1.

Raina stood in the cold drizzle outside the café where they always met, her arms wrapped around herself. She had been waiting for almost twenty minutes, but now she wasn’t sure why she bothered.

The text from Kevin still glowed on her phone screen:

“Let’s talk. It’s important.”

She had sensed something off about him for weeks. Kevin had been distant, his once-loving gaze now flitting past her as if she were invisible. When the café door finally swung open, Kevin stepped out with an apologetic smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes.

“Hey,” he said, shoving his hands into his pockets.

Raina’s heart clenched at how familiar and yet foreign he felt. “What’s going on, Kevin? You’ve been acting weird for weeks.”

Kevin sighed, avoiding her gaze. “Raina, I’ve been meaning to talk to you about… us.”

A chill raced down her spine that had nothing to do with the rain. “Okay,” she said cautiously.

He hesitated, then blurted out, “I think we should end things.”

The words hit her like a slap, but she held her ground. “Why?” she asked.

Before he could answer, laughter rang out, and she turned to see Rachel stepping out of the café. She stopped, eyes locking with Raina’s, guiltless and poised.

Raina’s heart sank as Kevin stepped closer to Rachel, his hand brushing her arm.

“You’ve been seeing her?” Raina’s voice cracked, disbelief giving way to anger.

“Raina—I was going to tell you—”

But Raina wasn’t listening. Her gaze flicked between Kevin and Rachel, the truth crashing over her like a tidal wave.

“You’re kidding me,” she said, her voice low and shaking with fury. “Her? After everything we’ve been through?”

Kevin stepped forward, his hands raised. “It’s not like that. Raina, Rachel just—she understands where I want to go in life. She has connections, ambition—” he said.

“Connections?” Raina interrupted, her face twisting in disbelief. “You’re throwing away three years of love and loyalty for someone who can give you a fancier lifestyle?”

“It’s not about money! Don’t make this ugly,” Kevin snapped, but the way his eyes flicked to Rachel said otherwise.

Raina laughed bitterly, the sound sharp and cold. “Don’t lie to me. You’re a selfish, spineless coward, Kevin. And you—” she turned to Rachel, her eyes blazing. “You’re nothing more than a consolation prize. Have fun with him.”

Kevin flinched but didn’t respond. He simply turned and walked away with Rachel, leaving Raina standing in the rain, her heart shattering piece by piece.

For a moment, she let the tears flow, mingling with the rain. But then she straightened, lifting her chin. She wouldn’t let Kevin’s betrayal define her. She would rise above it, She always did.

Desperate to forget Kevin, Raina walked into the dimly lit hotel bar. The soft sound of jazz filled the room, offering a small comfort to her aching heart. Kevin’s words kept replaying in her mind: She has more to offer.

She slid onto a barstool, her hair damp and sticking to her face from the rain. The bartender gave her a polite nod.

“What can I get you?”

“Something strong,” she said, her voice hoarse. “Surprise me.”

Moments later, a dark amber drink was placed in front of her. She didn’t ask what it was; she just drank. The alcohol burned her throat, but it dulled the ache in her chest, so she ordered another. And another.

The world around her blurred as she drank more, the edges of everything fading. The bar got busier, but she didn’t notice the people coming and going, their laughter and voices just a background hum.

At some point, she felt a hand on her shoulder. Turning, she saw a tall woman with sharp features and piercing blue eyes looking down at her. Her face was a mix of concern and urgency.

“There you are,” she said, her voice low and firm. “I’ve been looking for you. Your text said you’ll be waiting behind the bar.”

Raina blinked at her, confused. “Do I know you?” she asked.

The woman frowned. “This isn’t funny. You shouldn’t be here. You can’t meet them like this.” She replied.

Before Raina could protest, the tall woman slipped an arm around her waist, steadying her as she guided her off the stool. Her legs felt like jelly, and she leaned into her, too intoxicated to resist.

“Where are we going?” she slurred.

“Upstairs,” she said curtly. “You need to rest.”

The next few minutes passed in a blur. The elevator ride, the hushed whispers of a keycard unlocking a door, the softness of a bed beneath her as she carefully set her down. Raina tried to focus, but the alcohol dragged her deeper into a fog.

“Wait here,” the woman said, her voice softer now, almost apologetic. “I’ll be back soon.”

The door clicked shut behind her, leaving Raina in an unfamiliar hotel room. She tried to sit up, but the world tilted dangerously, and she fell back onto the plush pillows.

Her mind raced despite the haze. Who was the woman? Why did she think I was someone else? And why did she leave me here?

Too exhausted and drunk to make sense of it, Raina let her eyes flutter shut, the sound of the rain against the window lulling her into an uneasy sleep.

Raina stirred as the sound of the door clicking open roused her slightly. Her head was heavy, the alcohol still clouding her thoughts. She heard soft footsteps, and for a fleeting moment, she thought it was the same woman returning to tell her there’d been a mistake.

But as she drifted in and out of awareness, the mattress dipped under unfamiliar weight. Her senses sharpened just enough to realize something was different. This wasn’t the same woman.

