"But that's not why I asked you here tonight. Tonight is very special for two reasons. The first is since yesterday, I am single again." He holds up a piece of paper in his hands. "My fake marriage to Sarah has been annulled for reasons of consent given by duress, coercion, and fraud. I am finally free!"
Cheers erupt again, causing my head to spin with jubilation. Owen failed to mention any of this to me yesterday. I should be mad at him for not telling me, but I'm way too overjoyed to care.
"Thank you," Owen says, laying his hands out to calm everyone. The room eventually falls silent again, allowing Owen to speak. "Yes, I am free, but I hope not for long." He raises an eyebrow, leaving that cryptic message hanging in the air. Whispers fill the room of people trying to guess what he's talking about.
Owen dances his eyes around the room, smiling at everyone's confusion. When he's had enough, those same eyes land on mine, causing my heart to flutter against my chest.
"Savannah, would you come over here for a moment, please?"
All heads pivot in my direction, causing me to blush. I turn to Patricia, and she shrugs, nudging me to go. I make my move, walking up to Owen in my new gold Versace high heels that conveniently go with the silk red dress Owen insisted on buying me. No matter how much I protest over him buying me these things, he never fails to make me feel like a princess.
He holds his hand out to me, making me face him side-on from the crowd.
"I never thought I would ever find a person in my life who believed in me as much as you did. From the very start, you placed your trust in me, taking me on as family when I could have been anything but. Over the months, I have grown to like you, care for you, take pride in you—even when it wasn't wanted." Low chuckles are heard, but I don't take my eyes away from Owen.
"I have never come across a woman like you who believes so fiercely, cares so fiercely, and loves so fiercely. You are equally as stubborn as you are beautiful, calm as you are volatile, and imperturbable as you are passionate. Since the day you walked into my life, my feet left the ground and haven't found their way back since. For the first time in all my years, I have finally found someone I have fallen head over heels in love with." He takes my hand, causing everyone to gasp. I still can't seem to move. My feet, tongue…everything is cemented deep. My eyes start to pool with unshed tears as the man I love with all my heart stares at me like I'm the only woman in the world for him.
"This is why I brought you all here tonight," Owen finally says, reluctantly taking his eyes from mine for a second. "I wanted you all to know and witness firsthand, with no hands tied behind my back, freely…ever so fucking willingly, that I, Owen Montgomery, wish to express my eagerness to marry the woman of my dreams."
Placing his glass down on top of the mantel, Owen, hand still clasped with mine, takes a knee in front of me.
Stepping back slightly, I gasp, throwing my hand over my mouth in shock. Everyone has the same reaction, but I'm too busy staring at Owen and what he's doing in front of me. He places his free hand into his pocket, pulling out a red velvet box. More tears come, and this time, they spill over.
"I can't possibly live my life knowing you're not a part of it too. I want it all, Savannah Williams. I want the marriage, the kids, the growing old with you until I die, and then you never having sex again for the rest of your life…"
An almighty giggle escapes me as I try hard to stop my tears. I sniffle. By fuck, this my dream come true.
Owen lets go of my hand, but only so it's free to open the box, revealing a huge white gold diamond ring. My breath catches in my throat. Words fail me how beautiful it is.
"Will you please do me the honor of being my wife? Will you marry me?"
Practically sobbing now, I manage to nod before crying out, “Yes!” Owen places the ring on my finger and sweeps me up into his arms. People cheer, and one person says, "Well, I never saw that coming," making everyone laugh.
Kept in his arms for a few more seconds, I inhale his familiar scent, taking in every morsel of him I can. We kiss tenderly, but quickly, and when done, he faces me and mouths, “Thank you.”
It's then we decide to face the crowd, smiling. Patricia is standing right in front of us, her face stoic. I swallow nervously, waiting for the almighty backlash. She smiles brightly, opening her arms out toward us.
"Come on, you guys, give your ma a hug."
Feeling immense relief, I throw my arm around her, and Owen does the same.
