The ballroom was suffocating. Every conversation ended with the same topic. Marriage. Alliance. A noble daughter.

The elders smiled as if they were discussing business, not my life. I smiled back, nodded politely, and escaped each conversation before it became unbearable. They never learned.

I lifted my wineglass for another sip. A mistake. Within minutes, an unfamiliar heat spread through my body. My heartbeat became heavier. My throat felt dry no matter how much water I drank.

Something was wrong. I stopped walking. Drugged. Strong one. My eyes scanned the crowd until they landed on one of the older executives. He looked away far too quickly.

So...this was their answer after I rejected every arranged introduction A beautifully dressed woman approached me with a practiced smile.

"I've always wanted to—"

I walked past her without a word. My body was already becoming difficult to control. Outside, the cold night air struck my face, but the burning inside only grew worse.

I got into my car.

"You people never learn."

The engine roared to life. I drove. Fast. The empty roads blurred beneath the headlights. Every passing minute made the drug stronger. My palms tightened around the steering wheel. My breathing became uneven.

Then headlights appeared behind me. Three vehicles. Too organized. A loud crack echoed. The steering wheel jerked violently. They shot my tire.

Another shot.

The second tire exploded. The car spun before crashing into a roadside pole.

Silence.

I hit my forehead against the window. A dull ache spread from the bruise, but nothing serious. Behind me, doors slammed. They weren't here to scare me.

They came to finish the job. I slipped out before they reached the wreck and disappeared into a quiet neighborhood.

Each step felt heavier.

The drug was becoming my greatest enemy. A small apartment stood nearby. The back kitchen door wasn't locked. Convenient.

I stepped inside and quietly closed it behind me. The apartment was modest. Clean. Warm. Lived in. Very different from my world.

Only the television filled the silence. I leaned against the wall, forcing myself to breathe slowly.

Stay in control. You have survived worse. Footsteps. Someone entered the kitchen.

A woman.

She wore a loose nightshirt, still half asleep as she walked straight toward the refrigerator.

The moment she opened it, white light flooded the room. Her eyes met mine. Wide.

Startled. She inhaled.

I crossed the distance before she could scream.

One hand covered her mouth from behind while my other arm steadied her against me.

She froze.

"Lady , be quite...don't scream." My voice came out lower than usual. "Let me stay for tonight."

We were close , She smelled...soft. Fresh soap. A faint floral scent.

The drug turned that simple fragrance into something dangerously intoxicating. All the blood in my body rushed my lower half "damn it-"

My heartbeat became painfully loud. Damn it. Not now.

She trembled slightly against me, she struggle to be free. I pulled her back closer to me , holding her hands tightly

I could feel the warmth of her body through the thin fabric of her nightshirt. Far too close. Far too distracting.

For the first time that night, my perfect composure cracked. I lowered my head , her neck...oh god ! near her ear and shut my eyes for a brief second, fighting every instinct the drug awakened inside me.

"I don't want to hurt ya, but my body is beyond my control now..." I whispered quietly pressing myself to her back. "...do you want to ?"