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CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR Too Close

Author: Asisipho Mloka
last update publish date: 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
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  • 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 FIFTY-FIVE Protective Instinct

    Xavier's POVThe MessageI stare at the phone longer than I should.The words remain exactly the same.Unchanged.Unwelcome.---> Anna is in danger too.---The ProblemMost threats don't bother me.They never have.Threats come with business.Success creates enemies.Power attracts resentment.I'

  • The wife they never expected    CHAPTER FIFTY-ONE Compromised

    Anna’s POV---The KnockSomeone knocks on the office door again.Sharp. Professional. Persistent.Neither of us answers.---The ProblemBecause Xavier is still kissing me like he forgot the rest of the world exists.And honestly?I might have forgotten too.---My HandsThey remain tangled in his

  • The wife they never expected    CHAPTER FIFTY Four O’Clock

    Xavier’s POV---Four O’ClockI should not be distracted.There are still unresolved media issues. Three pending investor calls. A legal review waiting for approval.And yet—I have reread the same document twice because all I can think about is Anna blushing in the conference room.---Problematic

  • The wife they never expected    CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE The Leak

    Xavier’s POVSilenceThe hallway becomes completely still.Anna stands frozen in front of me while the phone screen glows between my hands.Headlines.Documents.Contract pages.Enough information to destroy everything we spent months protecting.My ThoughtsImpossible.The contract access was rest

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