Chapter 36 Jake’s POV My whole body ached as I opened my eyes. I tried to move, but a sharp pain shot through my ribs, making each breath feel like a battle. The strong scent of antiseptic filled my nose, and somewhere nearby, a machine beeped softly. For a moment, I forgot where I was. I turned my head slightly and saw Andrea. Her hands were resting against her cheeks, supporting her head as she dozed off. Her fingers twitched slightly, probably from exhaustion. She looked pale and drained. “Hmmm.” I let out a low sigh. “Andrea.” Her head snapped up instantly, her eyes widening in panic as she hurried to my side. “You’re awake,” she breathed out, her voice laced with relief as her eyes scanned me. “Yes, I’m awake. How long did I sleep?” I asked, my voice strained. “Umm… four hours.” “That’s a lot of time. And you’ve been here since then?” My brows furrowed as I studied her. She looked exhausted. “Of course, I was. Where else was I supposed to be?” “Andrea, please go back
Chapter 37Andrea pov I stood in front of the luggage, feeling completely lost. I had no idea which of Jake’s clothes to pick. All of them looked expensive and too formal for someone recovering in a hospital. He’d be wearing a hospital gown most of the time anyway but I still needed to pack something comfortable for him. I finally settled on a few pairs of shorts, some shirts, and his pajamas.After carefully folding them, I placed them neatly into the bag I would be taking to the hospital. Next should be his toiletries. I grabbed his toothbrush, razor, deodorant, and a small bottle of shampoo. Arranging them in a small pouch, I added it to the bag. That should be everything.I moved to my own luggage and picked out a pair of jeans, a few tops, and a jacket. I added my toiletries and a pair of flat shoes—I had no idea how long I’d be staying at the hospital, so I needed to be prepared.As I zipped up my bag, a thought hit me.UnderwearI smacked my forehead. I had almost forgotten m
Chapter 38If Jake was right, who would want to do something this cruel and go as far as taking my life? The answer to that question was far from coming. The only enemy I had was Jason, but taking my life was too brutal. Jason was evil, no doubt, but he wouldn’t go that far… would he?After everything he had done to me, I couldn’t vouch for him. Or did my father have any enemies who didn’t want me in the company? But I was in Seattle, which made it even more surprising. Who would fly all the way from New York to Seattle to kill me? If they wanted me dead, they would have done it while I was still in New York—that would have been easier.My mind was spinning. Maybe it was just an accident. Maybe I was overthinking.“I don’t get it,” I murmured, pressing my fingers against my temples.“Understand what?” Jake asked, snapping me out of my thoughts.“Uhmm…” I hadn’t even realized I had spoken so loudly.Jake narrowed his eyes on me. “Andrea, you look worried. If it’s about what I said conc
Chapter 39It had been two days since I’d been in the hospital with Jake, and I was relieved that he was getting better. The past few days hadn’t been easy, but feeding him, cleaning him up, and assisting him was nothing compared to the pain he was in. Even though he tried to hide it or joke about it, I could see it in his eyes.I glanced at him and noticed how he was lost in thought as he stared out the window.“Are you okay?” I asked. “You’ve been looking outside for a long time. Is something bothering you?”Jake let out a slow sigh. “I can’t stay here anymore.”“Well, you’re not completely healed yet, so we don’t have a choice,” I added“Actually, we do,” he countered. “I can be discharged and finish healing at the hotel. After all, we’re done with business in Seattle, so we can head back to New York.”I blinked. “Wait, hold on—let’s take this one step at a time. Do you want us to go to the hotel or New York?”He exhaled “We can discharge today, go to the hotel, and prepare to lea
Chapter 40Jake pov The ride to the Sinclair estate was quiet. I was still surprised when Andrea’s father asked me to stay with them for a while. I agreed—not because I couldn’t take care of myself, but because I needed Andrea close. I had no doubt that Jason would strike again, and something told me he had a hand in the accident. I needed to keep an eye on her.I glanced at Andrea. She was staring out the window, her fingers tapping restlessly on her lap. Her posture was tense, her expression unreadable. The silence between us wasn’t just comfortable—it was thick, heavy, filled with unspoken words. She wasn’t thrilled about me staying in the house, but she wasn’t fighting it either. I had a feeling she didn't argue because she still felt guilty about the accident. If only she knew—I didn’t blame her at all.The car slowed as we approached the massive Sinclair estate. The towering iron gates opened smoothly, revealing a long, paved driveway lined with trimmed hedges and tall oak tree
Chapter 41Andrea’s POVThe universe had to be playing a trick on me.Every time I tried to put distance between me and Jake, something pulled us back together. I had already spent days with him on the trip, and now we were under the same roof—just a door apart. It felt like a cruel twist of fate.I leaned back against the bed frame, letting out a slow breath as I stared at the ceiling. Maybe I’m just thinking about only myself and not considering Jake.It wasn’t like he had a choice, I reminded myself. None of this was his fault. He was still healing, and I shouldn’t even be complaining about having him around. His injury was because of me.A sharp pang of guilt coiled in my chest. Oh, Andrea. I kicked my foot into the air in frustration. You’re selfish for thinking this way. If his arm wasn’t broken, he wouldn’t even be here. Why was I acting ungrateful?But still… there was something about Jake that made me uneasy.And to make things worse, I still haven’t gotten over the kiss.My
