Chapter 20
I’d spent so long trying to remember what happened en my birthday that year laut no matter how hand I tred. I couldn’t recall
It was my
year n
of college, and my birthday happened to fall on Christmas Day.
Thad expected a cory, intimate date with Austin, but instead, he invited a group of our college friends to celebrate, including Rosemary.
Back then, I hadn’t thought much of Rosemary. If anything, I felt sorry for her because of the trage acrident that had taken her parents lives. She was our age, yet she had to endure so much low
We had a great time that night. I drank more than I usually would at dinner, and afterward, we went to a karaoke lounge.
Normally, I never touched alcohol, but that night, I drank a lot. My memory blurred after that, but I vaguely remembered Austin taking me to a hotel.
Then, nothing. When I woke up the next morning, he was sitting by my bedside, holding my hand tightly.
His voice was full of conviction as he promised. “Ill marry no ene but yısı”.
I was so touched. I leaned into his arms, believing every word
Looking back now, I see how foolish I was. He hadn’t even given me a ring–just an empty promise. And yet. I devoted six years of my life to him
But now a sudden realization hat me
After that night. 1 mussed my penod for a while, and Austin panicked.
He was so nervous, insisting we go to the hospital immediately. I had thought he was worried about how a pregnancy might affect our studies, but it turned out to be a false alarm.
That was when he suggested we should stop having sex–for my health, and for the sake of his family’s reputation.
I had no objections. I didn’t remember anything about that night, and when I tried to get out of bed, my legs were so weak and sore that I could barely stand.
The experience left me with an unshakable fear of intimacy.
Thinking about it now, a wave of realization crashed over me. I had been living a lie..
I really was pathetic and foolish.
How much of what Austin did was out of love? And how much of it was because he was afraid I might go to the police!
How much of what Austin did was out of love? And how much of it was because he was afraid I might go to the police
The Herrera family had strict rules.
Their daughters had to be home before midnight and weren’t allowed to live in dorms.
Even if they studied in another city, the family would buy or rent an apartment for them, with a housekeeper assigned to take care of meals—and to keep an eye on them.
The rules were slightly more lenient for the men, allowing them to stay out overnight, but they were still forbidden from disgracing the family
nave
was out of the question.
Having a child out of wedlock was out
I remember asking Austin why his family had such rigid traditions.
He smiled slightly and said. “My grandfather always said that if a Herrera lacks even the most basic self–control, they have no place in the Herrera Group
In other words, anyone who broke the rules was automatically disqualified from inheriting the family business.
The ringing of my phone pulled me from my thoughts.
“What does Rosemary want from you?” Angela’s voice carried a clear edge of annoyance over the line.
I hesitated for a moment before responding. “Angela, I need your help with something”
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Cupter 20
“You hit Dert Did she rall the cops”” she asked.
I sighed, making my forehead. “I hurt my hand. I wouldn’t waste my energy on her I need to know how long Bluestar Hotel keeps its surveillance
Eve got eyes on those two sons. If anything happens. I let you know right away Angela said, her tour steady
I gave a slight smirk. “No need to watch them. I’ve already cut ties with Austin for good. Plus, I’ve got a husband now Why that piece of garbage he’s turned inlo“
Why would I arill
care about
Angels chuckled, clearly amused. “Laurel, look at you! You’re curting without even uning dirty words anymore. Which year?
“Yeah, frotis Bluestar Hotel on Christmas, the year you
went ahmad” I replied.
Your birthday? Angela went silent for a moment.
“Angela, you still there asked, sensing something was off
She hesitated before spraking again more carefully this time. “Why do you want the footage from that day?
Honestly, I wasn’t sure myself.
What was I hoping to find! Did I really think I could press charges five years later? Or was just looking for answers? What if the truth was worse
than I imagined”
What if it was someone else—someone older, someone completely unfamiliar?
A variety of strange men flashed through my mind, and immediately, my
y curiosity was suppressed.
Angela exhaled heavily. “Laurel, I’d love to help you, but I couldn’t.”
I froze, taking a deep breath. “What do you mean?”
en was hacked.
“I remember it clearly, Angela said. “That night, Bluestar’s entire security system was
“It took me a full day and night to restore everything, but by then, all the footage from that night was wiped clean. Thinking about it still pisses me
I remembered now
now–Angela had ranted to me for an hour back then, furious over how advanced the virus had been.
I had just learned.
At that thought, my heart skipped a beat, and I couldn’t help but connect what had happened years ago with what I
A sense of unease crepit over me.
d been in that room with me!
Was it just an unfortunate coincidence? Or was the person who erased the footage the same one who had
“Laurel“” Angela’s voice snapped me out of my thoughts.
1 took a deep breath. It’s nothing. If it’s gone, then forget it”
After hanging up, I went to the bathroom, sinking into a warm bath, and closing my eyes..
In the pitch–black room, the sound of a man’s heavy breathing echoed, and his scent–a faint, familiar one–lingered in the air.
His large hand gripped mine, and then he leaned in, pressing soft kisses along my neck, slowly moving lower
He was gentle, but there was an undeniable strength in every movement.
I tried to open my eyes,
but they wouldn’t cooperate
o and ragged and there was a quiet, almost imperceptible groan mixed in–making my heart race.
His breath was deep a
I suddenly jolted awake, gasping for air. My eyes snapped open, and I realized I was still lying in the bathtub. The once warm water had gone cold, and a shiver ran through me.
It was just a dream
I took a steadying breaths, but the sound of his breathing lingered in my ears, as though he were still there.
1 shook off the disorientation, quickly wrapping myself in a towel before heading back to my rotti.
When I saw my phone light up on the desk, I checked it and saw a message from Angela—a list of registrations.
Chapter 20
Imm dui Christmas at the Bharstar Hotel
she texted. (Swerthrait remember to delete this after reading. Don’t
n’t tell anyone. If this gets out,
- I’ll be fired for leaking company info I
I smirked, replying, Don’t worry, No one will know.
When I saw the client’s name, I couldn’t help but frowIL.
Alex Herrera! He stayed at a hotel instead of heading home? Guess that whole “man with no interest in women thing might be a load of crap after all. He’s probably hisling some past of his oWIL
