Second Chance with My First Love

Sandalwood, mixed with the scent of the cigar he smoked from time to time, invaded my senses. He kissed me exactly as he always did: soft, gentle, and teasing. His masculine scent and the feel of his lips threatened to overwhelm all my senses, but before they could, he broke the kiss.

"Mmmm." I moaned in protest as I felt the loss of... him.

I almost smiled when I slowly opened my eyes, seeing the familiar deep blue hue of his gentle eyes looking at me.

I whispered his name and smiled just as how I usually greeted him. But instead of the smiling blue eyes he used to look at me, his eyes turned icy blue.

"Sophia," he said, his lips curled into an unforgiving smile. "Don't think you can ever run from me."

Frowning, I opened my lips to ask what he meant, but the man grabbed me and pulled me into a tight embrace! I cried out, but nothing! I couldn't talk. I tried saying a bunch of things, but the man couldn't seem to hear me, nor did he show any signs that he was listening to me.

Scared, I tried to pull away. But then, the man was much stronger than me, so after he tightened his grip on me, I found myself unable to break free.

"Sophia," His lips were mere inches from my lips, and I could feel his cold breath touching my skin. I shivered and then trembled in fear when he whispered, "I won't ever let you go."

...

A silent scream escaped my lips as I woke up from my dream. My whole body was still trembling from the fear the man had instilled inside me. I was breathing so hard that I had to cover my mouth to keep myself from making a sound.

'Still asleep.' I breathed slowly when I saw the man sleeping soundly next to me. Different from the man in my dreams, the man beside me had brown hair and equally brown eyes.

Slowly lowering my hand, I looked at him until my heart stopped thumping loudly enough for me to hear. Once it did, I lay beside him and slept facing him. Afraid that the man from my dreams would suddenly appear, I didn't dare blink and only watched my husband sleep, his breath slow and even.

Bob and I were married. Just a few months ago, I was still content knowing that I had Bob as a husband.

Content. Yes, that was how I could describe the feeling of knowing that I was with Bob. I might have been married to him for three years, but he'd never touched me. He kissed me but never as deeply and as passionately as Adam.

Realizing I was still thinking of the man in my dreams, I bit my lip and mentally shook my head.

'No! No! Don't think of him, Sophia,' I told myself, but thoughts of Adam filled my head. The memory and the feel of him assaulted my senses.

Adam was my first love and the first person who had ever made me feel loved. I thought I had forgotten him, but lately, his face was the only thing I saw in my dreams. The first time I dreamt of him, I brushed it off, wanting that memory to be just that: memory.

But when a few months passed and my dreams of Adam kissing and hugging me intensified, I started feeling uneasy. I thought I might be sexually frustrated with the platonic marriage I had with Bob. But while it was true that somewhere in my heart, I wanted Bob to take the initiative, it also scared me that he would.

And that was the reason the guilt weighed in on my heart. Bob was impotent, but he never refused me anything. Still, I couldn't bear to kiss him.

Unlike Adam.

'Don't go there, Sophia!' I admonished myself and, this time, shook my head until that man's name completely disappeared from my head.

...

Murphy Law. It was an epigram I once read during my university days. It meant that anything that could go wrong would go wrong. I never believed it. At least, I never thought it would happen to me. But it did, unfortunately; it happened the following Monday I went to work.

The company had been buzzing for months after our former CEO announced that a new CEO would take over his job. No one knew, and our CEO never told anyone the name of the new exec.

I was sad that our CEO would be leaving but also happy at the thought of working with a new boss.

Anxious, I stood beside my manager, Alexa, and waited for our new executive to enter the building. It was the day he would be starting with our company and the day I met Adam again.

I stood rigidly in place when I saw Adam's familiar figure enter, walking down the aisle of employees and toward me.

"Sophia, what are you doing?" Alexa asked after a few minutes. Blinking, I looked at my manager and then at Adam, who was now standing in front of us.

"N–Nice to meet you, Sir," I stuttered, but the man merely glanced at me before walking toward the elevator.

I couldn't remember what happened next. I didn't faint, nor did the ground swallow me whole, which I would have preferred after seeing Adam's blue winter cold gaze. Somewhere in my mind, I thought I expected such cruel treatment from Adam, but my heart told me otherwise.

I smiled bitterly.

'How much does he hate me?' I wondered and hoped because surely, Adam had not forgotten me. Surely, him giving me the cold shoulder didn't mean he had forgotten all about me?

'Right?'

...

I was restless while I stayed at the office. Just thinking of sitting and shutting myself in my office while Adam was a few floors above me was driving me insane.

"Isn't it enough that you keep dreaming about him, Sophia?" I muttered to myself. "Why stress so much after only meeting him in person again?!" I wanted to scream, but I didn't want to draw attention. So, I buried my face in my palm and let out a bit of my frustration with a soft scream.

When my phone sounded, I quickly took it out of my pocket.

"Bob," I whispered and hurriedly opened his message.

[Hope you bring home your appetite. The chicken soup will be waiting for you at home.]

Women in love would be swooning over now from their partner's thoughtfulness, but me? I didn't. Instead of feeling the joy of getting Bob's attention, the dagger of guilt that had already lodged in my heart dug even deeper. Because while Bob sent me another message, this time a picture of him with the chicken soup casserole, all I could think of was the man upstairs.

"Sophia?"

I almost screamed upon hearing my Alexa's voice but managed to keep myself from shouting. "A—Alexa! What can I do for you?"

Alexa's eyes grew wide with worry and curiosity, but she didn't try to pry. "Adam asked me to give this to you," she said and handed me a big box.

"What is it?"

"Adam specifically requested that you join him for the business dinner he has with Derek of XC Group tonight," was Alexa's only answer.

"Ha!" I tsked. While I was willing to help the company in every way possible, joining a business dinner with Adam to represent the company was new to me. But even if it weren't, I would never agree to such a meeting.

Derek, while very influential, was a known pervert, and I would never get even a meter near him. Still, I held my tongue and didn't ask any more questions as I opened the box Alexa gave me.

I frowned when I saw the white dress inside the box and dropped it to the floor, jawdropping when I recognized a similar dress Adam had given me three years ago.

Something inside me burst, and I saw red. I grabbed the dress and stormed off.

"Sophia? Where are you going?" I heard Alexa ask, but I was too angry to utter a word.

'Adam was nuts if he thought I would keep my silence!'

My heart slammed to my chest as I stomped my feet toward the elevator and all the way to the CEO's floor. When I reached Adam's office, I didn't knock and slammed the door open.

