A small knock came over to the door, and it opened a few seconds later. Lydia didn't turn around to see who it was but figured if it were Ingrid, she would speak up.Just as expected, Ingrid spoke up. "Dinner is ready, ma'am," she said."Give me a minute." She pulled herself up from the bed she had laid on since returning with Miles hours ago and followed behind Ingrid.They came downstairs, and she found Jayden seated at the table, a sight she hadn't seen in a while. His presence at dinner began to decline after they slept together and had carried on until this point. For the past few days, she hadn't seen him, and now, suddenly, he returned to the table after what happened at the office. She would have felt horrible if she hadn't seen what she saw at the office."Good evening." She greeted him as she took her seat at the dinner table."Good evening," Jayden replied, and like always, they both returned to silence.Mark served the delicious meal before them, and in silence, they ate i
"I thought you wanted me to come and celebrate with you, Mother." Lydia said, her eyes welled up because her fiancé' mother, who was celebrating her 55th birthday, just told her she wasn't invited. Hanna Chester's fiery gaze burnt so hot that Lydia fell on fire from her head to her toe. Hanna's desire to harm her was evident, yet she couldn't take the chance of others witnessing it. Lydia's words seemed to have had a more negative effect than she expected. "I am not your whore of a mother! You know the door. See yourself out." Hanna said harshly and walked back from her. A tear slid down Lydia's face after being disgraced by Hanna Chester, her fiance's mother, and it was too much to bear. She felt hurt when Anthony told her Hanna had thrown a family-only party, which meant she wasn't invited, and it made her feel like she wasn't a part of the family despite everything she had done for them and endured over the years. When she finally received a mail invitation to the party this m
Lydia couldn't even say anything with how ashamed she felt, so she took her leave. Her tears did not stop falling, and her heart did not stop aching, but that wasn't enough to call it a day because Lydia found herself under arrest for theft less than an hour later."I didn't steal that! I didn't steal anything. No, this is a mistake!" the very words Lydia yelled out after the police officer found Patek Philippe's Grand Complications wristwatch in her winter coat pocket echoed in her head as the police drove to the station.Lydia had no clue how the wristwatch got into her pocket, and when the police stopped her to search based on tips from people across the road, she gave the go-ahead. She couldn't believe her eyes when the officer pulled the expensive wristwatch out of her pocket, and the police didn't listen to her words after that.The officers brought Lydia into the station, and she told them she needed to make a phone call. It was her right to make at least one phone call to the
Lydia blinked a few times before she grinned and lost it. She didn't think she had the strength to laugh, but that was what she did. She chuckled and clenched down on her stomach, shaking her head.Just when she thought yesterday was the end to all her insanities, today presented itself with this stranger proposing marriage to her. It had to be a joke, she believed.His brows pulled together into a frown. "What is so funny, Miss Mars?"She held her hand out and shook her head, brushing the few tears that rolled down her face with the back of her hand and looked at him.He wasn't laughing, and this made her laughter die down. He was serious—or was waiting for the perfect moment to pull the gotcha card."I am sorry," she said, clearing her throat. "I thought you said you wanted to marry me. That is funny; you've got to see that, right?" She finished, still fighting a chuckle that now caused her head to ache.He didn't seem to have seen anything funny in that. "I am not here to joke with
Lydia lay on the long bench in the cell with her face towards the ceiling as she reflected on her conversation with Mister Jayden White.Marriage for her freedom wasn't marriage, and it wasn't an option. She had always believed love should be the only reason anyone should marry, and that hadn't changed yet.She snapped out of her thoughts when the cell bars unlocked and opened. Her eyes darted to the bars, and she saw the officer standing before two women about to enter the cell. The black-haired woman to his left wore a black crazy jean, and her hair looked too messy for the morning. She stood almost the same height and size as Officer Jackson and looked terrifying. Her mascara looked messy and scary, and the way she stared at Lydia made her tremble inside in fear. The brunette woman on his right looked more decent in her sundress and black hose. She, however, had a creepy smile on her face, and the mischievousness of it also ticked Lydia off in the wrong way.Officer Jackson stepped
Lydia had rejected Jayden White's offer earlier because she believed she would somehow find her way out of this situation. Even if help would come another way, there was no guarantee she would live to see it, not with the turn of things. She had two choices: accept his offer or return to face the two monsters in her cell, called women. She had to swallow her pride and worth; this was now a matter of life and death. Yes, she didn't know the stranger well, but from what she observed about him earlier, she knew he had enough money and could use a little of that.Lydia picked up the telephone, and her still-trembling hand dialled the numbers in shame. She held the phone to her ear and waited as it rang three times before being picked up. "Miss Mars." Jayden White's voice was calm and collected as always, sending chills through her.He knew she would call; he knew she would reach out. It felt almost like he had planned it all out, but it didn't matter; she needed this."I agree to your of
The registrar, Mister McAlester, oriented them on what a sacred vow the oath of marriage was for the first five minutes after Lydia and Jayden stepped into his office."Do you understand all this?" Mister McAlester asked, his grey eyes darting between them."Yes," Jayden replied, and when she remained silent, his head turned to her. His already intimidating eyes hardened on her, and they silently told her to answer the question."Yes, I do, too." She replied in a small voice.The registrar nodded. "Okay, then that's good. Do you have your oaths, or shall we go with the one designed by the marriage registry?" He asked."We do not have any vows written out," Jayden answered, reaching out to place his hand on Lydia's, patting it a little. She shook her head, unsure if she was also supposed to respond."Then we will use the one designed by the marriage registry." Mister McAlester said and picked up the file before him, which had the names and information they filled out when they entered
Lydia stepped out of the registrar's office and walked towards Jayden White, who stood leaning against the wall with his hand in his pocket. He had now removed his suit and hung it over his shoulder, leaving him in his black long-sleeve. His head, resting against the wall, was tilted so that his eyes stared at the ceiling. Even though this man wasn't looking at her, he affected her in ways she couldn't explain. His sun-kissed skin was the definition of perfectly toned, and Lydia caught herself longing to run her hand over his face. The memory of the kiss they had shared in the registry office rushed into her mind, and she licked her dry bottom lip. It felt good—too good she wanted a do-over.She scolded herself for thinking about him that way because they didn't have such a relationship; he wasn't the type of man she usually went for, and she still didn't know what plans he had for her. She couldn't lose focus just because the kiss they shared in the registrar's office was her best kis