Chapter 1

Amelia. 

All I could hear were the rapid sounds of my own breathing. It was a beautiful night for me... it should be—but I was still feeling so nervous. The day I would finally get engaged to the man that I have been dating since like forever More like, we were even betrothed.

I watched as the guest smiled heavily at the daughter of the business morgue, Mr. Jackson, who suddenly became interested in politics. I couldn't avoid smiling back; they all looked lovely at me, and I had to force those smiles onto my cheeks, which were already hurting like hell. 

I gripped my drink harder as I searched desperately for my best friend, who should be around somewhere, necessarily beside me, but she isn't. Parties were not my thing, not even a "small get-together" with only "a few friends." I looked around to see the large crowd in the hall. I pointed out to Dad that I wanted very few people present. Few of my friends... my college friends, a few of his friends... I was sure that my stepmother would barely invite anyone for her "stepdaughter's engagement party." I needed few people, and this is what I got. Dad definitely needs help with the math. His friends were even more than I could imagine. new faces that I would barely remember once I step out of here into the cool night air.

I breathed in heavily, that aching smile still on my cheeks. I looked at the door that led to the back. Would I miss any important part of the meeting even if I just slipped out for a minute? I could just give the silly excuse that I am looking for Rhett. I have only seen him once this night, and above every other person, he is the one meant to be at that event hall!

"Don't even think about it!" Dad suddenly leaned at the door, blocking my way, and was talking through his teeth. 

"I mean, dad!... "

"I know you need air, Ama... Soon the party will start, and we wouldn't want to look for our bride, okay?

I nodded when I noticed that no sermon would convince him to let me out of that door. I walked back to the hall and grabbed another glass, then gulped it down recklessly. Something doesn't feel right about this drink; it unnecessarily tastes good,I won't get drunk. I promise I won't, but somehow, this drink tasted weirdly different. 

My phone buzzed, and I was tempted to look at it. to see something different from the boring and suffocating crowd. 

"Ama...  "Come to room 313; I have something for you, my darling." 

I stare at the text Bianca sent to me. I was looking for her and almost forgot how she kept on tweeting about having a big surprise set aside for me on my engagement night. My real smiles appeared suddenly on my cheeks, and I noticed that the old woman in front of me saw the difference between the fake giggles I had given them all this while.

I dashed inside the hallway, searching carefully for the room marked 313; then I discovered that I had to use the elevator to get to the third floor. I quickly jumped on one and soon stopped at the third floor's hallway.

I walked down until I got the room, which read "313" boldly at the door. 

I pushed the door open slightly, but darkness filled my eyes the moment I tried to get in. Everywhere was thick with darkness, but I am sure someone is in there, maybe. Smiling childishly, I kept on tapping the wall silently until my hands got to the light switch, and then I flicked it on!

"Who the fuck is... Ama?" Rhett's voice came, as he pushed my step sister away from himself and dragged the whole duvet to cover his nudeness, immediately he noticed I was the one standing at the door, leaving Frankie stark naked on the bed. 

It was a sight I could never imagine ever witnessing, not any day, especially not on my engagement night. Was this the surprise that Bianca had? I checked my phone again... No, it wasn't; she meant room 213 and not 313. 

"Rhett!  This is supposed to be our engagement night!?" I stuttered helplessly, balls of tears finding their way down my cheeks. 

"You are cheating on me with that slut stepsister of mine on our engagement night?"

"Who cares if it's your wedding night, huh?" Frankie mumbled.  She tried to continue from where she had stopped, but that wasn't working out. Rhett pushed her away, and she stubbornly rushed into the bathroom, probably to wash up. I felt like crushing her under my feet. She went too far this time to ruin stuff for me. She and her mother had always done that every single time, but this time, I never expected it..

"I can explain Ama..."

"There is nothing to explain." Is this also a photoshopped image of you having sex? Was it a prank? Or maybe I am just hallucinating?"

He was speechless. He would have told me all these lies if I hadn't heard him and caught him myself this time...

"I am sorry, Amelia," his voice came again. He sounded like he meant it, but that was too late. I walked out of the door, trying my best to hide the tears that had blurred my vision and prevent them from falling. My heart was heavy, more like it would rip out of my chest. I could still hear his voice faintly calling out to me. 

I stumbled out of the hotel through the event hall; the clicking sound of the door almost startled me, and I am sure it won't be different for the crowd who didn't notice I had left.

There was nowhere to go. The cool night breeze slapping my face didn't feel a bit nice anymore. I looked around at the dark street and fortunately caught a glimpse of a DJ lightning. Walking closely, I saw it was a nightclub event, I never hesitated to barge in there. 

