After One Night

Episode 3

~ Sophie’s POV

With a low, seductive voice, I whispered, "Let's leave this place."

I was not thinking. I asked no questions. I simply nodded and trailed after him as he left the bar. He showed me to his car, and even though I was a little drunk, I could see that it was a black limousine, but I didn't ask him any more questions or even consider who he was. After we got into his vehicle, he gave his driver instructions to drive us to the closest hotel.

A few minutes later, we arrived at a huge hotel. He led me in. I stumbled into the hotel lobby, my head buzzing from the drink. The lights were too bright, and the floor beneath me felt uneven, but I didn't mind. I was too caught up in the moment, in the thrill of following this mysterious man without hesitation.

He spoke to the receptionist, his voice steady and confident, but I barely paid attention. My body felt light, almost floating, as I leaned against the counter, watching him. His presence was strong and authoritative. The way he carried himself and looked at me sent shivers down my spine.

The receptionist handed him a key card, and before I knew it, he was leading me toward the elevator. His hand was warm on my lower back, steadying me as I swayed slightly.

“I can’t believe I’m doing this,” I mumbled, half to myself.

He chuckled a deep sound that sent a wave of excitement through me. “You’re enjoying yourself, aren’t you?”

I looked up at him, my vision slightly blurry, but I could still see the way his lips curled into a smirk. My heart pounded.

‘ Was I enjoying this? Was this happening?’

The elevator dinged, and we stepped out into a dimly lit hallway. The plush carpet softened my steps as he guided me toward the room. My mind was fuzzy, but my body felt alive, every nerve tingling with anticipation.

When he opened the door, I stepped inside first, turning around to face him as he closed it behind us. The room was luxurious, too luxurious for a random night with a stranger. My stomach flipped. Who was this man? But before I could ask, he was in front of me, his hands resting on my waist, his eyes searching mine.

I should have felt nervous. I should have stopped this. But I didn’t.

Instead, I tilted my head up, letting my lips part slightly.

And then, I stopped thinking.

He leaned in, his breath warm against my skin, and I felt a shiver run down my spine. My head was spinning, but it wasn’t just from the alcohol, it was from him, from the way he looked at me like I was something he wanted, something he was about to claim.

His hands tightened on my waist, pulling me closer, and I let out a shaky breath. My body felt light, almost weightless as if I was floating between reality and a dream.

“I…” I started, but the words died in my throat as his lips brushed against mine.

Soft. Slow. Testing.

I should have stopped him. I should have pulled away. But I didn’t.

Instead, I melted into him, my hands gripping the front of his shirt to keep myself steady. He deepened the kiss, his fingers trailing up my back, sending heat through my body.

Somewhere in the haze, he guided me toward the bed. I barely noticed how my legs hit the edge of the mattress until I was sinking into it, his body hovering over mine.

“I can’t believe this,” I whispered, my voice breathless.

He smirked, brushing my hair from my face. “Then stop thinking.”

And for the first time in a long time, I did.

The night blurred into heated touches, whispered words, and the intoxicating feeling of being wanted. Every sensation felt heightened, every moment intense.

I wasn’t Sophie, the girl weighed down by life. I was someone else. For a few hours, I allowed myself to forget. To forget Edward’s vile grin, my mother’s cutting betrayal, and the weight of everything that had been taken from me.

When I woke up the next morning, sunlight streamed through the curtains, slicing through the haze of the night before. My head throbbed, my body felt heavy, and for a split second, I didn’t know where I was. The bed beneath me was too soft, the sheets too pristine, the air too still.

Then I remembered.

‘What have I done?’

I turned my head to find the space beside me empty. Damian was gone, and so was the fleeting comfort of the night. All that remained was a note perched on the nightstand and a thick wad of cash lying beside it. The sight of it made my stomach twist.

The cash sat there like an accusation, mocking me, daring me to pick it up.

“Was this what I’d been reduced to? A girl so desperate to escape her pain that she let herself fall into a stranger’s arms and end up with a reminder of her recklessness?” I muttered.

I reached for the note with trembling fingers, my heart sinking before I even read the words.

“Last night was unforgettable. Take care of yourself.”

Tears burned my eyes as I clutched the note in my trembling fingers. My chest felt tight like something heavy was pressing down on me. My head was pounding, my body sore, but nothing compared to the sinking feeling in my stomach.

‘What had I done?’

I stared at the space beside me, the crumpled sheets the only proof that he had been there. A stranger. A man I didn’t even know. And I had thrown myself at him like I had no self-worth.

A sob broke free from my lips as I clutched my head, my fingers digging into my scalp. "Damn you, Edward," I choked out.

This wasn’t me. This wasn’t who I was. I had spent years fighting against him, against the way he tried to break me, and now I had let myself shatter in the worst way possible.

And then it hit me.

We didn’t use protection.

My whole body froze as the horrifying realization sank in. My heart pounded wildly, my stomach twisting in knots.

‘How could I have been so stupid?’

I shot up from the bed, wiping my tears with the back of my hand. There was no time to think. No time to process. I needed to leave. Now.

I grabbed my clothes off the floor, slipping into them in a hurry. My hands fumbled as I buttoned my jeans, my pulse racing. I felt dirty and disgusting, but I didn’t even stop to wash up.

I gathered what little dignity I had left and went to the hospital.

“Are you here for a check-up, miss?” the nurse at the reception desk asked with a bright smile.

“Yes,” I replied quickly. “And, um… I’d also like some preventative care.”

She gave me a knowing nod, which only made my stomach twist further.

After that, I felt slightly better, not physically, but mentally. At the very least, I had done something responsible following such a foolish mistake. Nonetheless, my thoughts spiraled. I had no idea who Damian was or what kind of life he lived, but I knew I didn't want any part of it.

As soon as I stepped into the house, my stomach twisted at the sight before me. Edward sat at the dining table, a bandage wrapped around his forehead, casually eating like nothing had happened. My mother and Caroline sat beside him, chatting as if everything was normal.

The moment my mother saw me, she shot up from her seat, her eyes blazing with anger.

“Sophia! How dare you?” she yelled, marching toward me. “Why would you hit my husband? Just because he didn’t want you sneaking off with some man yesterday?”

I scoffed, crossing my arms. “That’s the best lie he could come up with?” I spat, glaring at Edward. “Maybe you should ask your dear husband why he was in my room last night. Maybe ask him what he tried to do before I defended myself.”

My mother gasped. “How dare you speak such filth about my husband?”

“It’s not filth! He tried to…”

A sharp slap cut me off. My face stung instantly, my eyes widening in shock as I held my cheek.