Jennifer D'silva stood in the room, her gaze drawn to the framed photo of a teenage girl hanging on the wall. It was the first thing that caught her attention in Derik's room, a space that now belonged to both of them. Nearby, their graduation photo stood, capturing them side by side, genuine smiles etched on their faces. Jennifer wondered if Derik would still smile at her like that.

Derik hadn't been a particularly jovial person during their college days. Reserved and introspective, he rarely let his guard down. Yet, the Derik she had met a few days ago was different—a transformation that intrigued her.

The memory of their chance encounter in a coffee shop few months ago resurfaced. Jennifer had been in Chennai for a business meeting, sipping coffee with her secretary, Prithvi, when she saw him. The glow of love and happiness she saw in his face that day would be permanently etched in her memories, he had transformed into the man she always wanted when she met him after three long years. 'Would she ever have the fortune of encountering the same Derik again?' she wondered as her thoughts got lost in the sweet memories of that day.

Surprised by the unexpected reunion, Jennifer waved at Derik, who recognized her immediately and walked over.

"Jennifer? Didn't expect to see you here," he greeted her with a sweet smile, A smile that made her heart skip a beat.

""Just here for a meeting. Join us for a coffee?" she offered, motioning to the empty chair. Derik's eyes flicked to Prithvi, who was trying to look anywhere but at him. "Prithvi, still Jennifer's shadow, huh?" Derik teased, giving Prithvi a playful nudge.

"He's my secretary now," Jennifer chimed in, trying to suppress a grin. Derik chuckled, "He can't even remember his register number during semester exams, and you've made him your secretary and schedule organizer? That's bold, Jennifer."

Prithvi, finally finding his voice, retorted, "I'll have you know I've improved. I only forget Jennifer's coffee orders now, which is arguably more dangerous though."

Jennifer laughed, "True, he's on thin ice. Mess up my latte one more time, and it's back to being my shadow, Prithvi."

Derik laughed, the sound rich and unexpected. "Well, if he's handling your schedule, I hope he doesn't send you to a meeting in Antarctica by mistake."

Prithvi's mock horror was evident. "Well, Derik. if anything, she will be the one sending me to Antarctica in the name of testing my loyalty"

The trio's laughter filled the coffee shop, a moment of light-hearted conversation that reminded Jennifer of simpler times.

"As we discuss loyalty, does she know yet, Prithvi?" Derik's gaze shifted to Prithvi, perplexing Jennifer, and he visibly panicked.

"Are you hiding anything from me Prithvi" Jennifer eyed Prithvi suspiciously.

"It's nothing, Jennifer, he's just teasing me," Prithvi said with a horrified expression, prompting Derik to burst into laughter once more, while Jennifer became lost in thought about the man before her. He looked different. He looked happy. He looked content and had no trace of the sadness and the void that shadowed him for years. Jennifer felt an odd satisfaction in her heart.

"On what grounds did you choose your secretary? If Prithvi could become your secretary, do you believe Akash can truly succeed in his career? Because, to my knowledge, both of them are utterly hopeless," Derek teased Prithvi once more.

"Hey, stop teasing him, okay? He's the best secretary one could ask for. Even though he's forgetful, no one is as understanding as he is," she said. Prithvi smiled at her genuine compliment, and Derik made an 'Ohh-ohh' expression.

"And he's the only one who can handle my dad," she added. They've spent nearly four years together, and Derik certainly knows a few things about her family.

Derik's laughter at the mention of her father was tinged with sarcasm. "How did he let his treasured daughter attend a meeting alone with such a 'hopeless' secretary?" he jested. His tone was uncharacteristically playful, and it filled Jennifer with a sense of joy.

Their banter continued, mostly at Prithvi's expense, but as the day ended, Jennifer felt a rare sense of contentment. The changes in Derik signaled a life embraced with happiness.

Now, as she stood in his room as his wife, the reality hit her. "I'm married to Derik D'silva," she thought, a mix of nerves and excitement coursing through her.

