LOVE ME HARD, MR BILLIONAIRE

HOLLY'S POV

"Merry Christmas in advance, love. Can't wait for you to meet my family(love emoji)."

I was leaning towards the railing, sipping on my cocktail as I thought about what would have been a perfect Christmas holiday if my fiancé wasn't so busy with work. I had booked this boat's cruise in August for Liam and me. He was just the perfect man, and my parents saw good qualities in him. All was going well until he informed me two days ago that his Boss had insisted they return to work on some projects. So I was here with my best friend, Claire, whom I loved so much. She was my ride-or-die. We had done practically everything together since we met in college.

Fireworks exploded in the sky, and red, blue, and green colors spread over the water, causing me to feel wonderful.

For months, I had dreamt about bringing him home. Just like in my dream, everything was falling into place: I would get married before I was twenty-five and have my first child before I was twenty-eight.

Plus the fact that my parents wouldn't stop asking about him. If he was a disciplined man, came from a family of love, and was as forgiving as we were.

Being the third child of a family of six whose parents were disciplined came with many responsibilities. I had to watch where I stood, what I said, and who I decided to befriend. It had always been that way, and I was used to it by now. Luckily, Liam ticked all the boxes. He had all the characteristics my parents loved. He was hardworking, well-trained, and very disciplined. He was practically an Angel who understood how much my parents' reputation meant to them and showered me with love regardless. We have been dating for two years, engaged for three months, and set to marry in two. Like my parents always wanted, I was financially stable as a consultant while he worked for a large company. He had enough, and I did too. We were practically ready now.

I glanced at my phone again. The message ticked twice, yet no response came when I reloaded it repeatedly. He was online but had to be busy to leave me hanging. I let out a sigh of boredom before shoving my phone back in my Jean back pocket and going in search of Claire. I walked towards the cabins, passing through the tons of people as I clutched my cocktail tighter. I was slightly buzzed, but it felt good. I knew I was a light drinker, so I took some on days I needed to clear my head, and I could picture my Mama frowning while she scolded me on how many ways it could be bad for my health.

I couldn't see her anywhere. Where was she?

I knew I needed to find her drunk self first before there would be a repetition of what happened at the first and last party I escorted her to. I could still remember her dancing and singing in her hoarse voice, and when she woke, she wouldn't stop ranting about how I should have saved her from making a fool of herself.

Her laugh caught my attention, and I stopped, moving closer to the slightly ajar door. I was about to open it when I heard her moan followed by a whisper, and my legs froze in place.

"I made sure the alcohol was higher. She is probably passed out somewhere. Maybe even fell over the shore."

My heart pounded, and my grasp on the knob tightened. She laughed again. My body was shaking this time, and I kept reminding myself that it had to be a movie she was watching.

"She doesn't even know I am here." The other person in the room said, and blood ran from my face. The voice sounded just like my Liam. That was impossible. Liam would never. He was at work. He's stuck in his office and busy, too. My throat became patched, and my lips dried as I blinked, hoping I heard wrong.

"And she won't." She injected before another moan filled the air. "She must be so dumb to think you would marry…"

I pushed the door open and had to prove it was a lie. But no, it wasn't; my fiancé and my best friend were indeed lying on the bed, naked. My body shook, followed by the crashing sound of my glass cup, which startled them. My heart hammered against my chest before tears started filling my eyes.

"Holly.." He called out, attempting to wear his boxer as his expression morphed into guilt.

The room turned, and blood rushed into my ear. My dry lips parted, but no words came. The pain that sliced through my heart was too raw, too fresh, too sharp, and I didn't deserve any of it.

"You…lied…to…me…" I managed to choke out.

"I can explain, Holly. Please let me explain." He reached out, but I couldn't hear or listen. I couldn't bear to wait, so I took off. Running like I had seen the ghost, the ghost of my now blurred future. I let the tears fall, sobbing and ignoring his call as he panted behind me.

"Holly, wait!"

I just wanted to escape him. To escape this stabbing pain. This feeling that engulfed me. The tiny needles that had prickled into my skin. I could hear the other guests laughing as I ran out, and my heart throbbed. In just a day, my life had gone from being picture-perfect to nothingness.

I could still hear him behind me so I dashed into the nearest room in a swing, slamming the door behind me. I let my sobs fall, my head placed against the door while still holding onto the knob

He had lied to me and betrayed me. He took me, placed me in the highest seat in the room, then pulled the chair when he knew I wouldn't suspect the most.

The memory went off in my head: his proposal in front of all my colleagues, their claps, smiles, and constant awns.

"And you are?" A masculine voice said from behind. I froze, turning my head to see a Greek godlike man standing in the center of the room with his brows furrowed.

HOLLY'S POV

"Oh goodness, I am so sorry." I felt embarrassed even though the one who should be was him. He was the one standing there, dressed in black leather that covered just his hardened c*ck, while holding onto a black leather rope, and worse, he wasn't alone.

The black-haired girl had spread her bare legs apart only to scurry in an attempt to cover herself. I bite on my lower teeth, blaming my just-gotten fate before attempting to open the door, but then I heard Liam's voice just outside.

"Who is she?" She had a tiny voice, yet I could tell she was displeased. Plus, the alcohol was doing me no good now. I could feel my vision swaying.

'Just step out of the room, Holly. Face him and let him know it is over.' The voice in my head said, but I knew it wouldn't work that way. Liam would make me forgive him, saying that we had come too far to get swayed by anything.

The blonde man stepped away from her, his jaw concrete as he closed the gap between us.