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.”

“I just need five minutes. Please, I'm not here to cause any trouble, just let me talk to him.” I kept begging with tears in my eyes as I was being dragged out the door.

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 Hawthorne, 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 Hawthorne 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.”

“I didn’t try to sleep with anyone!” I yelled, though my voice was broken, “Christian and I…”

Clarisse slapped me hard in the face, “How dare you raise your voice here?”

I gasped, placing my palm on my burning cheek.

“If you know what's good for you, leave immediately.”

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

My chest burned and tears flowed down my eyes 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 have 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 Hawthorne. 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 Hawthorne that weekend.

Yesterday, Zara Hawthorne 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

Christian and Zara stepped out, hand in hand surrounded by the crowd.

“Christian!” I shouted, running toward them. “Christian, please!”

Two guards rushed at me, but I dodged them and grabbed Christian’s sleeve.

“Christian, please, I need my job back?” My voice broke. “You can't do this to me Christian. Please…”

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.

My lips trembled and my vision blurred with tears. “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.”

I watched him walk away, my vision blurry with flowing tears.

Their car drove off, leaving me half-kneeled on the ground. The crowd dispersed slowly, until I was left alone.

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 Hawthorne. 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 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 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.