Chapter two

Adrian POV 

I tried to pull her arms from around my waist.

“Hey. You need to stand right.”

She only held me tighter.

Her tears soaked through my shirt, and every time I thought she was done crying, another sob escaped her.

“I hate them,” she whispered.

I sighed and looked toward the three men I had just thrown out of my way. They were already disappearing into the crowd.

Whoever had hurt this woman had done a great job. She was so broken. 

“I know,” I murmured.

She lifted her head, her eyes red and unfocused. “Do you know how much it hurts?”

I frowned.

“To love someone for two years,” she continued, her voice breaking, “while he has been dating your best friend for three years?”

Something inside me went still.

“I understand.”

“No, you don't.” She shook her head. “They called me a cash cow.”

My jaw tightened.

A woman I did not know was standing in front of me, drunk enough to barely remain on her feet, yet somehow she had managed to tell me the story of her broken heart in less than a minute.

“I gave him everything,” she whispered. “Everything.”

She stumbled.

I caught her before she fell.

“You can't walk like this.”

“I can.”

She took one step and nearly crashed into the wall.

I stared at her. “Clearly.”

Before she could argue, I bent down and lifted her into my arms.

“Put me down.”

“You can refuse later.” I refused. 

She rested her head against my chest, her protest disappearing almost immediately.

I carried her through the hotel corridor while she continued mumbling.

“He wanted my money.”

I said nothing.

“She wanted my money too.”

My eyes dropped to her face. “She?”

“My best friend.”

I shook my head.

What kind of people had she surrounded herself with?

When I reached my room, I pushed the door open and carried her inside.

I had no idea who she was.

I did not know her name.

I did not know where she lived.

She was simply a stranger who had fallen into my arms on a terrible night. And yet, something about her amused me.

Maybe it was the way she complained even while drunk.

Or perhaps it was the tiny frown that appeared whenever she mentioned the people who had betrayed her.

She was cute.

I placed her carefully on the edge of the bed. “Stay here.”

She looked up at me.

For a second, neither of us spoke.

Then she suddenly leaned forward and kissed me.

My body froze.

I pulled away immediately. “You're drunk.”

She blinked at me. “I know.”

“That means you don't know what you're doing.”

She reached for me again.

I caught her hands gently. “Stop this.”

Her lips curved into a small, sad smile. “You're different.”

“How?”

“You're not asking me for money.”

I almost laughed. “Why would I ask you for money?”

“Everyone does.”

I stared at her.

Before I could ask another question, she leaned against me again.

I caught her before she fell.

“You need a bath.”

“I don't want one.”

“You're getting one.”

I carried her into the bathroom and helped her settle into the bathtub, keeping my attention away from anything that could make the situation uncomfortable.

She had splashed the water weakly.

“You're bossy.”

“I agreed”

She laughed.

That's the only genuine sound I had heard from her all night.

Then she looked at me again. “You're handsome.”

I raised an eyebrow. “You've had too much to drink.”

She laughed again before suddenly reaching up and pulling me closer.

Her lips brushed mine.

I immediately pulled back.

My breathing had changed.

For a moment, I wanted to forget every reason I should step away.

But she was drunk.

So I forced myself to take a step backward. 

“Get some sleep.”

Her eyes slowly closed.

I left her alone long enough to make sure she was settled, then returned to the bedroom and sat beside the bed.

I did not understand why I was still there.

I had never rescued strangers before.

I had never helped people before.

But something about this woman was different.

Maybe it was the fact that she had trusted me without knowing who I was.

Maybe it was the way she had cried against my chest and called herself a cash cow as though her entire worth had been reduced to what she could provide.

Whatever it was, I could not simply walk away.

Morning light slipped through the curtains.

I opened my eyes.

For several seconds, I did not understand why my body felt so relaxed.

Then I looked down.

The woman from last night was asleep against my chest.

I stared at her.

A strange smile slowly appeared on my lips.

I had not slept like this in years.

Since the accident that led to my everyday nightmares

For as long as I could remember, sleep had never been peaceful. Whenever I closed my eyes, fragments of that childhood accident returned.

Metal crashing.

Glass breaking.

Screaming.

Darkness.

But last night, there was nothing.

Not even a single nightmare.

I looked at the woman sleeping peacefully against me.

Interesting.

She stirred and her eyes opened.

For a moment, she looked confused.

Then she realized where she was.

She shot upright. “What happened?”

“You slept.”

Her face turned red.

She immediately searched for her clothes before grabbing her bag.

“I have to go.”

I sat up. “Wait.”

She stopped.

Her eyes avoided mine.

“Look, I don't know what happened last night, but…”

“You don't need to worry.”

She looked at me. “I can pay you.”

I almost choked. “What?”

“For last night.” 

I smiled. “Nothing happened between us.”

Her embarrassment deepened. “Oh.”

I watched her lower her head.

The truth was, I remembered everything.

When she kissed me and how I forced myself to step away.

And unfortunately, I still remembered the feeling of her lips against mine.

I had wanted her.

That much was obvious.

But wanting someone and taking advantage of them were two very different things.

Before either of us could say anything else, there was a knock on the door.

I opened the door. 

A maid entered carrying a tray.

“The hangover soup is ready.”

She placed it on the table and left.

The woman stared at the bowl. “What's that?”

“Soup for you”

“I don't want it.”

“You drank enough last night to kill a horse.”

She glared at me before picking up the spoon and slowly tasting the soup.

Her expression changed. “This is good.”

I smiled.

Then I remembered something. “You told me about your fiancé last night.”

She froze. “Oh, God.”

“And your best friend.”

She covered her face.“I told you all that?”

“Several times.”

“I want to disappear.”

I chuckled. “You also said they called you a cash cow.”

She dropped her hands. “They did.”

The amusement disappeared from my face.

“I am sorry about that.”

I never apologise to anyone before but I don't know why I'm telling her this.

She stared at me for a moment.

Then she looked down at her soup.

“We are supposed to get married three days from now.”

“Where?”

“I am not marrying him anymore.”

“Good.”

She looked up sharply. Then, without warning, she put down the spoon.

“Marry me.”

I blinked. “What?”

“Come to my wedding.”

“That sounds contradictory.”

She shook her head. “I mean, come to my wedding and marry me instead.”

I stared at her.

She was serious.

“I'll take care of you,” she continued. “I'll pay your bills. You won't have to worry about money.”

I almost laughed.

She had no idea whom she was talking to.

“I can take care of myself.”

“Please.”

Her voice softened.“I just don't want Thomas to think he destroyed me. I want to pay him back”

Something shifted inside me as I studied her face.

She did not know my name or my identity as the famous billionaire in the city. Yet, she wants to pay me.

I guess working for the first time won't be a bad idea.

“Fine.”

Her eyes widened. “You'll do it?”

I nodded. “I'll marry you.”