Dear Diary,

Losing my parents on my sixteenth birthday wasn’t the cruelest experience of my life. That title now belongs to the betrayal I faced on my wedding day. I gave everything—my savings, my heart, my trust—and still, I was tossed aside. The man I loved didn’t just walk away. He took my son with him.

And now they’re gone.

Ryan had planned it all. He spoke sweetly of a surprise honeymoon abroad, but now I know better. It was just a ploy, another layer of deceit to keep me clueless. They’ve left the country, and I don’t even know where. Jessica, my so-called best friend, is with him. Together, they stole my future.

But someday, somehow, I’ll get it all back. My son. My dignity. My revenge.

•

I hadn’t even had time to write that down before today turned from tragic to terrifying. Running barefoot through cold streets, chased by hospital staff and onlookers, I ducked into the nearest building I could find. A hotel. Desperate and dizzy, I climbed the stairs and found myself standing in front of Room 408. I pushed the door open and ran inside.

Then everything stopped.

There he was—naked, masked, and staring directly at me.

He looked confused at first, then something else. Annoyed.

“You’re late,” he said, stepping forward. “Is this how you treat your clients?”

I froze. “What?”

He scoffed. “You made me pay half upfront and left me waiting. Now you barge in, acting surprised? You escorts really don’t value commitment, do you?”

I blinked. He thought I was… an escort?

“I…I think you’ve made a mistake,” he stammered.

“I’ll take your silence as agreement to bump the sessions to three rounds.”

My heart hammered. My mouth was dry. I couldn’t explain why I was there. If I told him I was hiding from a psychiatric facility, he might turn me in—or worse, think I really was insane.

He rose from the bed, walked toward me without shame, only a brown mask hiding his face. I couldn’t look down. I didn’t want to see any more. I was paralyzed, back against the wall, watching him approach.

Then came voices outside the door, my pursuers, guards.

urses.

“She might be on this floor! Check everywhere!”

I couldn’t leave as he was already in front of me.

“You’re trembling,” he murmured, eyes trailing down my body. “You must really be sick, huh? You still showed up, though. That’s dedication.”

He caged me in with his arms. I could smell his cologne, woodsy and warm. His breath brushed my skin.

“I’ll be gentle,” he whispered.

I flinched as he leaned in and pressed his lips to the side ogf my neck. Right on my most sensitive spot. My knees went weak. I hated how my body responded. Goosebumps rose. I shivered. And I moaned.

He paused.

“I thought so,” he said, smirking. “Now take off your clothes.”

I stared at him, frozen. There was no escape.

“I’ll double your fee,” he added, “if you can make me forget today. Make me feel something worth remembering.”

I hesitated.

The money… could change everything.

“You can disappear after. No names. No strings.”

My heart ached with shame. But also… need. Safety. Desperation.

This man had no idea who I was. And I had no choice but to play along.

He stepped closer. “Just one night.”

Just one night.

I raised my hands, trembling, unsure whether to pull off my clothes or push him away.

And then, without waiting for a response, he crashed his lips onto mine.

And just like that, I lost the last bit of self-control I had left.