Silence stretched taut in the room for a minute, everyone was completely speechless. Mr. Brook was devastated after her unanticipated announcement. He stood, staring at Gwendolyn, who hadn't realized what she had done. She hadn't noticed how awkward everyone was staring at her, waiting for her to explain what was going on.
“Did I hear what you said clearly?” Immediately her right hand stopped after she realized everything. That was an impulsive outburst. She chewed on her lower lip, looking at her father standing in front of her. “Dad, that's not what I mean?” “Then explain everything to me.”Parting her lips to defend herself, Mr. Whitlock interrupted. “This isn't happening? Edward, I'm disappointed. Did you invite us here to humiliate us in front of everyone? How could you? Austin, we're going home. You're not going to marry her. She can't be my daughter-in-law.” Mr. Whitlock seethed fiercely. He hit his hands on the table abruptly then rose. Austin was completely dumbfounded. He stared at her without knowing what to say. Then suddenly he burst into hysterical laughter. “Him?” He narrowed his eyes at the young man, and a mockery smirk plastered on his face. He couldn't believe Gwendolyn would choose another man over him. To make it worse, a commoner that he couldn't acknowledge. Although the man was physically luscious, for that alone he was envious of him. “What a joke.” Gwendolyn approached him in an irksome manner. “Now that you know I belong to someone else, could you kindly leave with your parents? I'll rather become a nun than marry you.” Now she didn't care about their status, not even his parent's presence anymore mattered, after all, they were intruders in her house. The grudge she harbored against Whitlock could never be soothed. She pointed at the exit, gesturing to them to leave.Mrs. Whitlock shook her head with disappointment, she was nearly speechless. “You are shameless, aren't you? I'm out of here.” She took her purse on the table and then stomped out. Mr. Whitlock followed his wife. Edward attempted to walk after them. “Mr. Whitlock, please wait.” He called out. Mr. Whitlock ignored him completely without turning back. Austin looked at her briefly before speaking up. “You'll surely pay for this.” He assured her before going after his parents. The night was a total disaster.Edward returned to the living room. He met everyone standing. Kathryn walked up to him. “Honey, what did he say?” Perturbed, she enquired. Gwendolyn swerved to look at her father. She was going to explain everything to him now that their guests had left. “Dad…”He ran a hand on his face, whimpering with frustration. “You've decided to embarrass me in front of everyone, Gwen. How could you do this to your father?” He couldn't believe everything he heard, he thought it could be his nightmare. However, it was a reality. “Dad…” “Do you have any idea of what you've done tonight? Do you know the business hasn't been doing well lately? I got a warrant of payment three weeks ago, Austin was the only one that turned up.”“Edward, let's talk this out please.” Kathryn intervened, trying to assuage his anger. He abruptly turned to her and leveled her a grimace. “You stay out of this!” He snapped, skipping a step close to Gwendolyn.Looking at everyone one after the other, Katherine sighed softly before turning around and walking away. “Do you have to shut her out?” “She's not even your mother. You wouldn't have become like this if Beatrice was alive.” Her eyes welled up with tears the moment he mentioned her mother's name. “Don't bring her into this, Dad. Do you even care about how I feel about arranged marriage? You didn't ask how I feel about it before you invited his parents here for dinner.” “Of course I care about you. I just don't have a choice. Mr. Whitlock wouldn't have agreed to support the company if Austin hadn't told him that you're his girlfriend.” “He ended things after I caught him cheating with my assistant. He didn't apologize for what he did yet he broke up with me in public.” She reminded her father. Ruffling his hair, he scoffed softly. Everything she was saying didn't matter to her, but what he wanted. “Now he wants you back. Isn't that what you want?”With a shake of head, she skipped a step away from him. “I loved him but life goes on. I won't go back to my past.” “So you're going to keep that bastard you're carrying? Who's he anyway? Do I know his parents?” He paused briefly. “Look at me, Gwen. You'll have to accept Austin. Tomorrow, you'll apologize for being insolent.” “And you put your company first before your daughter? Because I know that's the only thing that matters to you now, not what I'm saying.”Edward skipped a step close to her, he put a hand across her face as he tilted his head. “I need to know if you're lying or not, you'll go see my doctor tomorrow. If truly you're pregnant, you'll have to tell Austin you're not pregnant. It'll be our