The CEOS Forgotten Night her lifelong pain

"Ahh, ouch..." Annabelle moaned in pain the moment her lashes fluttered open. A dull ache radiated through her entire body, as if she had been thrown into a tornado and spit back out. Her limbs felt heavy, sore, and bruised-especially between her thighs.

Her vision cleared slowly as she opened her mesmerizing sea-green eyes wider and stared at the elegant, elaborately carved ceiling above her. Gilded detailing and an ornate chandelier screamed luxury-a sharp contrast to her tiny, humble room back home with water stains painting its ceiling like scars of poverty.

Where am I? Her brows furrowed.

A sense of unease crept over her. She pushed herself up slightly on the soft mattress, eyes scanning her surroundings. Plush velvet drapes, sleek wooden furnishings, and a spacious layout with gold-accented décor-this was not just any room.

Definitely not home...

Confused, she swung her gaze toward a glass table beside the bed, where a card caught her eye. She reached out and snatched it with trembling fingers. The bold, embossed letters read: Shelton Grand - Presidential Suite.

"Shelton Grand?" she murmured, stunned.

Memories from the previous night came crashing in like shattered glass-the graduation party of Abigail Hamilton, her half-sister, she was enjoying with Brian, her boyfriend... the music... the laughter... drinks... lights... but beyond that? Nothing. Just a void.

How the hell did I end up here? Her breath hitched.

Fearless and bold Annabelle-who was rarely scared of anything-felt a tremor of fear settle in her bones. Her heartbeat quickened. She sat up swiftly, and as she did, the quilt slipped down from her torso, revealing her bare skin.

What?!

Annabelle was shocked to the core to discover she was completely naked.

Her bare skin tingled against the cool air, and her breath caught in her throat. No clothes, no memories. Only confusion. She moved to sit up, and a sharp, stabbing pain shot through her core. Her eyes dropped to the white sheets, now stained with a deep crimson spot.

No...

The room spun. Her hand clutched the sheet as if it could anchor her from falling into the abyss of realization.

I lost my virginity last night...

To someone... unknown.

Guilt struck her hard, and her eyes welled with tears.

She swallowed a lump in her throat and tried to calm herself. Focus. Focus.

Annabelle scanned the room again, heaving a sigh of relief when she found herself alone. But then-

The sound of water came from behind the closed bathroom door.

Her breath caught. Her bed partner from last night... was in the shower.

Who is he? How did this happen?

So many questions buzzed in Annabelle's head, but not a single answer came to her. One thing was clear-whatever happened last night, she couldn't allow herself to be dragged into more trouble.

She needed to leave. Now.

She spotted her red silk dress from lying on the floor, along with her simple undergarments. Her thoughts turned to Brian-her childhood sweetheart,  last month he proposed her and both decided to get married soon. Kind, loving Brian who had carefully selected the red silk dress she'd worn to the party. The same dress now lay in a crumpled heap on the floor, a silent witness to her shattered innocence.

Tears welled up in her eyes. "I... I cheated on him," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

She swallowed hard, trying to regain control. No more tears. No more weakness. She couldn't afford to be caught here-not like this. Whoever she had spent the night with, she had to get away before he showed up.

She reached for her dress, trembling fingers fumbling with the zipper as she quickly pulled it over her curves. She retrieved her undergarments and heels with desperate haste, all the while glancing nervously toward the closed bathroom door where the sound of a running shower abruptly stopped.

'Oh no...'

The sudden silence pierced through her like a blade.

Her hand froze mid-zip.

"I'm sorry, Brian..." she whispered tearfully as the last of the dress hugged her body. Her knees nearly buckled from the weight of guilt.

A soft noise snapped her back to the present. The water had stopped.

Annabelle wiped her tears and focused. This wasn't the time to drown in guilt. She had to leave before facing whoever was inside that bathroom.

She moved quickly, sliding her slender white legs into her heels, grabbing her white clutch from the center table, and heading for the door.

But just as her hand turned the knob-

"Hey, wait..."

A deep masculine voice echoed behind her, one laced with dominance and command.

She froze.

Her back still facing him, Annabelle's heartbeat thudded in her ears as she heard slow, heavy footsteps approaching her.