Beneath the ashes of betrayal

ChapterThree

When I slowly opened my eyes again, I was no longer at the bar. I was lying on a soft velvet couch in a private lounge upstairs. The lighting was soft and golden. Soft jazz still played faintly in the background. Alexander knelt beside me, holding a glass of water to my lips.

“Drink slowly,” he said, his voice gentle but firm.

I took small sips. My head was pounding. Everything from last night felt like a dream. What happened?. Where are we?.

My emerald dress felt wrinkled and uncomfortable against my skin. I looked up at him — this tall, powerful man. Why does he even care about somebody like me? He looked like he could fix any problem in the world.

What happened?. Where are we? I whispered.

“You fainted,” he replied calmly. “Too much to drink, too little food, and too much pain. I brought you up here so you could rest. You’re safe with me.”

Safe. That word sounded untrue to me. I hadn’t felt safe since Jade dropped to one knee in front of Maren, my own best friend, whom I took like a sister.

Alexander helped me sit up properly. He stayed close but respectful. Would you like to change into something more comfortable? He asked politely. I nodded in agreement.

He went up and came back with a clean shirt and pants. He excused himself for a while so I could change, then came back after a few minutes.

When he came back, I told him more — every painful detail I had held back earlier. The two years with Jade. Our six months of engagement. The wedding plans. How Maren had been my friend and sister. How they both smiled at each other like I was nothing.

He listened without interrupting, his intense eyes never leaving my face. When I started crying again, he handed me his clean handkerchief and let me sob.

Hours passed. He ordered light food — warm soup and fresh bread. He made sure I drank water and ate slowly. His patience surprised me. This powerful billionaire was treating me like I mattered, like he had known me for a long time.

The alcohol was still heavy in my blood, but the pain felt different now. It felt shared. As the night grew quieter, something shifted between us. The air became thicker. I looked at Alexander — at his strong body, his handsome face, the way he watched over me.

I needed to feel something other than pain.

I leaned forward and kissed him.

At first, the kiss was hesitant and tearful. Alexander pulled back and looked at me for a while in surprise.

His stare made me a bit shy at first. I whispered sorry…my head looking down in shame before I could complete the word, Alexander dragged me closer, raised my bowed head up, and kissed back.

His lips were warm and sure. He held my face gently with one large hand, deepening the kiss. His lips were completely lost in mine. Heat spread through my body.

He pulled back slightly. “Are you sure?” he asked, his voice low and deep.

“Yes,” I whispered. “Please… make me forget tonight, I want the pain gone.”

Alexander stood up from the coach, took my hand, and led me to his private penthouse suite on the top floor. The moment the door closed behind us, the passion exploded.

He kissed me harder this time, pressing me against the window. His hands roamed over my body with controlled hunger. I moaned softly as he pulled me closer, and the moment overwhelmed us both.

He f****d me deeply and intensely. Each thrust pushed me harder against the glass window. My hands pressed against the cool surface of the windows as the city lights blurred in front of my eyes. He gripped my hips firmly, driving into me again and again, his breathing heavy against my neck.

The pleasure mixed with my pain in a raw, emotional storm. I cried out his name with every deep thrust, clinging to his broad shoulders. He made me feel desire in a way I had never experienced before.

We moved to the bed, his big body covering mine. The intensity built higher and higher until we reached our peak together as we both released.

Afterwards, I lay on his chest, we were both breathing hard, listening to his strong heartbeat. His arm wrapped protectively around me. For those few moments, the heartbreak felt distant.

Hope you enjoyed it. He asked in a deep low voice with his lips all over my neck. I nodded.

But as the moment passed, reality slowly returned.

What had I done?

Shame began to creep in again. I waited until Alexander’s breathing became deep and steady with sleep. Then, quietly, I slipped out of his arms, gathered my clothes, and dressed in the dark. I took one last look at him — this powerful, handsome man who had given me a brief escape from reality.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered.

I left the suite without making a sound.

The elevator ride down felt cold and lonely. I looked at myself once more in the mirror, and I seemed nothing like when I wore my dress to Maren’s birthday party. My hair was all messed up, my dress torn and stained with wine, my eyes were red and puffy, and my skin paled from all the stress.

I stepped out into the early morning streets with nothing but regret and a heavier heart. You acted so cheap, Freya, “ I whispered to myself.”

I started walking again, lost in the big city of Los Angeles. I was certain I would never see Alexander Voss again. At least I never wanted to be counted among his numerous one-night stands.

After a long and painful walk, unsure of where to go, my phone rang. It was my mother. Of course she must have seen the video, she must have seen how her daughter was humiliated in front of many eyes.

Maren is a social media influencer, definitely it would be all over social media. I picked up the call anxious of how her reaction would be.

“Freya? Freya, please answer me. She said in a worried voice.

Yes mom I answered in a cracked voice.

Freya sweetheart, Is it true? I just saw it online . Tell me it isn’t true.” Her breathing grew uneven. “ That man abandoned you? And with your best friend? How could they do something so cruel?”

I could hear her sobs from over the phone. “ My poor girl. You must be hurting so much right now. I blame myself for everything, since your father died and my in-laws threw me out of the house, I trained you singlehandedly with no help from anyone. I trained you to be very soft and kind hearted. That is why people always take advantage of you. She cried bitterly over the phone.

I wish I was there with you, I wish I could hold you and take all this pain. Her words comforted me a little but made me cry more. At least there was someone who understood my pain.

Mom… I cried. The pain is too much.

Where are you? Are you alone? Have you eaten anything? I am worried sick about you.”

You don't have to go through this by yourself sweetheart.

Come home if you need to. Cry, scream, if you must. I’ll be right here. No matter what happens you are still my daughter and we’ll get through this together

Listen to me, Freya. “Never let anyone convince you that your worth depends on how they treat you.”

Go there and pack your things, you don't belong there. They aren’t worth your tears “Okay mom” I replied and hung up.

Her words gave me a little courage to face Jade and Maren once more. So I made my way back to jades apartment.

With every step i took, memories of Jade and Maren kept flooding my mind with no mercy, tightening around my chest and sinking into my legs like chain i could no longer shake off.