I saw Adam look up, but I was too mad to back down from his indifferent eyes.

Trembling with anger, I threw the dress right in front of him. "What the hell do you want from me?"

Adam didn't bother disguising the annoyance from his face and looked at me with evident anger. His lips moved, but he didn't say anything as he stood and advanced toward me.

"Pick it up," he said with a voice as cold as winter.

Unfazed, I didn't move and stood toe to toe in front of him.

"No," I said with a voice that, surprisingly, did not flutter.

I thought I saw surprise mixed with amazement in Adam's eyes. But even if I did, the man had easily swept any emotion from his face, his eyes turning wintry blue in an instant.

I shivered but refused to wrap my arms around me to stop myself from trembling.

"It's so not like you to be stubborn, Sophia," the man said, contrasting the fact that he remembered me as much as he wanted to hide it. "Take the dress and put it on."

When I opened my lips to say something, Adam beat me to it. "Don't make me repeat myself, Sophia. If you don't like to put the dress on, consider yourself out of work right this minute."

The confidence I was able to muster to stand up to Adam shriveled into nothing while the anger I felt toward the injustice of this all burned hot and deep inside my gut.

I gritted my teeth and swallowed the bitter words I wanted to shout at the man. I was tempted, too, to grab the dress and throw it in Adam's annoyingly serene but cold face. But then, I stopped myself, knowing full well that I shouldn't do anything to lose my job. It was the only thing that was keeping me alive right now, so I couldn't afford to live without it.

While Bob tried his best to keep me happy, I was still in a loveless marriage. And my family was… around.

'To each their own,' I always thought. So I smiled through gritted teeth and hoped my smile would still look like a smile.

"I apologize," I said in defeat, took back the dress, and gripped it to my side. "I'll change and meet you downstairs."

Even though the white dress represented purity with its color, it left nothing to the imagination. It was a dress made to entice, and it did so by hugging every curve of one's body. So when I put it on, if I could have, I would have avoided the mirror to avoid looking at myself in the dress.

I couldn't, though. The bathroom in the company building was furnished with fulllength mirrors on its walls. Even the elevator I rode to get to the lower ground was designed with mirrors! So by the time I exited the elevator, I was ready to run away.

"How could he?" I kept asking myself. How could Adam force me to wear the same dress he'd given me on our first anniversary as a couple? It was supposed to be our "thing" because it was my first time wearing such a dress, and I only did so in front of Adam.

Yet the man wanted me to wear it to show a stranger — No! Derek, of all people. It disgusted me! And by the time I rode Adam's car without looking at him, I was ready to run and forget about keeping my job.

But I didn't. Regardless of my inward rants, my feet moved on their own and followed Adam inside the restaurant.

...

I didn't understand a word Adam and Derek were saying throughout dinner, mostly because I wasn't listening and had no intention of involving myself more than what was asked of me: to wear the dress and accompany Adam to the business dinner.

So I sat, quiet as a mouse, beside Adam while Derek discussed business with him across the table. As much as I hate Adam at the moment, I would still prefer sitting beside him rather than Derek. While the latter tried his best to hide it, I saw how he had been leering at me since I entered the room with Adam.

The way Derek looked at me when Adam wasn't looking and his subtle questions to get me to join their conversation were enough for me to tremble in fear and anger at both of them.

I didn't know what terrible deed I had committed in the past to deserve such a punishment from the heavens, but it seemed to me that whoever was in charge wasn't satisfied with only having me meet Adam again. So, they even made him my boss, who only had to use his authority to involve me with Derek.

Helpless, I secretly checked the time. It was now past seven in the evening, and I had not yet called Bob to inform him that I wouldn't be able to join him for dinner.

"... you'll excuse me," Adam's voice snapped me back to my senses. Frowning, I watched as he stood from his seat. "I need to use the men's room a bit."

"A—"

I wanted to protest and stop him from leaving, but Derek interjected, saying, "Take your time, Adam." He smiled at me, and my hand turned cold. "I'm sure the lady over here can keep me entertained for a bit. Isn't that right, Sophia?"

I couldn't speak and looked at Adam with pleading eyes. But intentionally or not, he didn't look at me and smiled at Derek. "That's why she's here." Adam looked at me, warning me to behave. "I'll be quick."

The thing I most feared happened the instant Adam shut the door to the private room he rented for this dinner.

"So, are you supposed to be Adam's secretary of some sort, Sophia?" Derek asked as he slowly stood and made his way to me.

I forced out a smile and tried my best not to stand up from my seat and run toward the door. "I work for Adam, but I'm not his secretary."

"Hmmm." Derek was closer now and stood beside me, his long legs directly at my eye level. He halfleaned at the table and crossed his legs, an act which boldly implied he was confident with his sex appeal.

Derek wasn't halfbad, if I may say. Whenever my workmates talked about him, I had always imagined him to be a man in his forties with balding hair and a bulging stomach.

But surprisingly, I was wrong.

Derek might not look as handsome as Adam was, but he had a good build, a thick matt of brown hair, and an amiable smile. If I wasn't married and hadn't known that Derek hid his perverted side under his smile, I might have wanted to get to know him better.

But I wasn't, and it was getting harder for me to breathe since Adam had left the room.

'Where is he?'

It had been more than five minutes since he'd left. Surely, Adam was on his way back now. Right?

I was a bundle of nerves and was afraid I would ruin this business meeting. Derek was interested in investing in our company, which would greatly help the business. So if I did something that would make Derek back off from his investment plans, all my efforts to keep my job a few minutes ago would be for naught.

"So what do you say about ditching this meeting and going somewhere… fun?" I heard Derek say a few minutes after. I understood what he meant, and I was sure my face turned red with anger. But the man must have read it as me blushing in happiness about his proposal because the next thing I knew, he started caressing my bare arms.

I shivered in disgust, but again, the man took it as a response to his "teasing."

"You like that, don't you?" he asked, smiling like a wild beast. That was when I knew I was in so much trouble.

Forget about keeping my job. I wouldn't sit there and wait for the man to pounce on me! I might not be as rich as Derek or Adam, but I had my pride as a woman.

"Adam might have lost his way here," I said while slowly standing from my seat. "I should go look —"

"Come on, Sophia. Adam is a big boy." I didn't know it was possible, but Derek's eyes turned fiercer, and his usually gentle smile turned into a scowl. "Stay here and keep me entertained." He must have seen my reluctance because he added in a threatening voice, "You wouldn't want me to withdraw from this deal, would you?"

