Chapter 6 The Woman Beside Him
1284 Words
Morning sunlight slipped through the tall windows of the Jacobo mansion.
At exactly five o’clock, Gena opened her eyes.
Her body had grown accustomed to discipline. No matter how restless her thoughts were, she always woke early. It was one of the few things in life she could still control.
After showering and finishing her morning routine, she stood before her mirror, fastening the buttons of a simple cream dress.
Her reflection stared back.
Beautiful.
Composed.
And tired.
She brushed her fingers through her silky hair and forced herself to smile.
“You can survive another day,” she whispered.
The events of yesterday replayed inside her mind.
Jared’s sudden appearance.
The public affection.
His cold commands.
The way he kissed her near the lips as though claiming territory.
Gena exhaled sharply.
Whatever game he was playing—
She refused to lose.
With practiced grace, she descended the staircase.
Halfway down—
Voices drifted from the dining room.
A woman’s laughter.
Soft.
Flirtatious.
And a man’s deeper voice.
Gena immediately recognized it.
Jared.
Her expression cooled into its usual poker face.
Of course.
Why should she expect anything different?
She reached the dining area and stopped.
There they were.
Sarah sat beside Jared wearing a soft pink dress, her hand wrapped possessively around his arm while the maids served breakfast.
The moment Gena entered—
Both of them looked up.
Sarah blinked.
And for a second—
The younger woman looked genuinely stunned.
Gena was used to that reaction.
She smiled politely.
“Good morning.”
Her voice was gentle.
Elegant.
Sweet enough that Sarah instinctively smiled back.
“Good morning,” Sarah replied.
Jared said nothing.
His dark eyes rested on Gena longer than necessary.
And annoyingly—
He looked almost distracted.
Gena ignored him.
She walked toward the table and sat gracefully across from them.
No nervousness.
No jealousy.
No weakness.
If Jared wanted to provoke her—
He would be disappointed.
One of the maids quickly approached.
“Coffee, Ma’am?”
“Yes, thank you.”
She calmly placed food onto her plate and began eating as though she were alone.
No glance toward Jared.
No acknowledgment of Sarah.
Nothing.
The silence stretched.
And strangely—
It irritated Jared.
He watched her from across the table.
She looked beautiful this morning.
Too beautiful.
Her hair framed her face softly, and her calm expression made her appear untouchable.
It bothered him.
Because she looked completely unaffected.
As if his presence meant nothing.
As if the woman sitting beside him meant even less.
Beside him, Sarah shifted.
“Won’t you feed me, darling?” she asked sweetly, leaning against his shoulder.
Normally, Jared would have played along.
But today—
His attention remained elsewhere.
“You’re old enough to feed yourself.”
Sarah blinked.
The sweetness in her expression faltered.
“Jared…”
His tone remained mild.
But cold.
“I have no appetite for games this early.”
Across the table—
Gena continued eating peacefully.
Her face revealed nothing.
Yet inwardly—
She almost laughed.
The actress looked offended.
And honestly?
Good.
If Sarah thought she was winning some competition—
She had joined the wrong battlefield.
Gena finished her breakfast within minutes.
She was always a fast eater.
And unlike the uncomfortable couple across from her—
She actually enjoyed her meal.
Setting down her utensils, she dabbed her lips delicately with a napkin.
“Excuse me,” she said politely.
Still—
She did not look at Jared.
Not once.
And that—
That irritated him more than it should.
As she stood—
His eyes followed her.
“You don’t have work today.”
Gena paused.
But she did not turn fully.
“No.”
“Then where are you going?”
The question surprised her.
And annoyed her.
She finally looked at him.
His expression remained unreadable.
Poker-faced.
Controlled.
But something sharp lingered beneath his calm.
Gena smiled faintly.
“I didn’t realize I needed permission.”
Sarah glanced between them.
Confused.
The atmosphere suddenly felt strange.
Too tense.
Jared leaned back in his chair.
“You answer questions with questions.”
“And you ask questions like an investigator.”
A faint spark entered his eyes.
Interesting.
This woman really had courage.
Or perhaps—
She simply feared him less than he expected.
Gena tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
“I’m meeting a friend.”
“Cherry?”
“Yes.”
Silence.
Then she added politely—
“Have a pleasant morning.”
And finally—
She walked away.
Her steps remained elegant and unhurried.
But the moment she disappeared—
The dining room grew strangely empty.
Jared’s jaw tightened.
He hated that feeling.
Beside him, Sarah wrapped her arm around his again.
“Darling…” she murmured. “Do you want to go shopping today?”
He removed her hand.
Not harshly.
But firmly.
“I have things to do.”
Sarah’s smile weakened.
“But I cleared my schedule for you.”
He finally looked at her.
And for the first time that morning—
His expression carried visible irritation.
“Then fill it again.”
Her face paled.
“Jared…”
“I’m busy.”
The message was unmistakable.
Get lost.
Sarah’s pride visibly struggled against humiliation.
“But I thought you wanted me here.”
He stood from his chair.
The sound of the chair scraping marble echoed sharply.
“Not today.”
Her lips parted.
Then slowly—
Reality settled.
The handsome, charming Jared she adored was dismissing her.
And worse—
He had spent the entire breakfast watching another woman.
A woman Sarah suddenly wanted to hate.
Without another word, she gathered her purse and left.
The maids awkwardly lowered their heads.
The front door closed.
And silence returned.
Jared remained standing.
His eyes drifted toward the hallway where Gena had disappeared.
Why does she keep ignoring me?
The question irritated him.
He had followed his friends’ advice.
Brought another woman home.
Displayed indifference.
Provoked jealousy.
Yet Gena—
She barely reacted.
No tears.
No possessiveness.
No emotional weakness.
Nothing.
And somehow—
That unsettled him.
No woman had ever treated him this way.
His own wife—
The woman supposedly desperate enough to marry him—
Acted as though she could leave him tomorrow without regret.
The thought darkened his mood.
Meanwhile—
Upstairs—
Gena leaned against her bedroom door and exhaled.
That breakfast had been exhausting.
And honestly—
She deserved compensation.
The answer came instantly.
Cherry.
Smiling, she grabbed her phone and dialed.
The call connected immediately.
“Good morning to my gorgeous lady boss!” Cherry chirped dramatically. “What noble mission shall I perform today?”
Gena laughed softly.
“I’m planning self-love.”
“Oh?”
“Shopping. Spa. Good food.”
A dramatic gasp echoed.
“You speak my love language.”
Gena walked toward her closet.
“Interested?”
“Interested?” Cherry cried. “I’m already emotionally prepared!”
“Meet me at our usual place.”
“Yes, master.”
Gena smiled.
“I’ll take a bath first.”
“And wear something pretty,” Cherry teased.
“Why?”
“In case destiny sends a handsome billionaire.”
Gena rolled her eyes.
“I’m retired from men.”
Cherry snorted.
“Your beauty says otherwise.”
After ending the call, Gena stood before her closet.
For the first time since Jared returned—
She felt lighter.
Today—
She would ignore her husband.
Ignore his games.
And simply enjoy herself.
Little did she know—
Downstairs—
The very man she planned to ignore was already thinking of her.
Far more than he intended.
- Writer
