A Deal With The Night Stranger

Chapter 2

Wait for me to come back.

I stared at the note, my fingers tightening around the thin piece of paper. A laugh bubbled up my throat—sharp, bitter. Was he serious? That was nothing more than a one-night stand. A fleeting moment. A mistake I wasn’t supposed to enjoy as much as I did.

And yet…

A strange warmth curled in my stomach, an aftershock of last night’s pleasure. The memory of his hands, his mouth, the way he had ruined me in the best possible way—it all flashed through my mind so vividly that I had to shake my head, forcing the thoughts away.

It didn’t matter.

I had bigger problems to deal with.

With a sigh, I reached for my bag, only to find it pathetically light. A quick check confirmed my worst suspicion—I was broke. No cash, no cards, just a few pathetic coins at the bottom of my purse.

I closed my eyes for a brief moment, heat rising to my cheeks in sheer embarrassment.

Well, this was humiliating.

Glancing at the empty bed, I scowled before tossing the few coins onto the mattress. As if that would make up for my lack of dignity. Without giving myself another second to overthink, I pulled on my clothes and left the hotel room without looking back.

The morning air was crisp, the scent of coffee and freshly baked bread wafting from a café nearby. I inhaled deeply, letting it ground me as I walked toward the main street. My body was sore in places I hadn’t even realized could ache, but I ignored it, refusing to let myself dwell on last night any longer.

The man—whoever he was—had been good. Unfairly good.

But the most important thing? He had used protection.

No regrets. No complications. Just one night.

I had more pressing matters on my mind.

Like the two people who had betrayed me.

My steps faltered as their names echoed in my mind—Hailey and Drake. My stepsister. My fiancé. Two people who should have been my safe haven, my family. Instead, they had burned me in the cruelest way possible.

I had walked in on them—skin against skin, limbs tangled, gasps of pleasure filling the space that should have belonged to me. My heart had stopped. My stomach had twisted violently. It felt like something inside me had shattered beyond repair.

I had wanted to storm in, to scream, to rip the covers off them and let my rage consume every inch of that goddamn room.

But I hadn’t.

Because I knew how this would play out.

My father had always treated Hailey like she was spun from gold, while I had been nothing more than a shadow, an inconvenience. If I went to him, if I demanded justice, I knew exactly what would happen. He wouldn’t punish her—he would punish me.

So I did the only thing I could do.

I walked away, but I made a vow.

Breaking off the engagement wasn’t enough. That was too easy. They needed to feel it—humiliation, betrayal, the suffocating weight of being tossed aside.

Last night, I had drowned my fury in alcohol, pouring each drop over the fire inside me like gasoline. I had needed an escape, something—someone—to silence the screaming in my head.

And then there was him.

I barely remembered leaving the bar. Just flashes of sensation. A man—tall, impossibly strong, dark eyes filled with something wicked and consuming. Heat. A touch that burned even through my drunken haze. A voice that sent shivers down my spine, whispering words I barely understood but desperately craved.

Then, the hotel room.

Then, pleasure.

Then, him.

My body still hummed with the remnants of last night. A dull ache between my thighs, the ghost of his hands branding my skin.

I shook my head, forcing the memories away.

I didn’t know his name. Didn’t want to know. It had been a mistake—a perfect, devastating mistake.

And yet, a note had been left on the pillow beside me.

*Wait for me to come back.*

A humorless laugh bubbled in my throat. Did he actually think this was something more than what it was? That I was some damsel waiting to be rescued?

I crumpled the note in my fist and grabbed my bag. But when I checked inside, my stomach dropped.

I was broke.

No cash. No cards. Just a few worthless coins rattling at the bottom of my purse.

Heat rushed to my face. Humiliation burned beneath my skin.

Swallowing the lump in my throat, I turned back to the bed. The mattress was a mess—rumpled sheets, the lingering scent of him still clinging to the air. I tossed the coins onto the bed like they were some pathetic form of repayment, as if that could somehow restore my dignity.

Then I pulled on my clothes and walked out the door without looking back.

The morning air was crisp, carrying the scent of coffee and freshly baked bread. A cruel contrast to the storm inside me. My legs ached, my body sore in places I hadn’t even realized could ache. I ignored it, forcing one foot in front of the other.

The man—whoever he was—had been good. Unfairly good.

But the most important thing?

He had used protection.

No regrets. No complications. Just one night.

I had bigger problems to deal with.

I didn’t know that as I walked out of that hotel, someone was watching me.

Recording me.

A young woman stood just outside the bar, phone lifted, a wicked smirk curling her lips as she tapped her screen and made a call.

“Hailey, you won’t believe who I just saw leaving the bar.”

A sharp intake of breath. Then a voice—sickly sweet, yet dripping with venom.

“Who?”

“Layla.”

Silence stretched for a moment before a slow, cruel laugh filled the speaker.

“Send me the video. I have the perfect surprise for that bitch.”

I had no idea what was coming next.

But I did know one thing.

They were about to learn exactly what happened when someone betrayed me.

The sleek, expensive car parked in my driveway made my stomach turn.

Drake’s parents were here.

My fingers curled into fists as I climbed the steps of the mansion, heels clicking against polished stone. Just as I reached for the door, a voice drifted from inside.

Familiar. Smug. Sickeningly sweet.

Hailey.

******

It was time to play the game.