"Of course not," I said, letting out a nervous laugh. "That's why I want to call Adam."

Derek laughed then, but I couldn't tell why. I also laughed a little and tried to talk, but I could only whimper when the man grabbed me by my cheeks.

"P–Please, it hurts," I pleaded through the pain from Derek's tight grasp. When I saw the anger in Derek's brown eyes, I knew I had dug my own grave.

I figured then that he was a man who wouldn't take no for an answer. As suffocating thoughts flashed inside my head, my whole body trembled in fear.

"Maybe you didn't understand what I was saying a while ago," Derek said in a voice that sounded so much like the grim reaper. "I'll forgive you for that. So let me say it in a way you would. Let me fu—"

"What's going on?"

Derek's hand fell on his side, and I quickly backed away from the man.

Relieved that Adam came back when he did, I felt like I could almost — almost forgive him for forcing me to wear this dress and leaving me behind. But with the relief came the dread that Adam was no longer the man I once knew.

“Adam,” Derek’s amiable smile was back. "Sophia and I were just playing around. You don't mind, do you?"

Adam's gaze fell on me, and I should have said something then but decided to shut my mouth instead.

'Let him think what he wants.' I thought stubbornly. With or without Adam's permission, I would damn well get out of this place as soon as possible.

Adam looked at me with a frown, quietly asking me if Derek's words were true, but I merely looked at him and stayed quiet.

I had no idea what Adam was thinking, but after a few seconds, he said to Derek, "Get out." Adam didn't even bother looking at the man.

"Excuse me?" Derek asked in bewilderment.

"I said get out, Derek," Adam replied, his eyes as cold as steel when he looked back at him.

"Adam —"

"Don't make me repeat myself," Adam added.

Derek looked at Adam, then at me with disbelief, then smirked. "You'll regret this, Adam," he said and left, cursing.

Left alone, Adam and I stared at each other for a full minute before I broke our eye contact.

I walked over to take my things, turned to look back at Adam, and said, "I'm leaving."

Adam didn't say anything. Not that I was surprised. Since we met again, Adam had nothing to say to me. But it was honestly— a relief. I had no words to say to him, too, anyway.

"Was I wrong then?" Right before I opened the door, I heard Adam ask.

Frowning, I turned around. "What?"

"I thought you were in trouble with Derek a while ago, so I saved you. But was I wrong?" Adam raised a brow. "Are you leaving so you can catch up to him?" I heard a tinge of anger in the way he said those words, but I stopped listening to the word "save."

'Save me?' Was he hoping I would thank him for "saving me?" If it weren't for him, I wouldn't even have to meet Derek in the first place and get myself in trouble!

So, save me? Really?

I couldn't believe Adam dared to say such a word. For three years, I had been living miserably since he left. He owed me, not the other way around.

"...guess you weren't satisfied…," Adam continued, his blue eyes flashing with contained fury.

I guessed it wasn't enough that Adam came back to embarrass me. For revenge, which I believed was his reason for showing up, he would do anything to break me into pieces — an impossible feat since I was already in pieces after he left three years ago.

"...running to meet Derek."

Adam's words were a blur. And before I could stop myself, my lips moved on their own. I wasn't sure what drove me to say those words. But looking back, I thought it was those words that sealed my fate from that day forward.

"Don't be silly," I rebuked him, my voice bordering on bitterness. "Why would I want anyone to satisfy me when I already have a loving husband?"

"You didn't really think I was just wearing this ring for a show, did you?" I asked Adam while I twirled the dazzling ring on my finger. His eyes caught the act. But other than that, he didn't reveal his thoughts or emotions.

Adam had changed, and that I was sure of. Unlike before, when I could easily gauge his mood, he had learned to hide his emotions now, so I couldn't tell what he was thinking.

"Goodnight, Adam," I said and left without turning back.

"Miss, are you alright?" I turned toward the voice and saw one restaurant staff looking at me with concerned eyes. I was almost at the door when the woman staff approached me.

"I—" I hiccuped and moved to cover my lips. The moment I did, I felt the wetness of my cheek.

'Oh!' I was crying and didn't even know I was. I angrily wiped the tears away but smiled at the staff and quickly walked away.

I had no reason to cry. Adam and I broke up three years ago. And I knew, the moment I broke up with him on the day he was going to propose to me, that he would hate me.

I expected it, and so was the pain and hurt that came with it. Not that it was anything new, though. I had, after all, experienced it before, and I would move from it again. Maybe, how badly I struggled these past years could make up for the pain I also caused him. We should be quits then, right?

Still, I just hoped that Bob would still be there after everything. Selfish. I know. But Bob had always been there for me. And I might not love him as much as he did with me, but I do value our time together.

So when I stepped inside the room and Bob was there to meet me, I smiled and became the version of myself who had forgotten Adam in front of him.

...

I was a little highstrung in the days following my encounter with Adam. Thankfully, I was too busy with work, and the latter must have been too because we didn't see each other for the rest of the week.

As I worked hand in hand with Alexa in our department, she made me the person in charge of the reporting, which meant I had to make sure our reports were in order. So Saturday of the same week, I decided to do overtime to check those reports.

Absentminded, I forgot the said reports at home and only found out about my mistake when I entered our company building.

'Damn it!' I cursed, laughing at my own stupidity, and went back home.

I wasted precious time but didn't mind going home again and seeing Bob. I checked my watch and saw it was around nine in the morning. If I were right, Bob would be on his computer doing whatever he was currently working on.

I smiled and thought I could pull a small prank on him. I wanted to surprise him and get inside without him knowing.

It was a good plan but what happened afterward wasn't the scenario I had in mind.

I got inside the house just fine, without Bob knowing. But when I got to the second floor and his office, I found it open but empty. I frowned and opened my lips to call his name, but a banging sound that seemed to come from our room made me stop.

Afraid and worried, I approached the bedroom as quietly as I could. The bedroom door was slightly ajar when I got near, so I slowly and silently pushed the door open to take a peek.

"Ah, ah, ah… Hmmm."

The sound from inside became louder then, and it confused me because it didn't sound anything like Bob — not that I ever had the chance to hear Bob moan and groan during sex because we never did.

So I pushed the door a little harder.

Right then, the scene in front of me confused me. I thought I was seeing things because, for some reason, a man that looked exactly like my husband was having intercourse with a man who looked like my brother.

I must have said Bob's name out loud because, in the next few seconds, his pleasurefilled face turned into shock and horror.

"Sophia!" Bob called out my name in surprise and scrambled to get off the bed.

