Aurelia's POV:
I slowly let my lids open. Jeez, I was sore all over. I looked around. What the fuck? This isn't my room! And what's more-a muscular blonde was sharing the bed with me. NAKED!!
My thoughts were hazy, but I didn't wait for the realization of what had happened, why I was naked in bed with a man I barely recognized, in a room that was so unfamiliar, to come back to me. I gently, yet hastily, got out of the king-sized bed, picked up some clothes I recognized as my own lying carelessly on the floor, grabbed my phone from a nearby dresser, and went into the suite's bathroom, barely sparing the blonde-who seemed to be enjoying his sleep-a look.
I threw on my clothes and tried to get an idea of where I was using my phone's GPS. A five-star hotel in the heart of Los Angeles. With the map, I realized I was thirty minutes away from my apartment.
Noah's POV
I woke up feeling absolutely amazing. Last night was one hell of a night. I didn't remember much-I'd been tipsy-but one thing was certain: I had a damn good fuck. Who would've thought a virgin could be that good? And seriously, what kind of escort is a virgin?
It didn't really matter now. I'd paid a fortune to the agency to keep my identity anonymous and deliver a hot escort, to the point where I'd almost thought it was a scam. It had seemed too good to be true. But damn, she had topped the charts as the best I'd ever had.
I looked around and realized the escort wasn't in the room anymore. I didn't care much-most of them were like that. They always left before dawn, either to protect their identities or to get away with whatever they'd managed to steal from me: wristwatches, cash, and other petty items. I hadn't expected her to leave so early, though, especially after how she'd been begging for more last night. She'd been moaning loudly, calling me "daddy," as I thrust as deep as I could into her.
To be honest, she didn't seem like an escort. There was something too sophisticated about her-a bit of elegance, even in her drunken state. She didn't fit the typical profile.
I licked my lips at the memory of how good I'd felt, the way her body had responded to me. Whatever her story was, it didn't matter. She'd given me a night to remember.
AURELIA'S POV
I got out of the bathroom, dripping wet and still in the gold dress. My throat was parched as hell, so I went to grab a drink. As I picked up a cup to pour myself some water, fragments of memories started coming back to me.
I remembered downing a shot of alcohol while laughing. Elan my boyfriend was there. We were in a bustling place-like a party or something. I must have stopped after a shot or two because I knew how lightheaded I could get. I never drank too much when I was out with Elan or my friends.
Another memory flashed, accompanied by a terrible headache-a hangover. I remembered moaning loudly as my breasts were being squeezed. I couldn't quite see who it was. The background was blurry, maybe a bit dark, but I was sure it was Elan. We'd done stuff like this a couple of times, and I knew exactly how it felt.
Then the memories stopped coming. I tried to coax them back, but nothing came. In fact, I was only adding to my headache.
If I was with Elan yesterday, then how the fuck did I end up naked in a blonde man's bed? The fact that I couldn't remember more made me even angrier. The only person who could really jog my memory was Elan, but with so many missed calls from him on my phone, how was I supposed to explain waking up in bed with another man? If there was one thing I knew about Elan, it was that he was insanely jealous.
Anything to jog my memory would do wonders right now. I felt a bit cold and glanced down at the skimpy dress I was still wearing. It showed a lot of skin. I remembered putting it on the day before, along with my makeup and styled hair, but my memories stopped there.
I grabbed my phone and went straight to my chat with Elan to see if our conversations could give me any clues about where we'd been last night. His last message, sent this morning, had crying and kissing emojis.
What did he even mean by that text?
I knew Elan didn't use emojis very often, but when he did, he really meant something and was trying to pass on his emotions.
Just then, another message popped in from him:
Where were you yesterday, babes? You didn't check in at the hotel last night-why? I'm so sorry about yesterday, babe. I'm currently busy right now, so I can't come over as promised, but you can drop by mine. (love emoji)
His texts only made me more confused.
