Chapter 1

My life was a complete disaster!

It was my wedding today and it should have been the best day of my life.

However, I was there in the church to walk down the aisle, waiting to marry a man I didn't even recognize.

The guests surrounding me kept smiling at me and giving me good wishes.

God! I didn't know any of them at all.

This was ridiculous!

Ten days ago, I'd woken up from a coma caused by an accident.

I'd lost all my memories.

It was like someone snapped fingers in my face, then BAM! I no longer knew what was going on.

My parents were killed in a chemical laboratory explosion. I had no idea who did that to them, or whether it was a complete accident. What kind of memories did they leave for me? Which people should I be suspicious of?

I was Winter Harris, had a prosperous life, and could buy luxurious things. Nevertheless, life had not given me a peaceful family.

The more my emerald eyes glowed, the darker my surroundings became every time I heard my parents fighting. Even though the memories left with me were just the arguments between my parents, I still miss them.

I ambled down the red carpet toward the man waiting for me, wearing a navy groom's suit. I clutched my arm around Archer, my stepbrother. Now that I was in this position, I found myself missing my parents' raucous arguments every night on the way home from the office.

I dreamed of walking down the aisle in a wedding dress like this while my father took me to the man I would love and be with for the rest of my life, but it was impossible to happen now.

The veil covered my face as the man held out his palms to invite me. He took my hands as Archer let go of my arm.

I stared into the man’s blue eyes as I watched, and I couldn’t deny that he looked dashing. A stylish and classic haircut with a beard always works and he looked very elegant with a navy suit and boutonniere decorations on his chest.

I put my hand on his palm, and he supported my step.

We knelt at the church’s altar. Father started the ceremony until he began asking questions of the man next to me.

“Do you, Randall Adams, take Winter to be your wedded wife, to cherish in love and friendship, in strength and weakness, in success and disappointment, to love her faithfully, today, tomorrow, and for as long as the two of you shall live?”

He first looked at me deeply with his blue eyes before answering.

“I do.”

Father asked me next. I felt everyone’s silence; I glanced at Archer and Aunt Helena, mother of Archer, and saw their nervous eyes. Big droplets of tears fell.

“I do.”

“Okay repeat after me,” continued Father. “I, Randall/Winter, take you, Winter/Randall, to be my lawfully wedded husband/wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness or in health, until death do us part.”

After we spoke, he spoke the last part.

“And now, by the power vested in me by God, it is my honor and delight to declare you married. Go forth and live each day to the fullest. You may seal this declaration with a kiss.”

Randall lifted the veil I was wearing and gently pressed his soft lips against mine. I closed my eyes.

“I am so pleased to present the newlyweds, Randall Adams and Winter Harris Adams!”

Now that we were husband and wife, I was still mystified as to why I was compelled to marry this billionaire whom I had never met before.

What precisely had unfolded in my life?

***

Randall dropped my suitcases inside the new house I was going to live in. I mean, we. The house was spacious, quiet, and had many servants.

I ran my eyes over the antique stuff. Even the main clock is antique, but I couldn't deny the fact that it pairs well with the white tiles and white wall. The ceiling had two box shapes with brown pigment, at the four sides was light, and in the center was a big ceiling fan.

Two guards greeted us and took my suitcases.

Randall gestured for me to go upstairs to clamber. He grasped the back of my waist and supported me. I laid my hand on the chocolate-colored handrail and felt its elegance—not even any dust on my palm.

He let go of my waist as we climbed. I looked up to the other floor and saw on the side a staircase leading to the 3rd floor.

“My office is at the top. I just got married, and they provided me with one month of leave. After a month, they will give the Métier Group to me and the Phoenix Corporation, your company, will merge with ours. I will be the CEO of Métier Group while shareholder’s director in Phoenix Corporation,” Randall seemed to have seen what was in my mind, so he spoke.

I nodded as if I understood what he said, but I honestly didn’t process any words. After I lost my memory, my brain's processing also diminished.

I stepped three times before I paused in front of the first bedroom. Four rooms line up on the right side here on the second floor, while the left side is a handrail. The first floor and door were directly visible when you stood on the left side.

Randall opened the hazel door.

When we went in, a delicate fragrance covered my nose. I spotted a large white clothes cabinet. On the right side, there was the air conditioning, broad windows that covered the right wall and there was also a balcony. If you peered, the right side was glass.

The two guards asked permission to leave and closed the door. He walked over to the iron and turned it on; I strolled to the king-size bed. Silence enfolded us, and we could hear the aircon.

I didn’t like this atmosphere, it was heavy.

“Ahm…You see, I remember nothing except my parents shrieking every night. I wonder, "What's our marriage for?”

He didn’t speak, so I proceeded as I played up and down my foot. I pressed my hands against the bed.

“Before I had an accident, what kind of life did I have? The particular information I brought was from the story of Aunt Helena and Archer.”

He opened his mouth but closed it again, so I pouted.

“I don’t know why we got married because when I moved out of the hospital, Archer said I should get married because I made a promise to you, but I had an accident. They say we love each other. If that’s true, why do you seem unfamiliar?”

He smiled at me with grief eyes, knelt in front of me, and held both hands. He folded them in his arms and kissed them.

“The day will come when questions won’t bother you anymore. For now, let’s just wait for the right time,” he said, pulling my neck and giving me a kiss on my forehead.

He stood up and opened the cabinet. He rummaged there and pulled out a peach-colored cell phone. It had mud on the side and a cracked screen. There was also a white box.

He gave them to me.

“The peach color is your old cellphone, the other one is the new one. The new cellphone has been set up. I’ve already saved my number. It’s going to be night soon, so let’s have dinner together.”

He tousled my hair and closed the door.

I pressed the power button, and it astonished me that it worked. I waited a few seconds before the screen finally lit up. However, I was discouraged because it had a passcode. I contemplated getting an understanding of my past when I turned on my old phone.

I sighed and went down as well.

When I arrived in the kitchen, Randall was not there. Only the two maids while they set the food and table.

When they spotted me, I heard their greeting along with a smile.

I smiled back and turned my eyes around before finally asking. “Where’s Randall?”

“He went outside, young madame. It seems like he is on the phone.”

I answered her before following Randall outside, “Don’t call me young madame, please. Just Winter. You’re older than me too.”

They bowed and nodded.

I followed Randall outside. I looked for him outside the door, but he was not there.

I went around the entire house, but I couldn't find him.

I was chasing my breath because of the size of the house when I suddenly heard a voice.

I followed where the sound was coming from and discovered a small garden, many flowers, and a hammock.

Randall’s back was facing me as he watered the lilac blossom. He didn’t see me.

I would have waited for the call to end before talking to him, so I just stood there, but my heart thumped quicker at what he said on the other line.

“Don’t worry, I won’t let her know,” he declared coldly.

I hastily hid behind a wall just near the garden. I heard him speak again before dropping the call.

“Just a moment.”

I could already hear footsteps reaching me, so I raced around to where he had been standing a while ago, so we wouldn’t meet.

As I passed the door, someone called my name.

“Winter.”

I flinched and stood up straight. My palms and foreheads were sweating, and my heart was pounding.

I looked casually at him and felt his burning eyes.

“Why are you outside?”