Chapter 3

Jaxon stood behind Liana, the look on his expression icy enough to freeze her on the spot. Liana noticed the looks on the faces of the people before her and glanced behind her.

It turned out that Jaxon was around, after all. She turned back to look at Clarissa, who sat at one end of the couch. Just moments earlier, the latter had been sitting with her legs crossed, a smug look on her face as she twirled her hair.

Now, she was no longer smiling. In fact, she looked like she could kill.

It seemed that Jaxon and Clarissa were there for a gathering with Jaxon's friends. Judging from what his friends had said, this wasn't the first time. It seemed that Jaxon and Clarissa were already at the stage where they went everywhere together and didn't bother hiding their relationship.

Jaxon's friends seemed to defrost as he approached them. They immediately started talking.

"Sorry, Liana. We were just talking bullshit! We shouldn't have run our mouths."

"There's nothing between Jaxon and Ms. Beech, Liana."

"Don't take us seriously, Liana."

Jaxon grabbed Liana's hand to drag her out of the room. But she turned and splashed her drink on his face. Instantly, silence descended upon the room again.

Everyone stared at her, their scalps tingling with fear. They couldn't believe her actions.

They watched as she smiled and said amicably, "Go ahead and continue having fun with your sweetheart. I'll leave you to it."

She lowered her head to pry Jaxon's hand off hers. His expression was hideous as he hoisted her over his shoulder and strode out of the room, leaving everyone gaping at them.

Liana struggled with all her might on Jaxon's shoulder as he strode down the corridor. When the elevator arrived, he headed inside and turned around.

In the elevator, Liana saw another pair of leather shoes and long legs ensconced in black pants. A hand rested casually by the man's side, and each finger looked like a chiseled masterpiece.

The atmosphere was awkward and smothering. As Jaxon strode out of the elevator, Liana couldn't help but look up and meet the man's sharp gaze. Embarrassed, she hurried to cover her face with her hands and dropped her head again.

Outside the club, Jaxon threw Liana into the backseat before getting in. She got up, her head spinning. She'd been upside down over his shoulder for too long before being thrown into the car. She felt like she was going to have a concussion.

Jaxon got a packet of wet wipes from a box in the backseat to wipe his face. Liana caught sight of what seemed to be a box of condoms behind the wet wipes as she listened to him snarl, "Why did you come here? Was it to catch me red-handed?"

Instead of answering, she opened the car door to get out. She thought that this car was too dirty.

"Liana Winslow!" Jaxon yanked her back angrily. "Where the hell do you think you're going? How much longer are you going to keep this up?"

Her breathing sped up a little as she clenched her fists. "I want to go home."

Jaxon summoned Roy, who stood by Wonderland's entrance, to drive them home. No one spoke throughout the journey, and Liana sat as far away from Jaxon as possible. She looked pale, almost as if she would puke at any second.

She immediately got out of the car when they arrived. She hurried to the kitchen and got a glass of ice water, only calming down after downing the entire glass.

When she emerged, she saw Jaxon seated on the couch in the living room. She headed over to him and took a seat.

After another bout of smothering silence, Jaxon finally spoke. "I was there to discuss the project. Do you realize how you've humiliated me by charging over there and causing such a scene? Don't you find yourself idiotic, hateful, and like a shrew?"

"Anything else?" Liana asked calmly.

"Drop your irrational doubts and suspicions if you want us to be together forever. I don't have the time to keep treading lightly around you so I don't hurt your feelings."

"Alright. Anything else?"

Jaxon frowned. "Do you know how detestable you are right now?"

Liana stood up and smiled. He wouldn't need to feel that way soon. She headed upstairs without saying another word.

Jaxon was even more irritated by that smile of hers. He sat in the living room for a while longer before heading upstairs to the bedroom to find Liana already in bed.

He showered and lay beside her. She had her back to him in the darkness and scooted away, not wanting to be in contact with him at all.

He turned on his side and wrapped an arm around her, forcefully yanking her from the edge of the bed into his arms. His actions carried a hint of anger.

Jaxon was tall and strong, so Liana couldn't move when he tightened his hold on her. With that, she spent the rest of the night lying stiffly in his arms.

The following morning, Liana made breakfast for herself. When Jaxon came downstairs, he saw her sitting alone while eating a sandwich. He was already about to leave, but he headed toward the dining room abruptly. Then, he leaned in close to her. Seemingly wanting to appease her, he kept his tone gentle as he said, "Let's go out to sea for a couple of days. It'll be just us two."

Liana gave a noncommittal hum as she drank her milk. Unsurprisingly, Jaxon stood her up the day before the weekend. He told her that he needed to fly to Harborton.

Liana was unfazed. Perhaps he didn't even realize how long it had been since they'd last shared a meal together or spent time with each other. He had warned her not to think about getting divorced, yet he had long since treated her as if she didn't exist. He wouldn't care even if she were to disappear one day.

Over the weekend, Liana removed her books from the bookshelf and packed them to take to her new place. Melinda, who rarely spoke to her over the phone, called as she was putting them up on her new shelf.

Liana answered it politely, saying, "Good day, Madam Melinda."

Melinda arrogantly said, "Come home so we can draft an agreement about what we discussed before."

"Is that necessary?"

"It is if I say so."

"Fine, then. I'll be there in the afternoon."

"Be here by noon."

"Fine." Liana agreed to go since she didn't have anything else to do.

On the other end of the line, Melinda stood on the second floor as she looked down at Clarissa, who was strolling through the garden with Jaxon. She was pleased.

She wanted Liana to see what a perfect match looked like and to know who Jaxon's Ms. Right really was.