"You think you can just leave without a trace after what happened that night?" His hands pinned her arms above her head, his piercing blue eyes boring into hers.

"W-what do you mean?" she stuttered, his scent reminding her of that night—the night that had changed her life completely.

"What do I mean? Are you seriously asking me that, woman? If your brain can't recall how we burned together on that bed, how about I remind you right here?" His face was dangerously close as he growled into her ear.

Her eyes widened. He meant it. Every single word. He was the king of the entertainment world, after all.

"Let me go," she demanded stubbornly, her voice barely audible. He let out a low, dark chuckle that sent a chill down her spine.

"Let you go? Oh, I'll let you go, Tatiana. But not until you understand the consequences of crossing paths with me."

••••••••••

In the world of the entertainment industry, we see constant change and creativity. Trends come and go, as do collaborations between artists and producers. This world can make anyone wish to be a part of it—it is said to be inspiring and enjoyable...

Meanwhile, that's only on the surface. The same world is filled with deceit, betrayal, fake love, ruthless competition, toxic fans who could ruin you, suicide, and dissatisfaction... This world is mostly dominated by men.

How can a woman, hurt by this world, face it—especially when she had a night and her life tangled with the king of them all?

: Betrayal

"What's with the long face, darling?" Nathan, Tatiana's fiancé, whispered as he placed a stunning silver necklace around her neck that matched her wedding gown.

"Nervous?" he asked, and she nodded with a small smile. "Yeah, me too. I can't believe you'll be my wife in the next hour. It means the world to me, my love."

Tatiana chuckled at Nathan's words, her happiness clear in her voice. But as soon as he excused himself and left the room, her smile faded, replaced by a mix of emotions. It was her wedding day, yet she couldn't shake off the feeling of unease that had been growing inside her. Nathan's suspicious behavior lately had left her puzzled, and part of her felt that something was off.

Despite being bound to Nathan, the CEO of Stardust Entertainment Company, by her overbearing tycoon father for the past five years, Tatiana had genuinely grown to love Nathan's sweet and charming side. However, the doubts lingering in her mind refused to dissipate, casting a shadow over her joy.

Her phone buzzed; it was a message from Jolene, her assistant.

*You were right, Tatiana,* the message read.

Tatiana clicked on the video attached to the message, and her heart sank to her feet. It showed Nathan kissing another woman, with the camera angle only revealing his face. The woman seemed somewhat familiar.

With shaky breath, Tatiana stormed out of the room and spotted Nathan's assistant, Flynn.

"Where's Nathan?" her voice cold.

"Over there," Flynn gestured to the other side of the hall, but his expression turned concerned upon seeing Tatiana's distressed look.

"Ma'am," he called after her, but Tatiana was already walking away.

As she made her way through the hallway, her head spun, and her chest tightened at the sound of moaning. She recognized the voices and couldn't believe it was happening on her wedding day!

"Ma'am, you need to come. The guests are waiting!" Flynn called again and Tatiana quickened her step.

She reached the door and forcefully pushed it open. Her world shattered as she witnessed Nathan slamming himself into one of his artists, Paisley.

Not only was Paisley Nathan's artist, but she was also Tatiana's rival.

Tatiana stood frozen as the two ignored her completely. Her face paled, and her lips parted in disbelief. She had suspected something was going on between them, but she never imagined it would be this extreme.

Nathan groaned at his release, and Paisley laughed sarcastically. Both totally ignoring her!

"It felt amazing," Nathan whispered.

Tatiana felt a chill down her spine as the reality of Nathan's words hit her. Tears streamed down her face like a waterfall, and bile rose in her throat, making it hard for her to breathe.

After they dressed, Nathan's gaze met with her. Those eyes showed no sign of remorse.

"What is this?" Tatiana's voice trembled. "I've given you everything, even sacrificed my dreams to please you. How could you do this to me?!"

Nathan approached her and sighed. "Don't take it to heart, darling. I'm marrying you, not her. Forget what you just saw," he said shamelessly. "It was just a mistake."

Tatiana's hand flew to Nathan's face, delivering a swift slap. She was shocked by her own actions, but she couldn't contain her anger. She realized that this man had never treated her well, always treating her like trash and then begging for her forgiveness. And naive as she was, she would always come back to him.

