Chapter 1: Ben Years Later?!
Employees of J&J Corporation knew that there is a folder in the CEO’s computer. It was simply titled, “Jasmine’s Pure White.”
114 photographs, each one meticulously captured by CEO John Janson himself. Every night, in his penthouse office overlooking the glittering city of Los Angeles, he’d open that ‘folder, a ritual he’d performed thousands of times since the plane crash. Each photo was of the
same woman:
his missing wife, Lily Lynch.
For fifteen years, this kingpin of the LA business world had remained utterly uninterested in any other woman.
His relationship with his three kids was… strained.
His three kids, despite their academic talents, had problems in
problems in other areas.
Then, one day, the man who’d lived a solitary life for fifteen years married a woman fifteen younger than him.
years
And somehow, John and his kids were all disciplined and obedient by this young outsider.
She surveyed the four standing in the corner, silently enduring their punishment, a satisfied smirk playing on her lips.
They finally looked… presentable.
No one knew she was actually Lily Lynch, the wife who’d vanished fifteen. of those three little demons.
years ago, the mother
Ben years ago, Lily’s plane had crashed; she’d somehow blinked and found herself fifteen years in the future…
This was the fifteenth year since she disappeared, and she’d finally landed..
Seeing his familiar face, Lily’s eyes welled.
Her lower lip trembled, and she reached out for a hug.
for a hug, whimpering, “John!”
Long lashes still clinging to droplets of water, Lily wasn’t sure if she was dreaming or awake, consumed by an overwhelming fear.
She expected John to scoop her up, kiss her cheek, and assure her it was just a bad dream.
Instead,
hand clamped around her throat, fingers tightening painfully.
Lily knew something was wrong.
The man looked like John, yet he didn’t look like John.
“Who sent you? You’ve got some
nerve, impersonating my wife like this!” His icy gaze raked over her, a flicker of something akin to longing momentarily softening his features, before hardening into ruthless fury.
The sheer killing intent made Lily’s pupils constrict.
You have two choices: change your appearrance yourself, or I’ll help you ruin it.” The words were casual, yet the unspoken threat resonated with chilling clarity.
en Years Laterh
This was no joke..
He straightened, pulling a tissue from his pocket, wiping at his fingers as if she were something
unclean.
Water still dripped from Lily’s hair; a shiver ran down her spine cold, and terrified. The John she remembered
always smiling, accepting of her whims.
Because she’d said she loved his youthful, clean–cut look, he’d kept his hair neatly styled, unlike the slicked–back, mature look favored by other CEOs.
Lily used to tease him, saying his youthful look was not good to support his aura as a CEO..
This man was different.
His hair was perfectly parted, a tailored black shirt loosened at the top two buttons. The once–clear eyes were now dark and cold, radiating a palpable aura of menace. The John she knew was like a cuddly, lazy cat basking in the sun; this man was a black panther, crouched in the shadows, fangs bared, ready to strike.
Her gaze fell to his collarbone, where a faint scar was barely visible–a mark from the broken. window that had cut him when he’d saved her.
his current
Seeing his
demeanor, Lily slapped. the water, anger bubbling up.
East Alley in the Rancho Mirage area
Mirage area of Palm Springs?
live on East
“Didn’t you live
Weren’t you amazing at
you amazing at everything except singing?
Aren’t you allergic to mangoes, but you ate them anyway because I loved them
She rattled off a series of details.
Lily touched her neck that was pinched very painfully, and tears came out as she spoke, she was angry and aggrieved.
She was already very afraid, but she had to be treated like this.
She dabbed at her eyes, childishly wiping away the tears.
It hurt even more because it was John who’d choked her.
She didn’t notice the man’s face draining of color as she spoke, his hands trembling uncontrollably, the crimson in his eyes
“Who… who are you?”
ven
more intense than his earlier rage.
he finally rasped, the three words choked out with immense effort.
“Lily Lynch! I’m Lily Lynch! Who else would I be?!”
Lily stepped out of the bathtub, the ever–increasing stream of tears blurring her vision. She grabbed a robe and shoved the man away.
“Get out of here, you jerk!”
Jerk was her go–to insult for John when she was angry.
John stumbled back, leaning against the wall, gasping for air like a drowning man pulled from the
Water.
Then, as if
a sudden thought struck him, he slammed his fist against the wall.
034
Chapter 1 Ben Years Later?
His furrowed
It hurt.
brow
relaxed slightly
35
he stared. at his bruised
knuckles.
Lily changed out of her wet clothes in the bathroom.
She was sure the plane crash wasn’t a dream; she was still wearing the clothes she’d had on then. But how had she ended up here, and what was wrong with John?
‘She was about to go talk to him when the door burst open, and he pulled her into a tight embrace.
The familiar comfort eased her tense nerves slightly.
She muttered,
“What the hell happened? The plane crashed into the ocean, and now I’m here? And what was with that attitude…?”
She paused, noticing the dampness on her neck.
John… was crying?
“Lily, you were gone for fifteen years. I almost went crazy looking for you, Lily.” With each word, his hold tightened, nearly crushing her ribs.
Lily playfully pinched him.
Even after their marriage, she hadn’t stopped I’m… I’m so sorry, Lily.”
using that little gesture.
Feeling his arm tighten around her waist, Lily was dumbfounded.
