Chapter 6

The buzz of a phone shattered the silence of the dim hotel room. Vivian jolted awake, her breath uneven, her heart pounding irregularly. She turned her head to the side.

Billy Harvey was still sleeping soundly. His face was calm, showing not the slightest trace of the chaos from the night before.

Vivian swallowed hard.

The phone vibrated again in her hand.

She stared at the screen.

Lily.

Vivian immediately sat up, pulled the sheet to cover her body, then answered the call in a suppressed voice.

“Hello.”

“Vivi, where are you?” Lily’s voice sounded anxious. “The event is about to start. Everyone is already waiting.”

Vivian rubbed her face. “I… I’ll be there.”

“What’s wrong with you?” Lily asked suspiciously. “You sound strange.”

“It’s nothing,” Vivian replied quickly. “Wait for me. Don’t start without me.”

“Alright, but hurry.”

The call ended.

Vivian lowered the phone slowly. She let out a long breath, then looked again at Billy. The man was still fast asleep, his breathing steady, as if nothing had happened.

“This is ridiculous,” Vivian muttered softly. “I could actually sleep with a jerk ex like him.”

She carefully climbed out of bed. The cold floor touched the soles of her feet. Her dress lay on the floor, wrinkled, bearing witness to the chaos she wanted to forget as soon as possible.

Vivian picked up the dress and shook her head in irritation.

“Stupid,” she cursed inwardly. “Completely stupid.”

She began putting the dress back on, pulling up the zipper with quick, firm movements. Her hands trembled slightly, not from exhaustion, but from emotions that had yet to subside.

That was when a voice sounded behind her.

“My head…” Billy muttered hoarsely.

Vivian froze.

Billy blinked, then sat up halfway. He looked around the room, his face clearly confused. His gaze then fell on Vivian, who was adjusting her dress.

Billy frowned. “What happened?”

Vivian did not turn around. “Just forget it.”

Billy pressed his temple and let out a short laugh. “Damn… I really don’t remember anything.”

He looked Vivian over from head to toe. His eyes narrowed, and the words slipped out without any thought.

“How much did it cost?”

Vivian’s hand stopped mid-movement.

Slowly, she turned around.

“What?” Her voice was cold.

Billy rubbed his face. “I must’ve been so drunk that I ended up sleeping with some random woman.”

“A random woman?” Vivian let out a small, bitter laugh. “You’re the one who forced me.”

Billy raised an eyebrow. “Forced?”

“You weren’t in your right mind,” Vivian snapped. “I tried to refuse.”

Billy leaned back against the headboard. “You could’ve left.”

“Left?” Vivian stepped closer. “With you being completely out of control like that?”

Billy fell silent for a moment, then gave a mocking laugh. “Don’t twist things around.”

Vivian sighed, clearly unwilling to argue any longer. She grabbed her small bag. “I don’t have time for this.”

She turned to leave.

But Billy moved quickly. He got out of bed—clearly wearing nothing—and grabbed Vivian’s wrist.

“Wait.”

Vivian flinched. “Let go!”

Billy tightened his grip. “We’re not done talking.”

“Have you no shame?” Vivian shouted. “Let go of me right now.”

Billy stared at her intently. The distance between them was too close. He raised his hand, holding Vivian’s face to keep her from turning away.

“We know each other, don’t we?” he asked softly, full of scrutiny.

Vivian slapped his hand away. “No.”

Billy frowned. “Why do you feel so familiar?”

“It’s just your imagination,” Vivian replied flatly.

Billy shook his head. “No. There’s something.”

He stepped closer again. “I’ve felt this before.”

Vivian took half a step back. “You’ve got the wrong person.”

“Prove it,” Billy said suddenly.

Before Vivian could react, Billy leaned down and kissed her lips. The kiss was as if he were trying to confirm something.

Vivian’s eyes widened.

The next second—

Slap!

A sharp slap landed on Billy’s cheek.

The room fell silent.

Billy stood there, completely frozen.

Vivian stood there, breathing hard, her hand still raised. Her chest rose and fell.

“Don’t ever touch me again,” she said firmly.

Billy stared at her without blinking. His face was pale.

“It feels…” His voice was low. “The same.”

Vivian clenched her teeth. “You’re just hallucinating.”

She turned and walked quickly toward the door. Her hand grabbed the doorknob without hesitation.

Billy did not chase after her.

The door closed.

Billy stood alone in the middle of the room, still unmoving. His hand slowly touched his own lips.

“That’s impossible,” he murmured.

But the feeling was too real.

That kiss. The same sensation. Just like five years ago.

When he kissed Thabita Salton for the last time.

Billy let out a long breath, his eyes darkening.

“Who are you really?” he whispered softly.

In the hotel corridor, Vivian walked quickly, suppressing the tremor in her chest. She pressed her phone and sent a short message.

I’m on my way now. Start the event.

Her hand clenched into a fist.

“This can’t happen again,” she muttered. “It can’t.”