"You're shameless!" I hurled the bouquet at them. "Luke, if you didn't want to get engaged, you could have just told me. Why pull this stunt?"I rushed forward, grabbing Emma's dress. "And you? Are you that desperate to be the other woman?"Turning back to Luke, I demanded, "Why is she wearing my dress? Don't tell me you didn't know. Am I just a part of your sick game?"Luke slapped my hand away from Emma's dress and said nonchalantly, "It's just a dress. I'm so busy at work. How would I notice these little things?"One of his friends jumped in. "Don't blame Luke. We planned all this behind his back."Another echoed, "Luke and Emma were always meant to be together. If it weren't for you, they wouldn't have split up."They were full of bullshit.When I first met Luke, he was heartbroken after Emma dumped him.Now they were making up stories, lying through their teeth.I sneered, "It's all their idea? I don't buy it. You knew everything, didn't you?"Luke avoided my gaze. "I di
I stepped out of the crowded banquet hall, and instantly, it felt easier to breathe.For years, I had played the obedient, well-mannered girl for Luke's sake. Now I was finally free to be myself.'Screw gratitude. Screw love.' I was done with all of it.A deep, lazy voice sounded near my ear. "You haven't changed a bit."I turned around and immediately recognized the speaker. Anderson Brown was Luke's uncle.A black Cayenne pulled up and stopped in front of us. The driver stepped forward and opened the door for him.Anderson got in. Without thinking, I darted inside before the driver could shut the door.I met Anderson's probing gaze and forced a smile. "Mind giving me a ride?"Anderson stared at me, his expression unreadable.It was only then that reality sank in. I had acted purely on impulse, blinded by anger.Those rumors about Anderson came back to me.He was known to have connections, power, and a ruthless streak. He had returned to the country only recently.I hesita
It suddenly dawned on me. "You know who I am."Luke's flickering eyes gave him away. He straightened up and spoke obsequiously. "Claire, why did you hide it from me? If it weren't for the delivery guy, I wouldn't have known you're the daughter of Grento's richest family."I sneered and tossed the box aside. "So what? Does that make me more valuable to you?"Luke raised his hand. "I swear, I'm truly in love with you. I risked my life to save you, and from that moment, I fell for you."I laughed out loud. "Then how do you explain what you said about me all these years? I could never be as good as Emma. Was I imagining things?"Luke blushed with embarrassment and took me into his arms. He pleaded, "I was wrong. Please give me another chance."Just as I was about to push him away, Emma burst into the room."Your shameless woman!" she barked. "Luke doesn't want you, yet here you are, throwing yourself at him."She rushed to Luke's side and pushed me away. "Don't fall for her tricks.
I kicked Luke out and finally relaxed.I was so blind that I had fallen for someone like Luke.Sometimes, I couldn't help but doubt that he was the one who had saved me back then.Shaking my head, I decided not to dwell on it. To clear my mind, I went to a bar.After a few drinks, I started feeling dizzy. As I left, I didn't notice Emma's malicious gaze following me.Stumbling back to my hotel room, I found that my key card wasn't working.I sat down by the door, and my skirt rode up, revealing the gunshot wound on my thigh.Three years ago, I was attacked in Ingvine. A bullet tore through my leg, and I barely made it to an alley before another attack happened.In the nick of time, a man with a scent of pine saved me but got shot during the process.His hot blood sprayed onto my face and blurred my vision. But despite his injury, he managed to carry me to safety.Half a month later, I woke up in a hospital and was told that my savior was Luke.Six months later, I returned to
I didn't remember if Anderson answered me.I was plunged into darkness when a sudden chill jolted me awake.When I opened my eyes, I found myself submerged in cold water. Anderson had placed me there.The ice-cold water helped clear my mind a little, and I noticed that his chiseled face was marked with lipstick stains.I felt a pang of guilt. The red lipstick had been applied by the makeup artist."You're awake. How are you feeling?" he asked, sensing my stir. "You were drugged."His eyes were bloodshot, and his voice was hoarse."Thank you," I whispered, touched by his concern.He ripped open a packet of medicine and made me swallow it."Take this. It'll help you regain some strength," he said. "The doctor came earlier. He gave you an injection and said if you didn't wake up in three hours, I should dunk you in ice water to stabilize you. Good thing you're awake now."The medicine helped me regain some strength, but it wasn't enough. The heat in my body was still spreading.
