Lahat ng Kabanata ng She Said "Yes" to Me, but "Goodnight" to Him: Kabanata 1 - Kabanata 9

It was the night before my wedding to my fiancee, Ciara Hudson. Out of nowhere, her adopted younger brother, Carl Hudson, locked her in our marital home and threatened to set her wedding gown on fire."Ciara, if you dare put this on to marry that old bastard, I'll burn this place to the ground!" Carl declared.Ciara lunged for the lighter in his hand, only for him to press her against the wall."I waited for you for ten years. I've been waiting since the day we became a family! If you marry him, I'll kill myself right in front of you!"I kicked the door open and stormed into the house, but Ciara swiftly shielded Carl and glared at me, her eyes red."Julian! Haven't you kicked up enough of a fuss? He's only 19 years old! Can't you just cut him some slack?"At the very next moment, she unzipped her clothes and said decisively, "I'll give you what you want, Carl. I'll be yours tonight, but you must promise me you won't try to end your life ever again."After watching as she led Car

As I stared at the blatant threat in Ciara's eyes, I found the entire situation laughable. She was the woman I'd loved and cherished with all my heart for three years—a woman who'd use our marriage to coerce me for the sake of Carl, her adopted brother, whose sole desire was to sleep with her."So?" I questioned. "Are you now begging me to help him?""Why, you!"Ciara was shaking with rage, but after thinking of something, she said with a sneer, "Don't think I don't know what's going through your head, Julian. You're just acting like this to make me beg you, right? Fine, then. I'm begging you. Happy now?"Go out there and bring him back right this minute!"After a pause, she added fiercely, "Otherwise, even if we get married tomorrow, I won't ever let you touch me! Once we're married, I'll get an IUD—I'll even tie my tubes to see to it that the Spencer family bloodline ends with you!"Staring at her vengeful expression, I let out an abrupt chuckle.She wanted to end my family bl

Many people attended the wedding ceremony, including everyone from both our families, the Spencers and the Langstons.As Serena pushed my wheelchair into the hall, she glanced at my bandaged left leg and chuckled. "You're nothing if not determined, Julian. You can't even stand up properly yet, but you insist on having the wedding ceremony today. "Anyone who didn't know better would think you're hopelessly in love with me and can't wait any longer to marry me."After adjusting myself in the wheelchair, I met her gaze and said, "Isn't it better for both our families if we get married as soon as possible?"Cocking a brow, Serena looked at me and said, "You'd better not be rushing into marriage with me just to rile up Ciara. If that's the case, I won't stop at anything to destroy you, even if it costs me everything the Langston family has."It was ironic, really. The Spencers and the Langstons had been business rivals for decades now, but when Serena and I were children, Dad had the

By the time Carl dragged Ciara back to the apartment, her wrist was completely red. The door slammed shut behind them. Just as she was about to shout and attempt to struggle free, he clasped his hand over her mouth and pressed her against the wall."Stop being difficult, Ciara, okay?" Carl said, his breath washing over her nape. "No one can stop me now. You can only be mine."As his hand reached under her skirt and made its way upward, she tried her best to push him away. "Let go of me! Carl, you bastard!""Bastard?" Carl repeated with a soft chuckle. Stroking the hickeys that were still visible on her collarbone, he remarked, "That's not what you said when we were in bed last night. Let me see… What was it you said again?"Gripping her jaw, he continued, "You said you'd be good and do as I say from now on. Have you forgotten that already?"Toward the end, his voice turned menacing."That was only because you forced me to do it!" Ciara fired back, her voice quaking as she jerked

Half a year later, I was attending the celebration dinner for a project in Eudorea when I got a call from Ciara.Serena, who was toasting our business partners with a glass of champagne, smirked when she spotted the name on the screen out of the corner of her eye.After signaling her with a nod, I walked out to the balcony before taking the call.Ciara's tearful voice rang out, "I'm so scared, Julian… Carl, that lunatic, got sentenced to a year of prison, but I'm afraid he'll come looking for me once he's released… He said he'd never let me go…"Her voice was shaking hard as she continued, "I know I made a mistake. I swear I do. After the past six months, I've finally realized just how much I love you."You don't love Serena, right? Let's start over, okay? I'll do whatever you say. I won't ever upset you again—""Ms. Hudson," I interrupted. "After the past six months, I've come to a realization as well. Our relationship ended long ago."The night breeze blew away the barest trac