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22. I DO
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2024-10-29 19:42:56I DO:
Powerful two little words that actually mean, ‘I will love you, take care of you, serve you, protect you, for better or worse, in sickness and in health, for as long as we both shall live.’
Before I joined my parents, I looked at Ryder and said, “Thank you, Ryder. You’ve been very kind to all of us. I guess this is the last, huh? I'll call my parents after a week to tell them that it’s over. Don’t worry. I'll make sure nobody blames you. I’ll tell them that I want to stay single for a while. To… date around…”
“Do you?” he asked bitterly.
I raised a brow. “Do I what?”
“Want to date around?” he asked.
I laughed… to cover up the pain that I feel inside… and to hide the truth behind the lie that I’m about to say.
“It’s been a while, hasn&rsquo
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Knight in Shining Suit 24. VEIL
VEIL:Covers the bride’s face to the groom until he has fully committed to her after the wedding ceremony.I am made of stone. I can do this. I am not giving up! I told myself over and over.I was sitting on the deck of Ryder’s Malibu home. After so many nights I still felt alone, my heart was still broken and every single minute, I ached for the man who swore he would make my ‘ever after’ come true.But he was not here anymore… I never felt so alone in my life. The pain was ten times worse than what I felt when Bryan and Geena betrayed me.I remembered his laughter, his smile. I remembered his arms around me and the way he would look at me. I remembered how he never gave up on me. How he waited for me to realize that he was the right one for me. How long he waited for me to realize that I was in
Knight in Shining Suit 25. VELLUM
VELLUM:A thin, transparent or semi-transparent type of paper the effect of which resembles a frosted glass, commonly used in wedding invitations.Ryder.When I woke up at the hospital, my first thought was that I was late for my meeting in Malibu. I just opened Oil Rig and would soon open another bar, Rig Style.When I opened my eyes, my family and friends were staring back at me curiously, all with tears in their eyes.That’s when I realized that something must have happened to me. Judging from the throbbing pain I felt in my head, the fact that I could barely move my body due the tight bandages wrapped around me in the rib area, I guessed that I was in a car accident.Damn! I wonder which of my cars I have to say goodbye to. I hope it’s not my McLaren. I just bought it a month ago and the price was not sweet at all. I would hate to
Knight in Shining Suit 26. BRIDAL REGISTRY
BRIDAL REGISTRY:A log of the couple’s gift preferences aimed at making it easier for wedding guests to shop for gifts for the couple.Astrid.I went to the hospital every single day. But I never got a chance to see Ryder. The doctors didn’t encourage it until all the tests were done and they were sure about the gravity of his amnesia.“You should go back to Malibu,” Janis advised. “We’ll keep you posted, when he’s ready to see you.”I shook my head. “He should at least try to see me, Jan,” I said hopefully. “Maybe if he sees me… it would trigger some memories to come back.”“We have to do this slowly, Ash,” Jake said. “Only time can help Ryder now.”I think the sight of me was unsettling to Ryder and it didn’t help his recovery
Knight in Shining Suit 27. PRENUP
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Knight in Shining Suit 28. GUARDIANSHIP
GUARDIANSHIP:Legal term which is used to describe the legal and practical relationship of a parent and a child, which includes the right of the parent to make decisions for his or her child as well as his or her responsibilities to take care of his or her child.Astrid.“Damn it!” I shrieked when I opened my office and found a tall figure standing by my window.Then my heart hammered in my chest when I realized who it was.I got that familiar urge to run after him and throw myself in his arms, thinking that he would catch me, like he always did in the past. But I knew I would hit the wall this time.Then I got that usual flicker of hope that he remembered even a fraction of his time with me. Or he somehow felt our connection. Or he was even willing to work on it until he finally heals. I knew
Knight in Shining Suit 29. KISS
KISS:The groom kisses the bride at the end of the wedding ceremony toseal their union.Astrid.“I want you to stay here while I’m gone.” His words echoed in my head over and over. Tears were rolling down my cheeks.Okay, Astrid. Better cry now than later. Better here than in front of him.I couldn’t show him how affected I was. No matter how much I beg, it’s not helping him. I didn’t give up on him yet. But I knew that putting pressure on him would only make him run away more.He did tell me that he was always cautious about girls. Now, he doesn’t know me. So I fall into the general category of women who just might like Ryder Van Woodsen for money and not for who he is inside.Quite ironic, actually. He accuses me of the very things that ke
Knight in Shining Suit 30. TULLE
TULLE:A kind of textile that is lightweight and has very fine netting, usually used for veils.Ryder.I was dreaming for sure because I haven’t felt like this before. It was like I was in a trance, and I don’t ever want to wake up. I felt the surge of emotions sweep through me in tides that I could not control. I gave up fighting. I gave in.I crushed her into my arms and kissed her the way I have wanted to kiss her since the first time I laid eyes on her at the hospital. The way I always wanted to kiss her whenever I looked at her.I know I shouldn’t let my guard down. But there is something about this woman that draws me in, and drowns me.The minute she walked into the house, her scent captured my senses. If I close my eyes, I could swear that I know that scent well. But when
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Knight in Shining Suit 38. THE VENUE
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Knight in Shining Suit 37. RING
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Knight in Shining Suit 36. PRESENT
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Knight in Shining Suit 35. WEDDING ALBUM
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Knight in Shining Suit 34. SOMETHING BORROWED
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Knight in Shining Suit 33. SOMETHING BLUE
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Knight in Shining Suit 32. SOMETHING OLD
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Knight in Shining Suit 31. SOMETHING NEW
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