A whiff of his cologne reached her—a heady, luxurious blend of oud and bergamot. She knew the scent immediately, a best-seller in the shop where she’d worked for years. Whoever he was, he wasn’t an ordinary stranger.

She tried to sit up, to ask who he was, but her limbs felt like lead. Before she could form words, he leaned closer, his voice low and slurred.

“I finally found you, Laurel.” He murmured, his words sweet but clumsy, the smell of alcohol heavy on his breath.

Raina’s heart raced. Laurel? She wasn’t Laurel. “Wait, I’m Raina… Raina Ross. I think you’ve—”

Before she could finish, his hand brushed her arm, then her cheek. She stiffened, unsure whether to push him away or try to explain.

“Raina?” he murmured with a frown.

His eyes seemed to flicker with confusion, as if her name triggered something just out of reach. After a moment, he smiled, leaning back a little.

“You’re even more beautiful like this,” he said softly, his voice filled with a drunken reverence. His touch lingered, trailing down her jawline as if she were something precious.

Raina tried again to move, to push him back, but he was already leaning in, capturing her lips in a kiss. For a moment, her mind screamed at her to stop, to say something—but the warmth of his mouth and the soft pressure against hers muted her protests.

His hands traced her arms, pulling her closer, and she gave in, lost in the heat of the moment.

Maybe this is what I need, she thought, pushing away the pain of Kevin’s betrayal.

After all, it wasn’t like she was cheating on him. Kevin had made it clear he didn’t want her. He’d chosen Rachel and left her shattered. Why shouldn’t she let herself feel wanted for once, even if only for a fleeting moment?

Her resistance melted as the stranger deepened the kiss, his touch urgent. All that mattered was the warmth, the moment.

Tonight, she could forget.

At dawn, Raina stirred, feeling an unfamiliar sense of contentment. The bed beneath her was soft—softer than she remembered—and the warmth of an arm draped around her brought a surprising comfort. She sighed, a small smile tugging at her lips as she nuzzled into the pillow.

For the first time in ages, she felt like she’d had the best sleep of her life.

But as she opened her eyes, the smile faded. This wasn’t her room.

Her room didn’t have a high ceiling with ornate crown moldings. It certainly didn’t have a grand crystal chandelier glinting in the morning sunlight.

Panic started to creep in as her gaze darted around the unfamiliar space—a luxurious hotel room, with heavy velvet drapes and tasteful décor.

Then she felt it again. The arm.

Her heart skipped a beat as she slowly turned her head to look at the person lying next to her. The man’s face was partially obscured by the pillow, but what she could see left her breathless.

Golden strands of hair caught the light, his features chiseled and impossibly perfect. A strong jawline, high cheekbones, and full lips that seemed almost too perfect to be real.

Shit. I slept with a stranger.

Her chest tightened as the realization hit her like a freight train. The events of the night before were a blur. The last thing she remembered was ordering drinks at the bar, trying to drown her heartbreak.

Raina bit her lip, her mind racing. Carefully, she slid out from under the man’s arm, her movements slow and deliberate to avoid waking him. Every nerve in her body was on edge, but she managed to slip free.

The plush carpet muffled her footsteps as she scrambled to find her clothes. She spotted her dress draped over a chair, her heels lying haphazardly near the door. Pulling on her dress as quickly as she could, she glanced back at the bed.

The man hadn’t stirred. He lay there peacefully, his bare chest rising and falling with each steady breath.

What the hell happened last night?

Her fingers trembled as she slipped on her heels and grabbed her clutch. She moved toward the door, pausing only briefly to take one last look at the stranger who had unknowingly shared the night with her.

He was gorgeous, and the warmth of his touch still lingered on her skin. But she couldn’t stay. She had to get out before he woke up and complicated this already surreal morning.

Raina slipped out of the room, the door clicking softly shut behind her.

As she hurried down the hall, her heart pounded in her chest. She couldn’t stop replaying the night in her mind, trying desperately to fill in the blanks.

What have I done?

She pushed through the revolving doors and stepped onto the bustling sidewalk, her mind a chaotic mess of regret and disbelief.

What did I do? She thought again, replaying the fragmented memories of the night before.

Her heart pounded, her thoughts spinning so fast that she barely noticed the sounds of the city around her. Cars honked, people called out to each other, and the distant rumble of engines filled the air. But none of it registered.

She stepped off the curb in a daze, not seeing the van barreling down the street.

A sharp shout cut through her haze, but it was too late. The van’s horn blared, and the screech of tires against the asphalt filled her ears.

Raina turned her head just in time to see the vehicle hurtling toward her. Her body froze, her breath catching in her throat.

Move! Her mind screamed, but her limbs refused to obey.

The impact came before she could react. The van slammed into her side, the force throwing her off her feet. Pain exploded through her body as she hit the pavement hard, her head striking the concrete with a sickening thud.

Time seemed to slow as she lay there, her vision dimming. Warmth spread beneath her, and she realized it was her own blood pooling on the ground.

The sounds of the city faded into a muffled hum as darkness crept in at the edges of her vision.

The last thing she saw before everything went black was the blurry outline of concerned faces hovering over her, and the distant wail of a siren growing louder.