CHAPTER 5
1477 Words
Harmony's Pov
Three days later, I stood outside the Vestige Hotel, checking my watch. The time was just right.
I stepped out of the car, pulling my coat tighter around me. Paul always played the good guy in front of the cameras. I knew the real him. Tonight, I was going to show the world who he really was.
My phone buzzed with a message: “Everything’s set.”
I typed back, “Proceed.”
Room 410 was waiting on the third floor. My heart hammered as I took the elevator up.
At the door, I steadied my breath and opened it slowly, phone ready to record.
But the scene inside wasn’t what I expected.
The model lay unconscious, tied to the bed. Paul stood beside her, calm, watching me.
I froze.
A sudden movement behind me.
Before I could turn, someone grabbed me and pulled me inside.
The door slammed shut.
I gasped as my back hit the door, and a tall figure pressed close, trapping me with cold eyes staring down at me.
"Paul."
“You’re brave, trying to trick me,” he said with a smile.
I didn’t expect him to see through the model’s plan and use it against her to catch me. I smiled a little. “It’s been Seven Years, and you got a lot smarter.”
He looked at me, his eyes soft but hard to read. “You’re smart too. I knew it was you who leaked the story about that new model. You like to work behind the scenes.”
I crossed my arms and smiled back. “If you knew, why act like you didn’t?”
He shrugged. “I had to play along to get you out. My plan worked well.”
I laughed. “I didn’t expect that.”
I tried to step back, but he didn’t move. He looked at me with a deep stare.
“Seven Years,” he said quietly. “You’ve been gone for Seven Years. I told myself I didn’t care, but you left a mark on me.”
I was surprised. What did he mean?
Then he reached out and touched my cheek gently. It made me feel things I didn’t want.
Seven Years ago, he wanted me gone. He thought he loved Terra. I was the good wife he didn’t see.
Before we married, Terra fooled him. After, she showed her true colors—selfish and mean, using her family name badly. Paul felt sorry later. He realized how kind I was.
He suffered quietly, feeling guilty. When he heard I’d come to the Bonely event, he was very excited, like his frozen heart was melting.
But now, his touch made me want to pull away.
I remembered how cold he became—how he took the Austin family’s money, left me, and betrayed me.
I felt anger rise inside.
“Take your dirty hand off me,” I said, moving away.
He looked angry. “You were mine once.”
I laughed bitterly. “We were married three days. You never touched me. I was never yours.”
He looked hurt. “What do you mean?”
I stood firm. “We’re over. I’m a mother now—damaged. You don’t want me.”
I pushed him, but he was stronger.
His eyes got dark. “So what if you’re damaged? You call me dirty, but I don’t care about your past. Even if you had ten kids, I’d still want you if I wanted you.”
Before I could say anything, he kissed me. I was so angry. I hated him more than ever.
Before, I loved him a lot, but he didn’t even look at me. Now, when I hated him, he acted like he cared. That made me sick.
“Go away!” I pushed him hard, not wanting him to touch me.
In my anger, I bit his wrist. He gasped and let go.
I tried to run, but my legs felt weak.
What was happening?
I looked at myself and felt strange.
“Paul, what did you do to me?”
He smiled. “Love potion. Didn’t you smell the sweet smell when you came in?”
Love potion? No wonder the room smelled weird.
So he tricked me from the start.
He walked closer, still smiling.
“Did you think only you could trick people? I told you, I still love you. I want you.”
He leaned in like he wanted to kiss me. I moved back fast.
What a creep!
I kicked him hard in the crotch.
He screamed and bent over in pain.
That kick really hurt him.
“Paul, do you think you deserve me now? Don’t think your tricks will win. Try this again, and I’ll make sure you regret it.”
I turned and ran.
“Harmony!” he shouted, but he couldn’t move well.
I knew he would catch me soon. My body felt weak.
When I heard him yell, I got scared. I saw a door slightly open and ran inside.
The door closed behind me. I heard water running. Someone was taking a shower.
I just wanted to hide for a bit, then leave.
Suddenly, the bathroom door opened.
A tall man came out. His hair was wet, and he wore only a towel around his waist.
Neither of us expected to see the other like that.
His eyes got big. “It’s you?”
I froze. “It’s you?”
Old enemies always meet in strange places.
He sneered. “You failed last time. Now you come here?”
I smiled coldly. “Who do you think you are? Why would I hide in your room? Do you think you’re that special? Sorry, I’m not interested.”
He looked down on me like I was nothing. What right did he have to treat me like that?
“Get out!” Abel pointed at the door, like he wanted me gone right now.
Paul was still outside. I wasn’t going to leave that easily.
“Give me three minutes, then I’ll leave,” I said.
He shook his head. “Not even one second.”
I ignored him, acting like I didn’t hear.
He walked over and picked me up, like he was going to throw me out.
Then, there was a loud noise outside and someone knocked on the door.
Abel stopped and asked coldly, “Who is it?”
“Hotel inspection!” came the voice.
I knew that voice well.
I didn’t want to face Abel, so I had no choice but to back down.
“Please, don’t let him find me!” I begged Abel.
“Why would I help you?” he said coldly.
“Think of it as a favor. If you help me now, I promise I’ll disappear and never bother you again.”
Abel paused but didn’t say anything.
That was my chance. Feeling weak from the drug, I slipped into the bathroom to hide.
The drug was hitting me hard. The room spun, and my vision blurred.
Abel opened the door, but it wasn’t a hotel worker—it was his brother-in-law.
“Paul?” I heard Abel say.
Paul looked shocked when he saw Abel.
“Why are you here, second brother?”
“Shouldn’t I ask you the same? I just booked this room. What are you doing here?”
Paul didn’t want to say he was meeting a woman, so he quickly shook his head.
“Oh, wrong room. Sorry for bothering you.”
Abel watched him leave, but something felt off.
Paul looked nervous and panicked, which was strange.
I wondered if Paul was hiding something from Terra.
Then I heard running water from the bathroom.
Abel came in and saw me standing under the shower, pouring cold water over myself.
“What are you doing?” he asked.
He thought I was crazy and tried to stop me.
I didn’t have a choice. The love potion was burning inside me like fire.
I didn’t want to lose my mind, so I thought cold water might help.
But the potion was too strong. If I didn’t find a man to ease the pain, it would only get worse.
The water was freezing, and I might catch a cold, so Abel pulled me away.
My body was weak, and I collapsed in his arms.
He held me like a wet chicken and looked disgusted.
“What’s wrong with you?” he asked.
My eyes were blurry, but I didn’t care.
My mind was filled with strange thoughts.
My mouth was dry. Seeing Abel’s strong abs, I swallowed hard.
He clearly worked out a lot. His body was perfect.
“Stop staring like that! Or I’ll throw you out!” he warned.
But I didn’t listen. I had lost all control.
- Writer
