Chapter 7 Beautiful Trouble
1578 Words
Warm water cascaded over Gena’s skin as she stood beneath the shower.
For the first time in days—
Her chest felt lighter.
Maybe because she had survived breakfast.
Or maybe because she had finally decided something important.
She would stop letting Jared control her emotions.
If he wanted to parade women around the mansion—
Fine.
If he wanted to play mind games—
Fine.
She would no longer react.
She would live her life the way she wanted.
And today—
Today was for herself.
After dressing, Gena stood before her mirror.
Her fingers smoothed the fabric of a yellow body-hugging dress that ended just above her knees.
Simple.
Elegant.
And dangerously flattering.
The soft color brightened her skin, while the fitted silhouette emphasized her graceful figure.
She paired it with comfortable nude heels and lightly curled her hair.
When she finished—
She tilted her head at her reflection.
“You’re so adorable, Gena,” she murmured with a playful smile.
A small spark of confidence returned.
She grabbed her purse and left her room.
The moment she reached the living room—
Her steps slowed.
Jared sat on the sofa.
And unfortunately—
Sarah was still there.
The actress lounged beside him, flipping through television channels while clinging to his arm like an accessory.
Gena nearly sighed.
Persistent woman.
She adjusted her expression into her familiar poker face and headed toward the door.
No greeting.
No drama.
No unnecessary conversation.
But before her fingers reached the handle—
Jared’s voice stopped her.
“Where are you going?”
She turned slowly.
His gaze swept over her from head to toe.
And lingered.
Too long.
Too intensely.
Something unreadable darkened his expression.
Gena folded her arms.
“Out.”
“In that dress?”
Her brows lifted.
Excuse me?
She glanced at Sarah, who suddenly looked uncomfortable.
Gena looked back at Jared.
“I’m meeting a friend.”
“Cherry?”
“Yes.”
His jaw tightened.
“Are you dating someone?”
The accusation hit her nerves immediately.
Her eyes narrowed.
“What?”
His voice remained calm.
Too calm.
“You seem eager to go out lately.”
A spark of anger rose inside her.
The audacity.
This man brought women home—
Yet questioned her clothing?
Gena straightened.
“It’s my day off,” she said coolly. “I can do whatever I want.”
His eyes darkened.
“You’re avoiding the question.”
“And you’re crossing boundaries.”
Sarah looked between them nervously.
The maids nearby had stopped dusting.
Everyone could feel it now—
The tension.
Jared stood.
And suddenly—
The living room felt smaller.
He approached her slowly.
Controlled.
Dangerous.
“You are my wife,” he said quietly. “Everything you do affects my reputation.”
The words landed like a slap.
For a moment—
Gena simply stared.
Then humiliation burned through her.
Her reputation?
Her?
The man standing before her had openly brought another woman into their home—
Yet he dared talk about reputation?
Anger surged violently.
And before she could stop herself—
Her hand moved.
SLAP.
The sound echoed across the room.
Sarah gasped.
The maids froze.
Even Gena shocked herself.
Jared’s head tilted slightly from the impact.
Silence.
Heavy.
Sharp.
Her breathing trembled.
“How dare you?” she whispered.
His face slowly turned back toward her.
His expression unreadable.
But his eyes—
His eyes looked dangerous.
“You call me your wife now?” she continued, her voice shaking. “While parading women inside our home?”
Sarah’s face paled.
Gena pointed toward her.
“Don’t talk to me about reputation.”
The room remained deathly still.
“You’re embarrassing me in front of everyone,” she said bitterly. “And you expect obedience?”
Jared’s jaw clenched.
For one terrifying second—
She thought he might explode.
Instead—
He simply stared.
Which somehow felt worse.
Gena refused to stay another second.
Her chest tightened painfully as she grabbed her purse and marched toward the door.
Behind her—
No one spoke.
Not even Jared.
And strangely—
His silence followed her harder than anger.
Cherry was already waiting at their favorite café when Gena arrived.
The moment she sat down—
Cherry nearly dropped her coffee.
“You look murderous.”
Gena inhaled deeply.
“I slapped him.”
Cherry blinked.
Then—
“WHAT?!”
Several customers turned.
Cherry lowered her voice dramatically.
“You slapped Jared Jacobo?”
Gena leaned back.
“He deserved worse.”
Cherry stared.
And honestly—
She looked impressed.
“What happened?”
Gena recounted everything.
The accusation.
The dress.
The reputation comment.
And Sarah.
Cherry’s face twisted.
“That man has nerve.”
“Exactly.”
“And he questioned your dress?”
“Yes.”
Cherry looked personally offended.
“You look gorgeous.”
Gena laughed weakly.