secret till our deal is completely sealed then we'll figure out what to do with the child you're carrying. Goodnight, princess.” He pecked her cheeks before walking away.Disappointed and heartbroken were the perfect words to describe how she felt. Although the pregnancy was a lie, she never imagined her father telling her to lie just to save his business. She slowly took a deep breath, soothing her nerves before veering around. “Let's go.” She walked ahead of him, as they arrived at the car park. She unlocked the car, and both of them hopped in then she drove out of the mansion. Instead of driving him to the police station, she turned in the direction of her house. It was a ten-minute ride before they finally reached their destination.Throughout their ride, Gwendolyn was happy that he didn't start a conversation with her. She was exhausted and wasn't ready for any sort of interrogation. She thought he would never understand her situation no matter how she explained it to him. As the car came to a halt, both of them hopped out of the car. She looked at him one last time before gesturing to him to follow her in. She inputted the password, and they entered when the door unlocked. She switched her heels with slippers and then headed to the living room. “Water?” “No.” She put both hands on her waist, standing in front of him as she was composing her next sentence. “I don't even know what to call you. Shouldn't we think of a name?” She proposed a suggestion, and a light grin scrunched her lips. “A name for me?” She nodded. “There's an artiste I adore a lot, his name is Zayn, or do you like Nicholas?” “You don't even know my name?” Puzzled, he lifted a brow.Shaking her head vigorously, she pouted her plump lips. “No, I don't.” She replied with no remorse. “Not even where I came from?” “I think I might have an answer to that. The countryside, that was where I found you.”He strolled around her living room, admiring the interior decorations. “In the morning I heard you telling the doctor you don't know who I am and tonight you also told your father that you're with my child. What's the truth?” He queried calmly. He halted abruptly, turning around to look at her, his steady gaze was fixed on her while awaiting her answer. “The truth remains that I'm with your child. Since you don't know who you are, you need my help. If I help you regain your lost memory, you have to help me stop my marriage.” “That's manipulation.” “I'm not cheap but if I need to appear cheap to stop this marriage, I'll do anything. What do you say?” She peered into his eyes eagerly.“Why do I feel like you're trying to take advantage of my situation?” “I have something to offer you. Money? I'll give you anything if you're going to help me.”“I'm sorry, I don't think that's the kind of thing I'll do.” He turned around to walk away, then she spoke up. “Please, I'm in a desperate situation.” “I think you should listen to your father. I think maybe the man has truly changed.” “Yes, you should be thinking. He's the worst human being ever. I don't want to marry him.” She walked up to a sofa, slumped onto it then crossed her legs. “I hate being beholden.” He contemplated for a while. The lady he was looking at was more helpless than he was. His mind was against his decision, nevertheless, he knew he was indebted to her for saving his life. He wasn't someone that liked to be in the spot he was right now but what option did he have? He looked at her one more time “Let's call it even. I'll help you out to pay off my debt.”Gwendolyn stood up and then sauntered to him. She extended her hand for a handshake. “Deal. It's nice to meet you, Zayn.” Instead of taking her hand, he returned his hands to his pockets. “I'm sorry but the name sounds awkward.”Slightly hurt by what he did, she withdrew her hand and faked a smile. “You'll get used to it.”The rumor about her pregnancy had already spread across the city like a virus. Many bloggers had published different articles about her. The one that caught people's attention most was ‘Who could have been her mysterious baby's father? Could it be the manager director of the firm?’ Gwendolyn wasn't affected by the rumors, she had already figured out who could be behind everything; it was her ex-boyfriend. Apart from their parents that were there last night, he was the only person she thought would leak out the secret. Perhaps to ruin her career.While waiting for their family's doctor in his office, her phone rang, about to pick up the call doctor Walton entered. “I hope you're not offended. I have a patient that needs urgent care. Shall we?” He gestured to her to follow him.She rose from the chair, and before budging an inch from where she was standing she called him back. “Doctor Walton, I'm not pregnant.” She divulged.Doctor Walton abruptly spun around. Since the door was still
