The following days went on like any other for Ayla. Busy, exhausting, yet fulfilling. She immersed herself in her medical tasks, striving to prove that the award she had received wasn't just a stroke of luck. Every morning, she stood in front of the small mirror in her apartment, reminding herself that she had to be stronger than the doubts of others.
However, Ayla began to sense something strange. Whispers spread through the hospital corridors, small rumors about alleged manipulation in her research, about 'secret support' from external parties. It all seemed absurd, but enough to make some colleagues start eyeing her with suspicion. Ayla knew this wasn't a coincidence. There were crafty hands working behind the scenes.
On the other side, Sienna smiled with satisfaction behind her veil of pretension. She didn't need solid proof to bring Ayla down. The world believed scandals faster than hard work. And she was determined to drown Ayla in a sea of prejudice.
But what Sienna didn't know was that Ayla was stronger than she appeared. Ayla wasn't some fragile figure who could be destroyed by rumors. She had survived worse storms, and this time, she was ready to fight.
The glittering crystal lights hung from the ceiling of the Maven Hotel ballroom, reflecting their sparkle in all directions. Classical music played softly, blending with the sounds of laughter, clinking glasses, and the overly forced small talk.
Ayla stood nervously at the edge of the room, holding a glass of white wine that she barely touched. She knew she shouldn't be here. A world like this was too full of deceit and charades, something she had never mastered. But to save her life, she had to endure.
A man approached her, offering another glass while smiling warmly. "To celebrate this great night," he said, raising his glass.
Ayla tried to politely decline, but the pressure from her surroundings made her hesitate. Not wanting to seem rude, she took a sip. Unfortunately, one sip turned into two. Two became three. Other guests teased her, urging her to enjoy the evening.
Her head began to feel light. The world around her spun slightly. From a distance, Sienna watched with satisfaction. She smiled faintly, sipping champagne from her crystal glass. Everything was going according to plan.
As Ayla began to look unsteady, Sienna stepped forward with a face full of pretense. "Ayla, you don't look well," she said softly. "Come on, I'll help you to your room."
Ayla couldn't refuse. With her body half-dragged, she followed Sienna to the elevator, heading to the hotel floor where the VIP guests were staying.
Sienna opened the door to one of the rooms, laying Ayla on the soft bed. Before leaving, she carefully wedged the door open just a crack, making sure it wouldn't lock completely.
Everything was set. Her hired hands would arrive soon. With hidden cameras, they would capture the compromising images. One photo would be enough to destroy Ayla forever.
But fate had other plans. In the quiet hotel corridor, Ethan Calloway staggered, sweat dampening his temples. His head felt heavy, his body burning out of control. The medicine that was supposed to alleviate his migraine had worsened his condition, scrambling his thoughts.
He misread the number on the door. As his hand pushed the slightly open door, Ethan assumed it was his room. He stepped in without thinking. The room was dimly lit. On the bed, he saw a woman lying down, her long hair spread out on the white pillow.
Ethan's mind was foggy, and he thought it was his wife who had finally chosen to join him at the event and was waiting for him in the room that had been prepared by his secretary for the night. His body felt on fire. He approached, as if drawn by a primal instinct beyond logic.
Ayla groaned softly, turning slightly without realizing what was happening. In the chaos of drunkenness and desire, the night blurred into a fog.
They became entangled in a mistake that would later demand a heavy price.
The next morning, Ayla opened her eyes with a throbbing head and an odd feeling in her body.
When she turned around, she froze. A stranger lay next to her, his bare chest rising and falling slowly.
Horror overwhelmed her. In a panic, she pulled the blanket over her, searching for her clothes scattered on the floor. Her hands trembled as she hurriedly dressed, tears welling up that she couldn't hold back. Not daring to look again, Ayla stepped out of the room.
In the corridor, the cold air slapped her pale face. At the end of the hall, stood someone with a satisfied smile on their face Sienna. Ayla didn't notice her, she just wanted to escape the room and escape from herself.
"Soon, very soon, I will take your place, Dr. Ayla Winters," Sienna said with a smug smile. She felt that victory over Ayla was within her grasp.
Ethan's body slowly stirred, surrounded by the faint scent of perfume still lingering in the air. With half-open eyes, he reached out to the side of the bed.
Empty.
Ethan frowned in his sleepiness, trying to remember. Where was his wife?
He had thought that last night, in his half-conscious state, that the body, that smile, belonged to his wife. He sat up halfway, his head feeling heavy, the world spinning slowly.
"Katherine?" he called hoarsely — his wife's name, but there was no answer.
For a moment, he noticed a red stain on the bed next to where he had lain. Something was wrong. That blood couldn't be his wife's. Slowly, Ethan's thoughts began to connect. He remembered the pills he had taken before the event. Something to reduce his migraine, but the receptionist had said the medicine should be taken after eating, not before.
Ethan sighed deeply, holding back his frustration. Whatever had happened last night, it had been a huge mistake. Yet somehow, a sense of loss still haunted his chest, as if that woman had taken something from him. Ethan gripped his hair tightly, his body tense with an unshaped regret.
"What have I done?" he muttered, half to himself.
He got up, put on the remainder of his clothes, and walked out of the hotel room, which now felt like a void, leaving a heavy burden with every step.