Desire Debt: The Billionaire's Contract Bride

Chapter 2

In her sleep, Melina felt a gentle but persistent shaking. Groggily, she wondered who dared disturb her slumber. Reluctantly, she opened her eyes to find Lillian's face hovering above her. As she tried to speak, Lillian quickly covered her mouth.

Confused, Melina stared at her friend, trying to decipher her intentions. She followed Lillian's pointed finger to the other side of the bed and nearly jumped in shock.

Adrian!

The man lying beside her was Adrian. How had he ended up in her bed? What had transpired? Melina felt as if she had been struck by lightning, her mind unable to process the reality of the situation.

"Come out, I have something to ask you," Lillian whispered, her voice low to avoid waking Adrian. She turned and walked out, leaving Melina to grapple with her shock. Pulling back the covers, Melina glanced at her naked body, noticing the kiss marks scattered across her chest and the disheveled state of the bed.

She had slept with Adrian!

Yet, she had no memory of it.

Alcohol had truly proven to be a double-edged sword. Melina felt tears welling up but couldn't cry. She turned to look at Adrian, who was still sound asleep. He must have drunk heavily last night and indulged excessively, explaining his deep slumber.

Melina slowly approached him, a foolish smile spreading across her face. This was the closest she had ever been to him, the first time she could study his face up close. Normally, he seemed so cold and distant, but now, with his features softened by sleep, he looked almost boyish.

She leaned in carefully, pressing her soft lips to his thin ones. Adrian’s taste was intoxicating, making her feel as if a flower were blooming in her heart. After stealing a kiss, Melina had an idea. She reached for her phone on the bedside table and leaned in close to Adrian’s face. Click. She took a selfie of them together. It was just a close-up of their faces, but it was her first photo with Adrian.

Adrian, a birthday gift from the heavens.

An unforgettable birthday.

Melina removed the pendant she always wore around her neck. It was a man's ring. She slipped the ring off the chain and placed it on Adrian’s finger, whispering mischievously, "Adrian, from today on, you’re mine."

Just then, her phone rang, startling her. She quickly turned it off to avoid waking Adrian. It was a call from Lillian. She had forgotten Lillian was waiting for her outside.

Tiptoeing out of bed, Melina decided to shower in Lillian’s room. She dressed quickly and left the room, finding Lillian waiting by another door. She approached with an awkward smile.

Lillian looked at Melina, raising an eyebrow casually, "Is he awake?"

"Not yet," Melina replied, glancing nervously at her friend.

Lillian clutched her stomach, frowning, "My stomach hurts. I left my medicine in the car. Can you get it for me?"

"Huh?"

"Huh, what? Silly girl, my stomach really hurts. Go get it for me, please."

"Oh, then you lie down first. I’ll get it." Melina turned and walked away, relieved that Lillian hadn't interrogated her.

When Adrian woke up, he had a throbbing headache. He opened his eyes to find Lillian sitting beside him in a thin nightdress, her expression a mix of shyness and annoyance.

Adrian was momentarily stunned. Why was Lillian in his bed? Had something happened between them? Despite his surprise, he remained calm, his usual demeanor. He tried to recall the previous night but could only remember fragments of intense intimacy, without a clear image of the woman.

He had drunk a lot last night, and in the darkness, he hadn't seen the woman's face. Such encounters were not uncommon for him, and he assumed it was another one-night stand. But this time, the partner was Lillian.

"Adrian, don’t you have anything to say?" Lillian asked, her smile charming as she leaned forward and wrapped her arms around his neck.

Adrian smirked slightly but remained silent.

"Why aren’t you talking?" Lillian pouted.

Adrian looked at her leisurely, "Do you want me to take responsibility?"

He had indeed forgotten that the woman from last night was Melina. Lillian shrugged, briefly lowering her gaze before speaking, "Adrian, I've always wanted to tell you that I like you. Naturally, I hope to be with the man I like. But it's up to you. If you don’t want to, I won’t cling to you. I'll pretend nothing happened, and we’ll still be friends."

Adrian remained silent. Lillian stared into his eyes and asked, "Adrian, do you like me? Do you want to be my boyfriend? Just two words if you do, three if you don’t."

Adrian reached out, holding the back of her neck, kissed her lightly on the lips, then traced her lips with his fingers, saying in a low voice, "From today on, you’re my woman. Only I can touch you."

Lillian trembled with joy, hugging him tightly and exclaiming, "Am I dreaming? Adrian, you really agreed to be my boyfriend?"

"Mm." His low, clear, and cool voice reached Melina, who was returning with the medicine. She stood frozen, feeling as if she had been struck by lightning. Her heart seemed to shatter, and she could barely breathe. The medicine fell from her hands.

Struggling to regain her composure, Melina chose to leave rather than confront them. She couldn't tell Adrian that the woman he had slept with was her, not Lillian. It seemed absurd. Feelings should be mutual; their night together was just a drunken mistake. She had misjudged Lillian, her so-called friend.

She told herself it was okay, that it wasn’t a big deal, but her heart still ached.

People say the best way to heal is to take a trip.

So, the next day, she took leave from work and headed to another city, hoping the change of scenery would help her forget. She wanted to return as the cheerful Melina everyone knew.

In a luxurious villa...

On a massive double bed, two bodies intertwined, rolling in passion. The woman's soft moans filled the room, her face flushed with desire. The air was thick with intimacy. Just as the man was about to reach the peak of pleasure, his phone rang, making him frown slightly.

Everything came to a halt. He lay atop the woman, his breath heavy, her cheeks still red and her mind lost in the haze of passion. Their bodies remained closely pressed together, unwilling to part. But the persistent ringing of the phone was relentless.

Finally, the man got out of bed, his perfect physique on full display. He grabbed the phone, ran a hand through his tousled hair, and answered. Before he could speak, a warm yet excited elderly voice came through the line.

"Adrian, I've heard you have a girlfriend. When are you bringing her home for your grandfather and your parents to meet? How about this Sunday? Bring her over for dinner."