The Unholy Intrusion

Chapter 15: Tangled in the Chaos

Selena stepped into the lavishly decorated venue, the flashing lights and the pulsating beat of the music hitting her like a wave. People were laughing, drinking, and dancing, the energy in the room contagious. She scanned the crowd until her eyes found Miranda, standing by the bar with a group of people. Relief washed over Selena—at least she wouldn’t be alone in the chaos.

"Selena!" Miranda squealed when she spotted her, waving her over. "Come meet everyone!"

As Selena approached, Miranda quickly introduced her to the group. There were a few faces she recognized from previous parties and events but many she didn’t know. Still, everyone was friendly, and the conversation flowed easily, mostly about light topics, gossip, and who was dating who in their social circle.

Selena smiled and nodded along, trying to keep her focus on the present moment. But her mind kept drifting back to the unsettling situation with Mark and the lie they were trapped in. It was like a dark cloud hovering over her, threatening to rain down at any moment.

Trying to shake off the thoughts, she decided it was time to numb the fear, at least for tonight. She waved over a waiter carrying a tray of champagne flutes and grabbed one, sipping it a little too quickly. The bubbles tickled her throat as the alcohol warmed her from the inside. *Maybe if I drink enough,* she thought, *I can forget everything for a while.*

Time passed in a blur of conversation and laughter as she chatted with Miranda’s friends. But every so often, Selena felt the urge to drink more, hoping the alcohol would drown out the knot of anxiety in her stomach. She grabbed another glass of champagne, then another, until the room started to feel a little more bearable.

Miranda leaned over at one point, noticing the amount Selena was drinking. "Hey, are you okay?" she asked, concern evident in her voice. "You seem… different tonight."

Selena forced a smile, waving her hand dismissively. "I’m fine, just need to loosen up. Been dealing with too much stress lately."

"Well, don’t go too crazy," Miranda warned, but Selena could already feel the alcohol taking hold, dulling the sharp edges of her thoughts.

---

**Mark’s POV**

The evening had started as any typical night with the guys. Mark was seated with his closest friends—Kelby Jace Agnelli, Dwight Kaden Lee, and Ivan Drake Valois—at a corner of the upscale club, enjoying drinks and catching up on life. Kelby was talking about his recent trip to Italy, Dwight was bragging about his latest business acquisition, and Ivan was cracking jokes, as usual.

Mark, however, was distracted. His thoughts had been spiraling ever since the meeting with his grandfather. He felt trapped, burdened by the weight of the lie he was living. And although Selena had agreed to continue the charade, he couldn’t shake the feeling that it would all come crashing down soon enough.

Taking a sip of his whiskey, Mark’s eyes drifted around the room, scanning the crowd of partygoers. He wasn’t really paying attention until something—or rather, *someone*—caught his eye.

There, not too far away, was Selena. Sitting with a group of people, drink in hand, laughing and chatting as though she didn’t have a care in the world.

Mark’s brows furrowed in confusion. *What the hell is she doing here?*

His gaze locked onto her, watching as she took another glass from a waiter and downed it quickly. It was clear from the way she was swaying slightly in her seat and the flush on her cheeks that she was getting drunk.

"Yo, Mark," Ivan said, leaning back in his chair, noticing his friend’s distraction. "Who are you staring at?"

Mark didn’t respond right away, his attention still focused on Selena. He watched her laugh, though there was a hollow quality to it that made him uneasy. She was trying to escape something, he realized. She was trying to forget.

Ivan followed Mark’s line of sight and spotted Selena. His eyes widened as he took in her appearance, and he let out a low whistle. "Damn, she’s gorgeous. You interested in her or something?"

Mark snapped his head toward Ivan, his jaw clenching. "That’s my fiancée."

Ivan’s eyes went wide, his mouth dropping open in shock. "Wait, what?" he sputtered. "You? *Engaged?* Since when?"

Kelby and Dwight both turned their heads, equally stunned by the revelation. Mark had never been the type to settle down, let alone get engaged. They hadn’t even known he was seeing someone seriously.

"Long story," Mark muttered, not wanting to get into the details, especially not with Selena sitting just a few feet away.

Ivan looked like he was about to ask a thousand questions, but Mark didn’t give him the chance. He stood up abruptly, setting his drink down on the table. "I need to check on her."

As Mark made his way toward Selena, he couldn’t help but feel a mixture of frustration and concern. Why was she here? Why was she drinking so much? Did she think this would solve anything?

When he reached her, Selena was tipping back yet another glass of champagne. He placed a firm hand on her shoulder, startling her.

"Selena," he said, his voice low but commanding.

She blinked up at him, her eyes unfocused and glassy from the alcohol. "Mark?" she slurred, her brows knitting together in confusion. "What are you doing here?"

"I could ask you the same thing," he replied, his tone clipped. "You’re drunk."

Selena tried to wave him off, giggling as she did. "I’m just… having fun. You know, blowing off steam. I deserve it after everything, right?"

Mark frowned, his patience thinning. "You need to stop drinking. Now."

But Selena wasn’t listening. She stood up from her seat, wobbling slightly as she attempted to steady herself. "Why do you care?" she asked, her voice rising. "You don’t get to control me, Mark. I’m not your possession."

Mark clenched his jaw, his frustration boiling over. "That’s not what this is about," he said through gritted teeth. "You’re making a scene, and you’re going to regret this when you sober up."

"I don’t care!" Selena shot back, her voice loud enough to draw the attention of a few nearby guests. "I just want to forget, okay? I want to forget about you, and your grandfather, and all of this mess!"

Mark’s eyes darkened, his frustration giving way to something colder, more dangerous. He grabbed her wrist, not roughly but firmly enough to get her attention. "We’re leaving. Now."

"No!" Selena protested, trying to pull away from him, but her inebriated state made her attempts feeble.

Without another word, Mark leaned down and whispered harshly in her ear, "If you don’t walk out of here with me right now, I’ll carry you out. Your choice."

Selena froze, her drunken bravado faltering under the weight of his threat. She knew he wasn’t bluffing. She might have been drunk, but she wasn’t stupid. With a defeated sigh, she let him guide her out of the venue, her head spinning from the alcohol and the overwhelming confrontation.

As they reached the exit, Mark shot a quick glance back at his friends, who were watching the whole scene with a mixture of curiosity and shock. He knew they’d have questions later, but right now, getting Selena out of here was his only priority.

Once outside, the cool night air hit Selena like a slap to the face, helping to clear some of the fog in her mind. She swayed slightly on her feet, and Mark was quick to steady her, his arm slipping around her waist as he led her toward his car.

"I hate you," Selena muttered, her voice thick with emotion.

Mark didn’t respond. He knew she didn’t mean it. At least, not entirely. But the truth was, he hated this situation just as much as she did.

And yet, neither of them could escape it.