She saw the shocked look on Paisley's face, and Nathan's face reddened with anger. She winced as he forcefully grabbed her neck, slamming her back against the wall, his jaw clenched.

"How dare a bitch like you lay your filthy hand on me? Have you forgotten who I am? I'm your fucking husband, and you should listen to me. Forget what you just saw and go to the hall where our guests are waiting for us to get married."

Even in pain, Tatiana's face remained cold. Normally, she would have begged him to stop hurting her, but not this time. She had had enough of his senseless actions.

"Screw you, Nathan."

"Don't tell me you're planning to break up with me on our wedding day, Tatiana. You'll be humiliated in front of the guests. This wedding is going to bring a lot of resources to your father's company. Are you planning to disappoint him?"

Tatiana bit her lip, knowing how angry her father would be if the wedding didn't happen. She resented the fact that she, as a woman, was expected to bow at the feet of a man like Nathan.

"Well, screw him too," Tatiana's jaw clenched as Nathan let out a mocking laugh.

He released her, and she gasped for air. Her lungs burned from the lack of oxygen.

"Very well then. Let's see how you handle the humiliation you brought upon yourself. I can't wait to see it," he said, glancing over at Paisley, who smiled at him before leaving the room.

"Prepare the car. We are leaving," Tatiana overheard Nathan ordering his assistant.

"But sir, the--"

"It's not happening. My fiancée just broke up with me on our wedding day, so I should drown my sorrows with a drink, don't you think?" Nathan replied sarcastically.

Tatiana eyes locked onto Paisley, her anger boiling.

"How stupid of you to let such a man slip through your grasp. If I were you, I wouldn't have let him go," Paisley sneered.

"Just get your whore ass out of here," Tatiana uttered.

"You know, I should thank you, selfish bitch. First, you got out of my way in the industry, helping Nathan rise to his position, and foolishly thinking that Nathan would appreciate your sacrifice. And now, you've given me the opportunity to have him all to myself. I never wanted him to marry you anyway. Have fun with the humiliation. Don't worry, I'll make sure everyone sympathizes," Paisley said.

Paisley was a famous actress with millions of followers. If she manipulated the media, Tatiana would be even more humiliated, despite being the victim.

With heavy heart, Tatiana stormed out, still in her wedding dress, and headed to the nearest bar. Bottle after bottle, she sought oblivion in its depths. Jolene, her assistant finally found her, concern etched on her face.

With Jolene's help, Tatiana stumbled into the car, and eventually passed out in the hotel room Jolene had prepared. When she woke up, still intoxicated, she found herself in different clothes, Jolene gone.

"Jojo?" she slurred, staggering out of the room, going wherever her feet took her.

__

The next morning, Tatiana woke up with a throbbing head, her eyes meeting the strange luxurious room. The only memories she had were of Nathan's betrayal and Jolene's help.

"Ouch," she winced at the pain in her head as she tried to get up. The quilt slipped and her exposed breasts bounced out. She gasped and quickly covered up with a frown, realizing she was naked.

"Did Jolene undress me?" she mumbled and heard the sound of running water, indicating someone else was in the room.

She spotted some clothes on the couch and went to check, her eyes almost popping out of their sockets upon seeing that they were a man's clothes.

'Yes... harder, baby... Fuck me... yes!'

Her hand flew to her lips, as her words echoed in her head. She ended up sleeping with a strange man! The term 'strange man' could mean anything.

An old man, a crippled, a man who has an infection. He could be anyone.

“I’m so dead” She mumbled, and as mind pondered on what she had done, the bathroom's door opened and he stepped out...

: Pregnant

Tatiana quickly lay on the bed, pretending to be asleep. Her heart racing, threatening to jump out of its ribcage.

"What are you talking about?" The man’s deep, rich voice sounded, and Tatiana felt a chill run down her spine. Oh heavens, what is she going to do?

She peeked at him just to see how he looked but only saw his back view. A tall, imposing figure, definitely not old or crippled, but incredibly hot. He was speaking with someone on the phone.

"I thought you promised to send someone. What the fuck am I supposed to tell her when she wakes?" he asked the person on the other side.

Tatiana frowned. He had been expecting someone to sleep with last night. He was probably one of those rich men who paid to sleep with women. She clenched her jaw.

