Chapter 24

Henry sighed. "Ken, I'm not lying. Look, our wedding photo is right there on the wall. It's a fact, plain and simple."

Calista added calmly, "What Henry said is true. I love satellite research, and I love him, too."

Ken stared at the framed photograph in shock before turning to the couple. Suddenly, he raised his fist and slammed it violently into Henry's face. "Henry, you bastard! I treated you as my best friend, and you married my girl!"

Ken's roar startled Calista, who cried out, "Henry!"

Wiping blood from his mouth, Henry gestured reassuringly to Calista. "It's alright, love. Don't be afraid." He then turned a cold gaze on Ken. "I let you have that punch. Consider it payback for keeping this from you. But if you try anything else, I won't hesitate to take you on." Henry had the advantage of height and strength; in a real fight, Ken would be no match for him.

Ken loosened his collar, seething. "Henry, you knew damn well I liked Calista, but you pursued her the second we had a falling out. You prick!"

Henry stood his ground. "And you knew she admired you, but you still planned to marry Viola. Didn't you?"

Realizing he was in the wrong, Ken turned to Calista. "Calista, if you divorce him, I can pretend none of this ever happened. As long as you're willing, we can go back to the way things were. Can we?"

Calista's eyes widened. "Go back to being your sister in name only, watching you get cozy with other women?"

Seeing her anger, Ken rushed to explain. "Calista, that's not what I meant at all. I was a coward. I didn't understand my own heart, and I mistook you for a sister. That's why I resented your affection. I thought if I kept that sibling boundary, we could salvage our relationship. But then I realized you're the only woman I've ever truly loved."

Chapter 54

Calista slowly shook her head. "Ken, the past is the past. He treats me well, and I love him. Our marriage has everyone… I just wish you could be happy for me."

Ken's eyes reflected his pain. "Calista, you… you think he's happy?"

Calista glanced at Henry before responding. "He's not a liar. He loves and respects me. When other women make advances, he shuts them down. He never breaks my heart."

Ken tried to argue further, but Henry cut him off. "Ken, you told me ages ago that you had feelings for Calista. I backed off for the sake of our friendship. And how did you repay me? Not only did you mistreat her, you broke her heart."

"This time, don't even dream of taking Calista from me."

Ken felt a suffocating pressure in his chest. "So you've wanted her for a long time, then?"

Without hesitation, Henry replied, "Yes."