Chapter 2

Downstairs, one hundred luxury sedans lined up neatly. Alan stepped out from the driver's seat, tall and imposing, clad in a custom black suit that fitted him like a glove.

The rear door opened, and a sweet-looking young woman stepped out after him. She stayed close to his side, appearing far too intimate for comfort.

I froze in place.

In my last life, Alan had been devoted and loyal; a man who treated his wife with nothing but care.

So who was the woman beside him now?

Once again, the floating messages exploded noisily.

[Alan's unbelievable! He even brought his side chick to pick up his bride! Is this some kind of power play?]

[I heard he's got more than a dozen women like this at home. What a freak!]

[Tiffany, run before he gets upstairs and call Leon! This is your last chance!]

Watching the messages jump around, all convinced this girl was some kept woman, I calmed down instead.

I looked more closely through the window and noticed that although the girl walked beside Alan, she always kept a polite half foot of distance between them.

The embroidered evening gown she wore was custom-made, with pearls sewn onto the hem by hand. It was the couture that sold for an insane price at an auction last year.

A woman dressed like that wasn't someone's secret pet.

I understood immediately and calmly walked back to the bed.

The sound of steady footsteps echoed up the wooden stairs and stopped outside my room. Alan tried the doorknob, but the door wouldn't budge.

His voice cut through the door, cool and distant.

"Ms. Glisson, if you don't want to get married because of the rumors, you could've just said so. Why are you doing this instead?"

I rushed to the door. The moment my fingers touched the cold lock, I felt something jammed inside the keyhole.

Leon's smug smile from earlier flashed through my mind. He had done this on purpose.

Now, Alan must think I was slamming the door in his face.

Cold sweat broke out across my back. In my last life, I learned that while Alan was gentle with his family, he was ruthless with anyone who lied to him.

Sure enough, Alan's voice dropped low and dangerous, like thunder before a storm.

"You're the first person who's ever shut me out."

The messages flooded in again.

[She's done for now. She offended a freak, and she's going to suffer!]

[She could still run if she wanted to, but she won't listen.]

I stared at the gloating messages and took a deep breath.

A stupid door wasn't going to stop me. I had already died once.

I grabbed my dress, stepped back three paces, then rushed forward and kicked hard. With a loud bang, the door flew open and crashed to the floor. Everyone was shocked.

The force sent me stumbling straight into Alan.

His warm hand caught me firmly around the waist. When our eyes met, something sharp and bright flashed through his dark gaze like starlight.

My ears burned hot as I hurriedly adjusted my veil. "Mr. Palmer, you're overthinking it. The door was just broken. Marrying you is the only thing I've ever wanted."

A low chuckle sounded beside my ear, rich and teasing.

"Well, Ms. Glisson, you're not quite what the rumors made you out to be."

I silently muttered that he wasn't exactly what the rumors said, either.