The Abandoned Bride's Flash Marriage - Chapter 12: Chapter 12

The next morning, Gwyneth began her first day.
As she opened the door, a sharply dressed man holding a steaming bag smiled warmly at her. "Good morning, Ms. Jenkins. I'm Clyde Mason, Mr. Lopez's assistant. He sent this breakfast your way."
Gwyneth raised an eyebrow in surprise. The breakfast was hearty and still hot, and it seemed Harrison was nothing like the rumors. He was considerate, almost tender in his care for her.
Zachary, on the other hand, had never bothered with such niceties, not even when he'd inherited the family fortune.
"Thank you," she said, taking the bag. "And thank Mr. Lopez." She stepped into the elevator, pressed the button for the lobby, and thought about catching a cab to Jenkins Group.
But Clyde followed her in and pressed the button for the garage. "Mr. Lopez asked me to drive you," he said.
Gwyneth was a little taken aback by the thoroughness of it all, but she didn't see any reason to decline such a thoughtful gesture.
The news that Gwyneth was joining the Jenkins Group had spread like wildfire overnight. The morning meeting was packed with every Jenkins, shareholder, and manager. They claimed it was a welcome for Gwyneth, but everyone knew it was more of a show of power.
Before she could even settle into her seat, Quentin spoke up, "After some discussion, we've decided that it would be best for you to start in the PR department, handling client relations. We can ease you into management later."
Gwyneth wasn't surprised. The PR department was the company's front line—entertaining clients and signing contracts, but far removed from the real decision-making.
At her age, most people would have rebelled against such a slight. But Gwyneth simply stood up calmly and smiled, "If that's what everyone thinks is best, then I accept."
The room fell silent in shock.
Gwyneth walked past the conference table, her high heels clicking on the floor. As she reached the door, she paused and glanced back at the room. "I'll be counting on all of you to guide me."
Her smile was polite, but it sent a chill down everyone's spine.
As Gwyneth stepped out, she was surprised to see Clyde waiting quietly outside. "Jenkins Group's internal matters are confidential. I'm afraid you can't stay here now. Just drop me at the entrance next time," she said, feeling a mix of surprise and resignation.
"My apologies." Clyde nodded and left, walking in the opposite direction.
Gwyneth smiled faintly to herself. The Jenkins Group was getting nervous too quickly—her plans had only just begun.
Gwyneth dragged herself through the day, counting the minutes until she could leave. As she swung her bag over her shoulder and headed out the door, she ran smack into Clyde.
"Ms. Jenkins, Mr. Lopez is waiting for you," he said, his tone polite but firm.
Gwyneth's eyebrows shot up. 'Is Harrison trying a little too hard to be the doting husband? It just feels off.'
She slid into the car, and there he was, eyes closed, looking like he was catching a quick nap. "You know, Mr. Lopez, you really don't need to chauffeur me around. I can manage just fine on my own," she said quietly, not wanting to disturb him.
Harrison opened his eyes slowly, his gaze intense. "Grandpa likes to keep tabs on my marriage. He wants to know where I am and who I'm with."
Gwyneth just nodded. In a family as loaded as the Lopez family, she figured it came with the territory.
They finally pulled up to the Teloria Apartment. Gwyneth had barely stepped out of the car when Harrison's voice stopped her. "I'm taking you to meet my grandpa tomorrow. How good are you at playing the part?"
She froze, halfway out of the car. "Uh... decent, I guess," she said, tilting her head.
Before she could blink, he reached out and took her wrist. His hand was warm, almost hot, through the thin fabric of her sleeve.
The cuff of his suit jacket brushed against her skin, tickling just a little. Her fingers tightened instinctively. It wasn't that she disliked the touch; she just wasn't used to it.
He let go just as quickly, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "Guess not," he said, releasing her.
Gwyneth's hand lingered in the air for a moment. Then she awkwardly cleared her throat. "Thanks for the ride."
"Go on up," he said, his voice smooth and dismissive.
When the door closed, Harrison's gaze turned icy.
A few minutes later, Clyde returned, pushing a man with a camera in front of Harrison. "Mr. Lopez, this guy's been tailing you. I've traced him back to Everprosper Group in Galvocity—"
"Let him go," Harrison said with a wave, his fingers relaxing at the mention of Everprosper. He sneered to himself, 'Time for Zachary to hear about this marriage.'
Abel, Zachary's assistant, got into his office in Everprosper Group and laid a stack of grainy photos on the desk. "Our team spotted Ms. Jenkins in Joracity. She seems to be getting pretty close to some guy."
Zachary grabbed the photos. They were blurry, but he could make out her stepping out of a car, a man's hand with a watch reaching out to hers.
Zachary wouldn't believe Gwennie would hang out with another guy. He swept the photos off the desk in frustration. "She's just mad at me. She wouldn't be with someone else. Abel, your guy is incompetent."
Abel was at a loss for words—it was the best private eye Everprosper Group could afford.
The silence only made Zachary more uneasy. He tried calling Gwennie again and checked all the places she used to frequent, but she'd blocked him everywhere. She'd shut him out completely.
This wasn't like Gwennie. She'd never thrown a tantrum like this. Panic began to rise in Zachary's chest as he glanced at the background of the photos—Teloria Apartment.
He didn't care about the photos being fake or whether Gwennie had really found someone else. He needed to get to Joracity and see for himself. She couldn't have left him.
"Get me on the next flight to Joracity," Zachary said, heading for the door.
Abel chased after him. "But there's a huge storm hitting Galvocity tonight! It's too dangerous, Mr. Flynn—"
"Enough. I'm going to see her now." Zachary strode into the drizzling rain, letting the downpour blur his vision.
Just as he was about to step into the car, Bella's unique ringtone cut through the air. Her voice was soft and quivering. "Zachary... It's raining, and it's about to thunder. I'm really scared of being alone at home. Can you come back and keep me company?"
In the past, Zachary would have dropped everything and rushed home. But this time, he hesitated. "Bella, be strong. I've got something important to deal with. Don't worry, I'll send Abel over with a doctor right away. You're safe."
"But—" Bella sat up in bed, shocked that Zachary had turned her down. The first flash of lightning lit up the sky, followed by the roar of thunder. All she could hear was the dial tone.
"Why won't you come, Zachary?" she demanded, her face pale in the lightning. She slammed her phone down and screamed, "You always went back for Gwyneth when she was scared of thunder! Why can't I have the same love?"
But her cries were just swallowed up by the rolling thunder.