Love in a hidden marriage

The hotel lobby was freezing, the air conditioning humming softly.

"Who's that dancing? Look at her waist moving, I hope she won't break it. And those legs, wow, they are really something," A man remarked, looking at his phone intently.

Teresa Bennett rolled her eyes, ready to snap back, but a flash of familiar silver caught her eye on the screen.

"Wait! Zoom in on that!"

She grabbed the man's arm with surprising strength.

"Easy Teresa, you're gonna break my arm!" the man, her college friend, winced, trying to pull the phone away.

"Tiffany's anklet." Teresa's eyes were glued to the slender ankle that appeared and disappeared with the dance moves. "I gave that to Unity for her birthday. It's a limited edition. I'd recognize it anywhere."

The screen zoomed in, and the delicate silver chain sparkled under the phone's light, looking exactly the same as the one in Teresa's memory.

Teresa's fingers went cold, but her palms started to sweat.

She observed more meticulously. The girl's face was deliberately obscured, showing only a delicate jawline and the anklet swaying to the music.

The background was unmistakably a presidential suite in a hotel.

Teresa felt like her heart was being squeezed by an invisible hand. She immediately dialed Unity Lewis's number.

The long, ominous ringing felt like a death knell, each ring sinking her heart further.

"No answer." Teresa's face turned pale, her lips losing their color.

"Don't panic, it might just be a coincidence, yeah, a coincidence!" the man tried to comfort her, but his voice was shaky.

"Coincidence? How many coincidences do you think there are in the world?"

Teresa shot up from her seat, the chair scraping loudly against the floor. "Unity never takes off that anklet, not even when she sleeps!"

She rushed to the hotel front desk.

"Excuse me, can you tell me the room number for the presidential suite?" Teresa's voice trembled.

The receptionist smiled professionally, "I'm sorry, but without a reservation, you can't go to the presidential suite."

"My friend might be in danger in there!" Teresa's voice was almost pleading. "Please, take me there!"

"Miss, please calm down." The receptionist maintained her formal smile.

"Calm down? My friend could be in serious trouble, how can I calm down?" Teresa slammed her hand hard on the desk, her palm instantly turning red. "If something happens to her, can your hotel take responsibility?"

The receptionist flinched, her smile faltering. She hesitated, her eyes darting nervously.

Teresa stared at her, eyes red with desperation.

The receptionist finally caved under the pressure, whispering the room number, "It's 9999."

Teresa turned and ran, her heels clacking urgently against the marble floor, echoing her frantic heartbeat.

She found the room and started pounding on the door without hesitation.

"Unity! Unity! Are you in there?"

There was no response, only faint music and some strange noises, which made Teresa even more anxious.

Tears streamed down her face as she pounded on the door with all her might, her hands red and knuckles white.

Suddenly, the door swung open without warning.

Before Teresa could see who was inside, she was yanked in with great force.

The room was pitch dark, the smell of alcohol mixed with an unfamiliar perfume hitting her so hard she almost gagged.

"Who's are you?" Teresa screamed in terror, struggling desperately.

A large hand clamped over her mouth, slamming her against the cold wall, immobilizing her.

"Don't scream." A man's deep, raspy voice whispered in her ear, hot breath reeking of alcohol.

Teresa smelled a strong, pungent odor, different from the perfume, and instantly realized what was happening.

She struggled violently, kicking and punching with all her strength, but the man held her down like a fish on a chopping block.

"Let me go! Get off me! Help!" Teresa's voice was hoarse, filled with despair, but muffled by the hand over her mouth, only producing choked sounds.

The man tore at her clothes roughly, his hot body pressing against hers.

"Don't move."

Feeling the man entering her, Teresa's vision blurred with tears. She used her last bit of strength to bite down hard on his hand.

The man yelped and released her mouth. Teresa tried to escape, but he picked her up and threw her onto the soft bed, leaving her dizzy.

He pounced on her like a wild beast, pinning her down.

Teresa's breathing became labored as her vison darkened.

She clawed desperately, but couldn't budge him, her nails nearly breaking.

The man's movements grew more violent, and Teresa's consciousness began to fade.

In the room, only primal desires remained.

After what felt like an eternity, Teresa slowly opened her eyes, the room a blur of chaos.

The air was thick with a heavy, suggestive scent, a reminder of what had happened.

She struggled to get up, pain washing over her like a tidal wave, every part of her body screaming in agony, as if she had been run over by a truck.

She stumbled out of the room, desperate to escape the nightmare.

At the end of the hallway stood Unity, her face expressionless as she observed Teresa fleeing.

Teresa didn't see Unity; she just wanted to run, to get away from this nightmare.

In her haste, she didn't even close the door to the presidential suite.

Unity watched Teresa disappear down the hallway, then slowly turned and walked towards the suite.

The door was ajar.

She stepped inside, the room still dark, the unpleasant mixed scent even stronger.

The bed was a mess, torn clothes scattered on the floor, a scene of utter disarray.

The man on the bed stirred at the sound, sitting up groggily, still not fully awake.

He turned on the bedside lamp, the warm yellow light illuminating the room and his face.

Unity walked to the bed, studying his face.

As it came into focus, she saw the sharp eyebrows and thin lips.

She couldn't believe the man who had slept with Teresa was him!

"Last night..." the man's voice was hoarse, "was it you?"

"Yes." Unity's voice was soft, her head bowed, as if talking to herself, yet answering his question.