A/N: I'm not even going to pretend I know how long it's been since I've updated... I know it's been a while guys and I'm so sorry! But hopefully this chapter makes up for it. I don't ever want to to abandon this story because I love Nate and Jenny so, so much. So please stick with me, even if it may take a while.

Just FYI: This chapter has some serious ups and downs and I do want to warn you that there are mentions of things such as minors being in inappropriate situations. There's nothing graphic, but obviously it's the fallout from the pictures taken of Jenny in 2x08 when she was indeed underage. So read at your own discretion please.

Like I said, A LOT of ups and downs in this one. Onward!

Forever Is Not Long At All

Jenny woke around ten the following morning to the smell of fresh waffles. Fruit came next, with the delight of berries wafting in from somewhere in the living space. Wrinkling her nose to get a better sniff, Jenny opened her eyes. She hadn't moved much in the night, she could tell. Carter's side of the bed was still neatly made, proving he had in fact listened to her wishes and slept on the couch. By the smell of a warm breakfast awaiting her, she decided he was probably going to want to make up.

She was right.

As she sat up in bed, she found a fresh, fluffy bathrobe waiting for her, as well as fresh fluffy slippers. Draping herself in both, she ran her fingers through her hair to rid it of tangles. Next she went to the bathroom and splashed her face with cool water; upon catching sight of her own reflection, she quickly supposed that it hadn't been the best night's sleep. She'd spent a fair while going over the argument in her head, how out of order Carter had been. How preposterous it was to assume he could tell her whom she could and couldn't see.

How utterly ridiculous it was that he'd ever think she'd cut Nate out.

She wouldn't.

She couldn't.

There was a gentle rap of knuckles on the bathroom door. It was open already and she found Carter standing there with a sheepish look on his face; eyebrows slightly raised, eyes taking on an appearance of guilt and his mouth drawn into a thin line. Jenny turned to face him and leant back against the sink.

'I got breakfast,' he told her quietly. She forced the corners of her lips not to tilt upward.

'I know,'

He put his hands in the pockets of his pajama pants. 'Care to join me?'

Jenny waited a moment before agreeing, if only to enjoy the regretful look on his face for a little while longer, before it turned to the smile she did enjoy so much. She rolled her eyes and strode out of the bathroom behind him. When she arrived in the living space, she found waffle upon waffle, a variety of syrups, fresh fruit, pastries, fruit bakes… the stomach was certainly the way to a Humphrey's heart, and Carter knew that better than most.

Jenny plated a waffle and picked some berries and syrup to match, before moving on to a fruit bake and the fresh pain au chocolat. Carter ate sparingly, choosing instead to focus on Jenny where she sat, happily munching on her breakfast. It would have perturbed her somewhat, if only she didn't know how sorry he must have been. He was definitely acting like it. When Jenny set her plate down, Carter poured her a black coffee and she took it with a thin smile. He sat back down on the chair opposite where she was nestled on the couch and took a deep breath, conjuring the words she expected.

'I'm sorry about last night,' he told her then, rubbing his hands together.

Jenny noticed how sincere he seemed. They'd had arguments in the past, but he'd never appeared so… out of sorts after them like he was just then. Things seemed more intense this time, more serious, and of course they were but… Jenny still found herself quite surprised at his behaviour. Even though it was justified.

'I'd had too much to drink and I was upset that you lied about being with Nate – let me finish, please,' he said when she opened her mouth to argue. 'But it's no excuse for speaking to you the way I did. So I'm sorry. I know it's not my place to tell you who can and can't be in your life, even if I think it does affect our relationship when you're around him.'

Jenny pursed her lips at that.

Carter shrugged.

'It's the truth, sweetheart. I'm not stupid. I see how he looks at you and I know there's history there –'

'I was a kid who used to have a crush, that's all,' she assured him, although the hitch in her voice was less than persuasive, she was certain.

