Xavier's POV Two shots ring out as I watch the bullet pierce the forehead of the two men straddling Andre.Vicenzo is nowhere to be found but I know he is behind this. I know these are his men. I know this is his handiwork.Setting my anger aside, I take forceful steps towards her on the floor, staring at her pale white face and wondering what on earth they must have done to her.I told her not to move an inch.I told her not to go anywhere without the guards.But she defied me yet again.Vicenzo abruptly ended our so-called conversation and my intuition was right the very moment I turned back to go back to my seat to see her absence.I was seething in anger. But it vanished and got replaced with anxiety when she didn't appear after a moment.Mathew had seen her going towards the bathroom and the moment I heard the loud sound of a gun, I knew there was trouble."Vicenzo and the others have fled", Mathew rushes back into the restroom to inform me while I am still standing over her.I
Jasmine's POV My lashes flutter open to meet the intense gaze of a blue-eyed man who looks murderous.Frozen with terror, my heart begins to pound hard in my ribcage watching him stare at me with so much intensity and feeling a lump of dread at the closeness of his body to mine.He is laying on his side with his head resting on his hand, not shifting his gaze from me and making me more uncomfortable."How do you feel?" he finally breaks the silence just when I am about to avert my gaze from his handsome face.Confusion clouds my mind as I furrow a brow, wondering why he is asking me such a question.I am about to ask him what he means by that when it clicks.Last night at the party, I saw Vicenzo and Sebastian. Then what happened? Did they attacked me?But then I can't remember anything else."You don't remember?" he demands, not looking surprised.My face turns red as I shake my head.He nods in understanding and pulls away, strolling towards the closet. "You were drugged by one of
Xavier's POV CHICAGOFor a moment, I didn't want to believe the stark naked truth in front of me, including her narration about her encounter with Vicenzo.The truth was right in front of me all along but I pretended not to see them. I had my doubts but my ego blinded me, stopping me from knowing that I am the wrong one here.Despite everything, I still want real evidence to know that I am wrong. All of these might just be a ploy, who knows? I need real evidence before I can finally admit I am wrong and let her go.Carefully lifting my head from the two pictures in front of me, I lock my gaze on one of the local restaurant's cooks.He seems extremely nervous and clumsy as he darts his eyes away. This was the restaurant where we found her. I should have known that Andre, that spoiled brat would never settle for less, not working in a local place like this just to throw me off the rail. I should have known. Maybe I know but I decided to ignore my instincts. I guess I should blame that
Jasmine's POV One thing is certain.Xavier is avoiding me. Even though I haven't been able to figure out if he believes me or not, I am certain he is avoiding me.I haven't seen him since he stalked out of the room this morning like that. I was scared he would never believe me. I might never be able to claim who I am.Xavier might forever see me as Andre.Isn't it high time I found Andre on my own? Should I seek Mr Moore's help?I haven't seen him since the wedding but I am sure I could try. Vicenzo could have helped if he wasn't a monster. I wonder what Xavier must have done to him.He still scares me. Just like how Xavier scares me but I feel much safer with Xavier.Knowing that Vicenzo knows where I am now and who I am, Xavier's wife has made the thought of wanting to escape from this life so shallow.If I leave this mansion, Vicenzo will get to me and my life will be over. Now I know Xavier is better than him. He is not as bad as Vicenzo who would do anything to harm me.I haven'
Xavier's POV What I wanted to do immediately after the helicopter landed at the heliport at home was to have a drink all night. I didn't know I was going to face Jasmine tonight. I thought that I would wait till tomorrow. All I wanted to do was to check her in the room to be sure she was fine because I thought she would be asleep already. I was met with her absence instead and no guard was in sight. I was frightened that something bad had just happened. None of the guards had seen her leaving the room. The only thing that came to my head was that she had been kidnapped. It made my blood boil and my head in turmoil. Everywhere was searched but she wasn't in sight. It made me angry not until I noticed the door to the painting room was open. My first instinct was to check there, not because I expect her to be there but to satisfy my curiosity of who could be in there by that time of the night. This room is always locked. It has been locked for years. How did she get in? The mo
Jasmine's POV For seconds, we stare at each other. His expression is impassive and mine is filled with shock. The initial fear I was feeling about him catching me in that art room had retreated. It has been replaced with hope and a tiny bit of assurance that all of this will become history soon.His eyes become dark all of a sudden when I repeat my question and his jaw tightens before he takes his eyes off me to gulp down the whole content of the wine in his glass cup.I won't let this go.I heard right. He said he found her. That must be Andre. Why is he hiding that from me? If he has found her, then I should be the first to know and then I will know when to go back to Chicago.Talking about Chicago, a cold chill runs down my spine when the sudden remembrance of Vicenzo hits me like a massive wind.Vicenzo is still out there. Chicago is no longer safe now that Xavier is involved and he knows we are married. I am not just a woman who rejected him but also the woman of his enemy. H
