For Her Sake

AMELIA

"I hate you so much," I said with teary eyes, voice shaking as I stared at the man I was supposed to marry.

"I hate you even more, Amelia. Why don't you just fuck off?" Ethan shot back, his face twisted in disgust.

We were standing in the middle of what should've been a quiet dinner, a time to finalize wedding arrangements. But Ethan had other plans, like parading his mistress around the room as if I didn't exist.

"Do you really have to be like this? We're getting married in a week. Did you have to bring her and do this here?" I asked, trying to hold back my tears.

He let out a humorless and cold laugh. "I can bring whoever the fuck I want. And don't act like you care. You're just here for my father's money. What a fake bitch."

His words hit hard, and yet it was familiar. This wasn't the first time he'd do something just to humiliate me. He turned to his mistress and kissed her, slowly and intentionally, like he was making a point.

Then, looking back at me with dark eyes, he added, "I don't care what you do with yourself, woman. I'm only marrying you because that's what my father wants."

I felt something snap inside me.

"Fuck you, Ethan," I said and stormed out.

I grabbed my keys, my vision blurred with tears. My hands trembled as I started the engine and drove off. I didn't care where I was going. I just needed to be anywhere but there.

The city lights blurred into the night as I sped through the streets. I ended up at a secluded little spot I often retreated to when everything got too loud, a quiet car park surrounded by trees and soft garden lights. It was peaceful, and far from the chaos of my life.

I popped open a bottle I kept stashed in my glove compartment and sat on the trunk of my car. The liquor burned on the way down, but at least it drowned the noise in my head.

"I should get fucked tonight," I muttered with a dry, bitter laugh. My mind was spinning. I didn't care. Anything was better than feeling like nothing.

And then, like some twisted fate to my desperation, I saw him.

A man stood near the edge of the parking lot, lighting a cigarette. He looked like he belonged on a runway, tall, muscular, dressed in black with messy hair and sharp features. There was something about him, and I didn't mind finding out.

The thought came again. A one night something, might just lift my mood by a thousand.

I undid a couple of buttons on my shirt, just enough to show some cleavage. Then I walked over.

"Hey," I said. "I'm horny. Wanna fuck?"

He looked me over, a smirk tugging at his lips. "Who are you?"

"Does it matter? Just fuck me and get it over with."

Without another word, I took off my shirt. His eyes darkened.

"Damn... I wouldn't say no to that."

He didn't waste time. His hands grabbed my breasts, in a rough and possessive way. He turned me around and slid into me with one firm thrust.

I gasped, he was big. His grip on my hips was tight as he thrusted deeper in me. Pleasure clouded my senses, it has been long since I felt anything close to this.

When we were done, I slipped back into my clothes, breathless.

"That was nice," I said, heading for my car.

"Are you going to tell me who you are?" he called after me.

I blew him a kiss. "Nope."

I was about starting my car to drive back home when I looked back at him through my mirror and noticed something off.

He was surrounded by three men and it didn't look like they were having a normal conversation. One of the men had a knife, he was being attacked.

Shit.

I hesitated, heart racing. My hand moved toward the glove box, pulling out the small pistol I always kept there.

My instincts screamed to drive away but I wonder if I could live with the guilt, after all he was a man I just fucked.

I quietly moved out of my car and walked slowly to them. I targeted the man holding the knife and watched carefully in case things got out of hand.

Just as the man lunged forward to stab him, I pulled the trigger.

The man dropped to the ground and almost immediately, the other two men dropped dead too. Someone else had shot them.

What the hell?

I ducked, my heart pounding as I tried to take in what was happening. I thought he was alone. What on earth was happening?

"Come out!" he barked suddenly and signaled to someone, "Find her."

I realized I wasn't safe. I backed up slowly, trying to make it to my car. But then I suddenly bumped into someone.

I tried to make a break for it but his hands caught me immediately. "Where are you running off to, bunny?" He asked, yanking my gun from my grip.

"Boss, this her?" he asked, grabbing my chin and forcing me to look up.

Did he just say boss? Who the hell was he?

"Let me go!" I snapped, struggling. "I was trying to help you!"

He narrowed his eyes. "You expect me to believe you just happened to be here... generously wanting to fuck?"

"I saw him attack you, and I shot. That's it. If anything, you should thank me."

He looked unconvinced. "Tie her up. Find out who she's working with."

"Hey! You don't want to do this. Do you even know who my father-in-law is?!"

They didn't care. The man bundled me up and tossed me in the car. He stepped down and when he returned his hand went straight over my face.

He pressed my nose with a cloth that smelt toxic, I couldn't breathe. I felt weak as I slowly lost consciousness.

"Take her there."

AMELIA

I woke up slowly, my head heavy and foggy.

My eyes adjusted to the dim lighting. I was in an unfamiliar room. It was clean, spacious, and eerily quiet. My wrists were still tied, and my ankles too.