Carter didn't look as though he quite believed her. He paused a moment, and so did she, and it was as though they were both aware of the elephant in the room. As if the knight Nate Archibald was standing right there, threatening to take Jenny away to his castle far off in a distant land. She wasn't sure she'd be able to say no if he asked.

'Regardless of your feelings for Archibald, and my feelings about him…' Carter went on, and as he did he moved to sit beside Jenny on the couch and took her hand in his own.

'All that's important in our relationship are our feelings for each other. I love you.'

Jenny swallowed. It was as if she'd suddenly forgotten how to speak.

'So here's what I want us to do. I want us to get out of here, out of the city, just for a little while. I've booked us a last minute flight to Monaco in a few hours. I've already spoken to Waldorf, and they're happy to let you go,' he said when Jenny mentioned that she had to work.

Carter moved a little closer on the couch.

'We need to take some time for us and figure out where we are. I want this, and I think you want this and right now I think this is what we need. Just a little break, away from the city, away from Archibald and the Bass empire… just you and me. What do you say?'

Jenny bit her lip.

'I should call Blair, just to double check she's happy to let me go – what's wrong?' Carter grip had tightened on her hand, in a way that was just a little too much pressure for comfort. He let go immediately.

'I'm sorry,' he told her, running his hand over hers to soothe it.

'I just want to get out of here, with you.'

'Why the rush?'

Carter sighed audibly.

'I just really think we need this. Jenny, I love you so much.' He leaned in so that they were nose to nose, taking her cheek in his palm. 'I want more than anything for this to work, so I say we disappear and we work our shit out.'

Jenny was skeptical. It was an odd time to disappear, what with her new job at Waldorf, Dan and Serena's engagement and the baby and Carter having just opened J to the public… but he seemed so intent on it just being the two of them.

'We'll go off the radar, starting right now,' he said then with laughter in his face. It was contagious. Jenny found herself smiling with him.

'Turn our phones off, throw them in the ocean maybe!' He pulled her up from the couch and twirled her in his arms. Jenny hadn't seen him so enthused in some time and it really lifted her to see him this way. He really wanted to try with her.

She couldn't remember a time Nate had ever wanted to do that.

'What do you say, Miss Humphrey?' he asked her, bumping their noses together softly.

She kissed him.

'I say let's do it,' she whispered, before bounding off to start packing her things.

Honestly, it sounded like heaven.

'Oh, sweetheart, there's just one more thing!' Carter called through from the living space. Jenny headed back through, a smile on her face.

It fell when she saw him waiting on bended knee.

He had a glistening diamond ring in a dark blue box held aloft.

Jenny felt her breath catch.

'I know things haven't been easy for us, and I know I've got some things to work out and we need to fix things, but I want this – you – forever.'

He stood up and approached her, taking her left hand in his and holding the ring up for her to see in the other. It was a stunning diamond of square cut, with smaller diamonds crafted into the band. Jenny couldn't imagine the cost. She felt suddenly as though she couldn't breathe. She had to take a moment to compose herself.

It felt like this should be all she'd ever wanted. She was successful; she was living her dream, and she had a man who loved her and who successful too. They worked well together. They were a dream team.

Anyone would tell her to say yes. Except her friends.

Except Blair and Chuck and Nate.

But when had she ever listened to them before?

'I want us to go to Monaco as boyfriend and girlfriend,' said Carter quietly, pulling the ring from the box and holding it up. 'And I want us to come back as husband and wife.'

Jenny felt something rise in her chest.

Was this true happiness? She didn't know.

Either way, she assumed it should be.

'What do you say?' said Carter.

'Yes,' said Jenny.

She kissed him again.

It was almost eleven by the time Jenny and Carter had finished packing, and things still hadn't quite sunk in for her. As she threw things into her case, not caring to worry about wrinkles or creases in her dresses, or whether or not she misplaced an earring, Jenny kept catching sight of the diamond ring on her finger. It had been so unexpected. So shocking. But Carter had been so sincere. She believed he wanted her for the rest of his life. He was the first to tell her that.

