Chapter 6

I spent two weeks recovering at Ryan's place.

He took care of me like I was made of glass, fussing over me nonstop. He even made sure I always had something warm to drink.

Putting on the scar cream was such a hassle, and I could never be bothered to put it on myself.

Ryan would give me those big, puppy-dog eyes, pouting and coaxing me in a soft voice.

Ryan coaxed, "Let me do it for you. Scars don't look good on girls, and it'll be over before you know it."

I was immune to all the mockery and sarcasm in the world, but I couldn't say no to his whiny, needy ways.

I kept giving him a hard time.

For example, even though we'd already left Crown City, I still sent him back to buy pastries from that old, famous shop.

He caught a red-eye flight, then waited outside the store for hours.

When he finally made it back, exhausted and clutching the box of pastries, he was grinning from ear to ear.

Ryan said, "Baby, I got them! Try one and see if it's the flavor you wanted."

Seeing his bright, radiant face, I couldn't help but wonder.

Could he really be in love with me?

Is this for real?

Oh my God! No lies, no games, no pretending. Could I really deserve a love this real, this passionate, this overwhelming?'

I couldn't believe it.

When I first agreed to marry Ryan, I thought his "love" was a lie. He was after something.

But that was fine with me. I had plenty of ways to keep him under my thumb.

But now that his love is real, I'm the one left feeling lost and helpless.

Sometimes, I almost wished his love was fake. At least that would make sense in the world I grew up in, and I'd know all the tricks to deal with him.

I'd shrink into my shell like a turtle, feeling the burn of his passionate love all around me.

And yet, I'd always end up poking my head out, drawn to him all over again.

I'd watch him kiss me good morning every day.

I'd watch him find new ways to make dinner for me.

I'd watch him blush and tell me I was the prettiest girl he'd ever seen.

And so on.

Once I was fully recovered, Ryan started planning our wedding.

To me, it seemed a little plain, but I knew it was the grandest ceremony he could possibly give me.

He asked if I wanted to invite any of my old friends.

Back in that world, there were a few people I was actually close to, but still...

I shook my head.

People from my old world felt totally out of place around Ryan and his family.

I was worried Ryan wouldn't like it if they came.

It suddenly dawned on me at that moment.

I realized I'd started to care about how Ryan Sinclair felt.

Turns out, I was already getting swept up in his fierce, all-consuming love.

Six months into their marriage.

Alexander made a grand announcement about his engagement.

Charlotte Goodwin.

I was both shocked and furious.

I knew Charlotte.

She was the youngest in her family,proud, willful, and hopelessly clueless.

She once tried to shove me into the pool, but I turned the tables and pushed her in instead. She's absolutely hated my guts ever since.

The coffee cup tipped over, spilling coffee all over the table.

I didn't care who Alexander married anymore.

But couldn't he have picked someone who didn't even know me?

Why did he have to go and choose the one person who absolutely hates me?

What about the kids?

Charlotte had always been vicious, never bothering to hide it. She once slashed a maid's face because the girl was prettier than her, and killed her pet cat.

Even Ryan could see how anxious I was.

Ryan wasn't naive, but he wasn't stupid either. He knew what was worrying me and asked:

Ryan asked, "Do you want me to go with you back to Crown City to see the kids?"

I shook my head. "Let me think about it."

Ryan was in the middle of building his own business, and he couldn't leave it behind.

I didn't want to go back either.

The peaceful life I have now wasn't easy to come by.

Going back to Crown City would remind me of all those dark, desperate times.

But what about the kids...

I said, "I'll go back and see them myself."

After much hesitation, I finally said to Ryan:

I told Ryan, "I'll go back, take a quick look, and come right back. Don't worry."