Chapter 8: A What?

Delphinia stirred in her sleep, the sunlight streaming through the large windows hitting her face. A soft groan escaped her lips as she tried to block the brightness with her arm. She shifted, trying weakly to avoid the light. But no matter what she did, sleep just wouldn’t come. She finally opened her eyes, squinting against the bright morning sunlight that filled the room. Her head throbbed with a dull ache, and she rubbed her temples in frustration. "Ugh, how much did I drink last night?" she mumbled to herself, her voice raspy and dry. The realization made her groan again. Note to self: never touch alcohol again. She paused. "Okay, maybe not never. Just... less." Delphinia sat up, stretching her arms above her head. As she did, a glint of light caught her attention, something shimmering on her hand. She froze mid-stretch, staring at her fingers. Slowly, she lowered her arm to get a better look. Her heart skipped a beat. There, on the fourth finger of her left hand, was a ring. And not just any ring—a dazzling piece with a large, sparkling diamond at its center, surrounded by smaller gems that sparkled in the sunlight. It looked absurdly expensive. "What the...?" Delphinia blinked, bringing her hand closer to her face. She touched the ring hesitantly, her fingertips grazing the cold metal. It felt real. Too real. She yanked her hand back as if the ring burned her. "Okay, think," she muttered, her voice rising with panic. "What happened last night? Did I—did I steal this?" She frowned, her brows furrowing deeply. "No, I wouldn’t... would I?" A flash of doubt crossed her face. "I mean, I was drunk. People do stupid things when they’re drunk." Her mind raced as she tried to piece together the events of the previous night. The last thing she remembered was... the bar. And then...? Her memory was a complete blank after that. Delphinia glanced around for clues, her eyes widening as she took in her surroundings. She was in a large, elegant bedroom, far too luxurious to belong to anyone she knew. The walls were painted a soft, muted gray, adorned with minimalist art that screamed sophistication. The bed she was sitting on was huge, with clean white sheets and soft, fluffy pillows. A sleek, dark wooden dresser stood against one wall, while a matching nightstand held a small, modern lamp. Across the room, floor-to-ceiling windows offered a breathtaking view of a bustling cityscape. The room was immaculate, stylish, and expensive—not a hotel she could afford. "Where the hell am I?" she whispered, her voice trembling. Her heart began to race as her thoughts spiraled. Did I break into someone’s house? Was I kidnapped? She clutched the sheet tightly, her knuckles turning white. What if this is some rich pervert’s place? Oh god, what if— The sound of a door opening made her jump. Her head snapped toward the source, and her breath hitched as a man stepped into the room. He was tall, with broad shoulders that filled the doorway. His crisp white shirt was unbuttoned at the collar, revealing a hint of a strong chest, and his black pants fit him perfectly. His dark hair was slightly tousled, as if he’d just run his fingers through it. But what caught her attention most were his striking features: sharp jawline, piercing blue eyes, and an easy, confident smile that seemed to light up the room. He was devastatingly handsome. Delphinia blinked, tearing her gaze away from the man before her. No, no, no. This is not the time to admire how handsome he is. Her heart raced, a reminder of how risky her situation was. She needed to focus on survival, on defending herself, on figuring out why she was even here. Carefully, she shifted her weight, her eyes darting around the room as subtly as possible. The bedside lamp? Too bulky. A vase? Too far. Come on, Delphinia, think, she urged herself. Her pulse quickened when her gaze landed on her hand, the faint glint of the massive diamond ring catching her eye. The ring! A small wave of relief mixed with regret surged through her. It wasn’t an ideal weapon, but in a pinch, it could work. She could use the sharp edges to stab or scratch him if things went south. Though the idea of damaging such a beautiful piece of jewelry made her wince, staying safe was more important. Her fingers tightened around the ring automatically, her determination growing stronger. I’ll break it if I have to, she thought grimly. Better a broken ring than— She stopped that thought short, steeling herself as she glanced back at the man, who now looked amused by her silent panic. "Oh, you’re awake already," he said casually, his voice smooth and rich. He walked toward her with a relaxed gait, his hands tucked into his pockets. Delphinia stared at him, her lips slightly parted in shock. Her mind scrambled for recognition, but nothing about him seemed familiar. Who is this man? she thought frantically. "You know," he added with a small smirk, "I honestly thought you’d sleep through today and wake up tomorrow instead." Delphinia blinked, his words registering, but the joke landed like a pebble in still water—silent and unimpressive. She didn’t laugh. First, because it wasn’t funny. Second, because she was far too preoccupied with trying to piece together who he was and why he was here. If she weren’t so lost and starting to freak out, she might’ve allowed herself a moment to admire how absurdly attractive he was. But right now, none of that mattered. All she could think about was who he was, and what the hell was going on? The man stopped a few feet away from the bed, tilting his head slightly as he studied her. His smile widened. "How are you feeling, my wife?" he asked, the words laced with amusement. Delphinia’s jaw dropped. "W-wife?!" she stammered, her voice an octave higher than usual. Did he just say wife?!