THE NEXT few days passed like a blur. His suspicion towards Eionn continued to grow even more, making him feel such unwanted feelings that engulfed not just his mind, but especially his chest.Eionn and Michelle were practically friends. Even though Ethan was trying to distance Michelle by giving her tasks outside his office, he just couldn’t stop the two from talking whenever they had a chance. Sure, it was nothing but pure friendship for Michelle, but the way he observed Eionn, he was convinced that the man didn’t just see her as a friend back in college. That, more than any other, angered him secretly.The worst part was, he could not call Michelle out. She wasn’t doing anything bad. Her intention—which was friendship—was so pure and he could see it clearly.And so he decided to confront the real problem.Eionn Jackson..."I don’t like the way you stare at my wife, Mr. Jackson," he said straight over lunch in a nearby restaurant.Eionn, who was about to taste his pasta, stopped mid
"WHAT THE HELL, Mich?"Ethan had finally stopped the car. The rain was still pouring hard, and he could not figure out why Michelle acted so weird only because he chose not to answer her question.Sure, he was damn jealous...extremely jealous of the fact that Eionn Jackson could make her smile without any sweat. He could not help but compare himself to an old friend of hers who could make her eyes spark whenever they reminisced about great memories in the past. He was damned jealous of the fact that Eionn could get her attention whenever he talked.And yet, when it came to him, Michelle remained distant, could only offer him a thin smile, and paid him little attention...Ethan knew he did not have any told you to feel that way. Apart from being a contract husband, he was never a kind man towards Michelle. But now that there was a man who came from her past, and was deeply in love with her, Ethan felt suddenly possessive of his wife.Surely, he would have told that. But he couldn’t fin
THE PAIN in Michelle’s heart was excruciating. Her outburst was unexpected, humiliating, but she could no longer take it all back.Amidst of walking, and crying under the rain, a warm hand held her hand, squeezing her palm. Her lips quivered as she came to a halt, turned around only to see Ethan once again. It became even more painful, seeing the soft expression on his face.“I told you to go,” Michelle said coldly.Ethan shook his head, and that made her even more miserable. Her entire being ached so much. She gasped when he pulled her closer, engulfing her in an unexpected hug. He wrapped his arm around her so tight, as if he was afraid to let her go.Michelle was not able to move. They stayed in that position for a while, and all she could hear was the loud beating of her heart inside... no, there was another heartbeat. Was it his?Insane, she told herself. Absolutely insane. There was no way Ethan’s heart would react that way over a mere hug. She tried to push him, but he hugged h
IT FELT surreal...Michelle’s mind was still haywire. She could not believe that Ethan confess that he loved her.After all those years of hoping that her feelings would be returned, it seemed that fate had finally listened to her. It felt like a dream for Michelle. To hear those precious words of assurance from Ethan was something that completed her life, not just as a woman but as a mother for Marsha.And now that their feelings for each other were clear as the blue sky, Michelle would do everything to protect her family; not just Marsha. This time, Ethan too.“Dry your hair,” Michelle said, holding a towel on her hand and giving it to Ethan who sat down on the edge of their bed. “You are going to be sick.”“No, my immune system is good,” he responded, glancing up at her with a smile.They were both done taking a shower after picking up Marsha from Ethan’s parents. Their daughter even wondered why were they soaking wet, and if it was fun to play under the rain. Michelle could not he
IT WAS ONLY an hour or so before Michelle could clock out in the office. She was busy scanning through some documents that Ethan needed after lunch when the office door swung open. Eionn entered the office, and his eyes immediately found hers.“Eionn.” She stood up and immediately walked towards him. “Uhm, what brings you here? Ethan is still in a meeting with the board.”She looked at Eionn, who looked a bit messy, which made her curious. He seemed like he had not gotten some sleep for days...and had been drinking as he smelled reek of alcohol.“I need to talk to him.” Eionn rubbed his forehead, totally stressed out, and then he cursed. “Your husband, I swear I’m going to kill—urgh!”Michelle didn’t like what she heard from Eionn. She stepped back, and gave him a glare.“I do not know what exactly happened between the two of you but please be careful with your words, Eionn. Are you saying you’re going to kill my husband? Why? What did he do for you to say that?” she fired at him in f
"NOTHING bad will happen. You can calm down, Michelle."However, regardless of the soothing words from Ethan, the anxiety rushed through her, and she could feel the beads of sweat on her temple.What happened in the office was so traumatizing that Michelle could not stop thinking that Eionn would do anything to hurt her family, and it frustrated her that she could not do much other than listen to her husband, who promised to take care of him at all cost.They went home after the incident. Michelle had no strength to work after almost getting kidnapped by the man who used to be her friend. She would still feel the goose bumps crawling over her skin every time she recalled the way Eionn talked and stared at her. It wasn’t normal."He said you canceled the project. Why?" She turned to Ethan.Ethan rubbed his forehead and then sighed. "I found out he’s been getting a cut of the project funds and sending it to a personal bank account. I don’t want to work with someone who does illegal stuf
IT WAS almost midnight, yet Michelle could hardly sleep.She hoped that her body would calm down, so she prepared the hot tub so she could take a dip, with a glass of wine on the little table next to it. She poured the hot water and the sweet-scented bath gel onto it, then dipped into the water and relaxed her mind.While sipping on the wine glass, Ethan entered the bathroom and glanced her way."Having a good time?" he asked, smiling.Michelle smiled. "Uh-huh... The hot water makes me relax."She could feel the heat on her cheeks, not because her husband was gawking at her as her naked body was covered by bubbles, but because of the wine and the heat engulfing her.Ethan walked towards her and sat on the rail of the bath tub."Is there something else I can do so your mind will be at ease?"Michelle stared up at him and smiled playfully afterward."How about you take off your clothes and join me?" Michelle arched her eyebrow.Ethan then stood up straight without breaking their eye con
"I DON'T understand why the cops don’t do their job well." Ethan gritted his teeth, tossed his phone on the desk, and stood up as he loosened his necktie.He just got a report from one of his men that Eionn Jackson was released after paying a huge amount of bail. That enraged Ethan. How could the authorities let that fucker be released? He attempted to kidnap his wife!"Ethan," Michelle called to him, walking in his direction and patting his back to soothe him. "I’m sure Eionn will no longer come here. He should have learned his lesson by now. I think we can let him be.""Let him be?" Ethan winced, his forehead creasing as he turned to his wife. "No, Michelle. I can’t let him out there unscathed after what he did. Who knows? He must be up to something," he said. His voice sounded irritated.Michelle did not say a word. She took a deep breath, trying so hard not to consider the possibility that Eionn might be up to something. It was making her anxious. She wanted to give him the benefi