บททั้งหมดของ THE CEO'S HIRED WIFE : บทที่ 231 - บทที่ 240

The only sound in the car throughout the silent trip to the hospital was the calm buzz. Jace's knuckles went white from the pressure of his fingers gripping the steering wheel so firmly. His mind was a knotted maze, a tempest of feelings simmering just below the surface. His thoughts were replaying the recent exchange with Avalynn, her words ringing in his ears and piercing him more deeply than before.Once more, he had lost her. Furthermore, he was unsure of how to put things right this time.Jace pulled those thoughts away from him as the hospital came into view. It wasn't about the craziness that had taken over his personal life today; it was about his grandfather. The last thing Jace wanted to do was add to his grandfather's already heavy load. He had already gone through enough.After parking, he entered the hospital, leaving a trail of sound behind him as he moved through the antiseptic hallways.The antiseptic smell in the air served as a stark reminder of the location's int

Tension permeated the room, the kind that made breathing seem hard.With his large figure obstructing the faint light coming from the hallway, Jace stood at the doorway. His eyes met Stephanie's, who was looking at him with wide eyes filled with shame and dread, and the rage that had been seething within of him burst out hardd.Stephanie's expression turned pale and her color faded as the realization of the circumstances engulfed her. Now, there was no turning back. She had been exposed, and there was no defense or deception she could pull out to cover up the damaging information Jace had just unearthed."Why, Stephanie?" Stephanie felt a chill run down her spine when she heard Jace's low, menacing voice. She shrank back when she saw the icy rage in his usually friendly gaze. "Why did you do it?"With her heart racing frantically in her chest, Stephanie's throat constricted. She sensed the walls around her, the oppressive weight of her treachery bearing down on her.Lying would no

While waiting, Avalynn sat at the bar and lazily traced the rim of her glass with her fingertips.She was surrounded by soothing voices, but her mind was elsewhere, preoccupied with ideas she couldn't quite get out of. ItShe found herself staring into her glass of amber liquid, the swirl of ice cubes reflecting the confusion in her heart, as the warm lighting of the bar gave everything a golden glow.Dylan entered the bar through the open entrance, which she saw.It was his deep brown, piercing eyes that always caught her off guard. They had a gentle tenderness that enabled her easily lose herself in them. He was tall and had an athletic, lean physique that spoke of someone who took care of himself. His ebony locks appeared slightly disheveled, as though he had caressed them excessively, a behavior she was all too familiar with.A tiny, hesitant smile crossed his lips as he noticed her and moved closer. He moved with a carefree elegance that seemed natural to him, but she hadn't see

With her thoughts whirling past her window, Avalynn sat in the backseat of the taxi.She could still clearly hear the exchange with Dylan, every syllable ringing with a finality that caused her chest discomfort. Her heart weighty with what she had just done, she leaned her head against the cool glass. She closed her eyes two years and let memories of her connection with Dylan flood back. After so much grief, it had been a good two years—years full of laughter, warmth, and a sense of security she had longed for.At the time, Dylan had been everything she had needed: gentle, attentive, and eager to love her despite her residual questions about her feelings for Jace. She couldn't help but question whether she had made a mistake since he was leaving. She considered remorse pulling at her heart and maybe I should have been more patient. Perhaps I ought not to have progressed so rapidly. Uninvited, the flashbacks arrived one more mixed than the next.She recalled the first time Dylan

Seated in his office, Jace stared out of the wall-length window that provided a view of the busy city below. The skyline appeared far away, almost surreal, as though it belonged to a different reality free from the constant threat of treachery and deception. His mind was racing, trying to piece together what had happened over the last few days while the pain of Stephanie's betrayal was still raw in his memory.His most reliable team members were sat at the table, their expressions reflecting the gravity of the issue, so he turned back to them. They were waiting for him to say something, and their relaxed friendship had vanished. His crew, a small circle of his closest allies, huddled around him, grim determination on their features. Everyone was informed about the circumstances, the treachery that had wounded more deeply than Jace was willing to acknowledge. However, they had to prioritize safeguarding the firm and ensuring the Ryders were stopped permanently, leaving no time for