Chapter 1 The Nightmare Five Years Ago

"Everything's burning." Anastasia Tillman felt suffocated as she staggered toward room 808 after glancing at the room card she held. She was probably drunk. The door popped open with a beep after she swiped her card but a hand grabbed her wrist and yanked her into the pitch-black room before the door slammed closed. "Who are you? What do you want?" she demanded with palpable fear. "Relax. This will not hurt," muttered the man hoarsely and threw her onto the couch before pressing down on her heavily. "Mmph—" She tried to struggle, but mint-scented lips pressed hard on hers. Their breathing mingled as she found herself clinging to him without thinking. His skin felt scorching as his large hand smoothed over her curves and under her clothes to grip her skin hard. It felt uncomfortable, but she couldn't shake him off as a tingle spread through her. He then suddenly yanked off her remaining clothing and went straight for it. "Ow!" The piercing ache had shot through her, causing her to faint temporarily. Ring, ring, ring! The ringing on her phone brought her back to reality and she wiped her sweat, knowing she had dreamed about that horrible event at the Abyss Club five years ago again at her best friend Hayley Seymour's birthday celebration. Feverish and starting to hyperventilate after several drinks, Anastasia informed Hayley about returning home, but Hayley had pressed a room card in Anastasia's hand. "Anastasia, I've booked a suite. Rest there, and I'll get you home after." Anastasia couldn't turn down the birthday girl and took it before stumbling unsteadily toward her destination, straight into a traumatizing experience that had almost ruined her. Waking up while clutching a watch as the culprit slept beside her made rage overwhelm her as she hurled it to the floor and kicked him despite her discomfort before retrieving her tattered clothes from the floor. Fleeing the room while shaking uncontrollably, she then found the smug-looking Hayley and her stepsister Erica Tillman giggling in the corridor and looking especially friendly. Erica's eyes glittered maliciously as she approached. "Anastasia, how'd it go with the cowboy?" Anastasia stiffened as it hit her. Is this why I've been feeling weird after drinking? Hayley probably has drugged me and given me the card to the room with another person to set me up! Anastasia had remained single for her whole life, only to be assaulted in this fashion. Hayley's betrayal, Erica's cruelty, and her experience hit so hard that she collapsed, reeling. Erica had embellished the occurrence to her father afterward, who misread everything as Anastasia selling herself for money at the club and kicked her out angrily with a push from Anastasia's stepmother, Naomi Lowel. That occurrence still traumatized Anastasia and haunted her dreams even after five years. "Mom, you look pale! You okay?" The door opened slowly before a boy in a blue check shirt and denim shorts peeked inside, his noble-looking fine and attractive features obvious despite being just four. The sight of him banished her dark feelings to be replaced by a smile as she gestured toward him. He scampered over. "Jared, I'm fine. It's just a dream I had." Anastasia stroked his soft hair gently. "Want some breakfast? I'll help with the milk!" Jared tilted his head back while staring at her with his large eyes, and Anastasia nodded, relieved. Nowhere to go after being banished from the family, she had splurged on a ticket so she could take up design studies in Dansbury using the money her mother had left her without knowing she would gain a baby from that night. She had felt crushed by the discovery but had chosen to keep it after some indecision and was now very thankful for that as she now had an adorable and obedient little boy. Anastasia found the table laid with eggs, ham, bread, and milk after her daily routine. Taking a seat, the phone started vibrating next to her with an urgent-sounding ringtone, displaying her boss' caller ID. She moved a finger across the screen to take it. "Anastasia, let's talk about something. We've bought Bourgeois Jewelry Atelier, a famous historic local brand I want to develop. The jewelry competition's happening soon, and it would be a great opportunity if you represented the brand to bring publicity to it." "You want me to go back for work?" she enquired, having worked for QR Diamond Global and becoming its chief designer after five years of hard work. "Yep. You okay with that? I'll get you a flight three days from now." She considered this as her expression slowly became resolute. "No problem." "Going home, Mommy?" Jared's head was tilted puzzledly beside her as she ended the call. She nodded with a smile. "You coming?" "Yeah! I'll go anywhere with you!" His eyes shone while she stared in wonder, feeling thankful at the sight of him each time. "Let's pack our things after we're done and head for the airport after three days." "Alright!" He nodded excitedly and drank a big mouthful of his milk. She let out a sigh. She had been residing overseas after her father had kicked her out—not because she was reluctant to go home but because it wasn't welcoming. She had not talked to him even after giving birth overseas, but now she had to go home for a job, making her wonder how he was now.