n the Hodge City.
At the Harris Hospital.
"Congratulations, you are pregnant. The baby is healthy."
Elizabeth Blaine squeezed the pregnancy test report in her hand, looking slightly stunned.
Pregnant? Elizabeth was surprised and delighted. She couldn't believe it.
"You will need to come over regularly for reexamination before you give birth to it. Where is the father? Call him in. There's something he needs to know."
The doctor's words brought Elizabeth back to her senses. She smiled embarrassingly, "My husband didn't come over today."
"Oh? I guess he is too busy with work. But family comes first, and then is the work."
Elizabeth came out of the hospital. It was drizzling outside. Elizabeth touched her lower abdomen and still couldn't believe it.
There was a life growing in her body.
It was her and Max's baby.
The phone rang. It was Max. He sent her a message.
"It's raining. Bring me an umbrella to this address."
Elizabeth checked the address on her phone. It was a club called Stary Club.
What was this place? He said he was going to have a meeting today. Was he having the meeting there?
However, Elizabeth didn't wonder too much. She asked Jamie, the driver of the Hart family, to take her to that address.
"You go back first."
"Mrs. Hart, don't you need me to wait for you? How will you go back afterward?"
Elizabeth shook her head, "Don't worry. I can take Max's car later."
Since she came to look for Max, she should wait for him to go home together.
Jamie got back to the car and left.
The drizzle had turned into a pouring rain.
Elizabeth held an umbrella and walked to the gate of the club.
It was a high-end billiards club only open to its members. Elizabeth was stopped by security at the door.
"Sorry, Ma'am. Please show me your membership card."
Elizabeth had to come out and send Max a message.
"I'm here. Are you still busy? The security doesn't let me in. I will wait for you downstairs."
She put the phone back in her bag and stood by the gate. Staring at the rain, she was thinking about her pregnancy.
"Should I tell him when he comes out later? Or, wait till his birthday as a big surprise?" Thought Elizabeth.
Elizabeth indulged in her thoughts. She didn't know that she had become the laughingstock of some people upstairs.
A group of people stood by the window, looking downstairs at her.
"Max, your wife is quite competent. She actually delivered an umbrella as required. She doesn't think you'll get caught in the rain without an umbrella, right?"
"Wow, she loves you so much that she even ignores logic."
"Bullshit."
A lazy and low voice came from the corner of the booth. It was Max Hart, Elizabeth's husband.
Max was tall and had a great body shape. He had an exquisite face. His slightly raised eyes were attractive when he looked at people. He was wearing a gray high-tailored suit with his long legs crossed.
He raised his hand slightly, revealing the exquisite and luxurious watch on his wrist, "Give it back to me."
His friend could only give his phone back to him.
"Tsk. Did you give it back to him already? Keep it longer."
"Come on. If it weren't for Becky being here, you wouldn't even have the chance to take his cell phone in the first place."
People joked and looked at the beautiful, gentle girl in a white dress sitting beside Max. She was Becky Gabriel.
Hearing this, she pursed her lips and smiled. She said gracefully, "You guys are too much. You used his phone to prank his wife and even made fun of me."
The guys didn't intend to let them go. They booed, "We all know you are the most important person to Max."
"That's right. If you don't believe it, ask him yourself. Is it true, Max?"
Becky Gabriel looked at Max expectantly.
Max curled his lips but did not deny it.
Seeing that he did not deny it, the guys booed even more.
"I've already said that. In Max's heart, no one is more important than Becky!"
Amidst the booing of his friends, Max lowered his eyes and quickly sent a message to Elizabeth.
"I don't need the umbrella. Don't wait for me."
Elizabeth was puzzled when she read the message. She replied, "Is there something wrong?"
She lowered her eyes and waited for a while, but Max didn't reply.
Maybe he was too busy.
Elizabeth decided to go back first.
"Wait."
Someone called her from behind. Elizabeth turned her head and saw two stylishly dressed girls walking toward her.
The taller one glanced at her and asked disdainfully, "Are you Elizabeth Blaine?"
Elizabeth was offended by her attitude. She replied coldly, "Who wants to know?"
"It doesn't matter who I am. The important thing is that Becky is back. If you are smart, leave Max."
Elizabeth's pupils shrank.
It had been a long time since she heard this name last time. She almost forgot this person's existence.
The tall girl sensed the change in Elizabeth's emotion. She gave Elizabeth a disdainful look.
"Why are you so surprised? Do you think you are the real Mrs. Hart? You are only Becky's substitute."
Elizabeth bit her lower lip. Her face was pale. She held the umbrella so tight that her fingers turned white.
"Wait! Are you trying to compete with Becky? Don't humiliate yourself. Pack your stuff and move out of the Hart house immediately."
"She has nothing to compare with Becky."
Elizabeth ignored them, turned around, and left.
The yelling and cursing of the two women were drowned out in the rain.
Elizabeth came back home. Lincoln, the butler of the house, opened the door and was startled when he saw a rain-soaked person standing outside. When he recognized it was Elizabeth, he exclaimed, "Mrs. Hart!"
"You are so damp! Come in quickly."
Elizabeth's limbs were numb from the cold. The servants came around her. A servant brought a big towel to cover her body, and another wiped her hair. A group of people gathered around her and were worried.
"Go to prepare a hot bath."
"And cook some hot soup."
The servants were in a mess because Elizabeth was drenched. No one noticed that a car entered the gate of the yard. Not long after that, a long and tall man appeared at the door.
A cold voice sounded.
"What's wrong?"
Elizabeth was sitting on the sofa to wait for the soup. Her long eyelashes trembled when she heard the voice, "Why does he come back?"
"At this time, shouldn't he be with Becky?"
"Sir, Mrs. Hart got caught in the rain."
Have you got caught in the rain?
Max's eyes fell on Elizabeth sitting on the sofa. He walked over.
He frowned when he got close and saw Elizabeth clearly.
Elizabeth was completely soaked. Her long hair stuck wetly to her pale skin, and her original cherry lips were as pale as a sheet.
"What's the matter with you?" Max was upset and asked annoyingly.
Elizabeth tried her best to restrain her emotions before raising her head. She smiled weakly at Max and explained, "The phone is out of battery. On the way back, I met a child who didn't have an umbrella."