Eric's eyes were still closed, and he moaned when Bob suddenly left him. "Honey, Sophia won't be coming back for another — Oh. Hello, Sophia," Eric casually greeted me and smiled as he saw me.

I knew anger, and I also knew how it was to hope for something only for that hope to be dashed away. But what I never knew was the bitter taste of betrayal until that moment.

I looked at Bob, my eyes already stinging with angry tears. "Seriously, Bob? With my brother?" Those were the only words that came from my lips, my voice barely audible with the anger that shook my body.

Bob had already grabbed a boxer, put it on, and was now approaching me. "Soph, I can expla—"

"Don't be such a drama queen, Sophia."

"Eric!"

Bob hissed at my brother, but the latter only rolled his eyes and continued, "Weren't you ever curious why Bob never bed you?"

I did, but I had always thought that Bob could never get it up to… anyone. Well, it turned out I was wrong.

"So you aren't as stupid as you look, dear sister." Eric laughed. He must have seen the answer to his question in my shocked eyes.

Eric got up, not even bothering to cover himself, and wrapped his arms around Bob's arm. Instead of looking at my brother, I looked at Bob. He looked… guilty, as he should.

"Don't blame yourself, Sophia. It's just that Bob and I are in love. So it would be really nice if you stepped out of the way now."

"Eric," Bob reprimanded my brother. And before the latter could say another word, Bob added, "Go home for now. I'll deal with your sister."

Eric looked like he would protest, but Bob stopped him with a kiss.

Shocked and still reeling from the scene, I looked away. I wanted to hurl and run far away, but my feet didn't move.

"I want a divorce," I found myself saying when Eric left and Bob and I were left alone. I didn't know how I managed to stay inside the room with the two, but I did, only because I wanted the whole thing to be over.

"No!" Bob's answer made me look at him with renewed shock.

"What?" I asked. Did he really think I would stay with him after this? "Bob, are you insane?"

Bob gritted his teeth but didn't answer my question. Then his eyes turned into their usual warm smiling color as he said happily, "I told you before, didn't I, Sophia? I'll be promoted soon, and it would be bad if I had a divorce at this critical moment. So you have to stay with—"

Faced with my husband's unimaginable shamelessness, my hand moved on its own and slapped his unrepentant face to shut him up.

"I don't fucking care about your promotion, Bob. I want a divorce!" I shouted at my shameless husband in rage.

When I finished my remark, I saw that Bob's expression had transformed into a menacing scowl. His oncewarm and kind persona faded as his features darkened and hardened. Now, he looked like he had turned into a totally different person.

I shivered as I looked at him, slowly stepping back.

However, as I retreated, Bob stepped forward and leaned closer to me.

Coldly, he scowled, "You're a complete bitch! Do you think I'm that stupid not to know what you've also been doing behind my back?"

All of a sudden, I began to feel nervous and confused. "What are you talking about?" I asked.

Without responding to me, he stormed to the other room and fetched a stack of photos. Then, he angrily threw them at the table and said, "Take a look at that!"

As soon as I picked up a photograph, I felt my brain stutter for a moment, and my eyes widened in surprise. It was a photo of Adam and me looking very intimate in the club.

I wondered how he could have gotten it.

"See? Don't come blaming me for something you, yourself, were doing as well, Sophia. Stop acting so innocent!" Bob snorted.

Bob and I never had a serious argument, so now that we did, I was utterly new to it. I didn't expect him to say such words, but while it shocked me, the anger in my body reached my head, and I began to tremble more. "Okay! If you think I am a bitch, then let's get a divorce!"

However, Bob obviously didn't want that to happen, so he began threatening me. "I'm only saying this once, so listen, Sophia. Don't ever bring up getting a divorce again because that won't happen. If you keep insisting, I'll send these pictures to your company and let everyone know you're a cheating wife."

Bob's last words rendered me speechless. I couldn't believe he just said what he said. All this time, I had the wrong impression of him. I was so angry that no words came out of my mouth, and I felt like my body suddenly froze, and my heart shattered into a million pieces.

Seeing my reaction, Bob's grin grew even wider. "You know, this wouldn't really impact your reputation because you're just a normal staff. But then, the man in this photo is your CEO, right? Imagine the damage he would suffer if this went out."

For a little second, I felt like I couldn't breathe.

It hadn't been that long since Adam returned, and when he did, he busied himself running his business. I was a living witness to the nights he stayed beyond working hours and the meetings he personally attended just to secure a deal. He gave his all to our company, so I couldn't fathom how much damage this scandal could bring him.

Seeing my pale complexion, Bob shifted the topic and said, "There will be a party tomorrow, and you need to be there with me."

Then, he held up the picture as if to say I had no other choice but to join him.

At this point, I felt like a puppet on a string, frozen and mute in my chair. Still shocked, the three years I spent with this man began flashing in my mind like a montage. Looking at him now, I couldn't help but ask if he was the same Bob I knew. Because for three years, we lived under the same roof and slept in the same bed.

Did I never know him? Was everything just a pretense? Was I really that stupid? How about my brother, Eric? How could he do this to me? How could I not notice that my brother has a secret interest in my husband? Seriously, how stupid was I?

I chuckled in my head as I began questioning my life and myself.

Bob, on the contrary, paid no attention to me anymore. He only sat on the sofa comfortably and picked up the remote.

As soon as he opened the television, a news announcer was in the middle of doing a report. Hearing a familiar name, I shifted my attention to the screen and listened.

"The heir of the S Group and youngest daughter of the White Group announces their engagement to the public." I could hear the host's overly dramatic voice in my head.

I stared at Adam and the woman beside him.

'Is he truly engaged?' I asked myself.

Though Adam appeared emotionless on the screen, the hints of affection in his eyes didn't escape mine. They were so unclear that I almost didn't notice them as well.

The announcer continued talking about the engagement when suddenly Bob turned the television off and looked at me with mockery.

After a moment of silence, Bob sneered. "How thickfaced can you be, Sophia? How fascinating! Who could have imagined you'd have an affair with the heir of the S Group? You're a really great slut." He said as he slowly clapped his hands.

However, at that moment, his insulting words didn't matter to me anymore. Because inside my head, the image of Adam's engagement ring on another person's finger never left my thoughts.

I once had that opportunity. Now, however, I have nothing except a neverending void of despair.

The following day, Bob continued to threaten me about the party. He forced me to get dressed and join him.

Because of his job, he constantly needed to communicate with others, and I had no choice but to get dragged to socialize with people. I was so tired and angry that I began to feel nauseous. However, Bob didn't care as long as I continued to play pretend.

