drink was spiked, and I…”

“Spiked?” Rune said, his voice flat, and Thea nodded.