‘I’m not a whore,’ she thought to herself.

He ended the call, and Tatiana shut her eyes again. She heard his footsteps fading and the door shutting. He had entered his dressing room.

Tatiana sprang up from the bed, put on her clothes, and stormed out. She took her phone and found many missed calls from Jolene. She called back.

"Tatie? Oh my God, are you alright? Where are you?" Jolene asked hastily.

"At the hotel," Tatiana responded.

"Hotel? I came to check on you, but you weren’t there. I thought Mr. Wallington got you," Jolene sounded worried.

"My father?"

"Yes, a maid called from the mansion twenty minutes ago. Mr. Wallington has sent his men, and they're searching for you everywhere, but I've got this under control," Jolene said over the phone. "Fortunately, I had prepared a flight for you last night."

"Good, let's meet at the hotel parking lot," Tatiana ordered, her voice firm.

Upon reaching the parking lot, Tatiana found Jolene and entered the car.

"So, where were you?" Jolene asked, raising a brow.

"Complicated, annoying, and I don't want to talk about it," Tatiana stated, her eyes fixed on the road ahead.

She knew they had to leave quickly, before her father's men caught up. There was no time to stop at the pharmacy, either.

___

[Europe]

Tatiana smiled warmly as her middle-aged aunt, Catelyn, placed a steaming cup of black coffee before her.

"Thank you, Mrs. Cat," Tatiana said, grateful.

Catelyn, her father's younger sister, was smart, lovely, and close to Tatiana. After the disastrous wedding, this was the only place Tatiana could find solace.

"I've spoken with your father," Catelyn began. "He's furious about the humiliation he suffered at the wedding."

Tatiana's eyes dropped, her voice barely above a whisper. "Did he disown me?"

Catelyn paused before responding. "Something like that. But you don't need to worry. My brother deserved what happened to him. He was trying to control your life, and I'm glad you stood up for yourself."

Tatiana's gaze lifted, a hint of a smile on her lips. "Thank you, Mrs. Cat."

Two months passed quickly as Tatiana found a job to keep herself busy. Catelyn had suggested she pursue acting, a dream she'd abandoned long ago, but Tatiana refused.

One day, while scrolling through social media, Tatiana saw Nathan flirting openly with his slut, Paisley. Her chest tightened, and she dropped her phone.

Her mind drifted to the mysterious man she'd spent a night with, and she sighed. Lately, she'd been feeling sick and tired, but hadn't mentioned it to Catelyn, not wanting to worry her.

Just then, the door opened, and Catelyn walked in with groceries.

"I'm home!" she announced.

Tatiana stood to help, but a sharp headache struck, and her vision blurred. She stumbled, falling to the floor.

"Ta-tie!" Catelyn cried out, rushing to her side.

Tatiana's world went dark.

When she woke up, she was in a hospital bed, Catelyn beside her.

"You're pregnant, ma'am," the nurse announced, and Tatiana's eyes widened in shock, mirroring Catelyn's.

“The doctor will attend to you soon.”

Immediately after the nurse left, Catelyn faced Tatiana with wide eyes.

"Please tell me this baby isn’t Nathan’s."

"It’s not. Nathan and I haven’t slept together for two years," Tatiana responded, and Catelyn frowned harder. She then explained how she ended up in another man’s bed the night she was betrayed.

"I'm stupid, I know. Not only did my marriage not work, now I’m pregnant by a man I know nothing about. I'm sure you probably think I’m a whore…" Tatiana croaked as tears streamed down her face.

"Shh... sweetie, don’t say that. I do not think of you like that. Everything happens for a reason. Everyone makes mistakes, and some mistakes can change one’s life forever," Catelyn assured her, and Tatiana gauged her expression; she didn’t seem mad at her.

"Do you wish to find the father?"

"No, that would be too embarrassing. I don’t want to inconvenience him because of my mistakes," Tatiana replied, and Catelyn nodded in agreement.

"I guess I’m becoming a grandmother soon," Catelyn said, and they both chuckled.

"Jolene will be so mad at me."

"No, I think she’ll be happy."

____

~Six years later~

Tatiana stepped into the apartment, exhausted from a long day. She found her five-year-old son sitting in the living room, swinging his legs while watching a movie and munching on popcorns.

