who doesn’t know what’s coming.
I’m ready…I’m excited for my new future with him.
As Mrs. Phillips.
He drives through the night, heading out of the city with his hand on mine, the huge ring sparkling even now. He leans over and kisses my cheek as we race through the hills and into a locked, gated neighbourhood. He slows down then, crawling through it, passing bigger and bigger private houses, until he stops at a huge iron gate at the end.
“Tyler, what?” I ask, confused. “Where are we?”
He grins, and when the gate swings open, he revs and pulls through. It shuts behind us, and we drive up a winding driveway. Trees line either side with lights shining up through their canopies. We turn into a circular driveway, and he stops before a mansion which is lit up.
To the right is a four-car garage, which is all closed up. To the left, I spot a huge garden, but it’s the house that steals my attention. It’s huge…and fucking beautiful.
He gets out, and I turn in confusion. “Tyler,” I hiss, but he opens my door and offers me his hand.
“Come on, fiancée,” he teases.
I put my hand in his, and he helps me from the car, kissing me again as he leads me around to stop in front of the house. “Where are we?” I question.
“Home, Angel, we’re home,” he offers.
I turn, looking at him with my mouth open. “You bought this?” I whisper.
“Angel, please. I built this for you. Before we even got back together.” He wraps his arms around me, his dark eyes looking down on me, filled with love. “I knew you would come back to me, I knew you were the one. This is our new home, this is your home. I love you so much, and I wanted to show it. Now, shall we go inside, future Mrs. Philips?” he teases.
I nod mutely, unsure what to say, and he chuckles, kisses me, and pulls away before leading me across the gravel drive and up the huge marble steps to the wooden double doors. I can’t help but smile when I see the wings as door knockers. He pushes them open, and we step inside. The brightness blinds me for a moment as I look around.
Chandeliers hang from the ceiling, dripping diamonds. The floor is a grey and white marble, leading to two winding staircases, and between them, hung on a wall, is a giant painting of an angel.
Of me.
I can’t tear my gaze away from it, even as Tyler tugs me farther in, but I’m frozen on the spot. Is this really my life? I look to him to see he’s concerned as tears fill my eyes. A girl like me doesn’t belong here, but God I want to.
“Angel?” he murmurs in confusion, stepping closer.
“I—” I croak, swallowing past the lump in my throat. “I don’t belong in this neighbourhood or house.”
He scoffs and pulls me closer, pinching my chin. “You’re so fucking wrong, Angel. I bought land in this neighbourhood before it even built up. You belong here, you’ll see. Trust me, I will never lead you wrong, and I will kill anyone who has anything negative to say. Now, no tears, go and explore your new house, and then come back and show your daddy how much you love it,” he commands.
His words settle me, and the panic recedes, changing to pure excitement. He laughs as I kick off my heels and rush down the hall past the stairs and into the kitchen. There are more chandeliers here, and it’s perfect. The table on the back wall is raised and made of wood, with eight grey high back chairs surrounding it. Behind it are two open doors framing the table. To the right is the kitchen, which is huge, with brand-new modern fittings. It has lights under the grey cupboards. The island is grey and matches the floor, and the fridge a double door fridge, making me shake my head. It has everything you could imagine for a kitchen and more. It looks like something out of a catalogue.
Not that I will cook unless Tyler makes me.
I rush to the windows on the back wall, which are floor to ceiling and allow me to see outside. There’s a patio with a grill and a table. Then there is a pool past that, surrounded by sun beds, a huge oval chair, and rattan sofa. There is also a bar with angel wings on the wood.
Shaking my head, I