The music was loud—loud enough that I wouldn't even hear myself speak if I did. I walked straight to the bar, not minding the heads that had swiveled to look at me. I wasn't dressed for a party, thank God; I just have a dinner night gown. otherwise It would have looked more awkward. The only thing I bothered to do was to hide my face, which had already turned red, and also stop tears from falling recklessly down my eyes. 

"Strong stuff," I said. I didn't have any drink in mind; I rarely, if not never, drink alcohol. The bartender seems to understand my emotions; without asking for any specifications, he poured me a drink that tasted so bitter and hot!

*

 

In need of consolation, I dialed Bianca's number, but she wasn't picking up her calls. It feels like my world has suddenly ended. Rhett cheats on me no other day but on our engagement day, and with no other person but my step sister, who has always wanted everything that I own.

 

"A bottle of hot?" A man ordered. I didn't see his face clearly, but I was sure he was miserable. Maybe more than I was. He took his drink and staggered away. He was pretty much drunk, yet he wouldn't stop.

 

Soon, Bianca came running after me to the club. I saw her through the transparent door as I sipped my drink, promising myself to drain the whole pain away with those magical bottle contents. She barged into the club and scanned the room with her eyes until she found me.

"Amalia.  I am so sorry for what happened. I didn't know... Anything was "I actually sent a wrong room number," she said, breathing heavily. I would only stare with tears running down my weak eyes.

hell no! I am just doing it. I was crying when I promised myself not to. 

I was about to say something when I got a message on my phone. It was from Frankie. I opened it with the expectation that maybe she would realize her mistake and feel remorseful. 

"Hey bitch!.  I am not the only whore around you; your sugar pie bestie is also one of us. We just satisfied the hungry man, whom you have been starving for years. "You should be thanking me, sis." 

Shocked, I looked up at Bianca, In disappointment.   It's not possible that Bianca will do something like that to me.

I was still staring at the message and at Bianca when Frankie sent a video with the caption "proof" under it, and without hesitation I opened it.

"What the fuck, Bianca; you too?" 

"What do you mean by "you too?" 

I shoved my phone to her face for her to get a glimpse of the video.

"Damn it! Was she videoing this all this while?" Bainca muttered.  I was hoping she would deny it and just give me a silly excuse that I would fall for. 

"All this while?" It wasn't even a mistake, Bianca. "Get the hell out of my sight." my voice trembled, despite the loud music, it was loud enough to get her startled.

Bianca stands up and moves away slowly without uttering a word or even pleading.

few minutes later ...

"Amelia  I am so sorry; please, I will make it up to you and also tell you how this shit started. "Rhett used me!" I stare at the text message that Bianca just sent.

"I know you won't want to hear me out, but Amalia did Rhett used me." "I can prove everything to you and explain how it all started if you could just come to the first room at the club!"

"Shit assholes".   I muttered.

 

The alcohol was already having a little effect on me. But then I wanted to get to the root of it all. I stood up and staggered to the first room at the club. 

 

My heart kept throbbing on my chest, afraid of what else I would see. The room was so dark, and I was afraid to turn the light on again.

"Who are you and what are you doing?" I shook in fear and darted my eyes around the room as a huge hand grabbed my waist from behind. 

"Don't be startled. "I will treat you well, darling." A man's husky voice muttered

Before I could get his hands away, I was tossed to the bed. I screamed out for help, but my mouth was soon shut. His lips were all over me. 

"Let me go, please." Don't do this to me! I managed to plead; my voice is now so faint, but my pleas were still a bit audible.

"I promise you will enjoy me!" He replied careless, I felt his weight on my body and a hot burning desire with the way he moved.

It was useless to plead anymore. 

 

Half an hour later, I was pushed out of the room by the man with something fumbled to my palms.It was a bracelet. I looked around the club shamelessly hiding my face and my half-torn clothes. 

I didn't make an effort to stop myself from crying anymore; I just let it all out. 

 

"Bianca...!  "Help me, please!" I cried as I fixed my cellphone to my ear, but then a disheartening laughter echoed from the other side of the phone. I had to check her phone to make sure that the recipient was truly not Bianca. To be sure that I actually dialed the wrong number,

"How was it? tasted better than chocolate, right?" Bianca's voice echoed in my ear. 

What if Bianca planned this? It can't be possible. I ended the call and strode sluggishly towards the exit, but before I could leave, I sighted my stepmother, She handed a huge envelope to Bianca and even hugged her tightly. Someone that hated me and everything that comes with me except maybe her husband.

Bianca and Frankie were laughing and crossing their arms like they had been friends since, like, forever. I wept the more realizing that my innocence had been ripped from me by a stranger just on my engagement night, and that it had been masterminded by my own best friend!