Chapter One
1057 Words
"Celine help! my boyfriend just broke up with me."
Celine Thunwood rushed to the hotel, her best friend's desperate voice ringing in her mind, urging her to hurry and help.
"She's in Room 102," Celine thought as she reached the door. It matched the one her best friend, Mia Taylor had texted her about, and without hesitation, she pushed the door open to comfort her.
But instead of finding Mia, darkness engulfed her as a strong hand grabbed her wrist, pulling her into the room and slamming the door shut behind her.
"Who are you? And where's Mia?" she demanded, but the hand continued dragging her further into the room.
"Relax, and I'll take care of you," a deep, husky voice whispered close to her ear.
Before she could react, she found herself thrown onto the bed, pinned down by a lean, powerful body.
She stifled a cry as a pair of lips, tinged with the flavor of cinnamon, caught hers.
The man's body felt scorching against hers. She felt hopeless and tears welled up in her eyes as she tried to fight back, but unfortunately, she had no choice but to endure his aggressiveness.
Thirty minutes later, Celine stumbled out of the room, looking messy. She felt like she had just lived through a terrible dream, but she still couldn't stop thinking about her friend's dilemma.
As she was about to dial Mia's number, she spotted a cluster of people leaving through the side door. In the light, she immediately recognized the two women among them.
One of them was Mia, her best friend who had called for help earlier, and the other was Celine's stepsister, Janet Thunwood. The two girls walked together with their arms linked, appearing as close friends.
Celine's face was filled with shock and anger when she saw them. "Mia, stop right there!" she shouted, her fists clenched tightly at her sides, feeling a surge of disgust rising within her as she stared at them.
And upon hearing Celine's voice, Mia and Janet both turned to look at her. Celine's expression turned angry, her face pale as she confronted Mia, "Why did you lie to me?!"
"Mia grinned smugly, "Well, don't blame me for your foolishness Celine."
"Did you have fun with that stripper?" Janet also chimed in, teasingly, Her smile was mischievous.
It was at that moment that Celine realized they had both tricked her. Her virginity which she had valued for twenty-two years was now gone because of their twisted enjoyment.
Mia's eyes turned icy as she spat, "Did you really think we were friends, Celine? I've been living in your shadow since we met! I hate you, and I'd love nothing more than to ruin you and that pretty face of yours! You-"
"I have proof to show Dad that you've been selling yourself to men for money. It won't be long until you're kicked out of the house." Janet said as she interrupted Mia, mockery evident on her face.
"You two -" Celine was so angry that she staggered. Her body was torn after the ordeal she had endured, and the combined weight of her friend's betrayal and her sister's cruelty nearly knocked her over.
"Let's go, Mia! We don't want to be associated with garbage, do we?" With her arm linked with Mia's, Janet guided her toward her Ferrari parked in the car park.
Seven days later, in the Thunwood living room, a furious male voice erupted, "You turned to an escort just because I didn't allow you to pursue your ceramic art studies? How could I, James Thunwood, have a daughter capable of such shameless actions?"
"Dad, I didn't—"
"You didn't? But you did, Celine! How could you do something so disgraceful? Have we not provided for you? I can't believe you'd resort to selling yourself to strangers for money! I hope you haven't brought any diseases home. Who knows what my daughter and I could catch because of your actions," the woman, dressed in expensive jewelry and clothes, sneered from her spot on the couch.
"Dad, I swear, I didn't do it. I—" Celine attempted to explain herself.
But James cut her off, glaring. "I don't want to hear it. Get out of here! I won't have a liar, and a slot living in my house. You're not my daughter anymore."
Meanwhile, in the hallway, Janet observed the scene, leaning against the wall with her chin in her hand. Everything was unfolding just as she had planned. Soon, Celine would be kicked out of the house and left to wander like a helpless stray.
In the living room, Celine fell silent, seeing the disappointment in her father's eyes. Without a word, she got up from her seat and walked to her room to pack her things. With each step towards her room, she felt the weight of her father's disappointment pressing down on her shoulders.
She barely reached her room door when Janet blocked her path. With her arms crossed arrogantly, Janet scoffed, "Leave! Don't hang around like a nuisance. This house will never welcome you again."
Celine clenched her fists, glaring at Janet's smug expression.
Noticing Celine's anger, Janet taunted, "What?! Do you want to hit me?" She obstructed Celine's path further and added arrogantly, "Go ahead then."
Without hesitation, Celine slapped Janet hard across the face.
"Ow!" Janet cried out. "She hit me! Mom, dad, Celine hit me!" She yelled as she ran to the living room.
Angelina Brandon rushed to her daughter's side, scolding Celine as she entered the hallway. "How dare you slap my daughter, Celine! What's gotten into you?!"
James looked at the red marks on Janet's cheek, feeling deeply disappointed. "When did my eldest daughter become so defiant?" He wondered.
"Dad, it hurts," Janet sobbed, clinging to her father as if in great pain.
"Get out, Celine!" James shouted down the hallway.
As Celine packed her belongings, memories of happier times with her father flooded her mind, intensifying her sense of loss.
The sound of her father's voice, once warm and reassuring, now filled her with a profound sense of sorrow and regret.
With a heavy heart, she realized that the home she once knew would never be the same again.
"I will never come back here again," she said to herself as she left.
- Writer
