Chapter 1

• Julie woke up with a sharp pain in her head.
• It felt as if someone had struck her with something heavy. She groaned softly and pressed her fingers against her temples, trying to steady herself. For a few seconds, she kept her eyes closed, hoping the pain would fade.
• But it did not.
• Instead, a strange feeling settled in her chest. Something was wrong, very wrong.
• Slowly, she opened her eyes.
• The ceiling above her was unfamiliar. White, smooth, and decorated with a small chandelier that did not belong to her room.
• Julie froze.
• Her breathing became uneven as she turned her head to the side.
• This was not her home.
• She pushed herself up in panic, but the sudden movement made her dizzy. She nearly fell back onto the bed. Her heart started beating faster.
• “Where am I?” She whispered.
• Her eyes moved around the room.
• It looked like a hotel room.
• Her stomach tightened, she quickly pulled the blanket closer to herself, only to realize something that made her entire body go cold.
• She was not wearing any clothes.
• Her fingers trembled as she looked down.
• Her breath caught in her throat.
• “No… no… no…” she whispered.
• Her whole body hurt, especially between her legs.
• Her mind went blank. “What happened…?”
• She tried to remember. Last night… She had gone out with Sophie. They were at a party with drinks, music, and laughter. Then… nothing. She couldn’t remember anything after that.
• Julie’s hands shook as fear began to take over her thoughts.
• “Did something happen to me?” She wondered and before she could think further, she heard a low movement beside her.
• Her head snapped to the side.
• Someone else was in the bed. It was a man, and he was also naked.
• Her heart almost stopped.
• He slowly opened his eyes, clearly just waking up. For a moment, he looked confused. Then his gaze landed on her.
• They both stared at each other in silence.
• Julie’s lips parted, but no words came out.
• The air between them felt heavy.
• “What… is going on?” she finally managed to say.
• The man sat up slightly, pulling part of the blanket over himself. His expression was hard to read. There was no panic or guilt in his eyes, he just looked confused and cold.
• “I should be asking you that,” he replied.
• Julie’s chest felt tight. She recognized that voice.
• “Sam…? Sam Parker.”
• The man she had admired from a distance for years, the man who barely looked at her, the man her stepsister loved.
• She suddenly felt sick with fear.
• “This cannot be happening,” she cried.
• Before either of them could say anything else, the door to the room burst open.
• The loud sound made Julie flinch.
• Several people rushed in with cameras.
• Julie’s eyes widened as she tried to understand what was happening.
• Then she heard a voice she knew too well, a voice filled with anger.
• “Julie!”
• Her head turned sharply.
• Helena, her stepsister was standing at the door. Her face twisted with rage.
• More people were standing behind her. They were reporters. And then… her father was there.
• Julie’s body went stiff.
• For a moment, she forgot how to breathe.
• “Why are you with Sam?” Helena shouted, her voice shaking with emotion.
• Julie opened her mouth, but no words came out.
• She did not even understand what was happening herself.
• “I… I don’t know…” she managed to speak but before she could finish, Helena rushed forward and slapped her without a warning.
• Julie’s head snapped to the side.
• The sound echoed in the room.
• She gasped.
• The second slap followed immediately.
• Then another.
• And another.
• “Shameless!” Helena shouted, grabbing Julie’s hair and pulling hard.
• Julie cried out in pain. “Stop! Please…”
• But Helena did not stop, she kept hitting her, and pulling her hair.
• Julie struggled to defend herself, but her body was weak, and her mind was still confused. Everything felt unreal.
• She looked around desperately.
• The reporters were watching, some were recording, but no one moved to help her.
• Her eyes found her father.
• He stood there silently watching.
• There was no anger or concern on his face.
• Julie felt something inside her break.
• “Dad…” she called out slowly.
• But he did not move, he did not even a step or say word.
• Tears filled her eyes. She turned to Sam.
• He was standing now, fully awake.
• Their eyes met for a brief second.
• She expected something, anything. An explanation, a reaction. But he only looked at her with cold eyes.
• Then he said quietly, “This is just the beginning.”
• Julie froze.
• Before she could process his words, Helena pushed her again.
• This time, Julie reacted. She pushed her back.
• Helena lost her balance and she fell. Her body hit the floor hard.
• The room went silent for one second.
• Then they began shouting.
• “Helena!”
• Everyone rushed toward her.
• Her father dropped to his knees beside Helena, his voice was full of panic.
• “Helena, wake up!”
• Sam quickly moved to her side as well.
• Julie sat frozen on the bed. No one looked at her anymore, no one cared. It was as if she no longer existed.
• Her chest felt tight, her hands shook.
• She could not understand how everything had turned like this in just a few minutes.
• “I… I didn’t mean to…” she whispered.
• But no one listened.
• Sam turned toward the reporters.
• “Turn off your cameras,” he ordered.
• But many of them had already recorded enough.
• Julie slowly pulled the sheet closer to her body.
• She felt completely exposed.
• Her father stood up and looked at her.
• The expression in his eyes was not concern. It was anger.
• “If anything happens to her,” he said coldly, “you will regret it.”
• Sam also said the same.
• Their voices sounded almost the same.
• Julie stared at them in disbelief.
• She wanted to speak, to explain, to defend herself. But the words refused to come out.
• She was too tired and too broken to speak.
• ……
• Soon, Helena was carried out of the room.
• The reporters followed. One by one, the room emptied.
• Until only Julie and Sam were left.
• He looked at her briefly.
• Then said, “Give me my shirt.”
• Julie blinked. “What…?”
• “My shirt,” he repeated. “I need to leave.”
• Her hands tightened around the fabric. “I don’t have anything else to wear,” she said softly.
• “I don’t care,” he said, his tone was flat.
• Julie felt her throat tighten. Slowly, she removed the shirt and handed it to him.
• He took it without hesitation. He did not look at her again, and he did not say anything else.
• He dressed quickly and walked out.
• The door closed behind him.
• Julie sat there in silence.
• Then the tears came, slow at first. Then harder.
• She pulled the sheet tightly around herself and cried.
• Not just because of what happened.
• But because of everything, her life, her past, and her father.
• She reached for her phone with shaking hands.
• There were only a few contacts.
• She called Sophie, but she did not answer.
• She tried again, and this time, Sophie picked up.
• “I can’t come,” she said quickly. “I’m busy.”
• The call ended.
• Julie stared at the phone feeling empty.
• She scrolled through her contacts again.
• But there was no one, no one she could trust. No one who would come for her.
• Then she saw a name.
• “Patrick.”
• She stopped, her finger hovered over the screen.
• She had not called him in years.
• But right now… He was the only person she could think of.
• She took a deep breath, and pressed the call.