Max's eyes suddenly turned cold.
"Are you out of your mind?"
Elizabeth's smile froze.
"The child didn't bring an umbrella, so you give him the umbrella and soak yourself in the rain, right?"
"How old are you? Do you think people will praise you for doing this?"
The servants around looked at each other, but no one dared to speak.
Elizabeth lowered her eyes. There were tears in her eyes.
She didn't speak and tried her best to suppress her emotion.
It wasn't until Max came over and hugged her that her hot tears fell on the back of her hand.
Chapter 2
Chapter 2
Max put her into the bathtub and went out.
Elizabeth kept her head down. Until Max left, she slowly raised her head, reached out her hands, and gently wiped away the tears on her face.
After a while...
She locked the bathroom door and took out the pregnancy report from her pocket.
The rain soaked it, and the words on it were blurred.
Initially, she wanted to tell him as a surprise, but now it seemed that she could save it.
After being with him for two years, she knew he was the kind who never put his mobile phone away.
But he would not especially send her such a message to ask her to come and then let her go back for no reason.
It could only be that someone had taken his mobile phone and sent her such a message, asking her to go over and show others a joke.
Maybe, when she was waiting downstairs with an umbrella, a bunch of people upstairs were laughing at her.
Elizabeth looked at the report for a long time and then smiled mockingly. She slowly tore it up.
Half an hour later.
Elizabeth came out of the bathroom peacefully.
Max was sitting on the sofa with his slender legs resting on the ground. There was a laptop in front of him. He seemed to be still working.
Seeing her come out, he pointed to a bowl of soup beside to him.
"Eat it."
"Yes."
Elizabeth walked over, took it, but didn't eat it. She seemed to think of something and called his name.
"Max."
"What's the matter?" His tone was indifferent, and his eyes didn't even move away from the screen.
Elizabeth looked at Max's exquisite side face and jawline. Her slightly pale lips moved.
Max raised his head impatiently. They looked at each other.
Elizabeth's complexion was pink and tender after taking a bath. Her lips were not as pale as before, but she looked sick and weak. It must be because of the rain.
With just one glance, Max's desire was aroused.
Elizabeth's feeling was complicated. She had no mood to pay attention to Max's emotions. Instead, she was thinking about how to express her thoughts.
When she was finally ready to speak, "You..."
The pink lips just opened. Max pinched her chin and leaned over to kiss her as if he couldn't control himself.
His rough fingers pinched her fair skin red in an instant.
Max's breath was scorching, like a ball of fire. The kiss almost suffocated Elizabeth. When she was about to push him away, his mobile phone on the table rang.
Max paused. The enthusiasm faded in an instant. After a while, he backed away and kissed the corner of her lips lightly.
He said hoarsely, "Eat the soup and go to bed early today."
Then he got up and went out with his phone.
He went to the balcony to answer the phone.
He closed the door to the balcony.
Elizabeth was a little puzzled by the kiss. She sat for a while before getting up.
Instead of entering the bedroom, she got up and approached the balcony.
The glass door was only half closed. The cool night breeze brought in Max's deep voice.
"I'm not leaving you."
"Don't overthink. Sweet dreams."
Max's voice was as soft as the wind.
Elizabeth stood and listened for a while. Then, she chuckled.
It turned out that he could be very gentle, but unfortunately, it was not to her.
She turned around and went into the bedroom, sitting on the edge of the bed with a blank expression.
In fact, their marriage was originally a mistake. It was a transaction.
Two years ago, her family went bankrupt. She had become a joke in Hodge City overnight.
When the Blaine family was influential in the past, they had many opponents. After they went bankrupt, countless people wanted to see a joke.
Some people even said boldly that he could pay off the Blaine family's debts if Miss Blaine committed herself to him.
Before the bankruptcy, countless men chased after Elizabeth, but none of them caught her eye. After a long time, everyone said that Miss Blaine was cold and dull.
When her family fell from power, those men who failed to get her started to make fun of her.
Max came back when she was at her most desolate and humiliated time.
He dealt with those who were snarky and made them pay a terrible price. He paid off the Blaine family's debts and then said to her, "Let's get engaged."
Elizabeth looked at him in shock.
Seeing her shocked face, the man reached out to touch her face.
"Why are you surprised? Are you afraid that I will take advantage of you? Don't worry. It's just a fake engagement. My grandma is sick, and she likes you very much. Let's have a fake engagement to make her happy. I'll help you revive the Blaine family."
Oh, it turned out to be a fake engagement.
It turned out that it was to make his grandma happy.
It turned out that he didn't like her.
But even so, she agreed to him.
Knowing he didn't like her, she still jumped into the sweet trap he had set for her.
After the engagement, Elizabeth felt very awkward.
They were childhood friends. They always got along in the name of friends, but they were engaged couples overnight.
Max was very natural. He brought her to various banquets and events. The accident happened a year later. Grandma Hart's condition deteriorated, and the two got married. She became the envied Mrs. Hart.
Those who didn't know the truth said this pair of childhood sweethearts had finally married.
Elizabeth came back from her memories. She couldn't help laughing.
It was far away from people's imagination. It was just a transaction that they both would benefit from.
"Still awake?" Max's voice came suddenly.
Immediately afterward, the bed by Elizabeth's sank. Max's clean aura surrounded her.
"I have something to tell you."
Elizabeth didn't turn her head. She could guess what he wanted to say.
Max said, "Let's get a divorce."
Even though she had already guessed it, Elizabeth's heart still skipped a beat. She suppressed the turbulent breath and tried to calm herself down, "When?"
She was lying down peacefully. Her tone was light and calm, as if they were discussing tomorrow morning's breakfast.
Her reaction made Max frown, but he still said, "Soon. Right after my grandma's surgery, we do it."
Elizabeth nodded.
"No problem."
Max asked, "That's it?"
Hearing this, Elizabeth glanced sideways at him, "What?"
Her eyes were clear, without any impurities. Max choked up at her question and laughed helplessly after a while.
"It's nothing, you heartless woman."
They had been a couple for almost two years. She was so calm when he proposed a divorce. Max was shocked by her calmness. She seemed not to care about him at all.
That was understandable. It was initially a transactional marriage. Each took what they needed.
