Semua Bab The Ultimatum Wife: Bab 81 - Bab 90

Jace sighed and leaned closer, his voice lowering even more. “He’s already halfway there, El. You should’ve seen the way he looked at you. Like he was trying to piece together a puzzle he didn’t know he was already part of.”Elena’s brow creased faintly. “He shouldn’t be.”“But he is,” Jace pressed, frustration and care lacing his tone. “You saved his life. You think a man like him won’t dig? He’s too used to control to let this go. You’ll either tell him the truth or he’ll find it himself. And if he finds it, it won’t end pretty.”Her fingers twitched against the bedsheet, and for a moment, she was silent. Jace waited, watching her chest rise and fall, until her voice finally came out, quiet but sharp. “You think I don’t know that? You think I don’t know what happens when men like him feel betrayed?”“I’m not saying he’ll hurt you,” Jace said quickly. “But the kind of power Roman has, he doesn’t forgive easily. If he finds out you were the one who took the Harrow contract…”“Stop.”

Roman’s gaze flicked toward him immediately, posture straightening. Jace looked like he hadn’t slept in days, dark circles under his eyes, his clothes wrinkled from the drive, his expression unreadable but full of things Roman couldn’t quite name.The younger man’s hands were buried deep in his jacket pockets, knuckles pale. He glanced down the hall toward Roman and stopped when their eyes met.For a few seconds, neither said anything.Then Jace exhaled softly and started walking toward him.“She’s sleeping again,” he said, voice low and strained.Roman gave a single nod, his jaw clenching. “Good.”Silence settled between them again, stretched and taut.Jace studied him quietly for a long moment before muttering, “Your parents were here.”Roman’s brows rose slightly. “You heard.”“Hard not to,” Jace replied with a faint, tired smirk that didn’t reach his eyes. “Walls aren’t soundproof in this place.”Roman didn’t respond to that.Jace shoved his hands deeper into his pockets and sig

Roman leaned back, the faintest flicker of amusement breaking through his guarded expression. “You don’t sound surprised.”“I’m not.” She turned her head slightly toward the window, wincing as she did. “My father fakes concern the way some people fake smiles. It’s good PR for him to have a wounded daughter married to the Thornes. He’ll milk it for sympathy and business leverage before I’ve even healed.”Her tone was bitter, not emotional, just laced with weary realism.Roman studied her quietly. “You’re not going to call them back?”“Not yet.” Her gaze slid back to him, sharp but tired. “If I open my eyes now, they’ll turn this whole place into a stage. I’m not ready for any drama, Roman. Not with my ribs screaming and a dozen lies already floating in the air.”Roman exhaled slowly, his jaw tightening. “You shouldn’t have to fake unconsciousness just to get peace.”She gave a faint, humorless laugh. “Roman, I’ve been faking peace my whole life.”He didn’t respond right away, just watc

“Elena,” she whispered to herself, forcing a shaky smile. “You’ve dealt with worse men than him. You can handle this.”She leaned back against the pillows, folding her hands on her lap. Her mind moved with precision, assembling her next mask.If Roman asked questions, she’d deflect. If he pressed, she’d tease.If he doubted, she’d play the hurt wife.She’d twist his rules against him until he couldn’t see past the woman he thought she was, the charming, careless bride who lived to annoy him, not the killer who had saved his life in the dark.Because she had saved him.The memory of his voice, broken, desperate as he’d called her name by the wreckage, lingered in her ears.It wasn’t fake. Not calculated.It had been real.That was her biggest mistake. Letting him mean something.Her fingers brushed the bandage on her ribs as a dull ache pulsed beneath.She’d done it for survival. That was all.But deep down, even as she told herself the same lie again and again, she knew that wasn’t t

“Elena...” Roman’s voice broke through the quiet, low but sharp with concern.He pushed the sheets aside and swung his legs off the bed in one smooth, instinctive motion. The moment his feet hit the floor, he was already moving toward her.She froze.Roman’s expression was unlike anything she’d seen from him before... stripped of the steel and arrogance that usually framed his face. His brow was drawn tight, his eyes dark with worry as he reached out but didn’t quite touch her.“What the hell are you doing out of bed?” he demanded, his tone firm but the edge couldn’t hide the panic underneath. “You’re hurt, Elena. You should be resting.”For a heartbeat, she couldn’t speak. Her throat tightened at the sound of his voice... that strange, genuine worry that somehow cracked through her armor.She’d faced gunfire, betrayal, death. But Roman Thorne looking at her like she mattered? That nearly undid her.“I...” The word broke halfway out. Her lips parted, her voice trembling as she trie