When Jealousy Spoke Louder Than Pride

Chapter 21: When Jealousy Spoke Louder Than Pride

Morning came too quickly.

Aaliyah barely slept, her mind replaying the memory of Ethan’s lips against hers, the warmth of his hands, the promise in his eyes. When sunlight filtered through the curtains, reality rushed back in—along with fear.

Kisses don’t rewrite contracts, she reminded herself.

Downstairs, the mansion buzzed with quiet activity. Staff moved efficiently, greeting her with polite smiles. But something felt different today. Maybe it was the way her heart refused to calm, or the way she caught herself hoping to see Ethan again.

She found him in the dining room, already dressed in a crisp charcoal suit, phone pressed to his ear.

“Yes,” he said sharply. “Cancel my morning meeting. I’ll be late.”

He looked up and froze when he saw her.

The tension from the night before filled the room instantly.

“I’ll see you later,” he said into the phone, then ended the call.

“Good morning,” Aaliyah said softly.

“Good morning,” he replied, his voice gentler than usual. “Did you sleep?”

She shook her head slightly. “Did you?”

“No.”

A small, nervous smile passed between them—something fragile but real.

Before either of them could say more, hurried footsteps echoed through the hallway.

“Ethan!”

A woman’s voice—bright, confident, familiar.

Aaliyah stiffened as a tall, elegant brunette strode into the room without waiting for permission. Her designer heels clicked against the floor as she smiled brightly at Ethan.

“Amara,” Ethan said, surprise flashing across his face. “What are you doing here?”

Amara laughed lightly. “You stopped answering my calls. I had to see you in person.”

She turned then, her gaze landing on Aaliyah. The smile didn’t reach her eyes.

“And you must be the wife,” Amara said smoothly. “I’ve heard so much about you.”

Aaliyah forced a polite nod. “I’m Aaliyah.”

Ethan’s jaw tightened. “Amara is a business associate,” he said quickly. “And an old friend.”

Old friend, Aaliyah repeated inwardly.

Amara stepped closer to Ethan, far too close. “You didn’t tell me you’d married someone like her.”

Something twisted painfully in Aaliyah’s chest.

“She’s not a ‘someone,’” Ethan said coolly. “She’s my wife.”

The emphasis sent a shock through all three of them.

Amara raised a brow. “Since when do you sound so… defensive?”

Ethan didn’t answer.

Instead, he turned to Aaliyah. “I have a meeting. You don’t need to stay.”

She lifted her chin. “I’m fine.”

Amara’s eyes flicked between them, realization dawning. “Oh,” she said slowly. “So that’s what’s changed.”

“What do you mean?” Aaliyah asked.

Amara smiled, but there was steel beneath it. “Ethan never looks at people the way he’s looking at you.”

Ethan snapped, “Amara, that’s enough.”

But the damage was done.

Aaliyah excused herself moments later, her appetite gone. As she walked down the corridor, her chest burned with emotions she didn’t want to name.

Jealousy. Insecurity. Fear.

She reached the garden when footsteps approached behind her.

“Aaliyah,” Ethan called.

She turned. “You don’t have to explain.”

“I want to,” he said firmly.

She crossed her arms. “Is she someone I should be worried about?”

His answer came without hesitation. “No.”

“But she wants to be,” Aaliyah said quietly.

Ethan exhaled. “Amara is used to having access to me. She doesn’t like losing control.”

“And what about you?” Aaliyah asked. “Do you?”

He stepped closer. “I don’t like the idea of you thinking I’m still the man who kept you at arm’s length.”

She looked up at him. “Then prove it.”

He hesitated only a second before saying, “Have dinner with me tonight. Just us. No contracts. No pretending.”

Her heart pounded.

“Okay,” she said.

As Ethan walked away, Amara watched from the window, her smile gone, her eyes dark.

This marriage was no longer a business arrangement.

And she wasn’t going to let that happen without a fight.