“No.”It was a reflex. Like her mind was unwilling to be controlled by circumstances but that stubbornness was about to cost a lot.She scanned through the room warily. As expected, their eyes were bulging, lips parted to express their shock. Then her fiance. The man she'd rejected in less than a heartbeat. He didn't seem surprised like the rest. He probably saw it coming, but that wasn't a good thing. He was furious! So furious that he smashed the glass box against the floor, inciting another round of gasps. “What did you just say?” He literally growled at her. Elsa felt so small before his rage. He looked like he was about to crush her into tiny pieces. Cautiously setting a distance between them to avoid a direct impact from any form of attack. “Elsa!” This was her chance. Pretend it was a mistake and marry him. It wouldn't have taken anything from her. It was just a stupid engagement but she'd already said no and somehow, replacing it with a yes became difficult.“I said I c

“Why'd he change his mind? What did you do?” Ray asked weakly. It came as a surprise when Elsa came to visit. He questioned her about the bruises on her face but she skillfully avoided the question. Now, she was saying that Edgar was fine with them being together. It sounded too good to be true. “I didn't do anything. After I rejected him before his business associates, he just gave up. I guess he's still trying to recover from the shock of being publicly humiliated,” Elsa shrugged. Ray didn't believe her. Edgar was not that simple. There was something more. Something she wasn't telling. Elsa could see the doubt on his face as clear as day. She didn't know what more to say to him. She was just as surprised and suspicious as he was. Edgar had suddenly changed his mind for reasons best for him. The good thing was that they could finally be together. The bad side was that they didn't know his next move so they couldn't prepare for anything. “Will you tell me what happened to your f

“Raymond! What a pleasant surprise. I didn't expect to see you here so soon,” Edgar grinned as soon as he walked through the door. Ray felt uncomfortable with the man's joy. It was as though he knew they were suffering and waited for the right time for them to come begging. Elsa would be so pissed when she heard about it. Ray let out a sigh. Now was not the time for regrets. Whatever he was doing now was for the betterment of their life. Her life. He couldn't continue watching her live miserably because of him.“May I come in?” He asked politely.“Sure! Sure! Sorry about my manners. I am just so excited to see you. I thought you both agreed to stay away from me.” If Ray didn't know better he would say the man was taunting him but that wasn't the point now. Whether Edgar was taunting or not, nothing was going to change. The highest it could do was hurt his pride. “I'm sorry for showing up in your office without an appointment. It was urgent and I just had to see you. I hope you u

“You still haven't told me why you're so pissed. Your mother invited us to dinner. If anything, we should be happy,” Ray said.He returned home to meet her sulking in a corner. He tried talking to her but she wouldn't tell him what the problem was. Instead, she was asking him to decline any dinner invitation that came from her mother. Ray understood that they didn't see eye to eye on most things but he was sure they loved each other. Mrs. Larry was affectionate in her way, maybe Elsa misinterpreted it as hatred.“What happened?” Ray asked again.“My cousin is here,” She informed him. He stared without saying a word. “My annoying cousin. My mother's perfect daughter imagine and they wouldn't shut up about Edgar, the opportunities I missed, all of that…” he rolled his eyes…”He understood where the anger was coming from now. The fact that she would get angry when someone talked about him or when they tried to ridicule her decision to marry him touched him in ways he couldn't explain.

Drafting out the meeting agenda was one of Ray's least favorite things to do. He couldn't complain because it was part of his job but when the unexpected visitor showed up, he knew two things were possible.Edgar flared up for letting in a visitor a few minutes to an important meeting or him sending the visitor away before she even had the chance to see him. But what if Edgar knew her? He was certain she didn't have an appointment. “Who did you say this woman is, again?” He asked the secretary.“Miss Ariane Mersh.”Ray stiffened immediately. Ariane? That name sounded way too familiar. He just hoped it wasn't who he was thinking.“Could you describe her? The boss wants more information on this visitor,” Ray lied. Edgar was in the bathroom, oblivious to what was going on. “Blonde hair, blue eyes…”“The boss will not see her. She doesn't have an appointment,” he interrupted. It was indeed her. Elsa’s cousin.She'd only been around for three days. Ray didn't see how she could have gott