In the middle of one conversation, I suddenly noticed Bob's face lit up as he glanced in one direction. I followed his gaze and suddenly felt my face turn white at the sight of the couple greeting the other guests.

It was Adam and his fiancee.

Their presence quickly grew attention as more people began approaching them. The woman wore a figureflattering maroon velvet dress, and Adam donned a suit that perfectly matched hers. Under the bright lights, they looked like a perfect match for each other.

Bob suddenly leaned closer to me and whispered. "Go and say hello to him."

Annoyed, I immediately let go of his hand and remarked, "Are you crazy?"

"I have a project proposal with the S Group, so you must help me here. Or else your photos will be all over the internet," he said as he continued smiling in front of others.

I couldn't believe how shameless he was. I wanted to stride off and leave, but I was left with no other choice.

Damn this man!

While I cursed at Bob under my breath, my sight caught Adam slowly moving his way toward us.

And fast as a flash, Bob morphed into a different persona. This time, one full of flattery. He grabbed my hand again as the couple got closer to us.

"Sir Adam, Miss Emily," he greeted them. "It's so nice to see you this evening."

I stood silent and wasn't planning to do anything until Bob squeezed my hand to warn me. Left with no choice, I lowered my head a little and greeted them hello as I tried to calm myself.

Though quick, Adam's gaze instantly fell on my hand, which Bob was holding after I finished speaking. Then, he shifted his gaze to meet my eyes and looked at me coldly as if mocking me. Something in his stare made my heart tremble again, so I didn't dare to look at him anymore.

"As I recall, you know my wife, Sophia, right?" When Bob mentioned me, I looked up and discreetly glared at him.

Adam didn't say anything, but his fiancee replied, "Oh, Adam? Do you know each other? How come?"

In a cold tone, Adam answered, "Just a colleague."

It was just three words, but I felt their gravity as my face turned pale, and I couldn't help but smile bitterly.

Polite as she seemed, the woman turned to me and extended her hand, saying, "Hello, I'm Emily, by the way. Adam's fiancee. It's nice to meet you."

I looked at the hand in front of me, and the engagement ring on her finger caught my attention. It was so bright that I felt like my eyes were burning.

After a few seconds, I accepted her hand and greeted her back. "Hello, I'm Sophia."

Oddly, when Emily heard my name, her eyes suddenly showed a bit of hatred. However, she quickly covered it up, and only I seemed to have noticed it.

Feeling strange, I began to wonder if she had seen me before or if we had met once.

A few minutes later, someone called Emily and Bob over, so they excused themselves and left. Before leaving, Bob threatened me again to behave myself or else. However, regardless of that, I went to the balcony outside to stay away from other people.

As soon as the night breeze hit my face, I felt my body shiver in the cold, but my mind and heart became more at ease and sober. At this point, because I was alone, I began to think about the situation more seriously.

It was clear that Bob had proof that Adam and I were together. He made this threat because he was aware of my relationship with Adam and had even used me to establish a connection and discuss business with him. If I argue about Bob's cheating, would anyone believe me? After all, I didn't have any proof that he and Eric were together. Plus, Bob was already set on the fact that I wouldn't blow the whistle on his relationship with my brother.

When I gave it more thinking, I realized how powerless I was. As I stared up at the skyscrapers, I hoped I could just leap off one of them and end my life.

Then, all of a sudden, I felt someone's hand around me.

I was shocked that I began to panic and fight back.

"Don't move," a warm breath whispered unto my ear.

When I heard his voice, it took only two words from him for me to freeze. I knew that voice. I knew Adam very well.

After I finally calmed down, he twisted my body around so I could face him. His eyes shone brighter than any star in the night sky. I was smitten, but I couldn't see what was hiding behind those eyes.

Apathetically, he ran his hands through my hair and murmured, "Your husband truly impressed me."

Even though I was mortified by Bob's behavior, I had to keep my mouth shut.

However, it was as though my silence roused Adam. All of a sudden, he was clinging to me even more firmly that his grasp began to hurt. I inhaled deeply to ease the pain.

"You dumped me because of a guy like that?" His hatred and rage filled his eyes even more so than before.

I smiled bitterly as I pulled away from him and said, "Adam, don't forget that you have a fiancee."

Adam's gaze was intense, and he kept pressing closer until I was backed up against the wall.

His hands were glued to me, and he soon found the sensitive spot on my waist. He ran his palm on it and teased. "Sophia, is your relationship too solid that he knows full well how sensitive this part of you is? When he touches you, does he do it like this?"

Adam's eyes grew much more fierce and full of hate as he looked at me. He narrowed his gaze as he gripped my hand tightly. He continued to touch me even when I resisted and tried to break free from his grasp.

Not going to lie; it fascinated me that even after many years, he still knew my body very well. Knowing precisely where to go, his hand traveled to parts that quickly softened and aroused me. However, his hands began to feel cold, just like his stare. They paced slowly as my skin touched his palm.

"Sophia, does he know you better than I do?" he teased, expressionless as his hands kept moving all over me. "Does he like to touch you here as much as I do?"

I wore a strapless dress, so when Adam pulled my skirt, I couldn't help but shout at him.

"No! Don't!" Suddenly, tears welled up in my eyes, and I shook my head, but I held back the sobs. The only thing I could do was cry hopelessly.

"No?" Adam's gaze grew fiercer and his force stronger. "What? Now you want to maintain your innocence? You don't want me to touch you? You just want your husband, right?"

"No..." In desperation, I begged, "Let me go!"

Adam, though, kept going. Not long after, his hand traveled down and gave me a good squeeze there.

The abrupt chill sent me into a state of mental blankness.

With a cold grin, he lifted his hand and held it to his lips. "Even if you tell yourself no, your body still goes against you. If I had to guess, I'd say your husband is failing miserably at making you happy."

His vision was cloudy, and his eyes were still cold and emotionless.

Although my entire being was like burning in fire, I felt an icy chill creeping into my heart.

Of course, I understood that he was deliberately trying to torture and insult me. And I couldn't believe that I responded to his teasing.

With everything going on, I felt like the world spun unusually fast on purpose on its axis and then flipped upside down for a split second. I wanted to smash my head against the wall, get myself amnesia, and forget about everything that had been troubling my mind. In fact, if it meant avoiding an insult from Adam, I'd rather die.

