LOVE FOR SALE (English Version)

Chapter 14: Half Truth

"Love—are you awake?"

It was Primo.

There was no mistaking it. That was a man's voice.

Jade froze where she stood. Her husband was outside the door, gently knocking.

Primo had never been the type to disturb her sleep. Even when they were still in Manila, he had been perfectly fine with not having her attend to him.

She glanced at her wristwatch. It was almost nine in the morning. Perhaps breakfast was already prepared, and he wanted them to eat together.

She swallowed repeatedly.

Then, she hurried toward the door, unsure whether she should open it or make sure it remained locked.

Vince was standing right behind her.

She glanced at him and saw the meaningful smile playing across his lips.

A mischievous smile.

What was she supposed to tell Primo if he discovered that Vince was inside their bedroom?

In an instant, Vince was already in front of her. He grabbed the hand holding the doorknob and quickly locked the door again.

He braced both arms against the door, nearly trapping her in his embrace. Jade, meanwhile, stood there like a statue, unable to move.

She couldn't bring herself to look behind her. She was afraid that whatever Vince intended to do next would be even worse.

Why did the thought of Primo catching them in this situation make her heart ache so much?

Jade felt as though she couldn't bear to hurt the man who, from the very beginning, had done nothing but worry about her, take care of her, and love her.

Even though she often questioned whether all of his kindness was genuine.

Why?

Because Primo was also a Villareal.

"Jade—I'll let you go if you promise to talk to me. Just the two of us. Tomorrow—at our old meeting place. Just you and me, Jade."

"Shut up! Who are you to order me around?" she snapped.

"Fine. Then let's just open the door and let Primo see us right now. Let's see what happens next, Jade."

Jade swallowed hard.

It seemed Vince was the one trying to control her now.

But what about Primo?

Primo would be hurt if he discovered the truth about her and Vince this way.

No.

She wouldn't drag Primo into all of this.

She wasn't ready yet.

This wasn't the right time.

"Fine! But please, stay away from me!" Jade said firmly.

Vince immediately stepped away and headed toward the bathroom.

Jade knew he intended to remain there to honor their agreement—that she would have to talk to him.

Alone.

She knew Vince was planning something, something that couldn't possibly be good, but she pushed the thought aside for the moment.

What mattered was that Vince and Primo wouldn't cross paths.

Not now.

Jade exhaled slowly.

Once she was certain Vince was inside the bathroom, she immediately opened the door.

"Yes, Primo!"

"Why did you take so long to open the door, Love? Are you okay?" he asked, concern clearly written across his face.

"Huh? Ahm—yes. Yes, I'm fine. Come on. Let's go to the kitchen first. I want some coffee."

"I was actually planning to bring breakfast up here for you, Love. You might still not be feeling well because of what happened last night."

The genuine concern in Primo's eyes made Jade's heart tighten.

She didn't understand why, but once again, she felt a tiny sting of guilt.

Perhaps she really was beginning to feel guilty.

"Are you okay?" Primo asked again, still worried.

Jade immediately wrapped her arms around his neck.

Since he was much taller than her, she had to rise onto her toes.

She needed to think of a way to make Vince believe that she had already rejected Primo.

That way, she could hurt Vince in return for the way he had humiliated her.

She needed to hurt his feelings—

the same way he had once shattered her heart.

"Kiss me, Primo," Jade boldly whispered, her eyes half-lidded.

Primo stared into her eyes.

This was the first time Jade had ever asked him for a kiss.

"Just a kiss, Love? We can do more than that... if you want."

Their lips met in a passionate kiss.

Every kiss Primo gave her, Jade returned.

Passionate.

Warm.

Intense.

Until Primo's lips slowly moved along her neck.

And Jade couldn't have been mistaken.

She could see Vince's burning eyes from the bathroom doorway.

It was slightly open.

And she knew—

Vince was watching them.

She knew that right now, he must have been seething with anger.

"I don't know whether I should believe everything you've told me, Vince. But fine. I'll play along with you—for now... if that's what you want."

Jade noticed how Primo's kiss deepened, and she could feel the intensity between them growing.

She had to admit it.

Primo was incredibly handsome.

He looked like a Greek god, with a strong, well-built body that he maintained through his regular workouts at the gym.

Jade swallowed.

She couldn't believe where her thoughts were going.

Why was she suddenly thinking about her husband's body?

And why couldn't she stop herself from looking at him?

She bit her lower lip.

Primo wrapped his strong arms around her and gently carried her to the soft bed.

"Should we lock the door?" he asked seductively.

Jade closed her eyes.

She was beginning to regret what she had started.

She had provoked her husband, and now he was responding to her.

But they couldn't go any further.

Vince was still in the bathroom.

Primo's hand moved gently along her leg as his lips continued to kiss her neck.

Not now, Primo!

Jade's heart was pounding relentlessly.

What was happening to her?

She felt like a teenager being kissed by her first boyfriend.

Primo's strong body pressed against hers, yet strangely, none of it felt frightening.

"I can hear your heartbeat, baby. It's saying my name," Primo whispered between breaths.

Jade couldn't bring herself to meet his eyes because she knew he was right.

Primo's lips captured hers again, and this time, the kiss was deeper and more passionate.

Jade already knew what might happen next.

She desperately tried to keep her thoughts focused because all she wanted was to get Primo out of their bedroom before he discovered that Vince was there.

"I want to taste what's mine, Jade," Primo murmured, his voice sounding more like a command than a request.

His hand moved toward the zipper of her denim shorts as he continued kissing her neck.

Jade's eyes widened.

She knew she had to stop him.

"No! Primo—" she whispered, barely able to speak between her breaths.

At once, it was as though cold water had been poured over Primo.

The heat between them disappeared, replaced by a long, awkward silence.

He quickly stood and composed himself before walking toward the door without looking back.

"Come down to the dining room. I've already asked the chef to prepare the food you like," he said coldly.

Jade remained sitting on the bed, staring blankly into space.

A tiny ache pierced her heart when she saw how disappointed Primo was.

But perhaps it was better this way.

Better than allowing Vince to lose control in the bathroom and causing an even bigger scandal among the three of them.

A moment later, the man she hated emerged from the bathroom.

His expression was dark.

He looked at Jade as though she were the one who had betrayed him.

Vince quickly approached her and roughly grabbed her slender arm.

His eyes were blazing, like a wild lion ready to pounce at any moment.

"Try doing that again, Jade, and you won't like what I'll do."

"What are you talking about, Vince? You have no right to tell me what I can or cannot do! Primo is my husband. He has every right to me!" Jade snapped as she forcefully pulled her arm away from him.

Her arm had reddened slightly, but she didn't care.

After everything Vince had put her through, this was nothing.

"Then I'll take that right away from him, Jade! I'm not threatening you—I'm telling you that I don't like what you're doing to yourself! Please, Jade... don't use Primo just to get revenge on me!"