FORCED TO MARRY MY UGLY MAID

need of solace and companionship. With a heavy heart and a mind swirling with conflicti

iend was troubled. She asked Edith if she wanted to share her worries wit

Faulty, the hottest nightclub in town. Edith hesitated at first, unsure if she was

o the bus stop, eager to put the events of the day behind h

lors onto the dance floor below. Edith hurried through the throngs of people, her heart pounding with

and a smile on her lips. Relief flooded through her at the sight of a familiar face,

d with relief as she wrapped her friend in

with concern. "What's wrong, Edith?" she asked, her to

her problems, and didn't want to drag her into the messy drama of her life. But she couldn't deny

er gaze dropping to the polished surface of the b

there was more to her friend's distress than she was letting on. She reached out a

gentle but firm. "You can tell me anyth

into a seat beside her and ordered a strong dr

the warmth of the alcohol course through her veins. Tonight, she wanted nothing more than to

etrayal, the memory of his callous words burning like a brand upon her soul. And as she contin

drown her sorrows in alcohol. But Edith remained tight-lipped, refusing to divulge the details of her encou

ere for Edith in her time of need. And so, the two friends spent the evening drinking and dancing, their laughter

ound herself blurting out the truth —about Kyle, about the arranged marriage, about the agreemen

ned to Edith's confession, her eyes widening i

with rage. "How dare he treat you like that? How

edly. "It doesn't matter," she said resignedly. "I just...I just want to forge

ght solace in the numbing embrace of alcohol. She drank with reckless abandon, the burn of th

s fading with each passing moment. She danced with abandon, her body moving in time

cruelty of a man who would treat her friend so callously. She made a sile

crowd below with a predatory gleam in his eyes. His gaze wandered lazily over the se

ed with a sensual grace that left him breathless. Determined to make her his for the night, Kyle descended fro

figure making her way through the throng of dancers. And to his surprise and dis

re shattered by the unexpected sight of her. How had she managed to find her way into his domain, he w

within him—a flicker of concern, a twinge of guilt. For beneath the layers of resentmen

ollision, reached out to steady Edith, his hands wrapping around her waist to prevent her fro

stood before her utt

r, his voice smooth and melodi

xture of dread and anticipation. She knew she should leave, should get as far away from Kyle

ure of fear and uncertainty. What was he doing here? Did he

lips, Edith couldn't help but feel a shiver of apprehension run dow

ce low and gravelly in her ear. "Let me take you home," he murmured, hi

herself nodding in agreement, her heart pounding with a mixture of fear and uncertainty. She didn't know wh

om the chaos of the nightclub, forgetting she had come to the clu

turn but she was nowhere to be seen. With a troubled heart

e returning he thought about Edith in the red dress and how sh

hinking about Edith and went to bed wi