I woke up around noon to see an evening dress in front of me.Anderson said, "Come home with me."Still groggy, I didn't quite catch on. "Home? Whose home?"He tapped my nose. "The Brown Manor. There's a family dinner tonight."I snapped awake. "Family dinner? Why would I go to your family dinner?"It was too quick. We had just gotten together last night."I'm an outsider, so I'm not going," I declined, pulling the covers over my head.After spending such a long time with Luke, I turned around and ended up with Anderson.It would cause a huge stir if I showed up there."You're not an outsider," Anderson said, pulling me out.His forehead gently touched mine as he continued, "We're going to get our marriage registered. You'll be my wife."I sat up, eyes wide. "Are you serious? We just..."Anderson looked into my eyes, the sunlight highlighting his handsome face."Silly girl, I searched for you for three years," he said. "I won't let you slip away again."...When evening
I turned around and smiled at Anderson."Uncle Anderson?" Luke muttered in shock, his gaze fixed on our clasped hands.Anderson pulled me closer and announced proudly, "Allow me to introduce my wife, Claire West. You should call her Aunt Claire."The room fell silent.Moments later, gasps of surprise filled the air.Luke looked at us in disbelief.Suddenly, someone next to Anderson exclaimed, "Ms. West, is that really you?"Seeing my confusion, he explained, "I'm a close friend of your brother. I saw you when you were little."Noticing the puzzled looks around, he continued, "As everyone knows, the West family has two daughters. The younger one has been living abroad and rarely appears in public, so many people don't recognize her."Anderson was surprised. "Wow, I didn't know about your background. It seems I'm the lucky one here."I laughed at his playful gesture, and he pulled me back into his arms.Luke stared at me intensely. "Claire, are you really..."His face flushed
I turned around and smiled at Anderson."Uncle Anderson?" Luke muttered in shock, his gaze fixed on our clasped hands.Anderson pulled me closer and announced proudly, "Allow me to introduce my wife, Claire West. You should call her Aunt Claire."The room fell silent.Moments later, gasps of surprise filled the air.Luke looked at us in disbelief.Suddenly, someone next to Anderson exclaimed, "Ms. West, is that really you?"Seeing my confusion, he explained, "I'm a close friend of your brother. I saw you when you were little."Noticing the puzzled looks around, he continued, "As everyone knows, the West family has two daughters. The younger one has been living abroad and rarely appears in public, so many people don't recognize her."Anderson was surprised. "Wow, I didn't know about your background. It seems I'm the lucky one here."I laughed at his playful gesture, and he pulled me back into his arms.Luke stared at me intensely. "Claire, are you really..."His face flushed
I woke up around noon to see an evening dress in front of me.Anderson said, "Come home with me."Still groggy, I didn't quite catch on. "Home? Whose home?"He tapped my nose. "The Brown Manor. There's a family dinner tonight."I snapped awake. "Family dinner? Why would I go to your family dinner?"It was too quick. We had just gotten together last night."I'm an outsider, so I'm not going," I declined, pulling the covers over my head.After spending such a long time with Luke, I turned around and ended up with Anderson.It would cause a huge stir if I showed up there."You're not an outsider," Anderson said, pulling me out.His forehead gently touched mine as he continued, "We're going to get our marriage registered. You'll be my wife."I sat up, eyes wide. "Are you serious? We just..."Anderson looked into my eyes, the sunlight highlighting his handsome face."Silly girl, I searched for you for three years," he said. "I won't let you slip away again."...When evening
I didn't remember if Anderson answered me.I was plunged into darkness when a sudden chill jolted me awake.When I opened my eyes, I found myself submerged in cold water. Anderson had placed me there.The ice-cold water helped clear my mind a little, and I noticed that his chiseled face was marked with lipstick stains.I felt a pang of guilt. The red lipstick had been applied by the makeup artist."You're awake. How are you feeling?" he asked, sensing my stir. "You were drugged."His eyes were bloodshot, and his voice was hoarse."Thank you," I whispered, touched by his concern.He ripped open a packet of medicine and made me swallow it."Take this. It'll help you regain some strength," he said. "The doctor came earlier. He gave you an injection and said if you didn't wake up in three hours, I should dunk you in ice water to stabilize you. Good thing you're awake now."The medicine helped me regain some strength, but it wasn't enough. The heat in my body was still spreading.
