Hours before the wedding, a damp morning with a fog-filled atmosphere, looked as if rain was going to fall all day. The front door welcomed Juniper with open arms. She walked up the staircase slowly, it wasn't long until she ran into Mrs. Beckingham. "You must be Jodi." She gave a satisfying grin.

"And you must be lost." She said, glaring at her. She was busy preparing for Lily's reception that she didn't have time for unwelcomed guests or strangers strutting her house as if it were a museum.

"He did say you were a bit witty."

"What's your name, girl?"

June smirked and looked around with her arms folded, her heels waddling on its tip. She slipped her finger into her mouth and then chuckled before saying. "Why, you should know me by now. I'm the other woman."

"The other woman?" She shrugged. "I see you're getting way ahead of yourself, dear."

In the hall, there sat a big green armchair, almost like a throne, where Juniper took a seat. "Beckinghams are attractive but they aren't as smart as they look. You know that... and you also know that you're going to die here, in this house, alone, without him... because your husband's never coming back. I made sure of it."

"Excuse me," Jodi said and with that, Juniper hopped from her seat with a giggle. She followed the swaying woman, enriched with rage. "Who are you?"

"Juniper but June is fine." She scuttled down the hall, curious and handsy. "What's behind this door?" She grabbed the knob.

"You better explain yourself." Jodi pulled her by the arm, tugging June's body towards hers.

"I suggest you let go of me."Aggravated, she nodded. "Someone did the same thing and it didn't end well."

"How dare you disrespect me in my own house!?!" Jodi was fuming, one more word from the woman and she'd burst.

June paid her no mention, she just stared out the window down at the commotion. "Hmm." June looked around, she watched as the workers marched in and out of the misty dew. "I've never seen a help this important." She grinned. "Lily sure has it good and..." She swung around with a smirk. "Mrs. Beckingham~" She mocked. "~ Where the house is concerned, you really think it's yours? You're like a governor, Jodi... You can give all your love and care and affection, teach them. You can do everything for the children as a mother does but in reality, Jodi... In reality, they'll never really be yours... Like this house." She gazed around.

It took all Jodi had in her to stop herself from lifting a hand at Juniper but unfortunately, it could not stop her. The only thing that could be when she heard a heavy voice say "Hey."

"Well, would you look who it is," June smirked, leaning on the window rail. "Took you long enough." She grinned.

"I'm sorry you had to wait so long." He said.

"William, you know her?" Jodi stood wide-eyed, clenching her teeth. "You wouldn't believe the things she said to me."

"I know, Mother." He fixed his buttons. "because I heard everything."

"Who is she?"

June looked at them both, letting out a psychotic laugh. "Well," She said. "Answer her. I'm sure that'll get the fire going."

"She's Juniper Stalker." He cuffed his shirt, unbothered by the fact that they were at each other's throats. "Isobel's sister."

"Isobel's sister?!" She gasped. "Now wonder she has no manners. That whole family is hasty!"

"Now." June nodded, slipping out a knife and quickly grabbing Jodi Beckingham by the neck. "Don't talk about my sister like that ever again or I will kill you in cold blood."

"Let her go." William sighed. "Please. This isn't the place for such rituals. You came here to talk then talk we shall."

June thought about it, taking a deep breath as she slowly unhinged her fingers from the woman. She allowed her some air before squeezing it a bit more and saying. "I'd much rather be alone, William Beckingham. Your mother might not be able to comprehend the words I speak."

"As you wish. " He gleamed at her, reaching his mother's side. "Are you okay?" He whispered, holding her shoulder.

She rubbed her neck and nodded with a scowl. "Get rid of that tramp, will you?"

"Why must you treat my mother this way, Juniper?" He said, glaring at her.

"Eliza." She groomed the horse with a brush. "I miss horses." She mumbled. "Come on, Will, let's take a ride." She said with a bright blooming smile. "I'll tell you everything you need to know."

"No, June." His stance grew firmer as he made his way up to her. "You'll tell me what I need to know now."

Her hands crept up Will's chest like a spider's legs then she held the back of his neck. "You're really demanding." She gave a shivering whisper. "If you didn't have your mother's eyes, I'd think my Beckingham was right here in front of me." She looked down in despair.

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"Where is he?"

"You and your mother, always trying to stick to him like glue." She groaned.

"Where is he?" He asked once more.

She tiptoed, leaning into his ear. "He's dead." She chuckled, then looked at him again. "Please. You're upset? I was only joking. He's at home with the children." She ran her fingers through his hair, turning his face back to him with a grin. "Oh yes, Will, he has children." She cupped his face. "We are alone, Will. We should discuss other things, other important things."

He loosened her arms from him and walked to an adjoining bar, resting his hands on it.

"I'm going to give you some advice, William... Love is a death trap, all it brings is pain." She made her way over to him. "You see, son, me and your father" She giggled. "We have this-"

"You're using him, Juniper." He sighed, sitting up.

"And he's using me, Will." She walked over to the horse again, caressing its long nose. "It's how the world works. You can be in love but you can never get the one you love. It's Like you and... Lily Fisher."

"What gives that idea?" He said.

"Oh, anyone with a brain can see you love her but, unfortunately, she loves Jacob Dale and Jacob Dale loves her."

"Dale?" He squinted his eyes.

