CHAPTER 2

THE NEXT MORNING, the sound of my phone startled me awake. I squinted at the screen and groggly groped for it. The name flashing across it caused my blood to stop—Romeo, my Dad.

Heart thumping, I jumped off the bed, fumbling to respond, but the ringing stopped just before I could swipe the screen. Two seconds later a text alert showed up.

**COME HOME RIGHT AWAY** In all caps locked.

There was no space for justification or explanation for his calling of me. Simply as usual, just an order.

I hurriedly got up, still wondering why my father suddenly wanted me to go home right away. But what made me suddenly confused what what on earth was I even doing in an unfamiliar room?

I was so certain, this wasn’t my hotel room. My head still hurts due to hangover but I know that I must get up and come home right away. And as my feet nearly tripped from the scattered clothes on the floor, that was the only time when everything else came flooding my memories about what happened last night.

“Shit.” I mouthed. Following that, my eyes widened as I heard the loud noise of shower from the bathroom. F*ck, did I actually sleep with another man last night? A stranger?

My hand quickly covered my mouth as I couldn’t believe I actually did that. I was no different to my husband for I actually allowed another man, let alone a stranger, to have me other than Derick.

As shame crawled up my sleeves, my body quickly picked up my clothes as I made my way out of the hotel room. I couldn’t even bring myself facing whoever that man was. Although a hazy memory of him flashes in my memory—I could only wish to never encounter him again and I hope he does not remember my face either.

When I got out of the hotel, I quickly managed to pull a cab that brought me home to meet my father. My mind was whirling with a thousand rumbled thoughts. The drive home was a haze.

But right now, all that suddenly came to mind was why would he want me home so desperately?

When I did get there, I hardly had time to shut the door behind me before Dad showed up, his face a mask of wrath.

“Dad, what—” The words died in my throat as he strode over and gave me a hard slap across the face.

My cheek hurting with the intensity of the strike, the shock of it left me whirling. Tears filling my eyes, I glanced up at him trying to understand what had just happened.

"You have embarrassed this family," he yelled, his voice icy and merciless. "I can't believe you left the party to be with another man! How could you be so shameless?"

I could hardly breathe because of the impact, yet I forced myself to defend myself. "What are you talking about that?” I didn’t understand how were they even able to find out about what happened to me right away. 

"Enough, young woman!" he screamed, cutting me off. "Your infidelity is all over the news. You have no idea how that filthy act of your impacted the reputation of my company! You’re such a disgrace!"

His words cut deeper than the slap. I felt like I was drowning, unable to make him see the truth. “If only Agatha was my biological daughter, I would have disposed of you and have her as my heir instead. And yet, here I am stuck with disciplining an irresponsible and ungrateful brat like you!”

“Why are you always comparing me to Agatha? You always shower her with praise, yet you barely can’t see her true colors! I shouldn’t even be the one you’re blaming, Dad.”

“What nonsense are you talking about?”

“Why don’t you ask Derrick and Agatha? Since they were the ones who betrayed me first by cheating behind my back!"

"It doesn't matter," he muttered dismissively, turning away from me as though I were nothing more than a hassle. "You have shown yourself unfit to be my heir, and so I'm going to strip you of all the inheritance and rights to my company. From this day on, you may leave this house empty-handed.”

My breath seized in my throat. "You can't be serious on this, dad."

"Oh, but I am," he said, his tone not allowing for debate. "And my decision is final. Also, there’s one more thing you have to do.”

“What?” I asked, and my father was silent for the next moment until Derick came into the scene with Agatha.

The nerve of them holding hands and my own father was playing blind while seeing them before me. He really didn’t want to believe me even if the whole damn truth was slapping right before his face.

Derrick eventually laid out the divorce papers before me and said, “Sign the divorce papers now, and I will be merciful enough to send you a million dollars as your alimony.”

The world seemed to have turned underfoot, and I was free-falling into a dream I was unable to flee.

"You’re really disowning me, Dad? Your own daughter over these damn fools?" I said, pointing at Derick and Agatha, my voice shaking in an attempt to remain cool. "Well then, fine, Dad, I no longer care about my inheritance anymore.” I grabbed the divorce papers and angrily signed them.

“And I don’t need your money. You can keep it!” I told Derick as I pressed the documents back to him forcibly.

Not even flinching, my dad hardly looked at me as he delivered his last strike. "Take your feet and leave my house. I hope you don’t ever come back again!”

