"It’s hot," Ella mumbled, rubbing her throat, which was dry and scratchy.

Her cheeks were burning. Her whole body was burning, too, as if someone had set fire to her. The satin dress she had put on felt like a heavy overcoat on a hot, sunny day.

She impatiently tried to remove the dress, but the zip on the back got stuck.

"Water…"

She looked around the room. Under the dim red light, nothing was clearly visible. On top of that, her vision was blurry.

Everything seemed to be dreamy.

Ella tried to figure out if it was reality or a dream.

"Mm…" A low moan escaped her mouth as she felt unusual tingles between her legs.

She clenched her thighs and uncomfortably twisted her body.

Patter-Patter…

She jumped when she heard footsteps and knew right away that she was not alone. Someone else was also in the room.

A tall silhouette loomed over her.

She was scared and subconsciously tried to get up from the fluffy carpeted floor.

"Uh…" A sudden tug on her arm made her stand up. The next thing she knew, she was wrapped in two powerful arms.

Ella’s heart jumped to her throat. She was terrified and wriggled to break free. Her struggle grew weaker and weaker as she liked his proximity.

His big hands on her back felt so good. They soothed her hot body as if someone were rubbing ice on her burning skin.

"Mm…" Another moan escaped her mouth. She unconsciously leaned on him and rubbed her cheek slightly against his bare chest, which was smooth and warm.

The citrus scent of his cologne was intoxicating and arousing at the same time.

‘Run,’ her rational mind suggested. It questioned her about how she could enjoy a stranger’s embrace.

‘Danger, danger…’ Those words kept ringing in her head.

It was indeed dangerous. How could she end up in a strange room with a wild man? Shouldn’t she be celebrating her 18th birthday at home?

Ella vaguely remembered drinking juice that her aunt had given her. She realized her shrewd aunt had mixed something in the juice. That was why she was feeling uncomfortably hot.

"No…" She couldn’t give up and lose her virginity to this man.

She twisted her body violently and used all her strength to push him away from her.

"Leave me alone," she yelled.

However, she was again in his arms soon.

He squeezed her jaw with one hand and exerted enough force to make her whimper in pain.

Ella had the impression that he would crush her bones to dust.

"Why are you pretending to be innocent now?"

This voice…

It was deep and hoarse. It had the ability to make anyone weak in the knees.

Ella had never heard such an imposing and cold voice before. She trembled in terror.

The tingles between her legs were already prompting her to stop defying him. Besides, her rational mind was silent now.

She was losing her courage to fight back.

In the meantime, his lips connected with hers. The smell of alcohol invaded her nerves.

He was kissing her wildly, sucking and biting her lips. He seemed to have decided not to leave her lips intact.

Fear and pain brought tears to her eyes.

When he tasted her salty tears, he became enraged. He shoved her onto the bed.

Ella gasped, her body bouncing on the soft mattress. She blinked and widened her eyes to take a good look at the man.

With her hazy vision, she couldn’t see his face clearly. All she noticed was his muscular, toned V-torso.

"Stop pretending," he let out a guttural growl. "You came here on your own. Now… satisfy me."

He started to unbutton his pants.

Ella scooted back and tried to get off the bed.

He jumped over her and pressed her down. His massive weight over her was overwhelming.

Ella’s hands were pinned above her head, and she couldn’t move.

He bowed and dragged his lips down her neck and shoulder.

It was so pleasurable.

Ella forgot to struggle. She arched her back and gave him access to her neck.

The sliver of rationality that was left in her told her to get out of bed and run away. But her body yearned for his touch. It didn’t follow her brain's command.

"Mm…" She moaned and wrapped her arms around his shoulders, pulling him closer to her.

She liked the way he was tweaking and kneading her curves. She was growing wet, with tingling and pleasure aches flooding her body.

Ella was supposed to run away, but instead, she kissed him back. Her response made the man kiss her more fiercely. In a blink, he ripped her dress and touched her everywhere.

No one had ever touched her in this way before.

Ella suddenly remembered that she was still a virgin… her precious virginity that she had saved for the man she loved.

This man was violating her, and she couldn’t get away from him. Moreover, she was enjoying the sensations that his hands gave her.

Ella was overwhelmed with shame and guilt. She struggled once again to break free.

There was no comparison between the strength of men and women.

All her struggles went futile. Finally, she submitted herself to him.

After a long night, she was exhausted and fell asleep.

============

When she woke up, she found herself on her comfy bed, in her familiar room, with bright sunlight coming through the window. It wasn't like the dimly lit room she had been in the night before.

Ella was dumbfounded. She was not sure how she had come back home.

Could it be that she had a wet dream?

The memory of the night was hazy. Those moments she had experienced seemed dreamy, but the pain between her legs seemed so real.

Her body ached all over. Ella could clearly tell that everything that happened last night was real.

The man appeared to be a beast. He had tormented her the whole night, again and again.

Ella was devastated, thinking that she had lost her virginity. She would never be able to go in front of her first love.

"Victor…" She sobbed, covering her face.

She gradually remembered drinking the orange juice.

Her aunt and her cousin pretended to celebrate her 18th birthday, but they actually drugged her and threw her into a stranger’s bed.

"Why?" She gritted her teeth, a wave of fury rolling inside her stomach. "You have to answer me."

She dragged her aching body out of bed and exited her room. She came to an abrupt halt when she overheard loud laughter.

It was her aunt, Jessica Brown.

Ella hid behind the door and listened to her.

"Oh, it was a relief," said Jessica. "Our plan worked. Everything went swimmingly. Everyone is thinking it was Zoe with him last night. My Zoe will finally become Mrs. Schmidt. I am extremely delighted."

Boom…

Ella felt as if her brain exploded. She clenched her fists.