All Chapters of MY SECRET HUSBAND IS TEN YEARS YOUNGER: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

{JAYDEN} I took her into one of the king-sized bedrooms to relax and freshen up. Every time she walks ahead of me, I see it as an opportunity to check her out. Her steps were flawless and charming like the goddess of the moon. I also noticed she kept counting her steps so she won't trip again. Funny. Her actions took me back to when she almost tripped due to her clumsiness, and how my arms were subconsciously wrapped around her waist to prevent her from hitting the ground. “Thanks,” she literally kept blushing like a child. Despite trying to hide her face, I could see how it flamed up so much. For the first time, I could feel her warm, feminine body very close to me. The feel of her smooth, pale skin sent some heat rushing all over me. I wasn't gonna survive a whole day with her, unintentionally seducing me. Her actions and little reactions to the wall human-like sculptures left me chuckling and fascinated. Nyra’s expressions towards everything made me satisfied and

{NYRA} “You always come back to me,” he laughed evilly, his voice curling around me like smoke. I stood right back at the altar. It was dark, cold, and gruesome. The crowd was pointing at me, smirking, laughing, sneering. Their eyes switched into a ghostly mockery, full of blood splattering all around the wall. I could see the media lingering around me with cameras and huge lights. My parents stood beside him, holding his hands like they were in full support. On me was a dirty old wedding gown with a horrifying black looking veil over my face. The mirrors were positioned in a vast hall, stretching to infinity. Each one of them reflects a different version of myself: laughing, crying, screaming, and bleeding. “I don’t,” I whispered, but my voice trembled, and my palms were sweaty. Draven stepped closer, same tailored suit. Same crooked smile. But his eyes… ember-red, like coals that never die. “You do. Even now. You’re here.” I backed away, heart hammering. “Thi

{NYRA} The drive felt like a dream stitched together with fragments of doubt and flashes of hope. The city lights blurred past us, each one a silent witness to the chaos inside my chest. Zarina hummed along to the radio, her voice soft, her presence grounding. But my mind was elsewhere… on Jayden, on the photos, on the truth I’d buried beneath layers of denial. “How was he faring?” I pondered, remembering the threats of my father, the previous night. And Zarina… I was going to tell her everything, soon. But not now. I kept skipping past time. As we pulled into the parking lot of the Painting Lounge, the scent of linseed oil and fresh canvas greeted us like an old friend. Inside, the room buzzed with quiet energy… artists lost in their own worlds, brushes dancing across stretched fabric, colors bleeding into emotions. Zarina grabbed two aprons and handed me one. “Let’s paint something wild,” she declared, smiling. Her eyes gleamed like a shooting star that hovered arou

NYRA RING! RING! RING! RING! The sound of my phone ringing shattered the moment. Perfectly timed. The screen glowed in my face, revealing Zarina’s name above. Everything felt right as if this was her intention all along. Like she planned it. Smart move! A tide of relief washed over me, like an outpouring of cold rain. I thought I was going to vanish any minute. Jayden and I disengaged swiftly. The atmosphere between us felt awkwardly silent. Our eyes lingered on each other subconsciously as if they wanted to say something. Perhaps, something ridiculous towards each other. “Uhm, sorry,” I whispered, avoiding contact with him. My pale face had transformed into crimson. I pressed the phone to my ear, listening carefully. “ Hey, Zar… what’s up?” Zarina: Where the fuck are you Nyra? You’ve been out for more than an hour. My head tilted towards Jayden. He was watching me with intensity, his ears twitching, listening to my conversation. He had no idea who was on the pho

NYRA Things took a drastic turn for me after that night. Jayden had suddenly brought back the passion in me that was slowly melting away like sawdust. “What was I so afraid of,” I remembered his words. How it plunged into me like an anchor used to slow drift in open waters. He made me realize the talents I was wasting away… and now that I think of it. He mentioned he saw me handle brushes— countless times. How and when? I’m pretty certain he wasn't always around to see that. From what I could remember, Jayden was a boarder. I shrugged away the thoughts. Anyway, it didn't matter. Now! My mission was to reveal this great news to my parents. The thoughts alone spread inevitable laughter around my face as I let the warm water splash on my unclad body. I hummed to the R&B music playing across my room. It was refreshing to my ears. It's been a long time since I’ve listened to good music. But little did I know, it was going to turn into a chain wrecking sound for me.