Chapter 2 Marrying Her To A Quirky Old Man

As the first rays of the morning sun peeked through the window, they bathed the hotel room in a soft light.

When Sheila rolled over, her hand unexpectedly met warm skin. Surprised, she opened her eyes to see a strikingly handsome face staring back at her. Marks from their night together were evident on her skin.

"Ah!"

Sheila let out a scream, realizing it wasn't just a dream.

The memories from the night before came rushing back, hitting her with the shock of an unexpected fling with a stranger.

She had a one-night stand on the day of Niko and Rita's engagement? The realization pushed Sheila to the brink.

She thought about crying but stopped herself when the man began to speak, saying, "An ugly woman drugged me last night, and then there was you. What's your connection to her? And how much are you asking for?"

Sheila felt insulted by the implication that she was selling herself.

She tried to slap him, but in doing so, she accidentally exposed herself.

She quickly hid under the covers, her face turning red, and said, "I have no idea who that woman is, and I just want what happened last night to stay between us. If you ever mention it, you'll have to deal with me!"

With her boyfriend now engaged to Rita and her loss of virginity, Sheila was left to contemplate her uncertain future.

Angered, she tried to collect her clothes, but her legs shook, nearly causing her to fall. Just then, a firm hand caught her wrist, preventing her fall.

She ended up back on the bed, unexpectedly close to the man. They locked eyes in an unusual connection.

She realized her hand was inadvertently resting on the man's chest, feeling the solid muscles beneath.

Flushed with embarrassment, she desperately wished for an escape.

Shane White teased her with a smirk and said, "Enjoying the view, are you?"

Sheila quickly pulled her hand back, mortified, and said, "I'm sorry. And thank you! I want to make it clear. I'm not what you think. Last night was an accident, and I didn't know about the drugs. Please don't misunderstand me."

With her dignity in pieces, Sheila grabbed her clothes and made for the bathroom, sneaking in a moment to dry her tears, not wanting to show any weakness to a stranger.

Shane watched her leave, a look of suspicion in his eyes. He wondered if the previous night was just an accident, as she had said it.

Noticing a bloodstain on the sheets halted his thoughts.

Was this her first experience?

"Wait!" Shane pondered aloud, pausing her with a soft voice, and said, "If what happened last night was indeed a mistake on my part and caused you distress, I'm ready to take responsibility."

"Responsibility?" Sheila stopped, turning sharply, and said, "And what exactly does that mean?"

"I could marry you," Shane said, partly motivated by his father's nagging about settling down.

Sheila's head spun with disbelief, suspecting she was being ridiculed. Annoyed, she shot back, saying, "So, you think after one night together, we should do it time and again as a married couple? Are you kidding me?"

Shane was stunned by her reaction.

Despite the attention from many women over the years, he rarely felt the need to commit. Yet, here he was, proposing a sense of duty, only to be met with reluctance.

Without insisting further, Shane put on his suit, laid a business card with his contact on the nightstand, and said, "This is my number. Reach out if you reconsider."

After he departed, Sheila attempted to wash away the night's memories in the bathtub, feeling the weight of a cold and harsh reality.

Since Niko lost his memories, Sheila had fought to rekindle their bond, only to face rejection.

He had chosen her sister Rita, who had always been against her. Niko's words to her were harsh. "Sheila Jones, stop these harmful schemes to ruin my relationship with Rita. My feelings for you are non-existent. The more you try, the more it pushes me away!"

Now that her innocence taken on the day of Niko's engagement, she felt she had no right to love him.

Soaked and numb, Sheila eventually left the bath and took a taxi back home.

Her home was unusually silent that morning.

Approaching, Sheila accidentally overheard Paula and Rita's discussion.

"Mom, it's such a disappointment! I arranged for Sheila to be drugged and sent a gigolo to rape her. But he told me this morning that, though they were together last night, he failed to record any of it. Had we had a video, it would've made Niko despise her even more," Rita said.

With a hint of malice, Paula said, "Even without any video, Sheila won't stand in the way of your and Niko's future."

Confused, Rita asked, "How so?"

Paula revealed with a sneer, saying, "Timothy Green has taken a liking to her and is prepared to offer a hefty sum to marry her."

"Timothy Green? The quirky old man in his fifties? I've heard he's lost six wives and is now looking for a seventh!" Rita said, astounded.