Chapter 42The morning came too soon. I lay on my bed, squeezing my eyes shut. I didn’t feel like getting up today. I buried my face in the pillow thinking about how I could avoid Jake this morning. I knew the moment I stepped out, I would see him. And he was the last person I needed to see right now. Last night’s memory was still fresh in my mind—how was I supposed to look him in the eyes after he had seen me half-naked?“Oh Andrea, I didn’t see anything, if it makes you feel better.” Those were his words last night. Lies. I knew he saw me, so there was no way I would feel better.“Ugh!” I hit my legs against the bed. Should I just pretend I’m sick? No, that would make my parents worried, and Jake would see right through it. He would just tease me about it. So what can I do?My stomach growled a sharp reminder that I had skipped dinner last night. If I skipped breakfast too, my mother would surely ask questions, and I didn’t want them to know about this whole drama with Jake.I grum
Chapter 43“Claire…” I repeated, gripping the phone tighter. My heart pounded in my chest. I needed to be sure I heard correctly the first time.A shaky breath came from the other end. “Andrea? Is it really you?” Claire’s voice trembled.A lump formed in my throat. “Yes, it’s me,” I whispered. A wave of emotions rushed through me—relief, sadness, guilt, and something else I couldn’t quite name.A sharp gasp followed, then a choked sob. “Oh my God… Andrea! It’s you! It’s really you!” Claire’s voice broke as she burst into tears. “Where have you been? I—I thought I lost you forever! I tried everything to find you, but you were just gone! I was so scared something happened to you.”Tears burned my eyes as I pressed the phone closer to my ear. My chest tightened. I was happy to hear her voice, but it broke me to know how much she had suffered because of my disappearance. Unlike the others, Claire had never abandoned me. Even now, she still cared.“I’m sorry, Claire,” I murmured, my voice
Chapter 60Jake’s POVEverything was falling into place.Just yesterday, I felt stuck when Andrea refused my offer, I always had a solution to any problems I faced but yesterday I felt trapped. That was something that hadn’t happened to me in years—I always had a backup plan. But this time, Andrea was my only option. I could have married just any woman to get the inheritance that wouldn’t have been difficult. But that wouldn’t have made an impact on Jason. It wouldn’t have destroyed him.Andrea, though—she was different. The moment she became my wife, Jason would lose his mind. He would hit his head against the wall in frustration. And that was exactly what I wanted.A slow, satisfied feeling spread through my chest.For years, I had watched from the shadows, carefully calculating Jason's every move while he built his empire—an empire made from stolen ideas, greed, and stepping on others to get to the top. Now, it was finally time to crush him. And Andrea, whether she realized it or
Chapter 59“First things first, you know how powerful I am in the elite world,” Jake began, his voice steady, and confident. “Once the setup we are planning to do to make Jason confess about the scandal succeeds and Jason is exposed for his crimes, your dismissal from the board will be revoked. And the moment you marry me, no one will dare challenge your position again—not with my influence backing you. But that’s just a bonus, Andrea.”I wasn’t going to deny it. Jake was well-respected, not just in my company but across the entire country. His influence stretched far and wide, even more than Jason’s. That was a known fact.“Okay. What else?” I prompted.Jake bent in slightly, his gaze locked onto mine. “Andrea, you told me you wanted Jason to lose everything that was dearest to him. That inheritance isn’t just any small money—its worth is a combination of both my wealth and Jason’s. You know how greedy he gets when it comes to power and money. Now, imagine how he’ll feel when he real
Chapter 58“The night is still young, Andrea. Let’s not jump straight into business,” Jake said smoothly. “Let’s order something first before we start talking.”I crossed my arms, my voice flat. “I didn’t come here to sip drinks, Jake. Can we just get this done with?”His lips twitched in amusement, but he remained relaxed. “Calm down, Andrea. Like I said, we have plenty of time.” He signaled to the waiter.A young man stepped forward, pulling out a notepad from his apron. “Good evening, sir. Good evening, ma. What can I get for you both?”“I’ll have a whiskey,” Jake said.I glanced around the lounge, taking in the quiet atmosphere. Once again, it was just the two of us, alone, just like when we met in that café.“What are you getting?” Jake asked, turning to me.“Just water is fine,” I replied.He smirked as if he expected that answer. “She’ll have water,” he told the waiter.I watched him carefully. “Did you book the entire lounge just like you did with the café?”“Yeah, I did.” He