The Whirlwind events of the past weeks played in her mind. From meeting Derik after years to being his wife, Jennifer couldn't even believe anything that happened around her. Just days after their reunion her dad had arranged her marriage with Derik and insisted that he was the ideal match for her. When Jennifer told him that she is over the ' infatuation' she had on Derik and the childish feelings she harbored was long gone, her father just ignored her.

after a fortnight, the same man who had eagerly pushed for the union had asked her to choose between them. "You can either be Derik's wife or remain my daughter, the choice is yours" he had asked and Jennifer who was so against her arranged marriage had chosen Derik.

Now as she thought about it, her father's absence pained her heart. he wanted to witness his daughter's marriage all his life and she had refused him that joy.

Anyone familiar with Jennifer would find it amusing if she claimed to have chosen someone over her father; even her former self would be skeptical. However, the fact that this 'someone' is Derik makes all the difference.

Lost in thought, Jennifer was startled by a presence in the room. She turned to find Derik standing there, his eyes bloodshot, possibly from drunlk, his gaze seething with an unsettling fury."

"Jennifer," he called out, his voice soft yet laced with an underlying tension Their previous conversation had been far from pleasant, and his gentle tone only served to bewilder her. Nevertheless, she summoned the courage to meet his gaze. He appeared vulnerable, shattered, and forlorn. She yearned to erase his suffering, if only she could discern the cause of his distress.

"Can you tell me one truth?" he asked, his voice carrying a desperate hope. That hope weighed heavily on Jennifer's heart. She nodded, bracing herself for the inevitable deceit.

"Why did you agreed to marry me?" his question is what kept him in the last few days.

"You can tell me anything Jenny" he assured softly, the warmth in his words made her eyes well up. but she had long decided to keep her mouth shut. "We knew each other for years Jenny, you are my best friend, and you have no one to fear of " he slowly wiped a single tear that had escaped the threshold of her eyewalls. she knew what he expects from her. All she has to do is point her fingers at Rosy D'silva and the warmth he has in his eyes remains forever.

Would it be a total lie if she pointed her fingers at Rosy D'silva? Jennifer wondered. it wouldn't be a total lie, but she is not a coward. Jennifer knew what she sighed up for when she agreed to marry Derik and would not back off now.

"I love you, Derik. I want to spend my life with you," she began, her voice trembling with sincerity. But before she could finish, the sound of the vase shattering jolted her.

Jennifer recoiled, her heart pounding. "Stop lying, Jennifer," Derik's voice hardened. His eyes turned cold and his precarious grip on composure was evident "I knew that it was all a game played by Rosy D'silva, just say the name and we can walk out of this marriage without a problem" his words sent a shiver through her spine. it was like his sanity was hanging by a thread and one wrong word would cause her doom.

"I didn't marry you to leave. Derik, I wanted to be your wife because I love you," she declared, her words measured and deliberate. His expression shifted, a storm of emotions passing over his face.

"So, you chose to marry me of your own free will? Because you love me?" he pressed, his tone now edged with a dark intensity. "Yes," Jennifer affirmed, and with that, Derik retreated to the balcony, grabbing a bottle of alcohol and not adding a word more, his departure allowing her to exhale in relief.

After discarding her jewelry and cleaning up the remnants of the broken vase, Jennifer arranged her belongings in the wardrobe. She then retreated to the bathroom, longing for the solace of solitude after a day that had tested the very fabric of her reality

Rosy D'Silva was jolted awake from her short nap on the living room couch by a loud noise coming from Derik's room. She knew that despite his temper, Derik would never harm Jennifer. Yet, she couldn't shake off her worry for the girl who had brought her joy for the first time in years. The memory of Jennifer's secret visit, against her father's wishes, was still fresh in Rosy's mind.

