[BONUS Chapter for reaching 200 PS! Thank you all!🤍 ]
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[EVE]
The moment I woke up, a splitting headache greeted me, pounding against my skull like the aftermath of an all-night bender.
I inhaled deeply, steadying my breath, and blinked against the soft morning light streaming through the curtains. My vision was hazy, the details of the room around me slowly sharpening as if emerging from a fog.
I furrowed my brow, trying to piece together the fragments of my memory. "W-what? What happened?"
My voice came out hoarse, thick with confusion. Something felt off, like a gap in my recollection—a void where the memories of last night should have been.
As I shifted under the covers, the crisp sensation of the comforter brushing against my bare skin made me pause. A chill ran down my spine. My hand instinctively gripped the edge of the blanket, and I glanced down to confirm the unsettling reality—I was wearing nothing but my underwear.
"What the—where are my clothes?" I murmured, my voice barely above a whisper. My heart began to race, the rhythm pounding in my chest as panic took root. My fingers clutched the comforter tighter, pulling it closer to my body as my mind scrambled for answers.
Memories of the party trickled in, flashes of laughter, music, and the pool. But after that? Nothing. It was a blur—a maddening void that refused to give me any clarity.
The sound of water running stopped abruptly, and the soft creak of a door opening drew my attention. My head snapped toward the bathroom as the door swung open, releasing a faint cloud of steam.
Cole stepped out, his presence dominating the room. His dark hair was damp, droplets trailing down his neck and soaking into the collar of his shirt. His gaze found mine instantly, his expression unreadable, though his eyes held a flicker of something—concern, guilt, or perhaps something darker.
"You're awake," he said, his voice low and steady, yet carrying an undercurrent of tension.
The weight of his presence made my breath hitch. He looked calm, composed, but there was something about the way he stood, the slight rigidity in his posture, that unsettled me further.
"What . . . what happened?" I asked again, my voice trembling despite my attempt to sound firm.
My stomach churned, and the silence that followed felt oppressive, as if the air had thickened, pressing down on me while I awaited his response.
"You . . . you don't remember?" Cole asked, his brows knitting together in a mix of confusion and concern.
I shook my head, my frown deepening as I tried to focus on his words. "The last thing I remember is falling into the pool . . . and then . . . everything's a blur."
Cole's jaw tightened, and he glanced away, as though weighing his next words carefully. "Could it be the side effect of the drug . . . ?" he murmured under his breath, his voice so low I almost missed it.
"What was that?" I pressed, narrowing my eyes at him.
"Nothing," he replied almost instantly, his tone sharp as he waved it off. "If you don't remember, then that's probably for the best." His gaze softened, and he added, "You lost consciousness after the pool incident, and you just woke up. Are you hungry?"
I hesitated. There were a dozen questions swirling in my mind, but none of them felt concrete enough to voice. My thoughts were hazy, slipping through my grasp like water through clenched fingers. Before I could settle on what to say, he shifted the conversation.
"Wait," I said, blinking at him. "What happened to the party?"
"It's over," he said curtly, his tone leaving no room for argument. "You don't have to worry about it."
My head throbbed again, the dull ache intensifying as I tried to push for clarity. Cole was already moving, his back to me as he rummaged through a small first-aid kit on the desk. He poured a small dose of medicine into a cup and handed it to me. Explore more at empire
"Don't think about it too much," he said, his voice gentler now. "Drink this—it'll help with the pain. You must've hit your head on the water when you slipped. I'll have the doctor check on you again, just to be sure. For now, I'll arrange for some food to be delivered here."
I took the cup from him, my fingers brushing against his for a moment. The faint warmth of his touch was at odds with the tension hanging in the air.
"So, you're telling me," I said after a moment, "that I passed out after the pool incident and missed the entire party?"
He shrugged, his expression unreadable. "It's not worth dwelling on. Just focus on getting better."
I drank the medicine without another word, letting the bitter taste linger on my tongue. "Are we still on the yacht?" I asked finally, setting the empty cup on the nightstand.
Cole nodded. "Yeah. The crew's still cleaning up."
I hesitated before asking the next question, a flicker of unease stirring in my chest. "Where are my clothes?"
My gaze darted to him, my suspicion evident.
A slow, amused smirk crept across his face. "Your dress is in the cleaners. In the meantime, you can wear that." He gestured toward a simple white dress folded neatly on the edge of the bed.
I grabbed it, clutching the fabric tightly in my hands as I shot him a pointed look. "Do you mind? I'd like to get dressed."
Cole didn't move. Instead, his grin deepened, his gaze alight with a devilish glint. "Come on, Eve. I've seen it all already. Touch them even. There's no need to be embarrassed around me."
Heat rushed to my cheeks, and I gritted my teeth, glaring at him. "Get out!"
He chuckled, raising his hands in mock surrender. "Alright, alright. No need to be so feisty." He turned and walked toward the door, pausing just long enough to throw a teasing glance over his shoulder. "But you really don't need to be shy. I'm just saying."
The door clicked shut behind him, and I let out a frustrated breath. My fingers clenched the dress tighter as I tried to steady my nerves.
Something must have happened. I could feel it in the way he looked at me—his gaze lingered a moment too long, carrying something I couldn't quite place. And that smirk . . . it wasn't just teasing. It held something deeper, something he wasn't saying.
But what?