hapter 9 I Can’t Forget Her
Ophelia returned to Freguson Villa and shook her head at Jerrold, who was sitting in the hall waiting for news.
Then, she went upstairs and opened the door.
A strong smell of smoke and alcohol hit her right away.
Ophelia held her breath, resisting the discomfort, and stepped inside.
The room was dimly lit, with only a faint red glow flickering in the
corner.
Ophelia switched on the light and saw empty bottles scattered across the floor.
Kendrick, looking haggard, had dark circles under his eyes. He was holding a lit cigarette.
When he saw Ophelia, he looked at her vacantly and mumbled, “Kristine, you came to see me?”
Ophelia, both angry and heartbroken, rushed over and slapped him across the face.
“How long are you going to keep wallowing like this? When she was here, you didn’t cherish her, but now that she’s gone, you’re acting like this?”
Chapter 9 I Can’t Forget Her
“I…” Kendrick came to his senses and lowered his head in disappointment.
2/7
The cigarette fell from his fingers and landed on a photograph lying on the carpet.
The ember burned a hole through the image of the two of them holding hands, and Kendrick hurriedly slapped the cigarette away, blowing on the smoldering spot.
Ophelia, unable to watch any longer, snatched the photograph from the floor and tore it to pieces.
“There are other women in the world, not just Kristine! Forget about her!”
“Mom!” Kendrick lunged at her, but it was already too late.
He sat down on the floor, staring blankly, and hugged Ophelia.
“But… I can’t forget her.”
**
On the seventh day after Frederic returned to Zephyria, I came home after work to find two strangers chatting with my parents.
Before I could process what was happening, I saw Frederic coming out of the kitchen with a plate of food.
It turned out that Frederic had brought his parents over.
Chapter 9 I Can’t Forget Her
I was surprised and a little nervous.
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Johanna Haywood, Frederic’s mother, took my hand and smiled warmly, “You poor thing, having to deal with this troublemaker, Frederic. He must be giving you a lot of headaches, huh?”
I shook my head.
Johanna laughed softly, “This boy’s been
“This boy’s been crazy about you for a long time. He was heartbroken when he found out you were already taken.”
“Mom…” Frederic interrupted awkwardly.
Soon, both families smoothly settled on a wedding date.
That evening, Frederic held me tightly in his arms, and just
when I thought he was about to take things further, he suddenly pulled out two documents.
“Sign these,” he said.
One was a share transfer agreement, and the other was a post–marriage property distribution agreement.
“This is the wedding gift my mother prepared. We will give you five percent of Haywood Group’s shares,” he said casually.
I was stunned.
He continued, “The other one is a clause that says if the
marriage ends because of toy fault. I’ll Walle lis vavoy with nothing.
11tle handed me the pen.
1 iciched as if burned and pushed the pen awayay.
“Tacanosien these.”
“Coinmcian, you have to take the wedding gift,” he said, holdidan r hand disbeth was warm against my car. “You’ll take metodoo
won’t youiti?
“Are you ploimining to divorce me later?”
I quickly shouchmkchead.
He suddenly kissect dulcheck. “This is my family’s and my sinceri
“If you marine.didomcoe.canever be an option.”
My mind was in a whiivinidbit de waited patiently. his gaze
steady.
Eventually, I had my laivyendradaththree agreements that night.
One was a statement regulingbaiablofsishareholding in Mende
Group.
The second was for half of my comparvis sluhares.
Although those shares didn’t compare to thidib fe percent of
Haywood Group, I felt a bit more secure
Tad third was my post–marriage property distribution agreement.
Freederic signed the second share agreement and the post–marriage
327reami.
Thesstaated.unsure of what to say.
Herenthisstroked my head. “Let’s not make everything sockenrecut. I’llinakbandéehlike you’re distancing yourself from me.”
My heart skipopcha boat.
He always thowahhhofmeand always made me feel safe.
Before I could hiilaanymore his fingers brushed up my pajamaa hem. cold against imvyssin
Then, my breath was takeaway by his kiss.
The moment grew heatedlandmymind was lost in the overpowering intensity.
After the frenzy came steachtenalderness. That night, he had me over and over again..
The next morning. I was barely awakewith felt someone calling
- mc.
I opened my eyes and saw that Frederic was fully dressed. He was sitting by my bed, watching me.
After I got dressed, he picked me up and carried me to the car.
I noticed it was only seven in the morning…
Annoyed, I twisted his car. “Why on earth did you wake up so early? The ceremony won’t get any shorter if you go later!”
In Zephyria, at Haywood Manor, I walked slowly toward Frederic with my father holding my hand.
Frederic, unable to wait, walked down a few steps and took my hand.
“I’ve finally brought you home.”
Frederic’s uncle, Sanford Haywood, who was acting as the officiant, shot him a disapproving look. “Can we follow the steps properly, my dear nephew?”
I couldn’t help but laugh.
“Mr. Haywood, do you take Ms. Mendez as your wife to love, cherish, and honor her in wealth and in poverty, in sickness and in health, for as long as you both shall live?”
“I do.” Frederic’s eyes were filled with such fierce love that it seemed like they would swallow me whole.
I, too, offered my vows with sincere devotion.
As the crowd cheered, I threw the bouquet, but suddenly, I felt nauseous and threw up.
The family panicked, and Johanna immediately took me to the family doctor.
“Congratulations. Ms. Mendez, you’re pregnant.”
Frederic was so overjoyed that he burst into tears.
