Chapter Two

Elena's POV

The next morning I woke up to an unfamiliar environment, it's grand size and elegance in stark contrast to my familiar surroundings. My head throbbing In pain and I groaned pushing myself upright. My eyes scanned the spacious bedroom and the neat arrangement of furnitures.

Panic surged within me as the memories from last night resurfaced. The engagement party. The cryptic note. Marcus and Cathy betrayal. The man—the stranger with the piercing gray eyes. Then the kiss.

What have I done? I screamed at myself mentally. My breath seized as I quickly looked down on myself. I was naked.

"Did I just have sex with a stranger?" I gasped in shock, my hand placed over my mouth. How come I can't remember anything else.

I snatched the duvet and pulled it over my chest like it would shield me from my own embarrassment.

Just then, the door creaked open and he walked inside. His commanding presence filling the entire room. He looked even more striking in the daylight, his sharp features and confident posture making it difficult to take eye off him. His expression was indifferent, unreadable as he placed his hand on his hips.

My throat tightened as I tried to speak but nothing came to mind.

"Hmmmm. Did we.... have sex," I said, stammering as I quickly took my eyes off him.

He nodded, titling his head forward.

God, am such a fool.

Then his lips curled into a smirk. "No, we didn't.

I heaved a sigh of relief. "Thank goodness. Then why am I naked?"

"Because you puked on your clothes. I had to tell the maid to have you cleaned up," he responded, his voice firm.

I searched into his eyes for any sign that could tell he was lying, but I couldn't find any. Besides, he had no reason to lie. He would have told the truth if we had sex, since I practically threw myself at him.

I nodded.

Then he continued. "But you were all over me," he said, his taunting. "Is that how you are? Throwing yourself at random men?"

Anger flicker inside me. "I don't make it a habit," I snapped, trying to mask my anger. "I'm just having a hard time."

He scoffed, the sound grating. "Your fiancé was fucking your best friend, right?" His word pierced like a needle, as I stared at him in stunned silence.

"How do you-"

"I know who you are," he interrupted, his gaze unwavering. "I guess you wanted to pay back your fiancé by cheating too."

"Pay back?" I repeated, my voice sharp. "That was clearly the alcohol."

"Hmmmm," he smirked, clearly not convinced. "Convenient excuse. You blame everything on the alcohol."

My anger went out of control as I glared at him. "You're an insufferable bastard," I hissed. "You should have left me in the streets instead of bringing me here."

His eyes widened in belief. "What?" He shot back, his voice laced with irritation, but before he could say something else, I continued.

"And how the hell do you know about Marcus and Cathy?"

He stepped closer to me, crouching lower, his hands gripping the edge of the bed. "Because I have been keeping an eye on you."

I blinked, startled. "What?"

"Yes. So while doing that, I found out about their affairs," he added like it was the most natural thing in the world.

Then realization dawned on me. "Wait, wait. Did you buy any chance send me the note?"

He didn't respond. His silence confirming what I already suspected. Was he stalking me? How much did he know?

"Have you been stalking me?" I asked.

Silence. Again. He is been stalking me.

He really is getting on my nerves. In my anger, I stood up abruptly, forgetting that I was naked, the duvet fell off my body.

My body stiffened as his piercing gaze roamed over me, the intensity in his gaze making my skin blush and I hated it. Heat surged to my body, and I scrambled to grab the duvet, yanking it across my body in a desperate attempt to shield myself.

He scoffed, amusement flickering in his expression. "Relax, it's nothing I haven't seen already," he drawled, his tone laced with arrogance.

My grip tightened around the fabric, my jaw clenching. My body? Seen it already. "You really are a pervert."

His lips twitched, barely holding back another smirk. He didn't respond, instead he turned away slightly, and pulled out his phone. "Get in here," he ordered, his voice firm. Within seconds, the door opened and a maid stepped in with a neatly folded set of clothes in her hand.

"Get dressed," he said dismissively before striding out of the room.

With a trembling hand, I took the clothes from the maid, who offered me a timid smile before quickly retreating outside. As soon as the door shut, I quickly put them on—a simple yet elegant dress that fit me perfectly. Too perfectly. How did he even know my size?

A cold chill surged through me at the scary thoughts, but I quickly shoved it down and focus on getting out of here. I have no intention of spending a second more.

I stepped out of the room to find him waiting for me in the living room, seated on a luxurious leather couch, one arm draped lazily over the backrest. His eyes locked with mine, his expression unreadable as he swirled a glass of dark liquor in his hand.

"Going somewhere?" He missed, his voice a mix of curiosity and challenge.

I lifted my chin, my voice firm. "Yes. I need to get home."

He hummed, setting his drink down in the table beside him. "Home?" You mean to Marcus?"

Stiffening, my fingers curled into fists at my sides. "That's none of your business."

His smirk deepened as he leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "Oh, but it is, Elena. Because we both know you're going to marry him anyway."

I inhaled sharply, my heart hammering. "You don't know anything about me."

"Don't I?" He titled, his head, studying me like I was a puzzle he already solved. "Your father values his reputation more than he values you. He won't let you walk away, no matter how badly, Marcus humiliated you."

His words cut deep because they were true. My father's entire world resolved around prestige and appearance. A broken engagement would be a stain on his perfect reputation. He won't allow it.

I bit my lips, hating how easily he knew all about me and my complicated situation. "Like I said, it's none of your business," I muttered.

He stood up, his imposing presence making me feel small. I took an involuntary step back, but he took another step closer, and closed the distance between us. Then his voice dropped to a low, almost dangerous whisper.

"Then marry me instead."

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