Stolen Vow:Billionaire Hidden Bride

Elena's POV

"You want to spice up your boring day? Holla! Come to Chandelier Hotel and Suite, Room 233."

I stared at the message on my phone, heart pounding against my ribs. Anonymous number. No explanation, Just that.

Now, standing at the door of Room 233, I hesitated. My hand hovered over the knob. Every instinct screamed at me to walk away, but I couldn't. I had to know why i was invited.

Before I could change my mind, I pushed the door open.

The sight that met my eyes nearly knocked the air out of my lungs.

"Benjamin... Oh my goodness!" I gasped, stumbling a step back, my hand flying to my mouth. Tears filled my eyes before I could even process the scene.

Benjamin scrambled off the bed, yanking his trousers up in a clumsy panic. And her—the girl stretched lazily across the bed, utterly unbothered.

"How did you get here?" Benjamin choked out, fumbling with his zipper.

I just stared at him, my supposed loyal fiancé, disbelieving and broken.

"What am I doing here?" I laughed bitterly, it sounded foreign to my own ears. "You weren’t expecting to get caught, were you?" My gaze swung to the girl on the bed..

And when I recognized her, something inside me snapped...

"I feel so fucking humiliated right now!" I cried, my voice shaking. "Of all the women in the world, Benjamin, why the hell would you betray me... with her?" I pointed a trembling finger.

"Elena, listen—"

"Don’t you dare come near me!" I backed away, my heart thundering, with my vision blurring with tears.

"I tried," I whispered. "I really fucking tried to be good enough for you. But clearly..." My words broke off.

The girl! no, the damn witch! sat up, smirking like this was some twisted joke.

"What do you expect from a man with good taste, huh?" Bella sneered, flipping her wavy hair. "He obviously wanted someone hotter and Smarter. Not some desperate, fake bitch."

I stood frozen, feeling each word like a bullet to my heart.

I didn’t even have the strength to get angry anymore. Just... disappointed. Deep, soul-crushing disappointment.

Of all people... my step-little sister.

I wiped my face and cleared my throat, trying not to sob like a fool. "Since when?" I asked, voice trembling.

"Two months," Bella answered casually.

"Stop, Bella," Benjamin hissed at her.

"Oh, please," she said, standing and adjusting her dress. "You were just calling her boring and dumb like, what? Ten minutes ago?"

I let her words slice into me.

"And, by the way," Bella added with a smug smile, "he regrets putting that ring on your finger."

I didn’t need to hear more.

Slowly and deliberately, I took off my engagement ring. I rolled it between my fingers, like I was the weighing the Cost of a broken promise.

"I’m done," I said quietly, locking eyes with Benjamin. "Even if I wanted to cry over you, I couldn’t. You suck at everything... including being a man."

"Elena—"

I threw the ring at his chest, hard enough to make him flinch. "I need a real man now."

And then I turned and walked out.

Lauren’s Bar

The music pounded so loud I could feel it in my bones. I sat at the counter, a mess of mascara, heartbreak, and whiskey.

"Got anything hotter than this?" I slurred, waving at the bartender.

I just needed to forget-Forget this very day.

I grabbed another drink, ignoring the burn in my throat, my eyes roaming the room like a predator looking for something—anything—to numb the ache.

Then I saw him.

Tall. Dark-haired. Sharp suit. The kind of dangerous handsome you don’t walk toward—you run from. But I didn’t care.

I stumbled across the bar and dropped into the seat across from him.

The man paused his phone call to look at me, one brow arched. "Make sure someone gets it to me. Now." He hung up, his full attention falling on me like a spotlight.

Without asking, I reached for the drink in front of him.

In an instance He caught my wrist gently, a smirk tugging at his lips. "Not that one, cutie. That’s mine."

He took the glass and downed it in one go, his eyes never leaving mine.

I blinked slowly, registering the way he watched me.. Do i look cool Or was he amused and curious. I don't care, just one night to heal!

"Do you screw strangers?" I blurted.

He chuckled lowly. "Excuse me?"

I wrestled with another bottle, hands clumsy. "I mean... do you?"

He leaned forward slightly. "He never said you were this forward, I'd been prepare for this right?  by the way my name’s Anthony. Call me Anthony."

"I don't care about your name," I muttered. "If you wish, though."

I downed another glass. Somewhere deep inside me, a little voice screamed to stop, but I silenced it.

"So, how much does Anthony cost for a night?" I asked, slurring the words.

Anthony’s chuckled smoothly, almost mocking. "That’s a bold offer.. Well it could be a bonus to the deal right?"

I leaned in, forcing my blurred gaze to stay focused.  What deal? I don't seem to understand.. Whatever he meant wasn't relevant to me.

"How about ten bucks?" I pulled out a crumpled bill and slid it toward him.

Anthony shook his head, amused. "Ten dollars?"

I groaned and threw more cash on the table. "Fine. A hundred. Just name your damn price. I’m running out of patience."

This wasn't me, whatever the alcohol is doing to me-its crazy.

He caught my wrist again, softer this time. "You’ve got fire, cutie," he murmured. "I  should pay your dollar bills instead."

I frowned. "What do you want?"

He smiled, slow and wicked, pressing a finger lightly against my lips. "Shhh, he didn't brief you" he whispered. "I want something more. But can you afford it?"

What is he even saying?

I stared at him, heart hammering.

"What’s the price?" I breathed.

Anthony’s eyes darkened as he leaned even closer, until I could feel his breath on my skin.

"You," he said, voice a low growl. "For a whole year."

My mouth parted in shock, but before I could even react, he dropped something on the table.

A brown envelope.

My blood ran cold.

What in the world was he doing?