Surprise Twins for the Hockey Prince

Eliana POV:

"Slow down, Erica. Don't be in such a hurry."

In the VIP lounge bathroom stall, I heard my fiancé Asher Reynolds's voice, husky with a laugh.

Erica-my best friend.

I felt nailed to the spot, my body trembling. I pressed my ear closer to the door, praying I was hearing things.

Erica's flirtatious laugh came through clearly. "What's the rush? That fool Eliana is probably out there playing the perfect hostess. She wouldn't dream we're in here."

My heart stopped for a second. The vibration of the door muffled my ragged breathing.

Asher chuckled between breaths, his tone dripping with mockery. "She really is a fool. The Sloans are bankrupt, and she still thinks she's some high and mighty princess."

The word "bankrupt" was a physical blow. The image of my mother collapsing at my father's funeral flashed before my eyes.

Erica's voice, laced with venomous pleasure, cut through my haze. "Speaking of which, did you like last night's arrangement? Wasn't that guy something? The way she was hiding her neck today, he must have really worn her out."

My mind went blank.

I subconsciously touched the side of my neck. Under the skin, a faint, tender mark from last night throbbed, a secret heat spreading to my cheeks.

It was all Erica's doing. She had promised me a bachelorette surprise I'd never forget, and this was it...

Fragmented memories from last night flooded in-a strange room, a man whose face I couldn't see, a body that wasn't my own to control... It was all a setup.

I bit down hard on my lip, choking back a sob. Humiliation burned in my throat.

Asher's voice came again, unconcerned, almost bored. "Seriously, are you sure her father's death was handled cleanly? It never felt like a simple suicide to me."

The words exploded in my head like a thunderclap. All the blood in my body rushed to my face.

Erica scoffed. "Relax, Asher. Carlisle Holdings took care of everything. No one will ever find out the truth. Just like no one will find us."

Carlisle Holdings...

The company that acquired my family's business. The monster that drove my father to his grave.

I couldn't listen anymore. My stomach churned violently. I spun around, stumbling away down the corridor.

Leaning against the cold wall, I retched, but nothing came up. Only a gut-wrenching, tearing pain.

I caught my reflection in a mirror at the end of the hall. A pale, shattered woman stared back at me. I didn't recognize her.

They didn't just betray me. They were connected to my father's death.

My fists clenched, nails digging into my palms. The pain was the only thing keeping me upright.

I couldn't let this go. I absolutely couldn't.

Taking a deep, ragged breath, I forced myself to think.

I wiped my tears, smoothing down my rumpled gown. I couldn't let them know I'd heard.

I pulled out my phone, my fingers shaking, but I didn't know who to call.

Just then, the bathroom door clicked open.

My heart hammered against my ribs. I instinctively ducked into the shadows of a nearby alcove.

Eliana POV:

I held my breath, watching as Asher and Erica emerged from the bathroom.

They were wrapped in each other's arms, their faces flushed with the afterglow of their tryst.

Erica's gown was slightly disheveled. Asher smoothed it down for her, then leaned in to kiss her forehead with a tenderness that made my stomach clench.

They didn't see me. They walked toward the ballroom, laughing quietly like a real couple.

I stepped out of the shadows, my body numb with cold. Their words echoed in my mind-fool, suicide, Carlisle Holdings.

Something snapped. I couldn't stand it for another second.

I strode after them. Just before they could turn the corner into the ballroom, my voice, trembling but clear, cut through the air.

"Asher! Erica!"

Their bodies went rigid. They spun around, the smiles freezing on their faces.

Seeing me, Erica's eyes flashed with panic before she plastered on a fake look of concern. "Eliana, where have you been? We were just looking for you."

Asher's expression was a mix of shock, guilt, and a flicker of annoyance.

I ignored their performance, walking toward them step by step. My eyes were locked on Asher. "What really happened to my father?"

The color drained from Asher's face. "What are you talking about? Your father committed suicide, we all know that..."

A bitter laugh escaped my lips. I turned my gaze to Erica. "You arranged it, didn't you? Carlisle Holdings... What's your deal with them?"

Erica's face twisted. "You're insane! Eliana, have you been drinking?"

