2| Stranger from Last Night.

ZARA

A hard frown immediately masked the stranger's face before his lips curved into a smile.

"You want me to fuck you," he repeated in a thick, sultry voice that went straight to my core. His burning gaze on me made my skin heat up.

"Yes," I murmured, breathing heavily.

I was so done being the innocent, good Zara. I also wanted to... live.

He leaned in close to my ear, his nose brushing against it in the process. Tingling sensations rippled through my body, and my pussy clenched even tighter. Damn, I was so fucking wet for a stranger.

"Ask me again when you are sober, Zara," he whispered, before suddenly pulling away.

My eyes widened in perplexity.

"How... how do you know my name?" I stammered in disbelief.

"You'll know that soon. When we meet again."

With that, he rose to his feet and walked away.

My cheeks burned with embarrassment. Did I just get turned down by him? Nobody wanted me. Did they all think I was worthless?

The wave of sadness Ryan had inflicted on me came rushing back, along with all the insecurities.

"Hey, girl. I'm sorry I was late. Heavy traffic."

Mia suddenly sat beside me, her eyes following the stranger who had just disappeared through the door.

"Who was that?"

I turned to look at her.

"I don't know. I just asked him to fuck me, and he declined. He told me to ask him again when I'm sober. I know we're never going to meet again." I slurred, and a throaty laughter escaped me almost immediately, tapping the table.

"Oh, girl. Just how much have you had to drink?" Mia looked really worried.

I opened my mouth to talk, but before I knew what was happening, the alcohol finally came to collect its dues.

My eyes rolled to the back of my head, and I blacked out.

The next time I woke up, I was on Mia’s bed. Rays of sunlight streamed through the window, indicating that it was already morning.

"Good morning, sunshine," Mia muttered.

I turned my head to the side and saw her sitting cross-legged on the bed. In front of her was a breakfast tray loaded with pancakes, fresh orange juice, bacon, and eggs.

"Mia," I yawned as I slowly sat up. "What's this?"

"You deserve princess treatment after all that scumbag put you through yesterday."

She picked up one of the pancakes and handed it to me.

I took it and bit into it, a smile curling on my lips.

"Thank you. Aren't you the best?"

"Of course I am. And that scumbag has been blowing up your phone nonstop. I had to turn it off."

She groaned.

"Just give me permission, and I'll go knock out his teeth."

A small laugh escaped me.

"Oh, please, Mia. I'll be going back to the house soon. I need to get some of my things."

"I'll come with you," she quickly offered.

"No. That won't be necessary. I'll just grab my things and come back here. Then I'll start making preparations to get my own place. Thanks for letting me stay here."

"You can stay for as long as you want."

A wide smile spread across her lips as she blew me an invisible kiss.

Then the smile suddenly dropped, replaced by a mischievous grin.

"What?" I asked.

"Nothing." She shrugged. "I just remembered the stranger you asked to fuck you last night. The alcohol really did a number on you. But I wish he'd ask again and fuck you good."

"Mia!" I exclaimed in shock, my cheeks reddening with embarrassment as the memories came crashing into me. "There's no way I'd ever meet him again."

"Never say never." She jumped off the bed and headed for the door. "I need to go make myself some coffee."

Later that day, I returned to the apartment, and the moment I entered, my eyes landed on Ryan, who was seated on one of the couches in the living room.

He shot to his feet the moment he saw me, eyes burning with rage.

"Where did you sleep last night?" he growled.

I paused, rage boiling furiously in my blood.

"You have no right to ask me that question. I can decide to sleep wherever I want, and it's none of your fucking business." I shot back. I was done being the perfect partner he wanted me to be. I wasn’t his anymore, so he had no right to know anything about my life.

For two years, I left everything for him, trusted him, only for him to betray me this way.

"If you were with a man, Zara, I swear—"

"Yes!" I snapped, cutting him off. "I was with a man, and we had a wild night. Guess you weren't the only one who could sleep with another person. And guess what, Ryan? I'm going upstairs to get my things and go back to him."

The sadness that flashed across his features was so damn satisfying.

"You wouldn't dare!" he growled as he stormed over, his eyes glowing red, his wolf threatening to surface.

I had definitely pushed him that far.

"Oh, that's exactly what I'm about to do."

I started walking toward the staircase, but he grabbed my arm and forcefully pulled me back. The veins in his neck and forehead bulged with rage.

"I'll fire Bianca if you want me to," he ground out. "But don't go around selling yourself like a whore. You're not going anywhere."

I yanked my hand from his grip.

"Keep her. Fire her. I don't give a damn what you do. This engagement ended the moment you cheated. You do not own me, and I'll do exactly what I please."

My chest still ached from the hurt he had inflicted on me, but I refused to show it.

I needed him to know that, with or without him, I would survive.

"Fine. Call off the engagement. Just know that your grandfather won't be getting that surgery."

The words landed hot and devastating in my chest.

"What?" My eyes widened. "But you already promised to pay for that surgery. You promised..."

"And I'm giving you a condition to maintain that promise. Walk out of this house, and you can kiss your grandfather goodbye. Or go upstairs, get ready for the family dinner celebrating my uncle's arrival. It's almost time."

My stomach tightened, and my heart pounded painfully against my ribs.

I had to choose between my dignity and my grandfather's life.

"Ryan... please," I whispered.

"I already made the deposit this morning. But if you still choose to leave..."

He pulled out his phone and dialed a number.

"Hello. I'd like a refund of the—"

"Stop!" I blurted, tears streaming down my face. "Please stop. I'll stay. I'll go to the dinner with you. Please don't withdraw the money."

"Sorry. I think I called the wrong line."

He ended the call and stepped closer to me. Running his fingers through my hair, he sighed.

"Let's start over again, baby. I promise to be better this time."

I could never start over with him.

He had just made me hate him even more than I already did.

Without uttering a single word, I turned around and bolted upstairs into the room.

My chest felt unbearably heavy. I was helpless, not knowing what to do. That motherfucker is trying to manipulate me into staying with him. I hated him so much for using my grandfather against me. For tonight, I would comply to his demands, then think of what to do later on. One thing I knew was that I could never remain with a stinking cheat like him.

Two hours later, we were already on our way to his family's manor, where the dinner would take place.

I was dressed in a burgundy V-neck dress that clung to my body, and had applied a little makeup to hide my swollen eyes.

"Mention anything to Mother, and I'll cut off the hospital funding," Ryan threatened as we pulled into the driveway.

My chest swelled with all the things I wanted to say to him, but I held them in.

I had to maintain control until the surgery was done.

"Understood?" he asked when I didn't respond.

My nostrils flared with rage, but I eventually nodded.

The moment the car stopped, I didn't even wait for the chauffeur to open the door.

I pushed it open myself and stepped out as quickly as possible.

Being in an enclosed space with him felt suffocating.

I couldn't believe I had been with such a disgusting person for two years.

How had I missed the signs?

I must have been so blinded by—

I froze.

My eyes widened in utter shock the moment I spotted him stepping out of a black limousine in a simple black shirt and pants. His tick brown hair slightly tousled.

I could never forget those deep blue eyes that felt like they were rewriting my destiny with just a stare.

The stranger from last night.

When he finally noticed me, his expression remained rigid.

Not shocked.

Just like the night before, his intense gaze burned against my skin, the heat rolling all the way down to my core.

"Uncle Xavier," Ryan suddenly called.

His gaze fixed on the man standing before us as he wrapped an arm around my waist.