<b>Chapter </b><b>142 </b>


    Julia


    Loud music resounded from the speaker. I blinked, my eyes sweeping across the sea of people as they rocked their bodies against each other. My ss was empty, and the thought of navigating this sea of people to get another ss of vodka at the other end was nerving.


    But I had to go, I needed all the alcohol in my system. It was the very reason I hade here in the first ce. I stood, the entire room spun, and my legs turned wobbly. I swayed from side to side as I took the first step, my eyes heavy. This shouldn’t be as hard as it is. This was my fifth ss of Vodka,


    and it was too early to feel tipsy.


    “Hey pretty, mind if I help you?” A voice said. I looked up to see a charming man staring down at me with a smile etched on his face. I twisted my lips to the side, pushing my hand through my hair. When I closed my eyes and opened them only to find Mason staring right at me.


    “Mason,” I called slowly, the ss I held slipped out of my hand and fell to the ground. A crashing


    sound followed, but I didn’t care, not with Mason in front of me.


    His lips were moving, but I didn’t hear what he said. The hall was quiet for the first time that night,


    and every other person that was in there disappeared, leaving just me and the man I love.


    I closed the distance between us and wrapped my hand over him, pressing my chest into his body. “You came for me. I knew you’de. I told them you’d not leave me.” His hand wrapped around my waist and pushed me closer to him. His warmth engulfed me, his cologne enchanting


    “I missed you, too. How about we leave for say, ten minutes, and I show you just how much I miss you?” The deep voice asked. I pulled away from the hug and stared into his eyes.


    “Fine<i>.” </i>His hand was in the small of my back as he led me out of the hall. “Can I have one more ss before we go?” I asked, my voice soft, barely above a whisper.


    It was just us, so there was no need to shout. He didn’t refuse. He led me to an empty couch and gently ced me on it by holding my shoulders.


    “I’ll go get the ss, seat here<i>,</i><i>” </i>he was about to leave, but I grabbed his hand, “No, you can’t leave, you can’t return to that bitch,” I said, shaking my head. If he leaves, he may not return, and I don’t think I can survive another day without him.


    “I’ll be back, trust me.” He said, then slipped his hand off mine and left. My eyes traced him as he walked. But soon, he began to nt, and then Inded on the soft but rough surface, and my eyes shut closed.


    12:44 Tue, 9 Sept


    ????? 74%


    Opening my eyes felt like a chore, everything seemed different, the bedspread didn’t smell like mine. I heard the muffled whisper of a man.


    Slowly, I opened my eyes and blinked rapidly, trying to adjust my eyes to the bright light. As I sat straight, the duvet on my body slipped off, exposing my white. My eyes shot up, and I quickly pulled it over my body. Why was I naked?


    I looked ahead to see a man standing in front of the window with nothing but a towel wrapped around his waist. Was this a hotel? I wondered. My clothes were scattered all over the floor. I shrieked, covering my mouth with my hand.


    What have I done?


    “You bastard!” I screamed. The man flinched, then turned, “how could you take advantage of a girl? Did you bring me here because you thought I was an easy target?” I asked.


    He walked towards me, his face devoid of any emotions. ““Isn’t this what you wanted? You said this


    was your best sexst night?” My eyes widened as I watched him pick up his clothes and walk into the bathroom. I pointed at myself, “me?” Why would I say that?


    My head banged, and I ced one hand on it, trying desperately to remember what the hell happenedst night and how I ended up having a one–night stand with a total stranger who was built


    like a bouncer.


    Memories of the nights slowly started sipping in. I held on to him and called him Mason. After he got


    me the drink, I initiated and took the lead in everything we did.


    I sped my hand over my face, heat rose to my cheeks. How could you be so stupid? I mentally kicked myself. I had gone there to drink and forget about my feelings for Mason like I always did for thest few days. I never expected to run into a creep there.


    Hearing the sound of water sshing, I knew it was time I left. Since he wasn’t here, I wore my clothes and raced through the door, praying the man wouldn’t recognise me if we were to meet.


    It was past 5 am when I got back home. I slipped into the house, knowing my mom and dad would not be up at this time. I removed my heels and held them in my hand, as I tiptoed through the sitting


    room.


    Dad always bugged me about my drinking, and I was not ready to listen to any Simon today.


    However, I wasn’t as fortunate as I liked, as his voice resounded just before I walked past. “Where did you spend the night this time?” I froze in the spot, my heart ramming against my chest as I turned to see my dad seated on the couch with an iPad in his hand.


    My lips shook as I tried to smile, “I was out with my fri-”


    “You have been drinking again.” His voice sounded as cold as ice, “how many times do I have to warn you to lie low?” He uncrosses his legs.


    My entire body trembled as he continued, “would you rest only after you’ve sessfully tainted the name I spent years building? Is having your engagement called off not enough? Do <i>you </i>really want to see my name get dragged through mud before you get some sense knocked into that empty basin or your?”


    I lowered my head, his words pricked me like needles, “you couldn’t even keep a man, you spent years with him and lost him in the end, Julia you are a disgrace, and no daughter of mine will beughed at. Drinking and wasting your time each day at the club won’t help, it’s time you wake up and fix this mess, or else…” His chest heaved and fell asleep he spoke.


    My heels dropped to the ground. I was done listening to him tear me apart each day with his words. “Dad, I am your daughter!” I yelled, pointing at myself.


    “Do you even care to know how I’m doing after the breakup?” All he cared about was his reputation. “Mason ended things with me. It is me he was engaged to, not you. I screamed it for the first time I had ever raised my voice at my father. I was surprised, and from the way he drew his brows together, I


    knew he was too.


    I guess it is the trace of alcohol left in my system that made me this bold. “If you had held on to him, it wouldn’t have happened, and I would have to lower my head in shame in front of my peers.”


    “Did I ask you <i>to </i>lower your head? Your embarrassment has absolutely nothing to do with me.” I stated firmly. He was my father before he was anything else, and I wished he’d start acting like one.


    He rose to his feet, closing the distance between us. “How long will it take for you to wake up? How long will you act like this?” He cried.


    “Until you understand that I am not made of stic and that I feel emotions. Also, you can’t keep treating me like a prize and using me to make yourself feel better about your ws.” Immediately, those words left my mouth, his <b>hand </b>collided with my face, and my head fell to the side.


    Pain shot through my cheeks. I lifted my head to see him staring at me in anger. It seemed the p was enough to cool him off.


    My eyes held the same intensity as his. “If you don’t win back Mason’s heart and correct this wrong. then forget about having a father,” he said and left.


    I gritted my teeth as I watched his receding frame. With or without his treat, I have made a resolve to


    12:45 Tue, 9 Septe


    get back my man, Mason.