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Chapter TwoHundredEighteen

Author: Tory June
last update Last Updated: 2024-12-13 20:25:05

Stephanie's calmness wavered briefly, and her startled eyes widened before snapping back to their frigid expression.

Snatching the phone out of Avalynn's hand, Jace's eyes narrowed as he studied the image on the screen. His pulse skipped a beat. "What's this?"

"That's nothing," Stephanie murmured, her voice becoming smooth as she withdrew the phone from Jace's grasp. "That picture is outdated. I was developing a fresh plan of attack against the Ryders, but I was concerned that if I disclosed the facts to anyone, they might be revealed.”

Avalynn spat and was angry, reddening her face. "That is untrue! Stephanie, I saw the file at your office. I am aware of its contents.

With a chilly intensity, Stephanie met Avalynn with her steely stare.

Yes, you did see a file in my office, but you were misinformed about what you were seeing. As soon as I learned you had seen it, I had to alter our plan so the Ryders would not know what we were up to.

Jace's brow knitted as his eyes shifted between
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  • THE CEO'S HIRED WIFE    Chapter TwoHundredNineteen

    As Avalynn walked and carried her box into the boot of her car, her heart weighed heavily. The weight of her box served as an obtrusive reminder of the events that had just happened, and the sound of her sneakers resonated through the deserted parking lot. Never before had she felt so alone and deceived.Avalynn's hand trembled as the metal of her unlocked car's trunk clanged loudly when it touched the ground.She shook her head, as though trying to clear her mind of the veil that had surrounded them.Was this actually happening? Had Jace truly abandoned her, favoring Stephanie over her?She muttered to herself, "No," with a tone of denial. "No, this is not possible. He wouldn't treat me that way.With her hand still holding onto the box, Avalynn released a deep, tremulous breath and gazed into the night. Was she having a dream?It hurts terribly, really badly. Her main goals were to save him and to assist. Why? She was having trouble finding the answers to these questions, but sh

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  • THE CEO'S HIRED WIFE    Chapter Twenty

    Jace thought to himself, "Avalynn's not here," as his heartbeat quickened. She is no longer there. Avalynn has left. He pivoted to face the kitchen. "Alice! Alice!" With every phrase, his once-quiet voice became more and more frightened, desperation seeping like a dark shadow into his tone."Alice!" Jace yelled once more, hurrying into the kitchen with increasingly heavy footsteps. "Avalynn, have you seen her? She isn't in her chamber. She is not present anywhere.Alice whirled around at the sound of Jace's voice, her hands still firmly grasping the countertop where she had been kneading the dough for supper that evening. "Miss Avalynn is gone, sir," she stated quietly but firmly to Mr. Malvis. She departed this afternoon. I watched her walk away.As Jace took in Alice's comments, his face turned pale and his cheeks began to lose blood. "Away?" he said again, his voice almost audible above a whisper.Alice said, "Yes, sir," with anxiety in her voice. "When she departed, sir, she was

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  • THE CEO'S HIRED WIFE    Chapter TwoHudredTwentyOne

    Stephanie paced the length of her room, her footsteps barely making a sound on the plush carpet. The argument with Jace still echoed in her mind, each harsh word replaying like a broken record. She had told herself she was over him, that she had moved on from the naive girl who once believed Jace Malvis loved her. But tonight, the barriers she had erected around her heart had begun to crumble under his rage and determination to find Avalynn."What keeps me from contacting him?" Stephanie's hands trembled as she put them to her temples, whispering to herself. She had believed that these emotions were hidden beneath a thick layer of determination and a fierce drive to achieve her just desserts. However, the hurt he felt when he stared at Avalynn with nothing but contempt and the jealousy that erupted when Jace mentioned her name suggested a different narrative.Stephanie ceased her pacing as she saw herself in the mirror on the opposite wall. With her makeup looking impeccable and

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  • THE CEO'S HIRED WIFE    Chapter TwoHudredTwentyTwo

    With her mind racing, Stephanie's hand trembled as she grabbed for the doorknob. After their recent dispute, the last thing she needed was to have another altercation with Jace. The memory of Ryder's ultimatum rushed across her head, pressing like a vice against her chest. However, she couldn't stay away from Jace indefinitely, especially while she was attempting to win his favor again. She forced herself to inhale a reassuring breath, then turned the handle and let the door open.Jace was just standing there, looking guarded and frustrated at the same time. She was taken aback by the spark of emotion beneath his tired and set eyes and jaw. Stephanie felt her heart race because there was a sliver of vulnerability, a breach in his normally icy exterior despite the tension between them. "What is it that you want?" Her question sounded more direct than she meant to."We must have a conversation," Jace shot back, shoving her aside and entering the room without waiting for permissio

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  • THE CEO'S HIRED WIFE    Chapter TwoHundredTwentyThree

    Jace felt a heavy feeling in the air as he moved through the hospital's sterile hallways. The muted colors and distant beeping of machinery added to the atmosphere. His mind was a jumbled, disorganized mess of regret, rage, and uncertainty. There was a bad taste in his mouth from the chat he had with Stephanie last night. The aching void where Avalynn used to be only got stronger despite his best efforts to keep his attention on his task.Jace ignored those ideas and rounded a corner to enter his grandfather's room. The elderly man was sitting up straight in bed, his cheeks starting to redden again. Seeing him appear stronger and more like his former self was a relief. Jace's worry of losing the one family he still had has been a persistent shadow in his life for the past few weeks.As he entered, Jace forced a smile and said, "Hey, Gramps."His grandfather chuckled harshly and wrinkled his eyes, saying, "About time you showed up." "I thought you might have forgotten about me."

