Morning.
Rachel Foster, unusually, got up later than Jasper Reed. Ivy Morgan and Jasper were already there when she reached the dining room.
"Sorry, I overslept today," Rachel said awkwardly to Ivy.
With her usual warmth, Ivy replied gently, "It's alright... Did you stay up late last night?"
Rachel vaguely responded with a "Hmm."
Ivy smiled. "Why not stay home this morning and catch up on sleep? Jasper, don't let Rachel overwork herself at night!"
Ivy's teasing, suggestive words instantly flushed Rachel's face while Jasper smiled warmly.
Ivy found an excuse to leave, and Jasper, noticing Rachel's thoughts, leaned down and said, "Mom's always wanted a grandchild. Don't take her words to heart."
Rachel looked up. "I..."
Jasper gently cupped her sincere and tender apologetic face. "I told you, I don't mind. I think it's wonderful..." He placed a gentle kiss on her smooth forehead. "You should know how much I cherish you, so I don't mind waiting until after we're married."
"I'm sorry..."
Jasper pulled Rachel into his arms. "Don't say that... You slept poorly last night, so don't go to the office this morning."
Rachel quickly sat up straight, looking at Jasper nervously. "Did I... get drunk last night?" Waking up with a headache, she vaguely remembered drinking too much and Jasper coming to her room.
Jasper laughed, ruffling her hair at the temple. "I didn't expect you to drink alone in your room. Were you too happy about marrying me?" He playfully tapped her nose.
Rachel forced a smile, feeling guilty and unnatural. "I didn't say anything silly, did I?" she asked cautiously.
Jasper pretended to ponder. "You did say..."
Rachel held her breath.
Jasper slowly said, " You wanted to have a child with me. I almost couldn't resist..."
"Jasper!"
Instead of resting at home, Rachel visited a newly opened bridal shop that morning. Since she had decided to let go of the past, she wanted to move forward happily.
He would be thrilled if Jasper knew she was already picking out a wedding dress.
When she passed the shop last time, she noticed its beautiful wedding dress designs and decided to choose her dress there.
The shop assistant eagerly helped her select a few beautiful dresses, but Rachel was drawn to a simple, elegant white gown with a floor-length hem—she had always preferred simplicity.
Noticing her preference, the assistant praised her high taste and urged her to try it.
Rachel initially didn't want to try the dress, planning to return with Jasper. However, the allure of a wedding dress is irresistible for any woman. With the assistant's encouragement, she stepped into the fitting room.
Feeling apprehensive after changing, she didn't expect the immediate flood of compliments from the staff when she emerged.
Rachel, always modest, thought the compliments were mere flattery, so she stood before the mirror to see for herself.
In the next moment, she was stunned.
Reflected in the mirror was a vision of herself in the noble white gown, reminiscent of a goddess from Greek mythology, the soft tulle accentuating her graceful figure. Was this her? Just then, she heard the sound of applause.
Returning to her senses and about to turn, she noticed an extraordinarily handsome face in the mirror beside her.
Rachel had never been so startled before; her face turned ashen when she turned to look at him.Kingsly dressed in a silver-gray suit with his hands in his pockets, exuded a lazy and relaxed aura yet was strikingly handsome.
The shop assistants around had already recognized Kingsly and were covering their mouths in disbelief, holding their breaths.
Kingsly ignored the surrounding gazes, narrowing his long, phoenix-like eyes, focusing solely on her, a slight smile on his lips. "Why do you always look so scared when you see me? Someone might think you have a guilty conscience about something you've done to me."
Rachel's heart trembled slightly, and she felt a bit flustered. She quickly composed herself and responded calmly, "What are you doing here?"
Little did she know, his sharp eyes had already caught her momentary panic, his heart coldly amused, as if he had come just to see her in such a disheveled state.
"Passing by, drawn by the beautiful scene in the shop, I didn't expect it to be you," his thin lips spoke with an incredibly magnetic and pleasant tone. "Seems like my taste is quite consistent."
Rachel didn't believe Kingsly's words for a moment. She even felt his eyes on her back, leaving her nowhere to hide.
"What exactly do you want?" Rachel lost her patience, her face stern as she looked at him. From the moment he first made that inappropriate request, she knew he wasn't well-intentioned.
Kingsly frowned slightly. "Is that how you talk to a friend?"
Rachel couldn't tell if Kingsly was angry, but she didn't want to get entangled with him any further. She turned to head into the fitting room to change out of the wedding dress and get away from him.
