Chapter Two

Stephanie had completely lost her sense of direction inside the enormous hotel. Every corridor looked the same, and the sound of hurried footsteps echoed behind her.

Panic gripped her chest.

Desperate to hide, she tried the handle of one of the hotel rooms. To her surprise, the door wasn't locked.

She slipped inside, quietly shut the door behind her, and locked it.

Leaning against the door, she closed her eyes and struggled to steady her racing heartbeat. Outside, footsteps thundered past the room.

She held her breath.

After several tense moments, the footsteps gradually faded into silence.

She let out a shaky sigh of relief.

Before she could move away from the door, she suddenly felt someone's arms wrap around her from behind.

She gasped in fright and instinctively struggled to free herself.

"Let me go!" she whispered urgently, afraid that shouting would alert the security guards still searching for her.

The room was dimly lit by soft red lights, making it impossible for her to see the man's face clearly.

Whoever he was, he seemed disoriented and wasn't responding to her pleas. His grip remained firm as she fought to break free.

Stephanie pushed against him with all her strength, but he was much stronger. In the struggle, they stumbled across the room and crashed onto the edge of the bed.

Fear overwhelmed her as she continued trying to escape.

The hands gripped her tightly as kisses trailed down the back of her neck.

She fought desperately to break free, only to be turned around by the stranger. It was then she realized she was in the dimly lit presidential suite, unable to discern the features of the man pursuing her. Fearful of alerting those who were hunting her, she remained silent, wrestling with him until they both fell onto the bed.

Using every ounce of strength, she attempted to push him away, but he was overpowering. The tender kisses and gentle caresses weakened her resolve, tempting her to yield. His lips finally found hers, capturing them with a soft, passionate intensity as his hands explored her curves.

Overwhelmed by the sensations, she reluctantly surrendered to the moment.

----

Some hours later, She slowly stirred awake.

As consciousness returned, reality came crashing down on her.

She froze.

Tears streamed silently down her cheeks as she sat up, clutching the blanket tightly around her trembling body. Her entire body ached, and guilt and fear consumed her.

Unable to hold back her curiosity any longer, she reached for the bedside lamp and switched it on.

The soft light illuminated the man's sleeping face.

Her breath caught in her throat.

She couldn't believe what she was seeing.

Lying beside her was no ordinary man.

It was Kai Ray—the world-famous celebrity actor and award-winning singer. Known across the globe, he was one of the most successful entertainers in the world and consistently ranked among the top ten most handsome bachelors. As the sole heir to his late father's business empire, he possessed both immense wealth and unmatched fame. Millions of women admired him, dreaming of meeting him, while countless others would have given anything to be in her position.

But Stephanie felt none of that excitement.

All she felt was fear.

Clutching the bedsheet tightly against her chest, she fought back another wave of tears.

Without wasting another second, she quietly climbed out of the bed, gathered her clothes from the floor, and dressed as quickly as she could.

Casting one last glance at the sleeping superstar, she silently slipped out of the presidential suite.

In her panic, she never realized that her identification card had fallen onto the floor beside the bed.

----

Three Days Later

Stephanie hummed softly as she prepared a simple breakfast in her small apartment when the doorbell suddenly rang.

She frowned.

"I wonder who that could be."

Thinking it might be her landlady, she wiped her hands on a towel and walked to the door.

As soon as she opened it, she was greeted by a neatly dressed man in an expensive black suit. He looked to be in his early thirties, carrying himself with the calm confidence of a professional.

"Good morning," he said politely.

Stephanie looked at him in confusion.

"Good morning... How may I help you?"

"I believe you're Stephanie."

She blinked.

"Yes, I am. But... who are you?"

"My name is Ken." He offered a courteous smile. "You don't know me, but I've come to discuss something important. May I come in?"

She hesitated for a moment before stepping aside.

"Please, come in."

"Thank you."

She led him into the living room and offered him a seat before bringing him a glass of water.

"Thank you," Ken said, taking a sip before placing the glass on the coffee table.

"As I mentioned earlier, my name is Ken. I'm Mr. Kai Ray's personal manager."

Stephanie's eyes widened.