Xavier's POV My eyes scan over the silky robe she is dressed in, showing a clear picture of her cleavage as she rolls over to one side while I take a drag of my cigarette.I lean backwards in my chair, my eyes not leaving her as I continue to puff out the air and take in another drag just to get my mind occupied with something else other than the guilt I feel each time she is like this.I don't want to think about anything else but the fact that she is Andre and my woman.I don't want to think about her being Jasmine, a weak woman who wants to leave the second Andre is found. I don't even want to think about what would happen to her if she leaves and gets into Vicenzo's trap.That bastard must have injected her with heroin.My business also entails the shipment of drugs and weapons. The moment she lost consciousness, I knew it was a result of the drug from the day before.I didn't expect her to wake up so soon that morning. The first time I gave that to a traitor, he slept for 18 hou
Jasmine's POV My cheeks burn red like a tomato in embarrassment as I scurry out in my silky robe and with my breakfast alongside my new iPhone.I never knew he was inside. I was too engrossed with the new phone and the thought of how I would take advantage of the gift to know that he was in the bathroom.I shouldn't have gone to the bathroom naked. Why didn't I tie a towel around myself? How do I face him now?I find my way to the kitchen. The maids do not notice me until I clear my throat and the head maid, Paulina stares at me for a while before they know."Is everything ok? Do you want us to microwave the food again, ma'am?" she regarded me with a look I can't place. She always gives me that pitiful look but today it is different.I shake my head.I'm damn hungry already. I only came out because I wanted to avoid Xavier. I really do not know how to face him after seeing each other's nakedness.This ought to be normal. We are man and wife after all but it isn't normal. Our marriag
Xavier's POV If there is anything I regret, it is inviting Alex to witness this and also asking him for advice on how to propose. The asshole clearly told me to use G****e which I did. Jasmine's kiss stops me from minding the silly jerk. I was ready to punch him in the face for spilling the beans and embarrassing me like that. Dragging me behind her with Alex acting all childish makes me wonder how Andre fell in love with the idiot. When we get inside, they all begin to chatter away leaving me to watch in awe. A lot has changed about me. Jasmine has changed me. Aside from Grandmother, I hate having family time like this. I don't know if it's because I barely have time for such or it's because it reminds me so much of my parents. I just hated it. But now, I have a new family. Aside from my Grandmother. Alex and Sophia are now part of that family despite my effort to push them away forever. Jasmine's gaze meets mine and she signals to come to take a seat while Alex pops the c
Jasmine's POV With a blindfold over my face and after several attempts to get him to spill the beans about where we are going, the car comes to an abrupt stop.From the screeching sound, I can tell it is on sandy ground. It pricks my hibernating curiosity and I turn around unable to see anything.Finally, I felt his touch after hearing the sound of the car door opening. He places his hand on my back and another on my lap. Then he helps me out of the car without a word.Where are we? What is happening? What surprise awaits me here?I can't help but wonder, managing to hide away the fear gnawing at my heart as I push down the choking tide of panic building.Unable to hold it back any longer, I voice out barely in a whisper. "Where are we, Xavier?"He hushes me up as he helps me take slow steps on the sandy ground towards somewhere. The cool air hits my face as soon as we come to a stop. I am tempted to pull off the tight blindfold and look around. As if hearing my thought, he holds my
Xavier's POV Throbbing with a wild, raw, and primal feeling inside me, my tongue slides deep between her parted lips.From the moment she stepped into the restaurant, all I could see was her and all I could feel was pure admiration. She looked so beautiful and elegant in that black long dress that I could barely hold myself back from touching her.The sparkle in her eyes and the smile on her face didn't help in quenching my desire. The thought of being more intimate with each other intensified the heated lust already raging inside of me, filling me with wild and crazy imaginations of what I would do to her.The car comes to a stop and I flutter my eyes open, my hands on her back and my lips still on her.I couldn't resist not touching her as soon as we got into the car. She responded with the same energy and I almost lost it.Lifting my head, I brush back a stray piece of hair with my fingers. We local gazes for a second, breathless from the kiss before I say. "Let's get out of here.