His existence just made her admirers hold back.
If it weren't for his grandma's reasons, she would probably have distanced herself from him long ago.
Max tried to ignore the uncomfortable feeling, lay beside Elizabeth, and closed his eyes.
"Max."
Elizabeth suddenly called him.
Max suddenly opened his eyes and looked at her. His deep eyes were shockingly apparent in the night.
"What do you want to tell me?"
Elizabeth looked at his handsome face, hesitated, and finally said, "The past two years... Thank you."
Hearing this, the light in Max's eyes dimmed. After a while, he twitched the corners of his lips, "Wordy."
Wordy?
Elizabeth turned her head. After the divorce, there would be no chance for him to hear her being wordy.
Chapter 3
Chapter 3
The next day.
Elizabeth found herself having a cold when she woke up. She took out the medicine from the drawer and poured a glass of warm water.
She remembered she was pregnant as long as she put the medicine into her mouth. Her expression changed, and she rushed to the bathroom to spit out the pill from her mouth.
She lay on the sink and rinsed her mouth, spitting out all the bitterness she felt in her mouth.
"What's the matter? Why are you panicked? Are you uncomfortable?"
A clear male voice suddenly sounded at the door. Elizabeth was startled and looked back at him.
Max frowned and looked at her.
As soon as the eyes met, Elizabeth quickly looked away. She paused and said, "It's nothing. I just took the wrong medicine."
After speaking, she reached out to wipe off the water on her face, got up, and left the bathroom.
Max turned around and looked at her back thoughtfully.
He felt that she had been weird since she came back last night.
After breakfast, the couple went out together.
Max glanced at Elizabeth, whose face was slightly pale, and said, "Take my car?"
Elizabeth was drenched in the rain yesterday. She was really uncomfortable today. Just as she was about to say yes, Max's cell phone rang.
He lowered his head and glanced at the called identity. It was Becky. He just wanted to avoid Elizabeth, but she had consciously walked away.
Although the two were married, they did not get along. Elizabeth never paid attention to Max's friends.
They all got used to it.
But today, Max felt a prick when he saw her avoiding him.
But the feeling was fleeting. He picked up the phone.
Elizabeth looked at him from a not-too-far away.
From his expression, she had already figured out who was calling him.
His expression was gentle. He had never been so soft to her.
She took a deep breath to suppress the envy in her heart. Then, she walked towards the garage while taking out her mobile phone.
Five minutes later.
After Max answered the phone, he turned to look for Elizabeth. She had long gone.
At the same time, he received a message.
"I have a lot of work today. I leave first."
Max stared at the message, and his eyes darkened.
...
Elizabeth came to the company with a strong feeling of discomfort. As soon as she entered the door, she sat on the office chair and lay her head on the desk.
Her head hurt.
However, she was pregnant. She couldn't take medicine indiscriminately.
Honestly, she didn't know what to do with the pregnancy. Their marriage was fake. Nobody would be happy for her pregnancy except for Grandma Hart.
Others did not welcome this child.
Especially Max.
Before yesterday, she had thought that maybe Max would want the baby, and perhaps their marriage could work.
But after she found out that Becky had returned and his feeling for her was the same as before...
If he were to know, his first reaction would probably be to ask her to abort it in case it would influence his relationship with Becky.
Her mind told her that she should abort the baby immediately. Otherwise, she might lose all her dignity in the end.
"Mrs. Hart."
A soft female voice sounded. Elizabeth returned to her senses, raised her head, and saw Kiera Lynn, her assistant.
Elizabeth sat up straight and showed her a warm smile.
"Good morning."
Kiera didn't smile but looked at her worriedly.
"You look so pale. Are you alright?"
Hearing this, Elizabeth was startled and shook her head.
"I'm fine. I just didn't sleep well last night."
"Really?" Kiera didn't quite believe it, "But your face is ashen. Are you really okay? Why don't you take sick leave and go to the hospital for a check?"
"I'm fine. Did you finish the summary work yesterday?"
Elizabeth didn't want to talk about her privacy. Kiera had nothing to do with it. She had to bring over the documents she had sorted out and then poured Elizabeth a cup of hot water.
"Have some water. You will feel better."
Elizabeth recruited Kiera as her assistant. She was a lovely girl and worked very diligently. But Elizabeth and she had no personal contact other than work.
Elizabeth didn't expect that she actually cared about her.
She was touched and drank a few mouthfuls of hot water.
She had felt slightly cold before. But after drinking some hot water, Elizabeth finally felt much more comfortable.
Kiera still looked at her worriedly.
"Why don't you let me do today's report? You can rest for a while."
Elizabeth shook her head, "No, I can do it myself."
She was only slightly uncomfortable. It was not a big deal.
If she let others do her work whenever she felt uncomfortable, she would be lazy and weak.
She didn't like herself being that way.
What if no one helped her when she felt unwell in the future? She only relied on herself.
Elizabeth sorted out the reports. She got up and went to Max's office.
Her office was a little far away from Max's. Usually, the distance was okay for her. But maybe because she felt unwell today, Elizabeth was tired from walking.
"Clap."
"Come in."
A cold and deep male voice came from inside the door. Elizabeth pushed the door open.
Max was not alone in the office. There was another person in there.
A tight white dress outlined Becky's slender waist. Her waist-length hair hung softly on her back. In the sunlight from the floor-to-ceiling windows, she looked delicate and agile.
Elizabeth didn't expect Becky would be there. She froze.
"Hello, Elizabeth."
Becky walked towards her with a smile. Before Elizabeth could react, she leaned over and hugged her.
Elizabeth's body became even stiffer. Her eyes looked over Becky's shoulders, meeting Max's dark eyes.
He was leaning against the desk, looking at her intensely. Elizabeth was wondering what he was thinking.
Elizabeth was still stunned. Becky had already retreated.
"I've heard Max say everything about you. I'm sorry for you." Becky showed a distressed look on her face, "If you need any help, you must tell me."
What did she mean? Elizabeth stunned. What did Max tell her?
But she figured it out quickly.
Their marriage was eye-catching. She must have heard about it.
Max must have explained all details to her.
What's more, Becky once did her a great favor.
Elizabeth concealed the bitterness in her heart and smiled at Becky.