Helen, who had been standing behind Kingsly, quickly interjected. "Miss Foster, you misunderstand. Mr. Scott was just passing by and has a meeting waiting for him."
Rachel paused, her back stiff, and coldly said, "I will find a way to repay Mr. Scott's favor, but we probably can't be friends." Let it end like this, Rachel. He is no longer the Kingsly Scott of the past, and you are no longer the Rachel Foster of the past. You and he are destined to remain strangers in this life.
Kingsly waved his hand, and Helen took the hint. In the next moment, Helen ushered everyone into the store.
The sizeable bridal shop was suddenly empty, leaving just the two.
Before Rachel realized something was amiss, he was already in front of her, his broad, strong hand encircling her waist, his deep, dark eyes fixed intently on her startled gaze.
Jasper Reed was being driven to Deep Bay to discuss a piece of land when his phone rang as they reached Champs-Élysées.
Holding the phone to his ear, Jasper's expression was cold and severe. "Mr. Reed, I've found what you asked me to investigate..."
Jasper's eyes narrowed into a line as the car waited at a red light, and he turned to look out the window.
"I checked Miss Foster's classmates and friends from elementary to university, and none were named 'Kingsly.' However, a high school classmate mentioned that Miss Foster had a boyfriend with the English name Kingsly, but no one had ever seen him."
Jasper said nothing, his gaze still fixed outside.
"Through investigating Miss Foster's family's background, I found that the Foster family had a close family friend with the surname Reed, whose son had the English name Kingsly. However, I have yet to find out his identity... Please give me more time, Mr. Reed, and I'll definitely uncover who this person is."
"No need," Jasper raised his chin, his eyes sharp. "I already know who he is."
Withdrawing his gaze, Jasper ordered the driver to move on. His eyes were previously fixed on the bridal shop, where, through the clean, transparent glass wall, Kingsly was holding Rachel by the waist. Their eyes locked in what seemed like an affectionate gaze from afar.
"Let go of me..."He tightened his grip, holding her even closer.
"You..." She glared at him, only to find his dark, determined gaze unyielding and commanding.
She stopped struggling because the more she resisted, the tighter he held her.
He seemed to enjoy seeing her in disarray and embarrassment before him.
Their gazes locked in confrontation, yet neither spoke.
The shop was silent, with only the overhead crystal light casting shadows on the floor. The warm glow fell on her delicate face, tracing from her pretty forehead down her brow, along her upturned nose, and onto her vibrant red lips. Her long lashes cast dense shadows with every blink.
Her appearance was incredibly alluring.
His free hand couldn't resist touching her cheek, his voice low and gentle. "I don't know why, but every time I see you, I feel a sense of déjà vu."
His words caused a tightening in her chest, and she turned her head slightly to escape his breath.
He withdrew his hand, his gaze lingering on her lightly pursed lips. "Leo told me you're afraid of me?" She could feel his gaze sliding slowly from her lips to her tense cheek. "There's no need to fear me. I naturally desire to possess a woman I'm interested in—it's in every man's nature. So I would never hurt you."
She remained silent.
His gaze returned to her slightly parted lips, and he continued softly. "This wedding dress suits you. It's how I imagined my beloved would look in a wedding dress when I was young... Maybe this feeling drew me here and led me to see you."
Her body trembled slightly.
He suddenly smiled. "I doubt you'll invite me to your wedding, but I still want to offer you my blessing as a tribute to my youthful fantasies..."
A sudden pang of inexplicable sadness hit her heart. Her gaze, previously lowered to his chest, lifted, her slightly raised chin making her look fragile and pitiable.
He studied her, seeming to see through her moment of vulnerability, pulling her even closer and saying, "But before I congratulate you, shouldn't you repay the favor I did for you by helping Jasper?"
He leaned down, and before she could react, his lips met hers, driven by instinct. She struggled, but he restrained her rebellious hands. She tried to kick him, but he pinned her against the wall, immobilizing her, his hand threading through her hair to hold her face, forcing her to accept his demand.
His lips crushed hers, sucking on their softness, his nimble tongue harshly probing her tightly shut teeth. When met with resistance, he pinched her chin, making her whimper in pain, and she inadvertently opened her mouth.
His tongue, hot and fervent, entwined with hers, entirely invading. Overwhelmed with shame and fury, she broke free from his embrace and fled.
He didn't stop her, instead raising his thumb to wipe away the drop of blood from his lip where she had bitten him, a faint smile on his lips. "Congratulations on your wedding."