Jasmine's POV Stepping out of the white limo with an INGOO sleeveless backless black dress and cross strappy heels, saying I am anxious is an understatement.My heart is thumping wildly within my ribcage.My hands are trembling slightly despite my firm hold on my tiny purse.My lips are quivering in excitement mixed with nervousness as I glance around to see Mathew appear in front of me.He is wearing a black official suit.Before I can ask him where Xavier is, he presents a bouquet to me. I gasps slowly before taking it from him without any question.I'm sure this is from Xavier.With that in mind, I begin to feel teary. Bowing down, he sways his right hand towards a direction which I assume is where Xavier is. There is a door at the entrance and staring up at the high building, I see it is a diner.It is so beautiful from outside.Flashing him a smile, I walk along graciously, feeling tingles of excitement as I perceive the scent of the flowers in my hands.The transparent door sw
Xavier's POV It took everything in me to say those words.Finally, I breathed out when it came out.I had to breathe in and out, unlocking my heart to say the one thing I have never said to any woman.Desire floods through me as I caress her entire body, deepening the kiss. Her body trembles with passion as she whispers against my lips. "I love you too, Xavier."It is taking everything in me not to scoop her up and throw her to the bed, to show her just how I want and love her and just how much I want to worship her beautiful milky body.She brings out a different part of me. That part I don't want to show anyone. She has managed to pull down that strong high wall I built around myself which makes me think I can never feel the emotion called love again.She holds onto me strongly, as though she is scared I will disappear. I hold her back with the same firmness, letting her melt into me with pleasure.Before I know it, I'm kissing her like she is the last air I need to breathe. I neve
Jasmine's POV I can feel his fear. His fear of confessing his love for me and also the fear of not confessing so he wouldn't lose me.It makes me want to feel glad that my feelings are being reciprocated though not vocally. I have never been in a relationship before just like how he has never been in a serious relationship either.We are both new to this but I am willing to do all it takes for it to work, including confessing my love for him over and over again. But from what just happened, I realize Xavier isn't ready to do what I want. What I feel right now is anger. Pure anger coursed through me for his show of jealousy when he hasn't even admitted his feelings for me.If it wasn't Alex and it was just a casual friend of mine, is this how he would have embarrassed me publicly?So much for causing a scene.Ignoring the chuckle from Alex who is bleeding, I storm towards the exit, murmurs rising from others in the restaurant.I didn't slap Catherine when she introduced herself as
Xavier's POV Jasmine isn't home.She has been ignoring me since we got back from Chicago. Our plan to go on an official date is ruined again.And I fucking miss her.I miss kissing and cuddling with her on our matrimonial bed. I know she needs some space and I gave her space. We haven't slept in the same bed for two days now.After deciding to put an end to all of this and inviting Nicholas and his wife to the mansion so we can clear the air, she isn't home.I tried her number but it is unreachable.Sebastian, who is a threat, is gone already but I still don't feel ok having gone without prior notice or any bodyguard with her.Anything can happen.Being my wife makes her an easy target.Restlessly, I pace the extent of our bedroom, trying her number again and again until it starts to ring.After ringing for almost a minute, it goes into voicemail.Goddammit!Impatiently, I stroll out heading towards the control room. I hope she hasn't done anything silly.I know she is sad about kno
Jasmine's POV My Aunt's flat is the third one. Seeing that he is at the first flat, I nod at him in appreciation. He must be a local for him to have known the description so well.I tap Xavier and we both get down. The driver is going to wait till we are done so we can take us back to the airport.Xavier wanted us to come with his helicopter but I told him not to. I have my reasons.Dropping out of college was not intended. I wanted to go to school but I had to drop out when I could not afford my fees.Despite the years of working my ass off, I still don't have any savings. But I intend to still go back to school which was why I was in search of another job in Chicago before I crossed paths with Xavier.I don't mind going part time but I intend to start working again so I can afford my fees and go back.When we get close to the flat, I knock on the door and Xavier holds my hand, making me flash him a smile.I can hear rustles from inside and a few seconds later, the door is thrown op
Jasmine's POV My aunt lives in the slum part of Chicago and I feel uncomfortable having Xavier with me on our way to see her.Even though I feel safer with him beside me. I snuggle closer to him in the back seat of the car we hired. We have been silent since we got to the airport.He keeps pressing kisses to my forehead and hair and it amazes me.Even though Xavier still has not said the love word, I know I mean a lot to him. It just saddens me that he doesn't know how to express his feelings vocally.This should be enough. His actions ought to be enough but I am not satisfied. I want assurance. I want him to say the word. I want us to be free with each other. To be able to tell each other anything and everything. To be able to share secrets. To understand each other's silence too.I don't regret loving him. I don't regret telling him I loved him anymore too. I just want him to say it back to me."We should go out to a nice restaurant after you meet with your Aunt, what do you think?