It had been a few days since Jennifer's father had discussed her marriage with Derik. Rosy had hoped that Derik, who had changed over the past two years, would agree to marry Jennifer. But then, Jennifer's father informed her that her son was involved with another woman and would not allow him to marry his daughter. Confused, Rosy confronted her son, only to discover his wife, Anu, unconscious on the floor, fighting for her life. Tears welled up in Rosy's eyes as she thought of Anu, suffering and carrying Derik's child, while she had pushed him to marry another woman. Rosy felt as if she were standing on burning coals, but the fear of seeing Derik suffer as he did when Sanjana died was even more terrifying. If she could have traded her life to spare her son from that pain, she would have done so without hesitation. Now, after years of watching her son lead a life devoid of hope, she was willing to go to any lengths to protect him from experiencing similar agony.

Rosy knew that Anu's divorce from Derik and her departure would only postpone the inevitable pain. There was no place on Earth that could prevent Derik from following Anu to win her back, and Rosy feared he would even pursue her to heaven if necessary.

When Rosy felt most hopeless and was dying inside, that's when Jennifer came to see her. It was the first time Rosy had laid eyes on her.

"I'm Jennifer Johnson," the young woman announced with a determined look. Dressed in professional attire, she seemed to have come straight from a meeting or conference.

"Do I know you?" Rosy asked, though she had an inkling of who the visitor might be. She preferred not to jump to conclusions and waited for Jennifer's response.

"I'm Mr. Johnson's daughter, the one whose marriage to your son was arranged," Jennifer replied confidently.

"So, Ms. Jennifer, why are you here? Your father called off the engagement, I believe," Rosy responded, maintaining the pride in her voice.

"I want to marry your son. I want to marry Derik. My father's opinion doesn't matter to me," Jennifer declared, causing Rosy to drop her guard in surprise. Why would this girl want to marry Derik against her father's will? Rosy was intrigued but gave Jennifer a skeptical look, prompting her to continue.

"I've been in love with Derik since our college days. I want him in my life, and I won't let petty business issues stand in my way," Jennifer stated. Rosy understood then—it wasn't just about business for her family.

"I don't think your father will agree to this," Rosy tested Jennifer.

"I've already made my decision known to him. He asked me to choose between him and Derik," Jennifer paused, a hint of sadness in her expression.

"And I chose Derik. So here I am, having resigned as Managing Director of my father's company," Jennifer finished. Rosy couldn't help but see her younger self in Jennifer.

Jennifer had truly impressed Rosy, who felt an urge to embrace her. "You love Derik, but he has no feelings for you, and I don't believe you know him well. He's not as simple as you think," Rosy warned, not wanting to let Jennifer fall into a trap.

"I know Derik better than you might think, Mrs. D'Silva," Jennifer countered. "Philip Johnson is my brother; he doesn't keep secrets from me. Besides, I spent four years with Derik in college. And as far as I know, you don't have a strong relationship with your son." Her words made Rosy uncomfortable, but she didn't let it show.

"So you're aware of what you're getting into and claim to know my son better than I do. Then why do you think he'll agree to marry you?" Rosy pressed, sensing Jennifer's tension.

"You do know," Rosy chuckled. "I must say, I'm impressed with your cleverness. Seeking me out to marry Derik was indeed a smart move." A smile touched Jennifer's lips at Rosy's words.

"I'll ensure that Derik agrees to marry you, but I want something in return," Rosy said, pausing to gauge Jennifer's reaction. She was nervous but resolute. "This arrangement must remain a secret. Your marriage will appear as a love match, where both you and Derik are deeply in love. I'll handle Derik's side; you manage yours. And to Derik, you married him because you love him. He will know nothing more." Jennifer agreed without hesitation.

"I have high hopes for you, Jennifer," Rosy said as she embraced her gently. "I'm entrusting my son's future to you. Please, don't let me down." It was more of a warning than a request, but Jennifer wasn't fazed.

Coming out of that memory, Rosy D'Silva prayed to the Almighty, to give Jennifer all the strength in the world.

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a/n: so here is the next part guys and i will try to update every other day from now on.

tell me what you think about this part.

and please vote share and comment.

so who do you think suffered the most here?

Derik? Jennifer or Rosy?

and Do you guys believe that Jennifer truly loves Derik as she claims, or does she have any ulterior motives?

keep guessing,

bye,

take care and Goodnight.