Chapter 1 You Dared To Drug Me

Deep into the night, Aloridge was battered by relentless, pouring rain.

When she reached the hotel, Bethany Nelson was drenched from head to toe, her hair clinging damply and chaotically to her face.

She paid no attention to her disheveled state, focusing instead on the bag she held tightly.

About thirty minutes earlier, Gavin Harrison, her fiancé, had sent her a message explaining that he had spilled red wine on his shirt and asked her to bring a fresh one for the next day.

The downpour had caught her off guard, and she had stepped out of the car without an umbrella. Luckily, the new shirt for Gavin had been carefully wrapped inside her coat and remained untouched by the rain.

She quickly made her way upstairs and found Gavin's room.

The door stood slightly open. When she thought of Gavin, a quiet warmth spread through her. She reached forward to push it further open.

Without warning, a strong arm shot out and dragged her inside.

Darkness swallowed her vision instantly, followed by the weight of a scorching body pressing her down, while a man's hand gripped her throat, cutting off any chance to cry out.

"You dared to drug me? You've brought this on yourself!"

The voice was filled with rage and threat, striking Bethany with such force that it left her stunned.

And it clearly did not belong to Gavin.

Who was this stranger, and why was he inside Gavin's room?

Panic surged through Bethany like a tidal wave. Grabbing his wrist, she forced the words out through clenched teeth. "I don't even know you. I came here to see my fiancé."

"Oh? You still have the audacity to lie?" The man appeared unable to restrain himself as he lowered his head and bit her lip hard enough to draw blood, the metallic taste blending with her sweetness and stirring something darker within him.

His hold around her throat gradually slackened as he lifted her up and tossed her onto the bed before climbing over her.

"No..." Her protests were completely silenced by him as her damp, cold clothes were removed, leaving her caught between the lingering chill of the storm and an overpowering, suffocating heat.

Three hours passed before he finally found satisfaction.

The man eventually moved away from her, his bare upper body marked by the aftermath of intense passion.

Bethany curled beneath the blanket, her cheeks still flushed while her slender frame trembled slightly.

In the darkness, his voice rang out with a mocking edge. "I doubt I'm your first. Who are you trying to deceive with this innocent act?"

Convinced that she had drugged him, he despised her so much that he refused to even spare her a glance and walked straight into the bathroom to wash up.

The sound of running water filled the room as Bethany's unfocused gaze gradually cleared, her eyes fixed on the bathroom door without moving.

She forced herself upright despite the ache in her body, then reached out clumsily to switch on the light and retrieve her phone from the floor.

Unlocking the screen, she was met with a series of missed calls and unread messages.

The moment she read them, her expression tightened instantly. She dressed in a rush and hurried out of the room without a single glance behind her.

Some time later, Connor Roberts emerged from the bathroom wearing a robe, walking forward with unhurried strides, his expression calm and his entire demeanor carrying a relaxed, satisfied air.

Suddenly, he stopped and scanned the well-lit yet vacant room, his eyes narrowing slightly.

He walked over and yanked back the covers, only to find the bed empty, save for a faint trace of blood staining the sheets.

The sight caught him completely by surprise.

Seriously? She had been a virgin?

Pulling out his phone, he dialed a number, his tone turning cold. "The woman who set me up has escaped. Track her down and bring her back right away. I'll handle this myself."

The person on the other end sounded puzzled. "That woman was already apprehended an hour ago. Do you want us to send her over now?"

Connor's brows drew together. "An hour ago?"

"Yes. We discovered your brother had hired someone to enter your room and create a false scene, making it appear as though you forced yourself on her to damage your reputation. However, our men intercepted her before she even reached the hotel."

After finishing the explanation, the subordinate asked carefully, "Then, which woman are you talking about?"

Connor went silent.

In truth, even he had no idea who that woman actually was.

His eyes drifted back to the bloodstain on the sheets, and for some reason, the sight of that red mark became difficult for him to face.

His breathing slowed but deepened, a strange tightness forming in his throat.

Had he been wrong about her all along?

At the hospital, Bethany stepped out of the taxi and hurried upstairs, heading straight for a doctor's office. She pushed the door open and asked anxiously, "Doctor, is what you said in your message true? Has my mother's donor withdrawn?"

The doctor sighed heavily before nodding. "Yes, it's true. I tried to persuade them, but they insisted they're not in suitable condition to proceed with the donation."

A surge of despair instantly overwhelmed Bethany.

Shirley Clark, her mother, had been battling leukemia. Months earlier, they had finally found a compatible bone marrow donor who was willing to help, and Bethany had been filled with hope.

The transplant had been arranged for today, and Shirley had already completed conditioning, leaving her bone marrow entirely nonfunctional. For the donor to withdraw at this stage was no different from sentencing her to death.

"I need to talk to the donor," Bethany said, her voice shaking uncontrollably.

The doctor hesitated briefly before answering, "It goes against regulations for donors and recipients to have direct contact."

Then what was she supposed to do about her mother? Was she expected to stand by helplessly and watch her die?

Bethany felt the urge to scream, but she knew venting her frustration on the doctor would change nothing.

The moment she stepped out of the office, she immediately called Gavin.

The Harrison family held significant influence in Aloridge, and perhaps Gavin could help find another donor, even if the chances were slim.

The call connected, only to be cut off almost instantly.

Refusing to give up, she tried calling once again.

Suddenly, a familiar ringtone echoed through the otherwise silent hallway.

Bethany froze in place, then slowly turned her gaze toward a nearby hospital room with its door slightly open.

Gavin was here as well? Then why had he sent her to the hotel earlier?

Questions flooded her mind as she quickly walked over and reached for the door, peering inside through the narrow opening.

What she saw inside struck her instantly, leaving her rooted to the spot in shock.