Then suddenly, someone opened the balcony door. At that moment, I felt like every strand of hair in my body stood up, and my blood seemed to clump together. With a grimace on his face, Adam hurried to zip up my skirt. He wrapped his arms around me and cautiously shielded me.

"What are you doing, Adam?" Sure enough, it was Emily's voice.

My body was trembling uncontrollably. Not even in Adam's arms did I feel anything but my body on the frozen surface.

"Get out!" Adam growled impatiently.

"Who's behind you?" Emily was curious and started approaching us.

I felt a sudden and intense chill, as though any second I might collapse totally.

"I said, get out. Don't let me say it a third time." Adam's voice was colder than ever.

Emily stomped her foot grudgingly, but she had no choice but to turn around and leave.

I didn't give in and collapse entirely until the balcony door was locked. I would have definitely passed out if Adam hadn't helped me up. When I met his gaze, I could tell that he was concerned.

How was that possible, though?

How could he act so concerned after treating me like that? After putting me on the spot?

Numbed, I snatched myself out of his grasp, smiled bitterly, and gave him a sound smack. "No, you're right, and I'm wrong. I betrayed you three years ago, so I'm giving you the right to call me names. Bitch? Shameless? Dumb? It doesn't matter, Adam. I'll take them all. Now, can you please just let me go?"

As I continued to study Adam's expression, I saw that there was more and more going on in his eyes than I could make out. But then, I don't have the patience and the ability to see things through them.

If anything, I thought I was so far gone in my fantasy that I actually believed he liked me.

As time ticked by, my face could no longer contain any more harsh comments and embarrassment from Adam. So without looking any further into his eyes, I ran out.

My eyes streamed thousands of tears as my feet continued to take me wherever they liked.

Recently, it seemed that I had become a dumpster of problems. Everything had already rendered me exhausted, and I had no more energy left to entertain more issues my way.

However, I halted from my track as my name echoed all through the corridor.

"Sophia!" Alexa called. She looked at me as she paused to catch her breath. "Go to the front desk. It seems like your motherinlaw was looking for you."

Instantly, I gulped. Nervousness crept into my veins, and it even worsened because the way Alexa uttered those words sounded somehow hysterical. Funny because I was just complaining about my problems earlier, and there seemed to be another one.

Sure enough, my heart immediately sank as I reached the front desk. I froze as my eyes darted to my motherinlaw, Emma, sitting on the floor, crying like a madman.

"Leave me alone!" she kept yelling while throwing a tantrum like a kid. "What part of what I said doesn't make sense to you? Are you all deaf? My daughterinlaw can't have a child, and since she can't, she's nothing but a disgrace! Women's essence is to bear a child, so she should just die if she can't even do that!"

My eyes widened in disbelief, and my jaw dropped off. I wanted to step up and defend myself, but seeing everyone at the front desk glaring at me made me want to bury myself alive.

As soon as my motherinlaw's eyes caught mine, she quickly stood up and walked towards me like a cheetah. Then, she fired up as her quivering index finger pointed at my face. "Sophia, you bitch! You can't give children to my son! Now, how are we supposed to have heirs in the family?!"

Emma's voice was as loud as the one coming from a megaphone, which prompted everyone to pay attention.

Confrontations were situations I never wanted to engage myself in, but before I could run away from embarrassment again, Emma raised her hand and waved it fiercely in the air to slap me.

However, her hand didn't meet my cheek.

Adam, fortunately, appeared on time and stopped her midway.

He frowned and sternly looked at Emma. Then, he clicked his tongue and brushed her hand impatiently away. "Get out of my sight."

Emma shivered, and her eyes widened. She still seemed hellbent on harassing me, but with Adam's imposing presence close by, all she did was flash a glare directly into my eyes.

"Sophia, you know what? You're not only useless but a slut! You even seduced a man to help you, huh?" she hissed before she turned around to leave. "Pathetic."

...

Emma had already left, but I was still frozen in my spot. It seemed that the remaining tiny amounts of my energy had depleted entirely.

I bit my lower lip as my head dropped off. Her words were too harsh that they pierced my heart.

But despite my bitterness, I mustered my courage and feebly glanced at the man beside me. "Thank you," I whispered.

But then, he didn't say any words and left.

Crestfallen, I heaved a deep sigh.

I didn't mind hearing such words from my motherinlaw because I had heard all sorts of curses and criticisms from many people since then. What bothered and pained me, however, was that Adam had to hear her humiliating me and witness how she looked down on me.

After the party, I went home and wanted to explain to Emma. Though something happened between Bob and me, I at least expected him to accompany me, but he was nowhere around.

At more than ten in the evening, the doorbell suddenly rang. So as a married woman who only had time for work and the house, I expected no one other than Bob, so I opened the door.

But then, a strong scent coming from a man reeking of alcohol overwhelmed me. Immediately after that, my eyes widened as a curse escaped under my breath.

It was Adam.

He looked at me so intently that I gasped. His eyes, which had always been deep, seemed to contain too much complexity this time.

Somehow frightened, I stepped back but didn't let go of the doorknob. I also did not dare widen the doorway for him. "You... what are you doing here?" I asked, emphasizing each word.

I was afraid that if Bob saw us, he would have another thing to use to threaten me. However, my words seemed to have infuriated Adam. His face sank as his hands abruptly clasped my chin. But before I could even get rid of his hand, his domineering lips claimed mine at the speed of light.

The smell of alcohol and cigarettes completely enveloped my nose as he did that. I groaned as I tried to push him away, but he quickly locked my hands and pinned me to the wall. Then, he closed the door with his feet and deepened the kiss.

Adam then carried me onto the sofa and slowly laid me on it. I wanted to struggle, but he quickly grabbed my waist, which made my body flinch. Then, in a snap, my legs softened and almost widened on their own accord for him.

Adam, on the other hand, remained silent. His eyes were red, and his face was gloomy with a trace of harm, like an angry leopard.

No matter how hard I tried to break free from his grip, Adam didn't falter and tore my shirt.

I then bit my lower lip, inwardly cursing myself because instead of feeling hysterical and exerting more effort to stop him, my body started to feel hotter and hotter.

Perhaps, I felt even worse because my body had been asexual for a long time, not to mention that it was Adam who was in front of me.

Halfway through my thoughts, he expertly caressed my wet private part.

And due to the dose of ecstasy his fingers made me feel, I willingly gave myself more to him to sustain what I had been feeling.

My body, as expected, trembled as the tingling sensation circulated inside me. "AAdam!" I moaned.

Now, all my concerns dissipated at once. Bob might come home anytime, but who cares? All I wanted now was more of him— more of Adam.

