Lena's Forbidden Love

"Miss, this is your room." I numbly took the room key from the attendant's hand. I gave a slight nod, signaling that I understood, without paying attention to the attendant who had already left. The atmosphere here was classic, with extravagant decor. The luxurious ornaments and opulent design made me feel completely out of place. This was a place I would normally never set foot in. Today was my engagement day. In just two hours, I would be bound by a sacred and joyful connection with my fiancé, the one I had grown up with since childhood. But it seemed that thought belonged only to me. My gaze darkened as I read the lines of the message on my phone. "Come to Room 721, 7th floor, at Hillton Hotel." This sudden message had appeared while I was choosing the perfect makeup style for myself. At this very moment, I was still wearing a plain white wedding dress—simple, unadorned, and cheap, chosen by my fiancé’s mother. It could have been a prank. Or a cruel joke. But for some reason, I wanted to follow it. An ugly thought immediately took hold of my mind. Without hesitation, I hurried to the location mentioned in the message. And now, here I stood, in front of it—Room 721. How strange. I looked at my trembling hands, unable to control their shaking. My heart pounded violently. Was I afraid? Oh God, I didn’t even know what I wanted anymore. However… I bit my lip. A strange urge was tempting me to open this door. I could even hear a devilish whisper in my ear, telling me to hurry and open it. A surprise awaited me inside. That voice repeated itself, over and over, luring me in. In the end, I chose to follow my heart’s command. Crack! The soft sound of the door unlocking echoed in the silent hallway, making my nervousness grow even more intense. Beyond the crimson wooden door, the luxurious room came into view. Just as I started to think this might be a joke, a whisper broke the silence. I slowly followed the sound and… discovered a small, discreet room in the left corner, hidden from view. As I got closer, I realized the door to that small room was slightly ajar. My curiosity pushed me forward. However, the voice of a woman startled me. "Alex… do you love Lena?" A familiar voice. A familiar name. I froze. My hand clenched tightly into a fist. A man’s deep, husky voice responded, breathless. "Baby, why bring her up?" I knew the owner of that voice. Even with my eyes closed, I could picture his expression perfectly. The sound of fabric tearing made my heart sink. A soft moan followed, twisting the knife deeper into my chest. "But… you’re about to marry her…" My already weak stomach churned violently in pain. "Don’t worry about it, Lily!" Alex’s disdainful voice was like a sharp blade, cutting into me without mercy. "But… what if she finds out?" My soul shattered. Trembling, I peeked through the narrow gap in the door and saw the betrayal I never could have imagined. "So what?" I saw Alex pressing down on Lily, whispering into her ear. But even then, I could hear the coldness and cruelty in his voice. "She will disappear." My heart felt as if it had stopped beating. "What… what are you planning to do?" Lily’s voice wavered, filled with fear. "Forget about her. Right now..." A loud thud echoed, like someone being pushed onto a bed. "You only need to remember that you belong to me!" "Really?" Alex kissed Lily’s soft lips and whispered in a hoarse voice, "Only you matter the most." I covered my mouth tightly to keep myself from screaming. What was I witnessing? The man I was about to marry, the one who had always promised to make me his wife, was now making love to his adopted sister. And… he was plotting to get rid of me? My entire body turned ice cold. My mind went blank. Yet, the sheer will to survive helped me slowly step away from this horrifying room. I couldn't let them find out. I couldn't let them realize I had been eavesdropping! Since I could remember, I had been a fatherless orphan, bound to Alex by an arranged engagement, dictated by my mother. Alex was the heir of a wealthy family in Qwerty, a small but bustling city. Because of my background, I had always felt inferior. No matter how hard I tried, all I received in return were scorn and humiliation from Alex’s family. I had once thought of running away. But my mother, who passed away when I was fifteen, always reminded me that I needed to stay by their side. Because they were her benefactors. For that reason, I had hoped to make myself useful to Alex’s family. I learned to speak elegantly like Alex’s mother. I learned to be gentle and obedient like Lily, his adopted sister. I learned to read financial reports and analyze raw material markets like Alex. I had tried so hard… to the point that the person I was now felt like a stranger—even to myself. Yet, despite everything, all they ever gave me was contempt. Back then, I didn't understand why. But now… I finally knew. Click! "Who’s there?" Alex’s furious voice snapped me back to reality. Damn it! I was wasting time reminiscing at a moment like this?! I heard the creaking of the bed, as if someone was getting up. Fear drained the color from my face. My heart pounded as if it would burst from my chest. Without thinking— Run! At this moment, only one thought filled my mind. I couldn’t let them see me! Panicked, I bolted toward the emergency exit. Faster! My entire body was tense, pushed to the limit. Somehow, I could hear their footsteps behind me, swift and relentless—like hunters chasing down a rat that had overheard too much. I only knew one thing: if they saw me… I would die. But no matter how hard I ran, I could only make it to the room closest to the emergency exit. In this heart-pounding moment—just as they were about to reach the door— The door to the nearest room suddenly swung open. A pair of hands reached out— And pulled me inside. Thud. Thud. Thud. Alex and Lily’s footsteps pounded against the floor, like drums hammering against my chest. But I no longer had the energy to pay attention to them. Because… Right in front of me— A man in a black suit stood, hands braced against the door. His tall figure blocked the light, casting a shadow over me. He curved his lips into a gentle smile. "Need some help?"