And he'd be the last.

He was going to be her husband.

'Maybe we should have a dual reception,' she'd remarked, after saying yes, while he showered her face with kisses. 'Serena won't be happy sharing her day!'

'And you shouldn't have to share yours, sweetheart,' Carter had said, before moving off to begin packing.

By now, there was a car waiting around the back of the hotel. They'd decided it was best to go out that way, if they were really serious about just disappearing for a little while. Pictures of an engagement ring weren't exactly the way to do things on the downlow.

Jenny hadn't even checked her phone. Come to think of it, she hadn't even seen it that morning.

'I already switched it off,' Carter told her. 'It's packed with my carry on – there was a message from Blair telling you to enjoy your time away, and a couple of emails about work – uh uh!' He laughed as she made a beeline for his bag.

'Disappearing, remember?' he reminded her.

Jenny pouted for a moment, but she had to admit; she quite liked the idea of not wanting to worry about things for a while. It was going to be just her, Carter and a beautiful country to soak in. And what might she possibly miss, really? Some scorned lover telling all on page 6? Rumours swirling about the sexuality of some mega stars? Whatever it would be, she decided she didn't care enough to worry. She could catch up on everything with Serena and Blair when she got home.

When she was Mrs Baizen.

It had scarcely started to sink in as she and Carter headed out the back and into the waiting car. Some members of staff looked oddly at her, then whispered to someone nearby; Jenny assumed it had everything to do with the ring on her finger. She'd thought about wearing gloves but, really, that would only drum up even more uncertainty at this time of year, given that it was summer.

They passed the drive to the airport in relative silence, cuddling up on the seat and trading kisses and whispers about what they would get up to in Monaco. Jenny was so caught up in her man that she scarcely noticed when people had tried to peer into the tinted windows of the car at red lights, having recognized the car Carter always used. She didn't care much for the photographers that seemed to be following them. She was sure they were only looking for someone else, anyway.

By the time they arrived at La Guardia, Jenny was beaming. She was excited. So, so happy. So over the moon with her love that she didn't think anything would disrupt her mood.

Not even inklings of Nate Archibald as they kept trying to force their way into her thoughts could bring her down.

No, she'd chosen Carter.

Not that it had been a choice.

Nate hadn't given her one.

Not that she wanted to think about that. It didn't matter. She wanted Carter. Forever, apparently.

She was so caught up in her thoughts that she missed the strangers in the terminal snapping pictures of her on their cell phones. She noticed some people whispering but, again, just put it down to the ring on her finger. They were hardly hiding it.

But even Carter seemed on edge, which was unlike him. If anything, she was more of a nervous flyer than he was.

Jenny looked around. She finally realized that she seemed to be the talk of the terminal, but her hands had been in her pockets for some time now. They couldn't all know, and even if they did, would most of them care? She developed a sense of oncoming dread. Something was going on, and she didn't like it.

'I'm going to get a magazine,' she told Carter, pecking him on the cheek.

The store was only twenty or-so paces away.

By the time she reached the magazine stands, Carter was hot on her heels.

'Jenny, wait!' he called.

But she didn't hear him. She didn't hear anything.

What she saw… oh what she saw...

Herself, naked, plastered all over the covers.

Nate in the background of some pictures.

It all came rushing back, the night he'd found her with Agnes and insisted on her leaving, how he'd come to her rescue because somehow, someway, he always did. And this was how she repaid him?

Headlines that questioned her suitability for Waldorf Designs. Headlines that questioned his ability to lead, that questioned their relationship; headlines that painted her as a teenage vulnerability and him as a predator.

Headlines that painted them as star-crossed lovers.

But the worst one of all, the magazine that Jenny plucked from the shelf and held up for Carter to see, was the one she felt somewhere deep inside her chest. An ache she didn't see herself recovering from anytime soon.