However, Adam abruptly stopped and looked coldly at me. Confused, I looked back at him.

'Why did you stop?' I wanted to ask.

"Your husband can't satisfy you, can he?" Adam asked as he drew his face closer. His eyes had nothing, not even desires, but coldness as they gazed at me. "Well, of course, he can't. Otherwise, you won't look so starving for it."

Under his mocking smile, my heart trembled as if it wanted to escape from its rib cage. Instantly, I shrugged off my desires, forcing myself to wake up from his hypnotic gaze and push him from above me.

Then, I fixed myself and drew away from him.

What happened to me just now? I almost had sex with him!

I was trembling hard as I gathered my strength to push him out of my house — no, out of our house. However, Adam quickly grabbed my hand and pulled me towards him. Then, he held me tightly in his arms and dragged me closer to his chest.

Immediately, my face heated up. "Adam, why are you here? What do you want me to do?" I asked as I glared at him.

Adam gave me a deep look as he leveled his gaze with mine. His deep eyes were getting closer and closer, fascinatingly hypnotizing me again. When his breath tattooed my bare face, I forgot to struggle again.

However, just when I thought his lips were about to claim mine again, he turned his head gently and sneered. "You think I'll kiss you?" he taunted, full of ridicule.

My eyes then twitched at him. I was about to say something when the doorknob's latch suddenly clicked.

With that, my heart trembled violently, and my body froze with fear. I didn't even need to check because I knew it was Bob. And if he found out I was with Adam, he would have other evidence to use to threaten me and the latter.

But, no! I would not let that happen!

Hastily, I pulled Adam and pushed him into the guest room. However, before I could even do that, he grabbed my hand and stopped me from doing what I had initially planned.

"What? Am I that disgraceful that you want to hide me here?" he asked. His eyes were deep, like a brewing storm amidst the vast ocean.

Speechless, I looked unbelievably at him as anger replaced the fear I had felt earlier. 'How stupid could this man be?!'

"Come with me!" I hysterically said in a low voice when I heard the door had finally unlocked.

However, Adam stood still.

"Please!" I begged.

Instantly, Adam's expression changed, and his eyes became dimmer.

Using all my strength, I pushed him into the guest room, and just as I closed the door, Bob entered!

My heart remained in chaos even after ensuring Adam was out of sight. I mean, who wouldn't feel anxious if your husband came back and you were hiding a man?

"What are you standing there?" Bob asked, full of suspicion behind me.

I gulped and turned around to see him. Then, I immediately shook my head. "NNothing..."

After I said the word, Bob frowned and walked towards me.

Nervous, I cursed under my breath, forced myself to calm down, and thought of a new topic. "Do you know what your mother did?"

Bob stopped and arched his brow at me. "What did she do?"

I sneered and fixed my posture. "She went to my workplace and made a commotion, saying I can't bear a child for your family." Then, I paused and looked at him with my squinted eyes. "I've taken nothing but harsh words from her, but should I tell her what kind of man her son is?"

I was brimming with anger, and I felt like I could spit a novellong of curses at him, but before I could even react, Bob's hand suddenly hit my cheeks. With his unexpected blow, my face shifted sideways, and I urgently held my reddened cheek.

I was brimming with anger, and I felt like I could spit a novellong of curses at him, but before I could even react, Bob's hand suddenly hit my cheeks. With his unexpected blow, my face shifted sideways, and I urgently held my reddened cheek.

"And why are you telling me this? Do you think I'll scold my mom and side with you? Dream on, Sophia! Who do you think you are?" His eyes were as intense as fire. "I don't care about whatever my mother would do to you. If she humiliated you, then suffer. You deserve a lot more than that anyway."

I clenched my fist as I mirrored his gaze. I was hoping to see even faint hints of sorry in his eyes, but it disappointed me that there weren't. Unfazed, he stepped closer toward me and warned, "If you dare let my mother know anything, I hope you're ready for the consequences."

And with that, I was rendered speechless. I wanted to chase him with a knife and ruthlessly stab him until I felt satisfied because why not? He kept making my life miserable, so why not end everything at once? If we died now, the pain would only last briefly.

But then, Adam was here.

He was here, so all I could do now was endure my husband's treatment and act tough regardless.

I waited a moment to ensure that Bob was already asleep before I opened the guest room's door and let Adam come out.

As soon as he did, a moment of silence ensued for what seemed to be a long time until Adam broke it with a serious question.

"So, you left me before to marry such a person?"

My words were constrained.

As much as I wanted to let out the suffocating emotions building inside me, I could not explain myself to Adam. I could not tell him the whole truth, for I knew it wouldn't do him any good.

"You should leave now!" I said as I pushed him out of the house, afraid that if he stayed longer, I wouldn't be able to control my mouth from saying things I shouldn't talk about.

And so, I lowered my head, avoiding his intense stare. Then, with both hands, I pushed him out of the door, but it did not stop him from holding my chin and forcing me to look at him.

"Sophia!"

Slowly, he wiped the tears that I didn't know fell from my eyes. With that, I felt his delicate hands against my skin. Surrealist then hit me as I never knew I would receive such a genuine gesture from him again.

"Sophia, as long as you tell me that you still want to be with me, I'll deal with everything," he said in a low voice and soft expression. I had never seen him react that way, so I could not figure out if he was genuine or not.

Be with him?

I scoffed at the thought and looked at his hands that were holding my chin and touching my lips. Before he could do anything further to me, I pushed him away again.

After a brief moment of shock, Adam laughed as though he had lost everything at once and walked away helplessly without looking back at me.

The moment he turned away, I felt a pang in my chest. I felt as though my soul went along with him when he left. My tears cascaded, and I could not control them, so the only thing I did was cover my mouth, wishing no one would hear me.

Then, I went to my mother's house with my mind floating. My heart seemed so tight, and I was catching my breath to calm myself. I went home, thinking my mother was the only person I could run to at times like this, for she was the only person I believed could console me. But, unlucky me, fate seemed not on my side recently.

The door was slightly open when I got to my mother's house. I purposefully slowed down and entered after feeling a surge of wariness.

With the small gap in the door, I saw my mother beside my brother and heard their conversation.

"What should we do now that your sister finds out?"

"Mom, don't worry! What can that loser do?" My brother said, laughing, and added, "I can't wait for her to divorce my brotherinlaw so we can be together in the future!"

"But you sister…"

Their words were enough for my ears to suddenly shut, along with my mind. My whole body trembled like it was burning; I felt like I was being killed, being stabbed multiple times by a sharp knife. And the worst part was that my family was the person behind every inch of pain in my system.

