Strange Ring

Elena's POV

The morning light spilled across the unfamiliar room, painting it gold. Somewhere close, a phone buzzed relentlessly, dragging me from the tangled mess of sleep.

Groaning, I stretched out a hand, half-blindly swiping at the screen. The buzzing stopped. I dropped the phone back, ready to sink back into oblivion.

Until a voice shattered the quiet.

"You missed your shift last night. Elena, is everything okay? You should have called someone to fill in for you."

My eyes snapped open.

My heart beat fast against my ribs as I shot upright, taking in the strange walls, the strange bed and the sheets tangled around my bare legs.

"Oh, shit," I whispered, my throat dry. "This...this isn’t my room."

"Elena? Hello? Are you there?" the voice– My boss called again.

Snatching up the phone, I pressed it to my ear. "I'm sorry, ma'am," I croaked. "Something... urgent came up."

"We’ll discuss it when you come in."

"Thank you," I mumbled, hanging up before she could say another word.

The silence that followed was deafening.

Then, the low roar of water from the bathroom.

The shower was definitely on.

Someone else was here.

I whipped the sheets aside and froze, staring at my naked body. No clothes, No underwear, and No memory of how I ended up here.

Panic clawed at my throat.

"Oh my God. No no no no—"

My gaze darted across the floor—there, my clothes, scattered like breadcrumbs leading to disaster. I scrambled into them, wincing as the fabric scraped against my bare skin.

The water still ran. Whoever was in that shower had no idea I was slipping away.

So Good, my intention was to fucking go away from this mess.

I tiptoed to the door, my heart hammering harder with every step. One last guilty glance at the bathroom—and then I was gone.

Back Home

I barely made it through the front door before her voice lashed through the air like a whip.

"You don’t even inform the house when you’re sleeping out anymore?"

I froze in a place.

Yeah that was Evelyn.

Not mother. Never mother. Just Evelyn—the woman my father married after my real mom left. I was two years old then. Too young to remember the woman who ran away with her first love... but not too young to carry the weight of her choices.

"Answer me, you spoiled brat!" Evelyn snapped.

"I’m sorry, ma’am," I said quietly, slipping into the only armor I had left: silence.

Her laughter sharp and bitter. "Do I look like your slut of a mother, idiot? Don’t ever call me that again."

I swallowed hard and turned toward the staircase.

"Come back here. I’m not done talking!"

Not today.

I slammed my bedroom door behind me and leaned against it, breathing heavily.

And then it all hit me—last night. Benjamin and his betrayal.

The slow-motion heartbreak of finding out the man I thought would be my forever had been playing me all along.

and the thought of the club slide in. The drinks I had and a stranger’s smile.

And then—

Nothing else.

Nothing but the shame of waking up naked in a stranger’s bed, with a pounding headache and a hollow ache I couldn’t explain.

I walked over to the bed.

"How could Benjamin do this to me?" I whispered, my fists clenching. "Fucking bastard."

I dragged my hands down my face—and froze almost immediately.

Something sparkled in the morning light.

I lifted my left hand.

it was a ring.

A diamond ring. on my left fourth finger.

My breath caught in my throat.

"What the hell—?" I ripped it off, holding it up like it might burn me.

Where had it come from? Had the stranger given it to me? Had I stolen it? Had I...?

I didn’t have time to spiral before the door slammed open, and there she was—Bella. My personal tormentor, oops! I almost forgot, she'd earned another title: man-snatcher.

"The bitch who got dumped by her 'perfect' fiancé is finally back," she said sweetly, tossing her hair over her shoulder.

I said nothing, slipping the ring into my palm but way too slow.

Bella’s eyes narrowed. She stormed forward, yanking my wrist up.

"What’s this?" she said, spotting the sparkle. Before I could react, she ripped the ring from my grasp, letting it clink to the floor.

"What's wrong with you?!" I barked, lunging for it yet She was faster.

She plucked it up, holding it to the window, letting the sun dance across the flawless stone.

"This looks expensive," Bella said, her smile turning vicious. "Where did you get it, Elena?"

I opened my mouth but nothing came out.

My silence ignited her laughter. "You stole it, didn’t you?"

"I didn’t steal anything!" I snapped.

"Then explain."

I hesitated for a moment, can't wrap my head around the mysterious ring appearance on my finger.

Bella’s face lit up in triumph. "Thought so. Just like your whore of a mother."

I stiffened, but said nothing. No point feeding the fire.

Bella slipped the ring onto her own finger, admiring it.

"If anyone deserves something this beautiful, it's me," she said smugly.

I knew she'd take it.. bitch always after my things.

She turned to leave, but not before throwing a grenade over her shoulder.

"Oh, and by the way—I sent the text."

I blinked. "What text?"

She giggled, swinging the door wide open.

"Wait… what? You sent that anonymous text?"

Then she was gone.

"Wow. You really can’t stand to see me happy, can you? You spiteful, backstabbing bitch. Always lurking in the shadows—plotting. Well, guess what? I see you now."

Not as if she was listening, I sank onto my bed, staring at the door.

"Fuck! She always pushes me to the edge—makes me wanna scream. How the hell are we even related, huh?"

Even though the crazy bitch had the ring now, I couldn’t stop thinking about how it ended up in my hands. No one wanted the cops showing up in their room... especially after a night like that. I exhaled, sinking deeper into the sheets.