Baizen's Revenge: Archibald and Humphrey Go Down In His'n'Her Flames!

Jenny had no words.

She threw the magazine at Carter's feet.

He stood in silence, eyes on the floor.

'Did you do this?'

He didn't deny it.

She didn't bother going for her luggage. She threw her handbag across one arm and marched out of the store, out of the terminal, out of the airport and into a waiting cab. She ignored the flashes of cameras, the journalists asking for quotes, the teenagers calling her a slut, Nate's admirers damning her for getting him into trouble…

She gave the directions to the driver. It was the only place she could think of.

She waited until they were on the road before she cried.

She just didn't understand. He said he loved her. She felt that. She felt something for him too; the proof was on her finger. She trusted him.

She just didn't understand.

Nate thought he finally dropped off to sleep somewhere around two in the morning. He'd tossed and turned, thinking of Sage and her advice – 'sometimes it's nice to be fought for, or over' – thinking of Carter and his empty threats and, finally and almost always now, thinking of Jenny. First of her voice, then her smile and her eyes, and then of how she was sharing a bed with a man who didn't deserve her, didn't deserve to be near her let alone with his arms around her. Nate had to start checking his emotions as midnight drew closer. He managed to soothe himself with a couple of glasses of scotch, despite worrying they'd have the opposite effect and end up making him angrier.

Lucky for him, he'd relaxed and finally fallen asleep.

Now to be woken before eight o'clock to his cell phone ringing unrelentingly was just an unwelcome surprise, and so he pushed his phone off his side table and onto the floor. It landed with a dull thud, right onto the shirt he'd thrown on the floor before collapsing into bed a few hours earlier. The vibration was significantly quieter now, and so Nate was able to snooze almost peacefully for a little while longer.

Until someone started rapping their knuckles on his front door very, very loudly, that was.

Nate jerked his face up from where he'd had it buried in the pillow. Affected by his slumber, it took him a moment to remember where he was but as soon as he did, he managed to push himself up and roll over. Just as he was gearing up to get out of bed, he heard a key turn in the lock to his door.

'Nathaniel!'

Chuck's voice was much louder than Nate had expected. He sat up on his bed and rubbed his eyes; why did he feel this crappy? It was roughly six hours of sleep, and he'd barely had that much to drink. Nate figured he must just be really worn down. He hoped he wasn't getting sick.

His bedroom door opened to reveal Chuck in a full suit. Nate rarely saw his friend in anything else but it was still somewhat impressive at eight in the morning. The only thing missing was the friendly look on his best friend's face Nate had come to expect whenever they saw each other. Instead the look Chuck as giving him raised some level of alarm in Nate. He furrowed his brow.

'What happened?'

Chuck didn't answer, only crossed the room and crouched down to pick up Nate's once-again ringing cell.

'For future reference, Nathaniel, when your cell phone rings for hours on end and you've got message upon message from concerned friends and family – if you're alive - you answer your phone.'

Chuck dropped it into Nate's lap.

'What are you talking about, man?'

'This.'

With a flick of the remote, the television burst to life to reveal an anchor discussing the entertainment news. Nate had to look twice to believe that Jenny's face was staring back at him from a still image of her on the screen. She looked beautiful; long blonde hair, wide eyes and bright smile.

Nate only ever wanted to wake up to that smile.

The news anchor's tone was decidedly less cheery than the expression on Jenny's face in the picture. Chuck turned the volume up.

'…and it remains to be heard what Miss Humphrey will have to say about the topless photos. Despite being the leading lady in this show, however, it's not Miss Humphrey herself that has most of New York's tongues wagging. Nathaniel Archibald, who until today was thought to be a dark horse in the next run for mayor, is seen admiring the view of what can only be described as an underage girl at the time.'

'What the fu-'

The news anchor went on.

