My mouth is falling open. I blink slowly.‘Did she say she loved me?’ I find myself wondering this in my head.I believe this is a dream. Or the rising hormones muddle my brain, and I start hearing things. But the speeding heartbeat seems so real."Come again," I mumble. I want to hear her say that again. "Wait a minute." I quickly take out my phone and press the voice recording button. This will serve as proof that I am not dreaming."Say it again," I demand."What?""The thing you said just now. That you love me." I put the phone in front of her.She pushes my hand away and the phone drops on the bed. "You are a jerk," she yells. "You find it funny! Are you mocking me? Yes, I loved you. I was running after you, offering my heart. But you never noticed me. You always disregarded me and chose Ruby. All you want is Ruby, Ruby, Ruby…"She stops yelling, then tears begin to collect in her eyes. She sniffs as she says, "I married you, assuming you would start loving me. But you never paid
The next morning…I stretch my hands and arch my back, yawning. My head is heavy, and my entire body is aching as if a road roller ran over me."Mm…" I wince, rubbing my forehead. "My head."When I open my eyes, I notice the familiar eyes staring down at me. I blinked dumbly at the sight of his smile.Lance Stevens is smiling at me!‘Why? Why? Why?’ My mind is frantic.I follow his gaze and find myself naked. My breasts are exposed in front of his eyes. I smoother a yelp and pull the blanket up, my stomach knotting tighter and tighter.The scratches on his arms and shoulders are proof that we had some steamy moments last night.That was not a dream. That happened in reality.‘Holy Mother.’I just want to disappear somewhere.What is he thinking? Does he think I am easily available when I am drunk? What excuse should I give to him?I was inebriated last night, but I am not sure whether he was drunk or not. I try to recall.His piercing eyes are distracting me. All that comes to my mind
Molly’s POV…I lay motionless, my mind replaying the recording. I can only hear myself screaming, moaning, and sighing.‘Oh, God. It is so embarrassing.’I hope I can hide under the blanket forever. I don’t want to go out and face him.His sharp eyes scanned me and peered into my mind. It seemed as if nothing could be hidden from him.I squeeze my eyes even harder. I actually, shamelessly claimed that I loved him and willingly surrendered myself to him. I am a moron for imagining it as a dream.I bite my lower lip. A tingling sensation sweeps up the back of my neck and across my face, making me feel impossibly hot. My heart is thumping.I cannot stop thinking about how crazy I was the night before. Those moments are sweet. I wish I could spend my entire life in his arms. Then I remember the truth about our relationship.Three years later, we finally consummated this marriage when we decided to part ways.Why did it happen?He said he would like to talk to me. I have no idea what he wa
Lance’s POV…The moment I enter the Global Network office building, I notice William taking Molly in his arms. My light mood and delight vanished straight away. My skin pricks with anger. Something snaps inside me.William, the man who used to follow Molly. I never could express feelings to her because she had a crush on this guy.I feel a stab in my heart when I see her with him. I clench my fists."Keep your hands off her," I shout as I storm over to them.I pull Molly to my chest and hug her possessively, giving William a hard look. I hold up my index finger and warn him, "Stay away from her, I am warning you."He gives me a cold stare.I want to punch him in the face, but I restrain myself only because Molly is around. I don’t want to frighten her."Lance…" Molly calls out to me, her voice trembling.I look down at her. My expression softens a little when I sense her fear."He is only helping me," she explains hurriedly. "I stepped on something greasy, which caused me to trip. Wil
His demand lets me down a little. He just assisted me in putting a bandage on my injured finger. This is not the same as cutting a road through the mountain. However, he expects something in return.I'm starting to regret allowing him to assist me.‘A shrewd businessman,’ I mutter in my head.He sees opportunity in everything.I fight the urge to roll my eyes, but I can't help but be curious."What do you want?" I ask.I lean backward subconsciously when he leans in. His closeness makes me giddy. I keep my eyes wide open, trying to anticipate what he will do. His lips are on mine before I can think of anything.Time and space have come to a standstill around me. Not only me, but my breathing also came to a halt. I'm not sure if my heart is beating. Perhaps it's beating so fast that I can't keep up. All I can feel are flutters in my stomach.This kiss is nothing like the urgent and angry kiss from the birthday party. It is sweet, gentle, and sensual. I don’t remember how he kissed me t
vI froze when his lips locked with mine. My thoughts are no longer racing. It is focused solely on his lips. His smell and his warmth invade my senses.He is as gentle as he was before the dinner. The last night’s memory is vague. I am not sure if he was this gentle. But I still feel this is different. I am not sure what it is.Maybe he is hesitant.Other than kissing me gently, he is not doing anything. Then he stops and pulls back, his hands on my cheeks.His eyes show the intensity of his emotions. His expression is filled with joy, excitement, and hope.When I peer into his eyes, I remember how madly I have fallen for him. I cannot deny the fact that I have wanted him for years. Now that he is looking at me with longing and want, I can barely control myself. My heart is ready to explode.My reflection, in his eyes, is the most desirable thing. I have a feeling that I am the happiest woman in the world. I am already intoxicated without any drugs or alcohol. The little doubt in my
