Chapter 4 Four

Karen sat in the bar, her mind spinning with confusion and anger.

The alcohol buzzed through her veins, dulling the sharp edges of her thoughts. She had hoped that by coming here, she could escape for just a little while, but now, all she felt was emptiness.

Suddenly, the sound of a familiar voice pierced the haze of her mind.

"Where is she?" Bryan's voice was cold, menacing. It rang out in the otherwise quiet bar, sending a chill down her spine.

Karen's heart skipped a beat. "He came!"

She didn't want to face him.

She didn't want to face anyone. But there was no way out now.

She quickly closed her eyes, pretending to be passed out, hoping that he would leave her alone.

A few moments later, she felt strong arms lift her effortlessly. Her body felt heavy, as though the weight of her emotions was pulling her down.

She tried to fight the dizziness as she was carried out of the bar. The world swayed around her as Bryan placed her roughly into the back seat of his Maybach.

Karen tried to focus, tried to clear her thoughts, but the alcohol clouded everything.

She could feel the cold leather of the car seat beneath her, but it didn't bring any comfort. All she could think of was how much everything had spiraled out of control.

Just as Bryan was about to get into the front seat, Karen suddenly opened her eyes.

She didn't know why she did it, but she reached out and pulled herself toward him, wrapping her arms around his neck.

She stared at his lips for a moment, and without thinking, she pressed her lips against his.

It was awkward. Clumsy. But she didn't care. She just wanted to feel something, anything, other than the emptiness inside her.

Bryan immediately shoved her away, his hands firm on her shoulders.

"I can't believe a woman as shameless as you still exists," he growled. "Do you have no shame?"

The words hit her harder than she expected. Her heart sank as she felt his disgust.

It hurt. She wanted to lash out, to defend herself, but the alcohol made her bold and reckless.

"Why do you say that, Bryan?" she retorted, her voice trembling with the alcohol-fueled anger.

"You had your way with me the other night. Didn't you see? You're my first, but my twin sister isn't. I'm the one who's always been here, and you chose her, not me."

There was a moment of silence between them, and for a fleeting second, she thought she saw something shift in his eyes.

But it was gone as quickly as it came. He stared at her, his face a mask of cold fury.

"What did you just say?" His voice was a low growl, his eyes burning with anger.

Karen leaned in, her words coming out in a low whisper.

"I've seen Karel with other men. I've seen her with our father's driver. I know what she's been doing when she disappears for those so-called vacations. It's all lies, Bryan. She's not who you think she is."

For a brief moment, she saw something in his eyes - something darker, more unsettling.

But before she could say anything else, Bryan's grip on her tightened, and he pulled her closer, his face inches from hers.

"What do you want, Karen?" he demanded, his voice low and dangerous.

Karen blinked, trying to focus on his words.

She had no idea what she was trying to accomplish anymore. She was just speaking, letting the words spill out, hoping for some kind of reaction.

"You know... my fingerprint is on the wedding agreement," she said, her voice shaky. "I'll be yours if you don't sign a new agreement with Karel. I'll make sure you get everything you want."

Bryan's expression darkened.

Without a word, he shoved her away from him, pushing her back into the seat. He quickly got out of the car and slammed the door behind him.

Karen watched him walk to the front, and for a moment, she felt the space between them grow larger and larger.

The car started, the engine roaring to life.

Bryan drove in silence, his face a mask of concentration. Karen sat in the back, her thoughts a blur.

They arrived at his mansion in silence.

Bryan didn't say a word as he opened the door, his grip firm as he lifted her from the car and carried her into the house.

The guards and maids in the hallway watched them pass by, their eyes lingering on them, but Bryan paid them no mind.

Instead of placing her in the bed, Bryan took her to the bathroom, where he turned on the cold water in the jacuzzi.

The icy water hit her skin like a shock, and for a moment, Karen felt like she could breathe again.

The alcohol's grip on her mind loosened as the coldness began to wake her up.

"Do you really think I'd believe anything you say?" Bryan's voice was harsh, filled with disgust.

He grabbed her by the hair, yanking her head back as he stared down at her.

Karen winced at the pain, but it wasn't the physical pain that hurt the most.

It was the emotional sting of everything she had said, everything she had done.

She had hoped for something - anything - from Bryan, but all she had gotten was rejection and disdain.

She felt humiliated, more than she ever had before.

Bryan pulled her out of the cold water, his grip unrelenting as he stripped away her wet clothes.

"You're not the woman I want, Karen," he spat. "You're just a reminder of everything I've been avoiding."

Karen stared at him, her heart heavy with the weight of his words.

She had never felt so small, so insignificant in a man's eyes. She is not the woman who meant something to him - she was just a nuisance.

He dragged her to the couch, his hands rough as he positioned her beneath him.

She didn't fight back. What was the point? She had already lost.

But even as her heart shattered, even as she let the tears fall, Karen couldn't help but feel a strange sense of relief.

It wasn't that she wanted him to hurt her - no, it was the fact that for once, she wasn't pretending anymore.

She wasn't pretending to be something she wasn't. She wasn't pretending to be his perfect bride, his perfect woman.

She was just Karen.

And that was enough.

Before she knew what was happening, darkness enveloped her, she passed out.