Chapter 25
Rita stood in the center of the bedroom, the hem of her wedding dress still slightly unfurled as layers of lace brushed against her ankles.
She reached back to unclasp her necklace, fingers fumbling several times to find the tiny latch.
“Let me.”
Timothy’s voice came from behind, carrying the damp warmth of a recent shower.
His slender fingers easily found the small clasp, cool fingertips accidentally grazing the nape of her neck.
Rita’s spine stiffened almost imperceptibly, her breath catching for half a second.
She could smell his faint shower gel scent mingled with lingering champagne, twining around her like vines.
“Timothy, there’s something I’ve wanted to ask for a long time.”
As she turned, the soft fabric of her wedding dress swept across his calf, making his Adam’s apple bob.
“Mm.”
His low response ended in a husky note.
Rita tilted her head up to look at him. Crystal chandelier light caught in his eyes, dancing like fractured waves.
Finally, she voiced the question haunting her: “Why me?”
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CHAPTER 25
He didn’t answer, only brushed away stray tulle clinging to her check His fingertip lingered on her earlobe where the carnelian earring hed given her–matching the necklace–still hung.
Timothy’s hand slid from behind her car to cup her jaw, thumb tracing the corner of her lips. “That question will take my whole life to answer.”
No one knew he’d waited ten years for her.
Since she’d fought through a crowd at fourteen to pull his bullied self from the river without hesitation.
Back then, reeling from his father’s sudden death, his mother had sent him back to America to escape family turmoil. The abrupt upheaval left him withdrawn and depressed. Combined with weight gain from abruptly stopping medication, he became an outcast.
She taught him to fight back, encouraged his weight loss, chased off his tormentors…
Until Sean sent her abroad after high school graduation, while his mother brought him back to Canada for studies. They lost all contact.
During summer break in junior year, he visited relatives in America and unexpectedly saw her again.
On the backyard swing, she lay in Sean’s arms reading a storybook, laughing with effortless contentment.
Sean gazed at her, eyes overflowing with adoration.
Timothy had never seen such relaxed, unguarded expression on Sean’s face before.
He thought they were truly in love.
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Seeing her happy brought him peace.
From then on, he buried his unspoken feelings forever.
Until he returned to America for Sean’s wedding.
But the bride wasn’t her.
Discreet inquiries revealed their story.
His heart ached for her ordeal, yet he admired her courage.
She remained the fearless girl from his memories.
Later, he kept searching for news about her.
Never imagining she’d already married. He hated always being one step behind, yet still wished her happiness.
Little did he know neither man had given her their whole heart–loving her yet leaving her in impossible positions.
Thankfully she never surrendered, still fighting to break free.
So he and Barbara devised a plan together.
He planted that nurse in the psychiatric facility to pass messages, then arranged a dummy corpse to toss into the river beforehand.
Only by making them believe she was truly dead could she gain real freedom.
Afterward, he anonymously sent the video recording to Alexander through a third party,/guiding him to investigate the Psychiatric Facility. Everything unfolded exactly as he predicted.
Yet he had to admit his motives weren’t entirely selfless.
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Chapter 25
He arranged her destination in Canada and staged a heroic rescue.
From that moment, his girl finally entered his world.
This time, he’d shield her from all harm.
The wedding invitation was pure mischief–he knew Sean would come upon seeing the photo.
He wanted Sean to watch helplessly as the woman he loved married another.
He wanted Sean to witness their happiness firsthand.
He wanted Sean to lose his beloved forever.
This was the ultimate wedding gift he’d prepared for his girl.
For the rest of their lives, he’d give her absolute devotion.
“Mrs. Taylor,” he murmured, his nose brushing hers, “just know this: I love you. Always.”
As they drew closer, Rita saw her reflection in his eyes–a vision in white satin, like moonlight trapped in his gaze.
Breaths mingling, she rose on tiptoes to nip his lower lip, light as a butterfly’s touch.
Timothy’s breath hitched, Cradling her neck, he kissed her with tender insistence.
Lace scratched faintly between them while moonlight spilled through the window, illuminating his fingers as they slowly untied her gown- each inch like unwrapping a long–awaited gift.
