Mirabel's POV

"Hey, drink up! We're here to have fun tonight!" my friends shouted as one of them poured more wine into my glass.

Tonight was supposed to be unforgettable. Julian, one of my closest girlfriends, had just secured a major contract with a billionaire's company, and she was so excited that she decided to throw a party to celebrate her achievement. The music was loud, the drinks were flowing, and everyone seemed determined to make the most of the night.

"Cheers to my new contract deal!" Julian announced, raising her glass with a wide smile.

"Cheers!" we chorused, clinking our glasses together.

I took a generous sip of my wine, enjoying its sweet taste as laughter and music filled the room. For once, I allowed myself to forget about everything else and simply enjoy the moment. After all, I deserved a little fun before my big day tomorrow.

Tomorrow.

A smile slowly spread across my face as I thought about it. I was finally getting married to Drake, my childhood sweetheart and the man I had loved for as long as I could remember. We had grown up together, attended the same school, and graduated around the same time. Over the years, our friendship had blossomed into something deeper, and before I knew it, he had become the center of my world.

We had already made plans for our wedding, and the thought of finally becoming his wife filled me with excitement. I knew Drake as a kind and caring man who always tried to make me happy. Whenever I imagined our future together, I pictured a peaceful home, endless laughter, and a love that would grow stronger with each passing year.

Tomorrow, I'll finally be his wife, I thought, my heart fluttering at the idea. I can't wait to see his face when I walk down the aisle.

Just then, my phone beeped, interrupting my thoughts. I glanced at the screen and immediately smiled when I saw Drake's name.

"Excuse me, guys. I need to take this," I said, stepping away from the table as I answered the call.

"Hello, sweetheart," I greeted him.

"Where are you, Mirabel? It's so noisy over there that I can barely imagine what you're doing," Drake said, his voice coming through the phone.

I laughed softly, glancing at my friends, who were busy dancing and singing along to the music. "I'm at Julian's party. You know she's celebrating her new contract, so she invited us to have some fun."

"All right, but don't forget to check your phone. I sent you a picture of the wedding gown you'll be wearing tomorrow."

My heart skipped a beat. "You did? I'll check it now."

"Of course. I want to know what you think about it."

"Okay, I'll call you back in a little while. It's difficult to hear you properly here."

"All right, sweetheart. Take care of yourself."

"I will. I love you."

"I love you too."

I ended the call and immediately opened the picture he had sent. The moment the image appeared on my screen, my eyes widened with delight. The wedding gown was beautiful, with an elegant design that made it look as though it had been created especially for me.

"Oh my goodness," I whispered, zooming in on the picture. "This is perfect!"

I could already imagine myself wearing it as I walked toward Drake, surrounded by our friends and family. The thought made my stomach flutter with excitement. I had dreamed about this day for so long that sometimes it still felt unreal that it was finally happening.

"Mirabel, stop admiring that phone and come back here!" Julian called from across the room. "You haven't even finished your drink!"

I laughed, locked my phone, and returned to the table. "I'm coming!"

"Good! Now, drink up. We can't have you leaving the party so early," she teased, pouring more wine into my glass.

I hesitated for a moment before taking it. I had already had enough to drink, but everyone was having such a good time that I didn't want to be the only person acting serious.

Besides, it was only wine. What could possibly happen?

I lifted the glass to my lips and swallowed several mouthfuls before setting it down. My friends continued chatting, laughing, and dancing, but a few minutes later, something strange began to happen.

At first, I thought the room had suddenly become too hot. I tugged at the neckline of my dress, hoping to get some fresh air, but the uncomfortable feeling only grew stronger. A strange warmth spread through my body, leaving my skin prickling as my head began to spin.

I blinked several times and rubbed my eyes, hoping the dizziness would disappear, but the room seemed to sway around me.

What's happening to me?

I pressed my fingers against my forehead, trying to steady myself. Perhaps I had drunk too much. I wasn't someone who usually consumed so much alcohol, and maybe my body simply couldn't handle it. Still, this felt different from ordinary drunkenness. My heartbeat was becoming faster, and I could barely concentrate on what my friends were saying.

I needed to sit down somewhere quiet.

Pushing my chair back, I struggled to my feet. The moment I stood, a wave of dizziness washed over me, forcing me to grab the edge of the table for support.

"Mirabel, what's wrong?" Julian asked, her smile fading as she noticed my unsteady movements.

"I'm fine," I replied, although even I could hear the weakness in my voice. "I just need to use the restroom. I'll be back."

Without waiting for another question, I turned away from the table and began making my way through the crowded room. The music seemed louder than before, and the flashing lights made it difficult to see clearly. I held my head with one hand and used the other to steady myself against the wall whenever my legs threatened to give way.

Just get to the restroom, Mirabel. Wash your face, drink some water, and you'll be fine.

I repeated those words in my head, desperately trying to convince myself that nothing serious was happening. However, the strange heat spreading through my body refused to fade. Instead, I felt increasingly restless, as though I couldn't get enough air.

After stumbling down a short hallway, I spotted a door in the corner. Assuming it led to the restroom, I hurried toward it, pushed it open, and slipped inside before locking it behind me.