“She never lied.” Zayn interrupted the moment she was about to defend herself. He stepped in, standing in front of her.Edward was astonished when he stood up against him. He rose from the couch, looking at him with ferocity. “Who the hell do you think you are? Who let you into my office? Get out before I call the security.” He seethed. Gwendolyn parted her lips, she put a hand on Zayn's shoulder, attempting to caution him to be careful with his words. He glanced back and assured her with a smile, telling her that ‘he'd handle it’. She sighed softly, standing back. Although she didn't trust him she had to leave him to do it. After all, Doctor Walton must have told her father that she was never pregnant.“Sir, I love your daughter. I won't stand here and watch you telling her to lie for you. If you can't seal a business deal without selling your daughter to a man she doesn't love, forgive me but I must say this, you're not supposed to be called a father. And you…aren't you ashamed? As
As if terminating the contract wasn't enough, he canceled their partnership and assured him that he would never got to partner with any other prominent companies. He said Edward breached the contract they had. For the past few days, Edward despaired, he wasn't granted an audience whenever he went to Whitlock's company. Gwendolyn was to be blamed for everything, Edward concluded. If it wasn't for the love he had for her late mother, he would have disowned his daughter. Nevertheless, unknown to him for the past eight days the rumor about her pregnancy was leaked to the media, and she was also facing hardship in her career.When the director informed her she had to take a minor character's role, she presumed it was a joke until two days before the day they were supposed to shoot the film. The director informed her the person that was supposed to take her role would appear on the screen. Gwendolyn had tried to negotiate with him but what people were saying about her also mattered. After
She was completely lost in thought until his voice brought her out of her reverie. “Are you listening?” Her body went cold like an iceberg. She was nearly speechless, blinking slowly as her eyes twinkled with marvel. “I don't even know him?” It was when the statement broke off her lips she realized what she said.There was a look of confusion on his wrinkled face, he stared blankly at her, waiting for her to repeat what she just said. “I don't understand you anymore.”It had gotten to a point she needed to make up her mind. She was to marry a young man she despised with every bone in her body and there was another mysterious young man she saved from an unanticipated death who her father wanted her to marry again, Gwendolyn was stuck in the middle of nowhere. Confused like a lunatic, in the next minute if she didn't think of a solution she might go insane. Her pair of arched eyebrows looked down at him through sweeping long eyelashes. “I'm not going to marry anyone. Why must I get ma
Marriage was never part of the plan, yet it seemed to be the only way out. Waking up the next morning to battle with the same problem again, Gwendolyn wished to keep lingering in bed forever. Nevertheless, a terrible hangover surged around her head, giving her a splitting headache. She put a hand on her forehead, massaging it tenderly. When a thought flashed across her mind, she sat up purposely then she remembered having a clear schedule for the day. She turned to her left side to check the radio clock, a pair of mariner-blue eyes creepily looking at her. She scooted backward startlingly. “Hey. I didn't find that funny. That was creepy.” She scolded him and she rolled her eyes. She looked down at her body to check the cloth she was putting on, she was still wearing yesterday's dress. She drew the dress down to cover her thighs which he wasn't even looking at. Zayn maintained his dark countenance as he kept staring at her. With a swift gesture, he extended a paper to her. He glanc
“Sir, Gwendolyn Brook is getting married today?” Brandon divulged it immediately after he entered his office.He paused his activities after hearing what he said. He lifted his gaze, his brows furrowed as his eyelashes flickered with curiosity. “Getting married today?” He wondered. The last time he checked he hadn't heard any news about her marriage, if she was indeed getting married, it should be the trending news by now.“Yes, sir. It's a garden wedding and only a few people are invited. One of the guests must have uploaded it on the internet because it has been trending consecutively.After hearing the news Austin considered how to surprise her. It was obvious he wasn't happy about the marriage but he knew he could make her suffer even more after the marriage. After she slapped him and walked out of his mansion freely with no one stopping her, he vowed to make her life miserable, crushing her till he tore her into pieces. He had been a restrained beast for a while because he still
