He Said No—Until Marriage

I’m Molly Johnson. At my own engagement party, I witnessed my fiancé’s betrayal with my stepsister right before my eyes. Devastated, I turned around and married Edward Howard—a wealthy heir rumored to be terminally ill, with not much time left to live. Everyone laughed, saying I was in a hurry to become a widow. But little did they know, I leaned close to his ear, my breath warm and teasing: “Since you don’t have much time left, why not play a little game with me?” I flirted with him, tempted him, watched as his indifference slowly melted into a blush at the tips of his ears. Until one day, he cornered me against the wall, his eyes burning with longing. “Molly… tease me again. Please.”