'Waldorf Designs has yet to comment on the pictures, and we're waiting on statement from Mr. Archibald's people at this time. But really, what could they possibly say?'

Chuck switched the television off.

'It's all over the news. I haven't even bothered to read the papers or the tabloids. I've had phone calls from parties who intend to withdraw their support from your campaigns.'

Nate couldn't compute. He couldn't connect what he was seeing with anything; all he knew was that he needed to speak to Jenny. He needed to see her. He needed to make sure she was okay. To hell with my campaigns, he thought. He wasn't even running!

'Where's Jenny now?' Nate asked, rising to his feet and heading to his closet.

'She's with Blair at the house, being well taken care of. Blair is handling things at Waldorf. You and I need to deal with this. Nate, what the hell were you doing in those photographs?'

Nate roughly threw a shirt on, then zipped up a pair of jeans.

'It's not how it looks, alright?'

'So they're not falsified?'

Nate grit his teeth.

'Like you've never done anything inappropriate with Jenny?'

His voice was low when he spoke. There was undercurrent sweeping through the room after his words, and for a moment all they did was look at one another. Nate was breathing hard; he'd never felt this anger before. Not at Chuck when he slept with Blair, not at Serena when she left with Dan; not even with his Dad when he went to prison.

When it came to Jenny Humphrey, this kind of anger was uncharted territory. It was a seething vat that reminded him of how he'd felt when he found out about Jenny and Chuck, but it was worse. It was vile.

'Nathaniel,' Chuck began, but he wasn't irritated. If anything, he was perfectly calm. 'I trust in your good judgment most of the time. I trust that you've always cared about Jenny and I'll believe you when you tell me that these pictures aren't what they seem. But you need to tell me what happened so that I can protect you from this.'

Nate narrowed his eyes.

'Both of you,' Chuck added, and this registered more deeply with Nate.

He sighed and sat down to pull on his shoes.

'I found her at an apartment with that old friend of hers, Agnes. She was having fun, but it was a bad scene and this guy was taking pictures. I didn't want to leave her though so I said I'd wait and sat down – I was just making a point! The guy must have snapped pictures of me then. We left right after. I was there for like two seconds!'

Chuck nodded, then pulled his cell phone from his pocket.

'And Jenny was never naked.' Nate finished. Of this he would testify in court, in front of God.

'Then this isn't simply a tabloid getting hold of something crude from the past. This is personal. Someone's gone out of their way for this. The pictures in her underwear would have been enough to sabotage her, to give Waldorf and my wife a bad name.'

'This isn't about Blair!' Nate argued, heading for the front door and grabbing his keys on the way.

'No, this is about Jenny and you and how it's going to affect those around you. Nate, this might derail your whole future. It's certainly calling into question your morals.'

They entered the elevator in silence. As the numbers lit up on the way down, Nate wondered how on earth this happened. Why did these pictures suddenly have to see the light of day? And why would someone want to hurt Jenny and him so badly?

'This goes beyond wanting to smear someone,' Chuck said then, as they came closer to the ground floor and, no doubt, a hoard of paparazzi waiting outside.

'Who would do this to her?'

'They've done it to you, too, Nate.'

Nate closed his eyes. He didn't care. He'd recover from this, he hoped. He'd clear his name; he had nothing to be guilty about. He'd been helping a friend. All he could think about was how Jenny was handling this. He had to see her.

'Someone wanted to destroy both of you with this,' Chuck said as the elevator doors opened and they made their way into the foyer.

Nate spied the journalists and photographers waiting outside. He felt a feeling of disgust rise inside. He looked to Chuck, who merely raised his eyebrows as they prepared to face the onslaught together.

The doors were opened.

'Mr Archibald, what can you say about –'

'How can you explain yourself?'

'Did Miss Humphrey pose willingly?'

'Did you coerce a teenager into –'

Chuck led him through the crowd and towards the car. He was almost there.

