C117 A Night Of Desperation

Josh's face turned crimson with anger. His entire body trembled as he stared at Laura, struggling to control himself. For a brief moment, he even raised his hand, tempted to slap her. "Is this how I raised you?" he shouted. "Where is your dignity? What will people say if they find out? You have completely disgraced me!"

Laura's eyes were already swollen from crying, yet hearing those words only made her smile bitterly. "So..." she whispered, "does that mean the marriage is cancelled?" Josh frowned before shaking his head firmly. "If you think admitting that will make me allow you to be with that poor boy, then forget it. Tomorrow you are coming with me to meet the family. Whether you like it or not, you will marry into that family."

Laura's smile instantly disappeared. Her last hope had been crushed. She had believed telling her father the truth would change his mind. Instead, it only made him more determined. She slowly lowered her head. Mike... Am I really going to disappoint you? The thought alone made her chest tighten. After dinner, she quietly excused herself and returned to her bedroom. She pretended to sleep, waiting patiently.

Thirty minutes later, the entire mansion had fallen silent. She listened carefully. Her father's room was dark. Without making a sound, she slipped on a jacket, picked up her phone, and quietly left through the back door. Outside, she hailed a taxi. "Smith Residence," she said softly. The driver nodded and drove into the quiet night.

Around 9:00 p.m., the Smith residence was completely dark. Everyone appeared to be asleep. Laura stood outside the gate, hugging herself as the cold evening breeze blew past her. Her hands trembled as she dialed Mike's number.

Meanwhile, sleep refused to come to me. Too many things were running through my mind. Everything Samantha had confessed earlier replayed inside my head. Ben's cruelty. Her suffering. Her tears. Then another memory surfaced. Alicia. The kiss we had shared in my office. Without realizing it, I touched my lips.

Before I could gather my thoughts, my phone vibrated. When I looked at the screen, I froze. "Laura?" For a second, I honestly thought I was dreaming. I answered immediately. "Hello?" A soft, shaky voice came through. "Hubby..." My heart skipped. "Things are bad." She struggled to hold back her tears. "That family accepted the marriage proposal. Tomorrow Dad is taking me to meet them... but I'll tell them I don't want to marry their son." I sat upright on my bed. "What are we going to do?" I asked quietly.

There was silence. Then she spoke again. "In case... something happens tomorrow..." Her voice broke. "...can I see you one more time?" I blinked. "At this hour?" "Come outside." She sniffled. "I'm already at your house." I jumped off my bed so quickly that I nearly stumbled. Pulling back the curtain, I looked outside. There she was. Standing alone beneath the streetlight.

I rushed downstairs as quietly as possible, praying my parents wouldn't wake up. The moment I opened the door, Laura threw herself into my arms. She hugged me tightly, crying uncontrollably. "Hubby..." "I don't know what to do." "I only want you..." "No one else." Her tears soaked my shirt.

I gently stroked her hair. "It's okay." "We'll find a way." "I promise." She shook her head repeatedly. "I don't want tomorrow to come." Holding her hand, I quietly led her inside and into my room. As soon as we entered, memories flooded both our minds. This room... It was where we had our first intimate moment. Where we had shared unforgettable moments together.

Laura sat on the edge of the bed, unable to stop crying. I sat beside her. "Listen to me," I said gently. "Tomorrow, tell them honestly that you're already in love with someone else. Maybe they'll understand." She looked at me with helpless eyes. "I hope they do..." She leaned against my shoulder. "I just wanted to spend tonight with you." The room became silent. Neither of us wanted to think about tomorrow.

We simply held each other close, finding comfort in each other's presence. Laura stood up, "I have decided..." "Let's do it again." She started undressing. I looked at her. "You really want us to do it." She nodded. "Yes.." "Maybe it will be our last time." She threw herself to me. I had no other choice but to do it" "Our second intimacy."

Eventually, exhaustion overcame her. Still holding my hand, Laura slowly fell asleep beside me. I looked at her sleeping face. Even in her sleep, tears still stained her cheeks. I sighed. Then an idea struck me. Or rather... A problem. If my parents woke up before Laura left... Everything would become impossible to explain. Carefully slipping out of bed, I stepped outside the room and dialed Alicia.

