Forsaken Bride: Deceived Into Love's Second Chance

The person who had spent days reaching out to Deanna finally lost hope and stopped expecting any response from her.

Everything changed the moment Deanna's reply appeared on his phone. Relief and excitement spilled from him at once. "Ms. Evans, you've finally said yes! That's fantastic news. I'll make my way to the Spencer estate soon so we can go over the engagement details. If you have any requests at all, just let me know! Mr. Gerard Gordon has promised to do whatever he can to meet your needs!"

Deanna kept her thoughts to herself, knowing the things she truly wanted were far beyond anything the Gordon family could provide.

He didn't seem bothered by her silence, and reminded her she could ask for anything, anytime.

Once the call ended, Deanna went to change.

Since Jayden "died", she hadn't cared about appearances. Her choice of outfits had turned plain, and the color had drained from her face. Her beauty lingered, but it was dulled by exhaustion.

But today, she had a reason to try. She was about to negotiate a marriage proposal and needed to look the part—graceful and striking.

She was determined to make a place for herself in the Gordon family, especially with Richard breathing down her neck.

If she wanted any hope of fighting back, she had to make a bold impression now.

A long breath steadied her nerves as she packed up what little she owned.

About an hour later, she had finished gathering her things.

When she made her way downstairs, she nearly ran right into Talia.

Talia caught Deanna's eye. The deep mark on her neck—a glaring souvenir from last night—made it obvious just how wild things had gotten with Jayden.

Deanna's gaze flickered with a touch of irony before she shifted her eyes away.

As she started to walk off, Talia's voice cut through the air. "Deanna, don't you feel any shame at all?"

Deanna stopped in her tracks and turned, facing Talia directly.

Jealousy twisted Talia's features. She had always resented Deanna's beauty. If Deanna weren't so captivating, Brody never would have been so taken with her. Even after marrying Talia, Brody couldn't let go of his obsession. Worse yet, Deanna's name had been whispered by the man lying beside her just last night.

Looking at Deanna's delicate yet irresistible face only fueled Talia's anger.

Without warning, Talia marched forward and grabbed Deanna's wrist in a vise-like grip. "Your husband's barely cold on the floor, and you're already chasing after his brother. No wonder you turned out this way, considering you grew up without parents!"

The pain from Talia's nails biting into her skin jolted Deanna.

Instantly, Deanna's face hardened. Any mention of her parents always set her off. Unable to hold back, she raised her hand and slapped Talia with all the force she could muster.

A sharp crack rang out, leaving Talia's cheek stinging and red. For a moment, she could only stare in disbelief—she had never imagined Deanna could fight back. Her voice quivered as she said, "You actually hit me?"

"Why shouldn't I?" Deanna answered, her tone like ice. "If you can't keep your mouth in check, then I'll make sure you learn how."

Talia's face contorted with anger, her eyes flashing as she lowered her voice. "Deanna, do you really think things are the same as before? No matter what you say, Ja—Brody is my husband now!"

A flicker of confusion crossed Deanna's face. For a second, it almost sounded like Talia had meant to say Jayden instead of Brody.

That moment didn't last. Suddenly, Talia staggered, lost her balance, and toppled down the staircase.

Her scream tore through the air, sending the whole Spencer household into a frenzy.

Jayden rushed onto the scene. The moment he saw Talia sprawled on the steps, he barked at the butler to call for the family's private doctor.

He bent down to support Talia, then shot Deanna a venomous glare. Through clenched teeth, he scoffed, "If anything happens to her, I'll make you pay for it!"

A dry, humorless laugh threatened to escape Deanna. Her own husband never even bothered to find out what really happened. He just assumed she was to blame and rushed to protect someone else. The absurdity of it all left her feeling hollow.

Three years together, and for what?

Jayden refused to let her walk away unscathed. After helping Talia get settled, he seized Deanna by the wrist and dragged her back to Talia's door, insisting she apologize.

Deanna wanted to refuse, but Jayden's grip was too strong, and her tired body couldn't put up a fight. She had no choice but to follow him.

Jayden's fingers dug painfully into her wrist, dragging Deanna back to memories she wished she could forget. He had once asked her to marry him, vowing that he would always keep her safe. Was this his idea of protection now?

A hollow laugh slipped from Deanna's lips, the sound making Jayden's scowl deepen.

He demanded, "How can you be so heartless? Talia's still unconscious, and you find this funny?"

Without another word, Jayden shoved her into a chair, his grip so fierce it felt as if he meant to shatter her bones. There was no mistaking his intent—he wanted her to pay for what happened.

After what felt like forever, the doctor finally stepped out. "Mrs. Spencer is pregnant, but it's very early—around forty days," he explained. "That fall put the pregnancy at risk. I'm not a specialist, so you need Dr. Oliver Quinn here immediately. If not, the baby may not make it."

Deanna's mind reeled. Pregnant for forty days? But Brody hadn't set foot in the house at all during that time...