CHAPTER 40Jane’s breath caught in her throat as realization dawned on her. This man was a doctor, and whatever news he brought was clearly grave. She turned to Caleb, whose face had gone even paler.“Jane,” Caleb said, his voice strained, “could you fetch my water bottle from my bedroom?”Jane hesitated, sensing there was more to this than met the eye. “Of course,” she replied, trying to keep her voice steady. She took a long look at the man who seemed to be the harbinger of bad news, then to Caleb whose face was expressionless before lowering her head. She made her way upstairs, her mind racing with questions. What could the doctor’s news possibly be? Why was Caleb so terrified? She entered Caleb’s bedroom, her eyes immediately spotting his water bottle on the bedside chest.As she grabbed it, a noise made her pause. She glanced down and saw something glinting in the low light. Bending down, she picked up a black necklace with the engraved words “medical alert.”She stared blankly
CHAPTER 41Jane was swamped at the office, feeling the weight of Caleb’s absence. She had left before him at home only to receive a text message from him that he wouldn’t be coming to work. She tried not to think too much about him and the whole incident that occurred yesterday while she tried to bury her head under an avalanche of paperwork. Documents needed sorting, phone calls needed answering, and she had to relay important information to Caleb.Mondays were definitely not one of her favorites. Why did people have to work? Couldn’t she get paid just for being smart and funny?She felt sick and irritated; the meal she had that morning hadn't sat well in her stomach. She was also worried about Caleb; she hadn’t seen him since his encounter with the doctor, and his room had been eerily quiet.She sat at her desk, sorting through a stack of documents. The landline buzzed incessantly, each ring adding to her mounting frustration. She sighed and picked up the receiver, trying to sound
Chapter 42Jane's heart pounded in her chest as she stood in the doorway, staring at Stella lounging on Caleb's bed. “Where is Caleb?”“He's washing,” Stella said and sluggishly stepped out of bed, yawning as if tired and began to gather her things from the floor. “I'm sorry you had to see this, Jane. I wasn't expecting you back this early.”Jane felt her blood boil. She didn't know which pissed her o the most, the supposed things they must have done together or Caleb's illness.As if on cue, Caleb walked out from the bathroom wearing a robe, his wet hair falling into his eyes. He froze on the spot when he saw Jane. “You're back.”Then he turned to Stella and frowned, “You’re still here? And why are you putting on my pyjamas?!”Jane’s voice was cold. "Ask Stella to leave, I want to have a word with you." Stella, who was trying to slip into her heels, scoed and looked at Caleb. "She can't be serious.”Jane’s voice rose. "Give us privacy, Stella. Now."Stella glanced at Caleb, who f
Chapter 43Jane sat at the bar, nursing a glass of whiskey. The loud, pulsating music did little to drown out the chaotic swirl of thoughts in her mind.She usually avoided bars, seeing them as refuges for the broken-hearted and desperate, but tonight, she fit right in. The last time she had been to a bar was when she was going through the divorce process with her ex-husband, Marcus. And here she was again.She took another sip, her eyes wandering around the dimly lit room, observing the clusters of people laughing, drinking, and dancing.She sighed and drew her scarf lower, to hide her face. The confrontation with Caleb replayed in her mind, his harsh words cutting deeper than she cared to admit.She took another sip, hoping the alcohol would dull the pain, but it only seemed to amplify her frustration.Suddenly, she felt an arm snake around her waist. She stiffened, her hand instinctively clutching her drink tighter."Hey, pretty girl," a man slurred in her ear, his breath reeking o
Chapter 44The next morning, Jane arrived at the office earlier than usual, determined to keep herself busy and avoid any thoughts of Caleb.She tried to focus on her work, but the tension from the previous night lingered, gnawing at her insides. As she typed away at her computer, she heard Caleb’s familiar footsteps approaching. Her pulse quickened, and she kept her eyes fixed on the screen, refusing to acknowledge him. “Good morning boss.”“Good morning, Jane,” Caleb said, his tone light and almost cheerful, a smug smile curved around his lips.Jane ignored him, her fingers moving faster over the keyboard. She couldn’t afford to let him see how much his presence affected her. Caleb leaned against her desk, his presence impossible to ignore. “Avoiding me won’t make you stop having feelings for me, Jane. It all seems cute though” She finally looked up, her eyes flashing with irritation. “I’m not avoiding you. I’m just busy.”He raised an eyebrow, a smirk playing on his lips. “Busy
CHAPTER 45Jane’s eyes sparkled with defiance. "I’m not playing games. I’m just trying to survive this ridiculous situation we’re in."Caleb’s smile faded slightly, a more serious look crossing his face. "I know it’s not easy. But you handle it better than anyone else could.""Flattery will get you nowhere," she said, though she felt a warmth spread through her at his words."It’s not flattery," Caleb insisted. "It's the truth."Jane sighed, the weight of their situation pressing down on her again."Why are you doing this, Caleb? Why do you keep trying to get under my skin?" "Because you fascinate me," he said simply. "And because I think you feel the same way about me."Jane’s heart skipped a beat, but she kept her expression neutral. "Don’t flatter yourself.""It’s not flattery," he repeated. "Just an observation."She shook her head, standing up to put some distance between them. "You’re impossible."Caleb followed her, not willing to let her escape. "And you’re avoiding the quest
Chapter 46Jane's cheeks flushed with embarrassment, and she tried to move away, but Caleb’s grip on her waist tightened. “I’m not done yet,” he said, his voice low and serious. “I still want more.”Jane turned her face away, her heart pounding. “I’m done, Caleb. Let go.”He chuckled softly, but his eyes were intense. “You didn’t lie when you said you were only using me.”She shrugged, feeling a mix of frustration and confusion. Almost immediately Caleb’s playful demeanor shifted to something more serious. “Do you really want a divorce?”Jane swallowed hard, avoiding his gaze. “No,” she admitted quietly. Caleb’s eyebrows lifted in surprise. “Were you threatening me last night? Because if you were, it would be kind of sexy.”She frowned, her frustration bubbling to the surface. “Does my anger intrigue you?”A slow smile spread across his face. “I like how smart-mouthed you are.”Jane shook her head, trying to keep her emotions in check. “Just to clear the air, I’m not in love with yo
Chapter 47Weeks later, Jane was lounging in her bedroom, half-watching a movie on her laptop. The film's plot was barely registering; her mind was a swirl of thoughts about the recent unsettling events. Her phone dinged, pulling her attention away from the screen. She picked it up and saw an email with the header: "The Robert's Quinquennial Family Reunion." Her heart skipped a beat as she sat up almost frantically. She reread the heading to ensure she wasn’t imagining things and when she was sure, she sighed and opened the email, her hands trembling slightly as she read:From: The Robert's Family Reunion CommitteeTo: Renesmeé RobertsSubject: Invitation to The Robert's Quinquennial Family Reunion Dear Renesmeé,We are pleased to invite you to the Robert's Quinquennial Family Reunion. This special event will take place on Saturday, August 5th, at the Robert family estate in Houston, Texas.Join us for a day of reconnecting with family, reminiscing about cherished memories, and cel