2.Chapter 2 Mary Me
“Shit… I feel like hell. Laura was barely conscious, her mind scattered and hazy.
She tried to sit up and really kiss him, but Bowen’s grip on her wrist kept her pinned. All she managed was a shaky, desperate brush of her lips against his..
“Laura Wilson.” Bowen’s cool fingers tilted her chin just enough to make her look at him. “Last chance. Who am I?”
She said softly in his ear, “You’re-”
“Yeah?”
“Bowen!” The answer came out in a choked whimper. She was desperate now, tears in her voice. “Please, help me. I need you, Bowen, please…”
That did it. For a moment, the darkness in Bowen’s eyes broke–just long enough for a sly, hungry smirk. Hearing his name on her lips, breathless and begging, pushed him over the edge.
He didn’t hold back. His kiss was rough and greedy, taking exactly what he wanted and giving nothing back–yet somehow, it still felt like he was trying to take care of her. He owned the moment, relentless and gentle all at once.
The next morning, Laura woke up with a killer headache, like she’d gone on the worst bender of her life.
She tried to rub her forehead, but her whole body felt bruised and exhausted. Even lifting her arms hurt.
Truth was, she ached everywhere–especially between her legs.
Last night’s events flashed in her mind, raw and unmistakable.
Then there were Cameron’s words, mean and sharp, still ringing in her head. They’d hit her where it hurt most, stabbing at her insecurities until she felt like she was bleeding inside.
Five years of this bullshit. She’d come back to the Wilsons at fifteen, locked in the attic by accident–or not–and Cameron had been the one to find her. She’d been chasing him ever since. Five years wasted.
All that time, and he still didn’t trust her. He never believed her, never thought she was anything but trouble.
If this had been before last night, maybe Laura would’ve tried to convince herself there was hope–maybe thought Cameron cared, maybe thought he meant it when he promised to protect her. But after what happened, she couldn’t lie to herself anymore.
The truth stung. When someone didn’t give a damn about another one, innocence didn’t matter.
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Cameron just wanted to hurt her, to get her out of his life–simple as that.
Laura froze. Her clothes were everywhere, strewn across the carpet, and her veins felt like ice water.
Last night came back in flashes–the way she’d begged beneath that man, desperate for help. Humiliation burned in her throat. Tears just spilled over; she couldn’t fight
them.
She vaguely remembered seeing Cameron’s uncle–Bowen Weaver–right before she blacked out.
‘No 1 fucking way! she wondered. That had to be the drugs messing with me. Why the hell would Bowen even be there?’ Her mind must’ve just latched onto the scariest bastard it knew, pinning all this shit on him to give herself an
easy out.
Her phone buzzed, yanking her back. She grabbed it off the nightstand, clutching the
blanket to her chest.
Battery almost dead. Great. It was almost 10 a.m, and her mom, Lynn Wilson, was calling.
“Laura Wilson, where the hell were you last night?” Her–mom didn’t skip a beat. Voice sweet but sharp as a knife. “The Weavers called this morning–Bowen’s thinking about calling off the engagement.
“Want to explain what the hell happened? Get home. Now. And you better not try to bullshit me.”
Click. Gone.
Laura dropped back onto the bed and stared up at the ceiling, tears leaking down the sides of her face. Twenty years of this shit. What a joke.
Memories tangled around her, tightening her chest until she could hardly breathe- giving blood to her sister as a kid, her parents‘ eyes always skipping over her, her younger self crying, pleading, “Don’t turn away from me…
She rolled over, smothering her face in the pillow, hoping if she pressed hard enough, her brain would just shut off for good.
The door creaked open. Cold, cedar–scented air cut through the room.
A man’s deep, cool voice drifted over. “So this is your plan? Wake up just to suffocate yourself?”
Laura’s head snapped up. She just stared, brain short–circuiting.
Bowen Weaver. Calm, unreadable, looking right through her like she was nothing, and somehow managing to fill the whole room.
“Well, fuck, Laura cursed silently. She Laura felt like she’d been hit by a truck. Her face,
went white.
Then she saw the dark hickey on Bowen’s neck and nearly died of embarrassment.
2 Chapter 2 Mary Me
Shit. She wanted nothing more than to disappear forever.
Last night’s hazy memories came crashing in–her grabbing his tie, clinging to him, arms locked around his neck, begging like her life depended on it.
Bowen dropped a bag of clothes on the nightstand and sat down, his face unreadable. “You alright? Need a doctor?”
“I’m fine,” Laura mumbled, yanking the covers over her mouth, her huge dark eyes darting anywhere but his face. “Hey… Thanks for saving me last night.”
