本棚
検索
ホーム / Romance / The wife they never expected / CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR Too Close

共有

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR Too Close

作者: Asisipho Mloka
last update 公開日: 2026-05-05 23:04:38

Xavier’s POV

---

Distraction

Distraction is inefficient.

I dislike inefficiency.

Which means I especially dislike the fact that I have reread the same report three times without processing a single number.

---

The Reason

Anna sits six feet away from me.

That is the problem.

---

The Office

The Milan investors continue discussing expansion projections across the conference table.

I answer automatically.

Calmly.

Correctly.

But part of my attention remains fixed elsewhere.

---

Anna

She’s taking not
この本を無料で読み続ける
コードをスキャンしてアプリをダウンロード
前のチャプター 次のチャプター
ロックされたチャプター

最新チャプター

  • The wife they never expected    CHAPTER SIXTY-ONE Tea and Secrets

    Anna's POVThe KnockNobody moves.Nobody speaks.Nobody even looks away from the photograph.The PhotographMrs. Alvarez.Elena.Marcus.Standing together.Smiling.Five years ago.And Outside The DoorThe real Mrs. Alvarez waits in the hallway.---My HeartBeats painfully hard.---Mrs. Alvarez's VoiceWarm.Familiar.Completely normal.---> "Xavier? Anna? I made tea."---SilenceThe room feels like it's stopped breathing.---DominicSlowly looks toward the door.---ClaraSlowly looks toward the door.---XavierLooks absolutely terrifying.---My ThoughtsOh no.---Because Xavier is angry.Not explosive anger.Not loud anger.---WorseControlled anger.---The Dangerous Kind---Xavier Takes The PhotographFolding it carefully.---ThenSlides it back into the file.---My ConfusionWhy is he hiding it?---Xavier Meets My EyesAnd immediately I understand.---Not YetHe doesn't want her to know we know.---SmartVery smart.---Xavier's VoiceCalm.Perfectly calm.---Xav

  • The wife they never expected    CHAPTER SIXTY Clara Bennett

    Anna's POV---SilenceThe room freezes.Completely.---ClaraStops just inside the doorway.One hand still resting on the handle.Her eyes immediately landing on the paper.---The PaperThe one with her name written across it.---CLARA BENNETT---My HeartDrops instantly.---Because This Looks BadVery bad.---Clara Reads The RoomIn approximately two seconds.---Her Eyes MoveTo the paper.To Xavier.To Dominic.To me.---Then Back To The Paper---Clara"...I feel like I missed something."---SilenceNobody laughs.---Which MeansThis is serious.---Clara Notices ImmediatelyOf course she does.---Clara"What happened?"---XavierCold.Controlled.Dangerously unreadable.---Xavier"We found Elena's file."---Clara Goes Still---My ThoughtsInteresting.---Because She Knows Who Elena Was.---Clara"How?"---Dominic"It was delivered to the mansion."---Clara's Eyes NarrowImmediately.---ThenThey move back to the paper.---Her NameStill sitting there.Waiting

  • The wife they never expected    CHAPTER FIFTY-NINE The Traitor

    Xavier's POVSilenceNobody speaks.Nobody moves.Nobody breathes.The LetterThe words remain on the page.Burning themselves into my mind.> The traitor works inside Cortez Industries.ImpossibleAnd yet—Not impossible enough.Five Years AgoI trusted people I shouldn't have trusted.Believed reports I shouldn't have believed.Accepted conclusions I should have questioned.---ElenaNever did.---That's what made her dangerous.---Beside MeAnna rereads the final line slowly.Carefully.---Her Voice"You believe her."---TruthImmediate.Absolute.---Xavier"Yes."---SilenceThe room grows even quieter.---BecauseIf Elena was telling the truth—Then someone inside my company helped bury her death.---WorseThat person may still be there.---Dominic"We need to verify the letter."---My Eyes LiftGood.A rational response.---Dominic Continues"Handwriting.""Paper age.""Ink analysis."---TruthAny other day, I would agree.---TonightI already know.---My Voice"It'

