Chapter 2. An Unexpected Encounter - 1

Stupid. I really am stupid.

Cecilia Moreau couldn’t stop cursing herself as her determined steps echoed down the corridor. The heated memories from last night kept haunting her mind.

This time, it wasn’t the images of Bertha and Evan’s steamy video, but rather the memory of her own one-night stand. With a man whose name she didn’t even know. Still, Cecilia could recall his face, albeit a little hazily. Especially the part when their bodies pressed together, satisfying each other. That memory was burned into her mind, igniting a heat that swept through her body.

Enough! Damn it! Cecilia gritted her teeth in anger, not even sure at whom. She clenched her fists, nearly crumpling the sheet of paper in her hand— the very paper that had dragged her into this confrontation. She tried to regain her composure. At dawn, she had managed to slip away from the hotel—the scene of her one-night stand with that stranger. Luckily, she’d left while he was still asleep. If he had woken up, she would have had no idea how to act.

She knocked on the door twice. A man’s voice from inside instructed her to enter. Cecilia stepped in.

Her eyes locked sharply onto the man behind the desk, sitting upright in his chair. The handsome man she once admired and loved with all her heart. The man who was her fiancé, but who ended up betraying her by cheating with her own best friend.

“Hi, sweetheart,” Evan greeted her in his usual sweet tone, showing not the slightest suspicion.

“Cut the small talk with your filthy mouth, Evan.” Cecilia fired back sharply. The click of her high heels echoed as she strode up to his desk. Then, her right hand slammed the sheet of paper down onto the surface. “I’m resigning!”

Evan frowned deeply, now focusing all his attention on her. “Since when did you start talking like that, sweetheart?” He stood up, reaching out to gently touch Cecilia’s cheek. “What’s wrong, hmm?” he asked softly.

But Cecilia slapped his hand away. “I said I’m resigning!” she repeated, her anger boiling over.

Evan’s frown deepened as he glanced at the paper on the desk. “What’s going on?” His tone had turned more serious.

“What’s going on?” Cecilia echoed, letting out a bitter laugh as she folded her arms. “Obviously, I want to resign because I can’t stand breathing the same air as a bastard like you!” she spat sarcastically.

Evan looked confused. “Sweetheart, what’s wrong? Why are you so angry?” he asked, trying to calm her. He was puzzled by Cecilia’s drastic change. Usually, when she visited his office, she would immediately snuggle up to him and they’d share a quick kiss.

Cecilia let out a low, cutting laugh. “Stop pretending in front of me, Evan,” she warned, fed up. Her eyes glared fiercely at his bewildered face. “I know everything!”

“Pretending?” Evan frowned. “I don’t understand, sweetheart. Explain it to me.” He gently took her hands, bringing them to his lips for a brief kiss.

Once again, Cecilia pulled her hands away, rejecting his touch. Evan’s eyes darted, sensing danger.

“You cheated on me with Bertha, didn’t you?” Cecilia accused, her anger barely contained.

“What are you talking about?” Evan replied, still feigning ignorance. But Cecilia caught a flicker of shock in his eyes.

“You’re a smart guy, Evan. Don’t pretend. I saw the video of you and Bertha!” Cecilia’s voice trembled, her eyes locked onto his face, which was now showing a different reaction.

Evan laughed, still trying to deny it. “You misunderstood, sweetheart. That’s just a video, right? Don’t believe something you didn’t see with your own eyes,” he coaxed, reaching for her shoulder. But again, Cecilia shoved his hand away.

“Do you think I’m blind?” Cecilia screamed. Her breath was ragged, her eyes red and burning. “I heard you both say you loved each other. I saw you making out and having sex! What does that mean? Were you shooting a movie? Should I believe that video is just a lie?” she continued, her voice still raised.

The room fell silent. Evan’s eyes darted rapidly, studying the furious woman in front of him. Panic flickered across his face.

“Your silence means yes, doesn’t it?” Cecilia shouted again, her voice booming in the room. “How long, Evan? How long have you been stabbing me in the back? How many nights did you spend together, huh? How many times did you enjoy her body, huh?”

Her sharp words were met with a calm response from Evan. “You’re mad because I slept with your best friend?” he asked nonchalantly. The mask of innocence was gone. He was already caught, so he might as well face her anger head-on.

Cecilia almost slapped his annoyingly handsome face, but she restrained herself, clenching her fists and crossing her arms, her face flushed red.

“Why are you angry, sweetheart? You should ask yourself that,” Evan leaned his tall, broad frame toward Cecilia, his eyes boring into her furious face. “We may have a loving relationship, but love isn’t enough, sweetheart. I’m a normal man. I need sex. And you never wanted to give me that.”

Every word felt like a dagger, stabbing and tearing at Cecilia’s already shattered heart. Her anger was now completely out of control.

“You couldn’t give me that, could you? You always clung to your old-fashioned rules. No sex. Come on, we live in the modern era. You’re my fiancée, but we’re not having sex—what’s the point?” Evan stared at her with a crooked smile.

Cecilia was almost speechless, overwhelmed by emotion. Her chest heaved, heat spreading through her body. “Why Bertha?” she asked, her voice trembling. Her eyes burned, but she fiercely held back her tears, refusing to shed even one for someone as wretched as Evan. “Why my best friend?” she asked again, struggling to contain her turmoil.

“Of course, because she’s beautiful, sexy, and a good partner in bed,” Evan replied with a satisfied smile. “Besides, Bertha threw herself at me.”

“You jerk!” Cecilia spat, her breath coming fast.

Evan’s right hand reached out, lifting Cecilia’s chin to make her look up, tracing her jawline slowly. “You’re beautiful. I admire that. Especially your lips. It’s a pity I can’t enjoy your naked body.” His tone was disappointed. “That’s a shame, baby. So I found someone else, right?” His sly smile appeared.

Cecilia shoved his hand away and pushed Evan’s body, but he just laughed dismissively, barely moving.

She was heaving, her breath ragged. “You’re a real bastard, Evan!” she snapped.