Chapter 2

Jayden's POV

My parents never got the breakfast Gianna had promised to make. Everett called first thing in the morning, and she rushed off to meet him.

At my parents' request, I took them to the bus station after breakfast.

"Take care of yourself."

"Call us when you can."

Reluctantly, I watched them board the bus.

As the bus pulled away, my parents kept waving and reminding me to look after myself. Hearing how much they cared, I clenched my fists.

Once the bus was out of sight, I called my boss, Thomas Rowe.

"Mr. Rowe, I've made up my mind. I'll take the overseas assignment and help you develop the new market."

I talked with Thomas a while longer before heading home.

I hadn't been back long when Gianna returned, with Everett right behind her.

When Everett saw me, he greeted me with his usual enthusiasm. "Jayden, it's been days. Did you miss me?"

I gave him a faint smile.

​As Gianna walked over, Everett grinned at her. "Your fiance is mine for the next few days. You'll have to sleep alone."

Gianna casually swatted his hand away. "Jayden is my future husband. Hands off!"

Everett grabbed Gianna's hand, and once again, the two of them started their playful tug-of-war over me.

Then, Gianna lost her balance. She grabbed Everett's shirt with both hands, and they tumbled onto the couch together.

I saw Everett's lips brush against Gianna's cheek, clear as day. My stomach churned violently at the sight.

Everett stood up as if nothing had happened and straightened the shirt Gianna had rumpled.

Gianna's expression didn't waver. "Since you're looking out for my future husband so well, I'll let you be the best man at our wedding and find you a pretty bridesmaid."

Everett smiled. "Alright. It's a deal."

They kept horsing around on the couch until they knocked a framed photo off the cabinet. Only then did they finally snap out of their own little world.

The frame held a photo of the three of us.

When I picked it up, a shard of glass sliced my finger, and beads of blood welled up.

Gianna acted as though she hadn't seen it and snatched the photo straight out of my hand. She wiped it carefully, but the entire time, the only spot she cleaned was where Everett stood.

I said quietly, "A world meant for two gets crowded when there are three."

After a long moment, Gianna finally set the photo aside. Then, out of nowhere, she said, "Everett is going to stay here for a few days."

I froze.

Clinging to my last shred of hope, I tried to gauge her reaction. "My parents are staying in the only guest room. Where is he supposed to sleep?"

Gianna was silent for a few seconds. "The trip's been canceled anyway. You can just send your parents back to the countryside."

Something inside me quietly snapped.

"What if I say no?"

Gianna frowned. "Then, Everett can share our room with you for now, and I'll take the couch. Once your parents leave, he can move into the guest room."

Gianna had always had a bad back. The bed in our room had even been custom-made for her condition. Yet for Everett, she was willing to grit her teeth through the pain and sleep on the couch.

A chill ran down my spine.

"My parents left a while ago. Didn't you notice?"

Perhaps because she hadn't expected me to test her like that, her expression changed instantly.

"Do you have to make such a big deal out of it? We just missed one trip."

A wave of helplessness washed over me, and I shot back, "Then, when are you planning to take me home to meet your parents and discuss the wedding? And arrange for our families to meet?"

Gianna froze when I suddenly brought up meeting her parents.

Everett pulled me down into a chair.

"Jayden, you two are going to spend your lives together. You'll have plenty of chances. Mrs. Connor is an amazing cook. I've eaten her food several times, and I still can't get enough. You're in for a treat once you marry Gianna."

"You've been to her house?" I asked.

Everett nodded. "Five or six times. For Mrs. Connor's recent birthday, Gianna and I even picked out her gift together."

The ground seemed to crumble under me.

Gianna's mother had celebrated her birthday just ten days ago. I'd asked Gianna more than once to take me along, but she'd refused every time. She'd claimed her mom didn't like celebrating birthdays.

So, that was it…

It wasn't that her mom didn't like birthdays. She just didn't want me showing up.

Gianna cleared her throat, trying to mask her embarrassment.

"Our families come from completely different worlds, financially and otherwise. That's why my mom has never really accepted you. I just didn't want to upset her on her birthday."

Gianna crouched in front of me. "But I'll convince her. I believe she'll accept you someday. When she does, I'll bring you home openly as the man I'm going to marry."

I smiled and raised my hand, pointing at the ring on my finger.

"When exactly is 'someday'? It's been eight years since I proposed. Do I have to wait another eight?"