I kicked Luke out and finally relaxed.I was so blind that I had fallen for someone like Luke.Sometimes, I couldn't help but doubt that he was the one who had saved me back then.Shaking my head, I decided not to dwell on it. To clear my mind, I went to a bar.After a few drinks, I started feeling dizzy. As I left, I didn't notice Emma's malicious gaze following me.Stumbling back to my hotel room, I found that my key card wasn't working.I sat down by the door, and my skirt rode up, revealing the gunshot wound on my thigh.Three years ago, I was attacked in Ingvine. A bullet tore through my leg, and I barely made it to an alley before another attack happened.In the nick of time, a man with a scent of pine saved me but got shot during the process.His hot blood sprayed onto my face and blurred my vision. But despite his injury, he managed to carry me to safety.Half a month later, I woke up in a hospital and was told that my savior was Luke.Six months later, I returned to
It suddenly dawned on me. "You know who I am."Luke's flickering eyes gave him away. He straightened up and spoke obsequiously. "Claire, why did you hide it from me? If it weren't for the delivery guy, I wouldn't have known you're the daughter of Grento's richest family."I sneered and tossed the box aside. "So what? Does that make me more valuable to you?"Luke raised his hand. "I swear, I'm truly in love with you. I risked my life to save you, and from that moment, I fell for you."I laughed out loud. "Then how do you explain what you said about me all these years? I could never be as good as Emma. Was I imagining things?"Luke blushed with embarrassment and took me into his arms. He pleaded, "I was wrong. Please give me another chance."Just as I was about to push him away, Emma burst into the room."Your shameless woman!" she barked. "Luke doesn't want you, yet here you are, throwing yourself at him."She rushed to Luke's side and pushed me away. "Don't fall for her tricks.
I stepped out of the crowded banquet hall, and instantly, it felt easier to breathe.For years, I had played the obedient, well-mannered girl for Luke's sake. Now I was finally free to be myself.'Screw gratitude. Screw love.' I was done with all of it.A deep, lazy voice sounded near my ear. "You haven't changed a bit."I turned around and immediately recognized the speaker. Anderson Brown was Luke's uncle.A black Cayenne pulled up and stopped in front of us. The driver stepped forward and opened the door for him.Anderson got in. Without thinking, I darted inside before the driver could shut the door.I met Anderson's probing gaze and forced a smile. "Mind giving me a ride?"Anderson stared at me, his expression unreadable.It was only then that reality sank in. I had acted purely on impulse, blinded by anger.Those rumors about Anderson came back to me.He was known to have connections, power, and a ruthless streak. He had returned to the country only recently.I hesita
"You're shameless!" I hurled the bouquet at them. "Luke, if you didn't want to get engaged, you could have just told me. Why pull this stunt?"I rushed forward, grabbing Emma's dress. "And you? Are you that desperate to be the other woman?"Turning back to Luke, I demanded, "Why is she wearing my dress? Don't tell me you didn't know. Am I just a part of your sick game?"Luke slapped my hand away from Emma's dress and said nonchalantly, "It's just a dress. I'm so busy at work. How would I notice these little things?"One of his friends jumped in. "Don't blame Luke. We planned all this behind his back."Another echoed, "Luke and Emma were always meant to be together. If it weren't for you, they wouldn't have split up."They were full of bullshit.When I first met Luke, he was heartbroken after Emma dumped him.Now they were making up stories, lying through their teeth.I sneered, "It's all their idea? I don't buy it. You knew everything, didn't you?"Luke avoided my gaze. "I di
"Claire, what's taking you so long? Do you even know what day it is? Everyone's waiting," Luke grumbled as he stormed into the dressing room.I frowned and pointed at the blue gown on the table. "I ordered a white dress with crystal embellishments. Why did they send this one?"His eyes flickered. "I like blue, so I made the change. This one looks better. Try it on."I stared at the dress. Everything about it, from the color to the style, wasn't to my liking."Maybe I should call the boutique and..." I said.Luke irritably cut me off, "This is our engagement ceremony. Can't you just go along with it? I went through a lot of trouble to get Anderson, the most powerful man in my family, to attend. Don't embarrass me, okay?"He paused and added, "And anyway, who are you dressing up for if not me?"I wanted to argue, but then I heard him mutter under his breath, "Emma wouldn't fuss over things like this."A sharp pain twisted in my chest as he brought up Emma Collins again.He alway