Eden was supposed to visit the University of South California (USC) in a week to meet with the counselor and decide which course she’ll be pursuing, as said in the letter. Bennett had apparently pulled some strings and found her a seat in the college before the new session started. Eden was thankful but not very pleased because she should have been the one to decide which college she wants to go to. She texted this concern to Bennett, saying she wants to choose a college on her own.Bennett replied, ‘You can’t find a better college in the whole of Los Angeles, this is where I graduated from, believe me, it’s the best.Eden texted back, Wait how old are you?Bennett: Twenty-four, why?Eden: You’re a lot older than me.Bennett: Um, ok.Eden: But that’s not the point. What if I wanted to apply to Harvard or Yale?Bennett: Yeah, you can’t leave the city for that long while we’re married. Eden: Right. What about UCLA? Bennett: Even I don’t have sources there. You can apply there but they
Eden woke up at 11 AM the next day since she and the girls had slept very late the night before. Natalia and Sophia had already left earlier in the morning but Grace was next to her, drooling all over her pillow and snoring. Grace smiled and thinks she’ll have to get the pillow washed. Eden shakes grace and asks, “Don’t you have to go select the bridesmaid’s dresses?”Grace moans groggily, asking Eden, “Ugh. What time is it?”“It’s 11 right now.”“Oh shit,” said Grace while getting out of the bed. “I have to go, all the best for your lunch.”Eden thanks Grace as she looks around for her phone and purse. Eden went to the bathroom to get fresh and when she came out Grace was already gone. She sat on the ledge of her window, staring at the spot where she and Bennett had shared a kiss. Once again, she thought, Why was he not affected at all?’ Eden felt angry at herself for feeling so much while he felt nothing. She was nervous to see him and his family. She was worried that they might s
Eden did not want to feel the things that she was feeling, but there was something about Bennett that intimidated her. Maybe if it was not for her situation, if she had not tried to kidnap him or if he didn’t know what her father did, she thought she could have had him smitten by her like any other man. The car stopped and Eden looked out the window at the Mason Mansion. It was as big as a castle. It was surrounded by huge gardens, with trees and bushes trimmed to perfection. A complex of cuboids volumed the land around an impressive terrace. A covered outdoor lounge was attached to the main mass, whilst an exposed fire pit nestles into a niche created by two volumes, and an outdoor bar hooks up to a pool. Green roofs on the outermost volumes integrated the build into the garden’s green borders. It was the most beautiful yet modernistic house Eden had ever seen. She expected nothing less from a family who had been in the diamond business for years.Before Eden could step out, Bennett
Eden told Betty and Chester the same story that she and Bennett had agreed upon. After hearing the story, Betty said, “I must say I agree with Chester. I never saw Bennett as a man who could fall in love so fast and so hard. I suppose it is a blessing that you broke his shell. We thought we would never get to see him with a girlfriend, now we’re getting a daughter-in-law tomorrow.”Eden faked getting shy and looked at her plate while smiling and tucking a strand behind her ear. She then looked at Bennett lovingly, making sure that his parents were watching. She held his hand and intertwined his fingers with hers and said while staring into Bennett’s eyes, “Betty, it’s the same with me. I never knew I could fall in love so deeply with a man in just a matter of weeks. I am lucky to have found your son, I have to say he’s all that a woman can ask for in a man.”Bennett smiled at Eden and leaned in to peck her lips, “You’re all that I can ask for, too.”From the corner of her eye, Eden sa
Eden looked at Betty, hoping that she was not about to as a difficult question. Betty took a deep breath and asked, “I know that you come from a rich household, everyone knows that your father is a billionaire. You could have anything you want, so I know that you are not marrying my son for money. What worries me is that you are too young to be married, you have not even gotten a college degree yet. I love that you were able to make my son fall in love, I always worried that we would have to find a suitable wife for him ourselves. But it worries me about what this means for your future. I swear I do not want this wedding canceled, but you seem like a sweet and smart girl, and for your sake, I just want to make sure that you are not rushing things, and won’t regret anything.”Eden looked at Betty and it made her feel horrible that she was about to tell bland lies to her. Betty sounded like she really cared about her future. Eden tightened her grip on Betty’s hand and said, “Betty, I
Eden did not want to think, she did not want to know what was right or wrong. All she had wanted for days was happening, and she did not want to let go. When Bennett kissed her, he started softly and slowly at first. But seeing how Eden was not resistant or shocked, he deepened the kiss, making her wrap her hands around his neck, pulling his body closer. Eden did not care about anything, she wanted him to not stop at all. “We should stop,” whispered Bennett, with a hoarse voice, not really wanting to stop.“We should stop,” said Eden and continued kissing Bennett.Her hands started roaming around his body, exploring his chest and his abs over his shirt. Bennett started doing the same, taking his left hand from her cheek to the nape of her neck, caressing the side of her neck with his thumb. His right hand found her waist and pulled her body in tightly. Bennett and Eden kept kissing passionately while touching each other’s bodies, wanting to do more and more. With his right hand stil
Eden walked back home from Bennett’s car. She used her spare key to open the door and struggled because of her blurred vision. She realized that she still haven’t heard Bennett’s car leave. Her hands were shaking and the key fell to the floor. She bent down to pick it up, but before she could, a hand reached out and picked up the key. It was Bennett. He stood in front of her, looking apologetic.Eden did not want him to see her with tears in her eyes again, she took the key from his hands and finally opened the door. Before she could go inside, Bennett held her hand that was clasping the doorknob. Eden froze, still not looking in Bennett’s direction.“I just want to say sorry, I didn’t mean what I said earlier. And I know you did not mean what you said too. We’re both attracted to each other, you can’t deny that,” said Bennett. He loosened his grip on Eden’s hand and let it go. “But I just cannot afford this to happen between us, there are many reasons that you won’t understand. I don
“I don’t care what you say, you’re going to sue him,” said Grace, angry at how hard Eden’s father had hit her. “Listen to me, Natalia’s father will get you the best lawyer, and your father will face charges for domestic abuse. You have witnesses, don’t you? The housemaid saw it. Whatever you father pays her, I’m sure Bennett can pay double of that-”“Let’s not talk about him, please,” said Eden, watching Grace go through her makeup to cover up the bruise. “And no, once I leave this place, I want to be done with him and never see his face ever again. I don’t intend to see him in court or anywhere else.”“But-”“Grace, just help me with this,” Eden said, pointing at her cheek. “I really don’t feel like talking about this anymore.”‘Fine’, murmured Grace and picked up the foundation and concealer from Eden’s dresser. She used these from Eden’s makeup since their skin tones were different. Grace was furious that Alfred had the audacity to do this to Eden. And the fact that Eden did not w