Charmaine slowly opened her eyes and woke up with a headache. What happened to her? She didn't drink, so why did she feel like suffering from a hangover?
"Good morning..." Leo suddenly uttered beside her. He leaned closer, kissed her forehead and then hugged her waist. He was glad her forehead feels cooler now.
Charmaine froze. Did she just wake up next to Leo? "What happened? Why are you here?" she asked.
Leo was still sleepy but he tried to answer her question. "You fainted on our way from the civil registry office. I took you to the hospital and they put you into a drip then sent you home. I was watching you all night until your fever breaks."
Charmaine stared at Leo's still close eyes. So he took care of her all night? That's so nice of him. But then she remembered one small detail and she instantly got up in shock. Civil registry office? "Who got married?" she blurted. Suddenly, fragments of the incident yesterday flashed across her mind. She did feel unwell when she left the Ji mansion yesterday, and coupled with the fact that she was drenched with the sudden rain, she have gotten ill. But her behavior yesterday? That was hard to explain.
Leo looked at Charmaine's face with his droopy eyes. Was she trying to get out of their marriage less than eighteen hours after they signed the papers? Unbelievable. He closed his eyes again and kept his arm around her waist. "You can't do anything about it now. You're already married to me." he mumbled.
"But how did that happen? Flash marriage isn't legal in this country. A couple must wait for a month after giving the notice before they can get married!" she reasoned. "So basically, even if we did get a ceremony, our wedding isn't legal until March twenty!"
Leo chuckled. His hearty laughter early in the morning warmth Charmaine's chest. Was it a dream that she woke up next to him? "You're smart. But I'm smarter. Last May, when I came to your parents and requested that they ask you to come home, I already filed for a notice of engagement. It's valid for twelve months. Am I not brilliant?" Leo answered. Although Charmaine refused to come home during that time to marry him, he was still glad he filed that notice. He had to use a little bit of connection to get it done but it's all worth it.
Charmaine turned silent. Did she really get married to Leo.... again? Well... it's not as if it's the first time but, it felt different this time. In the previous life that she refused to lead, she married Leo when she was just eighteen. Young; naive; impulsive. She were very happy and hopeful back then. But right now, she feels a combination of worry, uncertainty and ecstasy. Such weird combinations. What's going to happen now? It's to predict when a lot of things have already changed. And Jun....
"Leo... tell me the truth." she said, suddenly turning to Leo. "Have you, or have you not slept with Jienna before?"
Leo's initial languor suddenly vanished as his eyes shot wide open. He sat up and stared at the woman beside him. Why would her newly wedded wife ask about another woman on the first morning since their marriage? But not answering that question would only make her doubt him even more, right?
"The truth is...I don't remember sleeping with her. I found out she mixed my drinks with rohypnol so I actually have no recollection of what happened after I passed out but..." he turned to Charmaine and looked straight into her eyes. "Jienna herself told me that nothing happened to us the night she drugged me."
Charmaine looked away. Jienna told her that? But she told her Luke was Leo's child! Why would she lie to any of them? That just doesn't make sense! "You said Jienna laced your drink with rohypnol? Are you sure?" she asked.
"Of course. I got myself tested after that night. What's wrong?" he asked with furrowed brows.
Charmaine sighed and shook her head. If Jienna really planned to sleep with Leo, she wouldn't use rohypnol. She would use the same drugs she gave them on the night of Leo's twenty first birthday. She knew very well that Leo won't be able to perform well under the influence of rohypnol. She might have just sent Leo to dreamland that night! Was it a mistake on her part? But then who's Luke's father if it wasn't Leo? Could it be that Jun was telling the truth?
"What's the matter?" Leo worriedly asked when he noticed her deep in thought.
"Nothing. Today is Jienna's first death anniversary." she stated. "Let's go meet my parents later so we can tell them the news about us."
Leo pulled Charmaine into a hug. His new wife seemed to be having some troubles. He needs to find out all about her worries quick.
***
"Are you ready now?"
Laura turned around when she heard Jun's voice. She was ascending the stairs to the second floor of the house when she heard him talking to someone. When she checked where he was, she saw him standing at the end of the corridor, facing the big window. Turned out he was having a conversation on his phone. She was about to leave him be but her steps halted when she heard him mention something strange.
"It's alright. You can start with the Song family." she heard him say. "No. I can't just let Leo Ji go. He needs to be destroyed before he can make a comeback. I've already done too much to get where I am."
Laura Ji covered her mouth in shock. Jun was the one who sabotaged Leo? The misappropriation of funds for several projects in the Ji Group... it was his doing? He did it all to frame Leo? But Why? They were all siblings!
After ending the call, Jun turned around to leave but saw Laura standing on his way. Her eyes were cold suggesting she might have heard things she shouldn't have.
"Jun, why are you doing this?" she asked.
"Why what? How much have you heard?" he asked with a smirk. "The things that you knew, the things that you've heard, you better just keep it to yourself. Don't give me the slightest reason to deal with you.... " he threatened her. "If I can drag the mighty Leo Ji out of his throne, I can also throw a little kitten like you out of my mansion!"
Laura watched as Jun Ji passed her by and walked away. She used to think Leo was the most ruthless of all her brothers. She didn't know her eldest brother was hiding such despicable secrets.