Chapter 13
“I do!”
The instant Melinda said those words, confetti burst overhead, raining down in shimmering colors. Cheers erupted all around them as Patrick slipped a massive ten–carat diamond ring onto her finger. Grinning, he stood up and swept her into a kiss, holding her tight and not letting
- go.
“Congrats, Mr. Huffman finally got his girl!”
“Wishing you both a lifetime of happiness!”
“Congratulations! Congratulations!”
The kiss seemed endless. Melinda was breathless by the time Patrick let her go. He gently wiped her lips with his thumb, his voice low and a little shaky.
“Melinda, I’m so happy you said yes.”
Melinda’s eyes were red with tears as she threw her arms around him, hugging him as if she’d never let go.
“Me too,” she managed, voice trembling.
She silently thanked the universe for letting her be this lucky, for giving her someone who truly
loved her.
Growing up, Melinda never believed love was real. Her family was a mess, and she’d learned early that happy endings were for other people. Even after she started her hospital internship, she only saw more proof that love could be cruel. Affairs, heartbreak, betrayals–she’d seen it
all.
Her best friend’s story haunted her the most: seduced by a rich man, left pregnant and alone, and finally pushed down by the man’s wife. Before she died, her friend told Melinda, “There are no good men out there. If you ever have to choose, don’t care about money–just make sure he truly loves you.”
So when Patrick first showed up at the hospital, all charm and money, asking her to be his mistress, Melinda’s gut reaction was to run. He was married, for God’s sake. He checked every box on her “never” list. She swore she’d never fall for a guy like him.
Guys like Patrick just wanted to play. They didn’t really love women like her. No matter how sweet he was, no matter how much he spent, Melinda refused to budge. She even went straight to his wife, Maisy, and told her to keep her husband in line.
But Patrick wouldn’t give up. The more she resisted, the more determined he became.
In the end, his persistence wore her down. Melinda finally let her guard down–but she had rules. She would never be the other woman.
She told Patrick, “If you really want me, divorce Maisy first.”
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Chapter 13
Patrick didn’t hesitate. The very next day, divorce papers with both signatures landed on Melinda’s desk.
That’s when she finally believed he meant it. That he actually loved her.
And today, his surprise proposal made all her doubts vanish. She knew, deep in her heart, she’d found her person. It was the luckiest thing that had ever happened to her.
Just then, fireworks exploded outside the castle. Surrounded by friends and family, Patrick led Melinda out onto the balcony. She looked up and saw brilliant bursts of color painting the night sky, the lights floating down like flower petals, as if fairies were dancing just for her.
She forgot to breathe.
These fireworks–he’d arranged them just for her.
Suddenly, overwhelmed, Melinda turned and kissed Patrick, standing on tiptoe to reach him.
“Patrick, thank you for loving me this much.”
A flicker of surprise crossed his face before he pulled her close and kissed her back, hard.
After the proposal, Patrick threw himself into planning the wedding.
News spread fast, and soon his friends were blowing up the group chat:
“Dude, Patrick, have you lost your mind? You’re really marrying your mistress?”
“What about your wife?”
“How long do you plan to keep this up?”
Patrick just scoffed, his fingers flying over the keyboard as he replied:
“Chill out. It’s just a fake wedding. If she didn’t insist on saving herself for the wedding night, I wouldn’t even bother.”
“And the divorce papers with my wife are still stuck at the courthouse. Without my say–so, even after the cooling–off period, we’re not legally divorced.”
“As for how long this will last–until I get tired of it.”
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