She reached for my arm, trying to drag me away before anyone else saw.

I yanked my arm back with disgust, the force of it making her stumble.

In the ensuing struggle, my hand shot out. Not to slap her, but to grab the loose shoulder strap of her gown.

I pulled.

The dress slid down, exposing her bare torso to the hallway lights. It was covered in fresh, angry-red marks.

Asher gasped, instinctively moving to shield her, but it was too late.

Erica shrieked, a sound of pure fury and humiliation. She scrambled to pull up her dress, her eyes shooting daggers at me.

"You psycho!" she screamed, lunging at me without a second thought.

My mind was on my parents. I didn't anticipate her feral attack. She slammed into me, pushing me backward.

My back hit the wall, but she didn't stop. Her hands dug into my shoulders, shoving me back toward the bathroom we had just passed.

My heel caught on the edge of a rug. I lost my balance.

"Eliana!" Asher screamed, his hand reaching for me, a fraction too late.

The back of my head struck the hard, marble edge of the bathtub.

A dull, sickening thud echoed in the small space.

Sharp pain exploded behind my eyes. The world spun, then went dark.

In the last moment of consciousness, I saw Erica's terrified face and Asher's frozen, slack-jawed expression.

Erica's hand trembled as she reached down, her fingers hovering near my nose. A second later, she snatched it back, her face a deathly white.

She turned to the equally stunned Asher, her voice a ragged, panicked whisper, a desperate lie taking shape.

"Asher... she's... she's not breathing! She's dead!"

Eliana POV:

My consciousness was a deep, dark ocean. There was only the throbbing pain in my head and a distant, humming noise.

I could feel my body being dragged, the cold tile scraping against my skin.

I heard Erica's muffled sobs and Asher's frantic whisper. "What do we do? Erica, we... we killed her!"

Erica's voice was strangely calm, laced with a seductive urgency. "No, Asher. She fell. It was an accident! But no one will believe us. If we call the police, we're both finished!"

I fought to open my eyes, to scream I'm not dead, but my eyelids were leaden. No sound would leave my throat.

"Think about your family," Erica coaxed him. "Think about our future! We have to get rid of... of her."

I felt myself being wrapped in a coarse blanket, then lifted. The familiar scent of Asher's cologne, now nauseating, filled my senses as he hoisted me over his shoulder.

Time blurred.

A cold sea breeze hit my face. The roar of a yacht's engine filled my ears, cutting through the fog in my mind.

I managed to pry my eyes open a sliver. I saw the dim lights of the deck and the faint stars in the night sky.

I was thrown onto the deck, my hands and feet bound with rough rope. I couldn't move.

Erica squatted in front of me. Her face held no trace of panic now, only a twisted, victorious smile.

"Awake, are we? My dear best friend," she said in a voice only I could hear, sweet as syrup and cold as the sea breeze.

I forced the words from my throat. "Why...?"

She laughed-a light, tinkling sound. "Why? Because I hate everything about you. Your fake kindness, the way everyone always flocked to you. Why should you be born with everything while I had to claw my way up?"

She stood, looking down at me with burning jealousy. "The great Miss Sloan? Starting today, everything you had-your fiancé, your status-it will all be mine."

I thought of last night. "The man... you arranged that too?"

Her smile widened. "Of course. I couldn't let you marry Asher untouched, could I? I found the best. A night to remember. Too bad you won't have a future to remember it in."

"Asher? Where is he?" I couldn't believe he would be so heartless.

"Still hoping he'll come back to you?" She traced her fingertip across my face with contempt. "Forget it. I left him on the shore. He'll only think you fell to your death."

My breathing quickened. Her words were a poisoned dagger, shattering my last sliver of hope.

Erica seemed to savor my despair. She strolled to the edge of the boat and waved at two men in black who were waiting.

The two men stepped onto the deck and grabbed me by the arms. I tried to struggle, but my body refused to obey. Every muscle was limp.

Below, the churning black water of the Atlantic waited, an open mouth ready to devour me.

Erica's voice floated on the wind, a final judgment. "Goodbye, my 'best friend.'"

The next second, my body felt weightless.