Chapter 5 Where did you go

The early morning sunshine, with a soft touch of warmth, spilled through the gauze curtains onto the luxurious queen bed. Nina's long, silky hair, now tangled, sprawled across the snow-white sheets, her body littered with bruises. Her lips, pink but stained with traces of dried blood, contrasted with her otherwise flawless face.

She stirred with a soft groan, a dull ache coursing through her limbs. The pain in her head pulsed with each heartbeat, and as she blinked her bright, clear eyes open, a cold realization washed over her. Her hand instinctively flew to her mouth, stifling the scream lodged in her throat.

Her eyes widened in terror when she noticed the man lying beside her, his presence jolting a flood of memories from the previous night. The wild movements, his ferocious bites, the overwhelming pain-it all came rushing back like a nightmare she couldn't escape. Her body shuddered uncontrollably, each recollection making her tremble.

Tears welled up and fell, unbidden, sliding down her bruised cheeks. She scrambled off the bed, her legs weak and trembling as she stood. With shaky hands, she reached for her dress, only to find it torn to shreds on the floor. The sight of the mangled fabric confirmed the violence of the night. Panic surged within her chest.

*What should I do?* Her thoughts raced wildly. The man beside her could wake at any moment. She had to get out-now.

Her eyes darted across the room, scanning the mess of clothes. Among the debris, she spotted a white male shirt. She wrapped her arms around herself, trying to hide her exposed skin, and moved carefully off the bed, crawling on her knees toward the shirt. Her heart pounded in her chest as she gingerly picked it up, making the smallest movements, terrified that any sound might wake the stranger.

The man remained motionless, his breathing steady. Relief washed over Nina, allowing her to breathe a little easier, though the fear lingered in the pit of her stomach. She tied a strip of her torn dress around her waist, fashioning the oversized shirt into a makeshift dress. Her fingers combed through her tangled hair as she spared one final glance at the man's sleeping form. Then, without a second thought, she fled from the suite.

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In a dark, dilapidated room in a rundown urban area, Nina frantically changed out of the shirt. Its fabric still carried the scent of the man-cold, dominating, and suffocating. The faint smell was a cruel reminder of the horrors she'd endured, and it clung to her skin like a curse. The scenes from last night replayed in her mind, and her hands trembled as she hastily stripped it off.

She had lost everything-her innocence, her control-yet she didn't even know who the man was.

Suddenly, the door banged open, the noise echoing through the small room. Nina flinched violently, her heart skipping a beat. Grace stormed in, her perfume overwhelming the stale air.

"Nina! Where were you last night? You didn't come home!" Grace's voice was sharp, tinged with mock anger. She surveyed Nina, taking in the sight of her half-naked body, the bruises, the hickeys littering her skin. Beneath her mask of concern, a flicker of satisfaction gleamed in Grace's eyes, though it was laced with jealousy.

Grace knew the aphrodisiac she'd used on Nina was potent. The man who had ravaged Nina last night had been drugged as well. Grace smirked inwardly. Nina might have suffered, but Lucien Gray was the one who had touched her-Lucien, the man every woman longed to be with.

Grace's narrow eyes gleamed with malice, though she hid her true feelings behind a forced smile.

Nina's heart sank at her sister's words. *Does she not know?* Panic tightened in her chest. Someone had led her to the club under Grace's name, but she couldn't reveal what had happened. The shame, the confusion-no, she couldn't tell anyone. She didn't want another person to know.

Her gaze dropped, her long lashes casting shadows across her pale cheeks. She looked fragile, broken, yet there was a haunting beauty in her pain.

"It was a classmate's birthday," Nina whispered, pulling the shirt tighter around her body. Her voice was small, trembling with the effort of maintaining composure. "We celebrated all night."

Grace's lips curled into a dark, cruel smile. Nina was hiding the truth, and it suited her just fine. Less explaining to do later.

Her eyes caught sight of the white shirt Nina wore, and without warning, she snatched it from her. She examined the garment, noting its high-quality fabric and elegant craftsmanship. It was just a plain white shirt, yet the refinement in its design spoke of wealth and status. At the cuff, embroidered in fine gold thread, were the initials "L.G."

Lucien Gray's initials.

Grace's heart skipped. This shirt belonged to *him*. Lucien had given it to Nina?

Jealousy surged through her, mingling with nervousness. Her voice sharpened as she demanded, "Nina! Where did you get this shirt?"