I scrolled down to our recent chats hoping to find something that would give me a clue about last night.
I'm close. Be down in 5 babes!
I scrolled downwards again
I chose and pre-ordered the gold dress already, it should be delivered soon.
It was obvious we'd gone out together, but where the hell did we go??
Last night was lit. I hit the play button for the video attached.
At first, the few seconds of the video didn't make much sense, but as I continued watching, everything started falling into place.
I collapsed on a nearby couch, my heart completely shattered as the realization hit me. The video was from a group chat, and although I couldn't quite remember when or how I got on this app group-and for some reason, I had kept it archived-I knew it was created by Elan and his clique.
The same clique we went partying with last night.
The same clique that was giggling hysterically in the video.
The same group that had caused me to end up in the bed of a blonde.
Slowly, my memories started coming back, and they brought the most unbearable pain. The pain of loss, betrayal, heartbreak. I felt like dying.
I stared at the video for the 100th time, completely lost. I read the chats that followed and felt like there was no purpose left to live. It was filled with lewd comments from Elan and his friends. I wasn't sure if they had posted the video on purpose to ridicule me or if they were oblivious to the fact that I was in the group chat.
I wasn't really the social type, and for reasons I couldn't explain, I had never said anything in the group. Maybe that's why they hadn't remembered or even realized I would see the video.
I didn't know how to react to this. I felt numb in all parts of my body.
Should I call Elan and demand an explanation, or should I just take matters into my own hands? I was bitter with anger, pain, and frustration.
But could I really confront Elan about all of this?
Ever since my parents died in a car accident when I was 18, it had been Elan.
When my parents passed, everything was claimed by the bank. My dad had used all his properties as collateral to take out loans for his business, which was failing at the time. As the only child with no contact with any relatives, I tried to oversee what was left of the company my dad had built, but it didn't last long. The bank claimed everything due to overdue payments on my dad's huge debts.
I had no one. I was barely surviving.
It wasn't until my dad's funeral that I met Elan. He introduced himself as one of the stakeholders in my dad's company. We got talking, and one thing led to another-we started dating, and I moved in with him.
Elan was controlling. He never allowed me to work or try to rebuild my father's business, which was what I badly wanted. I wasn't even allowed to have savings of my own. He often acted like he owned me.
It didn't sit well with me, but I could do little about it. Anytime I tried convincing him to let me own something, he would boast that he was a millionaire who could afford anything I wanted.
But that wasn't the point. I wasn't raised like this. My parents taught me to be an independent woman, but Elan wouldn't let me live that life.
I loved him, yes, but I wasn't truly happy.
He was three years older than me, a millionaire (half of his wealth inherited from his dad), and a hedonist who enjoyed the celebrity lifestyle and loved partying.
I, on the other hand, was his complete opposite. I liked staying indoors, investing in myself by reading books and learning.
Now, as I sat staring at the video, I didn't know how to face the betrayal. Should I confront him? Could I even handle his reaction? Or should I quietly walk away?
The pain was unbearable, and the bitterness in my chest grew heavier with every passing second.
My fingers hovered over my phone, unsure of what to do. The group chat was still active, with more messages rolling in-comments, laughter, and emojis that made my stomach churn. They thought it was funny. They thought my humiliation was a joke.
I gripped my phone tightly, my vision blurring with tears. Memories of last night kept flashing in my mind like a broken reel. I couldn't piece it all together yet, but I remembered the laughter, the drinks, and the sly smiles exchanged between Elan and his friends. I'd trusted him-I always did-but now it felt like I'd been a pawn in some cruel game.
The video played again in my head, even though I'd stopped watching it hours ago. The blonde. The bed. My body sprawled out like I didn't even belong to myself. It was as if they had stripped me of all dignity and left me bare for their entertainment.
I wanted to scream. I wanted to destroy something-anything-but instead, I sat frozen, overwhelmed by the weight of my emotions. My mind kept circling back to the same question: Why would Elan do this to me?
