Married By Chance: Bullied By My Knight

One Nightstand

The days following Ria’s humiliating encounter with Adrian were unbearable. Olivia wasted no time mocking her; each taunts a dagger to Ria’s already broken heart. Her stepmother, Margaret, had taken it upon herself to pile on chores, keeping Ria too busy to even think about Adrian or running off to him again. Laundry, cooking, cleaning—the work never ended. Thankfully, her father traveled for a business trip; if not, Olivia and her mother would have manipulated him into making her life more miserable.

Ria was hunched over a basin, scrubbing a stubborn stain out of a shirt when Olivia’s sing-song voice pierced the quiet.

“Ria, Ria, Ria!” Olivia called, her tone laced with mischief.

Ria set down the soapy shirt she had been scrubbing, her hands raw from the detergent. She sighed, knowing ignoring Olivia wasn’t an option. The bruises from her last attempt to stand her ground were still fresh.

“What is it?” she called, keeping her voice flat.

Olivia appeared in the doorway, grinning mischievously. In her hands were two dresses, each more scandalous than the other. “Which one should I wear?”

Ria’s lip curled in disgust. She knew exactly who Olivia wanted to impress. “Neither,” she said curtly, her gaze lingering on the bright red one with its plunging neckline and daring slit.

Olivia laughed, a mocking sound that grated on Ria’s nerves. “Of course, you’d say that. What do you know about fashion? But don’t worry, I’m not here for your approval.” She smirked. “Just wanted to let you know I’ll be going out on a date with Adrian tonight. We probably won’t be back until tomorrow.

Ria’s stomach twisted, her expression faltering. She’s doing this on purpose.

“This one is perfect,” Olivia continued, holding up the scandalous red dress with a plunging neckline and a slit that left nothing to the imagination.

Ria’s throat burned as she swallowed her bitterness. She forced her expression into indifference, unwilling to give Olivia the satisfaction of seeing her hurt.

As Olivia turned to leave, she paused and spun back around, her grin more wicked than before. “On second thought, you should come too.”

Ria blinked, stunned. “What? Absolutely not,” Ria snapped, her voice trembling with barely suppressed anger. “You want me to sit there and watch you throw yourself at the man you know I—” She caught herself, biting her lip to keep from saying more.”

“Exactly,” Olivia cut in, her eyes gleaming with malice. “Now go dress up. Wear something that covers up those lovely scars of yours. Don’t want anyone thinking we’re mistreating you. Don't keep me waiting, Adrian will be here in 10 minutes.”

Ria clenched her fists as Olivia sashayed out of the room, giving her no choice in the matter. She hated how powerless she felt. If she defied Olivia, the consequences would only add to her misery.

Reluctantly, she abandoned the laundry and rushed to her room. After a quick shower, she rummaged through her wardrobe, searching for something that would cover the scars crisscrossing her arms. She finally settled on a modest long-sleeved dress. The sound of a car engine outside made her heart leap. Adrian was here.

She hastily tied her hair into a loose bun and stepped out of her room. She didn’t dare look in the mirror. Adrian didn’t care about her appearance, and Olivia would pounce on any delay.

When she reached the living room, her breath caught in her throat. Adrian stood by the door, looking impossibly handsome in a casual outfit that highlighted his lean, muscular frame. His piercing blue eyes swept over her briefly before a look of disdain crossed his face.

“She’s coming with us?” he asked coldly, pointing at her like she was an inconvenience.

Olivia immediately stepped in, her eyes wide with feigned innocence. “I hope you don’t mind, Adrian. Ria begged to come along. She said she was bored and lonely.” She lowered her head, her voice trembling as if she were holding back tears. “I just couldn’t say no to her.”

Ria’s jaw clenched. When did I ever say that? She bit her tongue, knowing any protest would only worsen the situation.

Adrian glared at her. “I hope she doesn’t ruin our evening.”

“She won’t,” Olivia assured him with a sweet smile. “She promised to behave.”

“Let’s go,” Adrian said curtly, offering his arm to Olivia. Together, they walked out, leaving Ria to trail behind like an unwanted shadow.

---

The Blake Grand Hotel was as lavish as Ria had imagined. The chandeliers sparkled, and the air smelled of wealth and power. Adrian checked them in, and Ria was relieved to discover her room was separate from theirs—directly opposite.

At Olivia’s insistence, they headed to the hotel bar. Ria chose a table far from theirs, sipping whiskey as she watched Olivia shamelessly flirt. She threw herself at Adrian, her laughter ringing out across the room. Adrian didn’t seem to mind, which only added to Ria’s growing frustration.

