Owned By Mistake

Chapter 2: Chapter 2



From the back of a sleek, luxurious car, Gilbert Ace Carter stepped out, drawing every eye around him. He wore a custom suit, sharp, commanding, and tailored to perfection. Everything about him screamed power.

As he entered the grand lobby of the Celestial Hotel, heads subtly turned.

He was here for a meeting with Mister Davis, one of their key investors, to discuss a new luxury development project.

Walking beside him, Liam leaned in. "Sir, I've chosen a condo unit for Miss Blaire. It's in Manila, close to her university. It should be more convenient for her."

"Good," Gilbert replied curtly.

On paper, he and Cherry Blaire were married. Nothing more. Just an agreement. She was the girl Grandma Mathilde had picked, and after spending a night with another woman, someone he still hadn't figured out, buying Cherry a condo felt like the least he could do. A condo was nothing to him. Just pocket change.

Thinking of his grandmother, Gilbert glanced at Liam. "Don't let Grandma Mathilde hear about the annulment."

"Yes, Mister Ace Carter." Liam's answer came quickly. They both knew why Mathilde's heart was weak, and any shock could be dangerous. That's the only reason Gilbert had agreed to marry a complete stranger in the first place.

They kept walking until Liam suddenly stopped.

His eyes were fixed on someone across the lobby.

"What is it?" Gilbert asked.

Liam spoke carefully. "Mister Ace Carter… that's Cherry Blaire. The girl in the pink blouse."

Gilbert followed his gaze.

There she was.

She looked young, slim in simple jeans, and a light pink blouse. A backpack was slung over her shoulder. Hair pulled back in a neat ponytail. If you didn't know better, you'd think she was a high schooler.

He just stared.

So… that's her?

First time he'd ever laid eyes on the girl he married.

On the day they picked up their marriage certificate, Gilbert hadn't looked at her not even once. He still couldn't figure out what spell she'd cast on Grandma Mathilde to make her insist on this marriage.

And now, here she was. Right in front of him.

But something about her tugged at him. Familiar. He couldn't place it. He was sure they'd never met before, and yet…

Before he could make sense of it, a hotel security guard approached her and quietly led her toward the elevators.

Liam, walking beside him, frowned slightly, lost in thought. How did Cherry Blaire end up here?

The Celestial Hotel wasn't exactly a hangout for students. It catered to business elites, diplomats, and celebrities. And Cherry? With her simple clothes and backpack? She looked completely out of place.

Gilbert let it go and started toward the meeting lounge, until something caught his ear.

He stopped, his back straightening as two hotel staff spoke nearby.

"Is everything Mister Scott requested ready?" the security guard asked a waiter pushing a covered cart.

"Yeah… but I don't get it," the waiter said. "That girl looks way too young. Too innocent. You think she can handle Mister Scott's… thing?"

"Keep your voice down," the guard snapped. "Just do your job. Mister Scott pays good money. You don't get paid to care."

"She just looks like she doesn't belong in that kind of setup, that's all."

"Innocence? Please. These girls know what they're doing. Most of them come here for the money anyway. Luxury doesn't pay for itself."

The two disappeared down a hallway, their voices fading.

Gilbert stood still, his jaw tight.

Something about that didn't sit right.

He turned to Liam, his voice low. "Check if they were talking about Cherry."

Liam gave a short nod, eyes narrowing. "Yes, Mister Ace Carter."

Gilbert stared at the elevator, his thoughts hard. He didn't know much about Cherry Blaire, didn't even care to. As far as he was concerned, she'd said all the right things to Grandma Mathilde. That's how she got in.

But now?

Now, he wasn't so sure.

"What's her angle?" Gilbert thought bitterly. Playing innocent? A gold digger? Or worse?

"Go ahead," he told Liam, his voice cold. "Find out what she's doing here."

"Yes, Mister Ace Carter."

Meanwhile, Cherry hurried after the security guard who'd called her over in the lobby. She clutched her backpack close, trying to stay calm.

When they reached the hotel room, the guard gave a quick nod toward the door, then walked away without a word.

He said Luke was in here, Cherry reminded herself.

Heart pounding, she grabbed the doorknob and stepped inside.

The room was big, maybe as big as Gilbert's suite, but it felt… off. Dark walls. Heavy air. Gold accents glinting under a chandelier's soft light. A king-sized bed took up one side. A sleek sofa lined the other.

But it was quiet. Too quiet.

No sign of Luke.

"Luke?" Cherry called, her voice small. "Sister's here. Come on, let's go home."

She stepped farther in, her eyes darting around.

"Luke?"

Behind her, the door creaked open.

A low voice broke the silence. "There you are, Cherry."

She froze.

"W-Why are you here?!" Her breath caught.