'Mr. Archibald, how do you feel about Mr. Baizen releasing these pictures? Is it some form of revenge?'

Nate stopped. So did Chuck.

They turned to one another.

Very suddenly, things fell into place.

Chuck dragged him to the car and the driver closed the door behind them. Nate recalled the conversation he'd had with Carter not twenty-four hours earlier. He'd been warned, and he'd didn't listen.

His ego got the best of him and Jenny was paying for it.

'This is my fault,' he told Chuck.

'Carter knew exactly how to hurt you,' Chuck said, clenching his jaw.

'Jenny Humphrey's the one person you've always tried to protect. He knew to hurt you he'd need to hurt her.'

Nate smacked his fist into the door. He didn't even register the pain. He'd thought he'd hated himself in the past; he'd had days where he didn't like who he was, when he'd made choices that weren't of sound judgment and that he regretted frequently. He'd spent time doubting his own morals, his own goodness, but most of the time he was able to say he tried.

But not now.

Now he'd really screwed up.

It was all his fault.

Blair had always been excellent at multitasking. Jenny had always envied her ability to run so many things at once, be it meetings on the phone and in person at the same time, handling a team of fifty and getting them on board about the same thing, or splitting time between her work and her family. Now, she ran one soothing hand through Jenny's hair where she lay with her head on a pillow on Blair and Chuck's bed, and used the other to type out an email to all the staff at Waldorf, instructing them not to breathe a word about the scandal. In the meantime, she was running off instructions to her publicist, detailing what was needed in the press release.

Jenny could scarcely remember how to breathe.

Some time passed, but Jenny didn't move and Blair stayed vigilant at her side. Dorota had taken Henry out for a little while, so that things might be discussed and dealt with while not scarring him for life. Jenny felt like such a burden.

'I'm sorry, Blair,' she muttered. Her throat ached from the crying.

Blair stood up and moved around to the side of the bed where Jenny lay. She took both her hands and pulled her up, first to sit and then to stand. Like any loving mother, Blair gently brushed the wet strands of hair back from Jenny's face, and then wiped away the straggling tears as they ran down her cheeks. Then she took both Jenny's hands in her own.

'This isn't your fault. This is Carter's fault.'

Jenny shook her head.

'I should never have gone to that apartment, Nate would never have followed me and – God, he must hate me!'

Blair simply shook her head.

'This isn't your fault. Waldorf will recover. Nate will recover. You will recover. Chuck and I are going to protect you from this. Both of you. But you can't blame yourself – no, listen to me.'

Jenny had tried to interrupt, but Blair shook her head once more.

'We have all made mistakes. We all have to deal with those mistakes. We know that the nude pictures are doctored, that we can prove. We'll put out a statement claiming they're all falsified. Chuck and I will handle it. This will go away.'

'What about Nate? I've ruined everything for him…'

'Carter did this, not you. And Nate will be fine. You can tell yourself that if you hadn't gone that he wouldn't have followed you, but we all know the truth. Nate will always follow where you lead. That's just the way it is.'

Blair brought her thumbs to Jenny's cheeks and wiped fresh tears away.

'Now come on, let's get you cleaned up.'

'I don't care about my campaign, I care about Jenny.'

'As chivalrous as that is, we need to get our priorities in check. Jenny isn't yours to fight for. Blair and I will protect her from this; you know we will. Your role now is damage control. We need to issue a statement and claim the pictures are falsified.'

'But they're not!' At this, Chuck looked skeptical. Nate sighed. 'The ones where Jenny's topless are fake - it never went that far. But her in her underwear and me sitting on the couch…' Nate put his head in his hands.

'I couldn't leave her.'

Chuck placed a supportive hand on Nate's shoulder.

