MADDISON'S POV

I had barely taken a few steps into the hall when someone grabbed me.

"Wait, please... I need to see Christian," I said desperately as the guards shoved me backwards.

Christian Carrington, The man who was supposed to be my fiance was getting married right in front of my eyes without a word or a closure.

But I swallowed every bit of pride I had left to come see him because my whole life just turned upside down overnight, because of him.

"Yeah right," one of them snorted, "Miss Maddison Huston, you are not allowed in here.Mr. Carrington gave us specific instructions. Under no circumstances are you allowed inside."

My fingers curled into fists as the guard spoke. Christian had known I would come, and judging by the way everything had been arranged, he'd made sure I wouldn't get anywhere near him. The realization stung far more than I wanted to admit, sending a wave of humiliation and anger crashing through me, but I forced myself to swallow both.

"I'm not here to cause a scene," I said after taking a slow breath, determined to keep my voice steady despite the knot tightening in my chest.

Five minutes. I could accept any answer. I just needed to hear it from him face-to-face.

I refused to believe that after two years together, our relationship could end with nothing more than a cold text message.

I had to see him.

The two guards exchanged a glance but didn't move. "Sorry, Miss Houston. Those are Mr. Carrington's orders." They stepped forward and began forcing me backward.

Heads turned to see what was going on behind and subtle murmurs filled the room.

"Christian!" I shouted but he ignored me. I was carried out the hall and shoved away to the ground with my suitcase; the only thing I had left.

A familiar voice came behind me;

"Oh my God, Maddison?" It was Clarisse, my former co-worker, her eyes wide with fake horror. "How shameless of you to come here?" She turned to two of her friends. "Guys, look, it's the office whore."

Belle, another co-worker, giggled behind her. "Did she come to seduce the bride this time?"

My stomach twisted. "I didn't seduce anyone. I'm not a whore." I snapped, anger building in me as I picked myself up from the ground.

Apparently, Christian had provided photos of us in the hotel room and said I tried to seduce him a few days before his wedding.

His wife, Zara Hwathorne, who was the younger and spoiled sister of my boss, Aldric Hwathorne, the CEO of Throne group, got angry and got me fired from work immediately.

The news spread like wildfire and no one listened to my side of the story.

Clarisse stepped closer to me with a smirk on her face, "You really thought you could drag a man with Zara Hwathorne and get away with it? You classless whore."

My mouth opened to say something, but I was cut off by someone else. "This is what girls like you deserve, when you try to sleep your way to the top."

My stomach twisted as laughter rippled through the crowd, and for a moment the humiliation threatened to overwhelm me. But after everything I'd already lost, I wasn't about to stand there and let them tear me apart without fighting back.

"Finished?" I asked, lifting my head to meet Clarisse's gaze. Clarisse's smile faltered.

I looked her straight in the eye. "If making up stories is the most exciting thing happening in your life, by all means, keep going."

Belle scoffed. "Oh, look at that. Still pretending to be innocent?"

I curled my lips into a cold smile. "Innocent? At least I don't have to tear other women down just to feel relevant."

A few gasps rippled through the crowd. Belle's expression darkened instantly.

Clarisse stepped closer. "You really thought you could go after Miss Hawthorne's fiancé and walk away unscathed?"

I lifted my gaze.

"If I had actually wanted him..." I paused deliberately. "He wouldn't have spent two years without getting me into his bed."

Silence.

Complete silence.

Several people stared at me with wide eyes.

Clarisse's face drained of color. Because she knew exactly what that meant.

It meant the story behind those photos wasn't what everyone thought.

"You bitch!" she shrieked.

"Still better than some people," I said coolly. "Spending every day chasing rich men and still failing to get a second glance."

"You—"

"And another thing." I cut her off.

"Since you're so interested in other people's private lives, maybe you'd like to explain why you kept visiting the Finance Director's office last month."

Murmurs immediately swept through the crowd, and Belle let out a startled laugh.

"Wait," she said, staring at Clarisse. "She's not actually making that up, is she?"

Clarisse's face flushed a deep, furious red.

"Shut up!"

Before anyone could react, she lunged forward and slapped me hard across the face. The force of the blow sent my head snapping to the side, and for a second all I could hear was the sharp ringing in my ears. The entire lobby fell silent as if someone had suddenly cut the sound from the room.

A burning ache spread across my cheek, but instead of crying, I slowly turned back to face her and held her gaze.

"That's the second time you've lost to me."

Clarisse froze.

"What?"

I wiped the blood from the corner of my mouth before looking at her with a calmness that only seemed to infuriate her more.

"The first time, you lost to jealousy," I said evenly. "This time, you've lost badly enough to resort to violence."

Her entire body trembled with rage.

"If you know what's good for you," she hissed, "you'll get out of here right now."

I held her gaze for another second before bending down and picking up my suitcase.

"Don't worry." My voice was calm. "I won't stay at the bottom forever." I looked over my shoulder. "Let's hope you're still laughing when I climb back up."