At the Mooney residence... Alicia had only just fallen asleep when her phone rang. She groaned. "Who calls people at this hour?" Seeing my name, she answered. "Hello?" "Alicia... beauty, I need your help." She laughed sleepily. "I've noticed something." "You only call me 'beauty' whenever you need a favor." I couldn't help laughing. "You're right."

Then I explained everything. Laura had come over. Her father's chosen family had agreed to the marriage. Tomorrow she was supposed to meet them. There was silence. Then Alicia sighed dramatically. "Brother..." "While everyone else is sleeping, you're busy spending romantic nights with your girlfriend." I scratched my head awkwardly. "I couldn't send her away."

She smiled to herself despite the slight ache in her heart. She had already accepted one painful truth. Mike's first love... His first time... Everything belonged to Laura. She pushed those thoughts aside. "So," she asked, "what exactly do you need me to do?" "My parents wake up around five every morning." "I don't want them finding Laura here." Alicia thought for several seconds. "I'll be there at 4:40." "Don't worry." Relief washed over me. "Thank you."

After ending the call, I quietly returned to my room. Laura had already awakened. She smiled faintly. "You disappeared." "I was making sure tomorrow doesn't become even worse." She reached for my hand. "Then stay beside me." I smiled and sat next to her. The rest of the night passed with the two of us simply talking remembering old memories, laughing through tears, and trying to pretend tomorrow did not exist. Neither of us wanted the night to end.

At exactly 4:00 a.m., my alarm rang softly. I woke Laura. She nodded sleepily. Both of us hurried to freshen up before leaving. Everything seemed to be going according to plan. At exactly 4:40 a.m., Alicia called. "I'm outside." "Should I come in, or are you sneaking out?" I chuckled. "We're coming."

Holding Laura's hand, we quietly walked downstairs. Just as we reached the living room... Everyone froze. My parents were already awake. Mary was standing there holding a cooking pot. Quinton was reading the morning newspaper. The pot slipped from Mary's hands and landed on the floor with a loud clang.

For several seconds... Nobody spoke. Then Mary blinked twice before smiling as though nothing unusual had happened. "Good morning, son." "I almost thought i has seen a ghost." My face instantly turned red. Laura lowered her head in embarrassment. Mary walked over with a warm smile. "And who might this beautiful young lady be?"

Laura nervously bowed. "G-Good morning, Madam..." "Good morning, Sir." "My name is Laura Tryon." Before anyone could continue... Knock! Knock! Knock! Quinton opened the front door. Standing outside was Alicia. She froze the moment she saw everyone. "Uh..." "Morning, Uncle Quinton."

Mary immediately brightened. "Alicia, my child!" Alicia forced a smile before pointing directly at me. "Aunt Mary..." "Mike called me before sunrise." "He said I needed to drive his girlfriend home." I nearly choked. Alicia! You sold me out! Laura looked as though she wanted the ground to swallow her whole. Mary looked from me... to Laura... to Alicia... before suddenly laughing. "Oh dear." "I won't interrupt you young people." "Pretend we didn't see anything."

Laura quickly released my hand and hurried outside with Alicia. Inside the car, silence filled the air. After dropping Laura off near her house, Alicia glanced at me. "So..." "What explanation are you planning to give your parents?" I sighed. "I don't even know." "They already think you're my girlfriend." "After today..." "They'll probably think I'm cheating on you." Alicia burst into laughter. "So?" "What will you tell them?" "Will you admit you're a cheater?" "I—"

Before I could answer... The memory of our kiss suddenly flashed through my mind. Alicia noticed my expression immediately. She laughed even harder. "You remembered the office, didn't you?" I looked at her in surprise. "How did you know?" She smirked. "So you admit it." "You cheated..." "...and stole my first kiss." Her words carried a teasing tone, but I couldn't laugh.

Instead, I asked softly, "Are you... upset with me?" For the first time that morning, Alicia's smile became gentle. "If I were upset..." "Would I have come all the way here before sunrise to help you?" My tense heart finally relaxed. Soon we arrived back at my house. I climbed out of the car, hoping Alicia would come inside and help explain everything. Instead, she rolled down the window with a mischievous grin. "Good luck, Brother." "You reap what you sow."

Before I could respond, she stepped on the accelerator and drove away. I stood outside my front door, staring at it for a long moment. Taking a deep breath, I slowly reached for the doorknob. For some reason... Facing my parents suddenly felt far more terrifying than facing Josh Tryon.