Kai Ray.

The name instantly brought back memories she had desperately tried to forget.

"I... um," she said quietly.

"Please don't be afraid," Ken said gently. "I'm here peacefully."

He reached into his briefcase and placed an identification card on the table.

"We were able to find you because you accidentally left this behind."

She stared at her ID card in shock.

Ken continued, "Mr. Kai Ray sincerely apologizes for what happened that night. He had no intention of hurting you. It was later discovered that someone had drugged him at the party before he returned to his suite. He deeply regrets everything."

He then removed a cheque from an envelope and slid it across the table.

"This is from Mr. Kai Ray. He hopes you'll accept it as compensation and a sincere apology."

Stephanie lowered her gaze to the cheque.

For a long moment, she remained silent.

Then she slowly pushed it back toward Ken.

"I don't want his money."

Ken looked surprised.

"I understand he wants to make things right and protect his reputation, but I have no intention of pressing charges or seeking revenge."

A relieved smile appeared on Ken's face.

"Thank you for being so understanding."

She nodded faintly.

"I don't hold any grudges against him. What happened cannot be undone... but I don't want anything in return."

"Please reconsider."

She gently shook her head.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Ken. I can't accept it."

Seeing the determination in her eyes, Ken realized there was no point insisting.

"I understand." He stood up politely."Thank you for your time."

A few minutes later, Ken returned to a luxurious black SUV parked discreetly along the quiet street.

Inside, Kai Ray sat in the back seat with his legs crossed, one hand resting against his jaw. His expression was calm, but his eyes revealed days of sleepless guilt.

"Sir," Ken began as he climbed into the vehicle, "she refused to accept the cheque."

Kai slowly closed his eyes before opening them again.

"Why?" he asked quietly. "Is she angry? Is she planning to press charges?"

Ken shook his head.

"No, sir. I explained everything, including the fact that you had been drugged. She believed me. She said she isn't holding any grudges and has no intention of taking legal action."

Kai let out a long breath of relief.

"But..." Ken continued, "she doesn't want your money."

Kai lowered his gaze, the guilt weighing even heavier on his heart.

"I see..." There was a long silence before he finally spoke. "Let's go."

The driver started the engine, and the SUV slowly pulled away, leaving Stephanie's apartment behind while Kai remained lost in thought, wondering if he would ever have the chance to apologise to her in person.

Another day passed.

Stephanie sat quietly in her small apartment, absentmindedly flipping through the television channels. Every station seemed to be broadcasting the same breaking news.

Kai Ray.

She paused when one channel showed him attending a press conference for his upcoming movie and new music album. Dressed in an elegant black suit, he answered reporters' questions with his usual calm smile while camera flashes illuminated the room.

Stephanie's expression darkened.

Without hesitation, she changed to another channel.

To her disappointment, Kai Ray appeared there as well. Another station was covering his latest charity event, while yet another discussed his successful career and enormous fan base.

It seemed every news channel had only one headline—the world's biggest superstar.

Unable to bear seeing his face any longer, Stephanie switched off the television and placed the remote on the table.

With a weary sigh, she picked up her phone, hoping to distract herself, but her mind kept drifting back to that unforgettable night.

----

Meanwhile, at Kai Ray's exclusive villa...

Kai stood silently before the floor-to-ceiling glass windows overlooking the breathtaking view outside.

Beyond the glass stretched a magnificent infinity swimming pool, its crystal-clear blue water shimmering beneath the evening lights. The luxurious mansion was peaceful, yet his heart was anything but.

One hand rested inside the pocket of his tailored trousers, while the other held a glass of whisky.

He slowly swirled the amber liquid before taking a small sip.

His eyes remained fixed on the water, but his thoughts were somewhere else entirely.

No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't erase that night from his mind.

He remembered only scattered fragments—the party, the drink, the overwhelming dizziness... and the faint image of a frightened young woman.

The more he tried to recall what had happened, the heavier the guilt settled in his chest.

He had built a reputation admired by millions around the world.

But for the first time in his life, fame, wealth, and success meant nothing.

All he could think about was Stephanie... and whether she would ever be able to forgive him.