"You thought I was going to go hard on you, didn't ya?"
I giggle over her shoulder. "Yeah, something like that."
She pulls away, taking my hand in one and Owen's in the other. She takes a proud look at both of us before speaking. "This is seriously the best news I could ever have been given." She then fixes her eyes on me. "It would make me immensely proud to call you my daughter-in-law. You are like a daughter I never had."
More tears fill my eyes, spilling over. "Oh, Patricia."
She squeezes my hand. "Come on, it's Ma to you now." I laugh, and she glances at Owen. "You've made some questionable choices in the past, son, but I've always been proud. However, I have to say, this moment is up there at the top. You've found yourself a woman who truly loves you for who you are. In life, you can't get much better than that."
I smile through my tears. I smile so big and wide, that the next day my jaw hurts. I can't say that life with Owen won't come with its ups and downs, but I know in my heart of hearts that the ups will definitely trump the downs every time.
Even faced with a fear of permanently losing him, I still clung on, knowing he was my forever. Now, I can safely walk through my home, head held high, because I have Owen right beside me, holding my hand with pride.
You’re Still the One
Shania Twain
One year later
Two months after Owen asked me to marry him, we were wed on a beach on Bahama Island, with only Patricia, Frank, and Brandon watching over it. Owen thought I deserved a big, flashy wedding with a huge church and lots of people, but then he remembered who I am. When he came up with the idea of getting married on a beach with only a couple close people to witness it, I jumped at the chance. After the ceremony, we took a private jet to the Grand Canyon where we fulfilled my dream of trekking the Bright Angel Trail. Owen looking completely unfazed while I panted the whole way up. It was amazing, though. Something I will never forget. It only lasted a few days, but the memories of the stunning scenery will last a lifetime.
When that was over, we stayed on a secluded island in Florida. Nothing but sea, sand, and plenty of sex was the menu on our honeymoon. We loved it so much, we decided to celebrate our one-year anniversary with another week on the island. It's perfect. Not only because I get to spend my days wrapped up in nothing but Owen, but because I have a secret I need to share with him—a secret I'm unsure how he'll take.
Sunbathing on the beautiful white sands, I look out toward nothing but ocean. The sun is high, dancing on the waves, making it look like twinkling stars. I lie, shielded somewhat by a palm tree as I gaze over at my husband, swimming majestically in the shallow waters. With every stroke, his arm flexes, showing his taut, impressive muscles.
As if he senses I'm watching, he stops mid-stride, looking up. A cocky smirk rises on his face as he pulls himself out of the water and flicks his wet hair away from his face. My mouth parts, my eyes filling with lust as he strides gracefully out of the sea. Glistening with water, his torso is bronzed and firm, begging me to touch it. My eyes travel further, landing on the tattoo he got just before we got married poking out from above his red trunks.
"To fear love is to fear life."
It's part of a Bertrand Russel quote where it carries on to say, "and those of us who fear life are already three parts dead."
Owen got it done for me because he said in the beginning feeling any love crippled him with fear at times. I remember all too well the words he uttered the day he had the tattoo done. "Letting go was the hardest thing I have ev
er had to do, but by fuck was it freeing. I may have felt fear at loving you, but I was more terrified at the thought of losing the greatest gift I’d ever been granted.”
"Are you checking me out?" he asks, getting closer to me now, that same cocky smirk on his face.
I smile back, knowing I've been caught, but feeling completely unashamed by it. "It's my favorite pastime."
He shakes himself off, sprinkling some droplets on me before taking a position on the sand, maneuvering to face me. "I thought having my cock buried inside you was your favorite pastime."
I fake roll my eyes, grunting. "You had to lower the tone, didn't you?"
"You fucking love it."
I have no comeback, because he's right.
"How's the water?"
"A bit cold. I don't think it's a good idea for you to go in there yet."
It seems my eye-rolling has become another favorite pastime of mine. He's so protective of me—even more so now.