He cut her off, voice smooth and cold. “If you’re fine, we need to talk about what happens next.” He ran his thumb over a silver snake ring on his finger. “You do realize. what last night means for me, right?”
Her heart sank. She felt sick.
Russell Weaver had three boys, and Bowen, at just twenty–eight, was the youngest–a late surprise from his second wife, Grace.
Sure, his folks spoiled him, but they still shipped him off abroad five years ago, making it clear only the older two deserved a shot at the top.
But Bowen was nobody’s exile. He built his own empire,overseas. When his brother Cameron’s dad screwed up and blew up the family business, they dragged Bowen
back.
He turned things around in a flash. After Cameron’s dad, Ashton, died, Bowen officially took the reins and made the company a powerhouse in record time.
Here’s the kicker–Bowen was only three years older than Cameron, but technically hist uncle.
And Laura? She was supposed to be Cameron’s fiancée. Their engagement was all but
set.
If anyone got wind of what happened last night, it’d ruin Bowen’s career.
And let’s get real–she was the one who got drugged, the one who begged for him.
Plus, Cameron would never let this go. Five years at his side taught her that much–he‘ d twist anything to his advantage. Cameron always wanted Bowen out of Weaver Group, wanted to take back what should’ve been his late father’s.
Honestly, Laura couldn’t help but think Bowen might have the wrong idea, like last night was just some stunt she and Cameron pulled.
“I’m sorry, Bowen, Laura breathed, eyes closed, trying to keep it together. “I’ll make this right. I won’t let it come back to bite you.”
“Make it right?” Bowen laughed, eyebrow cocked. “What, you think I can’t make the hotel dump their security footage?
*Or that a few rumors could take me down?”
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Laura bit her lip, silent. “So what’s your plan, then?”
He leaned in, voice low and dangerous. His rough fingers brushed the rose tattoo behind her ear, right over the bruise his mouth left. “Laura, you fucked me. Twenty- eight years of keeping clean, and you blew it in one night.
“So tell me, sweetheart–how exactly are you gonna pay me back?”
The second Bowen’s finger touched her skin, memories from the night before flashed through Laura’s head. She shivered, barely holding herself together. “Uncle Bowen, whatever you want… Seriously. If you want money, just say how much.”
He stared at her like she was insane. “You think I need your goddamn money?”
“No…”
“So my virtue’s for sale now?”
She wilted further. “Of course not…
Bowen snorted, half pissed, half amused. “You get it, but you’re still waving cash in my face. What, is it easier to piss me off than let Cameron steal my company?”
“No! It’s not that!” Laura blurted, flustered. “I just–money’s all I have. If I had anything better, believe me, I’d offer it.
“I swear I won’t say a word about last night. You’ll still be Mr. Perfect–no one’ll know a thing.”
He rolled his eyes. “Yeah, except for, you know, evidence.”
To prove his point, Bowen yanked his collar down, showing off the cluster of hickeys.” With marks like these, unless I start telling people I’ve got ED, no one’s buying we just held hands.”
“Besides, I’ve already got people digging into what went down.” He checked his watch, then gave her a pointed look. “Just sealed a big deal overseas. Last thing I need is your drama hitting the news.”
“I’m sorry, Uncle Bowen,” Laura’s voice cracked, eyes brimming. “If I’d known, I–hell, you shouldn’t even have saved me.
“I’ll take all the shit for this. I swear, no one’ll touch your reputation. I’ll tell everyone H seduced you, whatever…”
“Laura, seriously, you’re missing the fucking point.” Bowen bent close, ruffling her hair, his tone strangely soft. “People don’t care about the truth. They only care about what fits their little story.”
“And sometimes,” he added, yoice low, “if reality doesn’t fit, they’ll bend it ‘til it does.”
He paused, then let out a dry laugh. “But hey, I’ve got a fix. One and done.”
Laura looked up, desperate. “What is it? I’ll do whatever you say.”
“Marry me.”
2.Chapter 2 Mary Me
She blinked, lost. “Wait–excuse me? Marry you? I’m not even gonna marry Cameron, and now-
“Where the hell did Cameron come in?” Bowen rolled his eyes, almost laughing. “We’re the ones who ended up in bed. This has jack shit to do with him.”
“Well… his guys drugged me,” Laura muttered.
He just shook his head. “Doesn’t matter. If we’re married, nobody can call it a scandal.”
Just then, Bowen’s phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen, heading for the door. “My assistant will take you to the hospital, get you checked out. Think about the marriage. You really wanna stay trapped with your family forever?”
He paused in the doorway. “Once you’ve made up your mind, let’s pick a time to actually talk. For real.”
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