Chapter 57Andrea’s POVIt was a done deal. I had agreed to marry Jake—there was no taking it back now, I reminded myself as I walked out of his office.When I entered my office, I headed straight to the window. The press was still gathered outside. It was the second day of the scandal, and the media frenzy had yet to die down. But it would—soon—if Jake and I executed our plan correctly.I let out a sharp breath, my hands trembling at my sides. I clenched them into fists, forcing the shaking to stop.I wasn’t nervous. No—I couldn’t afford to be. This was my decision.But was marrying Jake truly the right choice? Doubt crept into my mind, but I refused to let it consume me. If marrying Jake was what it took to bring Jason down, then I would do it hundred a times over. After all, it was just a contract marriage. Once Jason was ruined, Jake and I would go our separate ways.Jason saw me as weak—a pawn in his game. He laughed at me and dismissed my words as empty threats.I had never wan
Chapter 56Jake pov “Andrea, you need to calm down. This is not a decision you should make rashly. Right now, you don’t look like yourself. What went wrong?” I asked, watching her closely.“I am calm, Jake,” she shot back.But she wasn’t. Her hands were clenched at her sides, her breathing was shallow, and I could hear how loudly her heart was pounding.I hadn’t expected this—Andrea storming into my office, her entire body vibrating with anger, and most surprising of all, her suddenly accepting my proposal. Just moments ago, she had walked out of her office looking completely uninterested in me. What had changed her mind so quickly? Something had to have happened. This wasn’t just a sudden change of heart.“Andrea, this doesn’t look calm to me. Come and sit down,” I said, motioning toward the chair across from my desk.“I don’t want to sit down right now. Just answer me.”I exhaled and pushed off my desk, crossing my arms as I studied her.“Are you sure you’re not saying this becaus
Chapter 55Andrea pov That was awkward.Jake didn’t even look at me.I was expecting him to still be in the house this morning so we could go to work together like we had been doing since he started staying there. I was surprised when I finished preparing for work and was waiting for him downstairs, only for my mom to tell me he had left. I checked the time and saw it was 7 a.m. I wondered why he would have left so early—just like that. No text, no call, nothing.It didn’t bother me, though. It’s not like I wanted him around. I just wanted to be sure his hand was doing okay. Was that true, or was it just another excuse I was telling myself? I don’t care if he left without telling me.But seeing him in front of me this morning… he looked different.The normal Jake always wore a teasing smile, said something sarcastic, and teased me just to get a reaction out of me.But this Jake…Was nothing like that. It was as if he had turned into another human being overnight. He looked distant.M
Chapter 54Jake’s POVI lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling. It was late, but sleep refused to come. My mind kept replaying my conversation with Andrea, over and over again.It sure didn’t end the way I wanted.I had my hopes high for nothing.I thought she was tired of Jason’s actions. When her father told me to take her home, I saw it as the perfect chance to strike. And for a moment, I thought it worked.When I told her everything Jason and his family did to me, I saw it in her eyes—that spark of understanding, the realization that she wasn’t the only one that the family had tried to destroy. She had a fire in her. She looked like she was finally ready for revenge.I was relieved. Excited, even though I didn’t show it.But my happiness was short-lived. She declined my proposal.I didn’t expect her to agree immediately, but at the very least, I thought she would ask for time to think about it. Instead, she shut the idea out completely.Maybe I was wrong. Maybe she didn’t want reve
Chapter 53“You’re joking, right?”I looked at Jake, struggling to wrap my head around what he had just said.“Andrea, you know there’s no way I would joke about something as serious as this. I’m serious.” His tone left no room for doubt. “Are you sure you’re not on drugs? And why on earth should I marry you, Jake? It doesn’t even make sense—now that it’s coming from my mouth, it sounds even more ridiculous!”Jake leaned back slightly. “First, let me explain. This isn’t a real marriage, Andrea. It’s a contract marriage—strictly for revenge. Nothing else. We can agree on a time frame, and once that time is up, we both go our separate ways.”I stared at him, stunned. “Marrying you? That’s your big plan for revenge? Jake, that’s insane. You know what? I don’t even want to hear any more of this. Just start the car and take me home.”“Andrea, but I—”“Jake, please,” I interrupted, rubbing my temples. “I don’t want to talk about this anymore. How can you even say that? I just divorced Jaso
Chapter 52“Jason is one disgusting, greedy snake!” I spat, shaking my head in disbelief. “How could he do that? Not just to anyone, but to his own brother? He stole your hard work, your sweat, your ideas—and made it look like his own! That is just… sickening.” My stomach twisted with rage. Every day, I realized more and more that I never truly knew the man I had once married.I turned to Jake, watching as his eyes still burned with fury. He was calming down, but I could tell the anger still steamed beneath the surface.“You know,” I continued, “I always asked Jason why he suddenly switched from engineering to wanting to own a tech company. But he never gave me a straight answer. He was always dodging the question, making up excuses.”Jake let out a humorless chuckle. “Did you expect him to tell you the truth?”I hesitated. “Well, no… but why didn’t you fight back? You shouldn’t have just let him get away with it. You should have exposed him to the public!”Jake suddenly burst into l