Chapter 1

• Claire’s POV
• I woke up in the morning with a headache and exhaustion, only to find myself in a strange room after sleeping with a stranger at my pre-wedding bachelorette party.
• The memories of last night flashed in my mind like a broken film reel: a wild party, passionate dancing, countless shots of liquor—then, a blank.
• Feeling the warmth behind me, I stiffly turned around to see another man sleeping in the bed.
• I was met with a strikingly angular face, deep brown hair slightly tousled, but it failed to hide his handsomeness.
• I almost screamed, covering my mouth tightly with my hand, my body trembling.
• Oh my God!
• I didn’t know him at all!
• How could this happen?
• How could I spend one night with a strange guy? I'm getting married soon!
• Last night was my bachelorette party. I was with my best friend Emily and a group of friends. They were supposed to take me back to my room after I drank too much. How did I end up here?!My brain was in a mess, and I was in pain in my lower body.
• No, I have to get out of here right now.
• Without time to think, I frantically picked up my scattered clothes, bag, and shoes, threw on a dress, and walked barefoot to the door.
• I quietly closed the door behind me as I left the room, quickly making my way to the elevator.
• Luckily, no one followed me, and no one saw me in this disheveled state.
• In front of the reflective wall of the elevator, I vigorously wiped off the smudged mascara around my eyes and ran my fingers through my bird’s nest-like hair.
• Ignoring the suspicious gaze of the security guard, I hurried out of the hotel, hailed a cab, and kept telling myself to calm down while waiting for the car.
• But the pain in my lower body and abdomen clearly told me how wild I had been with that stranger last night.
• The taxi raced through the city with me inside.
• I took a deep breath and dialed my best friend’s number, but no one answered. I called Leo, my fiancé, but still got no response.
• Maybe they were all still asleep.
• The car quickly arrived at the destination, but the sight in front of me froze me in place.
• Several police cars were parked along the road in front of my house.
• The entrance was cordoned off. Uniformed officers carrying boxes of files walked out of the house.
• A large group of reporters surrounded the perimeter, shouting questions loudly.
• I caught a few words they asked amidst my pounding heartbeats: bribery, commercial crime, prison...
• “Ma’am, please don’t go any further,” a serious-looking police officer said, his vigilant gaze scanning my messy hair and wrinkled clothes.
• In a hoarse voice, I said, “This is my home. I live here.”
• Just then, my mother stood at the door with red eyes. When she saw me, she forced a smile and said, “Claire.”
• Her voice was choked with emotion.
• My mother is an especially strong woman, so to see her cry like this—I could tell things must be really bad.
• The police officer stepped aside to let me pass.
• I hurried inside, only to see chaos everywhere. All the carefully arranged furniture and decorations were in disarray, and my father’s favorite antique vase was shattered into countless pieces.
• And then, I saw my father.
• His hands were handcuffed behind his back, his expensive tailored suit crumpled, as he walked down the stairs with his head bowed.
• Tears instantly welled up in my eyes.How could this be?
• My father has always been honest and law-abiding. How could he be arrested for business crimes?
• This must be false!!!
• My father looked at me, so I quickly wiped away the tears from my face.He looked at me with complicated eyes, tinged with dismay and guilt.
• Our eyes briefly met, and before we could say anything, he was pushed by the officers into the police car waiting in the backyard.
• The reporters who had been blocking the front door rushed over, and countless camera shutters clicked.
• My mother leaned on me, silently crying. We watched as all the officers and reporters left the villa, leaving the once-noisy house eerily quiet.Looking at the mess in the room, I wiped the tears. Now isn’t the time to cry, I need to quickly find out what was going on.
• I don't believe my father would do something like that!
• My mother immediately went back to the house and contacted Dad's lawyer and anyone else who could help.
• I pulled out my phone and called my fiancé, Leo, who is a litigator. He must have a solution!
• It took a long time for the phone to go through.
• When I heard his voice, my nose instantly sore. I was scared and even want to cry.
• He’s my dependence, the person I rely on the most, but I was with a stranger last night......
• “Claire？”
• "Leo, it's me, my dad was arrested, can you come now? I need you.”
• I said eagerly, clenching my palms.
• Leo was silent for a second,"Claire, our wedding must be canceled, I can't marry a slut."
• "I saw the video of you cheating last night, you whore, you make me sick!"
• The blood instantly clotted and my fingers trembled uncontrollably.
• "No, it's not, Leo..."
• "I don't want to hear any excuses," Leo interrupted me in an indifferent voice, saying ruthlessly, "Give me back the diamond ring for the proposal, as well as the liquidated damages for the wedding company and the wedding venue. I'll give you twelve hours, and if I don't receive it by eight o'clock tonight, those videos will be distributed throughout Weston."
• Buzzing.
• My phone suddenly rang from inside my bag. Numbly, I answered and heard Leo’s voice on the other end.
• “Claire, our wedding should be canceled. I can’t marry a slut. You need to return the engagement ring I gave you and compensate the wedding planning company and venue for breach of contract—or I will release the video of you cheating at the bachelorette party. You have twelve hours. Reply to me before eight o’clock tonight.”
• Beep. Beep. Beep.
• The line went dead.
• With a bang, my brain felt like it had been hit by a heavy hammer, completely crushing the last bit of reason and strength.
• Holding up my phone blankly, I could hardly believe what I had just heard.
• Leo and I have known each other since we were kids. Besides being soon-to-be-married lovers, we are also longtime friends. He knows I love him more than anything and would never betray him—yet he just assumed I cheated on him.
• I was disappointed and very confused.
• How could he be so ruthless!
• I was sure it must had been an accident last night, but he said he had the video of me cheating.
• We were about to get married, and I'm not going to just fuck with a strange man!
• But the thought of the strange man on the bed suddenly gave birth to a wave of weakness and fear in my heart.
• My father had been caught, I couldn't lose Leo anymore!
• Coming back to my senses, I decided to find out what happened last night first.
• In this way could I get Leo's help, so that father would get rid of the charges as soon as possible.
• Emily, my best friend and my chosen head bridesmaid, she was with me last night.
• She must know something!