Sensing that it wasn't the right time to bring up Ned, Mallory quickly corrected herself. "We agreed that I would be your bridesmaid on your wedding day and you would be mine!""I've never said that," Angeline immediately rebutted.Mallory's face instantly flushed red. She huffed, "Yes, you did! Back then, you must've been so caught up in studying that you didn't hear what I said! You agreed to it at that time! "Nonetheless, I know that you're now the vice president of Lawson Global and must be very busy. So I won't pressure you into being my bridesmaid, but you must attend the wedding! You, Zachary, and I grew up together. There'll also be a lot of our old friends there. They all miss you so dearly. Besides—""I'm sorry," Angeline interjected. She pretended to glance at her wristwatch and said with an apologetic smile, "I have another appointment. I'll definitely make it to your wedding if I have the time! Congratulations…""Angeline, why have you become so distant?" Mallory cou
They made it seem as though everyone but Angeline was innocent—she alone committed the egregious crime of regaining consciousness. She should've remained in a coma and died off without ever waking up.Whenever these so-called childhood friends of hers gathered, they would all grumble, saying that things would've been much better if Angeline had never woken up.They even tried to give their unsolicited advice to Angeline, saying that Ned and she had merely been in a relationship. That didn't mean he owed her anything. Since he had fallen in love with someone else, why couldn't she be the bigger person and let him go so that he could be with his new love?Angeline had cherished them as friends, and their actions broke her heart.But now, she no longer cared about her friendship with them, realizing that they were never sincerely her friends. Thus, the painful past didn't affect her anymore."Mallory, it's true that I was once easily blinded by my emotions, but that's not the case an
When Mallory recalled the handsome young bodyguard with Angeline just now, she quickly got her phone out and called Ned.She knew Ned had regained his memories and even cast aside Fletcher Corporation just to appease Angeline, so she was determined to inform him about this.She ran toward her car and opened the door while saying, "Ned? I ran into Angeline just now. She bought some emergency contraception pills from the pharmacy! I got the feeling that the bodyguard with her was looking at her funny, so I'm worried about Angeline…"I swear I'm telling the truth! If this is a lie, then my wedding to Zachary will fall through and he'll abandon me for good!"Ned was outside Angeline's place when he received the call from Mallory.Whenever he felt frustrated or frazzled, he felt the urge to be closer to Angeline, and he would instinctively drive over to Angeline's apartment.Just so he could spend more time in closer proximity to her, he bought the unit on the fourth floor of Grand Co
Ned dared not imagine how frightened Angeline must have been then. She, who was terrified of having sexual relations, had been drugged and forced to have sex with a stranger. She had to have been overwhelmed with fear and anguish.Under the influence of the drug, Angeline couldn't avoid having sex with a man, but Ned didn't believe she would willingly initiate sex with someone.That being said, what Mallory cared about the most was getting married to Zachary. She had finally managed to sink her claws into him and force him to marry her. Since she had sworn on her marriage that she was telling the truth, Ned felt compelled to believe her.While Ned was busy mulling the situation over, Angeline's car pulled up outside the building.After parking the car, Lenny turned around and saw that Angeline had fallen asleep in the backseat. He undid his seatbelt and got out of the car. Then, he opened the back door and called out softly, "We've arrived, Ms. Angeline. If you're tired, you should
"So, what's gotten into you this time? Why did you want to see me?" Angeline asked.Ned approached her and shut his bloodshot eyes. The veins on his hands protruded as he gripped her shoulders tightly.Then, he opened his eyes to reveal a look of pain and fierce hatred. His voice was eerily soft as he said, "I almost ran out of my mind trying to keep myself from touching you, yet you were loose enough to sleep with some random man?"Angeline was taken aback. Then, she remembered how she'd run into Mallory earlier. She guessed Mallory had asked the pharmacy's employee for more details after seeing her come out from there.Ned tightened his grip on Angeline. His voice trembled as he tried to keep himself from going mad. "Did you sleep with this bodyguard?"Even Lenny was stunned by his words. Ned continued, "He already has a girlfriend! What's so great about him? Which part of him is worthy of your love? Is it because he's young? Or is there—""I'd advise you to hold your tongue, M
"What does it matter to me whether you believe me?" Angeline tucked her windswept hair behind her ear. Her eyes were bright and guileless. "I don't care what you think of me, Ned."The blood drained from Ned's face, and his breathing sped up. His nostrils twitched as tears streamed down his face. He tentatively reached out a hand to hold Angeline's. "Don't say that, Angie, please. I know I made a mistake, but please don't give up on me!"You promised you wouldn't ever leave me behind, Angie. You promised you'd always be by my side!" He held her hand tightly and looked up at her tearfully. "You don't have to care what I think, Angie. I have no thoughts! I just want you to give me a chance. Don't leave me!"Before Angeline could say anything, he looked away from her and continued, "I know I'm not worthy of you now—not like this. I'll work hard, and I'll get better. I'll become worthy of you! Please, Angie, please. I can't live without you. You're my everything!"Ned sobbed. "I feel w
"Mr. Fletcher!" Lenny grabbed Ned by the shoulder.Angeline waved a hand at Lenny, indicating for him to calm down. She said, "It's true that I used to love you, Ned, but that's all in the past now. I spent some time reflecting on our relationship, and I have to say that the main reason I fell for you was because no one wanted me at the time."You were the only one who did, so I thought of you as my buoy. Later, when you kicked me to the curb, at least I still had Anne and Hatty—they became my buoys. But Anne died in your hands, and Hatty jumped off a building because of Tommy."Angeline paused, then continued, "What did you do at the time, Ned? Or have you lost your memory and forgotten everything again? Do you think I can love you again just because you're telling me that you also feel wronged and aggrieved?"That I can forgive you just because you're saying it's not your fault you lost your memories? How cheap do you think I am?"Everything else that had happened could get a re
"Get out of my way!" Ned grabbed Lenny by the collar.Lenny merely held Ned's wrist calmly. His voice was cold as he said, "Can't you tell that Ms. Angeline doesn't want to see you now, Mr. Fletcher? As her bodyguard, I have no qualms about getting physical with you if you continue pestering her like this. And I'm sure you're no match for me."When he saw how Ned wanted to charge inside out of agitation, he held him in place and continued, "I don't know how deeply you and Ms. Angeline loved each other in the past."But even as an independent observer, I can tell there's no way you two can get back together—not with two lives between you. The more you pester her like this, the more you repulse her!"Two lives stood between them.Ned sagged like a ragdoll when he thought about Anne, who used to cook delicious meals for him, and Henrietta, whose smile had been as sweet as Angeline's.How could he be unaware of how much they meant to Angeline?Back then, Anne thought she didn't