“Thank you.”
“No, seriously.” Cherry pointed at her dress. “If I looked like that, I’d become a public disturbance.”
Despite herself—
Gena laughed harder.
The tension inside her eased.
And for the next several hours—
They embraced freedom.
Shopping.
Coffee.
Laughter.
Spa treatments.
Hair treatment.
Massage.
Everything Gena desperately needed.
For a while—
She forgot.
Forgot the mansion.
Forgot Jared.
Forgot the ache beneath her calm.
By evening—
The city lights glittered beautifully.
Cherry stretched dramatically.
“I refuse to go home yet.”
Gena smiled.
“What do you want?”
Cherry grinned wickedly.
“Restobar.”
“Dangerous idea.”
“Perfect idea.”
And honestly—
Gena needed distraction.
So she agreed.
The music pulsed through Velvet Restobar.
Soft lights.
Elegant crowd.
Laughter.
The atmosphere wrapped around them instantly.
Cherry ordered wine.
Then food.
And eventually—
The dance floor tempted them.
Gena laughed more tonight than she had in weeks.
Men noticed.
Of course they did.
She was impossible to ignore.
Several approached politely.
Some asked her to dance.
Others simply admired from a distance.
And surprisingly—
No one behaved disrespectfully.
Everything remained harmless.
Light.
Fun.
Until upstairs—
Inside the VIP lounge—
A pair of dark eyes watched her.
Jared sat with Ronnie and several friends.
A glass of whiskey rested untouched in his hand.
His gaze remained fixed downstairs.
On Gena.
She looked radiant.
Happy.
And infuriatingly beautiful.
The yellow dress from earlier had been replaced by a dark fitted one that hugged her body dangerously well.
Ronnie noticed immediately.
“You’re quiet.”
Jared drank.
“I’m fine.”
Ronnie followed his gaze.
And smiled awkwardly.
Ah.
So that was the problem.
“How are things with your wife?”
Jared scoffed.
“I don’t know.”
“You slapped each other?”
His jaw tightened.
“She slapped me.”
Ronnie coughed.
“Deserved?”
Jared ignored him.
His eyes stayed downstairs.
Watching strange men laugh around Gena.
Watching her smile.
And God—
That irritated him.
“She’s difficult,” he muttered.
Ronnie smirked.
“You mean immune.”
Jared glared.
“I can’t figure her out.”
“That’s new.”
He hated hearing it.
Because Ronnie was right.
Nothing he did affected her.
And somehow—
That bothered him more than he cared to admit.
Meanwhile—
Downstairs—
The wine had made both women pleasantly tipsy.
Cherry clung dramatically to Gena’s arm.
“I think I’m becoming prettier.”
“You’ve become delusional.”
“And you’re becoming popular.”
Two men approached.
Well-dressed.
Respectable.
At first—
Their company seemed harmless.
Until it wasn’t.
When Gena and Cherry finally decided to leave—
The men followed.
“Allow us to drive you.”
“That’s kind,” Gena answered politely, “but we’re fine.”
The men persisted.
Cherry frowned.
“No, thank you.”
One man suddenly reached for Gena’s wrist.
Her smile vanished.
“Let go.”
“Come on,” he insisted.
The second man stepped toward Cherry.
And instantly—
Fear crept in.
The parking lot suddenly felt too isolated.
Then—
A fist crashed.
Chaos exploded.
One of the men hit the ground.
Gena gasped.
Jared.
He looked furious.
No—
Enraged.
Beside him, Ronnie grabbed the other man and shoved him back.
Security rushed toward the commotion.
But Jared was already throwing another punch.
His anger looked frighteningly real.
“Touch her again,” he growled, “and I’ll break your hands.”
The men stumbled away as security intervened.
Silence followed.
Heavy breathing.
Shock.
And then—
Jared turned toward her.
His expression remained dark.
“Let’s go home.”
The command stunned her.
Cherry immediately stepped forward.
Protective.
Suspicious.
“Excuse me, sir,” she said nervously. “Where are you taking Ms. Gena?”
Jared looked at her.
And for once—
His expression softened slightly.
“We live in the same house.”
Cherry blinked.
Then—
His next words shattered her world.
“She’s my wife.”
The air disappeared.
Gena froze.
Cherry looked utterly speechless.
And before she could process anything—
Jared gently—but firmly—guided Gena toward his car.
Still stunned—
Still tipsy—
Gena allowed herself to be led.
Behind them—
Ronnie approached Cherry quietly.
“Come with me,” he said gently.
Cherry looked dazed.
“What he said…”
Ronnie nodded.
“It’s true.”
And suddenly—
Nothing would ever be simple again.
- Writer
