Chapter One: The Unexpected Encounter

The night was a blur of neon lights and muffled sounds as Aria Collins struggled to keep her eyes open. Her body felt heavy, her limbs sluggish as she fought against the drug coursing through her veins. She never thought the man she had trusted—the one she had called her boyfriend—would betray her in the worst way possible. The dim hotel room spun around her, and the familiar face of Ethan Price, the man she once adored, now appeared distorted and cruel.

“Aria, don’t fight it,” Ethan sneered, his voice dripping with malice as he approached. “You’re making this harder than it needs to be.”

Aria’s heart pounded in her chest. She could barely lift her arms, but she clawed at the bedsheets, using every ounce of her strength to push him away. His hands were all over her, fumbling and forceful. Fear surged within her, pushing through the fog in her mind as she managed to kick him in the stomach. He stumbled back, cursing under his breath.

“No,” Aria slurred, her voice barely a whisper as she staggered toward the door. She had to get out—had to escape. Her vision was hazy, and the hallway outside seemed endless, but she forced herself to move. One step. Another. The cold air hit her like a slap, and for a moment, she thought she might collapse right there.

Just as she reached the hotel lobby, her unsteady steps betrayed her, and she stumbled forward. In that desperate moment, she collided with something firm yet gentle. Strong arms wrapped around her, steadying her. Aria blinked up, her vision blurring between the real and the surreal. The man holding her had an aura of power—his tailored suit, his commanding presence—but what struck her most was the scent. It was familiar, like a distant memory tugging at the edges of her consciousness. For a split second, an image of a boy from her childhood flashed before her eyes. She had hugged him once, years ago, and now, here she was again, crumbling in the arms of a stranger who felt like someone she once knew.

Before she could piece together the memory, her legs gave way, and she collapsed against him, the drug finally taking its full toll. The man caught her effortlessly, his brow furrowed in confusion as he looked down at the unconscious woman in his arms. He couldn’t quite place it, but her scent… it was hauntingly familiar, stirring something deep within him that he couldn’t quite grasp.

“Mr. Sinclair, are you alright?” asked Lucas, his assistant, wide-eyed and anxious. He had seen his boss’s cold demeanor shatter at the mere touch of this stranger, and that was unheard of. Alexander Sinclair, the CEO of Sinclair Enterprises and notorious for his gynophobia—a crippling fear of women—stood there, holding Aria without a trace of his usual discomfort.

“I’m fine,” Alexander replied, his voice steady but distant, as if he were lost in thought. Lucas wasn’t convinced; Alexander had never allowed a woman this close before, much less hugged one in public. But there was something different about this girl—a strange, unexplainable connection that seemed to hold him in place.

Suddenly, a commotion erupted from the entrance. Ethan burst into the lobby, eyes wild as he stormed toward them. “Aria! Get away from him!” he shouted, his voice laced with desperation. “She’s my girlfriend!”

Alexander’s expression turned icy. He held Aria protectively, a silent command in his stance that made Ethan hesitate. “Leave now, or I’ll call the police,” Alexander said calmly, his voice low and dangerous.

Ethan’s bravado faltered when he noticed the subtle yet unmistakable presence of several men in suits stepping forward behind Alexander, their expressions cold and unyielding. They were bodyguards—formidable and ready to act. Ethan’s face twisted in anger, but he knew he was outmatched. He had no idea who the man before him was, but the sheer intimidation in his stance was enough.

“You haven’t seen the last of me,” Ethan spat, backing away. “I’ll be back.”

Alexander watched as Ethan disappeared into the night, and his gaze softened slightly as he looked back at the girl still cradled in his arms. Lucas, bewildered, glanced at him. “Mr. Sinclair, should we take her to the hospital?”

Alexander shook his head, his grip tightening protectively around Aria. “No. I’ll handle this.” For reasons he couldn’t yet explain, he wasn’t about to let her go. Not now. Not ever.