T W O

Juliette bit her lip hard, trying to keep herself conscious after downing several glasses of alcohol provided at the bar in the corner of the room. The masquerade ball, which started as classy and elegant, turned into a disaster when all the uptight adults left, leaving only those around her age, both men and women. Although the masks were still on their faces, the ballroom atmosphere changed to that of a nightclub with loud music and guests dancing wildly on the dance floor.

Luckily, the masquerade was held in a hotel that could accommodate the guests, so those who attended didn't have to worry about travelling far back to their residences, tired and drunk.

She began to feel the effects of alcohol as her vision blurred, and a light, happy feeling took over. Juliette undoubtedly became the centre of attention as she danced in the middle of the dance floor. She was the event's star, and her appearance captivated everyone, but she didn't care.

Juliette danced so freely with her friends, laughing and shouting in satisfaction. Even guests from the elite circles went crazy due to the alcohol. But in her drunken state, Juliette felt a strange sensation, as if she was being watched. Her neck hair stood on end, and her back felt hot.

Juliette looked to the right and left, searching for the source of the unsettling feeling. When she glanced toward the bar, her hazel eyes met with a pair of dark eyes belonging to a man staring at her intensely. Occasionally, the man sipped alcohol from the crystal glass in his hand. Juliette, with a courage she never had before, walked to a part of the dance floor where the man could see her fully.

Blame the alcohol because if she were sober, Juliette wouldn't be dancing so provocatively, showing off her curves and assets to a stranger. Juliette imagined Robbin's reaction if he saw this; her stepbrother would scream hysterically and call her stupid for trying to seduce an unknown man.

Juliette smiled and bit her lip again. This time, she closed her eyes and let the music guide her movements, attracting the mysterious man and other men who began to approach her. Was this the moment for Juliette to lose her virginity?

Before Juliette could answer the question, she felt a pair of arms possessively wrap around her waist. Warm breath brushed her face, and light kisses kissed her exposed neck and shoulders.

Juliette continued to move her hips, enveloped by the masculine scent of the man, making her even more drunk and lost.

She didn't know what happened next. Juliette remembered being led away from the dance floor and ballroom. She only became aware when they entered the elevator because she saw her reflection in the metal door. Her appearance was dishevelled. The man's hands had messed up her hair, and her knee-length black dress had ridden up several inches. But what kept Juliette's gaze was the large, broad back covering part of her reflection.

Juliette gasped when her butt was squeezed, and the man whispered in a low, hoarse voice. She didn't recognize the voice because of the alcohol, but it aroused her entire body. She trembled, especially when the man's large, rough fingers touched her exposed skin.

When they left the elevator, Juliette's mind was empty again, partly because of the man's expert kisses. She vaguely heard a beep and the sound of a door. Then Juliette squealed when she was lifted and carried through the hotel room.

The man only put her down when they were beside the bed. Juliette groaned and blinked, trying to clear her blurry vision. Her head spun slightly, and she felt even more lightheaded when the man handed her a glass of alcohol. Still, this lightness was different from her drunkenness.

Did she unintentionally consume drugs? It could happen because she had seen elite parties using drugs as the night wore on.

Juliette shook her head and tried to stand up straight, but with a gentle push from the man's hands on her shoulders, she fell to her knees on the floor. She didn't understand what was happening.

The man whispered, "You know I've been waiting for this long. I won't waste this opportunity to claim you. You're mine." Juliette didn't know when the man stripped off her clothes.

Juliette groaned as her jaw was firmly grasped, forcing her to look up. The man's smirk made her entire body tremble. Juliette felt him remove her underwear before stepping back, creating a distance between them. She didn't know what was being done to her at that moment. Her mind was blank, filled only with freedom and passion.

She moaned and muttered incoherent words, then tried to rise before falling back to her knees in the same spot. Juliette decided to crawl towards the man. His touch, the electric feeling she experienced, and the passion that took over her body made Juliette act even wilder.

The combination of alcohol and drugs is not good for anyone. Juliette didn't even realize the man was recording and photographing her freely because she had only one thing on her mind.

When she reached the man, Juliette unbuckled his belt around his solid waist. She saw his face still covered by a black mask, but Juliette didn't care because what captivated her was the clear passion in his dark eyes.

Juliette didn't know what happened next. She felt her body lifted and thrown onto the bed. Juliette focused only on the man's touch. She didn't realize what happened next until she felt her lower body filled. The man entered her with one thrust.

Juliette didn't comprehend everything happening to her. She only heard moans of pleasure and the man's growls. She felt her body respond and shake.

