Chapter 3

Anna's POV... He brought me to a hotel. I was a bit tipsy, my steps unsteady. As soon as the door closed behind us, he pressed me against the wall and crushed his lips to mine. I was dumbfounded. His aggressive kiss, his dominance, and his overwhelming strength that nearly crushed me frightened me. I regretted coming with him and wanted to flee. "No, I can't," I managed, trying to push him away. "It's too late now." He pulled me toward the bed. Before I could protest further, he was on top of me, his weight pressing me down. His hands roamed over me, not leaving a single inch untouched. I wasn't sure if it was because of the alcohol or his closeness that made my body respond to his touch. Heat rose within me, electric sensations pulsing across my skin. At that point, I wanted nothing but to savor the feelings he was giving me. Slowly, my arms coiled around his neck and I drew him closer, kissing him back. Oh, my! He smelled of alcohol and tobacco, filling my senses and making me giddy with excitement. And his kiss—it was hot and demanding, as if he wanted to consume me entirely. I moaned against his mouth. This was going to be an unforgettable night. Soon, our clothes were discarded. He took me to a world of ecstasy where I forgot about the pain of betrayal. All I did was enjoy the pleasure he gave me. I cried out louder and louder as he pushed me toward the climax. ~~~~~~~~ The next day… I woke up with a start when I heard my phone ringing. I sat up and looked around in a daze. This place? Then, like turbulent sea waves, memories of last night crashed over me. His hot kisses, his hands on me, and those mind-blowing orgasms... My cheeks flushed instantly. "I slept with a stranger last night," I whispered, my hands covering my burning cheeks. "What have I done?" I instantly regretted my recklessness. Ring-Ring-Ring... The ringing continued, snapping me out of my thoughts. My gaze settled on my bag on the side table. Reaching for it, I took out my phone, only to see my friend's name on the screen. "Hello?" "Where are you?" Rose practically barked into the phone. "Have you forgotten that the new head of the department will be coming today?" A bell rang loudly inside my head. The head of the Oncology Department would be coming, and I couldn't afford to be late. "I'm on my way," I blurted out. "You'd better get to the hospital in half an hour, or even I won't be able to save you from the director's wrath." Beep "Shit, shit," I cursed under my breath, jumping out of bed. "I shouldn't have gotten drunk last night. Ugh, Anna, what a mess you are." I rushed into the bathroom. To my relief, the man from the night before was already gone. When I finally arrived at the hospital, Rose rushed over to me. "Thank God you made it," she sighed dramatically. "I thought you'd be late. Why didn't you pick up my calls? Where were you?" I couldn't tell her what had happened last night. "Anyway, Dr. Shaw is livid," she continued. "He was looking for you." The mention of Declan soured my mood, his betrayal and painful words replaying in my mind. "You should go to his office," Rose suggested. I didn't reply. The last thing I wanted was to see him. "There you are," Declan's voice sounded from behind, interrupting our conversation. He approached me. "I have been looking for you." I simply turned aside and picked up a patient file. I could feel his gaze on me. "Uh, I'll go check the patient in room 106," Rose said as she slipped away. Declan grabbed my arm. "Where were you last night? I called you several times and you didn't answer." I glared at him. Seriously? He had enjoyed the night with Nichole. Why would he care about me? If I hadn't caught him cheating on me last night, I might have thought he was worried about me. But now, I saw right through him. "I'm asking you something," he growled. "Answer me." "I went to a bar," I replied. "You what?" He frowned, his expression darkening. "Don't tell me you spent the night at the bar." I snorted. He was acting as if he cared about me. "Why do you care?" I scoffed, focusing on the file in my hands. He snatched the file away. "I was worried the whole night, wondering if you were okay. But you were so careless, wasting yourself at a bar. What were you thinking?" I rolled my eyes. The audacity... He had taken another woman into his home and slept with her behind my back, yet he acted as if nothing had happened, as if he was the righteous one and I was at fault. This double standard—why didn't I notice it sooner? Ten years—I loved this man for ten years, since school, watching him in secret and following him without expressing my feelings. As a friend, I stayed by his side through thick and thin. When Nichole cheated on him and left, I was the one who supported him and helped him through his depression. He said he hated Nichole for betraying him, but in the end, he betrayed me. What was the difference between him and Nichole? Anger threatened to boil over. I opened my mouth to retort, but the commotion around us interrupted me. "Dr. Grey has arrived," someone said. "The new head of the department is here," a nurse murmured. "I've heard he's close to the director." "Wow! He's quite handsome," another chimed in gleefully. "I want to be on his team." My eyes went to the entrance and I saw a tall man in a grey suit approaching. My breath caught in my throat. Wait—this is... I felt as if my head exploded. It was the man I had slept with last night. He was the well-known Dr. Lucian Grey. Why did it have to be him?