'Nate, regardless of what happened that night, and despite my utter faith in you, damage control needs to be done. We have to claim that they're fake, otherwise it brings up a multitude of other, uncomfortable questions about the situation. Jenny was a minor at the time. If Jenny's friend is willing to release these pictures, there's no telling what she's willing to say. Given that you haven't held down a long-term relationship in some time, I feel the public might be reluctant to believe that you're an innocent party. I'm sorry,' Chuck said as Nate began to protest. 'But that's how it is. You're going to have to sever ties with Jenny for now, publicly at the very least.'

Nate looked up.

'What?'

'Until this is dealt with and forgotten about, I suggest you keep your distance.'

'No, I can't do that. You know I can't.'

'It's for the best.'

The door opened and Blair led Jenny in, apparently unaware of her husband's advice. Nate's eyes fell on the blonde. She looked pale - even more so than usual - and was make up free. Blair had cleaned her up and then clothed her in what looked to be Chuck's dressing gown. Jenny's arms were hugged around her slight frame.

Nate rose to his feet.

'Jenny...' He began, but words failed him and they were left standing in the silence. Blair slipped an arm around Jenny's waist.

'As I was saying,' Chuck continued, crossing the room and taking Blair's hand in his own, 'I think it's the best that the two of your keep your distance from one another. Until this has blown over.'

Blair was nodding. 'It's for the best. It'll soon be forgotten about.'

Jenny still hadn't spoken, and her eyes remained fixed on the carpet at her feet.

'Is that what you want?' Nate asked her, and only her.

Jenny's eyes trailed slowly up. When she looked him in the eye, Nate could see the red circles around her eyes. She'd been crying hard. Nate ground his teeth. He was going to kill Baizen.

'It's for the best,' she repeated Blair's words.

Nate couldn't take his eyes from her. She looked so broken. So defeated… like the weight of the world was on her shoulders. And it was all his fault. He trailed his eyes down her face, over where her arms were crossed across her chest and –

'What the hell is on your hand?' he heard himself say suddenly.

His chest had constricted. Jenny looked down. The sparkling diamond looked back at her. She couldn't meet his eye.

'Nate –' Blair began, but he didn't stop to listen.

'Did Carter give that to you?' he asked. His voice sounded so choked. So pathetic.

'He asked you to marry him?' Nate heard his voice getting louder as he drew closer. Even Chuck's normally calming hand on his shoulder didn't help.

'Nate!" Blair admonished, but once again it fell on deaf ears.

'You said yes?' Nate couldn't believe it. He couldn't process it.

This girl he… that he… cared about had already agreed to marry someone else? Someone who betrayed her?

'That's enough,' Blair said, and she quickly steered Jenny from the room.

When the door closed behind them, Nate balled his fists at his side and turned to Chuck.

'Why the hell would she want to marry that guy?!'

'That's not your concern right now. Heed my advice and keep your distance. Let me handle this. As for right now, you need to calm down. My son is on his way home and I won't have you this unpredictable when he's here.'

Chuck left then, heading through to his study. Nate was left alone with this news for the first time. What a morning it had been. His future might have been ruined, Jenny's reputation was destroyed and Carter Baizen was probably already out of the country. Good, Nate thought. Otherwise he'd be running for his life.

How could Jenny want to marry that piece of shit?

What had been so damn special about Baizen that Jenny had agreed to settle for him? She deserved so much more. Someone who cared about her, who respected her, who treasured her. Someone who loved her.

But she'd already given her love away to a man who didn't understand the importance of it. A man who was willing to share her with the world, who didn't care about hurting her in his quest for revenge against Nate.

How could Jenny love him?

How couldn't she see that there was someone else who could give her everything she deserved?

Nate would have given her the world, but kept her all for himself.

But it was too late.

Carter knew he majorly screwed up, and that was his solution. As for Jenny, she said yes without really questioning too much what she wanted. Or WHO she wanted. Chapter 12 will see a much-needed confrontation between Nate and Jenny, in which feelings are revealed and skeletons come out of the closet. Stick around for that, and leave me a review? x