They were supposed to meet up today but Gwendolyn had a tight schedule for the day, so she called Jeffery to inform him she was going to make it up to him someday if not today. As she was about to disconnect the call, he asked if she was going to be part of his guests tonight at a party that was going to be hosting tonight. Gwendolyn glimpsed at the phone screen, looking at Lilith like she was awaiting her approval. Apparently not, Lilith knew she didn't need any gesture or permission for anything. After a few seconds, her voice broke the awkward silence. “I'll be there.”“Okay. Thanks for that. You should bring him along, I want to get to know him.”“Sure.” With that Jeffery ended the call at the other end.She lowered her phone to her lap, looking at Lilith as she was preparing her next words. “Do you think I should attend the party? Everyone will be there? I know Jeff is friends with many celebrities, do you think it's a good idea to say no to him now?”After all the words had bee
For perhaps half an hour she had been waddling in her room, contemplating where to begin. Firstly, she hadn't picked a dress which she knew was going to take long. Every morning Lilith would select different dresses, then ask her to choose one. She thought she had made it easy for Gwendolyn but it never worked the way she thought. She couldn't just choose a dress out of her extravagant walk-in closet when she wished to wear them all. Right now she was having a hard time selecting a party dress. Above all, she was also practicing how to tell Zayn about the party, nothing seemed to pop up in her mind. Her head was completely blank and she found it difficult to find a perfect way to approach him after their last little dispute. At the last minute, she might just call Jeffery and give an excuse again. That was becoming a habit, she surmised. Going to the party alone wouldn't be the call. She was still pondering when her phone beeped, she walked over to the bed and picked up the phone, ch
Six years later “Yeah, that one! You're a natural!” The photographer exclaimed, his camera clicking rhythmically as he captured countless photos of her. Gwendolyn felt the familiar routine of posing wash over her, but today, an unfamiliar heaviness settled in her body, an undercurrent of stress she couldn’t quite shake off. With an instinctive grace, she lifted her chin slightly, offering a tantalizing side profile, her right hand poised just shy of her moist, nude lips, a gesture that felt both natural and intentional. “She’s truly stunning. Just look at those golden blonde hair!” One of the crew members remarked, her voice etched with admiration. A warm blush crept over Lilith’s cheeks, making her feel like she was the one being admired. Her gaze darted towards Gwendolyn, who effortlessly commanded the spotlight with her poses, exuding confidence and charm. “Do you know who she is?” A curious new worker piped up, his eyes wide with intrigue. “Mrs. Redgrave? Oh, everyone
As Margaret heard the voice of the person she had come to see, a shiver ran through her as she withdrew her sore hand, gently massaging her wrist. The redness that bloomed there was akin to the deep hue of a cherry, a stark reminder of the forceful grip that he applied when he grabbed her hand. “I’m thinking of working with Ms. Brook.” She said tentatively, her voice trembling slightly. “My company would be glad to have someone as talented as her on board if she’s willing.”“I'm afraid she’ll be rejecting your offer.” He replied sharply, his tone leaving no room for discussion. “If your company requires a model, find one through your agency, but leave her out of it.”Margaret felt the weight of his glare, the ferocity in his eyes making her heart race. There was a tempest of fury swirling within him, and the air around them seemed to thicken, pressing down on her like a suffocating shroud. As she reluctantly met his gaze, she noticed how he towered behind her, his imposing presence ov
“Why did you lie to me, Gwen?” Edward asked, his voice low and calm, revealing no trace of anger, but a hint of disappointment lingered in the tone.“I didn’t lie to you, Dad. I just... shared my feelings about him. If I wanted to deceive you, I wouldn’t even have mentioned who he is. I’m really sorry it took me this long, but now I can finally share everything because he's the one I want to be with. I'm not ashamed to say it.” Her heartfelt apology hung in the space between them, palpable and sincere.“Hiding the truth is just as bad as lying. You shouldn't have kept this to yourself. God, what were you thinking?” His brow furrowed slightly, concern etched on his face, though the softness of his gaze suggested a well of unshed emotions.She suppressed the urge to huff in frustration, forcing herself to maintain her composure. Tapping lightly on his mahogany office desk, she met his gaze head-on, ready to respond. “Well… if I had told you sooner, would you even believe me?”“I would.