“I’m so sorry, Aunt, Uncle. I didn’t know Layla would go drinking last night—on such an important day, no less. And with another man…”

My breath stilled, my blood boiling beneath my skin. Every muscle in my body tensed as I clenched my fists at my sides, nails digging into my palms.

Drake’s mother’s voice slashed through the air like a blade, sharp with indignation. “This is absolutely disgraceful! We waited for her at the restaurant, and where was she? Off with another man? Do you think we will allow our son to marry someone so shameless? This engagement must be canceled at once!”

A slow, satisfied smirk curved Hailey’s lips. She feigned hesitation, her eyes wide with false remorse. “Auntie, Uncle, I feel terrible about this. I debated whether to show you the video my friend recorded… I just—I thought you deserved to know the truth.” Her voice wobbled, a flawless imitation of regret.

Drake’s father let out a heavy sigh, his disappointment ringing clear. “Hailey, don’t blame yourself. In truth, I’ve always thought you were more suitable. You carry yourself with grace, with dignity… If only you were the one marrying Drake instead.”

My stomach churned, but I remained silent, forcing myself to listen as their little charade played out.

Then came the final knife to the gut—my stepmother’s voice, sickly sweet yet dripping with poison. “Why not? Wouldn’t it be best for everyone if Hailey and Drake were engaged instead? That way, the families still form an alliance, and harmony is preserved.”

Silence.

For a moment, I could hear nothing but the sound of my own breathing, ragged and uneven. I tasted something bitter—betrayal, fury, the scorching sting of humiliation.

And then… I laughed.

A sharp, bitter sound, cutting through the tension like glass shattering against marble.

So this was their game.

Drake and Hailey had been sneaking around for a year, and yet, I was the villain in this story? They wanted to destroy my reputation before I could expose them? How thoughtful.

Slowly, a smile stretched across my face, dark and dangerous, as I tightened my grip on the door handle.

If they wanted a show, I’d give them one.

With a single, powerful motion, I shoved the doors open. They crashed against the walls with a deafening bang, making everyone inside jump in shock.

The room fell into silence. All eyes snapped toward me.

I stepped forward, my heels clicking against the polished marble floor, exuding a calmness that was anything but. I tilted my head slightly, amusement flickering in my gaze.

“You’re right,” I mused, my voice a slow, deliberate drawl. “They do make a perfect match.”

For the first time, panic flitted through Hailey’s eyes. But she was quick—too quick. Her expression melted into one of false concern, her voice sickly sweet. “Sister, you’re back! We were so worried about you.”

I let my smile widen—slow, cold, lethal.

“Oh? Worried about me?”

Before anyone could react, I raised my hand and delivered a slap across her face so sharp and precise that the sound echoed through the entire room.

Silence.

Stunned, Hailey stumbled back, her hand flying to her cheek, eyes wide with disbelief.

I leaned in, my voice nothing more than a whisper, but one that cut through her like a blade. “Try again, sweetheart.”A stunned gasp filled the air.

Hailey’s head snapped to the side, her eyes widening in disbelief. A red mark bloomed across her cheek, the sound of the slap still ringing through the room.

Drake shot to his feet, his face darkening with fury. “Layla! How dare you hit Hailey? Apologize to her right now!”

I turned to him, slowly, deliberately, my lips curling into a sneer. “Apologize?” I echoed, taking a step forward. “Gladly.”

Before anyone could react, I raised my hand and struck Hailey’s other cheek just as hard. She gasped, stumbling back, her wide eyes filled with shock. Then, without hesitation, I swung my leg out and kicked Drake squarely in the stomach.

A grunt tore from his lips as he staggered back, clutching his midsection.

“Sincere enough for you?” I asked, flashing a sharp grin.

Hailey whimpered, her hands trembling as she cupped her burning cheeks. “S-Sister… why?”

Drake’s mother shot to her feet, her eyes blazing with fury. “How dare you?! First, you disgrace yourself, and now you resort to violence? You’re nothing but a shameless, vile woman! This engagement is over!”

I let out a dry chuckle, crossing my arms. “You think I want to marry Drake? A man who’s been screwing my stepsister behind my back?”

Drake’s jaw clenched, but before he could speak, Hailey clung to his arm, looking up at me with tear-filled eyes. “Sister, you’ve misunderstood…”

I scoffed. “Drop the act, Hailey. You’re not fooling anyone.”

She sniffled dramatically. “I just—”

I cut her off with a smirk. “You think too highly of yourself. Drake? He’s nothing but trash I threw away. If you want him, take him.”

Drake’s face twisted with anger. “Layla! Who are you calling trash?”

“Oh, don’t flatter yourself,” I drawled. “You’re barely worth the breath it takes to insult you.”

Hailey’s lips quivered, but there was something sharp in her gaze. “Oh? So you’ve found someone better?”

Drake scoffed, crossing his arms. “Who? A male stripper? Or are you just making this up because you can’t stand losing?”

I held his gaze, my smirk unwavering. “I have found someone,” I said, my voice steady, laced with confidence. “And trust me, he’s worth ten of you.”

Hailey tilted her head, feigning innocence, but her eyes glowed with malice. “Then why don’t you bring him to our engagement party? Let us all see this wonderful man of yours.”

Drake chuckled mockingly. “Yeah, Layla. I’d love to meet him.”

I stepped closer, my smile never faltering, my voice dropping to a near whisper. “Just you wait and see,” I murmured. “He’s truly a sight to behold.”