The contract Juliet drafted was barely a day old, but already, the press was twisting it into headlines Jessica wasn't a ready for. "From Waitress to Power Wife"... "The Cinderella Deal"... "Does She really Love Him?"
She stared at the screen in silence as Romeo walked into the room, towel around his neck, fresh from the gym. He noticed the tension instantly."Something wrong?"Jessica turned the tablet toward him. "They think I'm after your money".He glanced at the headlines and shrugged, "Let them""That doesn't bother you?"Romeo sat beside her and leaned back, "I've been accused of worse, The truth is, they'd hate you no matter what you did, if you smiled too much, they'd say it's fake. If you sneeze, they'll write a story",Jessica let out a dry laugh. " So i should just accept it?""No", He turned toward her. "You should own it,She blinked. "What does that mean?""Let's make a move thatJessica lay in bed, staring at the ceiling. The warmth of Romeo's embrace still lingered on her skin, but her heart refused to settle. Peace had returned - on the surface. Yet inside, questions stirred like embers refusing to die. She turned to look at Romeo, who had fallen asleep beside her on the couch after they both drifted off while talking. His face looked so calm, so sincere. But that was the problem. He looked like someone she should trust. But her heart wasn't ready to let it's gurd down again. Carefully, she slipped out from under the blanket and tiptoed to the kitchen, needing something anything to anchor her restless mind. A glass of water. A breath of air. As she leaned against the sink, her phone buzzed on the counter. A message from an unknown number lit up the screen. "Still with him? Some people never learn ". Her blood turned turned to ice. Jessica's fingers trembled as she opened the message. No name. No context. Just a bitter warning. Her first instinct
The room had quieted, not just in sound but in tension. Jessica sat close to Romeo on the couch, the distance between them no longer physical. Their conversation had been raw, and though not every issue was solved, something had shifted. She leaned her head in his shoulder. "It's strange", she whispered, "how silence can feel peaceful after everything". Romeo wrapped an arm around her, pulling her closer. "Because we're not hiding behind it anymore". Jessica let out a soft laugh, almost surprised by herself. "Do you think we'll be okay?" He didn't answer immediately. Instead, he looked at her face - the one he had fallen for in the most unexpected place, over coffee and cautious smiles. "I think we have a lot of figure out", he admitted, "but i also think... we're stronger than we thought". Jessica looked up at him. "Even with the Cape Town offer?" His jaw tightened for a second. "Even with th
Jessica lay frozen on the bed, the ceiling above her spinning in slow, quiet circles. Her heart thudded heavily against her ribs. She had snapped at Romeo - pushed him away when all he offered was kindness. But it hadn't felt like kindness in the moment. It had felt like betrayal. The image of him smiling at that woman - laughing, leaning in just a little too close - played over and over in her mind. She hated it. She hated herself for letting it bother her this much. Maybe you're just scared, her thoughts whispered. Scared of getting hurt again. Scared that every soft thing would turn sharp if she allowed herself to believe in love too soon. Her chest ached - not just from jealousy, but from uncertainty. Doubt was louder than any excuse she could've made for him. A queit knock broke the silence in her head. She sat up fast, eyes on the door.Nothing. No voice. No second knock. Just..... silence.Je
Jessica stared at the sleek table set for two in the penthouse dining room. Crystal glasses shimmered under the golden light, and a three - course meal sat untouched before her. Romeo hadn't said a word since they returned from the courthouse wedding. She tried not to take it personally. Maybe he was just tired. Or maybe regretted everything. But before she could finish that thought, the sound of stilettos clacking on marble floors sliced through the silence. The front door opened. A tall, stunning - woman walked in like she owned the place. Her heels clicked in perfect rhythm, her lipstick was flawless, and the designer bag hanging from her arm probably cost more than Jessica had ever held in her hands. "Romeo", the woman purred, eyes ignoring Jessica completely. " Why didn't you tell me you were married?" Jessica's chest tightened. Romeo didn't look suprised. "Ariana, what are you doing here?" Ariana? Jessica blinked. That Ariana? The one tabloids always linked with
The contract Juliet drafted was barely a day old, but already, the press was twisting it into headlines Jessica wasn't a ready for. "From Waitress to Power Wife"... "The Cinderella Deal"... "Does She really Love Him?"She stared at the screen in silence as Romeo walked into the room, towel around his neck, fresh from the gym. He noticed the tension instantly."Something wrong?"Jessica turned the tablet toward him. "They think I'm after your money".He glanced at the headlines and shrugged, "Let them""That doesn't bother you?"Romeo sat beside her and leaned back, "I've been accused of worse, The truth is, they'd hate you no matter what you did, if you smiled too much, they'd say it's fake. If you sneeze, they'll write a story",Jessica let out a dry laugh. " So i should just accept it?""No", He turned toward her. "You should own it,She blinked. "What does that mean?""Let's make a move that
Romeo hadn't returned to the office since the wedding. He'd told the board he needed time to "adjust to married life", but Jessica could tell something else was bothering him. He sat in the study most days, reviewing files and reports with a tight jaw, barely speaking. Jessica didn't push. She knew his silence wasn't coldness- it was pressure. The media was finally starting to ease off, but Juliet still warned them that Godwin was not done yet". She brought Romeo tea one morning, placing the cup beside him without a word. He didn't look up from document he was reading. "You're up early", he murmured. "I couldn't sleep". "Nightmares?" She paused, suprised her remembered. "No.... Just nerves". He finally looked at her. "Why?" Jessica took a deep breath. l've been thinking. If you're enemy's digging into me, why don't we fight fire with fire?" "What do you mean?" She sat across from him, folding her hands. "I want to go back to school. Business, marketing, maybe ta