3. I'm Yours

MALCOLM

My jaw is still hanging loose as I watch her hug Madam Quinn who is wearing a large proud smile. I'm not the only one in shock as Edward is frozen at the scene watching his mother welcome someone else to his rightful position.

"W-W-What is the meaning of this, mother!" Edward screamed, frowning at them both. "This is ridiculous! Who is she? You only have one grandchild-"

"Shut up, will you?" Madam Quinn glared at her older son and only son, might I add. I still can't take my eyes off my ex-wife. Her skin is glowing in that red dress, her neck is bedecked with white pearls and beautiful earrings. She screams money and luxury.

Her eyes are easy as she stares at Edward with a taunting smile on her lips. When she walks forward, I can't help but take a loud gulp. She has always been sexy but right now, her sexiness exceeded the charts. Even her steps carry grace and class.

"Uncle Edward," she says much to my surprise and everyone else's. "It's such a pleasure to finally meet you-"

Edward flinches at her address and he glances at his mother who doesn't say a word but instead, reaches out to hold Caroline's hand to smile sweetly at her.

"Such a good girl," Madam Quinn simply said. "Caroline is your younger brother's long lost daughter. I found her about five years ago and I've been training her to take over the company ever since as it's her rightful position-"

"No!" Edward screamed in horror. "That's impossible! Kevin's family died in that accident! We never heard of no child surviving-"

"I confirmed her bloodline, Edward. Do not take me for a fool," Madam Quinn glares as the press continues to film their next big story. She's feeding them and I wonder if this was the idea all along.

"Uncle, I hope you'll accept me as your niece," Caroline says in a very polite voice that only pisses Edward off the most. He's clenching his fist and glaring at her before he throws his face to the crowd. When his eyes meet mine, I see realisation flash in his orbs before he grits his teeth and walks away.

That was a message he sent right there to follow him but I can't bring myself to take my eyes off Caroline. She's smiling so beautifully but behind that, I'm getting the chills as she watches Edward leave. It's as if her eyes darken with evil agenda and when she lifts her head, she's oozing with so much confidence.

Louise walks away and I don't bother to ask where she's going as I can only think of my ex-wife and how the fuck all these came about.

When Madam Quinn starts to introduce her to the crowd, someone appears next to me and I recognize him as Edward's guard. The hefty man doesn't say a word as he stands next to me but I get the message.

He's seeking my presence and considering that look he gave me from the stage, I can already guess the tantrum he's about to pull.

I turn just in time to see my bodyguards take a step forward but I shake my head and they stop. This is just going to be a harmless conversation between myself and my father-in-law who has just been disgraced by his mother and is probably seeking whom to vent his shame and anger on.

Sorry for him but I couldn’t care less what happens to his company or his health. Heck! A heart attack should just end him already. So much heartbreak in one night for a sixty year old man like himself.

I follow the guard, only turning to stare at Caroline again. I didn’t want to let her out of my sight for fear I'd never see her again.

Five years! Five whole years and now she's back with such a wonderful smile like she never left. Did she miss me too the same way I missed her? Did she ever wake up in bed lonely and craving my touch? I want to know what happened all these years. I want to know what her real identity is all about and if it's not just a scheme with Madam Quinn.

Wait a second. If Caroline is Edward's niece then doesn't that make her Louise's cousin? Then that will only mean that… I've been married to two cousins in this life?

"Ah, fuck shit!" There's no rule against that! "Keep an eye on her," I say to my guards and step out of the hall going round back to the garden to meet Edward.

He's standing by the pool, holding a bottle of champagne in his hands over his waist. He's unbuttoned his suit jacket and his hair looks like a mess.

He's pissed. I can't say I understand. I already own my company… at the expense of her-

"If this is about me arriving late, I don't think I need a scolding from my father-in-law, don’t you think?" I smirk, looking around and catching no signs of Louise. "Did Louise go home already-"

The sudden crack of thunder catches me off guard and I frown, glancing at the broken bottle that landed next to my shoe that's now dripping with the champagne but good thing I decided to wear leather shoes.

"Ten thousand dollars," I say with a straight face and lift my head. "My assistant will contact yours-"

Edward is suddenly in my face, grabbing the lapels of my jacket and yanking me closer like we're about to kiss- no, thank you, sir. I still have trouble kissing your daughter-- but all he does is glare hard into my face, breathing hard on me.

"You bastard! You knew all along, didn't you? You think I don’t recognize that bitch? That's your fucking ex-wife!"

I didn't expect he'd start spitting on my face so soon but more importantly, I knock his hands off, pushing him away from me. He smells like he's had too much to drink and it even shows in how he staggered to remain on his feet.

"Gee, thanks!" I say as I dust my suit off his wrinkled hands. "I thought I recognized her too.”

"Don't fucking pull that bullshit with me!" Edward sneers, forgetting he's old enough to have a heart attack or a stroke and die this very minute.

