Chapter 4

Caroline woke up when she heard her phone ringing. She swallowed when she felt Miguel moving beside her. She rubbed her forehead as she remembered what they did last night. She bit her lip because only a blanket covered their bodies.

She couldn't believe that she was still with the man she had a one-night stand with last night. Suddenly, she remembered Alexander. She left him at the bar last night. She didn't say goodbye to her suitor.

"Good morning," Miguel whispered as he kissed her on the cheek. She quickly grabbed the blanket and covered herself with it. Miguel looked at Caroline with a playful smile. "No need to hide it. I already saw that."

She looked at Miguel with widened eyes. She felt a little embarrassed. "You need to leave."

"Is your boyfriend coming soon?" Miguel asked with a smirk, leaning closer to Caroline's face. Caroline swallowed nervously. "But I still want to be with you."

Caroline took a deep breath. "I don't have a boyfriend. Just please leave."

"Then why are you asking me to leave? You can make me your-"

"The one-night stand is over, okay? You can leave now!" Caroline snapped at Miguel.

Caroline's phone rang again. She pulled the blanket and got off the bed. She looked at the caller ID to see who was calling her. Her shoulders slumped when she saw her mother's name.

She didn't answer her mother's call because she knew she would scold her. She didn't ask permission to stay at the condo. She placed her phone on the bed and glanced at Miguel. He was staring at her. Miguel was not wearing any clothes.

"Pervert!" Caroline exclaimed, avoiding eye contact.

"Do you have any spare clothes that would fit me? I can't go out like this. My things are wet," he asked.

"Then wash them and hang them out to dry," Caroline retorted, raising an eyebrow.

"Are you kidding me? After I took you to heaven, this is how you repay me?"

Miguel rolled his eyes and walked towards the bathroom to get his things. Caroline swallowed again as she looked at his body. Miguel was tall and had a great physique.

Caroline shook her head as she dressed up. She also looked for clothes that she could lend to Miguel.

"Let me borrow your extra clothes. I'll return it when we see each other again," Miguel said as he returned from the bathroom, carrying his wet belongings.

Caroline quickly turned around to hand Miguel her oversized shirt. As she turned back, she quickly covered her eyes upon seeing that Miguel was still undressed.

"Damn it, Miguel! Turn around!" Caroline exclaimed, still covering her eyes.

Miguel chuckled and slowly walked towards Caroline, wanting to tease her.

"You've already seen it, so why are you still covering your face? You ate it and licked it, remember?" he teased Caroline.

Caroline shrugged. "Shut up!"

Miguel picked up Caroline's oversized shirt and quickly put it on.

"Don't tell me you didn't enjoy what we did last night?" Miguel teased as he put on the slightly damp pants.

"Shut up, pervert!"

Miguel grinned and took Caroline's hands to remove them. "You're blushing," Miguel teased her.

"I'm not!" Caroline retorted. "Leave my condo. Leave!"

"Yes, baby," Miguel said with a grin and stole a kiss from the girl.

"Caroline!"

They both turned their heads towards the door upon hearing Alexander's voice.

"You said you don't have a boyfriend?" Miguel asked, puzzled, as he looked towards the door.

"Are you okay? Why is there a broken vase here?" Alexander asked with concern, trying to open the door.

"He's not my boyfriend!"

"Then, who is he?" Miguel asked curiously before taking his shoes.

Caroline's phone suddenly rang. She quickly picked it up and checked the caller ID. She cursed under her breath when she saw Alexander's name.

"Answer it. It might be important," Miguel suggested, arms crossed.

Caroline cleared her throat before answering Alexander's call.

"Are you at your condo now? I'm so fucking worried. I'm sorry about last night. I didn't take you home because I drank a lot and fell asleep at the bar."

"It's okay, Alex. Yes, I'm here at the condo. I can hear you too. I just want to be alone. I'll also go home later."

"Do you want me to drive you home? Your parents are also asking about you, but I couldn't give them any answers. Are you okay?" Alexander asked as he tried to open the door again.

"I want to be alone, Alex. Just go home."