“I want you to remember this day, dad. Because you will regret this day that you have chosen them over your own daughter,” were my last words before I headed out of the house.

The walls coming up around me seemed to be ensnaring me in a life I did not want. I could not bear the treachery, the heartbreak, and the stifling control any more. Without further word, I turned on my heels and bolted out of the house, my father's icy stare blazing into my behind.

Tears washed down my face as I climbed into my car. Though I had no idea where I was heading, I knew one thing: I could not stay. Not here, not in this hell of life. I had to get away, figure something out before it totally wrecked me.

With all the money I had saved, I booked a flight bound for Monte Carlo, Monaco.

The breath-taking Mediterranean fresh air caressed my face the moment I got off the plane, and it surely made me feel both elation and worry whirl inside me. I halted to take in the beautiful sight of Monte Carlo, here in Monaco.

The beachfront boasted from the distance, and the pristine blue skies seemed to run as though they were endless above me. This was my getaway, my chance to be free, but the knots in my gut warned me that freedom carried drawbacks.

The life I left behind—my father’s tightly controlled world—was suffocating. However, here, I could do most things on my own accord.

“Monaco,” I whispered to myself, as if saying the name aloud would make it feel more real. “This is it, Bridgette. You’re finally going to start a new life here.”

I took a deep breath and began to walk as I dragged my suitcase behind me. Strangers flocked to the airport, none of them familiar with me or the chaos I was fleeing. I felt like I could breathe for the first time in a very long while. However, the weight of the choices I had taken to get here arrived with that breath.

When I finally reached the Fairlowe Hotel, I was struck by its grandeur. The entrance was lined with marble pillars, and the lobby sparkled with crystal chandeliers.

After a brief moment of feeling insignificant in the midst of such wealth, I recalled my purpose for being here. This location served as more than simply a getaway; it was my haven.

As I walked up to the reception desk, a woman in an elegant uniform smiled at me rehearsedly.

"Good day, welcome to the Fairlowe Hotel. How may I help you?"

"I—I have a reservation," I stumbled out, catching myself for the first time in my constriction. "Under Bridgette Martinez."

"Of course, Miss Martinez. I'll have it checked, just a moment, please." Her smile did not falter as she tapped on her desktop. "Ah, yes, I do see your reservation. You’ve booked our Deluxe Suite for an extended stay. Is that right?”

I nodded, attempting to copy her calm demeanor. "Yes, that's correct."

"Excellent. I'll send up your luggage right away, Miss Martinez. Kindly sign these documents, and also, here is your key card. If you need anything at all, don’t hesitate to call the front desk.”

“Thank you,” I said, taking the key card from her with trembling fingers.

The suite was exquisite, with a bed that seemed out of a fairy tale, luxurious carpeting, and floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the sea. After putting my suitcase down, I strolled towards the window and gazed out at the far distance.

"This is my chance," I whispered to myself. "My opportunity to start over."

However, the novelty of my new surroundings soon gave way to the harsh reality of my circumstances.

I didn't know how I was going to pull this off or create a plan. I just knew that there was no turning back to my previous life. I took a quick look at the nightstand clock. It was late in the afternoon, and I had to get moving.

That evening, a masquerade ball was taking place in the hotel's magnificent ballroom, which presented the ideal chance for me to meet someone who might help me escape the ruthless treatment my father had over my life. I knew it was a desperate scheme, but I had nowhere else to turn for help.

I took out the burgundy dress that used to belong to my mother from my suitcase. The cloth matched my memory of her in terms of richness and luxury. I experienced a rush of confidence as soon as I put it on, as if she were right beside me, giving me the guts to complete whatever I had to do.

I muttered, "Mom," as I tucked the dress around my waist. "Hopefully you're keeping an eye on me. I'm going to require every bit of guts from you, wherever you are."

Even though I hadn't anticipated it, the evening came, and I was soon standing inside the vast ballroom.

The occasion was extravagant beyond description; sparkling chandeliers threw a golden glow over the attendees, who were all dressed to the nines. Feeling uncomfortable, I hesitated for a second before realizing why I was here. I had no time to be cowardly.

As I walked into the ballroom, an usherette handed me a black mask and said, "Here you go, miss."

I smiled a little when I took it. "thank you."

I put on the mask and found a certain solace in the sense of mystery it offered. I could be anyone and do anything with the mask on. If only for a couple of hours, I could let go of the weight of my past.