Chapter 16 

BLAKE

I stared stupefied at her but got up anyway without dwelling much on her words. I jogged the few steps separating us and was beside her. I slipped my fingers into her arms as we walked slowly toward the car. Jasmine was still humming lightly beside me, holding the leftover ice cream cup. Her lips were slightly stained from the strawberry, and her cheeks still had that pink glow. She looked happy like a child who just got a gift from her parents. She even fixed her hair a little, and smoothed down her clothes. No one would ever know she had just been sitting in my lap a few minutes ago and playing dirty with me.

I pressed the button from a far distance to unlock the car.

We got forward and that was when I saw her.

A woman sat on the hood of the car. One leg crossed over the other, a cigarette between her fingers. She was dressed in something tight and expensive. Her long legs were graved in a long heel, her round face was blessed with sunglasses. She had red lips and blonde hair.

I stopped walking as my jaw clenched. Jasmine followed my gaze and surprisingly her body tensed.

The woman looked up, and when she saw me, her face lit up. She jumped down from the car and rushed toward me.

“Blake!” she called in that high, sweet voice I remembered too well.

Jessica.

Of course.

What was she doing here?

She wrapped her arms around my neck without asking. But I didn’t hug back.

“I knew it was you,” she started smiling widely. “I saw your back from the restaurant window. I couldn’t believe it. I told my driver to wait while I hurried down here. I’ve been waiting for you.”

I didn’t say anything. Jasmine stood quietly next to me, eyes on Jessica. She wasn’t smiling.

Jessica stepped back and ran her fingers over my jacket. “Still sharp as ever,” she mused thoughtfully. “How are you? How’s the company? Still running the city?”

“It’s fine,” I said flatly, not liking this a bit. I felt disgusted and it felt so weird. I would have taken pleasure in playing this part to hurt Jasmine but I couldn't bring myself to do it. “Everything’s fine.”

She giggled lightly, her brows jumping all over me, slightly fucking me. “You haven’t changed. Still cold but I like it.”

She turned her head and looked at Jasmine, finally noticing her.

“Oh,” she said, eyes wide. “You’re still with her?”

Still with her? Is she crazy? Or did she hit her head somewhere? Jasmine didn’t say anything. Her face was calm, but I could see the tightness in her jaw. She looked away, pretending she didn’t care. But I knew better.

Jessica laughed again and looked me up and down. “You know, Blake, a man like you deserves more.”

That was it.

Jasmine turned her head sharply and stared at her.

Jessica kept going. “I mean, sure, she’s cute. But you? You’re… something else. You could do so much better.”

Jasmine stepped forward. Slowly. Calmly. But her voice wasn’t calm.

“You think you know Blake?” she started in those deadly, calm voices I have come to appreciate.

Jessica blinked but Jasmine didn’t stop.

“He’s everything. He works harder than anyone I’ve ever met. He’s smart. He’s serious. He’s stubborn. He gets on my nerves every day. He's cold and moody. But there's something you don't know, whore, he’s mine. And I wouldn’t trade him for the world.”

I froze. Jessica looked at her like she couldn’t believe what she was hearing. But Jasmine didn’t look at her. She was looking at me.

I didn’t even know I had stopped breathing. Something inside me shifted. Broke. Or maybe it woke up.

Without a word, I grabbed Jasmine’s hand and pulled her toward the car. I didn’t even look at Jessica again. She stood there, stunned and silent, as I opened the door and helped Jasmine in.

I got into the driver’s seat, slammed the door, and drove off.

The car was quiet for a while.

Jasmine stared out the window, not saying anything. Her hand still held the now half-melted cup of ice cream. I kept my eyes on the road. But my mind was full. Her words kept replaying.

I cleared my throat. “Why did you say that?”

She turned her head slowly to look at me. “Say what?”

“What you said back there,” I said. “To her. And don't you dare pretend.”

She looked at me for a second, then said softly, “Because it’s true.”

I pulled the car to the side of the road and parked. I turned to her fully.

“You didn’t have to say anything,” My voice was sharp with frustration.

She shrugged and flashed me a grin. “I wanted to.”

My hand reached out and cupped her cheek. She didn’t pull away. Her skin was warm. Her eyes were soft.

My voice came out low. “You keep defending me like that, Jasmine… and I’ll forget this marriage is fake.”

Her eyes widened just a little. Her lips parted.

“Maybe you already have,” she laughed, a bright contagious smile that made me snapped.

I leaned forward, closing the gap before snatching her lips. She gasped in clear protest but I ignored her. I didn't plan for this as well as not giving it a thought but I wasn't ready to back down anyways. Our lips met fast in a hard, hot way. She kissed me back just as much, like her life depended on it. My hands went into her hair. Her fingers grabbed the collar of my shirt. The kiss deepened. It burned so that my heart beat fast. I didn’t want to stop.

But she pulled away.