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  • THE CEO'S HIRED WIFE    Chapter TwoHundredTwentyFour

    The tension in the office was obvious, thick enough to cut with a knife. Although Jace's office was filled with large windows that provided an amazing view of the city, the atmosphere inside was everything but calm. It had the feeling of a storm building below the surface, ready to burst at any time.Stephanie gripped the edge of her notepad as she stood at the edge of the room, her fingers quivering a little. Her eyes strayed to Jace, who was sitting at his desk with his hands clutching the sides of his chair as though he was trying to hang on. The silence in the room was abnormal, the kind that made your heart pound harder behind your ears."It was lost on us." The stillness was broken by Elizabeth's voice, which had a tone that was both desperate and incredulous. Lexins accompanied the Ryders. An hour ago, they signed the agreement.The words reverberated throughout the room, striking Jace like a tsunami. Everything he had worked so hard to build was on the verge of collapsing

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  • THE CEO'S HIRED WIFE    Chapter TwoHundredTwentyFive

    "But wait, did Jace make any attempt to get in touch with you? Like texting or calling?” Lisa leaned closer, her face furrowed in anxiety, her words gentle but firm. Seated in Lisa's comfortable living room, the space was bathed in warm, golden light as the sun streamed through the huge windows. It was nearly too much to handle the contrast between Avalynn's heartache and the sunny day outside.With her fingers curled around the edge of the throw pillow on her lap, Avalynn inhaled deeply. She forced herself to remain calm even though she could feel the tears pricking at the corners of her eyes. At last, her voice barely above a whisper, "I blocked him everywhere." "Even if he tried, he couldn't get through to me."Lisa's eyes widened in surprise, her face displaying a mix of understanding and shock. "Oh, Ava. Although I understand that you're upset, how long will you continue like this? You cherish him. You were crying in the restroom this morning, as I noticed.At Lisa's comments

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  • THE CEO'S HIRED WIFE    Chapter TwoHundredTwentySix

    “Ava!” Lisa’s voice snapped her back to the present, and Avalynn realized she had stopped dancing, her mind drifting back to Jace once again. “You okay?”Avalynn forced a smile, nodding quickly. “Yeah, I’m good. Just… thinking.”Lisa shot her a knowing look and softened her grin. "Ava, you don't have to act fake around me. You must be missing him, I know.Avalynn's smile wavered, the reality too unvarnished to ignore. "Yes," she muttered. "It's true,"Lisa pulled her in for a sisterly embrace, putting her arm around her shoulders. If someone is unaware of what he is losing, then he is a fool. But tonight, like I mentioned, let's just concentrate on ourselves. Tomorrow, we can worry about everything else.With a nod, Avalynn allowed herself to sink into Lisa's hug. Even if she wasn't ready to let go of Jace, she could pretend for the evening. She could act as though she wasn't experiencing heartbreak and that she wasn't frantically awaiting an unanswered text or phone.Because reali

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  • THE CEO'S HIRED WIFE    Chapter TwoHundredFiftyOne

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    With the sun rays coming in through the transparent curtains and lightning the room in a warm, golden glow, Avalynn stirred in her deep sleep.The blankets hugged her body tightly, leaving the remains of last night's excitement still visible on her skin.Jace stirred at her touch, his eyes slowly opening. When he saw her, a slow, lazy smile spread across his face, and he tightened his hold on her, pulling her closer. “Morning, beautiful,” he whispered, his voice husky with sleep.His features, softened by the dawn light, were relaxed in sleep, a far cry from his usually controlled and powerful look.Her heart became big with love and happiness as she reached out and gently brushed a lock of hair off his face. Peace, love, and the man who had become her whole world were all she had ever wanted.At her touch, Jace moved and slowly opened his eyes. A slow, lazy smile crossed his lips as he spotted her, and he tightened his grip, drawing her in. He whispered, "Morning, beautiful," his vo

  • THE CEO'S HIRED WIFE    Chapter TwoHudredFortyEight

    The dim light of the bedside lamp cast a soft glow over the room, creating a cozy atmosphere that enveloped Jace and Avalynn as they lay side by side on the large bed. The events of the past weeks had been intense, but now, everything seemed to have settled into place. The room, decorated in muted tones of gray and blue, felt like a sanctuary from the outside world.. a place where they could finally breathe and enjoy the calm after the storm.Avalynn laid her head on Jace's chest and made gentle circles over his skin while she listened to his heartbeat.They had a comfortable stillness that was laced with the warmth of unsaid understanding and shared experiences. Thinking about how far they'd come and how a one-night encounter had brought them to this point, she grinned to herself."Remember the night we first met?" Avalynn has a hushed, almost dreamy voice.With a chuckle, Jace ran a hand through her hair. "How could I overlook that? You were the most stunning woman in the club, an

