Chapter One : "One Night Of Ruins"

Elena

A sharp headache throbbed the moment my eyes opened, and I winced, pressing my fingers against my temple as my lashes fluttered weakly. My vision blurred for a second before it slowly cleared, and the first thing that hit me was the strange feeling in my chest. This was not my room. I frowned slightly, my gaze moving around as confusion settled in. The walls were unfamiliar, the ceiling above me had thin cracks running across it that I had never seen before, and the heavy curtains blocked most of the morning light, leaving the room dim and quiet. Everything felt wrong. The sheets beneath my fingers were rougher than what I was used to, and the scent in the air was unfamiliar, not mine, not comforting.

My stomach twisted as a cold realization crept in. This was not where my future husband lived.

A shiver ran up my spine, and my body suddenly went still when I became aware of something else. There was warmth beside me. My breath caught immediately, my fingers curling tightly into the sheets as my heart began to pound faster. Slowly, almost reluctantly, I turned my head.

The moment my eyes landed on the man lying next to me, my entire body froze.He was not Daniel.He was a stranger.

My heart began to race uncontrollably, slamming hard against my ribs as panic rushed through me. Memories from last night came crashing back all at once—the hotel, the door I should not have opened, the drinks I kept accepting, and the way everything slowly blurred until I lost control. My lips parted slightly as my head shook in disbelief, my chest rising and falling too quickly.

“Oh God… no… this cannot be happening,” I whispered, my voice trembling.

But deep down, I already knew the truth, and today was my wedding day.

A sharp wave of panic surged through me, and I pushed myself up from the bed too quickly, causing dizziness to hit me hard. I grabbed onto the mattress for support, my fingers tightening as I tried to steady myself while my breathing turned uneven. In just a few hours, I was supposed to walk down the aisle. Guests would already be arriving. My family would be waiting. Everyone would be watching.

“What have I done?” I muttered, my voice breaking as my hands trembled in front of me.

Forcing myself to move, I slid off the bed, my legs feeling weak beneath me as I looked around the room in a hurry. My dress was lying on the floor, wrinkled and carelessly thrown aside, while my heels were scattered nearby, one standing upright and the other tipped over. I moved toward them quickly, then stopped when another thought hit me.

“My purse…” I said under my breath, my brows furrowing as unease tightened in my chest.

Panic rose quickly. I dropped to my knees and began searching everywhere, my hands moving from under the table to behind the chair and across the dusty floor. My breathing grew faster with every second that passed.

Nothing.

“Think, Elena. Think,” I whispered to myself, running a shaky hand through my hair.

Then I suddenly remembered.

My phone.

I leaned forward quickly and lifted the blanket, my heart skipping when I saw it partially hidden beneath the bed. My fingers trembled as I reached for it and pulled it out, holding it tightly.

It was switched off.

A cold chill spread through my body.

Why would it be off?

I pressed the power button, my lips pressing together as I waited. The moment the screen lit up, everything spiraled. Notifications flooded in all at once, making my chest tighten painfully. Missed calls filled the screen—my father, my stepmother, my best friend, coworkers, even my boss. Messages followed immediately after, piling up so quickly it made my head spin.

"What is going on…?” I whispered, my throat suddenly dry.

Then I saw the headline.My breath stopped.

Bride-To-Be Caught in Hotel Room with Billionaire Hours Before Wedding.

Another appeared.

Actress Exposed in Pre-Wedding Scandal.

Another.

Vale Family Heiress Found in Bed with Mystery Man Before Wedding.

“No…” I whispered, my fingers tightening around the phone as my vision blurred. There were pictures. Blurry, but clear enough. It was me. Walking into the room. Staying inside.

My knees gave way beneath me, and I sank to the floor, my chest tightening painfully as the truth settled in.

This was not a mistake. This had been planned.

The phone suddenly rang in my hand, making me flinch. My heart pounded harder when I saw the name on the screen.

Daniel! I hesitated for a second before answering, my voice unsteady.

“Daniel—”

“What have you done?” His voice came out cold and sharp, making my grip on the phone tighten. “Why is your face everywhere? Where are you?”

“I was set up,” I said quickly, panic rising in my chest. “I got a message about you, and I thought—”

“You thought what?” he cut in harshly. “That sleeping with another man before our wedding was a good idea?”

“It is not like that!” My voice broke as I struggled to breathe properly. “Please, just listen—”

“I do not want excuses.” Silence followed, heavy and suffocating. Then he spoke again.

“You have humiliated me.” The call ended.

I stared at the screen, my chest aching as something inside me broke apart completely. Then I heard movement behind me. My body stiffened instantly as I slowly turned around. The man had woken up. He sat up and ran a hand through his dark hair before his gaze settled on me. His eyes were cold, distant, and impossible to read.

“Who are you?” he asked, his voice calm but sharp. “And why are you in my room?”

Anger rose inside me despite everything, my hands clenching at my sides.

“Your room?” I replied, my voice shaking with frustration. “You think I planned this?”

His expression darkened slightly.

“I was drunk,” he said flatly. “Did you take advantage of that, or is this your usual method? Do you target rich men, get into their beds, and wait for a payout?”

The words hit harder than I expected, making my chest tighten painfully.

“A payout?” I repeated, disbelief and anger mixing in my voice. “You think I destroyed my entire life for money?”

He did not respond.

That silence said enough.

“You do not even understand what you have done,” I continued, my voice trembling with emotion. “My wedding is today. My life is over because of this.”

For a brief moment, something flickered in his eyes, but it disappeared just as quickly, leaving nothing but cold indifference behind.

I turned away from him, my hands shaking as I grabbed my things and hurried toward the door. I needed air. I needed space. I needed to escape before everything completely fell apart.