"Thank you. When did you come back?"
"Yesterday."
Yesterday?
In other words, Max went to see her as soon as she came back.
Sure enough. She was his true love.
"By the way, you look so pale. Are you feeling okay?" Becky asked concernedly.
Hearing this, Max, leaning against the table casually, raised his eyes to look at Elizabeth. After careful observation, his brows furrowed.
"Is it because you got caught in the rain last night?"
"The rain?" Becky showed a puzzled expression.
Elizabeth sighed and was about to explain, but Max interrupted her, "Why did you come to the office today? The company won't shut down because of you. Go back and rest."
Hearing this, Becky subconsciously glanced at Max.
Why did he suddenly get angry?
Chapter 4
From vow t'You vile, useless, and stupid woman! How dare you take the life of my unborn child!' A man's voice replayed in her memory. "You're nothing but heartless."
Amelia Hudgens tottered from side to side, the blare of the car horns around her doing nothing to pull her from her memories. Her cheeks still stung from where Daniel, her husband, had hit her. Despite their lives tied together in marriage, she knew one thing was clear.
He held no love for her.
Even her last memory of her mother was equally as cruel. 'Amelia, what more do you want from me?' she spat. 'You are an ungrateful witch. I wish I had never given birth to you!'
Her feet continued to move, acting as though they had their own mind. She needed to find a quiet place where her death would go unnoticed.
Or at least, a place where she wouldn't traumatize onlookers. She had considered the train tracks, but the sight of the many children traveling with their parents had erased that idea from her head.
Children.
If her child had survived, she would've been a beautiful baby girl. Her marriage could've been whole.
With that in mind, Amelia finally found herself by a bridge. Even from a distance, she could hear the quiet roll of the waves as they splashed against the shore.
Her whole life replayed in her mind like a depressing movie. Her breathing became unstable and her knees wobbled at each abusive memory she recalled. Even the wind seemed against her, biting and nipping with chilly cold as time passed.
Amelia halted and looked at her surroundings.
"Finally," she muttered to herself and moved towards the bridge.
The rough stone scratched at her palms, but Amelia paid them no care. Finally, she could end it all. Her knees went up first, then the rest of her body. In no time, she stood on the railing. One step and she would plunge into the icy waters.
Amelia took a deep breath and shut her eyes.
"Trust me, you shouldn't be doing that," a gentle voice suddenly echoed behind her, causing her eyes to jolt open in shock.
Her body tensed, her stomach lurched with nerves as panic slowly swelled within her.
When she whipped her head around to peer over her shoulder, she saw a man standing behind her. His face was shadowed by the night, and with the bridge set on the outskirts of town, the lights here were sparse.
"Who are you?" she asked, glaring at the speaker. "What right do you have to lecture me on what I should or shouldn't be doing?"
"My apologies, Miss," he said. "But if you don't mind, I could keep you company as you think it through. Whatever troubles you have, you needn't end it all like that. Take my hand."
He took a step closer with an outstretched hand, and Amelia shot him a frown. Her eyes squinted, trying to catch sight of his face, but she still couldn't recognize him.
"Don't come any closer," she warned, moving a little closer to the edge. Instantly, the man halted in his steps, quickly obeying.
"Look," he said. "If you jump, I'll jump with you." With that said, he began to take off his suit jacket, tugging at his necktie. To prove his point, he even began to remove his shoes.
Amelia watched with confusion, shaking her head as tears began to roll down her cheeks.
"You don't know me," she all but screamed, pain edged in her voice. "I want to go as my child went. Please don't torture me this way."
The man's brows quickly knitted together. He wasn't sure why he was doing this; he had only been passing by on a quiet night, but it felt wrong to watch a stranger end her life like this if he didn't stop her.
He let out a low sigh, reaching up to comb his hair backward. His hand, however, remained reached out toward her, ready to hold her at any given time.
"You're right," he said. "I don't know you, but I am ready to listen. I won't interfere after you've taken things off your chest. If you're still thinking of ending your life after, I won't stop you."
He then added, "If you let yourself die just like that, your child won't forgive you."
Amelia whimpered. Her fingers were trembling as she stared down at the dark sea and then back at the mysterious man.
'What could you possibly have to say in defense? You're nothing but a murderer!'
Even her own husband hadn't been willing to listen to her explanations. Yet, this stranger whom she had just met was willing to spare her a few minutes of his time. In recent years, all Amelia wanted was someone who could offer her a listening ear. Her mother wasn't willing, her husband played deaf, and everyone else turned a blind eye to everything she was going through.
She nodded, a small smile making its way onto her face without her realizing it. The man smiled back, warm and comforting, like a home she always wanted but never had.
However, right as their fingers were about to touch, she hesitated. She didn't know this man, and Daniel had many connections. This could be one of his ways to drag her back to that hellhole.
"But why would he go through all that trouble if he doesn't even care if I'm dead or alive?" she muttered to herself.
Her eyes met with the stranger's again, and now that he stepped a little closer, she could see his features a little better— especially his pale blue eyes, akin to a beautiful wintry morning. His gaze was oddly comforting, and Amelia banished all thoughts of her husband from her mind.
She held herself together and reached for the man's outstretched hand. Seeing that she was willing to step away from the ledge, the stranger cautiously stepped forward as well.
However, their fingers were inches apart when a strong gust of wind suddenly blew at them. Amelia's frail body began to wobble, and in her horror, her feet slipped from the thin ledge, sending her plunging into the freezing waters below.
~welcome.
Chapter 5
Amelia saw her whole miserable life flash right before her eyes. At that moment she fell in, and she realized how stupid her decision to end her life was.
Truly, suicide doesn't end the pain.
Her terrified lime green eyes flashed in the direction of the sea, and a horror-filled scream immediately left her lips.
As Amelia fell, a hand grabbed her, halting her fall into the tremendous sea.
"I got you," the voice of the hand holding her groaned out.
Amelia looked up at the stranger. She immediately stretched her second hand for him to hold. She was desperate.
"Ple.. please help me," she cried in heartfelt pain, "I don't want to die, please help me," she continued pleading, her legs dangling underneath her.
"That's enough," the stranger replied gently with low grunts as he tried to pull her up. "You're safe now," he assured her. Her voice shared her pain so much.
