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
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
The gazes of the three ladies around her came to rest on her, and they looked to have been swept away for whatever reason Lydia didn't know. She knew what she said, and nothing warranted the look they were all giving her now.Grace clamped her hands and brought them up to rub her face, holding the biggest look of adoration among the three, "Aww, to love and be loved." she cooed, her smile beaming.Lydia almost said she didn't love Jayden White, but she pressed her lips together; that was the point-they were to pretend like they were in love. The only problem about that was she wasn't pretending; everything she just said and the manner in which she said it was not an act, so how could Grace mistake it for love?Except it was, and that scared her more than she thought it would. These past few weeks have been a rollercoaster. Was that why being ignored by him, for the most part, hurt? She had no understanding why that was; Jayden hadn't changed his behaviour, but her feelings for him had
Time flies, especially when you don’t want it to. Three weeks had gone by, and a lot had happened. Going back to work felt like ease. She resumed her role like nothing had happened, and though there were whispers behind her back, none dared bring it to her face. She wasn’t just their boss; she was Mrs. White, the wife of Jayden White, the owner of the White estate company. Many bestowed their fear of Jayden onto her, and as much as it helped keep unneeded attention away, she wasn’t that kind of person. She didn’t rejoice that others feared her, and she was sure the same could be said about Jayden. They had a preconceived notion about him, and he didn’t look willing to address it, just like he never corrected her when she thought the worst of him. After she returned to the office, the police reached out to her so she could recount her testimony of the incident that took place four weeks ago for further pushing their investigation. Though Lydia told the police she had been there to mee
The rich masculine smell was the first thing to fill Lydia's nose as her consciousness returned, and she wanted to bury herself further into it and never get up. Her eyes opened and fixed on the ceiling, unable to think of anything else but what she knew happened last night. They had gotten intimate, and she had shown Jayden all of her, and he did the same. Her body experienced heights she didn't think existed at his hands-heights she never knew about, and it felt as though it was his calling. The man Jayden White had owned her last night; every part of her body bore witness to his authority and control, and he knew just what to do with his mouth, his hands, and his tongue. She didn't want to think about it for fear of wanting more; it was that good. She turned to the side of the bed where he had laid last night after he took everything she had to offer, but it was empty.He was gone, and the realisation made her heart ache a little. Last night wasn't supposed to happen-it wasn't supp
Lydia reflected on everything throughout the drive back home. She hadn't been here in five days, and though she was returning because Miles had awakened, there was a long way from how she once felt. Jayden was still angry with her, and he might even hate her as he should. There were many things to apologise for; being stupid was one of them. Anthony had capitalised on her stupidity three years ago, and that's the same thing that had happened last week.There was no way of undoing what had already been done; the only way out of it was through, one step at a time while hoping for the best.The car came to a stop in front of the house, and George opened the door for her. She stepped down, and he went to the boot to pull out the carry bag with all her essentials and followed her with it. Lydia pushed open the front door and stepped into the house, and there she found Ingrid descending the stairs.A smile crossed the young maid's face, probably noting that her presence also meant Miles had
Guilt. Those five words should be longer for the effect they have on the human heart. It was what Lydia felt throughout the next few days that followed. She remained at the hospital where Miles stayed after his emergency surgery to remove the bullet, which was successful.Miles' wife and his seven-year-old son had arrived at the hospital the following day as they lived in another state. They came to be with him and did not leave his side. The doctors informed them he would regain consciousness any moment now, and they all looked forward to it. Phoebe was a friendly, kind and welcoming woman, and his son Andrew had been such an amazing company. They asked her to go home four days ago after they arrived, and she told them she wouldn't be able to go home until he regained consciousness. That was the punishment for her stubbornness. She had risked the safety and comfort of Phoebe and the future of Andrew by not thinking about her decision; this was the reminder.Jayden had also visited, a
Blood coursed through Jayden's veins, and every word he uttered made his heart beat even faster. He wanted to hurt her; he wanted to cause her as much discomfort as she caused him and make her suffer and feel the full extent of his wrath. The last thing he expected was a call from George telling him everything that had happened and how Lydia had gotten them into it, and so instead of coming home like the three were supposed to, they were now in the hospital. If she was there to meet Anthony and almost got shot instead, it meant the snake of a man had tried to wipe her out, wanting to keep the truth a secret. He would bury Anthony for this and make sure he would never see the light of day, both he and his boss, Killian Jakob. They would regret the day they crossed him. Jayden felt so angry on the way over that he blacked out a few times. Good thing Adam had chosen to drive him because he wouldn't have been able to do that himself without running the risk of an accident. After he arr
Lydia stayed in the waiting room of St. Donald Hospital with her head buried in her palm. Her shirt had blood stains and needed to be changed, but she didn't care. It had been over twenty minutes since their arrival, and she still couldn't get past what had happened. One minute, everything was fine, and the next minute, nothing was okay. She had never seen such a terrifying sight in all her life. Miles had dropped to the ground, bleeding from his mouth, and she had screamed at the top of her voice in fear and terror, fearing the worst had happened to him.George was quick because he was already reversing the car to where they were even before she noticed Miles' wounds. He came to them on the ground and helped Miles into the car before driving off. He had instructed her to put pressure on the wound on Miles' side, and she had taken off her jacket to do that. Miles was barely unconscious, and Lydia prayed, begging him to hold on even as he lost more blood.George drove with rage and muc
Jayden had said many things at dinner yesterday, one of which was asking her to take accountability for her lies that sent him to jail. Mary had also called her a liar when she found out Lydia had been the one whose testimony put Jayden in jail. The older woman was convinced that her testimony was falsified against Jayden but it wasn't. Lydia testified to what she saw—what she saw when she went with Anthony to the White Estate company building. Jayden believed she lied and had not changed his conviction, and so did Mary; then, perhaps there was more to this than she knew. What if what she knew was a lie? What if it was all set up? What if she was also bait in the grand scheme? She would have said Anthony wouldn't do such a cruel thing to her, but that man had no integrity or moral compass and would gladly do anything to get ahead. She heeded to confront him and look him in the eyes while she accused him of using her to frame Jayden White for a crime he didn't commit. This way, she wo