All Chapters of THE CEO'S HIRED WIFE : Chapter 221 - Chapter 230

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

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

“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

Avalynn sat across from Dylan, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee mingling in the air, but she could barely taste it. Her palms began to heat up as her fingers curled around her cup, making it difficult for her to keep a composed demeanor. Dylan never took his eyes off of her face, examining hers as though attempting to discover the truth concealed beneath her skillfully put up mask.Thus... How is everything with Jace progressing? With a tinge of interest and something more in his voice.. something Avalynn couldn't quite place.. Dylan questioned. The way he leaned forward, his eyes narrowing slightly in anticipation of her answer, conveyed a subtle tension.Avalynn tried to look unconcerned by forcing a little smile. "Things are going great," she lied with ease. "Lisa's house has become my temporary home since Ace has been quite busy at business lately. You know what, I missed her? It’s been lovely catching up.” Even she was aware of how fragile her tone sounded despite how light

In the middle of the busy city, the park was a peaceful haven where time appeared to stand still. With their leaves softly fluttering in the late afternoon breeze, tall trees adorned the pathway that led to the old library.Avalynn was a few minutes early, and when she saw the bench that she and Jace had spent so many happy and unhappy moments on, her heart began to race.Her steps wavered as a flood of nostalgia overcame her, bringing back memories of better times that were at once terribly close and far away.Taking a deep breath, she fortified herself. Today was about facing the present, not about living out the past.Not long after, Jace showed there, looking slick in a black suit that was a stark contrast to the calm surroundings. Though his demeanor was thoughtful and controlled, his eyes conveyed a different message - they were filled with uncertainty and a hint of sorrow. He paused a few feet away, staring into her eyes as he tried to articulate what he was feeling but was u