"Hold yourself together," he informed her, and in their next breath, he pulled her over the railing with so much force, causing him to fall on his back and her directly on him.
Amelia laid on him, transfixed. Her heartbeat fastened up and her whole body turned numb with only regretful tears leaving her eyes.
The man under her felt her body trembling on him. Without much thought, he wrapped his hands around her back and hugged her securely.
Amelia was drawn back to reality by the hug. Her body jolted in reaction to the hug. She hasn't been hugged by anyone for the past ten years and for a stranger to hug her this way, it rendered her speechless.
Amelia clenched her fists against her dress, trying her hardest not to hug the stranger back. Her tears continued to roll down, soaking the shirt of the stranger.
After a short moment of silence, the stranger felt Amelia forcefully trying to end her tears. Looking down at her, he rubbed her back gently and said, "You can cry all you want, I don't mind,"
In the next second, the stranger pressed his face into Amelia's head, causing her to shake her head in bewilderment.
Her body trembled and without any hesitation, Amelia's hands set her dress free. Seeking comfort, she threw unfamiliarity into the wind and hugged the stranger back, crying her eyes out.
Her body trembled repeatedly, and her nose leaked as an effect of her tears but the stranger never cared. Rather, he continued rubbing her gently on her back, trying to comfort her.
Earlier, the scene he met with was so funny to him. His first thought when he saw her on the railing was to sketch her. When he realized her true intention was to commit suicide, he planned to just walk away and let her do what she wanted.
His first impression of her was an ungrateful human who wanted to take her life because she hadn't seen anything in her life but enjoyment. He figured that was the only reason why she wanted to take her life after a little blow.
However, when he saw her expression and how pure she was, his heart clenched seeing her that way. He immediately saw himself reflecting on her. And that was why without a second thought, he rushed to her with all determination to rescue her.
Amelia cried as much as her heart wanted. All the tears kept in for years were finally released. She had always needed someone to rely on and someone who would want to listen, even if it was just for a second.
The stranger drew his suit jacket from beside him closer to himself. Picking it up, he gently dropped it on her body to send the cold away.
"I'm so sorry… I'm so sorry I'm messing you up," Amelia apologized amidst her tears, "Please don't hate me after this," she begged.
The stranger raised a brow at her words. Hate her? Why was she so worried and worried? Should she not even tell if he liked her? Lifting her a bit away from himself, the stranger sat up with her. Her hair poured over her face, making it difficult for him to see her properly.
Not knowing what else to do, he decided to say a few words and leave as he should. He doesn't want to get too involved.
Not bothering about knowing what she fully looks like, he decided to leave. "That wasn't the best option. Trust me, it's going to be alright," he said slowly and proceeded to stand up.
Amelia lifted her head, which was a wrong move, because the moment their eyes met, she couldn't avert her eyes away from him. There was something that made her spellbound by the man in front of her. She felt she had known him for such a long time and this feeling was insane.
She was afraid, afraid to let go. Of a stranger? No, he wasn't a stranger, he looked familiar. Wait... Not just familiar, she knew who he was.
Those compelling blue eyes were so familiar. She would recognize them among the mist of so many.
Her fist immediately clenched his leg fabric. Her eyes looking up at him, begged him to stay.
"Cullen? I mean… Mr. Hernandez?" his name trembled out of her lips.
The stranger was taken aback when she called his name. He immediately knelt to her face level and held both sides of her face, staring deep into her wet eyes.
A lot of questions ran through his mind when he stared into her eyes. He wanted to ask a lot of questions but when he saw her trembling fingers on the floor and trembling wet lips, he kicked against it
Pushing the shocking revelation that she knew him aside, he changed the topic. "Let me take you somewhere to rest. Or do you have a home?"
Amelia shook her head, indicating she had no other place to return to, well… apart from the sea. Her mind went back to the sea and out of reflex, she turned away from the stranger before her and looked at the railings behind her.
"Don't think about it. It's going to be okay," Cullen said, pulling her into a warm embrace.
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Chapter 6
Chapter 6
Subconsciously, Amelia clenched his shirt hard, muttering incoherent words due to fear. All she needed was a hug.
All the time she went through hell alone, her only wish was for someone to hug her this way. No words, no advice, no laughter, no cursing, but just a hug.
Also, who was this angel? Did God send down an angel on purpose, a physical one at that to stop her? Or was this man human like her? She thought humans like him had gone extinct.
How? How on earth again did she meet this man? This was him, Cullen. All, the times she encountered him, he had always saved her in one way or the other. It surprised her that he didn't recognize her. Well, they have only crossed paths twice… but still…
"I have to get going. I still have things to do," Cullen spoke up after a long moment of silence, filled with comfort.
Amelia was taken aback by surprise. She felt she hadn't cried enough. But on second thought, he has been so much of a help to her. She appreciates him.
She pulled away from the hug and bowed her head before him as an act of gratitude. The stranger blinked at her act and pushed it off with just a nod.
Amelia raised her tear-filled face again when she no longer felt his presence before her. But to her further surprise, Cullen walked towards her belongings, picked them up, and nodded at her to follow him.
Her heart skipped a beat. Reality descended on her and she realized that Daniel and his mistress would need her service at the moment.
Since she did not accomplish her goal of dying, she must surely return to the house. And when she does, what would she say? What explanation would she give to them? She just lost her child but she doubts they care.
Panic immediately covered her whole being. Her hands began to tremble with each fist she envisioned she would receive.
Cullen paused when he heard no footsteps following behind him. He turned around, only to see the woman he asked to follow him standing at the same spot, looking all weird. Not just that, her eyes were glued to her floor and she trembled like a wet leaf.
He pinched the area between his eyebrows and let out a long heavy sigh. He charged towards her without a second thought and with each step he took, the more his heartbeat accelerated because of her.
She did not just tremble, she also looked extremely pale. Taking in deep breaths, he reminded himself to be gentle with her. He grabbed her hand the moment he stood before her.
Amelia jolted back to harsh reality again. Her hand in his grip trembled and before she would know what was happening, she was being dragged by him.
Out of reflex, she slapped his hand, struggling to be freed from him. "No_ no, please stop. I have to go back home," she begged, realizing her power was no match for him. His hold was so strong on her.