"Mother!" He exlaimed, his head snapping towards her. Tatiana smiled brightly, pulling him into a warm hug.

"How was school, sweetie?" she asked, as Dylan broke the hug.

"I'm not going back to that school. There's no privacy," Dylan complained.

Tatiana's face turned cold, concern etched on her face. "Did someone hurt you?"

Dylan was her top priority, and she was fiercely protective of him. The last time a man had said something harsh about her son, Tatiana had broken his nose with a single punch.

"No. I can't get hurt; I'm a knight, remember? I can protect myself." Dylan flexed his tiny arm, making Tatiana chuckled.

"Then what is wrong?"

"Girls at school won't stop staring at me. It's so uncomfortable; I can't even focus well in class. My teacher called me cute several times, and I feel like she is crushing on me."

Tatiana struggled to contain her laughter.

"That's not funny, Mom. They're distractions—cute, but distractions. I need to focus on my studies and make you proud," Dylan said, and Tatiana pecked his round cheek.

Dylan was cute and brilliant, and Tatiana had long gotten used to the charm her son carried. Especially those blue eyes of his, which he definitely didn’t get from her.

"You're back," Catelyn emerged from the kitchen.

Soon, they all settled down to have dinner.

Catelyn liked Dylan very much, and Dylan considered her his grandmother.

"So, mom, am I changing schools?"

"No."

Dylan made a sad face. "Maybe I'll choose one of them as my girlfriend."

Tatiana almost choked. "Where did you get that side of yours? Eat."

Catelyn let out a secret smile, and they continued eating silently.

"So, mother," Dylan broke the silence again. Both women looked up at him, but his next question made their faces pale.

"When am I going to meet my father?"

: Her return

The room fell silent; one could hear a pin drop. Tatiana forgot how to use her mouth and only stared at her son.

"Is Father a bad man?" Dylan asked innocently. He didn't look upset but worried.

"Dylan," Catelyn cut in.

"No, he is not a bad man. He is a wonderful man that you'll meet someday. But now is not the right time, dear, but I promise, you'll meet your father," Tatiana answered, and Dylan's smile returned.

"I bet he is as handsome as me," he chuckled.

"He sure is," Tatiana agreed, and the room returned to its cheerful atmosphere.

After putting Dylan to sleep, Tatiana went to grab a glass of water, trying to control her breathing.

"Tatie," Catelyn called behind her.

"I just promised him that he'll meet his father soon when I don't even know who he is, what he looks like, or what kind of personality he has. What if he hates me and Dylan? What if Dylan hates me? What if..."

"Relax, Tatie, it's not the end of the world," Catelyn held her hand.

"I don't know what to do," Tatiana whispered.

"You'll have to find him. As far as fate brought you two together that night, fate will do the same again. You just have to follow your instincts. It's your choice, Tatie," Catelyn smiled and left the kitchen.

"Look who's glowing," Jolene and Isabella, Tatiana's younger sisters, teased on the video call.

The first wife of Mr. Wallington bore three daughters: Maya, Tatiana, and Isabella, respectively. She died of a disease after Isabella turned a year old. Mr. Wallington didn't waste time marrying another woman who bore him a pair of male twins.

Maya was married to an influential man in the city; her marriage was the first to add more resources to Mr. Wallington's empire.

The same thing was supposed to happen after Tatiana married Nathan, but she was glad to know the monster lurking behind those charming eyes of that asshole.

"Did you see my movie? It was a hit!" Isabella squealed on the phone.

"I did. You are now a superstar. Your acting skill was awesome, and I'm so proud of you, baby girl," Tatiana complimented.

"Thanks to your manager Jolene, that I borrowed from you. And thanks to the skills you showed me. I'm like the younger version of you. When will you begin to act again? We should make a movie together."

"Ah, right, that would be so awesome," Jolene grinned as she exchanged glances with Isabella.

"I told you guys I'm done with that world. I need to focus on Dylan. He needs me," Tatiana retorted.

"Oh," Isabella's face dropped but lightened up again. "How's Dylan? The cutest kid I've ever seen." Isabella and Jolene both knew how she got Dylan.

"He is good, and he is asleep."

"I can't wait to meet him, for real. You need to come back, Tatiana. The storm has cleared," Jolene said.