Standing in the doorway was Benjamin Scott, a familiar face from university. Like her, he was a second-year student. She didn't know him well. But his name? Everybody knew that. His father was a powerful politician, and Benjamin acted like nothing and no one could touch him.

Every time he looked at her on campus, she'd felt it, that creepy, skin-crawling stare, like he was undressing her with his eyes.

And now… that same cold dread tightened around her chest.

"W-Where's my brother? Why are you here?" she asked, stepping back, her grip on her backpack tightening.

Benjamin stepped into the room, a slow, easy smile on his face.

"Brother?" he echoed, pretending to think. "Oh… you mean Luke?"

Cherry spun toward the door in alarm, but he moved faster. His hand shot out, grabbing her arm in a tight grip.

"Easy, baby," he said with a smirk. "Why rush off? You just got here."

"Let me go!" Cherry cried, jerking against his hold. "What do you want?!"

Her voice shook. Her heart pounded so loudly she could barely hear herself.

Benjamin leaned in, his eyes gleaming. "Didn't your sweet mommy tell you? I paid for you, Cherry Blaire. That makes you mine."

The words hit her like a slap.

"What?" she whispered, frozen. "What are you talking about?"

He let go of her arm, just long enough to pull out his phone. With a few taps, he shoved the screen in her face.

"This," he said proudly. "A little deal I made with Lucille Blaire. A hundred thousand pesos for you."

Cherry stared at the screen.

A scanned contract. Her mother's signature.

It felt like the floor disappeared beneath her.

No.

No, this can't be real.

Her knees gave out, and she stumbled back, grabbing the sofa for support. Her throat closed up. Her whole body went cold.

Benjamin's smirk twisted into a sneer.

"What, you didn't know? Well… now you do," he said.

Before she could react, he lunged and grabbed her by the waist.

"C'mon, don't be like that. It's not a big deal. I'll even pay you more… if you make me happy tonight."

He leaned in, forcing his face toward hers.

 

Benjamin had been watching her for months. Ever since the university's charity gala, he couldn't get her out of his head.

She was quiet. Polite. Untouched.

He saw it in the way she moved, how she kept her distance from everyone. That made her different. That made her desirable.

And now… she was finally within reach.

But Cherry wasn't naïve.

As his grip tightened, she turned her face away, dodging the sharp stench of alcohol on his breath. Panic clawed at her chest.

She shoved him hard in the chest, hard enough to make him stumble a step back.

"Why are you doing this?!" she screamed, her voice shaking.

Benjamin's expression darkened.

"You don't know who I am… do you?" he snarled.

His fist lashed out fast.

Pain exploded across her mouth. She gasped, tasting metal. Her fingers trembled as she touched her lip and pulled back, red with blood.

"No one says no to me," Benjamin growled.

He grabbed her arm, yanking her toward the wall. His voice dropped low. Dangerous.

"You want to act like a tease? Fine. I'll give you what you came here for."

Cherry's heart slammed against her ribs.

He pinned her against the wall, his hand reaching for the button of her pants.

Tears burned behind her eyes, but she forced her voice out, hoarse. "I'm married," she gasped. "If you touch me, he'll come for you. He's powerful. You don't know who you're messing with!"

For a second, Benjamin froze.

Hope flickered in her chest.

But then, he laughed.

"Married? So what?" His sneer deepened. "You know who my father is? He runs this city. Nobody touches me. Nobody ever has and no one ever will."

He leaned in again, his presence closing in like a steel cage.

Cherry felt him shift again. His hand moved lower, fumbling with the button of his pants.

Panic shot through her like lightning.

"I'm Gilbert Ace Carter's wife!" she blurted, her voice cracking.

Benjamin froze.

He stared at her, stunned. "Gilbert Ace Carter?" he repeated. "The Gilbert Ace Carter? Ace Carter Group of Companies?"

Cherry nodded quickly, hugging her backpack tightly against her chest. Her voice shook, but she forced herself to meet his eyes. "Yes. I'm his wife."

Silence.

Then Benjamin laughed loud, sharp, and mocking. "You've got guts, I'll give you that. You think I'll buy that? Prove it, and I'll cut off my damn hand."

Cherry stepped back. Hope drained out of her as fast as it came.

She had played her last card… and lost.

Tears burned her eyes. Her back hit the wall again. Her mind screamed for a way out, but her body wouldn't move.

Benjamin's face darkened.

"I've had enough of your games," he growled, grabbing a fistful of her hair. "You think you're special? I've waited long enough."

But then, something dropped to the floor with a soft thud.

They both looked down.

A small silver pack of contraceptive pills lay by her feet.

Benjamin blinked, startled. Slowly, he bent down and picked it up, confusion flashing across his face.


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