Hearing my mother's response, I figured she already knew about Eric and Bob, and I was the only one kept in the darkness for a long time.

My mind could not function very well anymore. I just found myself almost leaving the house, but the squeaking sound of the door reached my brother's ears.

"Hey, what's that? Someone's outside?"

Finally, hearing him again made my feet glued to the floor. Before I could leave, Eric grabbed my arms to make me face him.

The disdain in his eyes greeted me. "How can you be so shameless?" He shouted, which I could not utterly believe. How could he be the one to shout out at me and look at me as if I was the one who committed a crime?

My mother, unfortunately, had only seen that portion of the argument when I was unaware that my palms had already landed on my brother's face.

"Why did you slap your brother!?" My mother shouted angrily, slapped me in the face, and consoled my brother. She dared not to look at me, ask what happened, or acknowledge my presence. Instead, she concernedly looked at Eric and worriedly held his face.

Shocked than I cared to admit, I couldn't take my eyes off the two people I thought would be by my side during the hard times.

Soon after the blow I received, my vision of them slowly turned blurry as my tears continuously streamed down. I thought I would find comfort going here, but I only found more chaos.

Now, I realized that everyone seemed to be making fun of me, laughing at me as if I was a clown made for entertainment – for their satisfaction.

From crying, I laughed hysterically upon realizing my position in everyone's life. I laughed without hesitation, like a madman.

"Sophia! Why did you hit your brother?! He didn't do anything, and here you are acting violently. Now, look, the corners of his mouth are bleeding! Why can't you be a sister to him?"

A smirk rose on my lips. "Then, what about me?" I asked with bitterness, my lips upward but my eyes in sadness.

But then, my mother did not respond to that. Instead, she said, "Shut up! You should know how to lend your ears if you want people to listen to you."

"Can you even hear yourself?" I asked in disbelief, wiping the snot that mixed with my tears.

Then, I left soon after saying those words and wandered outside with nowhere in particular in my mind to go. Surprisingly, my feet seemed to have a mind of their own, and before I could even realize it, I was already in front of Adam's house.

Seeing his house made me come up with the decision to tell him everything finally, but the wind blew differently. No matter how much I try to make things right and try to seek comfort, I somehow always end up getting the complete opposite.

I pushed him away, only to hurt myself, and now that I wanted to tell him what happened three years ago, I saw him with someone else.

The freezing wind wasn't the one to blow me away from coldness but the fact that Adam was in the arms of another woman. The two looked intimate, warming each other in the cold night while I watched from the darkness, unwantedly indulging the bleak weather.

What I just witnessed made me clench my fist tightly. The pang in my chest rose again, along with the neverending tears and the heavy atmosphere.

It hurt me so much to see him being genuinely fine after just coming to me earlier, as if he didn't ask me to be with him and swore that he would take care of everything. But then, I couldn't blame him. I shouldn't, right? After all, it was my fault for pushing him away.

Seeing him with someone made me want to hit my head so I would wake up to the reality that he was once mine. And now, not anymore. That was long ago, despite it feeling like yesterday.

Although dark, the woman beside him immediately noticed me and warily looked at me. Adam followed her eyes until they landed on me. "What are you doing here?" He asked as tenderness flew away from his beautiful pair of magnetic eyes.

The indifference in his treatment towards me made me shiver. "I… I have something to tell you."

Adam, however, only sneered at me. "I have nothing to do with you, Sophia. I am not some spare wheel you can use after losing interest in your husband."

Having heard that, I stuttered, unable to form the appropriate sentence to tell him, and before I could even beg for him to listen to me, he had already pulled the woman beside him, and they both left.

The cold wind blew once again, hitting my skin like daggers. I was left alone, with only my arms to console me. And so, I hugged myself and sat in the gutter, trying to muffle my voice, wishing it would rain so hard so it could wash away my suffering.

Lost, I didn't go home and decided to wander around for a few days. I didn't want to go to my mother's house anymore or to my husband's, but then Bob called and asked me to go home.

So with a dead soul, I came home and found him preparing a feast on a decorated table.

When Bob noticed me, I tried to put on a smile and asked him what was happening.

"Have you forgotten?" He asked in a sulking tone. If only this had happened before I found out the things between him and my brother, I would have been happy and guilty at the same time for thinking about Adam. But now, I don't know what to feel anymore.

I didn't respond. With that, Bob grabbed my arms and excitedly said, "Come here!"

Bob took out his phone and pulled me for a picture. "Smile!" He said and smiled hypocritically, and when he saw that I wasn't smiling, he furiously looked at me.

"Smile, and don't wait for me to hit you!"

Afraid that he would do what he just said, I smiled and posed with him in front of the camera.

After pressing the shutter, he posted the picture on Instagram and faced me. "Today is our wedding anniversary."

Still wordless, I watched him as he got the glass of wine and gave it to me. "Cheers!"

I took it and sipped a bit of wine to avoid getting another threat from him, watching his admonishing look.

Soon as I finished half of the glass, he burst into sudden laughter, with his intent stare shifting between me and the glass of wine.

A bucket of cold water poured onto me upon realizing what he just did. Quickly, I bent, forcing myself to vomit. I tried as hard as possible but failed when I felt my head spinning.

"What did you do?!" I looked at him with contempt, trying to gather every ounce of my strength to stand up. I couldn't believe I had managed to live with him for three years.

Amused, Bob pointed at me as if he was crazy. "Sorry, a customer of mine wanted you. You know I'm generous, so I'm handing you over tonight to him."

My eyes widened, but my vision got blurry. Still, I managed to reach for Bob and tried to fight back. But before I could even hit him, he had already kicked me down the ground.

Then, an obscene older man came in when I was already on the floor, hugging myself.

I struggled in fear, but my body was beyond my control. My mind was screaming to fight back, get up, and run as fast as possible, but my body could not decipher such instructions from my brain.

I didn't know what to do.

I could not get up, and my mind was hazy.

"No! No! Stop!" I shouted as loud as I could, asking for mercy, but the older man's lust had already won over him, and Bob seemed not to hear a thing.

"Sophia, you might not be aware of this, but I have fallen in love with you for a long time!" The older man said. He was already shirtless, and his bad breath and yellow teeth were so near my face that they made it harder for me to breathe.

I looked at Bob, still asking for help, but he turned his back on me and left. Jerk!

"You will be mine tonight," the old man menacingly laughed and went on top of me.