Chapter 27Jake’s POVWhen I first heard about this trip, I saw it as an opportunity to get close to Andrea and make her trust me. She had been avoiding me for the past week. I didn’t know if she thought I hadn’t noticed, but I saw how she looked away the moment she caught sight of me and how she always hurried out of the room whenever I entered. She was trying to build a wall around herself, and I would try my best to break it. This trip would change that.I had woken up before her. I turned and saw that she was still sleeping; she had crossed the pillow boundary she placed between us on the bed. Her long hair spread out over the pillow. The tension from last night had melted away in sleep, leaving her looking peaceful—and vulnerable. My mind went back to yesterday, to how angry she was when she realized we were sharing a room.The moment I heard the receptionist say there was only one room available, I knew Andrea was going to lose it. I could see her face burning with anger. I wasn
Andrea’s POVChapter 28As I sat in the car, being driven back to the hotel with Jake, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of excitement. A slow smile crept onto my lips.The meeting had gone well—better than I had expected. I had been nervous at first since it was my first time meeting foreign investors, and I didn’t want to make any mistakes. But my father had trusted me to handle it, and I was glad I didn’t mess it up.Even Jake seemed pleased with my performance. Not that I cared what he thought, but his words—“You did well”—felt like a genuine compliment to my efforts.Jake had been quiet since we got in the car. I turned to glance at him and saw that he was focused on his phone. I guess even Jake has quiet moments.I shifted my eyes to the window and frowned. Something felt off. The route wasn’t familiar. The buildings outside were different, and the street signs were ones I didn’t recognize. A nagging uneasiness crawled up my spine. This wasn’t the way back.I had always been good
Chapter 29Every step Jason took toward me felt like a stab in my heart. This had to be a dream. Of all the places in the world, why did he have to be here? I could barely breathe. It felt as if time had stopped, trapping me in a moment I desperately wanted to escape. The soft music playing in the background, the murmurs of people chatting beside me—all of it faded into nothing.I could see nobody but Jason right now.My head was spinning. I was not ready to face him. I wasn’t prepared for what was happening. What was I supposed to do? I had tried my best to bury every memory of him, but here he was, walking toward me, smirking like he still had control over my life.A suffocating pressure wrapped around my chest. My fingers curled against my dress, my entire body on the verge of shaking. I felt like I was about to pass out. My heart pounded so loudly that I was sure Jake could hear it.“Andrea.”Jake’s voice was calm and steady. He reached for my hand, gripping it firmly, trying to s
Chapter 30Jason’s POVI didn’t hear a single word the man beside me was saying—my whole focus was on Andrea. I sure wasn’t expecting what I got tonight. When I caught sight of her, at first, I couldn’t believe my eyes. I had been turning the city down searching for her, but never in a million years did I think I would meet her at this event.I had just walked away from her, but my blood was still hot from our conversation. I could still see the fire in her eyes, hear the sharp edge in her voice, and the way she dared to speak to me like I was beneath her. She was nothing like the woman I had once crushed under my heel.That wasn’t the Andrea I had left behind.The Andrea I knew had been weak, desperate to please me, willing to crawl if it meant earning my approval. The Andrea I had discarded should have been nothing more than a broken shell, a shadow of the woman she once was.My body was still filled with so much rage. The anger in me was enough to burn this room down.Andrea betray
Chapter 31Andrea pov I had thought of different ways I would confront Jason when I finally met him.Every morning, I stood in front of my bathroom mirror, staring at my reflection, practicing how I would handle Jason. I imagined myself standing tall, my voice steady, my words cutting through him like a blade. Sometimes, in my mind, I would smirk as I watched the realization dawn in his eyes—that he should never have underestimated me.But tonight…Tonight had been nothing like that.The moment our eyes met, my breath caught in my throat. My body trembled, and everything I had practiced vanished from my mind. To think that I had almost let my fear control me, that I had been on the verge of running away—if not for Jake, who had spoken sense into me.I just wanted to get to my room, have a drink, and get some sleep. I was exhausted from the whole drama that had unfolded tonight.I swallowed hard, pressing the elevator button with more force than necessary. A hollow feeling curled in m
Jake’s POVChapter 32Her lips were on mine.Soft. Warm. Hesitant.For a second, my entire world stopped.Deep down, I knew this was wrong. I knew we shouldn’t be doing this. But I felt trapped, caught in a moment I hadn’t seen coming.Andrea’s hands clung to my shirt at first, but then she slowly moved them, sliding up to the back of my head. Her fingers curled into my hair, caressing it softly. I heard the faintest sound—a low, breathy moan escaping her lips.My body betrayed me.I wasn’t supposed to let this happen.I wasn’t supposed to want it.But I did.Just as I felt myself sinking deeper, reality crashed down on me like a violent wave.What am I doing?This wasn’t supposed to happen.Andrea wasn’t in the right state of mind.I was taking advantage of her vulnerability. It didn’t matter that she kissed me first—she had been drinking, she was hurting, and I should have stopped it the moment her lips touched mine.This isn’t about me. This isn’t about what I want.I forced myself
Chapter 33Andrea’s POVThe room was unbearably silent after my conversation with Jake.I had thought that talking to him about last night would make me feel better, but embarrassment, anger, and frustration still boiled inside me.My drunken state wasn’t an excuse for my behavior. I still didn’t know why I had let my emotions get the best of me. What I did was reckless.When I first woke up, for a brief, blissful moment, I had forgotten the mess I made.I reeked of alcohol, my head pounding like a drum. I remembered walking into the bar, just to get a few drinks. I remembered Jake showing up, his expression unreadable as he approached me.And then—nothing.A blank space.I stood up to brush my teeth and take a nice bath, but as I glanced at Jake—sleeping peacefully—the flashbacks came flooding in.My heart sank.I felt my knees go weak, and I just dropped flat on the floor.How could I have let this happen?How could I be so stupid?I squeezed my eyes shut, but it was useless—the fla
Chapter 34“I’m bored,” I muttered to myself, stretching my legs out on the couch.Since Jake left in the morning, I had done nothing but drown in my thoughts. The hours dragged on, each one stretching endlessly as I replayed everything I shouldn’t be thinking about.The room felt empty. Too empty. I wasn’t fond of having Jake around, but without him, there was a strange silence that made the space feel even bigger than it was. I sighed, shaking my head. What am I even thinking?I threw my head back against the couch, exhaling loudly. Just lying here was tiring. I needed something—anything—to pull me away from this endless cycle of thoughts.Grabbing my phone, I started scrolling through random pages, but nothing held my interest. Then, something hit me—I hadn’t received any of those cryptic messages lately. I had been so busy that I hadn’t even noticed. My brows furrowed. Maybe the good-for-nothing bastard finally decided to stop messing with me.I tossed my phone onto the table and
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