Marked by the Billionaire Vampire

CHAPTER 2

Cassandra Williams

My head throbbed like it was splitting open, so I forced myself to open my eyes. I shut them again immediately when the heat of the sun hit my face.

“Good. You’re finally awake.”

I blinked hard and looked toward the voice.

My eyes widened when I saw a familiar man—but no matter how hard I searched my mind, I couldn’t remember who he was or how I knew him.

“W-why am I here?” I asked, nervous.

“Why don’t you ask yourself why you walked into my room?” he shot back coldly.

Only then did it hit me—I wasn’t in the room my manager and I rented.

Shit.

“I need to leave!” I said in a rush, but I froze when I suddenly felt cold.

I looked down at myself under the comforter. My eyes widened in horror as I realized I was naked—then memories from last night began flooding back.

“s**t… s**t… s**t… did I just lose my virginity?” I whispered.

“Hahaha…”

I looked at the man—also half-naked—standing in front of me. He rose and walked slowly closer, his Adonis-like body completely on display.

“D-don’t come any closer!” I snapped, panicking as I wrapped the comforter tighter around myself. “Tell me the truth—did something happen between us?”

He only smirked, running his fingers through his messy hair. “You tell me,” he said with an infuriating grin—then turned his back and walked out of the room.

My mouth fell open. He just left me there, clueless and spiraling.

What kind of man is that?

I took a deep breath, hugged the blanket to my body, then reached for the dress I wore last night—along with my undergarments, neatly folded on the side table.

He doesn’t look like the wild type… I thought when I saw my clothes weren’t torn or ruined.

Idiot… and you’re still thinking about that, Cassandra? I scolded myself, shaking my head as I walked toward a door inside the room. It was probably the bathroom—and I was right.

I dropped the comforter and rushed in.

Weird… why is there no mirror? I wondered, scanning the spacious bathroom.

I shook it off and washed my face. I brushed my teeth using a disposable toothbrush I found, then tied my hair into a messy bun and got dressed. When I was done, I inhaled deeply, closed my eyes, and checked my body.

They said it would hurt if something happened… but I didn’t feel any pain at all, and I actually smiled.

Confirmed. Nothing happened between me and that stranger.

Then my smile vanished as I remembered he took my first kiss.

Damn it. I was saving that, I muttered.

Yes—I really was saving my first kiss. Even as an stripper and part time actress, I managed to protect it by using a double and refusing special service. Whoever was available as my double took the kissing scenes with my male co-stars.

I shook my head and lightly patted both my cheeks.

And here I am telling stories to myself when I don’t even know how I’m going to get back to our room without being seen…

I stopped tapping my cheeks, left the bathroom, and walked toward the door where the man had gone earlier. I stepped out and wandered a little—until a delicious smell reached me.

Hungry and half-dazed, I followed it without thinking. My feet led me into a small, messy kitchen. There, I saw the man wearing an apron, stirring something.

“Perfect timing,” he said without turning around. “Eat before you leave.”

Because I really was hungry, I sat down at the table. He placed the food in front of me—whatever he’d been cooking earlier.

“Eat. It’s not poisoned,” he said coldly, then sat and started eating.

So I ate too. I had no choice—and honestly, it looked good.

“This is your phone,” he added, tossing something at me. “It shut down last night because someone kept calling.”

I almost failed to catch it and nearly dropped it into my food. Good thing my reflexes were fast. I took a deep breath and turned it on.

My eyes widened.

267 missed calls. 158 messages.

I scrolled through the calls—almost all from my manager. But then I saw three missed calls from Nathan.

Only then did I realize I hadn’t changed his name in my contacts yet.

Next, I opened my messages. Nathan’s texts stood out immediately:

Did you get home?

Hey, I know you’re mad at me but…

I’m sorry.

Three messages in a row—enough to ruin my mood. I lost my appetite and stood up.

Manager must be worried sick. I didn’t want her stressing—she was already older.

“I’m leaving now, sir—whoever you are. Thank you… for not taking advantage of me last night,” I said sincerely, smiling sweetly. I bowed.

“Thank you so much,” I repeated, backing away—then remembered something.

“What’s your name, Mr. Stranger?” I asked with a small grin.

He smirked. “Aurelios. I’m Aurelios.”

I nodded, then turned to leave, already thinking of how to get back without anyone noticing.

But just as I reached the door, my phone rang—Manager.

I answered immediately.

“Oh God, Cassandra! Where are you?!” Manager demanded, angry and terrified.

“Calm down, Manager. I just ended up in the wrong room, but I’m safe. Nothing happened to me,” I said gently.

“You think I can calm down when reporters are swarming me? Don’t go to our hotel room. I’m inside right now and they’re crowding outside because they got news that you slept in the same room as Dave.”