They all walked into the hall and the door slammed in my face again.

With my back turned to the crowd, the cracks finally began to show. My chest burned and tears flowed down my face as I picked up my suitcase off the ground.

Just a week ago, I thought I was going to be the luckiest girl in the world.

FLASHBACK

ONE WEEK AGO

"Are you serious?" I whispered, staring at the ring on my finger. "Christian..." my mouth hung open.

He smiled at me gently. "Why would I joke about this, Maddie? I love you and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. It's time everyone knows."

"You're finally going to tell your parents?" I asked, my voice shaking. "Will they approve it? What about your arranged marriage to Miss Zara?" I narrowed my eyes at him, waiting for his response.

He paused for a while, his jaw clenching, "I already told you, baby. I wasn't going to go through with that marriage. I've told them that I have a woman I love and that's you."

Christian and I had been dating secretly for two years. My life practically changed after I met him; He was my Knight in a shining armour.

Christian paid off all my debts, used his connection to the Hwathorne family to get me a job at Throne Group. He also got me a big apartment.

But he asked to keep the relationship hidden because he didn't want it to affect his business relations and partnership.

His parents also wanted him to get married for the benefits of their company. So, they arranged his marriage to Zara Hwathorne. But Christian assured me that he would fight for our relationship.

And now, he finally proposed to me. I was very overwhelmed and I didn't know how to react.

I hugged him tightly. "Christian...I love you so much."

He kissed the top of my head. "You don't have to be scared of anything. I'll always be beside you." He kissed my lips softly for a short moment

"You don't have to worry about your grandma's hospital bills, I have prepared everything. "

"What?" my eyes widened in shock.

"I'll pay for everything," he said simply. "The surgery, the bills. Whatever she needs."

My breath caught. "Oh my God....Christian," my eyes were glassy with tears, "I don't know what to say. Thank you so much." The dam broke and the tears flowed down my cheeks.

He kissed me again, slow at first. But it got deeper, hungrier and we ended up on the bed in the hotel room.

He was already taking my clothes off until I grabbed his wrist.

"Christian, wait," I whispered, "What are you doing? We agreed to wait until marriage."

His eyes darkened instantly, "Maddison. Seriously?"

"We've talked about this," I muttered. "I want my first time to be special. With my husband."

His expression shifted. "We are getting married aren't we?"

"Yes, but..."

He stood abruptly. "How long are you planning to keep this bullshit rule up?"

My heart dropped. "What?"

"I've done everything for you," he snapped. "I got you an apartment. Paid your debts. Got you a job at Throne Group. And I just proposed, Maddison. Isn't that enough proof?"

"Christian, You've done a lot for me and I'm...

"Shut the fuck up!" he shouted. "You were nothing before I met you, and now you want to dictate what I can or can't have?"

I stood, breath shaking. "Are you saying, I should use my virginity as some sort of... transaction?"

His jaw clenched. "If you want me to pay your grandmother's hospital bills, stop acting stupid and let's do this. I've been patient enough, keeping up with your stupid rule."

My heart shattered. "I can't believe you're saying this."

"Believe it," he said coldly. "You have until tomorrow night to decide."

Then he walked out and slammed the door.

END FLASHBACK

I thought we were going to recover from that night; i thought it was just a phase that would pass but I was wrong.

We haven't talked since then and he never called me. Reality hit me when I heard that he was getting married to Zara Hwathorne that weekend.

Yesterday, Zara Hwathorne made her brother fire me from work because she claimed that I tried to seduce her fiance with evidence.

The loan I applied for from my grandma's surgery was denied because I was now unemployed.

This morning, I was kicked out of my apartment because Christian "no longer wished to sponsor the space." and I was only allowed to carry one suitcase because Christian claimed that everything in there was purchased by him; which was true.

I barely spent my salary on myself because I was gradually paying my grandma's outstanding medical bills.

Just like that, I lost everything I depended on.

I called Christian countless times but he ignored my calls and I had no choice but to come here. I didn't want anything else, I just wanted my job back.

The doors to the hall opened again and the wedding procession marched out. Music, and laughter filled the air

The moment Christian stepped out of the ballroom with Zara on his arm, surrounded by smiling guests and flashing cameras, my heart lurched painfully against my ribs.

This was probably my last chance to get answers.

Ignoring the guards stationed nearby, I tightened my grip on my suitcase and pushed through the crowd.

"Christian!" Dragging my suitcase behind me, I ran toward him.

The guards immediately lunged forward. I dodged one of them and finally managed to grab hold of Christian's sleeve.

Zara glared at me, clutching her bouquet. "How dare you come here, you shameless slut."

The guards yanked me back. I fell to the ground again, palms stinging against the rough pavement.

Christian whispered something in Zara's ear and helped her into the car before walking back to me with a cold gaze.

He crouched beside me, "You look miserable," he chuckled. "I had to remind you what you are without me, maddie." A victorious smirk plastered on his face.