"See, I am telling you everything you need to know." She smirked. "Oh, the Dales." She sang. "I'd love to stick my hands in their trousers. " She got beside him again. "You see, it pays to have friends in high places and it pays to read the newspaper when you hear people talking."

He smirked, holding her chin. "You know something, Juniper Stalker."

"What? You have a plan?" She clenched her teeth in a smile, acting as if she hadn't already foiled it.

"If my heart didn't belong to Isobel, it surely would've been yours." William was quick to cover up the fact that he had something going, the only person who knew his motive was Taylor and he wanted to keep it that way. The last person he'd confess to was Isobel's sister, he could already tell she wasn't right in the head.

"Your flattery can fool everyone else but not me, Will. I'm a sophisticated woman with a sophisticated dream and believe it or not~" She poked his nose. "None of that involves anyone of the Beckinghams. You're a manipulator, Will, you're good at it, and me? Well, I'm just a girl who knows to get under one's skin. Your plans are not going to work. Take that from me."

"You have no idea what I'd do for her." He sighed, having a seat in an old chair at the corner of the room.

"You're a man." She curled her lips, sitting on him. "You have needs, don't you?" She held his chin, kissing his cheek slowly. "I know you, you think that it's going to work but it's not." She rested her head on his chest. "It's not going to work, baby. I know because I was there, I stopped it."

William didn't understand what her words meant. He watched her, strangely, groped on him like a woman in love. "Listen, Isobel loves you. If you let her down then I'll have no choice but to come back here and make your life a living hell."

"That's why you're here, isn't it?" He watched her. "For Isobel?"

"Of course. Let me tell you something, I worked with a French convict once, he told me that spoiled cheese is still cheese." She chuckled. "I said no, spoiled cheese is spoiled cheese. You can't fool anyone by saying it's just cheese. "

"What were you doing with a French convict? Stealing Parmesan?"

"A few of the Queen's collectibles. They were the Queen's and they were collectible but that's a story for another day, I suppose." She grinned, then took a stand. " Pick your fight wisely, otherwise you'll die for something so distant, you won't be able to see it in the end."

"Stop beating around the bush, Juniper. What are you trying to say?" He stared at her, attentively.

June took a minute to think about it, fixed her coat, and walked to the stable door. "Be like me, Will. When you've got a good thing going, it pays to stick to it. So stick to it."

That afternoon, Lily felt nervous. She tugged on the white veil over her head, she took a few steps up the stairs and looked around the church outside. All she had to do was push the doors open, the sun had begun to set, forcing her to enter. She felt the warm hands at her side.

"He'd be proud." Mr. Stalker told her, she nodded, biting her lips. She felt a sudden stare upon opening the door, it was the first time she'd ever heard a rhapsody as beautiful as this one. William told her earlier that he wanted her to have the most perfect day of her life. He even gave the her blue hydrangeas she held as she went down the aisle. She remembered everything he said and she kept it in mind. He was the first man to see her in this white flowing gown, she had just gotten dressed and was struggling to put on her necklace, the one Jacob gave her, the one he kept for her. For only her, Lily was glad Taylor didn't poison it with her touch. William walked in, asking if she needed help she nodded and he got the necklace on without delay.

"Turn around. Let me see, will you?" And she did.

He held her shoulders and watched as she looked at him shyly. "Well, what do you think?"

He gave a weak smile, and a tear almost fell. All he did was pull her head towards him and kissed her forehead. "I'm afraid it's not my question to answer." He watched into the mirror, how he held her and at that moment it burned him that he wasn't the one she was eager to meet at the altar. He knew what he saw in the reflection was what was meant to be and he had little faith in Taylor but he wanted her to get the job done before Lily slipped from his reach forever.

She finally opened her eyes, really open them to look forward to the man in front of her. Ever since he cut his hair, Jacob looked alot more mature than when she first met him. He gave a stern look like a gangster of some sort. He did look like a gangster with the suit he wore, it made his shoulders look broader and he definitely was a lot more serious than ever. She wondered what was going through his head as she looked up at him. Mr. Stalker had finally let her go and he kissed her cheek as he whispered.

"Good luck, Lily girl." And she wanted to cry, she glanced around one last time. It was flustering, just seeing the memorable faces. Even if, her face was hidden she could see every one of them. There was one face she loved seeing, she didn't think he'd come but he did. Peter Fisher. Oh, it would've been great to walk down the aisle with him but she was still grateful for Mr. Stalker. She had to let go now, and now she was staring straight into his eyes. She didn't mind listening to what the Pastor said but in her mind, all that mattered was that she made it.

"Do you take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband?"

"I do." Her tears crept up like a thief in the night, whatever doubts Lily had faded when he lifted the veil, this was where she was meant to be. Her father would agree and, as Mr. Stalker said, he'd be proud. Jacob could only laugh to himself, it felt like a dream. Everything was surreal like a vision, he felt like he was being joshed badly but if it was a joke then it'd be a cruel one. It seemed like minutes had gone by, he was watching all her perfections. How her face was rippled with freckles, how her jade-colored eyes contrasted with the brown smooth varnish she had for skin. He could only imagine the angels she would give him for children. This must've been what his mother was talking about, the satisfaction a fortune teller couldn't provide. The satisfaction of seeing your own future in someone else's eyes, was phenomenal. Nothing could compare to this. Nothing. And with a kiss, they were bound together by one flesh, one marriage, and one love.