Within Two Hearts
“Lila, will you stop looking like someone dragged you to the funeral of a relative?” Diana shouted over the music, pulling me forward by the wrist. "It's a club! You're supposed to have fun, get a life!"
Fun of course, I should get much of it as much as I want. It's true. The fun was finding your trusted boyfriend of three years in bed with no other but your best friend. The pleasure was being humiliated and left alone with the pieces of your self-esteem shattered before you, with no attempt of repair. I didn't want to be here, but Diana insisted and I was too numb to argue or go against her wish.
"I'm not sure that's a good idea," I said, rising a little on my heels.
"Oh, don't complain anymore," Diana cried, pouring a funny looking cocktail into her hand. Her lipstick spread in a sly smile. "Drink enough of this. You need much of it to relax."
I looked at the glass like a time bomb, everything about it looked suspicious. "I don't drink."
"There's always a first time, you'll drink tonight." Diana clinked her glass with mine. "Trust me, one sip won't kill you." I hesitated, but the words "trust me" did something funny to my pride. I didn't want her to think I was weak, not capable of making choices, not after everything I'd been through. So I took a sip.
The bitterness from a single sip burned my throat and I grimaced, but Diana was already putting another glass in my hand. "Come on baby girl!" she shouted at me.
On the third glass, the room began to tilt dangerously. The lights dimmed and my thoughts became unclear, unhealthy and shattered. "Diana," I managed to murmur, trying to calm every bit of myself down.
"I think I probably should sit for a moment..."
"Okay, then!" she interrupted, leading me towards a group of men seated in a VIP area enclosed by ropes. "Come on, sister, let's meet real men that make things happen. Forget about that cheating loser of yours! It's time to wine and dine with the happening men."
"Wait, I don't...I can't..." I stammered as my legs flopped under me. Before I knew it, a man smelling of sweet cologne pulled me into his hairy lap. "Hey, pretty girl," he said, his smile stretching too far.
I tried to pull away, but my arms felt like jelly. "No, I don't...I can't..."
"Relax," he said, running his rough hand up my thigh.
"Keep your silly hands off me!" I tried to scream with my whole strength, but it was weak. Panic gripped my throat. And then, suddenly, I was pulled to my feet miraculously.
"What are you planning to do to her?" a cold, loud voice cut through the chaos.
I closed my eyes, my vision flickering, until my gaze landed on the man standing before me. He was tall, with a jaw so sharp it could cut glass and eyes the color of ice. His tailored suit clung to him like a second skin, and his presence was so imposing that the fat man retreated.
Heartbroken after discovering her boyfriend's infidelity, Lila Monroe is pushed into a one-night stand by her jealous step-sister, Diana. Unknowingly, she ends up in the bed of billionaire Sebastian Knight, instead of a random guy as planned by Diana.
Their paths cross again months later, when Lila is forced to marry Sebastian to protect her mother's political image. To complicate matters, Sebastian's brother, Ethan, who Lila had a childhood crush on, lives in the same house and rekindles old feelings.
Torn between two brothers, Lila struggles to overcome the complexities of love, betrayal, and family rivalry.
As enemies close in and secrets are revealed, Lila must choose between the man who challenges her and the one who still make feel safe.
