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CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR Too Close
Fecha de publicación:
2026-05-05 23:04:38
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The wife they never expected CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE Protective Instinct
Anna’s POV---SilenceThe office feels colder after the call.Not physically.Emotionally.---XavierXavier lowers the phone slowly.Too slowly.His expression unreadable.Controlled.But something about the silence feels dangerous now.---My Voice“What was that?”---His Response“Nothing you need to worry about.”Immediate.Too immediate.---TruthLie.Not complete.Not convincing.---ObservationI’ve learned Xavier carefully over the last few months.The difference between calm and controlled anger.The difference between composure and restraint.Right now—He looks restrained.---The ShiftHe walks back toward the desk, setting the phone down carefully.Too carefully.Like if he moves too fast, something sharper might surface.---My PulseThe tension in the room changes completely.The earlier awkwardness disappears beneath something heavier.More serious.---My Question“Who was it?”---His Answer“I don’t know yet.”That part, at least, sounds honest.---The Differenc
The wife they never expected CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR Too Close
Xavier’s POV---DistractionDistraction 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 ReasonAnna sits six feet away from me.That is the problem.---The OfficeThe Milan investors continue discussing expansion projections across the conference table.I answer automatically.Calmly.Correctly.But part of my attention remains fixed elsewhere.---AnnaShe’s taking notes beside the screen.Professional.Focused.Careful not to look directly at me for too long.Interesting.Because now I notice every moment she avoids my eyes.---RealisationBefore the kiss—She rarely avoided anything.---Dangerous ThoughtI preferred that version of her.Less cautious.Less aware of me.---Worse ThoughtNo.That’s not true.---The Meeting EndsThe investors finally leave nearly an hour later.The conference room empties slowly.Silence settles again.---The ShiftAnd im
The wife they never expected CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE Unsteady
Anna’s POVThe ProblemThe problem with kissing Xavier Cortez is that afterward—Everything changes.Not loudly.Not obviously.But enough.Enough that now I notice everything.The OfficeThe executive floor feels exactly the same this morning.Quiet.Polished.Controlled.But I don’t feel the same walking through it.Because now—Every step toward Xavier’s office comes with awareness.My ThoughtsI kissed him.No—He kissed me.And somehow that distinction matters.WorseWhat’s worse is that I kissed him back.InsideI walk into his office carefully.Professional.Composed.Prepared.Or at least pretending to be.XavierHe’s already there.Of course he is.Dark suit.Sharp posture.Focused expression.And immediately—My heart betrays me.RealisationThis is ridiculous.He’s standing exactly the way he always stands.So why does everything suddenly feel different?His Voice“Good morning, Anna.”Calm.Even.Perfectly controlled.My Response“Morning.”Too quick.Again.SilenceThe ro
The wife they never expected CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO After the Kiss
Xavier’s POV---ControlI should not have kissed her.That thought repeats itself the entire drive home.Calm.Logical.Unavoidable.And completely ineffective.---The ProblemBecause no matter how many times I replay the moment—I still remember exactly how she looked standing in my office afterward.Breathless.Silent.Eyes wide with the same shock I felt.---The Worse ProblemAnd I want to do it again.---The MansionThe mansion is quiet when we arrive.Too quiet.The kind of silence that forces awareness.Every step feels sharper.Every glance heavier.---AnnaShe walks slightly ahead of me toward the staircase.Careful.Composed.Trying very hard to act normal.Interesting.Because so am I.---FailureNeither of us is succeeding.---The PauseAt the top of the stairs, she stops briefly.Not turning fully toward me.Just enough that I can see the hesitation in her posture.“Goodnight, Xavier.”Not Mr. Cortez.Xavier.---ImpactThat should not affect me as much as it does.
The wife they never expected CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE The Moment Between Us
Anna’s POV---The NightThe office is almost empty by the time the clock passes ten.Most of the executive floor is dark now.Quiet.Still.Only a few lights remain on across the building.Including ours.---The PressureThe last two weeks have blurred together.Investor calls.Board meetings.Delays.Countermoves.Pressure layered carefully beneath every decision.And somehow—Through all of it—Xavier never lost control.---ObservationI glance toward his office through the glass walls.He’s still working.Jacket removed.Sleeves rolled slightly upward.Focused on the documents spread across his desk.Composed.Always composed.---The DifferenceBut lately—I’ve started noticing the smaller things.The way he rubs the bridge of his nose when exhausted.The way his jaw tightens when irritated.The way his voice softens slightly when he speaks to me.And somehow—That feels more dangerous than the pressure outside this building.---InsideI step into his office quietly.“You’re s
The wife they never expected CHAPTER THIRTY The Photo
Anna’s POV---The MorningThe morning begins quietly.For the first time in weeks—The company feels stable.Not relaxed.Not completely safe.But steadier.---The DifferencePeople are no longer watching me like I might collapse.The whispers have softened.The tension has eased.At least publicly.---My DeskI settle into work quickly, reviewing schedules and investor confirmations from yesterday’s conference.The response has been positive.Stronger than expected.Media coverage stabilised.Investor confidence improved.Even internally—People seem calmer.---ClaraClara stops beside my desk with a tablet in her hand.“You’ve become popular,” she says dryly.I blink.“What?”She turns the screen toward me.And immediately—I understand.---The ArticleIt isn’t negative.That’s the strange part.It’s worse.Or maybe—More dangerous.---The Headline“The Cortez Marriage: Strategy or Something More?”---My PulseMy stomach tightens slightly.Because beneath the headline—Is a p
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