Lynette's POV
I still couldn't believe it.
The woman walking beside me looked exactly like my mother—same features, same warmth—only slightly older. But here, in this world, she wasn't mine. She was Lynette's mother.
Did that mean she was still my mother?
Was Lynette, the one in this world, still me?
What was I supposed to call her? My mother? Lynette's mother?
As if the situation wasn't strange enough, I discovered something even more shocking—she was still married to my father in this world.
And they weren't divorced.
That realization unsettled me. What kind of man was he here? Was he the same as before, or had fate rewritten him too?
Lynette's mother guided me through the mansion, chatting constantly. Her warmth was genuine, her energy cheerful.
Everything seemed too perfect. Too safe.
Lynette had three brothers—Axton, the eldest,28 years old.
Rhysand, her twin, though she had been born first.
And Dylan, the youngest—the boy who caught me.
So far, I had only met Dylan.
It all felt like a dream, but beneath the surface, I knew reality was waiting. And with it, more surprises.
But there was a problem which was Lynette's husband.
My mother had briefly mentioned him—Arian Csepel—but she hadn't offered much more.
Still, judging by what I had heard, he had loved his wife deeply.
Which left me with a single, terrifying thought.
How was I supposed to pretend to be someone's wife?
I had never been in a relationship. I hardly experienced love, affection, or attachment.
How was I supposed to act in love with someone I didn't even know?
As I walked beside Lynette's mother, I noticed something unsettling.
He was following us.
I wasn't the only one who had seen it—Lynette's mother had noticed too. And every time she caught sight of him, her expression darkened, displeasure tightening her features.
Whenever I glanced back, there he was. Not close enough to speak, but never far enough to ignore.
Even when we took a cart, he took one too.
What would his wife do in this moment?
Should I tell my mother I needed to rest… and let him take me back?
We were about to take the cart again, but this time...
I hesitated for a moment before reaching for my mother's arm, offering her a gentle smile.
"Mother," I said softly, my voice carrying warmth.
"I've missed you so much, but I'd like to..." I trailed off, unsure how to finish my sentence.
She glanced at Arian, then at me, her lips pressing into a thin line before curving into a smile.
"I suppose I can't say no to you, my princess," she murmured. "He might have won this time."
Then she leaned in, pressing a kiss to my cheek.
"Rest well, my dear. You need it," she said before stepping into the cart with a smile, allowing the driver to take her away.
As the cart rolled into the distance, I remained standing, lost in thought.
What was I supposed to say to Arian? A simple hi?
Wouldn't that be strange between married couples?
Before I could dwell on it further, a car approached, pulling to a smooth stop.
Footsteps drew closer.
I peeked over my shoulder—Arian.
He reached out, running a hand through my hair, his touch oddly natural.
"We could have taken the cart," he said, his voice quiet yet firm.
"But the weather is hot, and I don't want you to sweat more."
His fingers slid through my strands before he pressed a lingering kiss to the top of my head.
He moved smoothly, opening the back door for me.
I wasn't sure what to say. The moment felt strangely intimate, unfamiliar.
Blinking rapidly, I stepped inside without a word, settling into the cool interior.
Arian shut the door and entered through the opposite side.
The difference in temperature was instantly soothing. I hadn't realized how warm I had felt before.
As the driver maneuvered the car down the road, I became increasingly aware of Arian's gaze on me.
I blinked again, the awkwardness creeping in.
His stare never wavered.
Was this how he had always been with his wife? Had he always struggled with words? Or was he simply someone who didn't talk much?
I should have asked for a phone—something, anything—to properly research this family.
Arian opened his door first, stepping out before circling to mine.
The moment I stepped outside, disorientation struck.
It was still within the mansion's grounds, but this was an entirely different residence from the one I had exited earlier.
Before I could gather my thoughts, Arian stretched his hand toward me, waiting.
Hesitantly, I placed mine in his.
The confusion lingered.
Yet, when I met his gaze, he smiled.
I blinked rapidly. Again.
"That's new," he remarked.
I barely had time to process his words before his arms were suddenly around me, lifting me off the ground.
Shock paralyzed me.
Instinctively, my hands settled around his neck, gripping just enough to keep from falling.
When I looked at him, he was already looking at me.
I tore my gaze away instantly. Someone save me.
He walked steadily toward the building, his voice smooth, unhurried.
"Welcome to our home."
The words carried a strange weight.
For a brief moment, an unfamiliar feeling washed over me—the kind you get when watching a romance movie, when everything feels too perfect, too unreal.
This was a first.
No one had ever carried me like a princess before.
And the worst part? It was... comfortable.
But no.
I hadn't fallen for him. I wouldn't.
I might look like Lynette Daelan in this world, but I am not her.
Any kind of romantic involvement with this man—this husband of another woman—would make me a home-wrecker.
I was here for the wealth of this family.
Not for a stranger.
Not for someone else's husband.
How was I going to do this?
"Lyn..." His voice was soft, almost hesitant.
I looked at him.
His gaze lingered on me for a brief moment before he continued walking, his words slow, deliberate.
"If you've forgotten our love too... I'll bring it back."
The way he said it—so sure, so unwavering—made something tighten in my chest.
"It's been five years," he murmured.
"But... let's start again.
From today, it'll be like that first moment—when we began falling in love."
There was no doubt in his voice, only patience. Determination.
"I'm willing to wait," he continued, his tone gentle but firm.
"After all, isn't that what it means... to love only each other? To stand together... until death do us part?"