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
Chapter 48The house was adorned with decorations. As Jane reached the gates of the grand Robert estate, the security guard stepped forward, his expression impassive. "Invitation, please," he said, holding out his hand.She showed them the email on her phone. They verified it before announcing her name over the hall. Jane's legs wobbled, and her hands trembled as she was led to the family table.The room was filled with guests, and Jane spotted many distant relatives who didn’t seem pleased to see her. She saw some of them were with children and the cousins she knew that were little were all grown up.“How time flies so fast,” she thought. She heard Abigail's snide remark, "She finally rolls in. Who knew the prodigal daughter would appear here?”Jane took her seat, which was unfortunately next to Abigail. People began whispering, "That's Lockwood's wife," They whispered but she ignored them. Of course, they must have been the news.Jane faked pleasantries, silently praying for the g
Chapter 49Jane lay in bed, staring at the ceiling. The day felt like a double-edged sword, offering both respite and a chance to sink deeper into her thoughts. She had asked Caleb for permission to take the day off, and he had granted it without hesitation, instructing the maids to tend to her every need. But Jane found herself unable to leave her bed, surrounded by memories of her father and haunted by the memorial. Or reunion as they had tagged it.She picked up her phone and scrolled through pictures of her father, his warm smile and gentle eyes staring back at her. She wondered how long Abigail had known about his death and why she hadn't mentioned it. Burying her face in her pillow, Jane let the tears flow freely.A soft knock interrupted her thoughts, but she didn't bother to ask who it was. She knew the way Caleb knocked. She heaved a heavy breath and managed to croak out, "Come in.”Caleb entered, looking stressed. His eyes softened when he saw her disheveled state. "Hey," h