The Husband I Borrowed For Christmas

Chapter 1; The Betrayal In five more days, it's Christmas. The most joyous and festive day of each year for everyone, but for Mary it was more; it was the day she finally got to have a lifelong dream. A holiday wedding at a beach, getting married to the love of her life, Mason Delgado. All her life everyone wanted one thing or the other; in college girls got closer to her just to have a taste of her influence, and boys got closer to her because they wanted a job at C.W. Couture once they graduated. Everyone saw her as a shortcut to success, but Mason was different; he was the quiet and reserved type and her only seatmate and also the heir to a business empire. Soon they became friends, then lovers. From lovers, they became two engaged people who are going to get married on Christmas Day, and honestly, she couldn't wait to walk down the aisle hand in hand with Mason. "Ma'am, ma'am." Mary was pulled out of her thoughts by a female attendant who has been talking to her. "Sorry, I didn't hear you," she said with an apologetic smile. "What were you saying?" "I was saying we engraved the wedding band with your initials just as you requested," the attendant said, opening a ring box revealing two sparkling diamond rings. "Thanks," Mary replied, smiling ear to ear. "The receipt, warranty card, and raffle ticket are inside," the attendant said, packaging the ring. Mary collected the package and started waltzing out of the building. "Feel free to reach out to us if you feel dissatisfied in any way," the attendant called after her. Mary turned and gave her a reassuring smile as she brought out her phone, texting Manson. ★ I'm already on my way to the restaurant. Are you there already? ★ She waited for some seconds; no reply, and she texted again. ★ I already got our wedding ring; I can't wait to show it to you. ★ She got into the Uber waiting for her; soon the car stopped in front of a five-star restaurant, and Mary got down, walking into the restaurant. She walked to their reserved table, her heels clicking softly against the restaurant's polished floor. The table was empty; she looked around, expecting to see Mason waving at her from somewhere—but nothing, not a sign of him. She let out a quiet sigh as she stopped a passing waitress. "Excuse me... Has anyone arrived for this reservation?" The waitress thought for a moment, "Yes, a man did. He said he was stepping away to the restroom." Mary thanked her and sat down. Twenty minutes passed... still no sign of Mason. She brought out her phone and texted him. ★ Where are you? ★ No reply; a knot of worry twisted in her stomach. She stood; she couldn't sit there any longer. "Could you point me to the men's restroom?" She asked a waiter. He gave directions, and Mary followed the hallway, her heart hammered in her chest as she searched the restrooms. A loud moan echoed through the hall; Mary almost ignored it, but then a familiar grunt followed. She walked closer to the door. There was a small pull in her chest, a tiny voice that whispered this was a bad idea. But when her mind was fixed on something, it was nearly impossible to stop her. Mary raised a hand to knock, then she heard it loud and clear just before her hand could touch the door. Moans. Grunts. Skin slapping skin. Something cracked below her ribs, shattering something that made her head spin. That can't be right. Mary shakes it off. She checked the room; it was the last room she hadn't checked. Maybe it was her ears deceiving her. But still, in the depths of herself, she wanted to open this door. The male voice sounded too familiar for her liking. The other rooms were empty, and only this room had someone... No people in it. If she was about to intrude on someone privacy, then she might as well act like she was looking for the female restroom. No. This isn't right; she should leave. Mason can't be there. He can't be. Then came a scream behind the door. "Oh yes, Mas. Harder, baby, don't stop." Mary pushed the door open, and right before her was Mason's secretary, Lucia, on all fours with Mason—the man she had loved for eight years—pounding into her from behind. "Ugh, Lucia, you're so tight," he said, holding her ass so tight his fingers almost dug in. His other hand gripped her hair so tightly as if wanting to rip it off. Mary couldn't think, couldn't speak, and could feel. This was the type of betrayal that would send every cell in her into a stupor before finally burning into flames. She felt it in every organ, every blood cell that ran through her veins, her heart, and her soul. Mason and Lucia groaned in o****m as they disengaged from their ongoing kiss. "I think we got an audience," Lucia said. Mason glanced at the door, and gradually all color drained from his face. "Mary?" Finally Mary could feel her feet as she stumbled away from the door. Her heels thudded against the floor, breath ragged as tears wouldn't stop running down her cheeks. After everything, how did eight years of relationship end? The air didn't feel good; everything felt hot, but at least they filled her lungs again. Mason held her. "Mary," She yanked them off. "Mary, I can explain." He held her hand again; she spun and slapped him across the face. His face whipped to the side; Mary might have heard a gasp, but she didn't care. "How could you do this, Mas? "How could you?" she snapped and slammed both palms on his chest. Mason's lips quivered as if he were too afraid to speak. "Mary... You were taking too long. I..." He ran his hand through his hair. "I was in the mood, so I decided to waste time." Mary scoffed in amusement. "And this is your version of wasting time," she gestured towards him and Lucia. "Look, Mary... It's not what..." Mary silenced him with a gesture of her hand. "Save your explanation for yourself." She stormed off towards their reserve table with Mason running after her, calling her name. Mary grabbed her bag and was about to leave when Mason grabbed her hand and instantly got on his knees. This gained the attention of other customers in the restaurant. "Mary, please listen to me," Mason pleaded, holding onto her hand like his lifeline. Mary looked around, not caring if people were already filming them; this might as well ruin her modeling career. She grabbed a drink from a nearby table and splashed it on Mason. Gasps filled the restaurant as everyone muttered under their breaths. Mary dropped the cup to the ground, shattering it to pieces. "f**k off," she spat, yanking her hand from Mason and storming out of the restaurant. With a heavy heart, Mary got to the nearest bar. Bottle after bottle she drowned in its depth, with Emma, her cousin, sympathizing with her. With the help of Emma, Mary stumbled into the car and eventually collapsed in a hotel room Emma had prepared. When she woke up still intoxicated, she found herself alone, Emma gone. "Emma?" She slurred, staggering out of her room and going wherever her feet took her. ---- The next morning, Mary woke up with a throbbing head, her eyes meeting the strange luxurious room. The only memory she had was of Mason's betrayal and Emma's help. "Ouch," she winced at the pain in her head as she tried to get up. The quilt slipped, and her exposed breast bounced out. She gasped and quickly covered up with a frown, realizing she was naked. "Did Emma undress me?" She mumbled and heard the sound of running water, indicating someone else was in the room. She spotted some clothes on the couch and went to check, her eyes almost popping out of their sockets upon seeing they were a man's own. "Yes... Baby, Harder… f**k me... Yes." Her hand flew to her mouth as her words echoed in her head. She ended up sleeping with a strange man! The term 'strange man' could mean anything. An old man, a crippled man, or worse, an infected man. "Gosh, I'm finished," she mumbled, as her mind pondered on what she had done. The bathroom door opened, and he stepped out…