4.

Jasmine. 

“This is my wife, Jasmine Monroe. The Angel I’ve been telling you about,” Edwin said, wrapping his arms possessively around my waist as he introduced me to Galvin. 

The surrounding air thickened instantly. 

I flinched from the shock of his gesture, not even his words. My gaze met Galvin’s, and he forced a smile and nodded, but his grip tightened around the wine glass, and I saw his left eye twitch. But before I could pull his hands off my waist, Cashmere spoke. 

“Wife?” she asked, completely amused. “Well, there's no need for further introduction… We’ll get to know each other better soon,” she added before clapping twice. The sound of her palm echoed through the ballroom, and the orchestra ran to their instruments. 

“The Thanksgiving ball is this evening, but let’s loosen up now. I need everyone to move perfectly. We have a reputation to protect,” she said with a smile before turning to face Galvin and throwing her hands over his shoulders.  

And when she did, his gaze lowered to her, and he led her to the dance floor without saying another word. 

For someone who had been away for so long, she seemed very determined to show everyone in Oakridge who she was. 

Everything was happening so fast, and my heart kept pounding heavily against my ribs. 

“I’ll help myself with another drink,” Adrian said, walking away from us as the music began and Cashmere’s loud chuckling echoed with the music. 

I yanked Edwin’s hands off me, and I let out a breath I hadn’t noticed I was holding. 

“Why the hell are you here? Leave, now!” I barked, trying to keep my tone as moderate as possible, but I couldn’t as heat rushed through my veins. “You had no right to how up here—” 

I hadn’t finished speaking before he stepped forward, making sure there was no space between us, and pressed his finger against my lips. 

I inhaled sharply, surprised by his sudden movement. This was the most physical contact we’ve had in two years. 

He forced my hand over his shoulder and grabbed my waist firmly, making me move with him, his deep brown eyes locked on mine. 

“Why did you sign it, MINE?” he breathed, and my heart skipped a beat. 

Mine! The nickname he had given me during the early stage of our marriage, when I was still worth something to him.  

“How could you give up on fighting for us?” 

His words hit me like a bullet to the chest. “How dare you!” I snapped at him, but he kept moving with the music, controlling my waist without leaving my gaze. “There hasn’t been an us for over three years, Edwin! Go back to Casey.”

“Ta ta,” Cashmere’s voice echoed through the ballroom again, cutting me off before I could speak. She smacked her palms three times, and Galvin spun her towards us. 

“It’s a partner swap, Edwin, you should know what Gestures mean if you’ll be attending the ball this evening,” She said in a cold yet friendly tone. 

My eyes darted towards Galvin, who stood behind him, and his head was steaming red. I could see his veins boldly pumping by the side of his ears, and his jaw was clenched so tight I was afraid he would break his teeth. 

My gaze turned back to Edwin, and he exhaled sharply, and I saw how much force it took for him to actually let me go. “We’re not done, mine,” he whispered before I stepped away, my breath heavy in my lungs.

“Cashmere,” he called softly, extending a hand to her. 

“It’s Mrs Walton to you, love,” she responded, placing her palm over his.

Before I could catch my breath, Galvin grabbed my waist and yanked my body against his, just like he did at the Cafe before he kissed me. 

I gasped out out and my chest heaved heavily against his. 

“What are you doing?” he growled, unable to control his rage and his hot minty breath steamed over my face. 

“I should be asking you the same question, Mr Walton,” I retorted. “You lied to me!”

“I did no such thing!” 

“You’re married? To my younger sister!” I mouthed angrily, clenching tightly on his suit as we moved with the music. 

“And you’re back with your cheating husband! You know he’s not good for you,” he countered angrily. 

“Don’t act like you know me, Cashmere is pregnant and she still has her ring on!”

“I had to listen to Edwin Monroe talk about you for thirty minutes!” 

I scoffed without realising, and the banter made me a little lighter. It was like a lovers' quarrel, and again the absurdity of it fueled me, making my throat dry. I could feel the heat coming off him, and it made my core pulse with a ravishing heat. 

We both remained silent for a few minutes, just staring into each other's eyes, and my chest heaved faster. 

“Are you jealous?” I managed to mutter through my raspy breath, my eyes lowering to his lips, and my heart thundered in my chest from my question. 

I heard his breath hitch, and his eyes narrowed for a second like I had caught him off guard.  

I felt my knees weaken, and my gaze darted from him to Adrian, who I noticed was just leaning against one of the pillars, taking another sip of wine and staring at me aggressively. 

“I don’t get jealous, Doll,” he finally responded, his eyes darkened, and his chest heaved heavily against mine. “If I want something, I take it,” he whispered, and his gaze lowered to my lips. 

“Doll?” I breathed, completely sworn by that word, forgetting I wanted to warn him of Adrian’s watchful eyes. 

What the hell am I doing? I froze, breaking our movement, and my eyes darted towards Cashmere. She was mumbling something to Edwin, whose eyes were steaming red. 

“Help, Edwin, please.” Audrey’s shriek stopped the music, making everyone turn towards the door. 

She had blood on her palm, and she was on her knees, shaking. 

“It’s Owen,” she sobbed, staring at her bloodied hand. “It started snowing outside, and he wanted to hang Blair’s decoration, and he fell down the ladder, and the camera crew is here,” She sobbed. 

“My God,” I exhaled as I rushed towards her. 

“I’ve called an Ambulance, and it will take thirty minutes for them to get here. Edwin is a medic. Please, I need him to stop the bleeding.” 

I assisted her off the grounds, and her weight pressed all over me. 

She barely finished talking before he left Cashmere’s side and ran towards us.

“Take me to him?” He said, using his official tone, the one he knew I liked, but I refused to acknowledge him. 

“I’ll go with them,” Galvin’s voice came from behind me, followed by his footsteps. 

“There’s no need for that,” I blurted out, trying to keep them both away from each other, but he walked closer regardless. 

The large door of the ballroom opened with a loud creaking sound, and Audrey ran out without waiting for further banter. 

“I’ll keep the Press busy while Mr Monroe works,” he said, forcing a smile and giving Edwin a nod, but I could already feel the heated tension between them. 

“We don’t have time for this, please, Edwin, let's go,” I responded, turning towards the door, ready to leave. 

“Everyone, please go with them!” Cashmere ordered, and the maids and Orchestras left the room with us. 

I rushed after Audrey, who was no longer in sight, and everyone followed behind me. We were barely on the stairs when I heard baby Jhayson’s wail echoing through the empty halls. He must have woken up from all the Chaos. 

“I’ll get the baby, you guys go,” I said, halting and heading back. 

Good grief, this was the release I needed after all that heat. 

An echo of laughter came from one of the ballrooms, drawing my attention from the task at hand. 

My pacing slowed as I walked closer. 

“I can’t bear the sight of you in his arms. Why won’t you just let me kill him? ” Adrian’s voice came. 

“You have to control yourself. We’re very close. Everything is going as planned,” Cashmere’s voice responded, and my curious legs moved forward until I could see through the tiny gap between the door that wasn’t fully closed. 

And my breath hitched when they came into view. 

Adrian cupped Cashmere’s ass as she stood between his legs, her hands around his neck as she playfully dug her nails into his hair. 

“Just until Christmas is over. Then it’ll be done,” she breathed against his lips, before he leaned in and devoured her lips like he had been starving.