I tried to get off the bed, but I fell instead. The sharp and sudden impact jolted through me. Panic clawed at my throat as the door suddenly swung open.

He walked in, the same man from last night. Calm, and annoyingly confident, like he owned the whole damn world.

"I can see that you're awake," he said, amused, placing a glass of water beside me. "Drink."

"Oh, so now you're being hospitable?" I scoffed, trying to find my balance. "You kidnap me and now you're offering a drink? Let me go if you're feeling generous."

He didn't flinch. He stepped closer, grabbed my arm, and lifted me back onto the bed like I weighed nothing.

I felt my heart beat twice as fast, I had no idea where I was, who this man is or what was going to happen to me. I struggled with the ropes. "You know this is illegal, right?"

"You shot someone," he replied coldly. "If it had nothing to do with you, why get involved?"

"Why else? I was trying to save your life."

He tilted his head, a dark gleam in his eyes. "You thought your tiny ass could save me?" He let out a low chuckle. "That's cute. But that's one version of the story. The other? You're in cahoots with them. And when I prove it's true... I'll end you myself."

I let out a frustrated sigh, "what else do you wa..."

His phone buzzed interrupting my attempt to plea for freedom. He glanced at the screen and sighed before answering.

"Yes, father... I'm aware... What? Right now? Fine. I'll be there."

He turned to me, pocketing his phone. "Well, ive got something to take care of. Someone will help you out of that take you home."

"Gee... how kind of you," I muttered feeling a little relieved.

He was halfway out when the door opened again.

My jaw dropped as my father-in-law walked in.

"Amelia?" my father-in-law said, brows furrowed. "What's going on here?" His eyes darted between me and Rafael. "Rafael, what are you doing with your brother's fiancée?"

I blinked in disbelief, the long-awaited brother of Ethan that has been out of the country forever was the man I fucked?

I looked at Rafael, he seemed to have been shocked too but quickly covered it with a smug smile. "Don't worry about it dad, I thought she was someone else when I kidnapped her."

"You just arrived back last night and you're already pulling such stunts?!" His father shouted at him. "Get Amelia out of that and take her home. We have business to attend to."

I flinched as he cut the ropes on me. I studied his expression, he doesn't seem to be fazed in any way about who I am.

My father-in-law turned his full attention to me. "Amelia, you need to be more careful. You know how precious you are to this family. You refused bodyguards, fine. But if something like this ever happens again, I won't give you a choice." His voice softened. "Are we clear?"

"I'm sorry father," I told him. "It wouldn't happen again."

*********

The ride home was painfully awkward.

After the tense meeting, Rafael had offered to drive me back. I didn't know if it was kindness or, guilt.

Just as I decided to break the silence, he muttered something too.

"What?" we both said at once.

"You go first," he added quickly.

I took a deep breath. "I'm sorry about last night. I honestly didn't know who you were. I hope things won't be... weird between us?" I glanced at him. "And Ethan."

He didn't answer right away. Then finally, "Amelia?"

"Yeah?"

"How does Ethan treat you?"

He took his eyes from the road and glanced at me for a second. I caught a glint of something in his eyes, was it pity?

"What do you mean?" I asked, wondering what he was really thinking.

"I might be wrong," he said, "but you don't seem like the type of woman who sleeps with strangers. Especially days before your wedding."

I let out the heaviest sigh. "It is better I do that now than when I'm married. No?"

We pulled up to the house and I immediately wished we hadn't. Ethan was outside, looking like he was about to devour anything in his part. When he saw us, his eyes went wild.

Rafael reached for my hand just before I opened the door. "You don't have to marry him, you know?"

I stared at him, speechless.

Ethan charged toward the car and landed a heavy punch straight to Rafael's face.

"What are you doing?!" I screamed, trying to stop him.

He ignored me and hit Rafael again.

Rafael wiped blood off his lip, totally unfazed, he straightened himself up and stared down at Ethan.

"Don't you fucking touch her again," Ethan hissed, then grabbed me by the wrist and dragged me into the house.

I looked back at Rafael, who simply got into his car and drove off like nothing happened.

"Let go of me," I snapped, struggling against Ethan's grip. "You're hurting me!"

He shoved me inside and slammed the door.

"Where the fuck have you been, Amelia? What were you doing with him?"

"You told me to get out of your face, Ethan. That's where I was." I didn't even look at him as I headed toward my room.

Normally, I'd feel guilty. But I was too tired to care.

"What were you doing with Rafael?" he barked again.

"Ask him. He fancied me enough to kidnap me."

"Amelia," he said, voice low but sharp, "my brother is not someone to mess with. I mean it. Be careful with him."

I stopped. "So now you care?" I scoffed. "Go find your mistress, Ethan. I'm exhausted."

"Amelia!" he shouted. "I don't want to ever see you with him. You don't know who he is!"

