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
Eden let out a monstrous scream as Bennett held her hand. He could feel her nails digging into his skin but he knew he couldn't let go. "PUSH!" the doctor screamed at Eden. "PUSH! IT'S ALMOST OUT! PUSH HARDER!" Eden let out one last loud scream before it was over and she could finally take a breath. Her grip loosened on Bennett's hand and she fell limp on the bed. She heard the sound of crying and suddenly all her energy was back. Three years after their wedding, Bennett and Eden's daughter was born. The baby was wrapped into a clean towel and handed to Eden. There was still some blood on her body but Eden wanted to hold her before the nurses took her for a bath. "Emily," Eden whispered. "Her name is Emily." Bennett leaned in next to Eden with his eyes full of tears. He looked at his little baby girl like he had never seen something so delicate and precious. Eden's heart raced faster than ever when she saw Bennett pick Emily up in his arms. When she saw his tears and the smile
Three years later: Grace woke up and noticed something weighing down on her stomach. She turned her head around to see Theo sleeping peacefully next to her. The droof falling from his mouth and onto the pillow made her smile. She quietly reached for her phone on the nightstand and clicked a picture of him before kissing his forehead. She was up 10 minutes before her alarm went off so she turned it off and walked to the bathroom to get fresh, hoping Theo would get a few minutes more to sleep. When Grace walked out of the bathroom she saw Theo sitting up on the bed with his phone in his hands and his eyes wide open with shock. "Woah, that drooling picture isn't that good," said Grace. Theo didn't look away from the phone and kept staring at it. Grace got concerned and asked, "What's wrong?" "Nothing's wrong. I'm going to be an uncle," said Theo, his voice monotonous. "Wait. Wait. Wait. What are you talking about?" Grace walked over to him and sat next to him on the bed. "Theo." "E
Theo's PoV Theo looked at Eden and Bennett suspiciously as he stared at the ticket they handed him. "This doesn't make sense. You want me to come to your honeymoon?" "Yeah, of course. It's so much more fun when you're there too," said Eden. "I mean, yeah sure, I'll go. But are you sure you're okay with this?" Theo asked. "Theo, it's not like we're asking you to stay in the same hotel suite as us too," Bennett reasoned. "Alright. I could use a vacation after the last few days happened," said Theo and put the ticket in his pocket. "But promise me you're not going to make me feel like a third-wheel?" "Yes, yes we promise. Also, your ticket was a last minute idea so we couldn't get it in the same flight as us, but the landing time is only two hours apart so we'll see you there when we land," said Eden. "I know we're all thinking it but I'm gonna say it, this is all sounding very suspicious and weird but I've heard some good things about the nightclubs in Paris so I'm not going to co
Grace didn't regret her decision of sleeping with Theo, and after all he said to her she didn't think that it didn't mean anything to him. She just felt embarrassed that even after trying to show Theo her resolve, it only took one kiss for her to give in. "I didn't think you'd want to avoid me after what happened this morning," said Theo. He came closer to Grace and whispered in her ear, "I want you more than ever now." A chill ran down Grace's spine. She stopped herself from shuddering and looked away, trying to ignore the feeling. She didn't want Theo to think that she would fall for him again so easily, he needed to know that she can't forgive him this fast after everything that happened. "Yes, I guess too much stress can make people do or say certain things they wouldn't do under normal circumstances," Grace replied with a cold voice. Theo seemed to have taken offense to that. He shifted away from Grace and looked out the window, not saying a single word to her again througho
Grace's PoV: "The bride and groom may kiss now," the pastor announced and Bennett and Eden kissed each other. Grace watched them with tears in her eyes, she felt so happy that her best friend was finally happy. Of course she felt guilty for being late for bringing the dress. She remembered why she was late and quickly pushed the thought out of her mind. She looked over to the groom's side at the altar and saw his best man, Theo, standing next to him and smiling at Grace. She quickly averted her gaze and started clapping for Bennett and Eden. Everyone left the chapel to attend the reception ceremony at a different venue. Eden had forgotten her phone and asked Grace to bring it to the reception. When she walked out all the cars were filled up with only one left, but someone was already inside it. Grace thought she had already had a rough day, that person can squeeze one more passenger in the car. Grace opened the door and stepped inside the car, closing the door behind her. "I'm so
Eden paced around the room while her make up artist tried to get her to settle down. Grace was still not done with the dress and Eden was considering getting a readymade dress. It was an hour before Eden had to walk down the aisle with Buddy. He had offered to walk with her since there was no other father figure present. Eden picked up her phone and dialed Grace and it went straight to voicemail. She sat back down on her chair hyperventilating when she suddenly heard the door burst open. It was Grace standing with a dress bag and heavily breathing like she was just running. "Oh my God, Eden I'm so sorry. Something happened and I-" "It's fine, it's all fine. Thank God you're finally here, I was just about to go and buy a last minute resort," Eden said as she stood up and walked quickly towards Grace. "Can I see it now?" "No, close your eyes. We'll put it on you and then you get to see it," Grace smiled with excitement. "That wouldn't be very convenient but okay," said Eden. "Let's
"Okay, so we got the guest list done. Invitations will be sent out tomorrow morning, the venue is booked, flowers are decided and the caterers have been taken care of," said Grace. "Now there's only one thing left to do." "Grace, I really wish you didn't bother yourself, Sophia and Natalie with all these tasks. We have help doing all of those things. You should focus on your store," said Eden as she buried her nose in her laptop, staring at the previous year finance reports. "And I really wish you would stop working for just a couple of days so you could enjoy your wedding preparations," Grace urged. "You've done nothing but work since Bennett announced the date of your wedding." Eden sighed and looked up. "I've been working so hard because I'm going to get off work a day before the wedding, the day of the wedding and the day after. That's three days going without work, and I need to prove to everyone I care about the business too." "Eden, I know this is important to you, but no on
Eden wore a beautiful cream gown that went down all the way to her ankle with a slit that reached up her left knee. It had a heart shaped neckline and thin shoulder straps. Grace was wearing the same dress as her since both of them were bridesmaids at Sophia and Natalie's wedding. They waited at the altar as both their father's walked them down the aisle. Eden couldn't help but get teary as she saw the wedding happen. She didn't remember what happened the night they got wasted at Grace's house and she didn't remember saying anything to Bennett, or even calling him. "The brides may kiss now." Natalie and Sophie kissed each other and the applause erupted from the guests. Eden and Grace hugged them tightly before congratulating them. After the wedding, all the guests made their way over to the reception. Eden saw Grace getting in the car with Theo while holding his hand and smiled at the thought of them finally making up. Eden got in her car with Bennett and smiled at him when she
Eden's PoV Eden got back from a tiring day of work and went through the mail to see if she received any. She saw a purple letter that caught her eye. It said that it was for both Bennett and her. When she opened it, a wave of happiness washed over her. It was an invitation for a wedding. Sophia and Natalie's wedding invitation. Eden almost started jumping around with happiness and squealing with excitement. She picked up the phone and immediately called Grace to ask her if she received the invitation. Grace picked up the phone and started screaming loudly on the phone. Eden couldn't contain her excitement and started screaming too. She heard the door open and the sound of footsteps running towards her. "What's wrong?! Eden?!" Bennett yelled as he ran over to Eden and saw her grinning ear to ear with eyes full of tears. "Wha- what? I don't understand? What's going on?" "NATALIE AND SOPHIA ARE GETTING MARRIED!" Eden yelled. "I can't believe this. Oh my god of my god oh my god." R