The first thing I noticed was the silence.

The second was that I wasn't alone.

A man stood near the bathroom entrance, apparently having just stepped out of the shower. Water trickled from his damp hair, sliding down his neck and over his bare chest. He wore nothing but a towel wrapped securely around his waist, and his tall, well-built frame made him look even more imposing in the dim light.

I froze, staring at him.

For a moment, I forgot about my dizziness. The man was strikingly handsome, with a sharp nose, defined features, full reddish lips, and captivating hazel eyes that seemed to hold my attention against my will. His wet hair fell slightly over his forehead, giving him an effortlessly attractive appearance.

Oh my goodness. Who is this man?

I knew I should apologize and leave immediately. I had obviously entered the wrong room, and the last thing I wanted was to embarrass myself in front of a stranger. Yet my thoughts felt strangely scattered, and I found it difficult to focus on anything beyond the heat coursing through my body.

"Wow," I murmured before I could stop myself.

His expression hardened.

"What are you doing in my room?" he asked coldly.

His deep voice should have been enough to bring me back to my senses, but instead, I found myself staring at him as though I had never seen a handsome man before.

I took an unsteady step toward him, my eyes fixed on his face. Before I could think better of it, I lifted my hand and touched his cheek.

His eyes narrowed immediately as he caught my wrist.

"Hey. I asked you a question. Who are you, and what are you doing here?"

I stared at his hand around my wrist, suddenly aware that I was behaving in a way I would never normally behave. I was engaged to Drake. I loved Drake, and our wedding was less than twenty-four hours away. The thought should have been enough to make me pull myself together, apologize, and walk out.

So why couldn't I think straight?

"I'm sorry," I whispered, trying to withdraw my hand. "I think I've had too much to drink."

"Then you should be looking for your friends instead of wandering into a stranger's room."

He released my wrist, but I barely had time to process his words before another wave of dizziness swept through me. I grabbed his arm to keep myself from falling, and my fingers tightened around his skin as I struggled to remain standing.

Something was terribly wrong.

My body felt hotter by the second, and my thoughts had become a confusing mixture of panic and sensations I couldn't explain. I tried to step away from him, but my legs felt weak beneath me.

"Please," I whispered, looking up at him. "I don't feel right."

For the first time, his expression changed slightly. He studied my face as though he was trying to determine whether I was merely drunk or genuinely unwell.

"What's wrong with you?" he asked.

"I don't know." My voice trembled with frustration. "Everything feels strange, and I can't seem to control myself."

I was frightened by my own words. I had never experienced anything like this before, and I didn't understand why my body was reacting so strangely. A small part of me wondered whether someone had put something in my drink, but the thought seemed too terrible to consider.

No, that can't be possible. I'm at a party with my friends. Why would anyone do that to me?

I tried to move toward the door, but my knees weakened again. The stranger caught me before I could fall, steadying me with one arm.

For a brief moment, I found myself pressed against his bare chest. His skin was warm beneath my trembling fingers, and I struggled to remember why I had entered the room in the first place.

"Let me go," I whispered, although I was the one holding on to him.

"You're barely able to stand," he replied, his voice still stern. "You need help, not whatever you're trying to do right now."

His words should have embarrassed me, but I was too overwhelmed to respond properly. I lifted my head and looked into his hazel eyes, searching for something familiar in a face I had never seen before.

Then, acting on an impulse I couldn't explain, I leaned forward and pressed my lips against his.

The instant our lips touched, I realized how far out of control the situation had become. I should have stopped. I should have stepped away and called Julian or Drake. Instead, I clung to the stranger as though I had forgotten every sensible thought I had ever possessed.

He pulled back, staring at me in disbelief.

"Do you have any idea what you're doing?" he demanded.

I shook my head weakly. "I don't know what's happening to me. Please, just help me."

His jaw tightened as he looked at me, clearly uncertain about what to do with a woman who had suddenly appeared in his room and was behaving so strangely.

"Listen to me," he said firmly. "You need to calm down."

But I couldn't seem to settle myself. My head was spinning, my body felt unbearably hot, and fear was beginning to replace the confusion in my mind.

I had come to the party to celebrate my friend's success. I had expected to spend the night laughing with my girlfriends before returning home to prepare for my wedding. I had never imagined that a few glasses of wine could leave me in a situation like this.

Drake, I'm supposed to marry you tomorrow.

The thought pierced through the fog in my mind, and for one brief second, I felt a wave of guilt so strong that I wanted to cry.

Yet even as I tried to hold on to that thought, the stranger's face remained frustratingly clear before me.

I didn't know his name. I didn't know why I had entered his room or why I was struggling so badly to control myself. All I knew was that something was wrong, and I desperately needed someone to tell me what was happening.

The man watched me carefully before reaching for his phone.

"Stay here," he ordered. "I'm getting someone to help you."

But when he turned away, I reached for his arm again, afraid of being left alone with the strange sensations overwhelming me.

"Please don't leave me," I whispered.

He looked back at me, his hazel eyes unreadable.

And in that moment, with my wedding only hours away, I had no idea that this single night was about to change everything.