Chapter 5 The Wife I Never Wanted
1569 Words
The restroom door slammed shut behind her.
Gena leaned against it, breathing hard.
Her lips still burned.
And she hated it.
Hated the warmth lingering there.
Hated the way her pulse refused to calm.
Most of all—
She hated that Jared’s face remained vivid in her mind.
The arrogance.
The anger.
The terrifying possessiveness in his eyes.
Her hands trembled as she pressed her palm against her mouth.
How dare he.
How absolutely dare he.
A knock startled her.
“Gena!”
Cherry.
She rushed to unlock the door and immediately pulled her friend inside.
Cherry’s eyes widened.
“What happened?!”
Gena locked the door again.
“No questions.”
“That’s impossible.”
“Remove your dress.”
Cherry blinked.
“…Excuse me?”
“Now.”
Her assistant stared at her as if she had gone insane.
“Did tequila finally kill your brain?”
“I’m serious.”
Cherry crossed her arms.
“You’re definitely hiding from someone.”
Gena exhaled shakily.
“Yes.”
Cherry immediately straightened.
“Oh.”
“Please.”
That single word softened her.
Without further complaint, Cherry began removing her dress.
“What kind of criminal situation is this?”
“Temporary survival.”
Cherry handed over her emerald dress.
“You owe me.”
“Salary increase?”
“Now you’re speaking my language.”
Despite her panic, Gena laughed weakly.
The familiar banter steadied her nerves.
Within minutes—
They switched clothes.
Cherry narrowed her eyes.
“You look like a fugitive.”
“I feel like one.”
“Are you finally admitting to secret crimes?”
“Yes.”
Cherry gasped dramatically.
“Tax evasion?”
“Worse.”
“Murder?”
“I insulted a handsome man.”
Cherry clutched her chest.
“You villain.”
Gena forced another laugh.
If only it were that simple.
She fixed her hair to partially cover her face.
Cherry copied her.
Then carefully—
They stepped outside.
The hallway looked clear.
So did the lobby.
Gena kept her head lowered as they hurried toward the exit.
Her pulse pounded painfully.
Every shadow made her nervous.
Every male voice made her freeze.
And somehow—
She felt him.
That impossible sensation of being watched.
Near the entrance—
Cherry suddenly squeezed her arm.
“Don’t look now.”
Gena nearly panicked.
“What?”
“I said don’t look.”
Too late.
Her eyes lifted.
And the world stopped.
Across the lobby—
Jared stood near the bar.
Dark shirt.
Hands inside his pockets.
Dangerously calm.
He wasn’t speaking.
Wasn’t drinking.
He was simply watching.
Watching the elevator.
The hallway.
Waiting.
Her stomach twisted.
He looked like a predator waiting patiently for prey.
“Move,” Cherry whispered.
Gena forced herself forward.
One step.
Then another.
Her breathing grew shallow.
Please don't see me.
Please—
They nearly reached the exit.
Then—
A low male voice drifted behind them.
“Leaving already?”
Gena froze.
Not Jared.
Ronnie.
He approached with an easy smile.
“You ladies escaped without saying goodbye.”
Cherry immediately recovered.
“We’re practicing cardio.”
Ronnie laughed.
Then his gaze settled on Gena.
Concern softened his expression.
“You alright?”
She nodded too quickly.
“Just tired.”
“You look pale.”
“I’m fine.”
His eyes lingered.
And suddenly—
The atmosphere changed.
The smile disappeared from Ronnie’s face.
Because behind him—
Someone had approached.
Gena already knew who.
Her spine stiffened.
Jared stopped beside Ronnie.
Close enough for her to feel his presence.
Close enough to steal her breath.
His gaze swept over Cherry.
Then slowly—
Lifted to Gena.
And stayed there.
Too long.
Too intensely.
Ronnie looked between them.
“You know each other?”
Silence.
Heavy.
Dangerous.
Gena lowered her face.
“No.”
The single word sharpened something in Jared’s expression.
His jaw tightened.
And for a second—
His eyes darkened.
“Interesting,” he said quietly.
A chill crawled along Gena’s skin.
Cherry suddenly grabbed her arm.
“We should really go.”
Ronnie nodded reluctantly.
“Let me walk you out.”
“No need,” Gena answered immediately.
But Ronnie insisted.
And strangely—
Jared said nothing.
He merely watched.
Watching.
Always watching.
The moment they stepped outside—
Gena finally breathed again.
The cold night air hit her face.
And only then did she realize—
Her knees were weak.
Very weak.
Ronnie opened the car door.
“You seem troubled.”
She forced a smile.
“Just tired.”
His gaze softened.