"I've missed you, Tatie, and I can't wait to meet Dylan too," Isabella spoke.

The trio chatted over the video call for a while before Tatiana decided to go to bed. She tried to sleep but couldn't; Dylan's words kept ringing in her head.

She took out her phone to read some novels until sleep took her away, but her phone suddenly went off.

Groaning, she tried to charge it, but it didn't turn on. Mumbling to herself, she decided to buy a new one tomorrow. She had wanted to do it a long time ago but never got the time.

She lay on her bed again, and the thought of that night lingered in her head.

She had thought never to set foot in that country again, but it seems her wish is not possible.

___

The next day was the weekend, a day Tatiana spent with Dylan. She took him out to get a new phone, then headed to the park, Dylan's favorite place.

Dylan had been her medicine over the years, and she never once regretted having him. She would walk through fire and water just to make him happy.

"Hello, miss, can I take a photo of your kid?" An elegant woman with her husband asked Tatiana. "He's so adorable. It's fine if you don't want it."

"I don't mind," Tatiana smiled. This wasn't the first time anyway; Dylan attracted a lot of attention.

After the couple took his picture and left, Tatiana bought Dylan's favorite cookies, and they headed home.

"We are home, Mrs. Cat," Tatiana announced as she walked in with her son. A frown settled on her face, spotting Catelyn staring at the television with a shocked expression.

"What's going on?" she asked after sending Dylan upstairs. Tracing Catelyn's gaze, it was now her turn to be shocked.

____

~The famous actress Isabella's indecent photos and videos exposed at the peak of her success~

~Isabella Wallington found dead this morning, seems to have committed suicide by jumping off the bridge and drowning herself~

____

Tatiana felt her world crashing down on her. She stared at her sister's picture on the television, with the word 'RIP' boldly written on it.

Her feet finally moved after being frozen for minutes. She rushed upstairs, grabbed her old phone, and began to do all the necessary things to get her messages, voicemails, and some other important things.

Tears streamed down her face uncontrollably, her body trembling.

In a while, she got back everything, and her heart shattered seeing so many voicemails on the carrier server from Isabella. Taking a seat, she clicked on the first one.

"They are everywhere, Tatie. My nudes are everywhere. I don't know what to do. Your number is the only one I know by heart. I can't even call the police; they are not listening. I don't even know where I am..."

Isabella's voice trembled badly from the speaker. Her fear was intelligible. Tatiana clicked on the next, tears cascading down her face like a waterfall.

"Tatie, why is your phone dead? I'm scared, I'm so fucking scared. People are everywhere. I'm dressed in black like a criminal and hiding. I reek of rotten eggs and gutter. They are calling me names, Tatie, like they are going to kill me. What do I do? Please, I need to talk to you. Please..."

Tatiana trembled more and clicked on the third.

"I... I can't believe this is happening. What did I do wrong? It's definitely someone who knows me. I'm not a whore. They drugged me overnight and took pictures and videos. The whole of Australia hates me. I'm lost... I... I gotta go, someone is here. Please call me back if you get this. Please, Tatie."

Tatiana couldn't take it anymore. She wanted to scream but that would alert Dylan, so she ran outside the house, not minding the rain that poured down heavily, and let out a loud scream.

"Fuck!!!" Tatiana went on her knees, pulling down her hair.

Catelyn stood by the doorstep in tears, watching her helplessly.

___

With a pale face, Tatiana stared outside the airplane window. Yes, she was on her way back to Australia. Isabella's burial was tomorrow, and she needed to be there.

Dylan was still with Catelyn; they would be coming in two days. She didn't want Dylan anywhere near funerals and was glad Catelyn agreed. Catelyn was the only one she could trust at this moment.

Hours later, the plane landed safely. Tatiana stepped off the plane, returning to a country she hadn't set foot in for six years: Australia. Once upon a time, this was home, but not anymore.

___

Clad in a black, expensive suit, a man overlooked the city before him, his gaze sharp like a blade and his aura domineering.

His black-and-white office was adorned with grand architecture. The crystal nameplate on his desk had the word 'MR. KING' boldly written on it.

His phone buzzed, shattering his tranquility. He answered the call and waited for the man on the other side to speak.

"Hello, Mr. King, the woman you had a night with six years ago just returned to the country."