"I'm glad I got you away from that fucking mess. It's only been two weeks and I'm already sick of it."
My mom's trial started two weeks ago, and Owen and I had already given our evidence. It's been a tough year. Not only did I have to give evidence in mom's trial, I also had to do it with Ethan's. I must admit, seeing him in court did bring back some unwanted memories. All those times I thought he was genuine with me when all he really wanted to do was take advantage. The promise of money by my mother helped. She thought she had an ally with Ethan, but Ethan only looks out for number one. It certainly helped our cause since he was willing to tell the police everything. Little did I know until weeks after Ethan and my mom were having a secret affair. I was almost sick when I found out. My mom thought she could mold him, but what she didn't realize was he was playing both sides. Everything she told him, he would document in that sick mind of his. He knew all about the man she killed because in the throes of passion one night, he had asked her, and she admitted it. Maybe he falsely declared his love for her. Who knows. I'm just glad it's all out in the open and Owen can finally rest in the knowledge that he never killed anyone.
Well, except Terry Vendable. He has no remorse whatsoever for his death.
"It'll be over soon. I know you hate his guts, and so do I after what he did, but Ethan has helped a lot in ensuring my mom's put away for life."
Owen's mouth forms into a snarl. "He should have gotten more than four years after what he did to you and that poor girl. I still feel fucking awful for not doing something earlier."
Placing my hand on his shoulder, I make him look at me. "I was angry, but when you explained it to me, I understood. The girl was obviously scared, and at her age, I can understand. It's not easy being seventeen in high school. No wonder she wanted the whole thing to disappear as quickly as possible."
Owen sighs. "That's one of the reasons I got him out of his school. There was no way I was going to subject that poor girl to seeing her rapist every day if it were true." I flinch at the thought. "I'm sorry."
"Don't be. You were trying your best to make things right."
Leaning up on my elbows, I gaze down at my developing tan and my body, which seems to be changing every single day.
"Don't you think you've had enough sun? You don't know how much laying out here is affecting him."
I smile again at his overprotectiveness before gazing down at my protruding belly. I'm only twenty weeks, but I'm growing—so much so, without telling Owen, I went to see the doctor yesterday and he performed a scan that ended up revealing two things.
"You're determined we're having a boy, aren't you?"
Laying a hand on my belly, he runs it protectively. "I may say it a lot, but I don't care as long as he or she is healthy."
Smiling, my heart rate kicks up a notch. "I'm sure they will be."
An immediate crease forms at his brow. He looks from my belly to me, his confusion adorable. "What do you mean they? Is this some form of new age talk? I'm not calling our baby Theybe. You can get that out of your head right now."
I laugh out loud. "You're such a caveman," I joke, before turning toward my bag and pulling out the little picture I have inside. "I have a little present for you, Daddy."
I hand over the picture and watch as his face turns from confusion to realization. His mouth parts before snapping his eyes to me. "There's two of them."
I smirk. "That's right, genius.”
"We're having twins!" I nod, and he takes me into his arms, hugging me fiercely. "Fucking hell, I love you. I love you so fucking much, Savannah Montgomery. Every day, you never fail to amaze me at just how proud I am of you."
I bite my lip, trying to stop the happy tears that fall. Damn you, hormones!
"I was hoping you would be pleased."
"Pleased?" he practically screeches. "I'm fucking ecstatic. Whether they are two boys, two girls, or one of each, I'm sure with their strong, kick-ass mother, they will grow up to be two amazing human beings."
"And with their father too.”
He shrugs, and I can hear the tut, tut in my head. I leave it be, though. I have something else to tell him.
"Anyway, speaking of the sex of the babies, I have something else for you."
He raises one eyebrow before pulling me onto his lap and snuggling his face into my neck. "What is it?" he asks, his stubble tickling me, making me giggle.
"When I went to the doctor yesterday…"
"Why didn't you tell me you were going to the doctor? I would have been there in a heartbeat."
