Lovers At War

"Admit to Monica's crimes and serve a simple five-year term. I promise your mother will be safe. Once released, you'll still be regarded as the lady of the Hussain family. This is actually a bargain. Take it if you're smart!"

——

Five years later, Sandra Hussain emerged from her prison term only to find the Hussains disowning her and barring her from seeing her mother.

Her sister Monica Hussain even threatened her to terminate her engagement with Darryl Owen, the Owen family heir, or forfeit any chance of meeting her mother.

Sandra yielded, agreeing to dissolve her engagement with Darryl. Yet, her grandmother, Theresa Hussain, the family matriarch, insisted she marry someone else within three days.

To marry someone else in such haste? Fresh from her incarceration, they seemed to be pushing her towards a hasty and undesirable match to thwart her future.

Despite her reluctance, she complied just so she could finally be with her mother.

Now she had a mere three days to break ties with Darryl.

Learning that Darryl dwelt in the opulent Gale Mansion, she headed there directly.

Clad in the same white dress from half a decade past, her hair in a plain ponytail, she appeared unsophisticated at a glance.

Yet her bare face shone clear and bright, her natural beauty suggesting an underlying charm.

At eighteen, her visage was yet to mature. Now, five years later, her beauty blossomed.

Sandra evaded observation and chose the stairs, reaching Darryl's room undetected.

As her hand grazed the door in preparation to knock, it creaked open under her touch.

Peering inside, she inquired, "Is anyone in here? Mr. Owen? May I enter?"

Her question hung unfinished in the air as an imposing hand clasped her arm, yanking her into the room.

Within moments, she found herself ensnared against a robust frame.

The man's faint yet captivating scent enveloped her, sending tingles through her body.

Struggling to break free from his grip, she was instead effortlessly twirled and pressed against the door.

A sharp click signaled the door locking.

Sandra's gaze lifted to the towering figure behind her. The room's dim light veiled his face, yet she presumed this must be Darryl since it was his room.

His breath warm against her cheek, drawing nearer to her ear, Sandra sensed that something was off.

In that instant, the man leaned into Sandra, his body pressing against hers, and murmured into her ear with a seductive undertone, "Help me, and I'll give you as much money as you want."

The mention of paying her made Sandra recoil, suspecting Darryl had confused her with a woman of the night. Incensed, she swung her hand to deliver a slap, but found her strength waning.

Within moments, her body turned feeble and mute, unable to utter a sound.

Taking advantage of her vulnerability, he scooped her up and strode towards the bed.

Time blurred as Sandra wrestled with her feeble state until at last, she broke free. But freedom brought no solace, as she discovered her naked body under the sheets.

The sound of water cascading in the bathroom jogged her memory. Her initial intent had been to sever the ties of engagement with Darryl. Such a reunion after the decade-long gap was definitely not what she had envisioned.

The recent misadventure in the room had deviated horribly, and she didn't want things to become more awkward than they already were.

Resolved, Sandra cast away the sheets, climbed out of bed, and scrambled for her clothes.

On the brink of departure, the man's murmur echoed in her mind. "I'll give you as much money as you want."

Feeling offended, Sandra searched her bag, found a coin, and left it on the nightstand with a hastily penned note.

Yet, as she reached for the door to leave, the knob twisted from the other side.

The door was being opened from the outside.

Sandra's ears caught an outside voice as she sidestepped. "Mr. Darryl, my boss is truly unwell..."

Her heart missed a beat.

Was that Darryl out there? And if so, who was the man behind the bathroom door?