I stared at him. "I'm not here to beg you to come back." My voice shook, but I held his gaze. "I just want to know one thing. What were the last two years supposed to mean?"

Christian... you deceived me. All this time... you just wanted..."

He chuckled. "Sex? Of course. You must be insane to think I'd ever marry someone like you."

"You were playing too hard, just to get a taste of you and I wasted a lot of money in the process. If you had let me fuck you to my heart content. I would have let you keep everything, but you were stubborn until the end."

I felt something inside me shatter. "I loved you," I whispered. "I believed you." The tears dropped on my laps.

"Well, that's your mistake," he said, standing up. "Try not to embarrass yourself further. It's pathetic."

"But..." A smirk tugged at his lips. "There's still a way to fix this."

My stomach turned. "What?"

"Be my mistress." He shrugged. "You can move back into the apartment. I can even get you another job."

I took a step back. Fury climbed my spine. I couldn't believe this was the man I'd loved for two years. The man I'd trusted with everything.

"You're a bastard, Christian." My voice came out low and deadly. I lifted my chin and met his eyes. "You're a coward."

His expression darkened. "Excuse me?"

"You lied. You twisted everything. And now you're trying to blame me for it." I shook my head. "I'm done."

He laughed. "You think you'll find someone better than me?" He stepped closer."You won't." His voice dripped with contempt.

"A woman who can't even afford her grandmother's medical bills? Tell me, Madison. Who's going to love you without expecting something in return?"

He leaned closer. "Before me, you were nothing."

For a second, I simply stared at him, struggling to recognize the man standing in front of me.

This was the same man who had once promised to spend the rest of his life with me, yet now he was looking at me as if I were something disposable.

The realization hurt far more than his insults ever could.

"Really?"My voice trembled with rage. "I earned every achievement at work myself. The only thing your connections ever brought me was harassment from all the women you flirted with and then claimed were obsessed with you."

His jaw tightened.

I pointed at him. "Mark my words, Christian. One day you'll be replaced. By someone better looking. Smarter. Stronger. And infinitely more of a man than you'll ever be."

I ripped the matching bracelet off my wrist and threw it at his feet. Then I grabbed my suitcase and walked away without another word.

The moment I reached the street, the tears finally broke free. I collapsed beside the building, clutching my chest as sobs tore through me.

It felt as if someone had ripped my heart out and shattered it into pieces. Every memory. Every promise. Every moment we'd shared. They came back one by one, cutting deeper each time.

A sleek black car rolled past me and mud water splashed on my body and my face"

I gasped and lifted my head just in time to see the man sitting in the back seat.

It was none other than Aldric Hwathorne. My former boss.

His deep brown eyes met mine through the rolled down window

The car slowed down and stopped a few feet away from me.

My heart pounded as the thought spun in my head. Maybe I could talk to him and explain the truth to him. Maybe I could get my job back.

I stood shakily, wiping the mud from my face, clutching my suitcase handle like it was my last lifeline.

I took one step forward and the car suddenly pulled away.

***********

After walking for a long time, I found myself seated at a bar counter, ordering my second drink.

The bartender hesitated, "Miss, that's pretty strong for girls like you. You could burn yourself out if you take more."

"That's none of your business," I snapped, "Give me the bottle."

I really wanted to burn myself out. I couldn't handle it anymore. My head was spinning with thoughts and memories of how my life turned miserable in a few days.

Every time I remembered Christian's words and how he looked at me outside the wedding hall like I was a trash he had been keeping up with; my heart clenched in pain and it felt like I was going to die.

"Miss," the bartender said gently, "are you sure you don't want something softer?" he asked with the bottle in hand.

I yanked the bottle away from him with a glare, poured it into the shot glass and drank it at once.

The alcohol burned through my throat once again but it did nothing to soothe the pain I was feeling.

I wanted to drink until I passed out, maybe everything will be back to normal when I wake up.

My vision swam as I took more shots.

The bartender frowned. "Do you have anyone to call? Someone to pick you up?"

I just shook my head and I could barely hold my head up.

My head dropped onto my folded arms on the table and my eyelids grew heavy.

"Miss? Hey...Miss, you can't sleep here," the bartender said, tapping the counter. "You need to sit up."

The sound gradually faded to silence.

I felt my body being laid down on a soft and comfortable bed, and a warm hand brushed my cheeks.

My eyes fluttered open, heavy and unfocused.

Where...where am I?

The dim light of the room was fuzzy but I knew I was no longer in the bar.

I blinked again, but all I saw was a silhouette seated beside, leaning closer. I couldn't see his face, only the outline. Broad shoulders and a well-shaped face.

"Hey..." the man's voice was low, almost a whisper. "You're safe."

His fingers slid along my cheek again, softer this time. My heart thudded in confusion.

I was too weak to move and I couldn't open my mouth to say anything.

He leaned closer, his breath brushed against my lips and before I could process what was going on;

His mouth captured mine in a kiss. A slow passionate kiss.