Molly’s POV…I am really mad at him. This is not the way to tease me. I have already faced an embarrassing situation when Mom noticed the hickeys on my neck.‘Oh, my…’I wanted to die right then and there. If Mom heard my moans, she would not stop laughing.I can’t help but curse him. My annoyance is fueled when I hear him laughing."You are a jerk," I rage.I was too tired to argue with him. So I just pull up the blanket and close my eyes.He kisses me on the brow and murmurs, "Sleep well."I find peace in his arms and fall asleep quickly.One month flew by in the blink of an eye. It seemed like only a few days ago that he asked me to give this marriage another chance. But 30 days had passed already.Time really does fly.Lance is behaving like a perfect husband. He showers me with love and care, and he gives me the most incredible experiences every night.Sometimes I feel this is surreal. But I am happy with this peaceful life. I am not thinking much about the future right now. I wi
I am restless when Ruby approaches me. I am not sure if it is fear or anxiety, but I don't feel at ease when she is around. I don't want to meet her, despite Lance's assurances that he considers her a sister.There is no smile on my face. I mean... why would I return her smile? My inner voice tells me to ignore her and get into the car. Daisy’s expression is also not very different from mine. She looks annoyed.I maintain my firm stance in front of her."Hello, Molly. Hi, Daisy." Ruby greets us with a smile and a handshake. She is acting as if she is very friendly with us. "I am pleasantly surprised to see you here. You came for lunch.""Yes. What about you?" Daisy replies to her before I can respond."Oh, yes…" Ruby laughs softly. "I am here for a luncheon with a director. I am recovered." She looks straight into my eyes. "You know, Lance has been taking care of my treatment. He spoke with one of the best oncologists in the world, and look, I am fine now.""I am glad to hear that," I
I am somewhat taken aback as I notice the quick change in her expression. Then I realize her distress is because of what Edward did to me."Look, I have nothing against Edward." I hurriedly try to explain. "What he did is undoubtedly wrong. But it is also true that he kept me safe from Ruby’s torture. He had some misunderstandings. The moment he realized his mistakes, he released me. So, don’t be sad. Okay?"Daisy has a bitter smile on her face. Honestly, that smile doesn’t look good on her. If I had not been injured, I would have held her hands and comforted her.I can only say, "He is not perfect. But he is not bad either.""I know," I hear her say when I am about to say more. "I know him well. I am not sad because of him. Basically, it was not his fault. He was only looking for the woman he had a crazy one-night stand with. It was me who was trying to hide from him. It was I who remained silent when I realized he had mistaken you for me. I could have told you everything, but I didn
Lance’s POV…My hands are itching to strangle her to death. But I don’t have time now. I need to stay with Molly. I will deal with this bitch later, and I swear, I will teach her a good lesson."Take her to the dungeon," I command. "Make sure you will treat her well."Treating her well entails not allowing her to sit quietly, and the guards understand exactly what I mean.I turn to leave."Lance…"I pause at the doorstep and look back at her."Don’t be so cruel. It is me, Ruby. I love you, Lance. Whatever I did was for you. All I want is to be with you. Please, don’t let them take me away. Consider the time we spent together. You like me. Didn't you say you would always look after me? Didn’t you say you would be grateful to me forever for saving your life? You cannot forget your promises. Please, Lance. I beg you. Take me back. I swear, I will not hurt Molly."I glare at her. I can see right through her mind. How pretentious she is. She is capable of outperforming Oskar-winning actres
I dodge the attack and turn swiftly aside, pushing her away.Ruby stumbles, the knife slipping out of her grip.Before she can get on her feet, I pick up the stool and throw it at her. The stool collides with her back as she attempts to stand up.I don’t have time to check if she is able to stand up or pick up the knife. I turn around and flee to the door. It is shocking that I cannot open the door. I twist the knob again and again, but I can’t unlock it.What the hell is going on? Did the lock get jammed?I still try to unlock the door, twisting the knob repeatedly."Hahaha…" Ruby’s laughter resonates inside the room.I freeze and turn to face her."Oh, Molly… you are too naïve," she says between the laughs. "Do you think I am also stupid like you?" She gets to her feet, her expression darkening. "I won’t come here without preparation, risking my life. I have been waiting for this day to meet you again face-to-face. And it is the best day to kill you on your wedding day."She bends a
