Chapter 1: Chapter 1

Miranda gazed up, forlorn, at the ceiling in her bedroom. She couldn't tell you how many times she had felt this way. She just knew that the agony she felt each time was the same as it had been the first time.

The man sprang out of bed as swiftly as he could. He extended his powerful arm to pick up his garments, which were strewn across the floor. When he heard Miranda's cries, he turned to face her, his eyes filled with anger, and remarked coldly, "Do you deserve to weep too?"

Miranda didn't say anything. With tears in her eyes, she answered warmly:

"How come you did this to me?"

The man gave a small grin. He came closer to Miranda, placed his palm to her chin, and hissed.

"Are you pretending to be naïve and innocent, or do you truly not realize what awful thing you have done to myself" he growled between his fangs like an angry tiger frightening his prey.

Miranda was still in tears.

"I truly don't know why I'm here," she added hurriedly. “Why are you being so impolite to me? It is a criminal offense. You took my first."

The man cocked his brow slightly. He cast a chilly glance at the dried blood on the bed sheet. He had no expression on his face.

"For the first time? Oh, you are a virgin. So, what exactly did you do? You can't use it to exchange Andrea or our baby's life."

"Who exactly is Andrea? I don't even know her, so how can I hurt her?" Miranda inquired immediately. “Didn't you make a mistake?"

The man instantly burst out laughing. His face was so angry that it went crimson, and his eyes turned so red that Miranda could see them as if they were on fire. He tightened his grip on her shoulder blades and jolted her with every word:

"Don't you know? You're sure you don't know? That is my fiancee. Adobe Creek Corporation's future wife? Andrea Green. Are you sure you don't know who she is?"

Then he removed his phone from his pocket, slid his finger swiftly over the screen as if opening a folder, and hurled it towards Miranda.

“Just look!”

Miranda picked up the phone and peered at the screen, perplexed. It was an article about the engagement ceremony of Adobe Creek's president and his fiancée. The girl in the image has a lovely grin, and she seems like a princess from a fairy tale. Miranda fixed her gaze on the image. She had the impression that this girl seemed familiar, as if she had seen her somewhere before.

The other man couldn't tolerate it when he saw Miranda looking at the screen so intensely, her expression serious.

"Brian's folks truly know how to play," he said loudly. “ With this expression, I'd believe I was wrong if Andrea hadn't been holding a bouquet of poisoned flowers with this look before her death."

"Bouquet?"

Miranda let out a tiny squeak and soon remembered the other girl. It was the same girl who had visited her flower shop just a few days before.

The man got to his feet and proceeded towards the entrance.

"Cyanide," he muttered as he walked. “You're also quite harsh."

Miranda trailed behind him. She was still perplexed and taken aback. If she predicted properly, the guy in front of her is Stephen, the president of Adobe Creek Corporation, and she is in the middle of a severe case. Miranda's emotions suddenly shifted to terror. Her days will not be as serene as they were previously, she believes.

Stephen came to a halt in front of the door, much like what she was frightened of. He didn't move his head, but his voice was harsh and frigid.

"You still haven't fulfilled your obligation to me," he warned. “I don't think you'll be able to flee this home. Also, don't expect assistance from the cops. Remain dutifully here and pay the price for your misdeeds."

After saying that, Stephen opened the door and went away rudely. Miranda sat stunned on the bed once the door shut. The air surrounding her was both frigid and stifling. Her throat became dry, and her chest squeezed, as if someone had drained all the oxygen from her lungs.

Miranda twisted clumsily out of bed, turning her head to stare at it, a sour sensation welling up inside her. Miranda is baffled as to what she did or who harmed Andrea and then accused her. Her thoughts were racing. Miranda went away with her hands on the wall. She grabbed a glass of water from the dressing table and drank it rapidly to alleviate the uneasy sensation in her body at the time. She then proceeded gently inside the bathroom.

Miranda's lower abdomen throbbed with every movement, but she still made it to the tub. She prayed that what she was experiencing was a nightmare.

Miranda turned on the water and jumped in. Her body felt more at ease in the warm water. Miranda felt sorry for herself as she looked in the mirror. A few bruises had emerged on the gorgeous dark skin, including the neck, chest, belly, and biceps. They served as accusing proof to her that what was going on today was not a dream. Miranda rummaged through her memories as she reached out to touch the bruises.

Yesterday….

Miranda was blissfully driving down a beautiful and floral Los Allan road, listening to a song from Taylor Swift's "Red" album, when a dark automobile abruptly blocked her path. Immediately, three unknown males exited the car and approached her. Before Miranda could respond, two guys grabbed her with their hands, while the other covered her nose with a white cloth. Miranda instantly passed out. She was already in this room when she awoke.

The sky had already become dark. Miranda was still perplexed as to where she was when the door unexpectedly swung open. Stumbling in was a young, tall man with wide shoulders. His face was flushed, and his breath smelt strongly of alcohol. Stephen is his name. He appears to be inebriated.

"What is your name? What am I doing here?"

Miranda was scared to inquire, but Stephen did not respond; instead, he went slowly towards the bed, his face flushed with rage. She was terrified and backed away involuntarily before leaping out of bed. Miranda attempted to flee through the open door, but she was swiftly apprehended. Stephen took her in his strong arms and began to perform. He ripped her dress off and began passionately kissing her on Miranda's neck, then licking up her collarbone. Miranda was uneasy about the odd man's touching movement. She continued to yell and struggle. All of her efforts, however, were in vain. Stephen maintained his obnoxious behavior with vigor. Miranda bit Stephen's shoulder frantically, unable to resist the moves. She hoped that the agony would jolt the other guy awake or that she would be able to break away from his grip. However, she did not have good fortune on her side. Stephen became increasingly angrier as a result of the bite on his shoulder blade. He dumped all of that filth on Miranda's body, leaving her screaming in agony.