Grandfather turned to me. “Call the guards. Search the base of that cliff. Now!”
I fumbled for my phone and called. “Search the cliffs. Every inch. Find her. Dead or alive–just
find her!”
Then Grandfather suddenly staggered.
1592
5:15 pm
“Grandpa?” I rushed to him.
He clutched his chest and dropped to the floor.
“GRANDPA!” I yelled.
Chapter – A New Arrangement
I stared at Douglas, confused. “What do you mean Silas is my husband–to–be?”
Douglas rubbed the back of his neck, avoiding my eyes. “I should have waited. Let you recover first. I just… thought it was the right time.”
“Douglas,” I said, my voice low but sharp. “I’m still married. Or did you forget?”
Silas stepped forward. He had calm eyes. A steady voice. “You don’t need to worry, Jasmine. We’ll handle that. Your marriage to Henry can be dissolved quickly.”
I looked at him. He didn’t seem like a bad person. Still, I wasn’t ready to be someone’s wife again.
Silas continued, “I apologize for how this was brought to you. Douglas got ahead of himself. When you’re fully recovered, we can talk properly.”
He left quietly, giving me a small nod.
I turned to Douglas. “You planned this?”
He raised both hands, trying to smile. “Don’t glare at me like that.
I folded my arms across the blanket. “That’s not an answer.”
“Rest first. I’ll explain later, I promise.”
He kissed my forehead gently and walked out.
need rest.”
I stared down at my arms. Bandaged. Weak. Pain throbbed in my shoulder.
Those kids… my children… they really aimed at me with those arrows. No hesitation. No regret.
I shut my eyes. My heart hurt more than my body.
I dozed off.
When I woke again, Douglas was beside me, shaking my arm gently.
“We’ve landed,” he said softly. “Let’s get you off the plane.”
The nurse helped me into a wheelchair. I was still too weak to walk.
As we rolled down the ramp, I gasped.
A giant mansion stood ahead. Grand. Elegant. Too perfect.
I turned to Douglas. “Who owns this?”
He smiled and looked at Silas, who stood at the base of the stairs, waiting “This is our home.
We’ve been here a while now.”
“Our?” I blinked. “You live here?”
Douglas nodded. “Yes.”
‘How can you afford this?”
He chuckled. “Calm down, Jasmine. I’ll explain everything.”
The nurse pushed me inside. The interior of the house was even more beautiful. Everything smelled fresh. Like lemon and new furniture.
A row of maids and staff stood waiting. Each bowed politely.
‘Welcome home, Miss Jasmine,” one said.
72
5:15 POL
I blinked. “Home?”
“Come on,” Douglas said, helping me up the elevator and into a cozy room.
The nurse helped me onto the bed, adjusted the pillows, and left silently.
Douglas came in, his face serious now. He pulled a chair beside me.
“I owe you the full story,” he said.
I nodded. “You think?”
“When you left ten years ago, I was angry,” he began. “But I knew you had your reasons. I stayed behind. Struggled. Starved. But I kept going.”
I felt guilt creep into my chest. “Douglas…”
He waved me off. “I’m not blaming you. I just want you to know what happened. I got a job working under Silas. I was young, broke, and desperate. But I proved myself.”
I leaned forward slightly. “What did you do?”
“Seven years ago, I stopped an attack on Silas. Some people inside his company wanted him dead. I exposed them. Saved his life. His business.”
My eyes widened. “And he just… rewarded you?”
“He made me his personal assistant,” Douglas said with a small smile. “Paid well. Trained me. After some years, I started my own company. With his backing.”
“You’re partners now?” I asked, surprised.
He nodded. “Yes. Business partners. Friends, too.”
I let out a slow breath. “I’m proud of you, Douglas. You really made something of yourself.”
He looked down. “I wish you hadn’t left me. But I’m not angry anymore.”
I reached out and took his hand. “I’m sorry I abandoned you.”
He squeezed my fingers gently. “You did what you thought was best.”
I pulled my hand back. “So… this marriage with Silas?”
Douglas leaned back in the chair. “Silas’s mother is dying. Her last wish is to see him get married. She has only three months left.”
My brows knit. “Okay. But what does that have to do with me?”
“Silas was about to hire someone. A fake bride. Just to fulfill her wish.”
I frowned. “So you offered me instead?”
“You called me that day you wanted to leave Henry,” Douglas said calmly. “You wanted to leave that life behind. I thought… why not suggest you instead of a stranger? You’d be safe. You’d get something out of it.”
“What exactly?” I asked.
“Money. Security. A clean slate. And revenge.”
I looked at him for a long moment. Then I looked away.
“I married Henry for love,” I whispered. “Look where that got me.”
Пnunise esid nothing
2005
5:15 pm.
Douglas said nothing.
I turned back to him. “If I agree to this… there will be rules. And I want to know how long this farce lasts.”
Douglas smiled. “You’ll need to discuss that with Silas.
As if summoned, Silas walked into the room. Calm. Clean. Cold in some ways, but polite.
He looked at me and nodded. “Douglas told me you’re willing to help.”
I looked back at him. “Depends on the terms,”
Silas walked to the window. “Three months. That’s all. My mother has three months left. She wants to see me married before she dies.”
“And after that?” I asked.
“We annul the marriage,” Silas said simply. “Quietly. Cleanly.”
I tilted my head. “And what do I get?
“One hundred million dollars,” he said without blinking.
My mouth parted slightly. “Excuse me?”
“One hundred million. For three months. And my help. I’ll make sure the people who hurt your pay. All of them.”
I blinked. “All I want is to see Henry and Bianca ruined. That’s my justice.”
Silas’s voice was firm. “Then that’s what we’ll do.”
I stared at him. This wasn’t a man who made empty promises.
Douglas smiled. “So…. deal?”
I stared at the ceiling, thinking. My heart was tired. My soul, worn out.
Marriage for love had broken me.
Maybe marriage for power would help me rebuild.
I turned my head to them slowly.
“There will be no touching,” I said quietly. “And I decide what the world sees.”
Silas nodded. “Understood.”
“I’ll wear a ring,” I added. “But I’m no man’s wife behind closed doors.”
“Fair,” Silas replied. “This is just business.”
Douglas sighed with relief. “You’re doing the right thing.
I closed my eyes. I wasn’t sure of anything anymore.
But I knew one thing.
If this was my second chance, I’d play by my rules.
Chapter
5:15 pm
Henry’s Pov