A month later…Molly’s POV…This is our wedding day. It is a grand wedding that any woman will dream of. The hall, which is decorated with various flowers, is packed with guests. The media is also present.I have a feeling that I have suddenly become a celebrity. My wedding gown is designed by a well-known designer. It looks so pretty.It is a strapless ball gown that fits snugly around my breasts and widens from the waist, hiding my slightly protruding belly.After holding my hair in a messy bun, the makeup artist completes my makeover.I check myself in the mirror and smile shyly."You are glowing," the makeup artist says. "Mr. Stevens will not be able to look away from you today."I blush to hear her compliment."My bestie is the prettiest one," Daisy chimes in as she walks into the powder room. She inspects me, holding my shoulders. "You look gorgeous. Your and Lance’s photos are going to make headlines tomorrow.""Has the groom arrived?" The makeup artist asks, beaming with a smi
Lance returns after some time. I am relieved to see his wound is properly bandaged."We are heading to the restaurant for dinner," says Edward. "Are you coming?""No." Lance denies his offer, his gaze lingering on me. "I will ask the room service to deliver the food here.""As you see fit. Shall we go?" Edward nods at Daisy.Daisy hugs me and whispers in my ear, "Enjoy your meal with your husband, and let me enjoy my boyfriend’s company."I smile in response.They walk out. Now, I and Lance are alone in the room. We continue to stare at each other silently.Lance has told me many things today. He has been honest with me. He has cleared many doubts in my mind. I now know that he genuinely loves me. I also understood why he always took care of Ruby.He was only trying to repay her favor.Favor?I am still perplexed as to when Ruby saved him and how. I cannot help but say, "I’d like to know how she saved you.""I will tell you everything." Lance holds my hand and takes me to the bed. "It
Lance’s POV…My heart aches when I recall Molly’s sad look that evening. I was confused and apprehensive at the time and couldn’t reveal it to her. I wanted some time to think about it before concluding anything. So, I didn’t tell Molly anything about it when she asked me.That was another mistake I had made. However, I don’t want to repeat the mistake, so I decide to disclose everything to her."The doctors said that there were some complications in her pregnancy, and the fetus was weak. He recommended bed rest. Ruby often called me while I was at work and cried a lot, saying she feared her baby would suffer from cancer just like she did. I pitied her and used to go to her to console her."I pause when I notice her suspicious look. I know exactly what she is thinking. I clasp her hands. "Believe me, I only intended to console her. I owe her this life. She saved me once.""She saved you!" she exclaims, a look of disbelief spreading across her face.I nod. "Yes. I am taking care of her
I cannot stop crying. I feel so guilty.Out of anger, I came so far away and put myself in danger. Because of me, Lance got hurt. I shouldn’t have acted impulsively. I could have stayed at the resort and questioned him."Sorry." I apologize to him again."Stop crying," he consoles me. "Listen up. The rain is getting heavy. We need to take shelter somewhere."I don’t know how far the village is from here. Since it is getting dark and raining, nothing is clearly visible. Furthermore, I don’t know how the people will be. As I look down at the three people lying motionless on the ground, I cannot help but shudder.I don’t want to put my trust in the villagers. I’d better head to the next bus stop."There…" Lance pointed to the right. "I can see a building there. Let’s go."I also spot a building-like structure in that direction. But I am reluctant to go there. I tug on his wrist and stop him."I'm not sure what danger lurks there. What if we come across more goons like these?" I nodded to
Molly’s POV…I am so lost in my thoughts that I don't realize all of the passengers have left. The driver asks me to get down since it is the last stop.I hesitantly get off the bus and take a look around. The area is deserted and looks scary. I don’t know where to go. At this moment, I regret acting recklessly. I shouldn’t have come so far away from the resort.It is started drizzling now. I have to get to the bus stop shed quickly. I take my phone from my purse, thinking to call Daisy."Oh!"I am stunned and disappointed at the same time when I see no signal on the phone.I dejectedly sit down on the bench and look at the road dazedly, hoping the next bus will come soon.Maybe a taxi.I remember Lance running after the bus. I wonder if he is still looking for me."Will he come here looking for me?" I murmur in a trance."Are you waiting for the bus?"I almost jump when I hear a husky voice.Three men are coming toward me, smiling vilely.I immediately know I am in danger. I stand up
"Molly, you are getting it wrong," he says. His nervousness is clear in his demeanor.Why is he so nervous if he has done nothing wrong? What is he trying to hide?I scowl at him suspiciously."Yes, she was here. Believe me, I didn’t call her. She came here on her own." He comes in closer and holds my hands."And you met her secretly," I add, my heart tearing apart.He hangs his head down and nods slowly."Why?" I snarl, withdrawing my hands. My fingers are shaking in rage. My insides are clenching in agony. I get emotional, and I cannot say a word.All the bitter memories from the past rush into my mind, making me feel that he can never forget Ruby. He always preferred her and rushed to her whenever she called him. I am sure he might have done the same thing."I met her because she was depressed. She was…""Depressed?" I scoff before he can finish speaking. "She is always depressed… pitiful. You always go to her. Why, Lance? If she needed you, I wouldn't have stopped you from going t