He had been my savior, hadn't he? The one who pulled me out of the darkness when I had nowhere else to turn. When my parents' death left me utterly alone, he stepped in, promising stability and care. He made me believe I could rely on him, that he'd always have my back. And now?
I felt like a fool.
I thought about confronting him, but my stomach tightened at the idea. Elan was a smooth talker-he always had a way of twisting things to make me doubt myself. Anytime I raised concerns about his behavior or the way he controlled every aspect of my life, he dismissed me. He called me ungrateful. He reminded me of everything he had done for me, as if I owed him my very existence.
But this was different. This wasn't just about control or his suffocating need to keep me under his thumb. This was betrayal on a level I couldn't comprehend.
I wiped my face, trying to steady my breathing. I needed to think clearly, but the pain was too raw, too overwhelming. The memories of last night were coming back in fragments now-Elan handing me drink after drink, his friends whispering and giggling in the corner, the way the room spun as I tried to stay on my feet.
I had trusted him to take care of me.
Instead, he had handed me over to his friends like some sort of joke.
A fresh wave of anger surged through me, and I stood up, pacing the room. I couldn't let this slide. I couldn't just sit here and do nothing while they laughed at my expense.
But what could I do?
My mind raced with possibilities. Should I call him? Demand an explanation? But what would he say? He'd probably deny it, twist the narrative to make me seem like the unreasonable one. Or worse, he'd laugh it off, like it was no big deal.
I clenched my fists, the frustration bubbling inside me. No. I couldn't let him manipulate me again
"We need to talk now, Elan. I mean right now!" I texted him hurriedly.
"What's up with the attitude?" he replied. "Alright, I'll send my current location. Meet me, and we'll talk about anything you want to say."
I got dressed and drove to the address Elan sent me. When I got there, it was a house party in a luxurious estate, hosted by one of his friends, I guess. I was boiling. Didn't he say he was busy with work? I was out here planning my suicide in my head, and here he was partying.
He came out to usher me in, his hands open to hug me. By now, I could see some of his friends just hanging around, watching us, very oblivious to the fact that I knew the dirty things they had said and done to me.
"Hey, baby-"
TWAK!! I slapped him hard across his face
"You are an asshole, and I hate you! I almost died because of you and your cunt friends. I'm so done with this hell you call a relationship!"
I screamed, throwing our engagement ring in his face.
Elan didn't react as I expected him to. I thought he'd get furious, hit me back, or do something worse for slapping him in public. Instead, he just rubbed his cheek and gave me an evil smirk, staring angrily at me. I looked around and saw those assholes he called friends-they looked shocked.
As I turned to leave, I heard Elan smash the champagne glass in his hand on the floor.
"You good-for-nothing bitch!" he shouted. "I know you'll come crawling back on those two fragile knees, begging. You're just a nobody with nobody!" He laughed maniacally. "Be sure to get ready to spread those legs when you come running back!"
I heard his friends and some others laugh along with him.
I felt humiliated to the brink, but one thing was sure-I was not going to give Elan the satisfaction he wanted. I was going to move on without him.
AURELIA'S POV
I slipped on the gold dress Elan had ordered for me. It looked perfect on me, pronouncing my hourglass shape. It was a bit revealing, especially around the breast area and thighs, but I couldn't ditch it for something less daring. That would surely anger Elan, and this wasn't a night I wanted to hear his ranting about me not meeting his standards or be reminded of where he had picked me up some years back.
I sat down in the living room of the apartment Elan had bought in my name, waiting for him to come pick me up for the outing. He'd said it was a get-together with his friends, and everyone was bringing their girlfriends, so I couldn't say no to going.
I caught a glimpse of my seductive reflection in an acrylic mirror a few meters away. My hair was perfectly styled at the salon, and I had kept my makeup light, even though Elan would have preferred otherwise. When Elan arrived, the first thing he did was kiss me, almost ruining my makeup.
