MY IDEAL MARRIAGE

Chapter Two: The Unexpected Encounter

Something was terribly wrong. The floor beneath Bella’s feet swayed like waves beneath a storm.

“Sis…” Sarah’s voice sounded distant. “Are you okay?”

Bella forced a smile. “Yeah… I just feel a little dizzy.”

“Maybe it’s the smell of the smoke,” Sarah said reassuringly.

Bella nodded weakly. “How much longer are we staying?”

Sarah laughed. “Come on, Sis. It’s only twelve. We still have two more hours. It’s the weekend. The party is only getting started.”

Bella sighed. “Fine.”

The sisters returned to the VIP section. The music pounded through the walls, and the smell of smoke lingered in the air. Bella’s heartbeat quickened as heat spread through her body.

She frowned. What is this feeling? Why am I feeling this way?

***

“Come on, Ethan,” Mayor complained. “Your whole life can’t possibly be about work.”

Ethan didn’t even look up from his phone. “I have work tomorrow.”

Mayor rolled his eyes. “But it’s the weekend.”

“Mum has worked hard her whole life. Don’t tell me you want to become exactly like her.”

Ethan shot him a sharp look. “I am really not in the mood to deal with you tonight.”

“Please?” Mayor clasped his hands dramatically. “If you come with me tonight, I promise I’ll work harder at the company from Monday.”

Ethan raised an eyebrow. “You’ve made that promise before.”

“This time, I mean it.”

Ethan let out a tired sigh. “Fine. Just tonight.”

Saying no to Mayor was a waste of time. He would probably whine until Ethan gave in anyway. A grin spread across Mayor’s face. “That’s my brother.”

An hour later, their car pulled up outside 69 Avenue. Mayor led Ethan into the exclusive VIP lounge, where music, laughter, and flashing lights filled the room.

After a while, Ethan rubbed the back of his neck. “I’m leaving.”

Mayor quickly stopped him. “Wait. I have a surprise for you.”

“Upstairs.”

He led Ethan upstairs and opened the door to one of the private suites. “Go inside and help yourself to the champagne. I’ll be back in a minute.”

Ethan sighed. He wasn’t in the mood for any of Mayor’s games, but he stepped inside the room and closed the door behind him.

Ethan quietly sipped his champagne, already thinking about the amount of work he would give Mayor at the company the following day.

***

Meanwhile, Bella felt strangely warm. She didn’t understand what was happening to her.

Maybe something is wrong with me.

She slowly stood, hoping to find the bathroom. As she walked down the passage, a bright light caught her attention.

“This is beautiful,” she murmured.

She continued down the passage and noticed a door.

Just then, the door swung open with a loud bang.

A man stood inside.

He was over six feet tall and appeared to be in his late twenties. Dressed in a perfectly tailored suit, he carried himself with quiet confidence.

He turned, and Bella’s eyes met his.

His striking grey eyes immediately caught Bella’s attention.

Who is this man?

“Mayor,” he said with a sigh. “I don’t think I’m ready for this.”

He stopped when he noticed Bella. Their eyes met, and his brows knitted together.

“Who are you?”

Bella tried to answer, but her words came out as little more than a whisper. “The… toilet…”

Before Ethan could understand what she meant, Bella staggered forward. She lost her balance, and without thinking, Ethan caught her before she hit the floor.

“Miss, are you okay?”

Bella looked up at him. Her mind felt hazy, and she could barely focus. A faint scent of ginger and garlic lingered around him, reminding her of freshly baked gingerbread, her favorite childhood treat. Something about the familiar smell stirred a distant memory, and for reasons she couldn’t explain, she found it comforting.

“Miss,” Ethan called again. “Can you hear me?”

Bella’s vision blurred, and the room spun around her. Overwhelmed by the heat coursing through her body, she leaned toward him.

Confused, she stared into his grey eyes, which seemed to offer a strange sense of comfort. In the confusion, their lips briefly brushed.

For a moment, they both froze.

Ethan immediately stepped back, surprised. “Miss…”

But Bella took another unsteady step forward. She didn’t understand what was happening to her. Her heart pounded wildly against her chest, and every part of her body felt unbearably hot. The familiar scent surrounding the man was strangely comforting, and she found herself drawn toward it without knowing why.

What’s wrong with me?

Before Ethan could react, Bella stumbled into him. He caught her by the shoulders to stop her from falling.

“Miss, you’re burning up,” he said, concern replacing his surprise. “Are you sick?”

Bella barely heard him. Her vision blurred, and her thoughts began slipping away. Acting completely out of character, she reached up, and her lips briefly brushed his again.

Ethan froze. He immediately stepped back, stunned.

“What are you doing?”

Bella looked at him with unfocused eyes. She wasn’t herself.

“I… I don’t feel right…”

Her breathing became uneven. She clutched at the zipper of her dress, desperate to cool down.

Her white floral-printed gown slipped from her shoulders, and Ethan immediately realized that the zipper had come completely undone. He quickly caught the fabric and pulled it back over her, making sure she was covered.

“What’s happening to you?” he muttered.

Bella swayed against him, barely able to remain standing. Before Ethan could comprehend what had happened, she wrapped her arms tightly around him.

“Toilet,” she muttered.

Ethan frowned. Maybe she needed to cool down.

“She needs to cool down,” he said to himself.

He scooped her up and carried her toward the bathroom. This night was not happening the way he had planned.

He carefully lowered her into the bathtub and turned on the water. Bella kept her eyes on him as the cool water began to calm her.

Ethan studied her face. She had soft, delicate features, and her deep brown eyes met his through the haze clouding her mind. Her lips were slightly parted, and faint marks were visible on her skin.

He frowned.

“Who is this cute, innocent lady?” he muttered to himself.

His clothes were already soaked from trying to help the stranger cool down. He had no idea where she had come from or how she had ended up in his private suite.

Ethan looked at her again, completely bewildered. “Who let this little kitten loose?”