Nicole's Plan Failed.

I continued to grip my hands which were already sweating from nerves. We had just entered the hotel lobby and my father was talking to the security there. He asked if we could look at the CCTV footage from last night to find the culprit who had drugged me.

I didn't know what to do to stop my father while Nicole kept inciting my father to look at the CCTV and catch the culprit.

Not long after, security came back and told us that we could see the CCTV footage but only with him present. We then went to the surveillance room area. Two officers were monitoring the monitor.

The security guard who escorted us explained what happened. They were trying to find the CCTV footage of when the incident happened.

I didn't dare say anything when a recording showed me being carried by a man. The man who had slept with me last night. But how shocked I was when my father didn't feel angry at all. It was Nicole who turned angry.

"Dad?" I asked with concern.

"So you were with Ethan last night?" my father said, which surprised me even more.

"Ethan?!" I exclaimed in disbelief. I looked back at the face of the man on the recording, which turned out to be Ethan, my future husband! So I slept with Ethan last night? But how could I?

"Did you take the initiative to meet him before the day of your meeting with him?" my father asked again and I could only remain silent without knowing what to answer. I was still in shock from knowing that I had slept with Ethan. The man who was set up by me. The man I didn't want to marry.

Did Ethan already know it was me, that's why he did it with me? I bit my lower lip with an uneasy feeling. I looked at my father who had a happy expression, in contrast to Nicole.

Nicole, who was initially so enthusiastic about seeing the CCTV footage, now looked so angry. Actually, what was she planning?

"Dad, I...."

"I'll call Ethan to come to the house today. We'll discuss your wedding. The wedding schedule will be accelerated!"

I couldn't reply to my father's words. I just stayed silent with my head bowed. Then I saw Nicole walking out angrily.

I quietly followed Nicole from behind. I wondered if she was the mastermind behind everything that happened to me last night. Did she order that man to drug me? If I have proof, I'll give it to you right away. Showing how sneaky and evil Nicole has been.

I hid behind a wall and saw Nicole talking to someone on a hotel balcony. Looking very angry. I even heard her cursing at the person she was calling. I tried to get closer and I heard that she had someone drug me and then rape me.

What a wicked woman! How could Nicole go this far with me? I never even did anything bad to her.

When Nicole finished speaking and turned back around. We locked eyes. I stood defiantly in front of Nicole. But Nicole was completely unfazed.

"So you did it? Ordered someone to drug me and rape me?!" I snapped in a loud voice. I was so angry that I didn't care anymore if anyone heard, including Dad.

"Do you have proof that I did it?!" retorted Nicole. "If you have proof, then show it to me. Show it to Daddy," Nicole said with a defiant look.

That was true. I didn't have any solid proof that Nicole had done anything. I just heard her talking on the phone with someone. Stupidly, I didn't record it at all. So, how can I prove Nicole's cunning?

Damn it.

I clenched my hands together in anger. "Look Nicole, just this once, I will let you go. But if you ever cheat on me again, it doesn't matter where I look for evidence of your crimes. I will find it and show it to Daddy," I threatened.

Nicole was silent. "Try it if you can," she challenged. I chuckled in annoyance as Nicole brushed past me, deliberately elbowing my shoulder hard.

"Damn," I swore as I glanced sharply at Nicole who walked away.

After checking the CCTV footage, we returned home. Dad had told me that soon Ethan would be coming to the house with his parents to discuss our marriage. I couldn't argue.

I just said yes when he asked me to do my makeup and look nice when Ethan and his family came to the house. I was sure this was going to be the worst dinner I'd ever had.

I wasn't even sure I could look Ethan in the face after what happened to us last night. Did he realize it was me, or did he not know the woman he slept with was me?

I grabbed my hair in frustration as I thought about it all in my room. I didn't even have the energy to apply makeup. My face was currently pale and hideous. I could still smell the alcohol as I spoke.

"I hope there's a miracle where I don't have to marry Ethan," I whispered curled up on the bed.

Toward evening, the maid knocked on my bedroom door and told me to come down immediately. He said Ethan and his family had arrived and Dad had asked me to show up immediately.

I let out a long sigh as I descended the stairs with an uneasy feeling. I saw Ethan standing behind me, talking to my father. I really couldn't see his face.

As dinner progressed, my mom and dad kept talking about how it would be nice to speed up our wedding. And everyone seemed to agree, except me.

I stared at Ethan's face, the look on his face completely unreadable. Even when my dad asked him if he agreed to marry me. And he answered with a big smile.

"Of course. Who wouldn't want to marry a beautiful and graceful woman like Layla," Ethan said. At that moment, I wanted to spit out my food.

Was he acting? Or did he mean it? I had no idea.

At the far end of the table, I saw Nicole with an annoyed look on her face. She kept glancing at me, looking unhappy with tonight's meeting.

"We decided that your marriage will be expedited. You will get married next month. I'll have someone organize all the preparations for you. You just need to choose your wedding rings and dresses," my father said.

"Dad, that's too soon. We also need to get to know each other before we get married, don't we?" I protested, but I immediately fell silent when my father gave me a sharp glance. I really couldn't do anything. My life was like a bird in a cage.