Chapter 2 First Love Returns
The pieces clicked into place.
That night when Edward came home drunk, the name on his lips hadn't been 'Jenna'—it had been 'Jennifer'.
Pain lanced through Jenna's chest, sharp and unrelenting, like a thousand needles piercing her heart all at once.
She'd fallen for Edward long before they married.
Years ago, she'd worked as a runway model for a Russell Corporation fashion show. The moment she spotted Edward in the VIP section, her nerves got the better of her and she twisted her ankle mid-stride. Laughter rippled through the crowd. Jenna wanted to disappear into the floor—until Edward himself walked onto the stage and helped her up with quiet grace.
That day, she'd thought: 'What woman wouldn't be lucky to marry a man like him?'
When her mother later revealed that Edward was the arranged match she'd always mentioned, Jenna couldn't sleep all night from sheer excitement.
She'd believed that if she could just be a good wife, they could build a life together.
But now, staring at this photograph, she realized how naive she'd been.
A wave of nausea suddenly crashed over her. She staggered toward the bathroom, but her vision went black and she collapsed, unconscious before she hit the floor.
When Jenna opened her eyes again, she found herself in a private hospital room.
She turned her head toward the door, which was slightly ajar. Voices drifted in from the hallway.
"What a buzzkill. She couldn't have passed out any other time? Had to be right when we were having a good time. I swear she did it on purpose..."
Jenna recognized that voice—Lucas Mitchell, one of Edward's closest friends.
Edward had brought Lucas home a few times over the years. Every time Lucas saw Jenna, his expression curdled with distaste.
"Edward, I don't know how you put up with her. What does she have that Jenny doesn't? Nothing."
Jenna had never understood why Lucas disliked her so much. Now it made sense. In everyone's eyes, no woman could measure up to Jennifer.
Edward's cool voice answered: "My mother arranged the marriage."
Those few words sent Jenna's heart plummeting.
Of course he didn't love her. He'd only married her to appease his mother.
Lucas snorted. "Honestly, I'll never understand what your mom was thinking. She had Jennifer right there—an amazing woman—and instead she forced you to marry some runway model. This girl parades around half-naked for a living. She's not worth your time."
Jenna's fingers curled into fists, nails digging into her palms.
Modeling had been her dream since childhood. She'd sacrificed so much for it.
But to them, she was just an attention-seeking nobody with nothing to offer but her looks.
Edward said nothing.
Lucas continued, his tone edging toward glee: "But hey, at least Jenny's back now. You don't have to suffer anymore. And since you two don't have kids yet, why not just divorce her? Before Jenny slips away again..."
Jenna's hand moved instinctively to her stomach, a bitter ache spreading through her chest.
So that was why Edward had never touched her—he'd been afraid she'd get pregnant.
All this time, she'd been deluding herself.
A bright, cheerful voice suddenly cut through the conversation. "Lucas! What kind of nonsense are you spouting now?"
"Jenny!" Lucas's bravado evaporated instantly.
'Jenny? She's here too?'
Of course. That explained why Edward had dressed so carefully tonight.
Jenna pushed herself upright just enough to peek through the crack in the door. A tall woman with a chic pixie cut stood in the hallway, dressed in an expensive Chanel suit that radiated confidence and sophistication.
Jennifer Garcia.
Her beauty was magnetic—vibrant, self-assured, commanding.
Jenna glanced down at herself. Once a model, she'd let years of domestic life soften her figure. She couldn't compete with Jennifer.
No wonder Edward loved her.
Jennifer laughed and looped her arm around Edward's neck with easy familiarity. "Did I leave you boys alone for five minutes and you're already talking trash?"
Edward didn't pull away. A rare, indulgent smile softened his features.
Jennifer playfully tapped his cheek. "Tell me—did you miss me while I was gone?"
Edward's throat bobbed. "Yes."
Jenna felt her heart shatter into a thousand pieces.
This man—the one who barely spoke to her, who never smiled, who'd never once said anything remotely affectionate—was now openly flirting with another woman.
He wasn't cold. He just saved all his warmth for Jennifer.
Their five-year marriage was nothing but a cruel joke.
The group outside continued laughing and teasing each other. Jenna gripped the bedsheets until her knuckles turned white, tears burning at the corners of her eyes.
After what felt like an eternity, the door swung open.
Lucas strutted in first. "Let's see if our precious Mrs. Russell has woken up yet..."
He stopped mid-sentence when he saw Jenna sitting upright, staring blankly ahead.
Jennifer and Edward followed him in. When Jennifer noticed Jenna was awake, she immediately approached with a warm smile. "Hi! I'm Jennifer—Edward's friend. You can call me Jenny."
She casually looped her arm through Edward's. "I just got back to the States. We were all supposed to hang out tonight, but when we heard you'd fainted, I insisted we come check on you. Are you feeling okay?"
Jenna stared at Jennifer's sweet smile and felt nothing but revulsion.
She said nothing, simply turned her gaze toward the window.
An awkward silence settled over the room.
Jennifer, always socially astute, immediately sensed that Jenna must have overheard their conversation in the hallway.
She gave Lucas's arm a light pinch and scolded him playfully. "This is your fault. You were running your mouth out there and upset her."
She turned back to Jenna, her expression earnest. "Jenna, please don't take it personally. We've all known each other since we were kids—we joke around too much sometimes. Lucas didn't mean anything by it."
She elbowed Lucas. "Apologize."
Lucas rolled his eyes and muttered halfheartedly, "Sorry, Mrs. Russell. I was just kidding around."
Jenna watched their little performance and felt sick.
She didn't want to waste another word on any of them. "I'm tired," she said flatly. "I need to rest. Please leave."
The room went silent. Everyone looked uncomfortable.
Edward's brow furrowed. "Jenny came all this way to see you, and this is how you act?"
Jenna let out a cold laugh. "Did she come to see 'me'? Or to see 'you'?"
"Are you seriously doing this right now?" Lucas snapped, but Jennifer stopped him with a look.
Edward's voice hardened. "Jenna, Jenny's trying to be kind. Don't act like a child."
"Kind?" Jenna's gaze slid to Jennifer. "Is it kind to hang all over my husband right in front of me?"
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" Lucas stepped forward angrily. "Jenny and Edward have known each other forever. She doesn't need your permission to be close to him. Who do you think you are?"
Jennifer held up a hand, her smile apologetic. "Jenna, you've got the wrong idea. I've known Edward longer than you have. This is just how we've always been."
She pulled a small gift box from her pocket and held it out. "Here—I brought you a present. It's a limited-edition Tiffany necklace. Consider it a welcome gift."
Jenna stared at the glittering necklace inside the box.
Her heart felt like it was being carved out piece by piece.
