Chapter 1 AN ACCIDENTAL NIGHT

Maya's eyes fluttered open, and her first sensation was a wave of soreness throughout her body.

Instinctively, she looked down and realized she was completely bare, with even her underwear missing. She glanced around the room, and it seemed she was the only one there. The bright red stains on the sheets and the scattered clothes of both a man and a woman on the floor clearly indicated what had happened last night...

What on earth had happened?

She had only been a bridesmaid; how did it end up like this? Her breath quickened as she shot up from the bed, a cold sweat breaking out on her back. She quickly grabbed her phone from the nightstand and called her best friend, Jenna.

"You were so drunk last night that you couldn't tell up from down, so I had no choice but to bring you to the suite Chelsea had prepared, room 8802. What's up?"

"Is there anyone else in the room besides me?"

"Who else could there be? It's just you. I have some things to take care of right now. I'll call you back."

Maya's hand holding the phone slowly dropped as she closed her eyes, feeling her mind swirl in confusion, a loud ringing echoing in her head.

"Get the clothes ready and send them to room 8804." A deep voice came from the direction of the bathroom. Was there another person in the room? Startled, she looked up to see a man leaning casually against the bathroom door, his toned body wrapped in a white bathrobe.

Maya's eyes widened in shock as she looked at him, still trembling from the surprise. "Why are you here?" Wasn't he the groomsman at yesterday's wedding? Jenna had said she was the only one in the room, so how did he end up here?

"Well..." Charles Darwin appeared somewhat indifferent, a cold smirk playing on his lips as he observed her shocked expression. "Your acting skills are good enough to land you a role as an actress." Maya furrowed her brow.

"What do you mean by that?"

Charles narrowed his eyes, sizing her up. His gaze turned icy as he slowly dragged out his words, "First, you drew my attention, and then you sneaked into my room while I was drunk. I can't deny it; the whole setup was quite well-executed."

Maya suppressed the intense fire rising within her, her expression growing colder. "Are you sure you don't have a delusion? Maybe you should see a doctor?" The light in her eyes shifted dangerously, filled with coldness.

Charles settled onto the couch, crossing his long legs, and lit a cigarette. "You'll get rewarded for your hard work. Since you put in much effort last night, you can get something in return. So, tell me, what do you want?"

"You're seriously delusional!"

The smoke wafting toward her made her cough lightly a few times. She pulled the blanket around herself tightly and asked, "What's your room number?"

Narrowing his eyes, Charles shifted into a more comfortable position and looked at her with mild interest. "8804." What exactly was she trying to do? He was intrigued.

Without glancing back at him, she found the phone in the room and dialed the reception, and put it on speaker, feeling a bit anxious. "Could you please tell me my room number?"

The front desk staff on the other end seemed momentarily taken aback. After a brief pause, a sweet voice came through the receiver. "Hello, dear guest. Your room number is 8802..."

8802?

Charles raised an eyebrow, his body stiffening slightly, but it was just for a moment, quick enough that no one could catch it. That Damn Hudson! He cursed inwardly.

She had been uncertain about who had made the mistake, but now that her anxiety was gone, she felt empowered. "Mr. Darwin, how do you explain this? Your acting skills are impressive, and the arrangements were just too convenient. Don't you find it ridiculous?"

With the newfound confidence surging in her heart, her tone shifted dramatically, no longer a timid hen with its head bowed, but now a defiant rooster, its comb held high, its words sharp and aggressive. "Shouldn't we avoid jumping to conclusions before everything is clear? I am the victim here, not you, Mr. Darwin. Given your earlier remarks, don't you think you owe me an apology?" she stood tall and looked at him.

His sharp jawline gives him an almost chiseled appearance, exuding a unique kind of masculine allure. However, his deep, dangerous eyes resembled those of a leopard, making anyone who met his gaze feel a mix of anxiety and restlessness.

Despite this, she was determined to clear her name and defend her dignity. If he didn't apologize, she would pursue the matter relentlessly!

As she was lost in her thoughts, a low, deep voice suddenly interrupted her.

"I'm sorry."

"Huh?" She was taken aback by how easily he had apologized, staring at him in disbelief.

Charles extinguished his cigarette in the ashtray, tilting his chin slightly as he rubbed his forehead. "I'm sorry. I was too drunk last night and ended up in the wrong room."

Maya had prepared herself for a confrontation, but now that he apologized, making a scene would only make her seem unreasonable. She was always one to value reason over conflict, and she wasn't one to respond well to aggression. Besides, she didn't want to escalate the situation, especially since it was Chelsea's wedding.

With nothing more to say, she decided to remain silent. The fact that her first time was gone was an unchangeable reality, and all she wanted now was to leave this place. Grabbing her underwear, she slipped under the covers, quietly putting on her clothes.

Charles's gaze fell on the lump in the bed that squirmed like a caterpillar. He raised an eyebrow, a slight smile playing on his thin lips. "What do you do for a living, Miss?"

The squirming stopped, and her voice came out muffled from under the covers. "I'm a teacher."

"I see. When you called the front desk earlier, you seemed unsure about who was at fault. But once you got the answer, your demanding demeanor was very much like that of a teacher."

His eyes remained fixed on the blanket, while Maya, feeling exposed under his gaze, trembled slightly but said nothing, hastening her efforts to get dressed. When she finally emerged from the covers, her cheeks were flushed, and beads of sweat dotted her forehead.

As her feet touched the ground, her legs wobbled, nearly causing her to collapse. She quickly braced herself against the bed, her eyes inadvertently landing on the bright red stain on the white sheet. She froze, such a visual pollution.

The stark contrast of the red against the white sheets was truly jarring.

Following her gaze, Charles noticed the vivid red as well. His expression remained lazy and indifferent, almost apathetic. "Since this is my fault, I will naturally make amends. Feel free to make your demands. By the way..." He paused slightly, studying her before continuing, "Reconstructing your hymen is something I can certainly arrange."

Maya held her breath, her chest rising and falling rapidly with anger. Through gritted teeth, she spat out one word: "Pervert!" Without looking back, she strode forward, almost out of the suite when Charles quickly caught her wrist from behind. "Is there something else?" She glared at him, anger flashing in her eyes.

"Take the emergency contraceptive."

A man in a sharp suit knocked on the door and, upon receiving permission, walked in without glancing around. "Sir, here are your clothes and the emergency contraceptive." After a wild night with a stranger, taking the emergency contraceptive was a must.

Even if he hadn't sent his assistant to get it, she would have taken it once she got home. Since he had already bought it, why should she go through the trouble again? After following the instructions and taking the emergency contraceptive, she took a step forward, reaching the door, but suddenly stopped as if remembering something. She turned around, a hint of mockery in her tone. "Does Mr. Darwin's charm rival that of a superstar, or does it outshine the value of money? You are indeed charming, but aren't you a bit overconfident?"

Charles paused, his fingers still on the button of his shirt, completely taken aback for the first time in his life. After a moment, his gaze deepened. With an elegant grace, he finished buttoning his shirt, the dark silk fabric exuding a rich and captivating allure.