Chapter 2: One Night, One Mistake

Morning sunlight streamed through the sheer curtains, painting soft golden patterns across the hardwood floor. Alina stirred under the crumpled white sheets, her limbs tangled with warmth that wasn’t entirely hers. Her head felt a little heavy, a mix of leftover wine and emotional whiplash from the night before.

It wasn’t just a night. It had been a whirlwind.

The sound of slow, steady breathing beside her made her freeze. She slowly turned her head, her heart thudding as if she were waking from a dream she wasn’t sure she wanted to end. He was lying on his side, one arm tucked under his head, the other lightly draped over her waist.

He looked peaceful, his tousled hair and faint stubble catching the light. There was something strikingly familiar about him in the morning light. Something… off.

She blinked.

And then it hit her.

The wrong name.

The wrong man.

Last night, she had whispered "Goodnight, Daniel."

But this… this wasn’t Daniel.

Panic climbed up her throat like a wave crashing over a calm sea. She carefully pulled herself out from under his arm and sat up, holding the sheet to her chest. Her dress from last night lay in a careless puddle on the floor, along with his shirt. The events played back in her mind, blurry but intense—the conversation, the connection, the kiss, the lake, the bed.

She had mistaken his identity. He never claimed to be Daniel. He had even told her he wasn’t. Twice.

But she hadn’t heard it. Or worse—hadn't listened.

“Oh my God,” she whispered, running a hand through her tangled hair. “What did I do?”

Ryan stirred behind her. His voice was raspy, half-asleep. “You okay?”

Alina grabbed her dress and stood up, struggling to slip into it without tripping over her regret. “I need to go.”

He sat up slowly, confusion blooming across his features. “Alina, wait—”

“I can’t. This... this was a mistake,” she said quickly, her voice brittle. “You should’ve corrected me. I thought you were Daniel!”

“I told you I wasn’t,” he said, not unkindly. “Twice. You laughed it off.”

“That’s not the point!” she snapped, then regretted her tone. She sighed, softer this time. “I didn’t know who you were. I thought—God—I thought I was falling for someone else.”

Ryan looked down, processing her words with a clenched jaw. “So what does that make me? An accident?”

“I didn’t mean that,” she said, biting her lip. “This... this isn’t how I do things. I don't just sleep with people I’ve known for an hour.”

His gaze softened, though hurt flickered just beneath. “I didn’t plan this either, Alina. But it happened. And it felt... real.”

She closed her eyes, trying to steady herself. Her body still buzzed with the afterglow of last night, but her mind was already ten steps ahead—replaying her mistake like a broken record. She had just slept with the best friend of the man she was beginning to genuinely like. And starting today, she would have to face both of them.

“I need to go,” she repeated, slipping on her heels as quietly as she could.

Ryan stood up, still shirtless. “Are you going to pretend last night didn’t happen?”

She paused by the door, her fingers tightening around the handle.

“I have to,” she said, not meeting his eyes. “Because it shouldn’t have happened.”

Before he could say another word, she walked out.

---

The morning air was colder than she remembered. Her footsteps were quick and uneven as she made her way down the quiet path back to the main lodge. The retreat hadn’t fully woken up yet—someone was brewing coffee near the open buffet, and a few early birds were doing yoga on the lawn.

She slipped into her cabin unnoticed and collapsed onto the bed, burying her face in her hands.

What had she done?

It was supposed to be a fresh start. A new job, a clean slate. She had been excited about meeting Daniel, whose name kept surfacing in meetings as one of the most brilliant minds in the company. Priya had even hinted that he was single. That night by the bonfire, she had genuinely believed she’d met him.

And now? She had ruined any chance of even a normal friendship with Daniel by crossing a line—with the one person she should’ve stayed far, far away from.

---

A few hours later, Alina stood in front of the mirror, adjusting her blazer. She had tied her hair up and applied enough makeup to hide the exhaustion under her eyes. She practiced her smile—polished, neutral, untouchable. She had to look composed. No one could know.

The first session of the morning was a team-building workshop, followed by breakout groups led by—of course—Daniel and Ryan.

Alina arrived early, picked a spot in the back, and busied herself with her notepad as people trickled in.

Then she heard his voice.

“Good morning, everyone!”

She looked up. Daniel walked in, all charisma and calm, greeting everyone with a confident nod. Behind him came Ryan, his expression more serious, less effortless than usual. His eyes scanned the room—stopping briefly on her.

She didn’t react.

Daniel’s voice pulled her attention. “We’ll be dividing into creative strategy groups. Ryan and I will each lead one. Should be fun, right?”

The room chuckled. Alina forced a tight-lipped smile.

She prayed she’d be in Daniel’s group.

But when names were read out, the universe—cruel and mocking—had other plans.

She was placed in Ryan’s team.

As he walked toward their table and took a seat across from her, their eyes met for the briefest second. Something passed between them—regret, hurt, or maybe just the weight of unspoken truths.

Ryan gave her a curt nod. No smile. No recognition.

Alina looked away.

One night. One mistake.

And it was already unraveling everything.

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