Ria tried not to watch but her gaze betrayed her, lingering on Adrian's relaxed smile, something she hadn't seen directed at her since his return.

She downed glass after glass, the alcohol dulling the ache in her chest.

Hours passed. Ria’s vision blurred, and her head spun. She saw Olivia stand unsteadily, leaning into Adrian with a drunken giggle.

“I’m heading upstairs,” Olivia slurred.

Ria watched her stagger out of the bar before turning her gaze back to Adrian. He looked utterly unfazed, his head resting against the back of his chair, his eyes half-closed, the effect of the alcohol clearly obvious.

“I need some air,” she mumbled, pushing her chair back.

Her heels clicked unevenly against the marble floor as she stumbled out of the bar.

The dim hallway swayed slightly in Ria’s vision as she stumbled forward, her head fuzzy from the alcohol she’d downed earlier at the bar. She hadn’t intended to drink so much, but watching Olivia shamelessly throw herself at Adrian—her Knight—had been too much to bear.

Her breath hitched as she remembered how Adrian had barely spared her a glance all evening, his smiles and attention reserved solely for Olivia. She clenched her fists, trying to block out the image of them together.

“I need the restroom,” she muttered, her voice trembling. Her heels clicked unevenly against the marble floor as she turned a corner, her mind clouded and unfocused.

Just as she was about to take another step, she collided with something solid.

“Careful,” a deep voice rumbled, strong hands gripping her shoulders to steady her.

Her heart stopped. She looked up, and through her blurred vision, those piercing blue eyes stared back at her—Adrian.

“Knight?” she whispered, her voice shaky.

His brows furrowed, his lips parting as if to say something, but no words came. His gaze swept over her face, lingering on her flushed cheeks and slightly parted lips.

The hallway felt smaller, and the air between them charged with an unspoken tension. His gaze dropped to her lips, lingering there for a moment too long.

“Knight…” she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Something in his expression shifted, the alcohol clouding his judgment as much as hers. Slowly, he leaned in, his warm breath brushing against her skin.

Ria’s heart raced as his lips touched hers, soft and hesitant at first, as if testing her reaction. She froze, stunned, but the feel of him—the taste of whiskey and something undeniable—sent a shiver down her spine.

She melted into the kiss, her hands instinctively reaching for his shirt, clinging to him as if he were her anchor in a spinning world. Adrian groaned softly, pulling her closer, his fingers sliding to her waist.

The kiss deepened, growing more urgent as the alcohol took full control. Ria’s mind screamed at her to stop, but her body betrayed her, giving in to the heat of the moment.

The door to a nearby room creaked open, and Adrian scooped her up effortlessly, carrying her inside. Neither of them spoke, their lips never parting as he laid her on the bed. The world outside ceased to exist as they gave in to the fiery pull between them, their reasoning lost to the alcohol and emotions they couldn't suppress.

---

The next morning, sunlight streamed through the curtains, piercing Ria’s eyelids. She stirred, her head pounding as memories of the night before came rushing back. Her eyes flew open, and she froze.

Adrian lay beside her, the sheets barely covering his bare chest, his face turned away. Panic set in as she realized the full extent of what had happened.

“Adrian…” she whispered, but he didn’t stir.

Before she could say anything more, the door to the room burst open.

“Ria, have you seen Adrian—” Olivia’s voice stopped abruptly, her scream shattering the morning quiet.

Adrian jolted awake, his eyes wide as he took in the scene: Olivia standing in the doorway, her face pale with shock, and Ria clutching the sheets to her chest. Adrian sat up beside her, his expression shifting from confusion to fury as he realized where he was—and who he was with.

“What the hell?” Olivia shrieked, her voice echoing. Without another glance, she ran out of the room.

Adrian shot out of bed, quickly pulling on his clothes. His expression darkened, and when he turned to Ria, his eyes burned with anger.

“How could you?” he spat, his voice cold enough to freeze her in place.

Ria’s mouth opened to protest, but no words came. She could only watch as Adrian stormed out, muttering under his breath.

“I don’t ever want to see you again,” he said harshly. Pray Olivia forgives me, or else…” He didn’t finish the threat, slamming the door behind him.

Ria sat frozen, her heart shattering anew. The sound of the door slamming behind him echoed in her ears. She wrapped the sheets around herself, the weight of the night’s events crushing her. What have I done?