BILLIONAIRE'S UNINTENDED BRIDE

Chapter 14: Who is she?

Chapter 14: Who is she?

As we were about to leave the restroom, the sudden appearance of a stunning woman halted me in my tracks. She was the epitome of grace and beauty, almost ethereal, like a figure stepped out of a high-fashion magazine. Her smile, disarmingly captivating, sent a ripple of warmth through me, a flicker of recognition in the back of my mind. Perhaps she was a fragment from the past I no longer remembered due to my memory loss. But that fleeting thought dissolved as swiftly as it appeared.

She moved towards Luke with an elegance that spoke of confidence and a certain familiarity with the world of affluence. Leaning in, she kissed his cheek, her voice laced with an accent that hinted at her refined upbringing. "Luke, darling, where have you been? Waking up to your absence was a surprise. I expected at least a call, or another secret rendezvous," she said, her tone a blend of playfulness and a slight reproach.

Luke's response was immediate, his voice firm yet courteous. "I'm afraid you're mistaken. We haven't met before. I don't know who you are," he replied, a hint of confusion in his gaze.

Standing beside him, I felt a surge of discomfort, an intruder in this strange, intimate exchange. The woman's eyes flickered towards me, assessing, questioning. "And who might this be?" she inquired, her tone edged with a hint of challenge

Luke's stance was assertive, exuding confidence ,he stepped closer, his hand resting protectively on my back, a silent but powerful assertion of his presence.

"This is Emily, my wife," he declared, his voice deep and resonant, a commanding timbre that brooked no argument or misinterpretation.

The woman's face registered a momentary flicker of surprise, quickly masked by her practiced poise. With an elegant tilt of her head and a calculated smile, she responded,

"Oh, how remiss of me. My sincerest apologies, I was unaware. Rest assured, there's no cause for concern. Our brief encounter was a mere fleeting moment, months ago. I daresay, he wasn't a married man then." Her voice carried a sophisticated timbre, effortlessly blending a refined elegance with a devilish undertone.

In that moment, Luke's patience visibly thinned, a hint of irritation creeping into his demeanor. He faced the woman squarely, his voice resonating with firm resolve.

"I'm sorry, but you are definitely mistaken. I have never met you before. We need to move on, so please excuse us." His tone, though polite, carried an undercurrent of finality, underscoring his insistence on the inaccuracy of her claims. The clarity and confidence in his voice left no room for further discussion, signaling an end to the uncomfortable confrontation.

The woman's stance remained unyielding, her demeanor a blend of poise and thinly veiled annoyance. "Luke, you cannot be serious. We're both fully aware of what transpired between us just a few months ago. Such dalliances are not easily dismissed from one's memory, are they?" Her voice was smooth, yet there was a sharpness to it, a confidence that suggested she was not accustomed to being dismissed or contradicted.

Luke's response, however, was calm and assertive. "I assure you, you are mistaken. We have never met before. I am committed to my wife, and I have no history or connection with you."

I felt a storm of emotions brewing within me. Doubt and confusion swirled through my mind, intertwining with a growing sense of unease. Was there truth to her words? Had Luke, in my absence or through the strains of our relationship, sought comfort elsewhere? Luke's composure was unshakable, his voice steady, resonating with a sincerity that was hard to ignore.

"This woman is mistaken. There has been no one else in my life since you, Emily. I am wholly committed to you, to us." His eyes were a mirror of truth, reflecting a depth of feeling that reached beyond mere words.

The woman, however, seemed reluctant to accept this. Her gaze flickered between us, a trace of skepticism in her eyes. With a subtle huff of resignation, she took a step back. "Very well, if that's how you want to play it. But memories have a way of resurfacing, Luke. Remember that." With those parting words, she turned gracefully and disappeared into the crowd, leaving a trail of unsettling implications in her wake.

As we walked away, I was enveloped in a whirlpool of doubt and reassurance. Luke's earnest denial clashed with the woman's confident assertions. The uncertainty was like a shadow, looming over the newfound connection Luke and I were trying to build.

Luke, sensing my inner conflict, gently squeezed my hand. "Emily, whatever she said, it's not true. I promise you, there's been no one else for me. I understand if you have doubts, but I need you to trust me on this." His voice was a blend of reassurance and vulnerability, seeking to bridge the chasm of uncertainty that had suddenly opened up between us.

His words, his gaze, they all spoke of a truth that I wanted to believe, yet the seeds of doubt sown by the stranger's claims were not easy to shake off. This trip, meant to be a journey of rediscovery, had now taken a turn into uncharted waters, filled with questions and the search for trust in the midst of uncertainty.

The silence in the car was thick, a tangible blanket of tension and unspoken thoughts. I was lost in a tumult of emotions, wrestling with the possibility of Luke's infidelity. Could he have sought comfort elsewhere during my coma? The thought gnawed at me, even as a part of me refused to believe it.

Luke's voice pierced through my reverie, firm and laced with urgency. "Emily, listen to me. You have to believe that I would never betray you. I have no idea who that woman is. You're the only one for me, always."

I looked at him, my heart caught between trust and doubt. "Okay," I murmured, but my voice betrayed my uncertainty.

Sensing my hesitation, Luke pulled the car over, his eyes searching mine. "Emily, I need to know. Do you believe me? Do you trust me when I say I don't know that woman? That I've been faithful to you?"

I felt frozen, a whirlwind of confusion clouding my mind. I met his gaze, searching for the truth in the depths of his eyes. "Look at me and tell me the truth," I implored, "and I'll believe you."

He turned to face me fully, his eyes piercing and sincere. His voice was a fervent whisper, filled with an intensity that made my heart race. "Emily, I love you more than anything. I swear on everything I am, I have no idea who she is. I've never been unfaithful to you. You're my everything, the only one I need, the only one I think about. I love you, Emily, with every fiber of my being."

His words, raw and earnest, resonated deep within me. The conviction in his voice, the look in his eyes - it was hard not to believe him. A flicker of trust ignited in my heart, pushing back the shadows of doubt.

I gazed into Luke's eyes, searching for any hint of deceit, but found none. "I believe you," I said finally, the words feeling more like a leap of faith than a statement of fact.

Relief washed over his face. He reached out, his hands gently cupping my cheeks. "Thank you," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. He leaned in, pressing a tender kiss to my forehead, then took my hands in his, kissing them softly. There was something profoundly reassuring in his touch, a silent promise that resonated within me.

As he restarted the car and we resumed our journey, a part of me felt settled. I chose to trust Luke, to believe in the sincerity of his eyes, in the truth of his words.

However, the fragile peace was shattered the moment my phone buzzed with an incoming text. A notification for a video. Curiosity piqued, I opened the message and pressed play.

The content of the video hit me like a physical blow. My heart plummeted, a sense of betrayal slicing through me. The images on the screen, the scenes unfolding before my eyes, were like daggers to my heart. How could this be? The reality of what I was witnessing clashed violently with the trust I had just reaffirmed in Luke.