Chapter 3

I didn't even realize I was crying until a tear fell and hit the grass. It was then that a cold, yet strangely warm and magnetic voice asked, "Is everything alright?" I lifted my head and saw that it was Jasper's uncle, Christian Lambert. I immediately lowered my head and wiped away the tears, unwilling to meet his gaze. However, Christian didn't seem to notice my standoffishness at all. Instead, he crouched down and helped me to my feet. "What's the matter? Did Jasper do something to upset you?" he asked. I shook my head and stood up with Christian's help. "Thanks, Christian. You can let me go now." But Christian didn't heed me. Instead, his warm hand held my arm with a firm grip I simply couldn't ignore. He gently ran his thumb over my skin while gravely stating, "You can just tell me, Madison. Did he get himself another university student, or is it another model? I'll deal with Jasper for you." Christian had always been the one to inform me of Jasper's cheating. I had always known his reasons for doing so, and he had never made any attempt to conceal them either. I couldn't help but recall what Jasper had said earlier—about how men had many temptations to deal with. It was rather ironic though, since he had no idea that his uncle had also been "tempting" me the entire time. In the summer when I came to the Lambert family, the first person I laid eyes on wasn't Jasper, it was Christian. They had an uncle-nephew relationship, though there was only a four-year age difference between them. I had thought that Christian was the fiancé my grandfather had told me about, so I'd shyly struck up a conversation with him. It was only later when Jasper's grandfather, Gavin, introduced me to the rest of the family, that I realized he actually was actually Jasper's uncle, even though he looked my age. At that time, I couldn't help but blush from embarrassment. I was relieved when Gavin later told me that Christian wasn't home often. Yet, whenever I was at the Lambert residence, I seemed to see him all the time. I'd see him in the mornings, shirtless, coming downstairs for a drink. I'd see him at night, just getting out of the pool, wearing nothing but his swim trunks. I'd see him every day, looking impeccably dressed with an aloof expression. I didn't read too much into it at the time, but on the day of our graduation, Jasper and I had gone out to celebrate, and Christian—against all expectations—decided to join us. Jasper and Christian had both gotten wasted at the party. After that, Jasper had wanted to stay in a hotel suite, whereas Christian had insisted on returning to the Lambert residence. With no other choice, I hailed a cab to take Christian home. As we sat in the car, Christian leaned against me while intertwining his fingers with mine, whispering my name as he drifted between sleep and wakefulness. I, on the other hand, sat there stunned. I had no idea how to respond. It was as if from that moment on, Christian stopped hiding his intentions. He'd always look at me with a suggestive gaze and was constantly making veiled remarks. However, I would always feign ignorance in the past and make an effort to get away from him. Now, as I stood before my mother's grave, I took Christian's hand for the first time and said, "You know I only honor the engagement my mother arranged for me, Christian. It's for Gavin to decide who in the Lambert family fulfills it." Christian broke into a sudden smile, and in that instant, the sun seemed to shine with a new brilliance. He said, "I've waited seven years to hear you say that, Madison. I'll take care of everything, so just wait for me."