Someone has forgotten their age.

"I was shocked to find out that you married a nobody for three years and you kept her away from the public. This was your plan all along, right? You plotted this with my mother."

Wow. Someone would actually believe his words-- I mean, I would too, if I didn't let her go all these years, that is.

"Trust me," I dust his hands off my jacket. "I'm as shocked as you are," I say as calmly as I can.

"Shut up!" He yells, running his hands through his hair again. "I know you're planning on divorcing my daughter!"

His discovery is no surprise. I've always known he had a rat around me, I just didn't know who it was. It can be anyone; my guards, my assistant- sigh, this is a lot of sniffing out to do but I don't care. As long as it's not affecting my company, I can live with it.

"There's no need to break it to you then," I keep my eyes on his scowling face that doesn't intimidate me one bit. "But if you're suggesting that I knew about it beforehand then..."

He scoffs. It doesn't matter what I say as he'll never believe me. "Just you wait till I put my hands on you! Teaming up with my mother to sweep my company off my feet?"

He'd be surprised to learn that it's none of my business but I let him speak.

"You chose the wrong side, Malcolm!" He says before turning to leave. "Find Louise! She's coming home with me and that Caroline woman-"

My ears perk up at the mention of her name.

"Dig her up. I'm not about to allow an imposter to take up my hard work. That is ridiculous- ugh!" He storms away and his guards are right on his tail.

With an unfazed face, I watch him leave. Finally the air is clear again and I release a long breath. Shockingly, I unclench my fist too. I had reacted so fast when he mentioned Caroline-- one would think we're still married.

I want to see her again. I shouldn't be wasting time here discussing with an entitled old man who still has beef with his mother. I should be ogling my Ex-wife and making sure none of those dirty old men try to play 'matchmake.'

I can't get her image off my head. Since it's been five years, she should be twenty-eight when in fact she looks like she hasn't aged past twenty-three, the last time I saw her.

Her crying face has plagued my dreams all these years and it's almost like I can hear her heart breaking each time.

Who am I kidding? Caroline should hate me now. Her warm smile from the podium didn't feel so warm and her eyes weren't as soft and innocent as they used to be-- no, in fact, it made me tense and anxious.

Maybe it's the guilt that stabbed my heart in that moment but seeing her again only stirred up the feelings I had tried to bury all these years.

Inhaling deeply to calm myself, I glanced towards the pool only to stare again when I caught sight of her.

She's walking at the other side of the pool, her phone pressed to her ear and a smile on her lips. Unlike earlier, I feel this smile is genuine and warm.

I eye her figure from behind, the curve of her back and the shape of her ass. Her boobs have gotten bigger-- or perhaps it's the bra- I don't want to start picturing her naked because I know I'll get hard right now.

Just a thought of her keeps me harder than Louise trying to give me a blow job. She eventually stopped trying to get me to fuck her when she realised it was never going to stand.

"You're not too old," Louise would say. "Are you too old? No, you're not. Make it stand, Malcolm!" She would demand with a fierce look of lust in her eyes.

Well, she'd never understand that while I'm forty-two in age, my dick is a teenager! Raging hormones everywhere only this time, it wanted just one woman.

"It's going well," Caroline tucks her hair behind her ears before laying her arm under her elbow. I'm lost in the smile on her face that makes her beauty sparkle like stars. She's glowing under the night sky and that red dress compliments her skin so well.

"Really now? Well I can't promise that but you know what I can promise?" When she says that, her voice is low and now I'm wondering who it is that has her blushing like a girl again.

From her fingers that I can see, there's no ring. She cannot possibly have a man already!

I know it's been five years and she's young, beautiful and very attractive but...

Fuck!

Now I really want to know who it is. Who else has her smiling the way only I have? I want to take that phone from her and see who it is.

I can't push away how possessive I feel over this woman. It's like an instinct buried deep inside me that's only for her.

I don't know when I take a step closer in an attempt to storm over there and gain her attention but I halt when she notices my presence.

She's fixing those curious eyes on me and I suck in a breath at the sudden act.

We lock gazes and I can't even breathe. It's like she's everywhere all around me and I know if I stand too close, I'll consume her and hide her from the world.

Where have you been, Caroline? Where did you hide? Who did you hide with?

Her eyes only hold curiosity and I can't help but frown. She stares at me as though she's staring at a stranger--- it's impossible for her not to recognise me!

I'll point her out from a crowd even if I catch only a glimpse of her. Why does it hurt me so deeply that she must've forgotten about me?

"Yes, love," she looks away, returning to her call. Her reply almost makes my knees wobble.

Love? I'm your only goddamn love! Who the fuck is he-

She catches my gaze again and her next words crash into me like a sudden crack in the sky, "Just say the word and I'll come right now. You know I'm yours... and only yours."