Two hours after the harrowing incident, Mr. Kane reached out to Lucien, informing him that he had just arrived at the airport and was on his way to the company. Lucien felt an unsettling tension knotting in his stomach at the thought of the meeting. Despite their many attempts to connect over the past weeks, some unforeseen obstacle always intervened. Now, with an important board meeting underway, he regretted his inability to go to the airport himself. Instead, he urged Jace to make the trip, accompanied by a few bodyguards—a precautionary action against any unexpected threats that might arise.Although anxiety gnawed at him, Lucien found solace in the skills Jace brought to the table, he trusted that he could handle the situation without a scratch on him. Every five minutes during the meeting, his phone vibrated gently on the table—texts from Jace, each one carefully crafted to reassure him of his safety. Yet, amid the flurry of updates, a flicker of doubt gnawed at him. He couldn’
“Your three days are over. Tell me, why should I accept that actress who supposedly used you?” The weight of frustration hung heavily in his mind as he whimpered, his voice laced with desperation. “How many times must I tell you that she didn’t use me? Shouldn’t you be grateful that she’s the reason I’m alive? You’re the one who refuses to accept Gwen, but I’m not marrying anyone other than her. I love her, and that should be all you need to know. Stop being such a stubborn old man.” Though Lucien’s anger had dissipated, a certain stubbornness still clouded his grandfather's acceptance of the woman he adored. He could sense that the unexpected invitation to the office was merely a prelude to their confrontation. “Of course, I'm mostly grateful for that. I would have given her a tower of gold if she was wise enough to report you missing the moment she found you. My great-grandchildren shouldn’t have a mother like her.” He declared, his voice steeped in disdain. “My children don't de
After showering, she sidled across the room to his walk-in closet. She selected a long blue shirt and wore it over her pants, the shirt barely reached her thighs, and her curly hair tumbled over her shoulders. She glanced at the mirror on her way out of the closet, she noticed her nipples were conspicuous, stiffened in the shirt, but she barely cared about that. She stroked a strand of hair behind her ear and dampened her lower lip.She seemed refreshed. Their conversation replayed in her head, echoing in her mind as each word reminded her of a tingling feeling she felt earlier. When he asked if she wanted to get married, she felt the yen to say yes if it was him; remarrying him would be a wish come true, but Gwendolyn still assumed they could be fucking buddies until both of them got tired of each other. After all, she believed it would happen one day. ‘If it's you then I don't mind. ’ She hit her forehead when she recalled what she said. She only said that during the heat of the mom
As the echoes of the conference meeting faded away, leaving behind an air thick with unspoken words, the last few attendees ambled out of the hall, their footsteps becoming feeble. A palpable tension hung in the atmosphere, settling heavily on Jace's mind like a suffocating air. He remained seated, his thoughts a chaotic like a total disaster, knowing all too well that he needed to confront the unyielding silence that stretched between him and Lucien. Every time their eyes locked, a flicker of unquenchable curiosity sparkled in Lucien's gaze, silently pleading for acknowledgment. He despised not talking to his elder brother and he didn't want to be the first person to break the eerie silence.“You look like someone who just lost his first love, Jace. What's the matter? Are you going to stay angry at me forever?” Lucien's voice sliced through the stillness, a sharp voice to the thick awkwardness they had both been sidestepping for days.Jace hardly reacted to the teasing remark. His ex
Immediately the call disconnected, Gwendolyn swerved around to look at him, holding her phone tightly. Her countenance wasn't pleasant, she was still worried despite her father assuring her everything was fine, he just needed her to be at the hospital with her stepmom.“Is everything all right?” His brows furrowed with confusion. Seeing how worried she looked, he couldn't gauge if everything was all right.With a shake of her head, “I’m not sure. I should be heading to the hospital now. He said she needs me there like I'm a doctor. I wonder if everything is fine as he said.” She enunciated impatiently. She stepped away from the chair, and then to the exit. Lucien tagged behind her as both of them ascended the stairs together. ”Hospital? Did something happen? Did he tell you what happened?“Yes. Remember I told you she's pregnant, right? I think it's almost time. She might be feeling uncomfortable. She'll need me there. She's in her third trimester. Fuck, I'm supposed to keep my phone
In the next second, they were back in his bedroom, still engaged in a passionate and lips-devouring smooch. Gwendolyn could scarcely explain how he brought her back to his room, the only thing she knew was when she eventually opened her eyes to look at him, they were both on their feet near the king-size bed. His mouth left hers in a swift motion, grazing her cheek down to her neck with kisses, her body quivering with nervousness. She was feeling nervous, and at the same time, her need was about to make her lose her mind. Every time his tongue brushed on her skin, her stomach always tingled. Suddenly, his hand caressed her back slowly, vaguely searching for a string. There, he found the zip. He zipped down her gown with reluctance. Even though he already felt his erection, hardening below, he was more willing to create room for a change of heart, if she wanted. Nevertheless, she wasn't going to stop him, they had both lost their minds in the pool of lust and love.“Ah, Lucien,” She