THE MISTAKEN MISTRESS のすべてのチャプター: チャプター 21 - チャプター 30

(William’s POV— FIRST TIME) The moment she uttered, “I just need to hear what he has to say,” something within me broke. It wasn't anger. It wasn't jealousy. It was fear. Cold, paralyzing fear. And that frightened me more than Daniel ever could. When Jane Came Down the Stairs She looked small. Delicate. But resolute .... the kind of resolve that prompts people to face storms, convinced they can weather the lightning. One moment I felt irritated with Daniel. The next, I was consumed by fear at the thought of her approaching him. Fear that he might hurt her. With words. With lies. With memories. I didn’t even realize I had moved until my hand found Daniel’s collar. I never intended to strike him. I just needed him away from her. Away from that look in her eyes when she expressed her desire to listen to him. Back in My Office Now she was perched on the couch, silent, hands folded, still tense from the day’s events. I stood a few feet away.

Jane's POV The car felt overwhelmingly quiet. Too silent. Too heavy with all the things William wasn’t saying. He stared out the window, his fingers drumming a rapid beat on his knee, sharp, controlled, unyielding. His jaw was set so tightly that it seemed almost painful. “William…” I began, my voice barely more than a whisper. “No,” he interrupted. “Not yet.” He wasn’t angry. He was deep in thought. Calculating. And that concern gnawed at me more than any shouting could. We arrived at Martins Corp. As we stepped into his private elevator, his cool demeanor cracked, just a little. He suddenly turned to face me. “What did that man say to you?” he demanded. I swallowed hard. “He told me… I need to stay away from you. That I have no clue what you’re involved in.” His eyes narrowed, darkening with a dangerous intensity. “Anything else?” “Yes. He warned that if I cared about my life, I should leave before I get caught up in whatever is happening.” W

Jane's POV The hospital was filled with the sharp scent of disinfectant and an underlying tension that felt almost palpable. As soon as the car bumped against the curb, William was out the door, opening mine before I could even react. He offered a steady hand at my back, guiding me forward. “This way,” he instructed, his voice low and controlled, the kind of tone he used when he was trying to keep his emotions hidden. I was too shaken to argue. We hurried through the glaringly bright corridor, weaving past nurses pushing carts, a child crying somewhere nearby, and the buzzing of machines that churned my stomach. But as we reached the doors of the emergency ward, William slowed his pace. He turned to face me, placing both hands firmly on my shoulders. “Jane. Pay attention,” he urged, his voice wavering just enough to make my heart ache. “She’s stable. They said she’s awake.” A rush of relief washed over me. “Thank God…” “But,” he continued, his jaw clenching, “t

Williams POV The nurse's words hung in the air even after she had left the room. Just ten more minutes. In ten minutes, Jane would have to leave her mother’s side once again, and I’d have to put on a brave face as if everything was fine. Jane entered the hospital room, her fingers grazing the door frame before she gently shut it behind her. Once she was inside, I finally let my emotions surface. My hands trembled. Not out of anger. But from hearing those men whisper her name as if it were a threat. I sank back down into my chair, resting my elbows on my knees and staring at the bare wall across from me. They weren’t supposed to show up here. They shouldn’t have spoken to me like that. And they definitely shouldn’t have known how much she meant to me. The reality was painfully clear: She shouldn’t matter to me this much. But, inexplicably, she did. My phone buzzed again. Regina Naturally. I let it go unanswered. The phone rang once more. I clenc

Jane's POV Ten minutes later, I found myself outside William's office door, my heart racing. I knocked once. “Come in,” he replied, his voice low and strained, as if he’d been walking in circles. I stepped inside. He was positioned by the large windows, hands tucked into his pockets, gazing out at the city as if he were contemplating some great challenge or destruction. “Close the door,” he instructed, still facing the view. I hesitated for just a moment before shutting it behind me. Suddenly, the room felt smaller. Warmer. Too quiet. When he finally turned to look at me, his face was neither cold nor furious. Instead, it was filled with conflict. Intense conflict. “Jane,” he started slowly, “I need to clarify a few things.” “Is this about last night?” I asked, my voice a whisper. “Yes.” He took a step closer to me. “It wasn’t coincidental,” he explained. “Your mother’s accident. The man I saw in the hallway. The warning I gave you in that building