Chapter 1 - Ugly Duckling

Time passed by in a blink of an eye, then the day of his wedding came. 

Tyler entered the car once it was opened by his chauffeur. "Let's go," Tyler said in his commanding tone. 

The chauffeur wasted no time and drove off to the military base as he didn't want his boss to be late for his wedding. 

When Tyler arrived, the wedding ceremony began right away as if they were in a hurry. 

The corner of Tyler's mouth twitched slightly, he knew his cousin was in a hurry thinking that he would change his mind at the very last minute. 

Once he stood at the very end of the aisle. A musician played the wedding march. 

The door opened once the music began, revealing the bride and General Max standing beside her.  

Everyone present in the wedding were wondering why the veil was so thick that it was impossible to see the face of the bride. 

Someone who was standing near Tyler could not hold back, commented. "I heard a rumor that she's an ugly duckling. Perhaps, that is the reason behind her thick veil." 

Tyler turned his head toward the man who spoke and shot him an icy gaze. 

Intimidated by his gaze, the man lowered his head. He scolded himself for not containing himself. 

After a while, finally, the bride was standing before Tyler. Even in their proximity he couldn't see his bride's face and that made Tyler frown a little. 

'Is her face so hideous that she's covered with a thick veil?' 

"Take care of her," Max smiled and placed the bride's hand on Tyler's arm. 

"I will," Tyler answered, his face carrying a faint smile. 

The bride put her other hand over her hand that was holding Tyler's arm. 

Tyler could feel that she was trembling and the coldness of her hand seeped through his thick military uniform. 

He leaned sideways. "Nervous?" 

"Yes," she answered softly. 

Tyler was surprised to hear her pleasant and soothing voice. 

After 10 minutes the wedding ceremony was over and the officiant declared them as husband and wife. 

The officiant asked Tyler and his wife to sign the marriage certificate. Max and his wife signed as their witness. 

"You may kiss the bride," the officiant said after the signing of the marriage certificate. 

Reluctantly, Tyler lifted the veil. He ducked his head and went under the veil. 

He had no intention of kissing a stranger, an ugly duckling at that. 

His eyes narrowed upon seeing his bride's face. "You’re Jade Leitner?" 

Stunned, Jade Leitner's beautiful face paled considerably making her look ashen. She couldn't open her mouth to say something and just nodded her head. 

Right away both Tyler and Jade's minds traveled down memory lane, revisiting the past.  

One fateful night a few months back.

As Jade's eyes landed on the man who had the most perfect and handsome face - tantalizing hazel eyes, straight nose, luscious lips and perfectly chiseled jaw. 

Describing the man in one word. He's an Adonis. 

Jade's heart stopped beating for a second. 

For a moment, Tyler was stunned to see a beautiful woman burst into the room without warning. 

Tyler regarded the innocent beauty before him with his wintry gaze that could send a bone chilling effect. 

'I've already refused an escort, why are they sending me another one? Did they think that I prefer an innocent looking slut?' Tyler muttered under his breath as Jade inched forward to him. 

All of the sudden, the door opened, one of the two men popped his head round the door to search for the woman they were chasing. 

"Check if she is here," Jade heard the familiar voice, snapping her from her daze. 

The next second Jade was on the man's lap and pressed her lips on his while her arms wrapped around his neck. 

Tyler froze as soft lips hovered his lips and was oblivious that he held her waist as her vanilla scent assaulted his sense of smell. 

The men left right away after seeing that the woman they were searching was not in the room and saw a couple kissing.

Jade was discovered by the men to be spying on them. So they chased her. 

But they lost track of her as they didn't notice her entering the restroom when they were chasing after her. 

In the restroom she quickly changed her clothes and removed the wig she wore before heading back to the bar. 

Although she changed her clothes and removed the wig, she still made sure she wouldn't be caught so she resorted to kissing a complete stranger. 

She gave her first kiss to a man she didn't know at all rather than to be in danger. 

"Who are you, what are you doing here?" Tyler asked in an icy tone after recovering from his shock making Jade shudder. 

"Sir, please let me stay here for a while. Some men were chasing me, let me hide here for a while," Jade begged Tyler with her tear filled blue eyes imploring him. 

Because she was panicking, Jade didn't realize that she was still seated on the man’s lap.  

"Tyler?" A female voice sounded at the doorway before Tyler could interrogate her. 

Simultaneously, Jade and Tyler looked at the woman who spoke. 

"Sophia?" Tyler could see the hurt on Sophia's face, she was on the verge of bursting into tears.

"Get out of here," Tyler harshly pushed Jade and she fell to the floor. 

Jade scrambled and went out of the room.