A Reborn Bride Pearl Emerging from Dust

"Will you marry me?" Gideon suddenly lifted his gaze to Yvette, asking the question out of the blue. "What?" Yvette got caught off guard, her voice tinged with surprise. "Gideon, what did you just say?" "Yvette, will you marry me?" Gideon's eyes were intense, locked onto hers.

He wanted to marry Yvette to make Calliope regret her choices. If she could flaunt her happiness before him, so could he, and he refused to believe she wouldn't feel a twinge of jealousy, wouldn't wish she'd made a different decision.

After all, she used to be most envious of Yvette. Whenever he showed Yvette kindness, Calliope would notice. She'd get jealous.

"I-" Yvette's heart pounded as she looked at Gideon. Was she about to become Gideon's wife? It was something she had longed for.

But what was going on with Gideon? Why did he suddenly say this?

She scrutinized his expression, caught between pretending to hesitate and agreeing immediately. She didn't want to miss this opportunity.

"I, I, I've always liked you, Gideon... but I know you have feelings for Callie."

Before she could finish her thought, Gideon erupted with anger.

"Don't mention her. When did I ever say I liked her?" He snapped with frustration. "I don't like her. I'm asking you!"

"I, I'd do anything you wanted, Gideon!" Yvette bit her lip, whispering.

Gideon stared at Yvette, but all he could think about was Calliope's lips-red, soft, probably sweet. Suddenly, he kissed Yvette. It was a desperate, consuming kiss that blurred reality.

At that moment, he barely remembered who was in front of him. His mind was filled with images of Calliope her bright eyes, her gentle smile.

Who did she think she was, choosing Silas over him? How could she have given herself to Silas out of spite?

Gideon swept Yvette into the bedroom. On the soft, plush bed, they sank into the covers.

The lights went out. Yvette clung to Gideon tightly in the dim room, her heart soaring.

Had he finally fallen for her? Was this the love she had been dreaming of?

She tried to glimpse his face in the dark, but Gideon seemed lost in his thoughts, his gaze unfocused. "Gideon, I love you. Do you know how much I love you?"

"It's great. You're all mine now."

"Gideon, I love you so much. I'd give up everything for you, even my life. You're the only light in my dark life."

"I knew it. I knew you'd love me. Callie, you're mine. You said I was immature and wasn't as good as Silas?"

"Am I just three seconds? Am I good enough? Calliope, am I strong enough? Tell me I'm good enough!" Gideon kissed Yvette fiercely, looking like he was trying to erase her existence with each kiss.

Yvette's joy faded, turning to pain. Her face darkened like a storm cloud when she heard Calliope's name. Calliope again! Always Calliope! Enough was enough!

"Gideon... you're hurting me!" She tried to push him away, but Gideon only grew more relentless. "It's just the beginning, and you're already in pain? I'll show you how good I am tonight!"

Gideon had lost his mind entirely. He was treating Yvette as though she were Calliope, punishing her with his misplaced anger.

"Gideon, let me go! You're hurting me!" Yvette cried, tears streaming down her face. She felt like he was tearing her apart, suffocating her with his grip.

He seemed to want to make her feel a pain so profound that she'd remember it forever.

But then, Gideon suddenly stopped.

Yvette's voice snapped him back to reality, pulling him from another world. He flicked on the light, disbelief washing over him."

When he saw that the woman entangled in the sheets wasn't Calliope but Yvette, he got struck as if by lightning.