"Home?" Cullen halted, his pupils constricting slightly. He halted to give her words a short thought, and at the same time asked himself questions.
A few seconds later, he pushed everything to the back of his mind and continued dragging her along.
"You don't have a home," he said, "Well… if you do, I will see if you're returning there or not tomorrow," he added, his voice neither hard nor gentle.
Also, his expression was blank. It gave Amelia a hard time to know what he was thinking.
Amelia parted her lips to speak but her words were caught up in her throat. In every short encounter they had, he always made sure to make her feel valued and protected. Something her family and husband for seven years have never done. Everything about him was a bit confusing, his mood and more.
However, she whined in the next second when his grip on her wrist became a bit too hard. The swelling on that spot she acquired from Daniel's fist hasn't healed yet.
Cullen halted and let go of her wrist when he heard her tiny whine. He met her lime-green eyes, and took her hand in his, scanning her wrist.
There was a purple mark around her wrist area. He frowned slightly and gently caressed that spot, using his thumb.
His jaw clenched and he met her eyes again, "Who did this?" the voice came out sterner than he intended when he asked.
He raised her sleeves a bit without her permission. And before Amelia would stop him from going too far, Cullen had already caught sight of her bruised arms.
The sight of her arm brought back ugly memories to him. Memories he tried to bury. He did not even take notice when he began to clench her wrist so tight again.
"Stop please," Amelia begged, the pain on her wrist getting unbearable. And also, she hated how he looked at her bruises. His eyes held pity in them. She hates that look so much.
Cullen realized himself and immediately let go of her wrist. The angered expression on his face softened a little.
Amelia slowly covered her skin when he let go of her. She forced out a small smile, "Thank you," she said about walking away from him.
"It's nothing," Cullen replied casually and turned away from her. His fists were clenched together as he tried to control the anger he felt.
He wasn't angry because her bruises seemed to come from a man. He was angry because of the memories he allowed the bruises to force back to the surface of his mind.
Seeing she had nothing more to do around him, Amelia turned her back on him to return to her hell hole. The stranger had been so nice to her, which was so odd coming from a human. However, that doesn't mean he could see her bruises without her permission as he just did.
Or perhaps, she can just decide to jump off the bridge after he leaves. Whereas, everyone would be happier without her.o vengeance
VOW OF LOVE
Shravan Maheswari was having breakfast with his family in their ancestral haveli in Jodhpur
To tell that he is here under sufferance will be an understatement
His mother had literally dragged him here, kicking and screaming, when he is supposed to be in Bangalore working on an important business deal
Why Bangalore?? Is that what you people are wondering??
From Jodhpur to Bangalore...it has been really a long journey.
Not just literally!!
His grandfather Tej Maheswari is the wealthiest landowner in Jodhpur and belongs to one of the oldest royal families here.
His father Pratap Maheswari wanted to make a name of his own and so after his studies he had started a business of his own and shifted to Mumbai.
Mumbai is where his mother is from Dad met mom ,sparks flew ,they got married and it resulted in him and his two siblings.
And as he grew up his father became his inspiration and he decided to follow his footsteps.
So instead of taking over Maheswari Textiles, he made his own empire
And at 27 he is the proud Co-CEO of SM groups of luxury resorts
And his business head office is based in Bangalore where he did his under graduation.
He did his post graduation in Harvard
Oh Yes!! He is smart.
You can call him pompous if you want because it really doesn't matter to him
He simply don't care what people think of him
He have been called many names by many people since he made his first billion and made an appearance in Times of India.
"Shravuu. Have one more roti" His mother said and he inwardly cringed
He hates being called shravuu
What am I?? A five year old
"I'm full mom. And please stop calling me that" He told her again knowing very well that she isn't going to stop that
"Why should I?? I'm your mother. I had carried you in my womb for nine months. I went through the labor pain for hours and hours to give birth to you. And is this how you behave to your mother" his mom , ever the drama queen said and he saw his dad rolling his eyes besides her
"Whatever mom" he said and continued eating
Then he heard some whisperings between his parents and looked up to see them nudging each other and pointing at him with their eyes
He sat back in his chair and gave them his whole attention
Anyway ,they have dragged him away from his business. Let's hear what it is that they want
"Shoot" he said
"Shravuu. You know we love you , don't you??"
His mother asked and he raised an eyebrow in confusion
What's happening??
"Ofcourse Mom"
"Then you should also know that we would love you regardless of your preferences" his mother said making him frown
"What's going on?? I'm missing something??" He asked sipping the water from his tumbler
"Do you?? Do you have a man in your life Shravu??" His mother asked and he choked spluttering the water and he heard a snicker and turned to see Isha ,his friend trying to hide her laugh
"Mom. What the hell!!" He yelled in disbelief
She had been after him for a while to get him married and he had outright refused to be tied to anyone for now
And how did she come to such a conclusion
"You mean you are....???"
"Ofcourse I'm straight mom!!" He shook his head still in disbelief
His mother grinned widely
"I knew. I was just making sure."
"And now please don't start the topic of you and me not getting anymore younger. Today's quota is over mom" he said and she pouted
"Shravan. I want you to attend the community wedding ceremony held tomorrow as a part of your dadu's birthday celebration" Dad said and he inwardly groaned
Yes ,he know it's a wonderful thing that his family is doing by getting ten orphan girls married.
But he hate attending weddings
It's not really the wedding that bothers him It's all the aunties attending the wedding ,who takes it upon themselves to find a suitable bride for him that bothers him
I mean,like seriously!! What's their problem?? Why can't they just mind their own business
"Is it really necessary for me to attend dad??"
"Ofcourse. Both of your siblings are not here. So you will be there representing all three of you" his father said
"And I have brought a new sherwani for you to wear on the wedding" his mother said
"Wah!! Shravan in a sherwani?? It would be a vision to see" Isha said winking at him and he glared at her
Why did he bring her with him again??
"Mom?? Why the hell should I wear a sherwani. I'm attending the wedding. I'm not getting married"
"Who knows if some pretty girl would see you in sherwani and falls in love with you. I could get you married, maybe tomorrow" his mom said and he rolled his eyes
"You are just impossible mom!"
