I don't think there was a time in my life that I was truly shocked.

When my aunt died of cancer, it was inevitable. I knew it was coming eventually, and when she finally died, I felt relief because that meant her sufferings had ended.

Devin declaring me as Co-chairperson of Montgomery Enterprise had my jaw on the floor.

It was the last thing I expected to hear when I'd entered the room filled with the board members. Their eyes bore into me like a group of vultures ready to tear their prey. I didn't think I had ever felt this intimidated in my life.

I remember feeling the blood drain from my face as the unexpected news had befallen me. Despite my shock and worries, I'd thanked everyone who had congratulated me on the board.

Devin told them that in case of his absence, I was the one who could make decisions and sign documents as the new co-chairperson in his place.

The meeting started after the brief introductions, and when it was over an hour later, I pulled Devin out of the room to have a private chat.

"I do not have the qualifications to become a co-chairperson of a billion-dollar conglomerate." I had told him.

He smirked and pulled out a file from a briefcase that he handed to me.

"What's this?" I asked.

"Read."

I opened the file and my eyes popped out. "I'm not...I'm not..."

"Yes, you are. A Harvard graduate in Business management."

"These are fake certificates!" I silently screamed, controlling myself before I flew into a rage. This asshole was up to something. "I'm going to tell everyone the truth!"

"And who will believe you?"

"What do you want from me, Devin? Why are you doing this?"

He smiled sweetly, as if he hadn't just fed a bunch of lies to his employees. "I just need your co-operation, Millie." He slung his arm around my shoulder and laughed animatedly. To the onlookers, it seemed like I had an amazing relationship with my brother-in-law. Close to my ear, he whispered, "I used to be co-chairman but since Castle hasn't been in the state of mind to take important decisions, I had to assume the role of Chairman and CEO. The board needed someone to fill my former place."

"What about Dayana?"

He shrugged. "Dayana isn't exactly interested in business."

Right. She was more interested in fucking the house help.

"But it doesn't have to be me!" I said.

He pointed towards the pantry across from us. A man who was probably in his mid-thirties stood on the other side of the transparent glass wall, dressed in a navy suit, making coffee.

"That's Samuel Hall," Devin told me.

I'd met Samuel briefly during the board meeting, and it had appeared as if he'd been sizing me up. I wasn't sure why he'd been friendly enough that I had paid little attention.

"If it's not for you who will take over the place, he will," Devin told me. "Sam's got all the qualifications needed and if Castle was on board, I'm sure he would be his choice."

"So give Samuel the position!"

Devin clicked his tongue. "I want it to stay in the family. An outsider can't make decisions for us."

I narrowed my eyes at him. There were a lot of things that Devin was hiding. He wouldn't take such a huge step without having an ulterior motive.

The Co-chairperson title was for show.

I was a puppet, Devin the puppeteer.

I wish I had the power to stop whatever that was happening. I wish I could just take Castle away from all this.

"Castle's signed the papers too. He wants you to do it." Devin said.

Castle was being manipulated. He didn't know what he was doing. If Castle hadn't lost his memories, I didn't think he would have approved of what Devin had done by putting me in the Co-chairperson's seat. Heck, I don't think he would have even agreed to marry a nobody like me.

I briefly spoke with Castle's old secretary, a nice young lady named Julia, who was sweet and welcoming. In the back of my mind, I wondered if he ever had a fling with her. She was cute enough that I would have to worry, but I let the thought go. If he ever had something with her, it was in the past. He wasn't the same man anymore.

Julia talked a lot about Castle, and how he would take her out on lunches if they were stuck in a long outdoor meeting. She said he was a caring boss. I tried to look for some hidden meaning but couldn't find one.

Mentally, I kicked myself for being jealous.

I needed a new strategy get Castle to remember his past. The chances of the boating accident recreation working were unlikely, even though Theo was quite adamant about us trying it.

Castle was playing late-night arcade games with Theo and Chandler in the gaming room on the fourth floor. It was Theo's idea to keep him busy while I read some of the family journal.

I sat down on the chaise and opened it from where I'd left off.

Aster Montgomery.

I know Christopher is the one for me. I have seen how his eyes followed me around when I went for a horse ride.

I'm going to be engaged to Terrance in two months, but I just can't seem to feel anything for my fiancé. I know I should be honest with him, but Terrance hardly has time for me. He's busy with work and making preparations for the wedding. He doesn't look at me the way Christopher does.

And I know for a fact that if I married Terrance, I'd just be another wife of a wealthy man tucked away in the corner, taking care of his children while he did whatever he wanted outside of the house.

I don't want that life!

I don't want to marry Terrance!

I closed the journal for a moment, wondering who exactly was Aster.

Have I heard that name before? Is this the entry Theo wanted me to read?

I opened the journal again and started reading it.

Christopher and I spent a lot of time together, whether it was for horse riding or just reading books together. I'm always with him.

His smile makes my heart melt. I love him with all my heart and I know he loves me, too.

June 3rd

Tonight I sneaked out of my room and went to the other wing. It was pretty late. Christopher lives in the servant's quarters of the mansion. His room was bare save for one bed and a table that held a nightstand. Some of his clothes hung in the small closet next to it.

He didn't have much, but he could give me what I wanted.

And that was love.

I visited him often in the servant's rooms.

I turned the pages because it droned on and on about how Christopher looked, even his outfits were mentioned, along with every visit and their talks about the weather. I wasn't interested in learning about the weather. I needed the juicy bits of their past. Turns out Theo thought the same too; the pages with repetitive passages about Christopher's physical description weren't dog-eared.

It was pretty clear Aster had like a massive crush on Christopher. I bet he was hot back in the day.

I stopped flipping pages when I found the page marked for reading.

June 10th

We are exchanging kisses when no is around. It is thrilling yet amazing. I like how my heart keeps fluttering with him around.

Today when my family had gone out, we made love.

And then I was snuggled up in his arms when I told Chris that my family would never agree to our marriage, especially my father.

So I told him an alternative.

*~*

July 29th

I'm pregnant.

When Dad found out, he had no choice but to accept me and Christopher.

I told Terrance the truth. I couldn't hide anything from him any longer and he was upset at first, but he told me it was for the best. He liked me, but he wasn't in love, and I would not settle for anything less.

Father put one condition before I got married and I hated him for it.

I had never wanted his wealth, the power, the legacy that came with the Montgomery name.

He told me that my husband would have to marry into our family and bear the Montgomery name. If there was no male heir, the women in our family may take over, and that meant the husband would be a Montgomery and live in the mansion.

Those are the rules.

Christopher agreed because he loves me and didn't care about anything else.

Christopher Gates is now Christopher Montgomery.

My amazing, gorgeous husband Chris.

It is the start of my new happy ending. I never thought I would be able to get what I want, but here it is—a handsome, loving husband and a baby on its way.

Somehow, I have a feeling the baby is going to be a boy.

If he's a boy, I'm going to name him Castle.

* * *

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