“If you ever need anything…”
Gena looked away.
“You’re kind.”
“And you avoid compliments.”
Cherry smirked.
“She avoids men too.”
Ronnie laughed.
“That explains why she keeps running away.”
The joke struck too close.
Gena entered the car quickly.
And before Ronnie could say more—
They left.
But through the rear window—
She saw him.
Jared remained standing near the entrance.
Motionless.
Watching the car disappear.
And for reasons she couldn’t explain—
His silence frightened her more than anger would have.
The next morning—
They returned to the city.
The beach vacation had ended too soon.
Or perhaps—
Not soon enough.
Cherry slept during most of the drive.
But Gena remained awake.
Her thoughts refused to rest.
The kiss.
The accusation.
You smiled at him.
The nerve of that man.
He was openly with another woman—
Yet somehow acted offended by her talking to another man.
Ridiculous.
Completely ridiculous.
And still—
She could not forget his eyes.
The anger inside them.
The possessiveness.
It unsettled her.
And worse—
It confused her.
By afternoon, they finally reached the city.
And Gena immediately buried herself in the safety of routine.
The office welcomed her like familiar shelter.
Employees greeted her warmly.
The scent of coffee and paperwork calmed her nerves.
This—
This was her territory.
Her safe place.
She wore a fitted black dress that morning.
Simple.
Professional.
And carefully composed.
No one would suspect she felt like emotional disaster.
She had just begun reviewing files when—
Knock.
“Come in.”
Cherry entered.
And judging from her expression—
Trouble had arrived.
“Good morning, boss.”
“That face worries me.”
Cherry placed a folder down.
“Someone named Ado is here.”
Gena frowned.
“Ado?”
“He introduced himself as Mr. Jared Jacobo’s assistant.”
Her heartbeat stopped.
Cherry continued innocently.
“And apparently…”
She smiled mischievously.
“Mr. Jared Jacobo himself is coming.”
Cold fear slipped through Gena.
So soon.
Cherry leaned closer.
“I’m curious.”
“Dangerous.”
“Do you think he’ll replace you?”
Gena smiled faintly.
“You want gossip.”
“I deserve gossip.”
Before Gena could reply—
Cherry suddenly straightened.
“They’re here.”
Her pulse stumbled.
No.
Not yet.
But the office door opened.
And time slowed.
A man entered first.
Well-dressed.
Professional.
Behind him—
A woman followed.
The actress.
Beautiful.
Elegant.
And visibly possessive.
Then—
Jared entered last.
The room changed instantly.
His dark suit fit perfectly.
His expression remained calm.
Controlled.
Yet the moment he saw Gena—
Something flickered across his face.
Recognition.
Shock.
And something darker.
Gena stood.
Her smile graceful.
Professional.
As though nothing existed between them.
As though he had never kissed her.
As though she had never slapped him.
“Good morning,” she greeted softly.
The actress visibly stiffened.
But Jared—
Jared looked almost… amused.
Then slowly—
He crossed the room.
And before Gena could react—
His hand wrapped around her waist.
The room fell silent.
Her breath caught.
And then—
He pulled her against him.
Close.
Far too close.
“I didn’t expect,” Jared murmured beside her ear, his voice dangerously soft, “my cunning wife to be this beautiful.”
Her blood ran cold.
Wife.
The word echoed.
The actress looked horrified.
Cherry nearly died.
And Gena—
Gena could only stare at the man who suddenly looked far more dangerous than before.
Because beneath his calm smile—
His eyes promised war.
JARED'S POV
I should have hated her.
That was the plan.
The woman who trapped me into marriage.
The woman responsible for ruining the future I wanted.
But plans become complicated—
When the woman you hate turns out to be beautiful enough to make you lose focus.
I watched her carefully.
Too carefully.
She stood confidently inside my company.
Graceful.
Composed.
And annoyingly unaffected by me.
I hated that.
Women usually chased.
Flattered.
Submitted.
But Gena—
She avoided me.
Ran from me.
And somehow—
That irritated me more than I expected.
Then there was Ronnie.
The memory darkened my mood.
That i***t looked at her like she was treasure.
And I hated that too.
The moment Ronnie said her name—
Something ugly stirred inside me.
My wife.
Mine.
The thought felt primitive.
Possessive.
And strangely satisfying.
I had planned to divorce her.
Humiliate her.
Make her regret fooling my parents.
But now?
Now—
I wanted answers first.
Why was she hiding?
Why pretend to be single?
Why smile at other men?
And most dangerously—
Why couldn't I stop thinking about her?
No.
I wouldn't let her leave easily.
Not anymore.
- Writer
