Episode Two
1045 Words
Amelia’s POV
I woke up slowly, my body heavy and aching in ways I had never felt before. Soft morning light filtered through the heavy curtains of the luxurious suite, casting a warm glow over the tangled white sheets. For a few blissful seconds, I didn’t remember where I was. Then it all came rushing back — the party, the champagne, the shattered vase, the tall handsome stranger with intense gray eyes, and the hours of raw passion that followed.
My heart stuttered. I sat up carefully, clutching the sheet to my chest. He was gone. The spot beside me was empty, though the pillow still held the faint imprint of his head. On the nightstand, I saw a glass of water, some painkillers, and a neatly folded note.
I reached for it with trembling fingers and unfolded the paper.
“Rest as long as you need. I’ll be back soon. Julian”
Just that. No last name. No phone number. No long explanation. My cheeks burned with embarrassment as memories flooded in. I hadn’t even known his full name during the night. I had given myself completely to a stranger named Julian, and now I was waking up alone in his hotel suite. The slight buzz from the champagne had lowered my defenses, but I couldn’t lie to myself — I had wanted him just as badly once things started.
I slipped out of bed and quickly gathered my clothes, which were scattered across the floor. My navy-blue dress was badly wrinkled. When I caught my reflection in the mirror, I noticed faint red marks on my neck and collarbone — hickeys and light bite marks. Evidence of everything we had done. I pulled my hair down to cover them as best as I could and dressed hurriedly. I couldn’t stay here any longer. I needed to get home before my family noticed how long I had been missing.
The cab ride back to Bennett Estate felt endless. I stared out the window, my mind replaying every touch, every kiss, every moan. By the time the familiar grand Bennett house came into view, shame and anxiety had twisted tightly in my stomach.
I tried to sneak in through the side entrance, hoping to reach my room unnoticed, but luck was never on my side.
“Amelia Rose Bennett!” Eleanor’s sharp voice sliced through the foyer the moment the door clicked shut. “Get in here right now!”
My stomach dropped. I smoothed my dress and walked into the living room with my head slightly lowered. Eleanor stood near the fireplace with her arms crossed, Harold sat in his favorite armchair scrolling through his tablet, and Victoria lounged on the sofa in her silk robe, still glowing from last night’s success.
“Where were you?” Eleanor demanded, her eyes narrowing as she looked me up and down. “You disappeared from your sister’s party without telling anyone. Do you have any idea how that made us look?”
“I… I wasn’t feeling well,” I murmured, keeping my eyes down. “I’m sorry.”
Victoria stood up slowly, a cruel smirk forming on her lips. She stepped closer and suddenly yanked the collar of my dress aside before I could stop her. “What the hell is that on your neck?” Her voice rose with exaggerated shock and disgust. “Oh my God, are those hickeys? Look at her, Mother! She’s covered in them!”
I flinched and tried to pull away, but Victoria grabbed my arm tightly, holding me in place. “You sneaky little slut! You disappeared during my birthday party and come back looking like you spent the night getting f****d by some random guy? How desperate are you?”
Eleanor moved forward, inspecting the marks on my neck and collarbone with visible revulsion. “After everything we’ve sacrificed for you, this is how you behave? Sneaking off to spread your legs while your sister is celebrating? Have you no shame whatsoever?”
Tears stung my eyes. I wanted the floor to swallow me whole. “It wasn’t planned… something just happened.”
Victoria laughed coldly, not letting go of my arm. “Something just happened? Please. You probably threw yourself at the first man who looked your way. Who was he? Some waiter? A random drunk guy who felt sorry for my pathetic stepsister? You’re such an embarrassment to this family.”
Harold finally looked up from his tablet, his expression filled with disappointment. “Amelia, what do you have to say for yourself? This family has a reputation to uphold. Victoria was the star of the evening, and you chose to ruin it by acting like a w***e and disappearing.”
The lecture went on for what felt like forever. Eleanor listed all the ways I had disappointed them since my mother died. Victoria kept throwing in vicious jabs, mocking my “cheap hookup” and saying I probably smelled like s*x when I walked in. Harold sided with them completely, telling me I was grounded indefinitely and would handle extra household chores for the next month to “earn back some respect.”
I finally managed to escape upstairs to my small bedroom, locked the door, and collapsed onto my bed. Tears streamed down my face as I curled into a ball. The memory of Julian’s strong arms around me, the way he had made me feel desired and safe, now felt like a distant dream crushed under the weight of my family’s cruelty.
I pulled out the note again and stared at his handwriting. Julian. That was all I knew about him. Part of me wanted to tear the paper into pieces and forget last night ever happened. Another small, secret part of me couldn’t stop remembering how alive I had felt with him.
Downstairs, I could still hear Victoria’s mocking laughter and Eleanor’s sharp voice planning how to “deal with my behavior.” The toxic home I had endured for years felt even heavier now. I touched the marks on my neck gently, a confusing mix of shame, warmth, and longing filling my chest.
I had no idea who the man named Julian was. I think it’s all for the best
- Writer