I stroke his wet hair, gazing into his light green eyes. "I felt silly because I was putting on so much weight and was worried I was getting fat. I didn't want to involve you in something so trivial."
His mouth thins with agitation. "Number one, you are not fat. You are carrying my babies, and for that reason alone, it makes you the most beautiful, precious woman on earth. And two, if something worries you—no matter how fucking trivial you think it is—I want to know. I'm your husband, remember? We don't keep secrets. In sickness and in health, those were our vows."
My heart lights up at his obvious love for me. He speaks of me caring so fiercely, but he has it in abundance.
"Okay, I'm sorry," I pout, causing him to laugh at me.
"Anyway, you were saying."
"The doctor was able to determine the sex of the babies."
"And?"
"Well, you spoke of another son to lead your empire when you retire…"
"I did, but you know I'm only kidding about that."
"Well, how about if there were two?"
His eyes widen as he pulls his head back to stare at me more. "We're having two boys?" I nod my head. "Thank fuck for that!"
"Hey, what about not caring what the sex is?"
"I don't, but seriously, Savannah, if we had a girl and she looked anything like you, I would be permanently on high alert. I think she would end up putting me in an early grave. I would be constantly worried about those fucking vultures out there trying to take advantage."
"You mean boys?"
He fixes me with an unamused stare. "I mean vultures."
"You're so primitive."
His head rears back again. "I would rather be primitive than six feet under by the time I'm fifty-five."
"You're also extremely melodramatic."
He snuggles his head into the crook of my neck, inhaling my scent as he lands sweet kisses against my skin.
"And you love every single piece of it."
He silences me with his words, then with his kisses as he picks me up, carrying me toward our bedroom. There, we make sweet love, and after, Owen cradles me in his arms and strokes my belly tenderly. As we silently lay, I let a couple lone tears fall down my cheeks. I'm the happiest—and luckiest—woman alive. I may have ended up on the wrong path at the start, but through love, I found I could prevail.
Now, as I stare ahead at the cycle of life, I gaze down at the two miracles inside me and smile. My mom may have never showered me with love and affection
, but the same can never be said for these two.
My boys are going to be showered with so much love, care, and devotion…they aren't going to know what hit them.
* * *
For a sneak peek of Amnesia by Jaimie Roberts, please turn the next page.
Excerpt from AMNESIA
Prologue
My mouth is dry and my eyes hurt. Nausea settles in my stomach. I’m running. Running through a fog so dense I can’t see beyond my feet. I’m cold. Chilled to the bone that my teeth start to chatter and my body tenses with the discomfort.
Noises. So many noises that creep into my ears bring with it a deep sense of fear that rattles throughout my entire body. I’m shaking so badly I’m surprised I can even put one foot in front of the other.
“Lucy.” Someone whispers it so loudly it echoes all around me. I stop, rooted in fear as I try and see where I am and who’s calling me.
“Lucy,” he whispers again, but this time I feel his hot breath against my ear, causing my eyes to widen in terror.
I sprint, not caring that I can’t see. My body is fuelled by pure adrenaline, impervious to the fact twigs snap under my bare feet and cause them to bleed. I run. I run so hard and so fast that my breaths are unable to catch up with what my legs are demanding of me.
Then I’m falling.
Falling deep into a black hole, floating into nothingness. I try to scream, but it’s like I have something over my mouth stopping me. My arms naturally flail, trying to find something to hold on to—something to grab. And that’s when I notice it.
Red ribbon.
It’s everywhere, threading through my arms and legs, wrapping itself around my body and crawling up my neck. It’s constricting, squeezing me so tightly I can hardly breathe. It’s all over my body, covering every area of my skin. It seeps even deeper until I can feel it inside me. Again I try to scream, but the red ribbon instantly covers my mouth and enters my nose. I can’t breathe. I feel like I’m dying. My body tries to fight this force, but the more I do, the stronger it becomes. The only part of me that’s left are my eyes, but pretty soon that same red ribbon crawls across each one, blinding me from the dark hole I’m still falling in.
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