The Billionaire's Captive Flower

Ivy's POV

Graduation is finally here. After years of hard work, I am now a degree holder.

Abandoned in front of St. Louis Orphanage, raised and schooled within its walls. I was the top student in my class, Mother Thess and Father Campbell's favorite-a reality that bred venomous jealousy all around me.

​The graduation party took place at the La Pella Hotel. The Addo family owned the place and were major donors and sponsors of the orphanage. Throughout my years there, I had even met Mrs. Addo herself. But Danita and Lilian hated my calm nature and were always looking for a way to break me.

​That day finally came.

​Everyone was having a good time. Alcohol wasn't my thing, and Mother Thess would never allow any of us to touch it. She taught us self-discipline and responsibility.

​Then, Lilian and Danita walked up to me holding a bottle of fruit juice.

​"We are finally done with school, Ivy," Lilian said, her smile coated in fake sweetness. "No hard blood. Let's take a drink together and make peace."

​Believing they genuinely meant it, I took the drink.

​Minutes later, a heavy fog rolled into my mind. My vision blurred. They dragged me toward the private suites, murmuring, "Go to room 31 and rest."

Stumbled into the room, my body burning and weak. Danita and Lilian had drugged me.

​And there he was-a handsome man sitting on the edge of the bed, holding a glass of wine, loudly cursing a woman who had broken his heart. He looked up, his eyes locking onto mine. In his drunken haze, he mistook me for the woman who had betrayed him.

​He pulled me closer and kissed me. My mind went completely numb, and we collapsed onto the bed.

​"I am not your girlfriend," I whispered, drunk, foolish, and completely out of my mind, "but can I be your girlfriend tonight?"

​He stripped off my clothes, my pants dropping to the floor, as I gave my innocence away to a complete stranger.

Morning came too fast.

I woke up naked in the bed, my clothes scattered across the floor. My heart skipped a beat, a dozen terrified questions racing through my mind: How did I end up here? Did Danita and Lilian set me up?

​I looked over at the stranger sleeping next to me, reeking of alcohol. My head throbbed with a blinding ache, and hot tears spilled over my cheeks. I had broken the promise of keeping myself until marriage. I shouldn't have taken that drink, especially knowing how much they hated me.

"You b*st*rd," I muttered, slapping his chest in a surge of panic and grief.

​His eyes flew open. Shock flashed across his face as he grabbed my wrist. "Who are you? And what the hell are you doing in my bed?"

​"I was drunk! How did I end up here?" I stammered, my voice shaking.

His expression hardened into pure fury. Everything about him-the sharp angles of his jaw, the expensive cut of his watch, the heavy aura of power-screamed that he was a billionaire. And me? Just a penniless orphan.

"You sl*t," he spat, his voice dripping with venom. "You climbed into my bed just to get f*ck*d, and now you're playing the victim. Women are all the same."

He yanked the duvet back, his gaze dropping to the bloodstain on the white sheets. For a second, he froze, but he instantly looked at me with disgust.

​"I don't know what kind of game you're playing, but your cheap trick won't work on me," he snarled, shoving me away. "You planned this setup. And you are going to pay for it."

He dressed quickly, checking his wallet and watch to make sure everything was intact. Then he pulled out his phone and dialed a number.

​Hello? How the hell did a prostitute enter my room? You are fired, he roared into the phone.

He turned his cold, angry look back at me. You have five minutes to get the hell out of this place, or you will regret the day you were born.

​He yanked the door open and left, slamming it behind him with a force that rattled the frame.

​My body ached, feeling sore and battered beneath. I stumbled into the bathroom to wash myself, fighting back the nausea threatening to choke me. When I finally walked out of the La Pella Hotel, I knew my life was irrevocably broken. I had gone to a graduation party and woken up in a billionaire's bed. My innocence was gone, given away to a stranger. I hated myself, but I forced my feet to carry me back to the orphanage.

​If Mother Thess found out I hadn't slept in my bed, she would be devastated. I had to sneak around to the backyard and slip through the side window.

​Waiting in the shadows were Danita and Lilian. They stood there with smug, knowing grins, clearly having anticipated my route.

Look who is finally here, Lilian sneered, her voice full of hatred. Hope you enjoyed your night, Teacher's Pet. How do you think Father Campbell and Mother Thess would feel if they found out their precious favorite is a wh*r* who spends the night out and sneaks back in?

​What did you girls do to me? I choked out, my voice shaking. I know you drugged me. I am telling Father Campbell.

​They burst out laughing, their laughter sharp and mocking. No, Ivy. You don't have any proof.

​They hurled insult after insult, trying to completely crush me. But as I stood there in the dark, the initial shock hardened into ice inside my chest. I would not let them break me.

​It will take time, but I will find that proof. And you two will pay for this.

​Take all the time you need, silly orphan, they laughed, turning on their heels and sauntering back to their rooms.

My hands trembled with shock, but my eyes stayed dry.

​I walked into my room, my body weak and pale, and headed straight to the bathroom to shower. As the hot water washed away the physical chill, I stepped out, exhausted, and pulled the blanket over myself.

​My bag slid off the edge of the bed and hit the floor with a soft thud, spilling out a small, folded piece of paper. I picked it up and unfolded it.

​You will regret sleeping in my bed.

I froze.