Looking over at Brandon, she saw him still asleep, his face calm and relaxed. A small shadow rested on his nose, adding to the charm that had made him a favorite of millions. To Diana, his face seemed almost perfect.
Though her heart raced at seeing him, Diana couldn’t shake the vulnerability his presence brought out in her.
But her thoughts were interrupted by memories of him with two other women. She had once seen him as a gentleman, but learning about his playboy reputation had crushed her, wiping away the smile she hadn’t even realized she was wearing.
How many women had he been with since he took her virginity? Diana sighed, her eyes lingering on Brandon’s handsome face. The bitterness she felt had been buried deep inside her, fueling a strong distrust of men.
Still, she couldn’t deny that she had feelings for him. He had both saved and hurt her, yet he seemed to have forgotten her completely, moving on easily with other women.
As her thoughts turned bitter, anger began to rise in her chest.
Ignoring the pain in her body, Diana carefully got out of bed. She put on her underwear before heading to the bathroom to get her clothes.
As she passed the bathroom mirror, she caught sight of her reflection. The purple marks and bruises on her skin were a harsh reminder of Brandon’s roughness. Her skin was sore, and she absentmindedly touched the bruises.
A wave of disappointment and frustration hit her as she looked at herself. Her face grew serious, and she clenched her jaw, questioning Brandon’s decency. She didn’t mind being with him, but his roughness had left her feeling hurt.
Once dressed up, Diana quietly moved toward the bedside table, careful not to wake Brandon. She opened the drawer, grabbed a notebook, and quickly wrote a note. After a moment, she took two hundred dollars from her purse, placed it on top of the note, and set it on the table. She glanced at Brandon one last time before walking out.
Brandon woke up feeling more refreshed than he had in a long time. He stretched slowly, savoring the surge of energy that filled him.
With a contented sigh, Brandon reached out to embrace the woman who had shared his bed, only to find the sheets cold and empty.
The sudden realization that she was gone hit him hard, jolting him awake. His eyes snapped open, and he quickly sat up, his thoughts racing back to the previous night’s events.
As he thought about their passionate night, Brandon felt a deep sense of physical and mental satisfaction.
Any doubts he had about his own confidence were gone. He had proven himself, giving him the validation he’d been craving. The experience left him feeling more secure than ever.
Diana’s wildness in bed also struck him. During the day, she was sharp-tongued and hard to deal with, but she had been incredible in the bedroom. Her obedience and eagerness to please him had caught him by surprise and impressed him. The contrast left him both puzzled and excited, fueling his desire to tease and please her even more.
Feeling pleased from the night before, Brandon woke up with a strong desire for Diana. He wanted to be with her again, but when he looked around the empty room, he was confused and wondered where she had gone.
His eyes then landed on two crisp hundred-dollar bills on the bedside table. He picked them up and found a note underneath with a few hurriedly written lines.
“You’re still as bad as before, but at least you’re trying. This two hundred dollars is my way of saying thanks. Keep it.”
Brandon was stunned for a moment, not fully understanding the note. Slowly, it sank in-Diana had treated him like a male prostitute, leaving payment for his time.
The realization made him furious. How could she leave such a message, saying he wasn’t good in bed? The two hundred dollars made him feel humiliated, only adding to his rage.
Thinking back on what happened last night, Brandon’s frustration grew. Diana had begged for mercy, and he had felt sorry for her, letting her off easy because he couldn’t bring himself to hurt her when she was so drunk.
Now, she had the nerve to criticize him, saying he wasn’t good in bed.
He crumpled up the note and tossed it aside. He grabbed his phone and called Diana, but she hung up before he could say anything. He called her repeatedly, but she hung up each time. His frustration deepened as he realized she was avoiding him.
Determined to confront her, Brandon dressed, his annoyance growing with each passing moment. He wasn’t going to let her get away with this.
***
Bianca had been awake in the ICU for a while when the doctor came in to check on her. He noted her stable condition, wrote some notes in her file, and then said, “You’re doing well. You should be ready to go home in a few days after a follow-up exam.”
After thanking the doctor, Bianca asked, “How’s Blake Lawson, the man who was admitted with me?”
The doctor remembered Blake’s case well. His injuries had been so serious that the hospital’s vice director had to step in for an overnight surgery. Although they couldn’t save Blake’s leg, they managed to save his life.
“We stabilized him overnight,” the doctor said, not realizing the connection between Bianca and Blake. He paused, carefully choosing his words. “He’s been moved to a VIP ward now. You should focus on getting better.”
Bianca nodded in thanks, but she couldn’t shake the urge to see Blake. Despite her weak condition, she tried to get out of bed, driven by the need to see him.
Bianca carefully put on her slippers and paused for a moment to steady herself. She felt too weak to walk, so she slowly leaned against the wall for support and made her way toward the door.
As she approached, the door suddenly swung open to reveal Reese, who looked upset.
Her eyes were red and swollen from crying, with dark circles beneath them. Without makeup, her face looked pale, and her lips were dry. She appeared drained.
“Why are you out of bed, Bianca?” Reese asked, her voice full of concern as she helped her back to the bed. “Tell me what you need, and I’ll take care of it. Please, lie down.”
“I’m okay now. I just want to see how Blake is doing,” Bianca said, feeling helpless.