"Oh..." I turned to face him fully, eyes burning. "Then tell me... who is he, Ethan?"

RAFAEL

I chugged down a glass of liquor as I stared at myself in the bathroom mirror. "What a brotherly reunion" I muttered, rubbing the fading bruise on my lip.

I would have very much loved to return those punches, but starting a fight there would not be to anyone's benefit. And Amelia...

I still remember the feel of her body in my hands, I think about it every night since then.

She could have been from my enemies, she could have been someone sent to aid that measly attack. Why did she have to be his fucking fiancé?

"She's too good for that prick."

I wondered why she was at that park and how frustrated she must have been to let me fuck her. Well, I wasn't going to let her forget me.

I picked up my phone and tapped the call symbol, "Yes boss" he picked almost immediately.

"Send her flowers... just her name... Yes. Do it discreetly." I said and dropped the call.

*********

AMELIA

Every day since Rafael dropped me off, I would receive a bouquet of flowers immediately Ethan leaves the house almost like his movement was being monitored.

The flowers would have no note to tell who it's from, only a huge 'AMELIA' on it in cursive.

I have not heard or seen Rafael since then, but he was the only one I could think of with balls large enough to pull stunts like this.

Ethan didn't like it. It infuriated him more that he knew it was from Rafael but there was no way to prove it. He felt threatened.

Sadly that didn't do anything to make him change, Ethan showed up to the house with another woman.

"For the love of God," I said immediately they walked in. "there are thousands of hotels in this freaking city. And if they're not to your taste, you have other houses. Why do you have to do this here?"

Ethan just looked at me and scoffed as he took her inside. He reeked of alcohol and the girl looked like something he just picked out from the club for a one night stand and is probably only agreeing to do this for his money.

I was still outside when the girl came out doing the shame-walk as she tried to leave. Not long after, Ethan walked on. He looked sobered up at least.

"I'm sorry about that." He said unexpectedly. That was a first.

"What exactly are you sorry about, Ethan? That you are fucking everything in skirt or that you're doing it here?"

"Yeah" he replied nonchalantly as he poured himself a glass of water.

I rolled my eyes, why do I even bother. "The dinner is in three days. Try your best to come sober and with your dick in your pants." I didn't wait for a response before I left.

"Get rid of the flowers" he said stopping me halfway up the stairs.

"What does that have to do with anything?"

"I don't like them. Get rid of them."

I knew he was trying to get something out of me, but not today. "If you don't like it, do it yourself"

*********

I gasped when I saw him.

"What are you doing here, Rafael?" I asked, nearly dropping the mug of coffee in my hand.

"Just saying hello to my future sister-in-law," he said casually, leaning against the counter like he lived here.

"Well, hello. Now goodbye." I turned to walk away.

"Wait, Amelia..."

I paused, sighing. "We shouldn't be talking. What happened between us was a mistake."

He stepped closer. "Then why can't I stop thinking about it?"

"That's a you problem," I said flatly. "Excuse me. My coffee is calling."

He smirked. "What if Ethan finds out about that night?"

I stopped in my tracks, slowly turning to face him. "Are you threatening me?"

"I'm just saying... it doesn't have to be a secret. You could come to me willingly." He replied with his smug smirk.

"No. Things are already complicated enough... you sent those flowers, didn't you?"

He gave me a blank stare like he had no idea what I was talking about.

"I know it was you, why?"

He reached for my hand. "Amelia... I felt something between us. I know you did too. Besides you and Ethan can't even stand each other."

I hesitated, but only for a second. "The wedding is in a few days. It's too late."

"It's never too late." He took a step back, eyes gleaming. "Besides, you know Father wouldn't care which son you end up with, as long as you end up in the family."

I frowned. "What are you planning?"

He only grinned. "It's a surprise." waving as he walked out the door.

There would actually be no greater revenge for all what Ethan has done to me than to go with his brother, who is already better than him in so many ways.

I sighed, "What a day."

*********

Ethan and I sat side by side at the wedding rehearsal. We had not had any arguments since that day, but I knew it was just a facade.

His true colors would show again once this ceremony was over.

Everyone else seemed super excited, laughing and toasting.

Then Rafael took the mic.

"Amelia..." he began, eyes locked on me. "Since the moment I met you, I haven't been able to get you out of my head. Especially our... unforgettable night together."

Gasps echoed around the room.

Ethan shot to his feet. "What the hell did you just say?!"

He lunged, but one of Rafael's men held him back.

Rafael ignored the chaos. He walked toward me, and held out his hand.

"Amelia and I... we've decided it's time to make our relationship public."

The room fell silent. Every eye turned to me.

I barely had time to process before Rafael dropped to one knee.

He opened a velvet box revealing a glimmering diamond.

"Amelia," he said, voice clear and confident, "will you marry me?"