"Aunty, girls always falls in love with your son. It's your son who doesn't. So him wearing a sherwani or not wouldn't matter. Maybe we will have to do a heart transplant surgery for him. Maybe a new heart is what he needs" Isha said
"Very funny" he said sarcastically
"Oh I am very serious shravuu" Isha teased him
"Just shut up. We have business to do Isha. If you forgot,let me remind you ,I brought you here so that we could work on the deal here. Not for you to gang up with my mom against me"
"Sure boss. It's your command" Isha said with a mock salute
They both stood up from dining table and were going to the study when his mom called him again
"I really want you to get married Shravan. I'm dying to be a grandma" she said
"Mom. I have to focus on my business. I'm working on an important business deal now. Please don't bring the topic of marriage and spoil my mood" he said and walked away
"What are we going to do with him Pratap ji" Anuradha Maheswari asked her husband who simply shrugged in return
"We can't force him to get married Anu. If we do ,he won't be happy in his life."
"He is twenty seven. I want him married before he turns thirty"
"And he wants to get married only when he reaches thirty" Pratap said remembering his son mentioning about settling down only when he crosses the line of thirty
"That's so stupid of him. Once the age becomes thirty ,he will be considered over aged" Anuradha said sulking.
She has heard girls rejecting marriage proposals of boys above thirty.
Twenty nine is acceptable. But thirty is not. What kind of logic is that?? Pratap wondered
"If he is destined to get married before thirty ,he would Anu. Stop worrying and give him some space. He will come around" Pratap Maheswari said making his wife sigh in defeat
She is leaving it all to destiny
In the study ,Shravan was ready to pull out his hair
"What do you mean by we can't get an appointment with the man for another two months??" Shravan asked in frustration
He had been trying very hard for this deal with Malhotras for a while
"Vihaan Malhotra and his family is abroad on a vacation. They won't be coming back for another two months"
"Damn it!! I want that island. It's the best spot for our new resort."
"I think we are wasting time on this deal Shravan. I did a little research. The island holds personal significance for Vihaan Malhotra and his family. I don't think he would be willing to sell it"
"Well ,Vihaan Malhotra is a fool. Who would turn their back on such a fortune for sentimental reasons. He could have built a resort there and it would have been the paragon of his business ventures. He failed to do it. It's about time someone made some smart decisions"
"Sometimes you can be so cold hearted Shravan. I don't understand why? You have a wonderful family who all love each other and you grew up happily. Then how come you turned into a stone??" Isha asked
"Cold hearted?? I'm not being cold hearted Isha. I'm just being practical. And I'm not a stone. I do have feelings. I'm just not very expressive like other people. And for me emotions exist between people. Their hearts. I don't understand the significance of a place ,a date or any materialistic things where feelings are concerned"
"Whatever Shravan. I'm not arguing with you"
"That's good. I have to get D Love. And the first thing I do ,will be to change that stupid name of the island"
A/n
Hello my lovely readers.
Thank you so much for giving my book a try.
Hope you guys enjoy this work as much as I enjoyed writing it.
Please leave a review if possible
Love,
SFwrites
Chapter 2
Chapter 2
Drishti Singhania was pacing the room like a caged tiger.
Damn!! She just hope everything will be alright
Her phone rang at that moment and when se saw the caller ID she sighed in relief
About time
She picked up the call on the second ring
"I have been waiting and waiting for God knows how long" she said to the person on the other end of the phone aka her best friend Siddharth Agnihotri. In short Siddhu
"Don't exaggerate. It has been only ten minutes since my last call" he said and she can literally see him rolling his eyes at her
"Whatever. What's the status now?? Is everything set" she asked straight to the point
"Yeah almost. Kiara bhabhi went ballistic when she realized she was being kidnapped. Now she is getting calm and listening to bhai.We are on the way to airport. D?? I think it's better we come and pick you up from there. I don't think it's safe to leave you alone there." Siddhu said and it was her turn to roll her eyes
Are you guys wondering which bhai he is talking about??
Oh yes ,its the same brother she had a crush on when she was a teenager.
Look what a wonderful kind hearted and generous girl she is ,to help her ex crush get married to the woman he loves.
And how brave she is to carry on with this drama to help the man she once dreamed of marrying ,that too giving up on a vacation with her family
Okay!! That's a bit of exaggeration
She didn't dream of marrying him. She just had a teeny weeny crush on him which changed into brotherly affection when she got to know him dearly
"Do I look like a damsel in distress to you Siddharth Agnihotri??" She asked and heard him huff in irritation
"Moreover, what's not safe is bringing Kiara bhabhi back here. These people doesn't know she got kidnapped early in the morning. And if they see her coming here with a man in tow ,you know right what will happen??" She asked
"You are right"
"I'm always right" she said smugly
"Now don't start your self praising. How are you going to escape from there??" He asked making her sigh
She really don't have a plan for that.
And just because she doesn't have a plan for escaping , don't make the mistake of thinking she is dumb
She is not
Infact kidnapping Kiara bhabhi from her wedding was her wonderful idea
She is one hell of a match maker
And the blissful marriage of her parents is the prime example of that
Okay back to the topic!!
How to escape??
Before that she have to talk to the ex groom of Kiara bhabhi and apologise
After all he is an innocent party here
****
Somehow she convinced a young caretaker of the orphanage to let her talk to the ex groom and man!! Don't she regret it.
To think that for a moment she felt sympathetic of that jerk...
Haa!!!
'It doesn't matter you or her. You are looking very beautiful. Much more beautiful that Kiara. So I don't mind marrying you'
That's what the jerk said
But who was he kidding
No one messes with Drishti Singhania!!
She had poured the hot cup of coffee onto his lap and told him this is how she will be waking him up every morning if he is ill fated enough to marry her
And the jerk had run off terrified
Good riddance
Now she can hear the commotion outside about the groom running away
The authorities will come in and apologize to Kiara bhabhi ,that's her under the veil
And she would gracefully accept the apology and make her escape
Now tell me!! Aren't I smart??
****
Shravan was checking his mails when he heard the commotion
He looked up from his phone to see his parents and Grandfather talking with the orphanage authorities and the atmosphere was tense.