She breathed hard. Her eyes closed for a second.

“We can’t cross the line,” she whispered. “Not yet.”

I rested my forehead on hers. My breathing matched hers.

“But we will,” I said softly. “You know it.”

She didn’t answer but she didn’t say no either.

The house was quiet, too quiet.

I stood by the kitchen counter, drinking a glass of water, the lights low, the air calm. The sound of soft breathing pulled my eyes to the living room.

Jasmine was curled up on the couch, a book resting half on her chest, half slipping to the floor. Her legs were tucked under her body. A blanket sat unused beside her. Her mouth slightly parted. Her face is peaceful.

She had fallen asleep after she turned to reading to avoid me while I had gone to my study room to answer my emails.

But I couldn’t stop looking at her. Something about seeing her like that—unbothered, calm, asleep with a book in her hand—it did something to me.

I always thought I only wanted her to play her part. Look good in public. Smile for the cameras. Say the right things. Walk beside me like the perfect wife.

But now?

Watching her sleep, seeing her hair fall softly over her cheek…

I realized I didn’t just want her when the world was watching.

I wanted her when no one was.

I walked closer, slowly. My footsteps were quiet. I stood in front of the couch, still holding my glass. I leaned against the wall and just stared.

Her nose twitched as she stirred a little. Holy shit! Did I walk that loud? Did she hear me? Her fingers shifted and then her eyes fluttered open.

She blinked up at me. Her voice came out groggy. “Creepy much?”

I smirked. “You looked peaceful.”

She rubbed her eyes. “And you looked like a serial killer just standing there in the dark.”

“I was just watching you sleep. That’s not creepy, right?”

She sat up and stretched. “Totally normal,” she said with a small smile.

I sat beside her, still holding the glass.

She looked at me. Her voice was softer now. “Stop staring asshole.”

I raised a brow. “Back to asshole, are we? You know, earlier today during our make out session....."

"Just shut it up.. " her jaw was clenched as she shot me a desperate look. 

I leaned my head back on the couch and barked out a laugh “Yes, little monster."

I sipped from the glass. “You know you're something else right?"

She laughed lightly. “Yeah. But you’re also… something else.”

I looked at her. “What about you? You’re not what I expected either.”

“Oh?” she tilted her head. “What did you expect?”

“Loud. Spoiled. Shallow.”

She smiled. “I am all those things.”

I shook my head. “No. You’re worse.”

She threw a pillow at me. I caught it.

Then the lights flickered once. Then again. Then everything went dark.

“Great,” she said. “Perfect timing.”

Thunder rumbled outside. I stood and walked to the drawer. I pulled out a box of candles.

“Look at you,” she teased. “Being useful.”

“I’m always useful.”

She raised a brow. “Last time you tried to fix a bulb, you shorted the kitchen.”

I lit a candle. “That was one time. And now did you know about that?”

“I just guessed." She smirked but I knew she was telling a lie.

I paused. “You should take lying as a secondary occupation.”

She laughed and fell back on the couch. Her laugh echoed in the room, warm and sweet. It filled the quiet space.

I walked back over and sat beside her. I placed the candle on the coffee table.

“Stop laughing,” I said, pulling her gently closer.

She leaned into my side, still smiling. “You like when I laugh.”

“I like when you stop teasing me.”

She gave a small chuckle. “Never happening.”

We sat like that for a while, just quiet, the candle flickering between us. The storm outside didn’t bother me. Her body close to mine kept everything else far away.

Then she said, “Let’s play a game.”

I looked at her. “What game?”

“Truth or truth.”

“No dares?”

“No dares. Just the truth.”

I thought about it, then nodded. “Alright. You start.”

She looked at me with a sly smile. “What’s your biggest fear?”

I didn’t answer right away. Then I said, “Losing control.”

“Control of what?”

“Everything.”

She hummed and nodded like she understood.

“My turn,” I smiled. “Why do you always try so hard to act like you don’t care?”

She blinked. “Because if I don’t pretend, I’ll care too much.”

That hit harder than I thought it would.

I stared at her face. The way her eyes stayed on mine, even in the dim candlelight.

“Do you ever forget this marriage is fake?” I whispered.

She looked down for a second. Then met my eyes again.

“Sometimes… I forget,” she said quietly. “Just for a second. When it’s quiet. When you’re not being difficult. When you look at me like I matter.”

I didn’t speak.

I couldn’t.

My body leaned closer to hers. My eyes stayed on her lips. My fingers moved to her cheek, brushing her hair aside.

I leaned in slowly. My mouth is close to hers. Our breaths mixed. I could feel her heart beating.

I wanted to kiss her.

So bad.

But I stopped just an inch away.

“Next time you defend me like that,” I whispered, “I’m not stopping at almost.”

She looked into my eyes. Her lips curved into a soft smile.

“Then maybe I won’t stop either,” she breathed.