Jennifer sat curled on the plush velvet sofa of her suite, her fingers wrapped tightly around a half-full glass of red wine. Her legs were crossed elegantly, her head tilted back, eyes half-lidded as she gazed at the ornate ceiling. The room smelled of roses and expensive perfume, her scent, laced with something cold.
The click of polished shoes against marble broke the silence. Victor stepped in, hands in his pockets, expression unreadable. He paused at the edge of the room and cleared his throat, announcing his presence.
Jennifer didn't look at him immediately. She sipped her wine before sitting up properly, her back straight and her tone sharper than the edge of a blade.
"If you're here to convince me to go back, don't waste your breath," she said flatly. "It's not happening."
Victor gave a small chuckle as he moved further in and took a seat opposite her. "You're already here, Jennifer. That ship has sailed."
She scoffed, setting her wine glass down on the crystal tray. "Then what do I owe this visit? Kyle's puppet wouldn't come here without a leash around his neck and a task to fulfill."
Victor's expression didn't change, he knew she was trying to get on his nerves "I came because I don't want history repeating itself. Not again. Not after everything that happened twenty-six years ago."
Jennifer's jaw clenched. "Don't bring up the past. That was different."
"It wasn't," Victor said calmly. "Your obsession with Kyle started this whole charades"
Jennifer stood up and paced the room, her heels clacking with irritation. "And what? I'm supposed to just let some delicate human walk into his life now and take my place? After all I did to make him mine in the past? No, Victor. I won't. Kyle is mine and I will see to it that it becomes that way."
Victor rose slowly. "You speak as if he's a possession, Jennifer. He's not. He made his choice, you should know better, he made his choice back then and he's made the same choice now again,"
She whirled around, eyes gleaming with fury. "He didn't choose her. He settled for her because she was the available one but you need not worry I'm here now and I will take care of it myself" she said showing her upper feng
Victor sighed "Don't let your obsession ruin you Jenny, love cannot be forced or bought, you need to let it flow naturally from both sides"
Jennifer turned her back to him, facing the floor-to-ceiling window as city lights sparkled in the distance. Her voice dropped low, almost a whisper. "I won't lose him. Not to her. Not to a human, even if it means repeating the past."
Victor picked up his coat from the armrest, pausing by the door. "I hope you think your actions through, you know what Kyle is capable of."
She didn't turn around. She didn't need to. The silence in the room answered for her.
*******
The distant hum of a private jet engine echoed through the quiet mid afternoon air, its sound growing louder above the garden. Medley, still wrapped in her silky robe, furrowed her brows and stepped toward her window. Sunlight bathed the garden in gold, but it was the man standing in the middle of it that caught her breath.
Kyle.
He stood there with practiced ease, white shirt crisp against his bronze skin, brown pants hugging his powerful frame, leather shoes polished to perfection. A single rose gold watch peeked beneath his cuff, and dark sunglasses framed the sharp lines of his face. In his hands, he held a lush bouquet of white peonies and soft pink roses, his expression unreadable behind the tinted lenses.
He looked up at her window and didn't blink.
Medley raised a brow in surprise. Her father had only left a few hours ago… How had Kyle pulled all this together so fast?
Her heartbeat quickened.
Moments later, she found herself lightly running barefoot through the house and down into the garden, the silk of her floral dress fluttering behind her.
"Kyle… what is this?" she asked breathlessly, stopping just in front of him.
He pulled off his sunglasses and let his gaze drink her in. "You didn't think I'd let you stay mad at me for too long, did you?"
She folded her arms, lips twitching at his confidence. "You trended last night as a married man to another woman, Kyle."
"I know," he said, stepping closer, handing her the bouquet. "And I swear, I'll explain everything. But first, I want to take my real wife on our real honeymoon."
Her lips parted in shock "what?!" She exclaimed with a giggle filled with blush
He gently cupped her face. "Come with me, Medley. Let's forget L.A. for a while. Just us, no drama, no headlines, waves, and you letting me love you in every way you'll allow."
Her heart softened at the earnestness in his voice. She glanced at the private jet beyond the garden and the staff in cream uniforms waiting beside it. Slowly, her lips curved into a smile.
"I suppose I could use a break," she whispered.
He grinned and kissed her forehead. "Then let's go."