Mamie’s chubby little hands smacked Terrell’s cheeks with a series of playful slaps, her words tumbling out one by one, “Dizzy…bro dizzy…
The nanny bustled around them, laughing as she gently corrected Terrell, “You can’t spin her around like that–be a little more gentle.”
Terrell obediently adjusted his hold, then peppered Mamie’s cheeks with noisy, drooling kisses.
Mamie wiped her slobbery face on Terrell’s shirt, sending everyone around them into peals of laughter.
Meanwhile, Blanche and Fernando wandered farther down the coast, the golden sand glowing under the sinking sun, their shadows stretched long by the streetlights.
Suddenly, Fernando dropped to one knee, holding up a dazzling diamond ring. “Laney, will you marry me? Let me be Mamie’s dad, and take care of you both for the rest of our lives. The four of us–never apart.
The wind lifted the sand and fluttered Blanche’s dress.
Not far away, in the upper floors of the base, a shadow fell across the light spilling from the floor–to–ceiling windows.
Ablett glanced impassively through a stack of documents.
As night settled in, Blanche lingered outside Ablett’s office, hesitating before finally pushing open the door. In her hand was a marriage certificate application.
“Director–General…”
“Marry me.”
Ablett looked at Blanche, setting his files down on the desk. On top was Mamie’s registration form, the parents‘ section left blank.
At the base, Blanche was known only as Cipher–no name, no surname, just a codename. Her file was classified; only Ablett and a handful of top brass knew her true identity. To everyone else, she was just the elite hacker.
When Mamie was born, there was no way to fill in the parents‘ names on her birth certificate.
But now, Mamie needed official papers, a place to call home, and a spot at
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Chapter 103
preschool.
The two stood together, their shadows merging and stretching in the light from the hallway.
Eddy woke from a nightmare, heart pounding. In his dream, he’d watched helplessly as his wife, radiant in a white wedding gown, married another man. He’d tried to stop it, screaming in anguish, but no one heard him. His chest tightened with searing pain, and with a gasp, he jolted awake.
“Quick! Call Mrs. Edwards! He’s awake!” The housekeeper shrieked, dropping her dishes with a crash.
Eddy sucked in a desperate breath like a drowning man, his lungs burning as he struggled to sit up.
Footsteps thundered down the hall–his son, now a little older; his mother, now a little grayer; his ever–present bodyguards.
“Tell me–have you found my wife?” Eddy grabbed the bodyguard by the collar.
“Sir! News from Silverwood! There’s a report–your wife was seen at the church in
Silverwood…”
“The church?” Eddy’s heart felt as if a hundred needles stabbed it at once. His lips trembled, bloodless. “A wedding?”
“Her name is on the guest list for a wedding at the church–she’s listed as the bride!” The bodyguard blurted out in a rush.
Eddy tried to leap out of bed. After twelve months lying helpless, his body gave out and he collapsed back onto the mattress.
“Eddy! You just woke up. The doctors need to examine you. Don’t do anything reckless. Don’t scare your mother. Healy and I can’t lose you!” Loraine cried, holding down his hand.
Healy sobbed, clutching Eddy’s sleeve. “Dad, I already lost Mom. I can’t lose your
too.”
“Mom, Laney can’t marry anyone else.” Eddy shoved Healy away, watching his son. fall to the floor in tears, his own face stony.
He looked at his mother, stubborn desperation in his voice. “She’s my wife. I won’t let anyone else have her.”
Loraine let go of his arm, her voice stern. “You can go–but you’re taking the medical team. Otherwise, you’re not leaving this house.”
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Chapter 1837
Eddy staggered from the bedroom, not looking back.
Before leaving, he took the necklace from his nightstand–the one strung with two wedding bands–and fastened it around his neck, his eyes blazing with
determination.
Eddy’s private jet tore across the sky. He arrived at the church, stormed through the doors, and caught the bride’s hand. Pulling her into his arms, he was overwhelmed by the sense of having the world returned to him. He lowered his voice and breathed into her ear, “I missed you so much, sweetheart.”
C
