Even on the eve of our wedding, Daniel was not ready to throw in the towel.He had gotten to Janice, a face from Kenny's past.Daniel's message hit me out of the blue.[Do you honestly think Kenny, a guy like him, didn't play the field while he had amnesia?]Janice had splashed photos all over the social media, snapshots from inside Kenny's place.Bed, bathtub, balcony, couch.However, she was solo in every shot, so the online crowd did not buy her story.Kenny was no ordinary guy, and Janice's little stunt was cut short when the authorities decided to have a chat with her.Daniel got his wrist slapped, too.The last time I saw him before the wedding, he was a drenched figure outside Gibson Mansion, pleading for one last meeting.I ran it by Kenny, who shrugged it off. "Go ahead, dear. Let him get it out of his system and quit his games.""You're not jealous?" I poked, trying to pinch his waist, but there was not an ounce to give.It was almost a problem, having a husband i
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
His eyes had been tracking me the moment I walked in, a mix of fiery intensity and a touch of pride.He seemed a little worn but had not lost any of his charm.Mindy, John's wife and a buddy of mine leaned in close. "Teresa, I saw the post on your timeline—you're tying the knot again?" she whispered.I confirmed with a smile.The room erupted in applause and cheers for Daniel and me, all except Juliet, who looked like she had bitten into a lemon.Daniel's eyes sparkled with delight, but his smirk told a different story. It was as if he could stray, and I would still be there.I met his gaze with a calm smile. "My husband will be sending out invites soon," I said, my voice soft but sure.John let out a snicker. "You hear that, Daniel? Better get those invites ready."Daniel gave a haughty snort. "Whoever ditched the wedding should handle it. I don't have time for that."Juliet could not resist a jab. "Teresa, you're so lucky. Daniel's so good to you."I did not bother to corre
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
Honestly, my heart skipped a beat right then.The image of Daniel with Juliet sprang to mind.I bit my lip and, without thinking, let go of Kenny's hand.Kenny pulled me closer. He frowned and asked, "Janice, who let you in here? And how did you get my house keys?"Janice Thompson went pale, a flash of envy in her eyes as she replied in a frail voice, "Mr. Gibson, you had me come here for some papers last time, and I remembered where the keys were. I'm sorry, Mr. Gibson. I thought the place might need dusting since you were gone for a month, so I came to clean it up."Mr. Gibson, are these your folks and your girlfriend? I don't want to intrude, so I'll be on my way."She spun around, striking a seductive pose that flaunted her slender curves.Brianna could not take it anymore and slapped Janice right across the face."You can't just barge in without asking—that's trespassing."Are you striking a pose? Your skin must be thick. Let me thicken it a bit more for you."Kenny made
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