Chapter 20 Id spent so long trying to remember what happened en my birthday that year laut no matter how hand I tred .
I couldnt recall It was my year n of college , and my birthday happened to fall on Christmas Day .
Thad expected a cory , intimate date with Austin , but instead , he invited a group of our college friends to celebrate , including Rosemary .
Back then , I hadnt thought much of Rosemary .
If anything , I felt sorry for her because of the trage acrident that had taken her parents lives .
She was our age , yet she had to endure so much low We had a great time that night .
I drank more than I usually would at dinner , and afterward , we went to a karaoke lounge .
Normally , I never touched alcohol , but that night , I drank a lot .
My memory blurred after that , but I vaguely remembered Austin taking me to a hotel .
Then , nothing .
When I woke up the next morning , he was sitting by my bedside , holding my hand tightly .
His voice was full of conviction as he promised .
Ill marry no ene but yısı .
I was so touched .
I leaned into his arms , believing every word Looking back now , I see how foolish I was .
He hadnt even given me a ring just an empty promise .
I devoted six years of my life to him But now a sudden realization hat me After that night .
1 mussed my penod for a while , and Austin panicked .
He was so nervous , insisting we go to the hospital immediately .
I had thought he was worried about how a pregnancy might affect our studies , but it turned out to be a false alarm .
That was when he suggested we should stop having sex for my health , and for the sake of his familys reputation .
I had no objections .
I didnt remember anything about that night , and when I tried to get out of bed , my legs were so weak and sore that I could barely stand .
The experience left me with an unshakable fear of intimacy .
Thinking about it now, a wave of realization crashed over me .
I had been living a lie ..
I really was pathetic and foolish .
How much of what Austin did was out of love ? And how much of it was because he was afraid I might go to the police ! How much of what Austin did was out of love ? And how much of it was because he was afraid I might go to the police The Herrera family had strict rules .
Their daughters had to be home before midnight and werent allowed to live in dorms .
Even if they studied in another city , the family would buy or rent an apartment for them , with a housekeeper assigned to take care of meals and to keep an eye on them .
The rules were slightly more lenient for the men , allowing them to stay out overnight , but they were still forbidden from disgracing the family nave was out of the question .
Having a child out of wedlock was out I remember asking Austin why his family had such rigid traditions .
He smiled slightly and said .
My grandfather always said that if a Herrera lacks even the most basic self control , they have no place in the Herrera Group In other words , anyone who broke the rules was automatically disqualified from inheriting the family business .
The ringing of my phone pulled me from my thoughts .
What does Rosemary want from you ? Angelas voice carried a clear edge of annoyance over the line .
I hesitated for a moment before responding .
Angela , I need your help with something 1/3 Cupter 20 You hit Dert Did she rall the cops she asked .
I sighed , making my forehead .
I hurt my hand .
I wouldnt waste my energy on her I need to know how long Bluestar Hotel keeps its surveillance Eve got eyes on those two sons .
If anything happens .
I let you know right away Angela said , her tour steady I gave a slight smirk .
No need to watch them .
Ive already cut ties with Austin for good .
Plus , Ive got a husband now Why that piece of garbage hes turned inlo Why would I arill care about Angels chuckled , clearly amused .
Laurel , look at you ! Youre curting without even uning dirty words anymore .
Which year ? Yeah , frotis Bluestar Hotel on Christmas , the year you went ahmad I replied .
Your birthday ? Angela went silent for a moment .
Angela , you still there asked , sensing something was off She hesitated before spraking again more carefully this time .
Why do you want the footage from that day ? Honestly , I wasnt sure myself .
What was I hoping to find ! Did I really think I could press charges five years later ? Or was just looking for answers ? What if the truth was worse than I imagined What if it was someone else someone older , someone completely unfamiliar ? A variety of strange men flashed through my mind , and immediately , my y curiosity was suppressed .
Angela exhaled heavily .
Laurel , Id love to help you , but I couldnt .
I froze , taking a deep breath .
What do you mean ? en was hacked .
I remember it clearly , Angela said .
That night , Bluestars entire security system was It took me a full day and night to restore everything , but by then , all the footage from that night was wiped clean .
Thinking about it still pisses me I remembered now now Angela had ranted to me for an hour back then , furious over how advanced the virus had been .
I had just learned .
At that thought , my heart skipped a beat , and I couldnt help but connect what had happened years ago with what I A sense of unease crepit over me .
d been in that room with me ! Was it just an unfortunate coincidence ? Or was the person who erased the footage the same one who had Laurel Angelas voice snapped me out of my thoughts .
1 took a deep breath .
Its nothing .
If its gone , then forget it After hanging up , I went to the bathroom , sinking into a warm bath , and closing my eyes ..
In the pitch black room , the sound of a mans heavy breathing echoed , and his scent a faint , familiar one lingered in the air .
His large hand gripped mine , and then he leaned in , pressing soft kisses along my neck , slowly moving lower He was gentle , but there was an undeniable strength in every movement .
I tried to open my eyes , but they wouldnt cooperate o and ragged and there was a quiet , almost imperceptible groan mixed in making my heart race .
His breath was deep a I suddenly jolted awake , gasping for air .
My eyes snapped open , and I realized I was still lying in the bathtub .
The once warm water had gone cold , and a shiver ran through me .
It was just a dream I took a steadying breaths , but the sound of his breathing lingered in my ears , as though he were still there .
1 shook off the disorientation , quickly wrapping myself in a towel before heading back to my rotti .
When I saw my phone light up on the desk , I checked it and saw a message from Angela a list of registrations .
Chapter 20 Imm dui Christmas at the Bharstar Hotel she texted .
( Swerthrait remember to delete this after reading .
Dont nt tell anyone .
If this gets out , Ill be fired for leaking company info I I smirked , replying , Dont worry , No one will know .
When I saw the clients name , I couldnt help but frowIL .
Alex Herrera ! He stayed at a hotel instead of heading home ? Guess that whole man with no interest in women thing might be a load of crap after all .
Hes probably hisling some past of his oWIL
