Marrying The Protector: My Second Chance

na

ers was barely dry before

ot, when emotions got messy, Jackson Medina did

ad gone sour. He signed the contract to terminate the partnership, cut h

nd

d see the blocked call log filling up. Three times yesterday. Five times today. He wasn't calling to apologize. He w

the silence stretch bet

ened. I expected a nur

't exp

ing white, a color that should have looked innocent but on her loo

ing with a saccharine sweetness that made my

ut," I

d the door behind her and wa

th practiced empathy. "I never wanted this to happen. Jackson... h

h, Candida. Wha

Too generous. He's offering you a lot of money in that divorce s

document

laim to the Medina family trust and future stocks

ackson. She was here for herself. She wanted to make sure th

want his mo

ipping just a fraction to reveal the steel be

my mind. Jackson promising her he would handle me. Promi

ed up

t," I said.

ed my name across the line, pressing down so h

back at her. "Take the money. Take the

surrender. She snatched the pap

smile curling her lips. "He was never really yours, you

t," I r

on her he

hter. Not happy, but lighter. Like I had

zed. A text

something you need

g from the fall and the surgery, but adrenaline numbed the

car at the curb. He opened t

this?" he asked as I

me," I

suburbs on the coast. I knew this road. Jackson had bought a property ou

ted driveway. Hamilt

he whi

ng lawn of the villa. It was beautiful. Lush green gras

ere th

rass. He was wearing casual clothes-a t-s

ext to him, laughing

hem, chasing a golden

t look annoyed or inconvenienced. He jumped up, scooped the boy int

y! Ag

und I hadn't heard in years.

buddy. L

oked at Candida and smiled. It was a

le rise, burn

. This was a life. A whole, complete, beauti

sts and crying in the bathroom, he was here. Playing

me. He had replaced me bef

ond ring on my finger glittered in the

down th

ait," Ham

e ring off my finger. The me

car door an

on sa

ughter died in his throat. Candida turne

gate. I didn't sc

he cold iron bars a

a dull thud, just a few fe

y down and took a step toward me.

My voice was dead calm, flatlining. "Si

the automatic lie falling from his lips. "I

said. "J

ped her arm through his, staking her claim. She looked at m

andida said. "She signe

oked torn. Not because he loved me,

gned?"

d

three of them. T

said to him. "So k

and walked back

shaking, but m

I told

nding at the gate, watching me go. H

ring finger. It fe

time in five yea