Chloe stood in front of the mirror, her eyes cast downward, revealing only her long, delicate lashes. Her jade-like face had a hint of alluring pink, and her rounded, upturned nose was a striking perfection. Her lips, though devoid of any lipstick, were still irresistibly rosy and moist.
Suddenly, she glanced at the clock on the wall; it was the umpteenth time she had checked the time. The hands pointed to 9 PM. She curved her lips into a radiant smile at her reflection, looking as breathtaking as a goddess fallen to earth.
Today was Valentine's Day, and like other couples, Chloe was also preparing to spend a romantic evening with her boyfriend, Amos.
Thinking of Amos's warm and handsome face, Chloe couldn't help but smile, despite pressing her lips together.
She checked the time again—9:05 PM. Chloe's delicate brows furrowed slightly.
They had agreed yesterday, when they parted, to have dinner together tonight and plan the rest of the evening. However, Amos later sent a message saying he had something to attend to and could only pick her up at 9 PM to celebrate Valentine's Day.
She had been sitting in front of the mirror since 5 PM, looking at herself, waiting. Her stomach had growled several times, yet she still had no appetite.
Tick-tock, tick-tock—the sound of the clock echoed in her heart, each tick making her more anxious.
Amos was always punctual, arriving early to every date.
But today...
Thinking this, she grew restless, stepping out of the house to check the door several times, but the person she was waiting for still hadn't appeared.
Suddenly, Chloe remembered that a few days ago, when she was dining with Amos, he had a sudden nosebleed. Could Amos be sick? Her heart clenched tightly.
No, it can't be! It can't be! She hurriedly reassured herself, but she could no longer wait. Grabbing her bag from the table, she rushed outside.
She dialed his number as she ran.
The phone rang again and again, but there was no answer.
Her heart tightened more with each ring. She quickly hailed a taxi and headed to Amos's place.
Just as she was on the verge of panic, her phone rang. Seeing the familiar number, a gentle smile immediately appeared on her fair face.
"Amos, you're..." She hadn't even finished speaking when a cold woman's voice interrupted her.
"Waiting for Amos, are you?" The woman on the other end couldn't conceal her smug tone.
"..." Chloe was stunned to hear a woman's voice on Amos's phone. The voice sounded familiar, but her mind was in such a haze that she couldn't place it.
Before Chloe could respond, the woman's smugness deepened. "Don't bother waiting. Just come to the W Hotel and find him."
W Hotel? Her mind went blank for a moment.
The word "hotel" easily conjured up thoughts of infidelity.
No, no, Amos isn't that kind of person.
As the dial tone droned in her ear, she dumbly uttered, "Hello...?"
The woman's voice was so familiar. A chill swept through her heart.
She instructed the driver to turn toward the W Hotel and gazed out the window, trying to ignore the woman's voice.
But instinctively, she felt something was wrong. Her chest tightened, and she felt as if she couldn't breathe. She gripped her phone so tightly that her knuckles turned white.
When she got out of the car, she looked up at the sign, "W Hotel," glowing ominously, like a sinister monster, ready to devour her.
She felt a pang of dread, her feet heavy, unable to move. Clenching the phone slick with sweat, she bit her lip and walked into the lobby.
She forced herself not to think. Maybe, just maybe, Amos had planned something romantic for her tonight, a surprise.
She pressed the dial button, holding the phone tightly to her ear.
"...Hmm...who...is it..."
This time, it was indeed Amos's voice, but...why did it sound so strange?
She seemed to hear faint, heavy breathing and a suggestive murmur?
Boom...
Her mind felt like a bomb had gone off.
At 24 years old, even if she had never experienced it herself, she knew what those sounds meant.
She wanted to turn and run, but the woman's commanding voice came through the phone, "9013, get up here now, or don't regret it!"
Her hands were so slick with sweat that the phone almost slipped from her grip.
She was sure she recognized the woman's voice, but...her and him...no, she couldn't believe it unless she saw it with her own eyes!
Stubbornness was in Chloe's bones. If there was something she could figure out, she wouldn't let it remain unclear. If she started something, she would see it through to the end!
