Chapter 3: Fooling Around with a Man

Nicole's POV

I reached out to hang up the phone, but another hand was faster than mine, grabbing the phone from the nightstand.

It was Hodgson.

He didn't even stop thrusting inside me, only slowed his pace, grinding against me slowly, making me even more uncomfortable.

I watched as Hodgson pressed the answer button without hesitation.

On the other end, Wendy's sweet voice came over.

"Nicole, where are you? Shier is going crazy looking for you. We can't find you anywhere. We're so worried about you."

I bit my lip hard.

Hodgson's lips curved into a playful smile as he suddenly increased his force, thrusting into me hard.

I almost couldn't hold back and nearly cried out.

I glared at him angrily and, before the person on the other end could notice anything strange, pressed the hang-up button with trembling hands.

The call ended. I used all my strength to push him: "Let me go!"

Hodgson's body was as hard as iron, completely immovable. Not only did he not let go, but he gripped my waist and fucked even deeper inside me.

He panted lightly: "The effect of the aphrodisiac has not completely lost its efficacy, Nicole, I told you I'd help you."

"Fuck... ah..."

He pressed me back down, pinning me again onto the messy sheets.

Soon, I was forced into another round of sex.

I don't know how much time passed before he finally came, his hot cock withdrawing from my body.

The room was filled only with our heavy breathing.

The aphrodisiac in my body had completely dissipated with this intense sex.

Unprecedented clarity brought unprecedented anger.

Hodgson leaned against the headboard, lit a cigarette, and looked at me with satisfaction.

I curled up in the other corner of the bed, wrapping myself tightly in the sheet to cover my body full of marks.

Through the smoke, he spoke.

"Nicole, I took your virginity. As compensation, I can grant you one condition."

What?

My wedding, my chastity, my remaining dignity... everything had been crushed to pieces today.

And he, one of the culprits, was now trying to dismiss me with "one condition"?

Fury burned in my heart. I raised my head and looked directly into his eyes.

"Between us, it was nothing more than a simple one-night stand. I don't need you to fulfill any request for me."

"All I need is for you to get out of here, right now, immediately! And then, we'll pretend today never happened!"

Hodgson's fingers holding the cigarette paused. He seemed surprised by my strong rejection.

He looked at me deeply for a few seconds, then stubbed out the cigarette, got up from the bed efficiently, and began to dress.

Fully dressed, he resumed that lofty demeanor.

Hodgson walked to the door and pulled it open.

The bright white light from outside flooded in, and I instinctively squinted.

The door closed. I heard familiar voices coming from outside.

It was Shier, and Wendy.

"Uncle?"

Shier's voice was full of surprise and flattery. "What are you doing here?"

My heart instantly jumped to my throat, and I froze on the bed.

Hodgson's voice came through: "What? Do I need to report to you when I'm resting in the room? It's you guys, what are you doing in the corridor?"

Wendy's voice was full of weakness: "Mr. Hodgson, we're looking for my sister Nicole. She disappeared halfway through the wedding, and we're very worried about her."

"Worried?" Hodgson let out a very light scoff.

"The groom abandons the bride at the wedding to go tangle with another woman. And now you have the nerve to say you're worried?"

Shier's voice immediately became stammering.

"Uncle, I... I didn't... it's not what you think."

"Get out of here!" Hodgson ended the conversation with just one sentence.

I heard hurried footsteps outside. Shier and Wendy were sent away so ignominiously.

Hodgson left too.

I let out a long breath and collapsed on the bed, completely drained.

The room still lingered with Hodgson's scent and the strong smell of bodily fluids left after we made love.

No, I couldn't stay here. If my parents didn't see me for too long, they would definitely explode.

I struggled to get up and looked around.

I picked up the torn wedding dress and stuffed it haphazardly into the deepest part of the hotel room's closet, then randomly found a piece of clothing from the closet to put on, covering all these marks on my body.

Then I carefully opened the door and peeked out.

Fortunately, the hallway was empty.

I was about to step out when the swollen pain between my legs made me instantly gasp.

"Fuck!" I cursed under my breath.

Hodgson, that man, was like a demon.

In the latter half, my drug effects had clearly dissipated, but he still pressed down on me and kept fucking.

Who was the one drugged?!

I endured the pain between my legs and walked to the wedding hall. The hall that had been bustling just a few hours ago now had only a few people left.

"Nicole!" My father, Leighton, saw me and immediately let out an angry roar.

Father rushed in front of me, raising his hand as if to slap me. I didn't dodge, just looked at him coldly.

His hand ultimately stopped in mid-air, probably because this was a public place.

"Where did you run off to? You've completely embarrassed the Gerald family today!"

Doris also walked over. There wasn't a trace of concern in her eyes, only disappointment and reproach.

But I didn't feel any guilt, because the one who did wrong wasn't me.

"It was Shier who abandoned me at the wedding." I explained calmly.

"Shut up!" Doris scolded sharply. "I asked you to go check on Wendy, and you disappeared for three whole hours!"

"I'm sorry, Dad, Mom, it's all my fault." A weak voice came from beside us.

It was Wendy.

She was being supported by Shier, her face pale, her eyes red.

"It's all my fault. I shouldn't have fainted at that moment. I ruined sister's wedding."

As she spoke, tears began to fall.

Shier immediately held her worriedly: "Wendy, don't cry anymore. Your health has finally improved a little."

I stood there, coldly watching this ridiculous farce.

Watching Shier's unique cherishing and nervousness toward Wendy.

Watching my biological parents ignore me, while being extremely attentive to an adopted daughter.

I suddenly felt how ridiculously stupid I had been.

I actually thought that by taking care of Shier day after day, when his leg was broken, I could win his true heart.

I actually thought that as long as I was obedient enough, I could love from my parents.

It turned out that from beginning to end, it was all just my wishful thinking.

Wendy leaned in Shier's arms, her gaze falling on me.

She let out a feigned surprised gasp: "Nicole, why did you change out of your wedding dress? When I called you just now, I seemed to hear a man's voice. You couldn't have been fooling around with a man, could you?"