  • The wife they never expected    CHAPTER FIFTY-EIGHT The Danger Inside

    Anna's POV---The DoorNobody moves.Nobody breathes.Nobody speaks.---The HallwayThe old wooden door at the end of the corridor slowly swings inward.By itself.---My HeartBeats so hard it actually hurts.---Beside MeXavier's arm tightens around my waist instantly.Pulling me slightly behind him.---My ThoughtsProtective husband mode activated.Again.---Xavier"Stay behind me."---My Eyes NarrowImmediately.---My Voice"No."---SilenceHe turns his head slowly.---Xavier"No?"---My Voice"If somebody breaks into your house, I'm not hiding behind you while you investigate horror-movie noises."---The Look He Gives MeSuggests he's reconsidering every life choice that brought us here.---Xavier"Anna."---My Response"No."---Xavier"You're impossible."---My Smile"That's rich coming from you."---Dominic's VoiceCrackles through the phone.---Dominic"Can you both argue after we identify the potential threat?"---Silence---My ThoughtsFair.---Xavier Beg

  • The wife they never expected    CHAPTER FIFTY-SEVEN The Breach

    Xavier's POV---The AlertThe sound echoes through the study.Sharp.Relentless.Wrong.---SECURITY BREACH DETECTED---My Blood Turns ColdNot because someone entered the property.Because of the timing.---The Messages.The Photograph.Marcus.The cameras.---And now this.---Not CoincidenceNever coincidence.---AnnaI immediately move toward her.Instinct.Nothing else.---My Hand Finds HersFirm.Certain.Protective.---Anna's VoiceQuiet.Steady.Far calmer than most people would be.---Anna"What's happening?"---TruthI don't know.And I hate not knowing.---My Voice"Stay with me."---Her Eyes SoftenJust slightly.---Anna"I wasn't planning to run away."---Despite EverythingA small smile almost appears.Almost.---Not Tonight---My Phone RingsDominic.Again.---I Answer Immediately---Xavier"Report."---SilenceThen—---Dominic"Motion sensors activated near the east garden."---My Jaw Tightens---Dominic Continues"Security teams are moving now."-

  • The wife they never expected    CHAPTER FIFTY-SIX The Dead Don't Smile

    Anna's POV---ImpossibleNobody speaks.Nobody moves.Nobody breathes.---The StudyThe silence inside the room becomes unbearable.Heavy.Sharp.Wrong.---XavierIs staring at the photograph like the world just tilted beneath his feet.---My HeartI've never seen him look like this before.Not during the contract leak.Not during the boardroom scandal.Not even when Madison tried to destroy us.---This Is DifferentThis isn't anger.This isn't frustration.---This is fear.---Real Fear.---My Voice"Xavier."Soft.Careful.---He Doesn't RespondNot immediately.---His Eyes Remain Locked On The ImageAs if looking away might somehow make it disappear.---My PulseRacing.---SlowlyI move closer.Close enough to see the photo clearly.---The FigureA man.Standing near the road.Watching the mansion.---Smiling.---My Blood Runs ColdBecause Xavier is right.The smile feels intentional.---Like a message.---Like a warning.---My Voice"You know him."---SilenceThe

  • The wife they never expected    CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR One Real Night

    Anna’s POVThe CityThe city looks unreal from up here.Lights stretching endlessly beneath the rooftop.Rain shimmering softly against the glass.Music low enough to feel private.And somehow—None of it feels as overwhelming as Xavier sitting beside me.The DifferenceTonight feels dangerous in a

  • The wife they never expected    CHAPTER FORTY-THREE Not Part of the Arrangement

    Xavier’s POVThe DriveI should not be nervous.It’s dinner.One evening.One decision I have negotiated, planned, and controlled carefully.And yet—My pulse has been unsteady since Anna opened the bedroom door.The ProblemThe necklace was a risk.A calculated one.Still a risk.Because gifts imp

  • The wife they never expected    CHAPTER FORTY-TWO Seven O’Clock

    Anna’s POVThe Entire DayI make exactly three mistakes during the morning meeting.Which, unfortunately, is three more than usual.Clara Notices Immediately“You typed the same date twice.”I blink down at the tablet in mild horror.Oh God.I actually did.My Excuse“I’m distracted.”Clara’s Dry T

  • The wife they never expected    CHAPTER FORTY-ONE The Invitation

    Anna’s POVThe MorningSomething feels different the next morning.Not lighter.Not easier.Just—Decided.The MansionThe house is unusually quiet when I walk downstairs.Soft sunlight spills across the marble floors while the scent of coffee drifts faintly from the kitchen.Normal.Everything loo

続きを読む

あなたも気に入るかもしれません

無料で面白い小説を探して読んでみましょう
GoodNovel アプリで人気小説に無料で！お好きな本をダウンロードして、いつでもどこでも読みましょう！
アプリで無料で本を読む
コードをスキャンしてアプリで読む
DMCA.com Protection Status