Chapter 6
Blake treated my remains like sacred relics, refusing to let me be buried or even let himself sleep.
He just held my urn day and night, drinking himself into oblivion.
Overnight he aged ten years.
But Candy couldn’t stand seeing Blake this wrecked over my death.
So when the Morrison family company had their anniversary party, she forced Blake out of the house.
The Morrison enterprise wasn’t huge locally, but it was a decent mid–tier company. And since Candy was their only daughter, she’d lived like a pampered princess her whole life.
“Mom, Dad, this is my boyfriend Blake Carson. He’s the Carson family heir.”
Candy clung to Blake’s arm with a sweet smile, and the Morrison parents–who knew all about the Carson tech empire–were all smiles with their future son–in–law.
Only Blake stood there like a zombie, completely lifeless.
Until the announcer introduced the Whitmore heir and his date-
Facing this major Morrison client, Candy’s parents abandoned their own daughter and son–in–law to rush over with drinks.
And Blake was completely unprepared to see me in an elegant gown, carefully held in Damon Whitmore’s arms.
“Riley? Riley, is that YOU?!”
His wine glass shattered on the floor, shards cutting his legs, but he didn’t seem to feel any pain.
He grabbed my hands desperately, like his dead, gray world had suddenly blazed back to life.
But the next second, he was shoved hard.
“Who the hell do you think you are? Nobody touches MY woman!”
Damon Whitmore’s cocky attitude got everyone’s attention.
As the Whitmore family’s golden boy, he definitely had the right to be arrogant.
But even sprawled on the floor, Blake kept staring at me:
“Riley, it IS you! You didn’t die–you finally came back to me!”
The man’s eyes were bloodshot, like he was afraid if he blinked, I’d vanish.
Just like in all his nightmares.
“Who ARE you?!”
But completely unexpectedly, I looked at him with total confusion.
He froze completely.
“You’re still mad at me, right? You can hit me, scream at me, whatever–just don’t mess with me like this.”
“It’s not funny, Riley.”
Chapter 6
“You can’t have forgotten everything we had together? You’re my WIFE!”
Blake collapsed to his knees, as pathetic as an abandoned stray dog.
“But I really don’t know you. I’m Damon’s girlfriend, not your wife.”
I answered honestly and sincerely.
And Damon wrapped his arm possessively around my waist:
“You heard her? This is MY girl, so quit acting crazy.”
I was someone he’d rescued from that fighting arena months ago, but since he’d saved me with his own hands, in his mind I belonged to him.
Meanwhile, Candy had gone rigid the moment she saw me.
But seeing Blake like this made her furious.
After all, she’d just announced to everyone that Blake was HER boyfriend.
“Blake, you’ve gotta be mistaken! This lady isn’t Riley–Riley’s DEAD! Just let it go already!”
Candy pulled the man up from the floor, shooting me a look full of hidden venom.
Days of sleepless nights had Blake hallucinating.
But just as he thought he really had mistaken me for someone else, he spotted the scars on my wrists.
Even though Damon had gotten me the best doctors and treatments, that brutal ordeal had still left plenty of horrific marks on my body.
“It IS Riley! It’s MY Riley!”
With that, he lunged for me, but Damon blocked him.
“You reach out one more finger and I’ll make sure you lose both hands.”
His usual smirk turned ice–cold, especially when he caught Candy glaring at me with pure hatred.
“And just so you know–if this is how the Morrison family treats guests, then the Whitmore family’s done doing business with you as of today.”
Then he started to lead me away.
But the Morrison parents, desperately needing that Whitmore contract, panicked.
“Candy! Get Blake over here to apologize to Mr. Whitmore and his girlfriend right NOW! Have you completely lost your manners?!”
“That’s right! Move it! You want me to drag you over there myself?!”
Facing potential bankruptcy, the Morrison parents forgot all about their usual spolling of Candy.
But for Candy–who’d never bowed to anyone–this was impossible.
Especially to me, someone she saw as beneath her.
“I didn’t do ANYTHING wrong! Why should I apologize to HIER?! I’m not doing it!”
Candy was finally getting a taste of what I’d felt in my past life–being blamed for everything.
SMACK!
Mr. Morrison slapped her across the face.
Chapter 6
“Then don’t expect another penny from this family!”
This was Candy’s first time ever being hit.
But she bit her lip stubbornly and refused to speak, while Blake kept staring at my retreating figure.
Candy had no doubt that if she wasn’t physically restraining him, he’d follow me out without hesitation.
Why should SHE lose?!
Vicious thoughts took over completely.
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.