"Oh, you look hot tonight, baby," he said, grabbing my butt cheeks and squeezing them with both hands.
"We're never going to leave here if we continue this," I said, slightly pulling him off me. I felt a bit uncomfortable but couldn't place why.
We took Elan's Rolls-Royce Wraith, so there was no need for me to take my car.
"Uh, babe, we won't be coming home tonight," he said casually.
"Where-"
"I figured my friends and I have a lot of catching up to do. There's going to be a lot of stuff happening tonight, so I already booked a hotel where we'd stay. Trust me, you'll love it," he said, slipping a black VIP access card for Room 306 onto my bare thigh and pecking me.
Elan and his habit of making decisions at the last minute... I didn't want to seem ungrateful, so I simply returned his peck with a fake smile. Not going home tonight? Well, not like I had work the next day, so I wasn't quite bothered. I glanced at the card; it bore the name The Monarch Grand Hotel.
We arrived at a private club in the heart of Los Angeles, and in no time, Elan blended in so well. I just followed him, trying not to look awkward or out of place. He introduced me to his friends from college-about four of them-and they, in turn, introduced me to their girlfriends. Honestly, the girls looked and acted like puppets. They laughed without emotion, only when their men laughed.
The night was filled with small talk, stifled laughs, and drinks. I was still sipping on a glass of wine even fifteen minutes after our arrival. Being light-headed, I made it a rule not to drink alcohol in public, and if I did, it was minimal.
Next on their agenda was games. For some reason, the other ladies were excused, apart from me. I should've seen the bright red flag, but my stupid brain ignored it. Their excuse was that they'd been there for some time before Elan and I arrived and needed air. I wanted to leave too, but Elan's look told me to stay-as if silently saying he needed me.
We started the game: me, Elan, and his four friends. I was the only girl in the group. Oddly enough, I felt a chill but dismissed it because Elan was there.
We played a few adult games, and when it was my turn, I had to drink alcohol because I failed a round. I looked to Elan for backup, but he simply nodded for me to go ahead. I didn't want to drink, but I also didn't want to disappoint him or his friends, so I downed the shot, promising myself it would be the last.
The alcohol wasn't too strong, apart from making me feel a little woozy. I was still good-until the rounds kept going. The other girls eventually came back, obviously high from smoking, and once again, it was my turn to drink.
This time, I told the group I couldn't because I felt light-headed. At first, they were shocked, then they started laughing. I noticed one of the men recording, and even one of the puppet girlfriends did the same.
They all started chanting, "Go, Aurelia! Go, Aurelia! Go!"
I swallowed the shot of tequila and followed it with a shout. Less than a minute later, my legs felt weak, my eyelids heavy, and my head spun. I turned to Elan, trying to explain my situation, but he was equally high. Instead, he pushed me back and started kissing me roughly, almost as if he were devouring me.
His hands slipped under my dress, touching me in front of everyone. I glanced around and noticed the girls didn't care-almost as if they expected this-but the guys... Oh, they were watching, their eyes filled with lust.
What was Elan doing? He knew more than anyone else about my vows. I'd made it clear I was saving myself for our wedding night. We'd talked about this before we started dating. Sure, we'd kissed before, but tonight felt different-intense in a way that terrified . Almost as if he was going to fuck me here and now.
I tried to push him off, but I was so weak from the alcohol. This was exactly why I avoided drinking in public-I always lost control of myself . By now, Elan was unzipping my dress in front of everyone. My strength drained, I looked around and saw phones recording. I was going to go viral if I didn't act.
With the last bit of strength I could muster, I pushed Elan away, drunkenly stood up, and stumbled toward the exit, my purse clutched to my side. All I wanted was to get to the hotel Elan had mentioned earlier-somewhere safe and private.
As I made my way out, I heard someone laugh and say, "Leave her alone. She wouldn't be able to move a meter more let alone handle all that much 'Eggshell' in her system."
I couldn't quite make out who said that, but I was determined to leave and now!