Chapter 3 THREE

Franz stirred slightly, his eyes slowly opening as the blinding sunlight struck his face. His left arm felt heavy, and to his surprise, a young woman was sleeping soundly on it.

"Who is this woman?" he thought, stunned, trying to recall what had happened the night before. His memories were hazy, but fragments of an intense night flashed through his mind, making his headache worse.

"Isn't this my room? Why is she here?" Franz murmured softly. He vaguely remembered feeling dizzy after drinking something handed to him by the barista at the company party the previous night.

Suddenly, the silence was broken by the sound of a ringing phone. Carefully, he moved away from the woman, leapt off the bed quietly, and headed toward a pair of pants lying nearby. His phone was vibrating inside the pocket, fueling his anxiety. He pulled it out and walked into the bathroom.

"Hello?""Sir, where are you right now?""I'm in my room," Franz replied, quickly putting on his clothes while still holding the phone."That can't be, sir. I'm at your suite right now, and you're not here. Are you-"

Franz's eyes widened. He looked around the room once more and realized something was off. It wasn't his suite.

"Sir?"

He abruptly ended the call and set the phone down on the bathroom sink. He splashed water on his face to calm himself and returned to the room, gazing at the sleeping woman-still completely uncovered by the blanket. Franz ran a frustrated hand through his hair and moved closer, trying to recall where he might have seen her before.

She looked familiar, yet her identity eluded him. As she shifted slightly in her sleep, he quickly turned around out of respect. The blanket had slipped, revealing faint red marks on her skin-proof of a night filled with physical closeness. Embarrassed, Franz gently pulled the blanket up to cover her again. Just then, he caught the glint of a ring on her finger.

"You're married?" he whispered in disbelief. His heart sank.

"Whoever you are... I will take responsibility."

He took out his phone and discreetly snapped a photo of her face-not to expose her, but to remember. Then he scribbled his number on a tissue and placed it on the nightstand. Before leaving, he leaned in and gently kissed the top of her head with quiet sincerity.

Emelie opened her eyes slowly, blinking against the sharp sunlight. It was already ten in the morning. She sat up groggily, but something felt wrong.

Her eyes widened in shock. She had gone to bed fully dressed, and now she was completely naked. Her body was covered in faint marks, especially around her chest.

"What happened to me...?" she whispered. Her memories were jumbled, but they gradually returned-her heartbreak, the bar, the drink, the man's commanding gaze. And then... she had surrendered herself.

Tears welled in her eyes-not out of shame, but sorrow."How could I let myself fall so low?" she said aloud with a bitter chuckle. She pressed her hands to her face, the weight of it all crushing down on her. Her wedding had been a dream, until her fiancé fled with all their savings, leaving her abandoned.

The night before had been a blur-yet his deep voice remained vivid in her mind. She hadn't resisted, but she hadn't fully understood either.

Standing before the bathroom mirror, she looked at her reflection with disbelief."I've lost everything... even my dignity."

She had always imagined her first time would be sacred-something shared with the man she loved after marriage. But that dream had been shattered. Her mind and body were now at odds. She shook her head, trying to dismiss the rising warmth and confusing thoughts.

She stepped into the shower, letting cold water pour down her skin, hoping to wash away the confusion. But even the chill couldn't erase the memory of his embrace-the strange sense of safety she had felt, if only for a moment.

Meanwhile, Franz was on his way to the Hurwizt family mansion. He knew exactly why his presence was requested. His father never summoned him without reason.

His appearance was flawless-tailored suit, neatly slicked-back hair, and a sharp gaze that radiated silent authority. Though he wasn't officially the CEO of Hurwizt Hotel yet, he carried himself like one.

"Sergio. Do not mention anything about this morning to anyone. I want everything kept quiet," Franz instructed his personal driver."Yes, Sir."

Franz silently studied the iPad in his lap, reviewing Hurwizt Hotel's fluctuating stock graphs. He noted every weakness with keen eyes, determined to resolve them once he was in charge. He had just returned from an extended absence-a secret, intensive treatment for his previously unstable mental health. A past he now kept buried.

"We've arrived, Sir," Sergio announced as the luxury car passed through the mansion's towering gates. The estate stood grand and timeless, its architecture echoing classical Greek elegance.

"It's drizzling outside, Sir. I'll fetch the umbrella." Sergio stepped out swiftly, ensuring not a single raindrop touched his master.

The mansion staff greeted Franz with synchronized bows. Without pausing, he changed into indoor slippers and strode toward the dining room. A lavish breakfast was laid out-elegant, but devoid of warmth.

At the table sat Elija Salvatore Hurwizt, Franz's father-a man of steel discipline. Beside him was Franz's stepmother, her gentle eyes watching him. Franz gave her no acknowledgment. To him, she was nothing more than an intruder in the Hurwizt lineage.

"You're thirty minutes late. The food has been reheated. Sit and eat," Elija ordered flatly.

Franz sat in silence. The only sounds were the clinking of silverware.

"Where were you last night? You disappeared without informing anyone. How am I supposed to entrust the main hotel to you if you're so careless?" Elija asked, sipping wine.

"I went back to my room," Franz replied calmly. "Regarding the hotel-I believe it's time. The shares are dropping. I need to act before it worsens."

"Still planning to live at the hotel? Isn't this mansion large enough for you?"

"For now, yes. I want to observe everything firsthand. I'm launching a promotional campaign for Christmas and New Year-discounts, packages."

"Do you want a public event to announce your new position as CEO?"

"That won't be necessary. Let people think you're still in charge. I'll start from the bottom-as part of the marketing team."

"You? In marketing?" Elija gave a faint chuckle.

"Yes. I want to understand the system from the ground up."

After the discussion, Franz visited his late mother's neglected rose garden. Many of the once-beautiful blooms had wilted. He stood still, a cigarette between his fingers, watching the smoke trail upward.

But his thoughts weren't on flowers. They were on her.

The woman.

Still no message. No call from an unknown number. But the memory of her lingered vividly-like a scar that hadn't fully formed.

"Whoever you are... I won't forget you."