Chapter 3 A night she will never forget

Chapter three

The door handle turned slowly, and Ava held her breath.

A man stepped in tall, well-built, and dressed in all black. His hair fell in dark bangs that covered half his face, casting shadows that matched the dim hotel lighting. Ava couldn't see him clearly, but something about his presence felt... dangerous. Powerful. His Aura is dominating.

They stared at each other in silence.

Then, in a low voice, he said just one word.

"Strip."

Back at Home Rosie and Jorla

Rosie paced the room, her phone pressed tightly to her ear. "Come on, Ava, pick up," she muttered. Line disconnected. Again.

Jorla lay stretched out on the couch, phone in hand. She glanced up, unimpressed.

"Will you calm down? Ava's not a child. She'll come home."

Rosie rushed over to her. "You really think nothing happened? She never comes home this late. I know something's wrong."

Jorla rolled her eyes. "You always think the worst."

Rosie ignored her and kept dialing.

Back at the Hotel

Ava sat on the edge of the bed, her breath shaky. His voice echoed in her mind like a command written into her bones.

"Strip."

She didn't move. She couldn't. Her hands were trembling.

Then he spoke again, firmer this time. "Take off your clothes and get on the bed."

Ava stood slowly. Her heart pounded, her body frozen between fear and resignation. Her fingers moved on their own as she slipped out of her robe, folding it carefully, as if that small act of control could ground her.

She lay down, eyes wide open, staring at the ceiling.

The man said nothing more. He sat in a chair across the room, silently watching her like he was studying her. Testing her limits.

Ava blinked back tears. This isn't me. This isn't what I want.

But then Evan's voice echoed in her head. "She's dying, Ava..."

Her hands curled around the bedsheets. She couldn't let him lose his mother. Not because of her.

Her hands curled tightly around the bedsheets, and tears slid silently down her cheeks.

The man stood up without a word and began undressing. The room was heavy with tension. Ava's breath caught in her throat as he walked toward her, calm and controlled.

"Get on all fours," he said quietly, his voice cold like ice.

Ava hesitated but she obeyed.

It was supposed to be one night. A transaction. A sacrifice to save someone she loved. But as the night unfolded, the lines blurred. Between duty and desire. Between shame and longing. Between pain... and pleasure.

And before she knew it, her body was whispering the one thing her heart couldn't accept:

More.

The Morning After

The soft light of morning filtered into the hotel room, warm and quiet. Ava slowly opened her eyes, the scent of cologne lingering in the air.

Then she saw it a check on the nightstand.

Five million.

Everything came rushing back. The memory. The choices. The way she cried. The way she moaned.

Not just because she had to.

But because, somehow, she had wanted it.

Her heart twisted with guilt not because she betrayed Evan, but because part of her had enjoyed it.

She sat up slowly, her muscles sore. She got dressed in silence, every movement a reminder of what she'd done. Her eyes locked with her reflection in the mirror.

Red. Puffy. Broken.

She whispered bitterly, "What a bitch I am..."

Her voice cracked as tears spilled down her face again. I didn't even see his face. I don't even know his name. And still she craved the memory of him....

Her hands trembled.

I want more, her voice resounded in her head.

Ava's Apartment

The door creaked open, and Ava walked in looking lifeless like a ghost of herself , her eyes hollow.

Rosie jumped up from the couch. "Ava! What's wrong with you? Where have you been?"

Ava didn't answer. She opened her mouth, but no words came. Instead, her chest heaved and she broke into tears.

Rosie caught her, wrapping her arms around her tightly.

Jorla came over, frowning in concern. She said nothing, only placing a comforting hand on Ava's back. Together, they held her, taking turns rubbing her shoulder, whispering soft reassurances.

After what felt like forever, Ava gently pulled away and walked to her room in silence.

Rosie and Jorla exchanged a look.

"She's not okay," Rosie said quietly.

"I know," Jorla replied, sighing.

"She's not telling us something "Rosie said again and Jorla nodded in agreement.

In Ava's Room

Ava collapsed on her bed and stared at the ceiling.

Everything replayed in her mind every touch, every sound, every feeling she wasn't ready to admit. The guilt threatened to drown her.

Then her phone buzzed beside her.

Evan.

> What's wrong with you? Jorla told me you're not feeling well. Should I come over?

Another pang of guilt stabbed her chest. She swallowed hard, blinking away tears. Her fingers hovered over the screen before she typed:

> Let's meet at your place tonight.

She hit send.

Then let the phone fall beside her.

Her eyes returned to the ceiling, her mind spinning.

Should I tell them? Rosie? Jorla?

Should I tell Evan?

No... no, I can't.

What if he asks where I got the money?

She already knew what she'd say: "I borrowed it."

But it felt like the biggest lie of her life.

Frustrated, she dug her fingers into her hair and let out a scream loud, raw, and full of pain.

Outside, Rosie jumped.

"Ava?" she called, rushing to the door.

Jorla stood up, alarmed. "What the hell was that?"

They both stood frozen outside the door...