Chapter 6 From that day forward, I ignored every call from Steven and my parents, immersing myself in wedding preparations. In a jewelry boutique, the sales associate watched with envy as Levi meticulously slipped ring after ring onto my finger, his patience endless. "You hit the jackpot, Madam," she said. "Your husband spoils you rotten." Levi's eyes crinkled with delight, overflowing with unspoken love that made my pulse quicken. This incredible man was my lawfully wedded husband. For a fleeting moment, it all felt surreal, like a beautiful dream I might wake up from. Just days earlier, Joyce had arranged our blind date. The instant I laid eyes on him, recognition hit me like a bolt. "You've got to be kidding me!" My date turned out to be Levi Wheeler, the dynamic new CEO of Apex Group. As their top-performing vendor the previous year, I'd crossed paths with him at the annual gala. He'd been revamping the firm with bold strokes, and his innovative brand line meshed seamlessly with my online store's demographic. We'd chatted animatedly that night, but my fixation on Steven had blinded me to any potential spark. Little did I know that Levi had been maneuvering behind the scenes and enlisting Joyce to play matchmaker. It dawned on me then that, in my past life, Joyce had persistently tried setting me up with someone. It might have been Levi. His intense stare pinned me in place, his brown eyes mirroring only my reflection. "There's no escaping me now. I shared my family's toxic history, expecting him to bolt. But compassion flooded his features, his voice soft with empathy. "I fell for your drive and smarts first. I saw you as this invincible force. But now, I realize you've been carrying wounds, too." "Invincible?" I echoed. Steven had sneered at my success, labeling me a greedy shopkeeper unfit to stand beside Andrea's elegant artistry. I lowered my gaze, a rueful smile tugging at my lips. Levi drew me into his embrace, handling me with the tenderness reserved for fragile treasures. "Let me prove you deserve the best life has to offer." In a whirlwind, he whisked me to City Hall for our marriage license. 1/2 Chapter 6 Wary of impulsiveness, I said, "Take three days to think. If you're sure, meet me there." I figured the time would bring clarity, perhaps even second thoughts. Steven had once painted rosy pictures, promising marriage under blooming peach trees. +25 Bonus I loved peach blossoms. But seasons cycled, and his commitments wilted, extracted only through my tears and pleas. Eventually, the proposal became a tool for manipulation. This kind of love held nothing. I didn't need it. Convinced Levi would bail, I stayed at home. At dusk, he called, "Claudia, what's the holdup? I've been planted here all day. City Hall is closed." I dashed out, my heart racing. There he stood, slumped against the steps amid the evening bustle, looking forlorn. My heart melted in an instant. He gestured glumly at the shuttered doors, his lips pursed in a pout. Laughter bubbled up as I grabbed his hand, rising on tiptoes to plant a soft kiss ou