Chapter 10
As I walked down a quiet, empty side street, a group of punks jumped and blocked my way. They looked at me, demanding I hand over all the money I had. Terrified, I did as they asked, emptying my pockets. But it wasn’t enough. They wanted more. They grabbed me and pulled me deeper into a dark alley. I was so scared, I screamed out.
Then, out of nowhere, a boy appeared. Without hesitation, he charged at them, fighting them off. His intervention saved me. I ran to the nearest store and bought disinfectant to clean his wounds. I treated the scrapes on his hands and arms, despite my hands shaking violently. It was my form of gratitude.
But then Daniel arrived. He called my name, his voice cutting through my daze. Startled, I turned toward him, and in that moment, I ran into his embrace,
Chapter 10
completely forgetting to ask the boy who had saved me for his name. The memory had been buried deep, but as Frederick watched my face, he seemed to sense my thoughts. His lips curved into a faint smile.
“You remember now, don‘ t you?” he asked, his voice calm yet knowing.
“I… I’m sorry,” I murmured, nodding. Guilt twisted in my chest. “I forgot about it. You probably think I’m awful- shameless and ungrateful for not remembering the person who saved me.”
The words tasted bitter as I spoke them. In truth, I had always been grateful to the boy who helped me that day. But as the years passed and life carried me through countless other events, his face had faded from my memory.
“Hey, don’t beat yourself up about it,‘ Frederick said gently. “That was a terrifying experience. It’s normal for not to remember it.”
you
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His warm, broad hand cupped my cheek, his touch grounding me as his gaze held mine. “Besides,” he added, his tone softening, “you remember now, don’t you? That’s all that matters. You‘ re anything but ungrateful.”
For some reason, my heart began to race and I couldn’t bring myself to meet his eyes. Turning my head away, I hesitated before speaking again. “Was it because of that? Is that why you wanted to marry me?”
His answer came immediately, firm and without hesitation. “No.”
I blinked and an unexpected wave of disappointment swept over me. “Oh.”
Before I could dwell on the feeling, he pulled me into his arms. He rested my head against his chest and I could hear the steady rhythm of his heartbeat.
“I told you,” he murmured, his voice low and soothing. “I married you because I
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wanted to. When I proposed, I knew there was a chance you’d turn me down. But when you said yes, it was the best surprise of my life.”
There was a rawness in his voice and it made my cheeks flush. I had always assumed that someday I’d get married–it didn’t really matter who. But hearing him say that made me realize something deeper. Marrying someone who makes your heart skip a beat is the most amazing thing in the world.
“Does that mean you like me?” I asked quietly, my cheeks warming as I forced myself to ask the question.
“Isn’t it obvious?” His lips curled into a teasing smile. “But since you haven’t noticed, I’ll make sure to prove it more clearly from now on.”
I couldn’t help but laugh, remembering how he’d punched someone this evening and how he’d spoken to my mom that afternoon.
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That’s when it hit me. I had misjudged
him. He wasn’t the cold and indifferent
man I thought he was–he just knew how to control his emotions.
“You must have wanted to hit Daniel so
bad,” I voiced my curiosity.
“From the first time I saw him,” he
didn’t hesitate for a second.
Frederick‘ s gaze darkened as he pulled me closer, flipping me around so I was facing him. My eyes widened in shock and then, with a swift motion, he kissed me- just a light touch of his lips, but it ignited something inside me.
“Thank god, he’s an idiot and he sent you back to me,” he said, his voice hushed.
His words made my chest tighten and instinctively, I deepened the kiss, my hands fumbling to unbutton his shirt. But just as the fabric half–opened, he pulled back, his hair disheveled, his breathing ragged.
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“Lenore,” he said, his voice low and rough, “are you sure about this?”
I didn’t answer with words. Instead, I wrapped my arms around him and held him close, letting my actions speak for themselves.
That night, as the wind howled and the rain lashed against the windows, something shifted between us. A quiet yet undeniable change stirred, reshaping what we were and what we could be.
Just before sleep claimed me, I thought I heard him whisper, “I don‘ t have to hide and steal glances at you anymore. You‘ re mine now, Lenore Cortez.”
It was a long time before I heard anything about Daniel again. Later, I learned that after he was taken home, Frederick had visited his parents. He had calmly and politely reminded them of the Cortez Family’s legacy, making it clear they couldn’t afford to cross him.
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In the end, Daniel‘ s family had no choice but to lock him away.