Then Juliette didn't know how she reached this point, with her hands and feet chained and her mouth gagged while the man pounded her repeatedly. Juliette's mind was hazy, but simultaneously, she felt alive with each movement and thrust from the man.

Finally, Juliette couldn't hold on any longer and closed her eyes, losing consciousness.

The man stepped back and withdrew from his beloved, his prisoner for himself alone. He knew Juliette wouldn't remember what happened when she woke up the next day. He grabbed his robe and opened his phone, looking at the various photos and videos he took, then photographed Juliette's body again. A cruel grin slowly appeared on his lips. He wasn't okay with Juliette not remembering that night.

Because he would ensure that Juliette would always remember him and this night.

…

The next morning, when Juliette woke up with a throbbing headache and nausea, she found herself alone in a hotel room. There was no memory of last night's events. Everything was dark and hazy. She last remembered dancing on the dance floor for a mysterious man. Juliette widened her eyes and threw off the blanket covering her body. She could only gasp in shock, realizing she was naked and her body was adorned with kiss marks, some bites, and bruises.

Slowly, her eyes blurred with tears, hoping that all these terrible things were just a dream. But when Juliette moved her legs and winced from the pain in her lower body, she had to swallow the bitter reality. Especially when she turned to the nightstand and saw a piece of paper with a short message from the man who had slept with her. Juliette grabbed the paper with trembling hands and read the message there.

"It was a wonderful night with you, and remember, from now on, you are mine."

Juliette threw the paper as if it were a dangerous virus. Her face turned pale before she quickly shook her head. No. No. The man was bluffing and trying to scare her. They had only had a one-night stand. Nothing more.

Juliette tried to think positively. After all, they didn't know each other, right? Even if the man knew she was Juliette De Lavigne, it didn't mean she knew him. The man had not attended the main event and only showed up when the wild party started. With that thought, Juliette wrapped herself in a blanket to cover her naked body, then reached for her scattered clothes. Juliette tried to find the underwear she had worn last night but couldn't find it anywhere.

Trying not to think negatively, Juliette put on her clothes and heels and ran out of the room. She didn't bother asking the receptionist who stayed in that room, knowing that the information would be confidential and the receptionist wouldn't disclose it.

Juliette decided to forget what had happened and stood in front of the hotel, waiting for a taxi. After she was inside the cab and it left the hotel area, Juliette breathed a sigh of relief and tried hard to remember the events of last night.

Nothing.

She couldn't remember anything clearly. Juliette ruffled her long hair in frustration before closing her eyes and taking a deep breath. She needed to stay calm; nothing would happen. Once the day ended, it would all be forgotten. Juliette believed the man would forget their one-night stand, and the message she read was just a ploy to make her feel embarrassed. She tried to keep thinking positively. At least, from that one-night stand, Juliette was no longer a virgin, right?

Regret gnawed at her. It had always been Juliette's dream to give her first night to the man she loved, not a stranger. But what could she do? Juliette couldn't do much.

She took a breath and glanced at the digital clock on the car's dashboard. There was still an hour before breakfast, giving Juliette enough time to clean up and change clothes. She knew that if she arrived late or appeared improperly dressed, other De Lavigne family members would criticize her.

Juliette sighed deeply and straightened her back as the taxi turned into the luxurious De Lavigne estate. She passed through two grand black gates guarded by several guards in black suits with earphones in their left ears. She knew the taxi would be stopped for inspection, so Juliette rolled down the back window and waved at the head guard.

Juliette got out when the car stopped at the mansion's circular driveway, which had a large fountain in the centre. Luckily, her phone was with her so she could pay for the taxi electronically. After getting out, Juliette was immediately greeted by her mother, who stood at the mansion door with folded arms and a sharp gaze.

Juliette took a deep breath and gave her mother a stiff smile. "Hi, Mom," she greeted awkwardly.

"No time. I'll lecture you later. Now clean yourself up and change your clothes," Meryl ordered firmly.

"Alright." Without another word, Juliette ran into the mansion and up the stairs, hoping she wouldn't encounter any stepfamily members in this state.

Once in her room, Juliette could finally breathe a sigh of relief. She hadn't encountered any De Lavigne family members or seen any servants or guards in the mansion's corridors. This was good because Juliette could reach her room unnoticed—except by her mother.

Juliette went straight to the bathroom and cleaned her body. Her face was still covered in makeup from the night before, and her body was still dirty. Then, she entered the walk-in closet connected to the bathroom. Juliette chose a simple, modest dress and put it on.

When she looked presentable, Juliette glanced at the wall clock and saw only five minutes left before breakfast. After putting on flat shoes, Juliette left her room, mentally and emotionally preparing herself for the next hour.

...