Waking Up Married To The Cruel CEO

Hayden had lost her memory.

When she opened her eyes, she was horrified to find herself lying in her sister's fiancé's bed. Tomorrow was Kasper Avery's wedding to her half-sister, Charity West.

Clutching a few torn pieces of her lingerie, Hayden shrank into the corner of the bed, her entire body trembling.

The man beside her let out a low, satisfied exhale. He threw back the covers and rose, walking straight to the en-suite bathroom without sparing her a single glance.

Hayden's mind completely shattered. Kasper Avery, the most powerful man in their elite circles, was marrying Charity tomorrow. Why, on the very night before his wedding, did she end up rolling in the sheets with him?

The bedroom's decor was dark and heavy, illuminated only by a single warm yellow lamp on the nightstand that offered a meager square of light.

A sudden chill swept over her bare back, making her sneeze violently. Panic-stricken, she scrambled back under the covers, wrapping the duvet tightly around her entire body until only a sliver of light peeked through. Her brain was a tangled, chaotic mess; she couldn't recall a single thing from last night. Even though it was the middle of summer, an inexplicable coldness seeped through the room.

The sound of running water in the bathroom abruptly stopped. The door pushed open, spilling bright light into the bedroom.

Hayden couldn't help but secretly poke her head out a fraction.

Kasper stepped out wearing only a towel slung low around his hips. Broad shoulders, narrow waist, his muscles carved with sleek, flawless lines leading down to his sharp V-line. But it was his sculpted, relentlessly cold face that made Hayden's heart give a violent jolt.

Everyone knew Kasper Avery only had Charity in his heart. His eyes had never held an ounce of room for any other woman. Yet last night, they had been intimately entwined.

At the thought, Hayden’s cheeks burned a furious crimson. As Kasper slowly made his way toward the bed, her heart hammered even faster. She had no idea what was going on. She had secretly harbored a crush on Kasper but never dared to let him know, so how did she end up in his bed, doing that with him?

In the dim light, her dazed, panic-stricken state fell directly into Kasper's gaze. His thick brows furrowed, his expression darkening.

When she remained completely frozen, the crease between his brows deepened imperceptibly. He paused for a few seconds before continuing toward the edge of the bed.

Seeing him approach as if to get back in, Hayden was terrified. She scrambled out of the bed, taking the entire bedsheet with her and wrapping herself up tight as a burrito.

"I—I'm sorry, I don't know how I ended up here. I'll leave right now."

Hayden looked incredibly cautious. At her words, Kasper's severe expression relaxed just a fraction.

Bending down, Hayden hastily snatched up her clothes that were scattered all over the floor, balling them in her hands as she made a mad dash for the door.

Behind her, Kasper casually dropped the towel from his waist and lay down on the bed—doing so with such natural ease, as if it were his normal routine.

Clutching the sheet around her, Hayden slowly turned back, her face a portrait of utter embarrassment as she looked at him.

"Brother-in-law—"

The man on the bed had just picked up an iPad and opened the news app, not yet having time to check the headlines. Hearing her choice of title, his lowered eyelids finally lifted.

His sharp, icy gaze swept across Hayden's face, his thin lips pressing into a hard line. His jaw locked tight, and his piercing, bone-chilling stare pinned her directly to the spot.

"What did you just call me?"

The suffocating pressure rolling off him hit her like a physical blow. Hayden didn't dare meet his eyes. "It's getting late... could you please drive me home?"

He was completely unfazed, while she was already practically dying of shame.

Kasper's fingers tightened abruptly around the tablet. A fleeting, unmistakable flash of mockery darted through his deep, dark eyes before vanishing instantly. He lowered his gaze back to the screen, completely ignoring her.

Hayden stood frozen in place, drowning in awkwardness and despair. After a long moment, she muttered in a low voice, "Then... I'll just call a cab myself."

She placed her hand on the doorknob, just about to push it open and flee, when Kasper's cold, clear voice suddenly rang out, landing with absolute precision in her ears.

"Your room is next door."

"???"

Hayden was even more bewildered. Kasper had a room prepared for her here? Then what about Charity? If Hayden was in Kasper's bedroom, where was the bride-to-be right now?

Treating it as though he had simply misunderstood her meaning, she turned around stiffly, still not daring to make eye contact with him.

"I think I should go back."