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
Chapter 50Jane and Caleb heard the news that Dragon Corporation was going to launch their latest project, and the buzz was unavoidable. Jane made it her duty to stalk their page, and she also convinced Caleb to register with their link so they could get notified when the launch went live.Over the past weeks, many companies had released new innovations, but none had come as close to the project Jane had been working on under wraps.Jane felt her heart sink as she realized the severity of the situation. She needed confirmation, so she convinced Caleb to watch the live stream of the launch.“Will you calm down?” Caleb asked. “You can't even be so sure it's the same project.”“There's only one way to find out, Caleb,” Jane said as she stared at her watch.The notification finally came, and Jane quickly moved to Caleb's desk.“Right about time. Can we make use of your system? Mine's not connecting to the browser.” Caleb sat upright, eyes fixed on the screen, while Jane leaned in close, h
Chapter 51Marcus and Abigail sat at the center of a bustling restaurant, surrounded by a few close friends and colleagues. The air was full of lively chatter and their laughter was drowned by the music.The clinking of glasses and lively chatter filled the air as they celebrated the successful launch of Dragon Corporation's new AI project. The celebration was in full swing, and the mood was jubilant."To Marcus and Abigail!" one of their friends toasted, raising his glass high. "For bouncing back stronger than ever!”Everyone raised their glasses, and the room echoed with cheers and applause. Marcus smiled, his arm around Abigail, who was beaming with pride."Thank you, everyone," Marcus said, his voice carrying the confidence of a man who had just pulled off a remarkable feat. "This success is proof of our hard work and resilience. We couldn't have done it without all of you.” More compliments and praises followed, each one adding to the euphoria of the moment. People congratulated
CHAPTER 52Abigail stood silent for a long time, and the silence only fueled Marcus's anger the more."Tell me!" Marcus demanded with a loud voice, making Abigail cringe.She had never for once imagined that this day would come, not after the amazing night that they had just had.."M-marcus.. darling.. I was going to tell you soon, of course I was," she stuttered and tried to force out a smile. "It's a little issue, you know, we can talk it out.""Good thing that's what I'm here for then," Marcus replied coldly and folded his large arms.Abigail inhaled deeply and realized that instant that Marcus was going nowhere and she would have to speak whether she liked it or not."It's not what you think, Marcus," she finally said with a sigh."Really? Because what I think is that you don't find me worthy enough to father your child, our child...""No no no, Marcus, of course that's not it! I love you so much it's just...""Just what?!" Marcus cut in impatiently, his forehead creasing deeply.