"NO." I shook my head. "That couldn't happen, Helen. I couldn't… I couldn't be in love with Gideon." My lips parted. "I hated him… He's the one person in this world that I hated the most. He… he ruined my happiness. I couldn't be in love with him." "Then why did you kiss him, Bianca? And most importantly, why did you enjoy that kiss?" "I… don't know, Helen." I stood up from the bed and panickedly circled around the room. "But I couldn't be in love with him. I'm in love with Charlie!" "And how are you sure you're still in love with Charlie?" Helen probed. "When was the last time you've thought of Charlie?" I stilled. I realized that I hadn't been thinking of Charlie for the past weeks. He didn't even cross my mind except when Gideon and I attended the company's anniversary party. "I may not have been thinking of Charlie these past weeks, but that doesn't mean I'm no longer in love with him… and that I'm already in love with Gideon." "Really? Or you're just still in denial unti
IT was before lunchtime when Penny arrived. I was in the mini library of the house when Gideon informed me of the woman's arrival. "Mrs. Henry," Penny greeted me. The woman was wearing a black and white pinstriped suit. Her hair was in a French bun, and her face was in perfect make up. Like I said when I first saw her, she looked more like a model than an interior designer. I couldn't help but look down on myself. I was only wearing a white dress shirt and cotton shorts. Even my face was bare and pale. Damn. I should have changed before I left the room. But it was too late for that now. I glanced at Gideon who was wearing a polo shirt paired with khaki shorts. I was the only one who looked out of place. "I'm sorry I arrived a little bit earlier," the woman said to Gideon, glancing at her wristwatch. "It's fine, Penny," Gideon said to the woman. "We've been expecting you, anyway." "Do you want to see first the designs I made for this house?" Penny asked. Gideon turned
"YOU'RE so obvious earlier, Bianca," Hanna said beside me. She volunteered to wash the dishes and stayed here with me in the kitchen while Gideon walked Penny out. The woman said she had another appointment this afternoon. "What are you talking about?" I asked, not looking at her. "You're obviously jealous, Bianca." "Me? Jealous?" I dried up my hands and cocked my head to her side. Hanna raised her brows at me. "It's written all over your face, Bianca. It wouldn't require a genius person to figure that out." She sighed. "Now, are you going to deny that you're in love with your husband?" "I…" I wanted to deny Hannah's claim but my own mouth was failing me. Was I really jealous of Penny earlier? "See? You can't even deny it anymore…" "But how…" I muttered, my voice almost a whisper. "H-how could I fall in love with someone I hated so much?" If I was indeed in love with him, how did I fall in love with the new Gideon when I hated the old him? Hannah's lips curled up in
"ARE you okay, Bianca?" Kelly had a concerned expression on her face when she looked at me. I cleared my throat and gave her a small smile. "Yeah. I'm fine." "Really?" She pursed her lips. "But I noticed something's bothering you. You didn't even smile at Jeff's joke earlier." "Did something happen at home?" Kelly continued to probe. "Did you and your husband fight?" This time, I didn't deny her suspicion. "Not really fight," I gave her a small smile. "Just a little misunderstanding. It was my fault." I bit my lower lip. "Oh. Have you apologized to him already?" I shook my head. "We won't see each other for the next few days." "He's out of town?" I just nodded at Kelly even though she wasn't really right. Kelly smiled at me. "Just apologize to him when he comes back. Your husband's so in love with you, you know. I'm sure he'll easily forgive you." She even sighed dreamily. "I wish I'll find that kind of man." I looked at Kelly. I wished that was just the case. But it wa
I BLINKED. It was really Charlie. He was standing near the counter and checking out our collection of bestseller books there. He was wearing a black short sleeve polo shirt and faded jeans. His black hair was a bit longer than the last time I saw him. His skin got tanned. What was he doing here? All along, I thought it was Gideon. But of course, why would he fetch me when he won't come home to his house? Our house. "Oh, there's Bianca," Kelly announced on the counter. Charlie's eyes automatically snapped at me. "Hi," he greeted. A smile appeared on his face. He put down the book he was holding and then slowly closed the distance between us. "Bianca." I gave him a small smile after I recovered from my shock. "Charlie, I didn't know you're already back." "I just came back yesterday." Yesterday? Does it mean he and Gideon saw each other at their parent's house? "Oh… uh." I noticed Kelly was watching us. "This is where I work," I said to Charlie. "And this is Kelly, one
MY shoulder-length hair was blown by the wind as I stood in front of the Henry mausoleum. I ran my fingers through my hair before I crouched in front of my daughter's tombstone. "Hi," I whispered as I caressed the marble tomb. "I'm sorry I haven't been able to visit you often." A sad smile appeared on my lips. "I came here to apologize, baby." I remembered what Helen and I talked about last night on the phone when I called her. "You're right, Helen. I'm in love with Gideon…" I shut my eyes. "Charlie and I met yesterday…and I finally realized my feelings for Gideon. I… I'm in love with him." "Finally, Bianca," her answered from the other line. "But I'm guessing you haven't talked to Gideon yet." Helen could really read me, huh? I let out a loud sigh. "I don't know if I'd act on it, Helen. Yes, I'm in love with him. But he's the person who ruined my relationship with Charlie. He made me suffer, Helen. He hurt me. He made my life a living hell." "He's a different person now,
"WHY did you decide to buy this?" I looked at Gideon who was behind me. His arms were snaked around my waist, his head resting on my shoulder blades. Last night, we made love together for the first time. Yes. For the first time. I knew that everything that had happened to us before was far from lovemaking. But last night, it was different. He was able to replace all my past experiences with him with a good one. Gideon made love to me with such gentleness. "Sweetheart…" Gideon whispered while his lips were making their way to my ears. I let out a soft moan escape my lips when I felt his teeth graze the shell of my ear. His warm breath sent shivers down my spine. This feeling was strange to me. This was the first time I'd felt this with Gideon. Everything was new to me. The way he kissed me. The way he touched me. The way he explored every skin in my body. Gideon was doing it with so much gentleness. With so much care. "God. You're so fucking sweet," he murmured as hi
"WHAT is this all about Gideon?" Amelia asked after we all settled down at the dining table. Gideon asked his parents to have dinner with us. But then Amelia insisted on having it in their mansion. "You said we are celebrating something. What is it?" Amelia stood up and opened the champagne bottle that Gideon and I brought here with us. Gideon smiled at his parents, then he turned to me. His eyes glittering with happiness. Those blue eyes of his… they're as beautiful as the ocean. "Bianca and I won't get a divorce. We both decided to give our marriage a second chance." Gideon softly smiled at me. He held my left hand and caressed the ring on my finger. The one he gave me last week. "What's this Gideon?" My eyes widened when I saw the ring on my finger. It was a gold band wedding ring. We were walking around the vineyard when he suddenly slipped something on my finger. I didn't expect it to be a ring. "You aren't wearing any wedding ring, sweetheart." I bit my lower