My grip tightened around the phone.

“Hello? Hello, Cassandra?” she repeated, pulling me back to the moment.

“This is Tricia’s doing,” I said quickly. “Are you okay there, Manager? Why would the hotel let this happen?”

“I’ll explain later. Wherever you are—leave the hotel and go home to the mansion. I’ll follow,” she ordered, then ended the call.

“Is something wrong?”

I jumped when someone spoke from behind me.

“N-no. I-I’m leaving,” I stammered, panic rising, and hurried out.

I checked the hallway—empty. I avoided the elevator; I’d run into too many people there, and I might even cross paths with reporters. Since I was on a high floor, I carefully ran down the emergency stairs, exhausted by the time I reached the exit.

I smiled when I saw the door that led to the hotel parking lot.

But the moment I pushed it open, bright camera flashes exploded in my face. I covered my eyes at once. Thank God they were still a little far.

Shit. I didn’t think they’d wait for me here.

“CASSANDRA’S HERE!” a cameraman shouted.

I saw a crowd of reporters charging toward me.

Shit.

Before they could reach me, a car roared in and stopped right in front of me, blocking them.

“Get in,” the driver said coldly.

I smiled, quickly threw my bag into the car, opened the door, and slipped inside. I buckled my seatbelt immediately.

It’s fine if it becomes an issue—just not with Dave, I thought.

“This is the second time, Ms. Stranger,” he said in the same cold tone.

“I’ll make it up to you. Just drive, please,” I murmured.

Even with sunglasses on, I could feel his icy gaze on me.

The car sped off, and only then did I realize we were in a convertible—no roof.

Great.

“You know,” I said, rubbing my temple as we hit the highway, “I don’t know if you helped me… or pushed my career closer to a cliff.”

The sun was hot on my face, and people in other cars could see me clearly.

“Here. Wear this,” he said arrogantly while driving. “Actually, I wasn’t planning to help you. It just turns out you needed me again—so I insisted.”

I rolled my eyes. So arrogant.

“You’re arrogant,” I said, then added honestly, “but… thank you.”

He didn’t respond—just gave a small nod.

“Drop me off here,” I told him, giving my mansion’s address.

Luckily, he didn’t complain. He just kept driving.

I smiled when we entered the forest road. Yes—my mansion was hidden in the woods. I didn’t want the media to find it. I wanted privacy especially that fetish is just so weird, which is being a stripper.

When we arrived, I stepped out and hesitated.

“Do you want to come in?” I asked shyly.

He only shook his head and drove away.

I pouted as I walked toward the gate.

So ignorant.

Hunter Aurelios Blood

After dropping the woman off, I slammed the accelerator and drove straight to Drei’s bar.

Drew—his brother—was going to answer to me.

I got there fast. Even though it was morning, they let me in. Of course they did—they knew me here.

“Yo, bro, what brings you here?” Drei asked with a grin.

“Where’s Drew?” I demanded coldly.

He smirked and stood up. Without saying anything, he mixed a drink and handed it to me.

“Calm down. How was your night?” Drei asked, still smiling.

I glared at him. “Was that your doing?” I asked tightly.

He burst out laughing.

“You don’t like it? I heard you were staying at the hotel where that Black Night party for celebrities was held. Did you catch yourself a pretty one?” he teased.

The moment I was sure he was responsible; I was on him in less than a second—my hand gripping the collar of his polo.

“Do you have any idea what you did? Because of you, humans almost found out about us,” I said coldly, and I felt my eyes starting to turn red.

“Okay, sorry, bro! Let go—I can’t breathe! I’ll die if you keep choking me!” he laughed even while struggling.

“I’ll kill you if you ever pull that again,” I warned, then shoved him away.

He fixed his shirt and turned back to me, smiling like I hadn’t just nearly strangled him.

“So… who’s the unlucky girl?” he asked, nosy as ever.

I just shook my head. “Last night felt like hell. I was fighting the heat the whole time,” I muttered.

He laughed harder and even patted my back.

“Why fight it? You could’ve done what you wanted and then erased her memory afterward,” he said, amused.

“I was going to,” I admitted, “but I realized she looked familiar. And I was right. This morning I saw her face clearly—she’s the girl I saved thirteen years ago.”

“Woah. Really? s**t… that sounds like destiny!” he said, grinning.

I shot him a deadly look.

“Destiny my ass. I’m waiting for my mate to reincarnate, so stop acting like Cupid,” I snapped.

He just kept laughing and poured me another shot. I stared at it suspiciously.

“Don’t worry. I’m still scared you’ll kill me. I haven’t even spread my bloodline yet,” he joked.

I could only shake my head.

Honestly… he’s always been a headache.