So, despite every nerve in her body screaming for her not to go, she stepped into the elevator.
***
Room 9013
Chloe stood at the door, taking deep breaths, her hand raised several times before she finally mustered the courage to grab the doorknob and push it open forcefully.
Click—
The door swung open easily, as if someone knew she would come and had already unlocked it for her.
The first thing she saw was a woman's dress, a man's suit, and a tie, all scattered messily across the floor.
That tie—
Chloe stared at the tie entangled with the woman's mini skirt, a sharp pain piercing her heart, causing her to sway slightly.
There were countless ties in the market of the same color and style, but she recognized it immediately—it was the Valentine's Day gift she had carefully chosen for him.
She had planned to give it to him today, but last night at dinner, she had teased him by waving the gift-wrapped box in front of him. He had been overjoyed, eagerly snatching it from her hands and tearing it open. When he saw the tie, he couldn't wait to put it around his neck. "Honey, I'll treasure it and keep it close always."
He had kissed her forehead. "Chloe, tomorrow, I'll give you a Valentine's Day you'll never forget. Trust me!" His warm breath brushed her face, and his handsome features looked so sincere. The steady beat of his heart had inexplicably reassured her.
But...
It had only been one night, and her humble, sincere heart had been discarded like a worthless rag, tangled up with that woman's dress, making her feel like a complete fool.
Not far away, she saw the woman's black lace underwear intertwined suggestively with a pair of bright red boxers.She wouldn't be naïve enough to think this was some kind of strip show between a man and a woman.The clothes were strewn about so chaotically and intimately that just looking at them made her blush, further fueling her imagination of the intense passion that had erupted here.The sounds coming from inside the room were clear, as if to confirm her worst fears. Each moan, louder than the last, made it impossible for her to pretend she didn't understand."Amos, Amos... ah..." The woman's voice, laced with desire, called out sweetly.The response was a series of deep, heavy breaths.Chloe's face turned deathly pale. She bit her lip hard, her vision blurring as her trembling hands gripped the phone tightly.How absurd. She had been waiting for him since 5 PM, anxious and restless, not even drinking a sip of tea just to be ready for him.She struggled to move her feet forward,
A week laterBlues Bar, located on a somewhat secluded street, hadn't always done well in business, but ever since Chloe started working there, the place had become more popular by the day.Her music was like a spell, capable of calming people's anger, bringing them joy, and making them feel completely at ease.For an entire week, Chloe had been missing. The bar owner, Mag, had tried calling her so many times that her phone was nearly dead, but she still couldn't reach her.Customers were growing more restless, almost to the point of tearing the bar apart.Tonight, the bar was packed again, and with only five minutes left until showtime, there was still no sign of Chloe. Mag was starting to sweat with worry.Standing on her toes, Mag anxiously scanned the bar, and finally, she saw a figure dressed in white appear around the corner. She couldn't contain her excitement and shouted, "She's here! Chloe's here!"Instantly, the bar fell silent. As Chloe stepped inside, hundreds of pairs of
Later.When Chloe opened the door, she felt utterly exhausted, wanting nothing more than a bath and some rest. To her shock, she found herself face-to-face with a heavily made-up face on the sofa.The sight stunned her so much that she nearly dropped her bag.It was the first time she'd seen her since that day. Just the sight of that face made Chloe recall the image of them entwined together, and instinctively, she wanted to avoid it.Flora was quicker, grabbing her hand. "Chloe! Stop!"Chloe stared blankly at the face in front of her."Let go!" She didn't want to get entangled with her. She didn't hate her sister; she only hated herself for believing a man's sweet lies.Chloe felt none of the heartache she expected. Flora, red with anger, shouted, "Chloe, you heartless monster! I slept with your man! I was FUCKED your man! Are you blind or deaf?"How could she not feel pain? She had slept with her man just to make her suffer—to suffer so much that she couldn't breathe, so much that s
