Dead Groom Returns

As I was rushed to the hospital, disbelief overwhelmed me—my husband and my best friend had betrayed me.I was supposed to marry Daniel Lewis tomorrow.On our way back to the capital for the big day, the highway gave way beneath us.Juliet Ellis, my so-called best friend, and I plummeted into a gaping chasm.Daniel, following in the car behind, ignored my severe head injury and rushed to Juliet's minor scrapes. "Don't worry, Juliet, I'm here," he said to assure her, leaving me in the soon-to-explode car.A masked stranger pulled me from the wreckage at the last second.Boom.That was when I woke from the nightmare, only to learn that Daniel and Juliet were safe, partying it up at the Lewis estate.It was as if my absence meant nothing.Still feverish, I yanked out my IV and taxied to the Lewis estate.Stepping into the banquet hall, I saw Daniel and Juliet dancing intimately under the soft glow of crystal chandeliers, looking every bit the evening's main attraction.Post-dan

As I looked back on life, the wildest thing I had ever done was jetting off to a foreign land with a man I barely knew to witness the aurora borealis.I guessed that was what happened when I had played the perfect heiress for too long—when it finally came, the rebellion hit like a storm.On the day that should have been my wedding, my rescuer, Matthew, and I touched down in Norwyn at four in the afternoon, Grand Royal City time.The sight of that icy kingdom, famous the world over, took my breath away. The biting chill could not dampen the fire in my heart. I threw my arms wide, embracing the freedom I had never known.We made our home in a cozy villa in Tromhaven, wandering the frosty landscapes together.As snowflakes danced around us, I scooped up a handful and pressed it to my face. I looked up with tears mingled with the melting snow. "Matthew, this is the first time I've ever traveled alone."Before, I was always the Carter family's golden girl or Mrs. Gibson, tagging along

Before I could get lost in my yearning, I thought of Kenny's parents, the Gibsons.They had been nothing but kind to me since Kenny's disappearance."Did you get in touch with your parents? They've missed you terribly."Kenny's lips grazed mine, his voice a seductive rasp as he said, "The moment my memories returned, I reached out to them."He scooped me into his arms, our faces inches apart, his brow glistening with sweat that somehow only added to his allure."I told them to keep it quiet as I snatched you away. I also told them to let the wedding carry on to embarrass the Lewis family," he confessed.His mom was in on it, too, no doubt.Daniel had managed to sweet-talk me into his life, and after that, he had bullied me relentlessly.The thought of that car blowing up sent a shiver of panic through Kenny's heart.Life had been cruel to him, robbing him of four years with me. However, it also gave him a second chance to be my hero.I stopped asking questions. Amid my confus

Kenny heard the noise and came running, booting Daniel aside with a swift kick.He looked down at him and said, "She's got me forever, so you don't need to worry about that."Daniel, too drunk to even recognize Kenny, was hoisted by his bodyguards. However, he continued to hurl insults my way."John was right. You're nothing but a two-faced tramp, playing the innocent role with me while you've been messing around with other guys since you've bolted from our wedding."Kenny moved in and landed a punch that left Daniel with a shiner."Spew one more filthy word, and I won't hesitate to shut you up for good," he threatened.His voice was harsh, and even his refined features took on a menacing edge at that moment.He was the kind of man who had fought tooth and nail for his place in the world, like a king claiming his domain in the wild—a self-starter who had built an empire from the ground up.Daniel, a pampered, pretty boy living off his family's legacy, could not hold a candle to

Daniel's text popped up on my phone.[Teresa, I really do love you. That whole thing with saving Juliet? It was a setup, a little drama to shake things up for you.][You may find it hard to swallow, but you're so poised and cool that you've barely shed a tear around me.][I started wondering if you ever truly loved me. Or if it had always been Kenny for you. Maybe I was only your plan B.][Well, now, I'm okay with being your fallback.]Kenny brought me back to the Gibson place.It was like stepping into a familiar old book.I had spent four years there, tending to the garden's blooms and buds in my spare time.My art studio was still as I left it—untouched.If my wedding with Daniel had gone smoothly, I would have also left from there as a bride.After ages, I saw my mom again.She tried to make conversation, but beyond the usual how-do-you-dos, we were practically strangers.Since my move to the capital at ten, I had only seen her ten times in 15 years.Our mother-daughte