Owned By Mistake

Cherry woke up with a splitting headache and a scratchy throat. Her body ached like she'd been in a fight. When she tried to sit up, a sharp pain between her legs stopped her.

Then the cold air hit her skin.

She was naked.

Panic shot through her. She grabbed the comforter and wrapped herself tightly. But closing her eyes only made it worse; flashes of last night surged back. Gilbert. His mouth. His hands. His voice.

Her heart pounded. Yes, he was her husband. But only on paper. They'd been married for a year without even knowing each other. She'd only seen him once, three months after signing the papers. In her heart, he was still a stranger.

So why had she let herself go last night? Why did she give in like it was the only thing keeping her alive?

A phone rang. Her chest tightened. Gilbert's phone.

The mattress shifted behind her. She froze, forcing her eyes shut.

Gilbert groaned, sat up, rubbed his face, and answered on speaker, his voice rough. "What do you want?"

Eros' voice crackled through the line. "You sound tired, bro. Don't tell me you had another wild night?"

Gilbert glanced at her, brows furrowed. He didn't recognize the girl wrapped in his sheets.

She just showed up in his room. He'd been too drunk to care. Her soft skin… her slim waist… those sounds she made, like she wanted him to ruin her.

But who the hell was she?

"What do you need?" Gilbert snapped, changing the subject.

Eros chuckled. "Relax. When are you free to hang out with the boys?"

Gilbert puffed on his cigarette. "Maybe this week."

"Sweet! And hey, why don't you bring your wife? They say she's gorgeous. Still young too."

Gilbert scoffed. "No need. That marriage is ending soon."

Cherry's heart sank.

"What? You're filing for annulment?"

"I gave Grandma what she wanted. A year's enough. She can't stop me now."

Eros teased, "You're grumpy this morning. Want stomach meds?"

"Want me to assign you work?" Gilbert replied flatly.

"Chill! The hospital's packed, you know that!"

Gilbert hung up without a word.

He stood there, cigarette burning, then sighed and headed for the bathroom. As he passed the bed, he slowed, glancing at the silent figure wrapped in the blanket. For a second, it looked like he wanted to lift the covers. But he didn't.

He shook his head and walked away.

The moment Cherry heard the shower, her world crumbled.

She scrambled for her clothes with trembling hands, dressed fast, and slipped out of the suite without a sound.

She didn't breathe until she was in a taxi.

Her mind spun back to a year ago.

When her grandmother was dying of cervical cancer, her only wish was for Cherry to get married. So she wouldn't die thinking Cherry would grow old alone.

Cherry would've done anything for her.

Then came Grandma Mathilde, a kind old woman from the women's group they both volunteered for. Cherry had mentioned her problem in passing… and Mathilde had offered her grandson.

Cherry trusted her. So she agreed.

Three months later, when she picked up the marriage papers, she learned who her husband was.

Gilbert Ace Carter.

CEO of one of the country's biggest hotel chains.

She'd wanted to back out, but it was too late.

And soon after, Gilbert flew to California. They never met.

Until last night.

What she didn't know back then was that Gilbert never wanted this marriage. He only agreed because Grandma Mathilde forced him. Threatened him, even.

Cherry wasn't mad. She was grateful. Because of them, her grandmother died in peace.

But after Gilbert returned to the Philippines, Cherry decided to end it. She'd face him and ask for an annulment. Their deal was done.

But when she went to his suite that night… everything went wrong.

He'd been drunk. The moment he saw her, he didn't even let her speak. He grabbed her, dragged her to bed. She tried to push him away, tried to say no — but her voice got lost in the heat of it all.

And then… it happened.

She froze. Didn't fight.

Her heart shattered as she lay there, too numb to scream.

When Gilbert stepped out of the bathroom, a towel wrapped around his waist, his eyes immediately darted to the bed, empty.

His jaw clenched.

Where the hell did she go?

A muscle twitched in his cheek as he stormed toward the walk-in closet. He didn't even know who she was. But for some reason, she'd gotten under his skin — and he hated that.

Nobody disappeared on Gilbert Ace Carter.

His phone buzzed. Liam.

He answered. "Yes?"

"Sir, we found the man behind last night's attack. It was ordered by William."

Gilbert smirked. Figures. Being the richest man in Luzon made him a target. "By tonight, I want William's company under my name."

"Yes, sir."

Gilbert's eyes flicked to the bloodstain on the bedsheet.

"And find out who the woman was who slipped into my room last night," he said coolly. "No one bypasses my security."

"You got it, sir. But… the hotel's system is airtight. No unauthorised guest could've gotten in."

"Figure it out," Gilbert snapped. "And file the annulment with Cherry Blaire."

"Yes, Mister Ace Carter."

Cherry stepped out of the taxi, her heart thundering. She stopped by a pharmacy, picked up contraceptives, and forced herself not to cry.

She couldn't risk it — not now, not like this.

She was only twenty. Still in college. She had plans. Dreams her grandmother believed in. And now, after everything… she just wanted to forget.

At home, she barely rested before locking herself in the bathroom. Her body ached in places she never thought would hurt.

Leaning on the sink, she stared at her reflection. Gilbert's face, his breath, the weight of last night slammed back into her like a punch.

She gripped the edge of the sink until her knuckles turned white.

It was supposed to be sacred. Her first time. She never even had a boyfriend…

One mistake, she told herself. This can't happen again. Ever.

She showered, crawled into bed, and finally let herself sleep.

But past midnight, a sharp pain stabbed her lower abdomen.

She woke up sweating, clutching her side.

Her period wasn't due.

By one in the morning, she couldn't bear it.

She dragged herself to the hospital. Thirty minutes away felt like forever.

A male doctor examined her, brows drawn.

"You're twenty… and married?" His voice was gentle. "Was this your first time?"

Cherry's cheeks burned. She nodded.

"You've got some internal scratches," he said carefully. "Minor bleeding. It's not serious, but we'll monitor you in surgery just to be safe."

He met her eyes. "Miss… if someone hurt you… You can tell me. We can call the police. You don't have to be silent."

Cherry stared at her lap, voice shaking. "I-It was my husband… I'm telling the truth."

The doctor studied her like he didn't fully believe it. Before he could say more, a nurse rushed over.

"Dr. Smith! Bed five — gunshot wound! Critical!"

He shot her one last look before hurrying away.

The second he was gone, Cherry slipped off the bed.

When the guard asked where she was going, she lied and said she was visiting a patient. No one stopped her.

She bought painkillers on her way home.

By sunrise, she was curled up on her bed, praying sleep would make it all disappear.

****

The next morning, her phone rang.

"Hello?" she croaked.

Her mother's panicked voice exploded from the other end.

"Cherry! Go to Celestial Hotel right now, your brother's in trouble! They said he stole something, and the owner wants to press charges!"

Cherry shot up, her heart stopping cold.

What now?