Two Months Later.Bar ParadisoPeople called it paradise on earth—a world of luxury and excess that others spent their whole lives pursuing. Yet, it was a world of decadence and corruption.In one of the lavish private rooms, a man lounged on a sofa in the corner. His face was so strikingly handsome that it seemed like the masterpiece of a dedicated artist, sculpted with the utmost care. His sharp, defined features exuded a wild, yet refined allure, with an aura of untouchable power.Resting his elegant chin on one hand, his deep brown eyes—mysterious and unfathomable, like a bottomless pool—gazed thoughtfully at an ancient painting on the wall. He gently swirled the wine in his glass, lost in thought.With a tilt of his head, the fiery red liquid flowed smoothly down his throat, filling his mouth with its rich aroma. His cold, somber face, shrouded in the dim light, was a stark contrast to the vibrant, lively scene behind him.Suddenly, the crisp sound of high heels clicking against
Lionel squinted his eyes. He knew he couldn't make it far and needed to find a room immediately. Stumbling out of the private room, his body felt like it was about to explode from the searing heat coursing through him. His silver-gray shirt was already soaked through with sweat.He staggered his way up to the VIP rooms on the 15th floor. As he stumbled toward a door, he was fortunate—it was unlocked and automatically opened. He needed to cool down his body fast.As he lifted his leg to step inside, out of the corner of his eye, he noticed a woman lurking under the dim, yellowish corridor light. She was acting suspiciously, glancing around nervously, and slowly edging closer to him.Lionel rubbed his eyes. Despite his increasingly muddled mind, he recognized her immediately—she was the same woman who had been trying hard to flatter him with drinks earlier.With his experience in dealing with women, he could tell what they were thinking with just a glance or a subtle gesture.At first g
The other sideIn the dimly lit room, the atmosphere was hazy and suggestive. The sound of fabric tearing sharply cut through the air as the woman's long dress was ripped by the man's hands, scattering in tatters across the floor."Let... let me go..." Chloe's pleas were filled with fear as the man's sudden ferocity and the unbearable heat from his body made her tender skin burn painfully.Despite knowing she couldn't escape his clutches, she continued to beg, "Please... let me go..." Her voice trembled, and her tear-streaked face was a heart-wrenching sight.Lionel hesitated for a moment. The woman's delicate, white neck seemed to carry a subtle fragrance, and her trembling, bloodied lips were even more enticing.Her hands, crossed defensively over her chest, only drew more attention to her seductive allure. Her bare skin was pale and incredibly soft, like that of a fairy.After a brief hesitation, Lionel lost the last remnants of his rationality to the seductive woman. Like a predat
Chloe's legs trembled as she returned home, grateful that her mother and brother had already left, sparing them from witnessing her disheveled state. She filled the bathtub with steaming hot water and sank into it, allowing herself a moment of weakness in the small, confined space.As she stared at the bruises on her body, memories of last night's chaotic events flooded back, and scalding tears fell, mingling with the warm water. She couldn't understand why her life had taken such a disastrous turn. It must have started when she caused her father's death. She killed him, and now even the heavens were punishing her. Betrayed by both her boyfriend and her sister, as if that weren't enough, she had inexplicably ended up in bed with a stranger.She felt too ashamed to face anyone."Chloe..." Her father's bloodstained hand had grasped hers as he stroked her face with his dying breath. "My darling... I'm leaving... This family... depends on you now... Take care of your mother... take care o
Chloe was overwhelmed with worry about raising money, unaware that the internet and media were already in a frenzy.Shortly after noon, headlines like "Lionel Williams, CEO of K International Group, Spotted with Flora Miler at Paradiso" along with a series of photos started appearing online. Although Flora's face was blurred out, the news spread like wildfire.The public was in an uproar.Lionel Williams was the dream man of millions, admired for his near-godlike perfection. The sudden revelation of such a scandal involving him was shocking and unacceptable to many.Some sympathetic fans tried to defend Lionel, but the majority were relentless in their condemnation, hurling insults like "hypocrite," "shameless," and "disgusting."Posts and comments spread rapidly, intensifying the controversy. The internet was nearly brought to a standstill, and K International Group's stock took a significant hit.Lionel, caught completely off guard, was furious.He had personally witnessed his men d