bChapter /bb102 /b

bI /bstarted the bBentley /band focused on pulling out of the parking lot. When I checked the mirror again, bI /bsaw that Nathan wasn’t following us. bMaybe /bhe’d just started his car to let me know he was leaving, too.

That kind of subtle thoughtfulness really made my heart skip a bbeat /bfor a couple of seconds. Honestly, Nathan just understands women way better than Jared bever /bcould.

When bwe /bgot home, Yvonne still hadn’te back. Looked like Sally was dead bset /bon giving us some alone time.

I got out of the car, and so did Jared. He bwasn’t /bactually drunk. He was bjust /bclutching his suit jacket in his hand.

As he walked toward me, I could tell he bwas /babout to offer me his jacketb, /bbut I turned away at the same moment and walked off.

There bwas /ba soft thud as his suit jacket unexpectedly slipped from his hand and fell to the floor.

bI /bwent upstairs without so much as a backward nceb. /bJared bent down to pick up his jacket, his expression looking pretty

sour.

Wendy and another maid came over to ask if we needed anything, but Jared just told them to go get some brest/b.

The first thing I did when I got home was take a shower. I was a bit of a clean freak. If I didn’t shower first, I just couldn’t bring myself to sit on my bed or even the couch in my room.

It was like I had this little OCD thing, thinking all the outside germs wereing in with me.

After my shower and finishing up my skincare routine, I crawled into bed and started to drift off. Half–asleep, I suddenly felt the mattress sink on the other side, and I snapped awake on instinct.

“I had a nightmare. Go back to sleep. I won’t do anything.” Jared’s voice came from behind me, and before I knew it, his arms were around me, holding me tight.

‘What kind of nightmare could actually scare a guy like Jared?‘ I couldn’t help but wonder to myself.

But true to his word, Jared didn’t try anything, so I just drifted back to sleep.

bEver /bsince bI /btime–traveled, sleeping had been so much easier for me. After all this, I guessed I had super courage.

When I woke up the next morning, I could hear the soft patter of rain against the window, and the air inside felt a little thick and muggy.

bI /brealized my sleeping position had totally changed. Last night, I was sure I’d been facing away from him, but now my head was resting against his chestb, /band one of my legs was draped over his.

It bwas /blike my vulnerability had been exposed, and I suddenly felt annoyed with myself for letting it happen. I pulled myself baway /bfrom him and slipped out of bed.

By the time I finished washing up, Jared had already gotten out of bed and left the room.

It was the weekend, and since Sally was looking after Yvonne, I figured I’d take a trip out of town–just me, no kid, no

husband.

bI /bgrabbed my small bag and headed downstairs. Jared had just finished his morning run and was still in his ck tracksuit.

When he noticed my bbag/b, his eyes narrowed a bit. “Where are you going?” b1/2 /b

“bShaville/bb,/bb” /bbI /bbreplied/b.

“Is it something for workb?/bb” /bbJared /basked.

“No, I just want to go to enjoy the bscenery/b,” I replied simply.

Jared looked a little taken aback, like my banswer /bhad caught him off guard. He let out a slow bbreath /band asked, “You’re going

aloneb?/bb” /b

b“/bYep.” I nodded.

Jared stared at me like he could bsee /bstraight through me. The next second, his voice went cold. “No bway/bb./b”

I let out augh. “If you don’t trust me, then why don’t youe with me?”

I always thought he wasn’t into traveling. He only ever left town for work. But actually, that bwas /bnot it at all. It turned out that he did like going ces. He just didn’t like going with me.

Jared furrowed his brows. I knew he’d turn me down.

Jared brushed past me, looking indifferent. As he started up the stairs, he nced back at me and asked, “Did you arrange a bcar/bb?/bb” /b

“I’ll drive myself,” I answered.

He didn’t say anything else and just went upstairs. A few minutester, he came back down carrying a bag. “I’ll have Warner drive us. It’s a long trip. You can’t drive that far by yourself.”

My eyes widened in disbelief as I stared at the bag in his hand.