Very very tense
Grandpa clutched his chest and stumbled on his feet and Shravan rushed towards them
Somehow they consoled Tej Maheswari and then he came to know the issue
One of the grooms had runaway
Irresponsible idiot
If he didn't want to get married ,why the hell did he wait till the last minute.
He could have informed atleast a day before
Now they will have to deal with a hysterical female
"Dadu. Relax. We will talk to the bride. We will explain. We can get the other nine couples married today and find a better groom for this girl and get her married soon" he tried to make dadu understand but he was adamant
"No!! I can't break one girl's heart and get the other nine married. They all will have to be married today. If not ,the curse of her tears might haunt all the others too. I can't let that happen" dadu said
"We don't have any other option bauji" Pratap said and Anuradha nodded in agreement
"We do" Tej said in a dangerously calm voice which made the hairs on the nape of his neck rise
Why does he get the feeling that he is not going to like this one bit
"What is it papa ji??" Anuradha asked
"Shravan will marry her. The girl will become the daughter in law of Maheswari family" Dadu decreed and everyone else stared at him in astonishment
Chapter 3
Chapter 3
"What???" Shravan gaped at his grandfather in horror
Had he lost it finally
Is old age catching up with him at this most unfortunate time
"You heard me"
"You must be crazy if you think I'm going to go through with this" Shravan muttered in disbelief
"Bauji. You are not thinking this through clearly. Marriage is not a decision to be taken hastily. It's their life" Pratap Maheswari said trying to appeal to his father
But Tej Maheswari was having none of it
"Kiara is a very nice girl" Tej said
"Who is Kiara??" Shravan asked
"The girl you are going to marry" Tej said confidently
"The girl you want me to marry?? I'm not marrying anyone dadu" Shravan said in exasperation
"So you will stand by and watch your dadu bow down his head in shame?? You wouldn't do anything to safeguard his honor??" Tej asked looking straight into his eyes
"That's emotional blackmailing dadu. You know it very well"
"Are you willing to protect and safeguard the Maheswari honor Shravan??" Tej asked and Shravan knew when he is facing a fate accompli
"Do I have a choice??" Shravan asked coldly
"You do. You could always turn your back on your family values and honor. Its upto you" Tej said knowing very well that his grandson wouldn't back down
If one more time his grandfather uttered the word honor ,he might explode
"Don't expect me to be happy and make her happy dadu" he said in a tone of finality
"You will like her boy. I have known Kiara for a long time. She is a sweet natured girl. Always calm and matured. She would make a perfect wife and an even perfect daughter in law" Tej said
"Then why didn't you fix her marriage with me earlier??" Shravan shot back and that shut his grandfather up
Tej Maheswari and his son left to talk to the orphanage authorities and his mother turned to him
"Are you sure about this Shravu. You don't have to ,you know. Your life is more important than any honor for me" Anuradha said not wanting her son to sacrifice his life
"You always wanted me to get married Mom. Guess your prayers have been finally answered. If Kiara is written in my destiny, can anyone change that"
"I just want you to be happy"
"I will be mom. Didn't dadu say that she is a calm, sweet and matured girl. Life would be easy with her ,I hope" Shravan said forcing a smile for his mother's benefit
"You told your dadu to not expect you to be happy and make her happy" Anuradha said unhappily
"Well, I couldn't simply agree to his manoeuvring without retailing. I will give this a chance Mom. What do they say..when life gives you lemon ,you make lemonades" Shravan said
Marriage is an important turning point in one's life. He had so far dodged it but destiny has it's own ways
The girl might have had so many dreams about marriage and future and one man had destroyed it by running away at the last moment
And he won't do that to her
It might take time for them to work things out and adjust with each other
But he will give his cent percent into this
Who knows ,he might even grow to love this Kiara someday in the future
****
Drishti was playing farmville in her phone while she waited for the people to come and make their necessary apologies, so that she could get the hell out of here.
She just hope the Agnihotri jet would be up in the air by the time people realise that the bride was swapped in the early hours of the morning
Whoever introduced the custom of covering the face of the bride with a veil might have seen these dramas happening in the future
She kept her phone aside when she heard the giggle of a few girls and looked up to see two young girls coming to her room
"He is so handsome. You are so lucky" one girl said making Drishti frown
"Who is handsome??" Drishti asked bewildered
"Your groom"
He came back?? OMG
And from which angle did he look handsome to these girls
Drishti shot up from where she was seated and was about to ask the same when few other people entered the room
She recognized one person as the head of this orphanage. Along with him were two other men. One an elderly man ,probably in his seventies and the other in his fifties
"Kiara beta" the older man called and Drishti braced herself
She so didn't want this grandfather to apologise to her.
It's all Abhi bhaiyya's fault. If he had tried harder before ,they wouldn't have had to kidnap Kiara bhabhi and face all these problems
"Er.."
"We need to tell you something. I want you to listen calmly " and then he started telling things which she didn't even imagine would happen as a consequence to her stupid idea of kidnapping Kiara bhabhi
Why would they stop the other marriages for this reason??
God!! The girls here are Kiara bhabhi's friends. If they came to know Kiara bhabhi ran off with someone without thinking about them ,they would hate her
No one would believe she was kidnapped when they see her happy with Abhi bhaiyya
And who in their right mind would ask their own grandson to be a sacrifice
Is she dreaming??
A horrible nightmare
Anytime now she would wake up to her annoying sister annoying the hell out of her
She would be cuddled against her mother and Damini would be jealous of it and would be trying to push her off her mother
Yes ,that's going to happen
The old man kept talking
"Its a matter of my family's honor too Kiara. If this marriage doesn't happen , you can imagine" the old man said and Drishti blinked rapidly behind her veil
One of the young girls tried to lift her veil but Drishti held on to it like her life depended on it
"I hope you would agree to this for everyone's sake" the oldman continued
What option does she have now??
Maybe she could run away??
As soon as these people get out of here ,she would make her escape
"You two girls ,be with Kiara. She might be upset. Don't leave her alone" the old man instructed the young girls throwing water on her escape plan
What now??
Maybe she could get married now to save everyone's face and later get an annulment
Sounds like a wattpad story ...but who cares
She is not going to spoil her life staying in a marriage of convenience
Ever since she was thirteen ,she had been waiting for her one great love
A love and need that would span time and distance. A call from soul to soul
Like her parents