Chapter 4 THE BEGGAR

The air was thick with the remnants of a shared moment, the disarray adding to the palpable tension in the space. Women's underwear were scattered all over the room with a mixture of men's tie and shirt, boxers hanging by the edge of the bed.

Aria's cheeks burned with heat as she lay there, her gaze fixed blankly on the ceiling. She had given herself away to a man other than her husband and now there was no turning back.The soft rush of water from the bathroom ceased, and the man emerged, his presence commanding the room. With a towel casually draped around his waist, his broad shoulders and narrow waist were a striking contrast, showcasing muscles that were perfectly defined. Every movement exuded confidence, and for a moment, she could do nothing but stare.

With a tempting grin, he leaned closer, the droplet of water from his chest dropped into her body, his voice low and teasing an undeniable temptation lingered within her.'Do you like What you see?' he asked, his gaze never leaving her. He propped himself on the bedside, his body a perfect blend of confidence and allure. 'Want to go again?'

Aria's eyes cleared and she immediately sat up. "He wants to go again? Isn't he tired from exhaustion? My back and headaches form the alcohol I took!" She to thought to herself.

'No more,' she said firmly.

His gaze followed her every move, as she grabbed her bag from the lamp Stand and swiftly yet carefully brought out her phone and transferred an amount with five zeroes- The agreed amount.

Once the transaction was complete, she

waved her phone in the air, a clear signal. 'It's done.'"

He tried to get hold of what's happening,trying to put the pieces of her act together yet he couldn't."What was that for?" He asked as curiosity laced his gaze while staring at her.

Her nerves were popping out but she managed to mask it.with a shred of discomfort, "I'm always generous," she said, though her voice trembled slightly. It was her first time in such a situation, and she didn't want him to see her uncertainty, nor did she want him to laugh at her.

Her fingers swiped decisively on the screen of her phone as she cut him off, right before his eyes.

His brow furrowed immediately, the shock evident in his expression. "What do you mean?" he asked, his confusion growing.

Picking up her dress, Aria quickly put it on without sparing him a glance . "We're square now," she replied coolly, though her heart was racing beneath the surface.

"Square?" The man's confusion deepened as he processed her words. Then, it hit him. It seemed like she had mistaken him for someone else entirely.

While Aria finished getting dressed, he moved to the other side of the bed, his eyes lingering on her handbag. Curiosity got the better of him, and he reached over, rummaging through it. His fingers brushed against something smooth and cool- a pink jade pendant. His heart skipped.

"You don't recognize me?" he asked, his voice soft now, with a mixture of sadness, disbelief and expectations, as his eyes fixed onto her.

The question caused a moment of silence and awkwardness. Yet his eyes pressed for an answer- something positive he hoped.

She bit her lower lips as a smile escaped her lips, "Is there need for that?" She asked without casting a glance at him.

The business between them was done. The intimacy exchanged, the payment settled. Words felt like unnecessary clutter now.

"You saved me," he said, his fingers tightening around the pendant that hung from his neck.

At that, Ariana lifted her gaze, only for a moment. A soft, amused sound escaped her lips-almost a laugh.

"That pendant? If you like it, you can have it!"

Aria raised a brow, half amused. He was probably trying to flirt-clumsily, at that. Another one hoping to ride the coattails of her success, she thought with a quiet sigh.

But then, his expression shifted-earnest, almost haunted.

"A year ago," he said, his voice steady but low, " 11th April, on State Road 315.. I was dying. You took me to the hospital. Did you forget?"

The smile faltered on Aria's lips. Her heart gave a sudden, jarring thump at the mention of that date- April 11. Of course she remembered.

It had only been a few months since their wedding, yet on her birthday-the day he never failed to celebrate with her while they were dating-her husband was nowhere to be found.

She took a walk to escape the torment of loneliness that slowly crept into her. As she wandered without direction under the dimly lit emanating from the street, something caught her eye-a figure slumped near an alleyway. Her heart skipped. She hurried over and gasped. A man lay there,his lips twitched as he expressed his pain, his torn shirt as red as velvet,panic surged through her veins, but instinct kicked in. Without thinking twice, she flagged down a passing cab and rushed him to the hospital.

Beside the medium bed, Aria sat on the edge a few hours later. When he finally stirred, reality set in. The clothes, the worn-out shoes, the hollow eyes-it all made sense. He wasn't just a stranger. He was a beggar. And now she understood why he worked at the club... not by choice, but by survival.