  • THE CEO'S HIRED WIFE    Chapter TwoHundredFortySeven

    Two weeks had passed since the whirlwind of revelations that had shaken the foundation of Avalynn’s world. But now, the dust had settled, and with it, a newfound clarity and peace had emerged. Avalynn had come to terms with her heritage, her place in the Malvis family, and most importantly, with Jace. The man she loved, who had been her anchor in the storm, was no longer just the man she thought she knew; he was so much more.The Malvis house was a hive of joy tonight. The huge hall gleamed with wealth and grace, decorated with crystal chandeliers and high ceilings. The walls, which were covered with pictures of the Malvis ancestors, appeared to witness to the importance of the evening.. the official recognition of Avalynn as a real Malvis and the celebration of the family's victory over the Rinders, longtime enemies.Guests started to pour into the hall as the evening sun started to set, soaking the estate in a warm, golden glow. With the quiet hum of string instruments playing

  • THE CEO'S HIRED WIFE    Chapter TwoHundredFortySix

    With a deep breath, Jace's grandfather looked at him and Avalynn who were seated across from him. There was a tight, stifling silence as the weight of the information he was about to impart seemed to drain the room's very oxygen. As Jace's jaw tightened and his eyes locked on the elderly guy, Avalynn shifted in her seat, her heart pounding rapidly in her chest.The grandfather said, "Jace, Avalynn," in a tone that was serene but full of a gravity that made Avalynn's skin crawl. "The results of the DNA test are in."The words, thick with anticipation and terror, hung in the air like a fog. Avalynn braced herself for what was about to happen, her fists clenched in her lap and her claws digging into her hands. Jace leaned forward a little, his eyebrows furrowing in a startled yet nervous way.The grandfather stated, "The test proves that Avalynn is in fact my late son's biological daughter."A painful gasp from Avalynn's lips as her breath caught in her throat. The words echoed in her

  • THE CEO'S HIRED WIFE    Chapter TwoHundredFortyFive

    Apart from the soft buzz of the equipment deciding their fate in a moment, the room was quiet. Avalynn sat on the brink of her seat her fists clenched in her lap and her knuckles white from the pressure. Jace walked back and forth, his body stiff from all the questions flying about in his thoughts.As they awaited the start of the DNA test, a distinct sense of apprehension filled the air.Grandfather Jace was standing close to the door, his face expressionless. Unwilling to allow the doubt to linger any longer, he had insisted on the test being conducted right away. Avalynn was so preoccupied with the idea that her whole life had been a lie that she had hardly noticed the trip to the private clinic. The idea of having Jace as her brother and becoming a Malvis by blood was too much for her to fathom. However, they were now facing the moment of truth.A nurse arrived with the required supplies in the room. "Miss Avalynn and Mr. Malvis Senior will need to provide samples," she stated

  • THE CEO'S HIRED WIFE    Chapter TwoHundredFortyFour

    Avalynn gazed at the picture, her eyesight going blurry. Her mother’s image, frozen in time, looked back at her with a familiar smile that now felt hauntingly distant. She swayed on her feet as the room appeared to tilt and a sensation of vertigo overcame her. Her palm trembled as she attempted to settle herself, her fingertips grazing the edge of the desk, a sign of her mounting panic.In an instant, Jace was by her side, his arm encircling her waist and supporting her before she could pass out. He pleaded, "Ava, breathe," in a worried-sounding voice. Though his hold was tight, the panic that overcame them both was reflected in the shaking in his voice.From behind the desk, his grandfather observed them with a normally calm expression that broke into a look of uncertainty that Avalynn had never seen before. The man who had always been a tower of strength appeared lost, as though the world was collapsing around him."I'm not sure I get it. How is this even feasible?" Avalynn's li

  • THE CEO'S HIRED WIFE    Chapter TwoHundredFortyThree

    As the tension in the room increased, Jace's eyes darted between Avalynn and his grandfather, making it obvious that he was confused.“You didn’t mention she would be here,” Jace finally said, his voice tight, barely concealing his frustration. His brow furrowed in a way that made Avalynn’s heart ache. His grandfather remained seated, his hands folded calmly on his desk. “You’re right, Jace. I didn’t. But I didn’t think I could sit back and watch you continue like this. You’ve been shutting yourself away, wallowing in self-pity and loneliness. You need someone by your side.. someone you trust. And there’s no better woman for you than Avalynn.”A beat skipped by Avalynn's heart. She had rarely seen Jace's face of vulnerability, and it completely shocked her. With words stuck in his throat, he remained motionless, and the ensuing stillness was replete with unspoken realities.With black eyes filled with emotions he couldn't seem to control, Jace turned to face her. His regret-filled

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