Alexander sighed before speaking again. "Are you sure you're okay? Are you not mad at me?"

Caroline took a deep breath and clenched her jaw. She knew Alexander wouldn't stop.

"Just go home before I start getting annoyed with you."

She hung up and clasped her hands. She hadn't expected her parents to give Alexander the passcode to her condo. They were starting to take away her right to have a peaceful life.

"Are you sure he's not your boyfriend?" Miguel asked, which only irritated her more. "I have to go. I still have someone I need to meet today."

Caroline glanced at Miguel. "Your fuck buddies?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.

Miguel chuckled. "Fuck buddies your foot. I don't do that. See you, around."

Caroline pressed her forehead with her hand. She realized that Miguel couldn't pass through the elevator, especially since she wasn't sure if Alexander had left her condo.

"Wait!" Caroline shouted and quickly walked towards Miguel.

"What? Are you going to kick me out or not?" Miguel snapped at her. "Don't tell me..."

Caroline gritted her teeth. "You can't pass through there, especially not in the elevator. Alexander might see you."

"Alexander? Your boyfriend? I don't care if he sees me. We don't even know each other."

"He's not my boyfriend!"

"And you're still denying it?"

Caroline dragged Miguel towards the window. The man looked at her in disbelief. "You're going to make me pass through here?" Miguel asked.

"Yes. You really can't go through the elevator because he might still be there. I'll be in big trouble with my parents!"

Miguel rolled his eyes and followed the girl's instructions. He carefully went through the window until he reached the parking lot.

A strong slap from her mother greeted Caroline when she arrived home.

"Why didn't you come home last night? I told you not to go back to your condo until you accept Mr. Mercedez's son!" Glenda angrily scolded her daughter.

Caroline glanced at her father sitting on the couch, sipping tea. He didn't even look at her when she arrived.

"From now on, you're not leaving the house without someone with you!" Glenda shouted as she stood in front of her daughter.

"What?! Do I have no right to do what I want? You are ridiculous!"

Caroline couldn't help but raise her voice against her mother.

"Ridiculous? We're just protecting our reputations, Caroline!"

Glenda took her phone from the table. "How are you going to explain this to us? You were with Alexander last night, but you were kissing a different man!" her mother angrily exclaimed.

Glenda showed her daughter the captured photos of her and Miguel from last night. Caroline breathed a sigh of relief because the shots were blurry, especially Miguel's face. The man's hands were around her waist, and Caroline's hands were on Miguel's neck as they kissed.

Caroline chuckled slightly. "Did Alexander give you those photos? And wait, did you have to give him the passcode to my condo? He's an addict, and you've made me crazy about him!"

Once again, Caroline received a strong slap from her mother. She held her cheek, trying to hold back the tears threatening to fall from her eyes.

"Who is that man? Is that your standard for men, Caroline? I didn't raise you to be like that. You're embarrassing our family!"

Caroline took a deep breath. She restrained herself from responding harshly to her mother.

"Who is the man you kissed last night? Did you bring him to your condo, which is why you didn't come home? Have a little respect for our family, Caroline! You're not a child to be told the difference between right and wrong!"

"That's enough, Glenda!" Samson, Caroline's father, reprimanded in a cold tone.

"Don't stop me, Samson!" Glenda turned to her husband. "Our daughter needs to learn a lesson. I don't know what I'll do to her if the Mercedez family finds out about this. She only brings us problems! If she had just accepted Mr. Mercedez's son, we wouldn't be dealing with all of this!"

"Don't pressure her, Glenda. She needs enough time to decide," Samson said, standing up to calm his wife. He gave Caroline a stern look. "You're not leaving this house without your bodyguard, Caroline."

"What? When did I ever have a personal bodyguard, Dad? Do you have to do this to me? You know I don't want Alexander. Is our family's need that great that you had to push me towards the son of your business partner, Dad? Don't I have the right to choose who I marry?"

"Be careful with your words, Caroline," Samson reprimanded his daughter.

“Why do I have to be the one to marry that addict when Cecile can do it?”

“Enough, Caroline!” Samson angrily shouted.