I didn’t expect it, but the kiss felt different than I had imagined. Rhett's lips were soft and warm, and he stood there like a statue, shocked at my bold move. As I kissed him, my mind wandered; was this really what I wanted? Or was I just putting on a show for the cameras? At that moment, I didn’t care. I just wanted to put in a good show and get done with it. I leaned in and kissed Rhett deeper, and his shock finally faded away as he drew me into him by the waist, returning the kiss. It was as though he had suddenly forgotten about the paparazzi, lost in the moment. Was he still playing his role? My mind wandered as the kiss got more and more passionate. I tried to push the thoughts aside, focusing instead on the kiss itself. But just as I was starting to lose myself in Rhett’s embrace, I snapped back to reality. I could feel the kiss becoming too intimate, and I knew we had to stop before things went too far.I drew myself aggressively away from Rhett, who stood frozen in place f

Rhett’s POVI was furious to see Laurel’s stepmother and stepsister at my parent’s house and to top it all off, they had been visiting them for the past six months, and I wasn’t even aware of it. I didn’t bring Laurel over to my house for her to recall her past memories, I just wished she’d be happy without the thought and sight of them.I finally decided to drop the news to my parents. I could see the clear shock on their faces as I announced my marriage to Laurel.“What?” Anita asked, standing up in surprise. “Didn’t you reject her a year ago?”“Uhm, yes I did but…” I was still speaking when my mother suddenly cut in,“What do you mean ‘getting married’ Rhett?” She asked as her eyes widened in shock.She glanced at Laurel who was staring at the floor, before returning her gaze back to me.“Even given the history you’ve had with her mother and sister? And the whole chaos at the wedding?” She continued, her voice filled with concern.I scoffed, “Mom, what does that have to do—““Son!”

LAURELAs I pondered over and over about the text I had received from the anonymous sender, my mind raced with possibilities of who it could be from. There were only two people who would be out for my necks at this moment, and that was my step-sister and mother. ‘But they wouldn't stoop so low, would they?’ my mind wandered.My mind drifted to how Rhett always came to my rescue at my most vulnerable moment, and I felt uneasy. I decided I was going to prepare and face my enemies heads-on moving forward. Did they want to come for me? Fine, I was ready. But first, I needed to get the approval of Rhett’s mother between us. I didn’t need any more rivals, especially not from another mother figure.With renewed determination, I quickly freshened up, settling into bed. My mind wandered on ways to win her heart, and slowly, I drifted into sleep.~~~As I entered Richie’s building, the rhythmic tapping of my heels echoed through the lobby. I had taken another day off work claiming I was still