Aneira was about to close the bedroom door behind her when a sudden force pushed it open, stopping her in her tracks. The unexpected movement made her heart leap into her throat, and she almost jumped.
Jaxton stood right behind her.
She spun around quickly, pressing her palm against her chest as if that could calm the wild beating of her heart. "You scared me," she muttered, eyes slightly widened.
Jaxton, however, looked amused. His lips curved into a smirk, and his deep, husky voice filled the space between them. "Did I?" He stepped closer.
Aneira instinctively took a step back, but her movement was halted by the door behind her. Her fingers gripped the handle tightly as she looked at him with slight suspicion. "Weren't you just downstairs?" she asked, unable to hide her surprise.
How had he gotten here so fast?
Jaxton raised an eyebrow as if the answer should have been obvious. "You were taking too long," he said, his voice holding a teasing edge.
Aneira exhaled softly, shaking her head. "I was just about to run your bath. You didn't have to—"
Before she could finish her sentence, she felt his fingers wrap around her wrist. Warm, firm, unyielding. The touch wasn't rough, but it was enough to pull her slightly forward. In one swift movement, he turned her, pinning her gently against the cold wall.
A soft gasp left her lips as her back met the cold surface. The contrast between the coldness of the wall and the warmth radiating from him made her body tense up.
Jaxton's piercing blue eyes studied her, a flicker of amusement dancing within them. "Are you scared of me?" His voice was low, almost a whisper, yet it carried enough weight to send shivers down her spine.
Aneira forced herself to hold his gaze. She lifted her chin slightly, her expression defiant. "Scared of you?" She scoffed. "Why should I be? You don't look scary to me."
Jaxton's smirk deepened, and before he could stop it, a deep chuckle rumbled from his throat. He was impressed. Most people feared him and his presence alone was enough to make men crumble. But this woman? She met his intensity without flinching. She was fearless.
Unique.
Special.
Aneira frowned. "What's funny, Mr. Haydra?"
Jaxton lifted his hand, his fingers brushing under her chin. The touch was light, almost teasing, yet it sent a strange warmth through her veins. He tilted her head up slightly, forcing her to look straight into his eyes.
His blue eyes glistened as if he had just found something priceless. His gaze slowly flickered down to her lips.
Aneira stiffened.
She wasn't stupid. She knew that look.
It was the same look he had given her before their first kiss. The same intensity, the same hunger. Her heart thumped wildly in her chest as realization dawned on her…he was thinking about kissing her again.
Her lips parted slightly, but before he could act on whatever was running through his mind, she spoke.
"Remember, we are not in love. We did not marry for love."
The moment those words left her mouth, she felt the air around them shift.
Jaxton froze.
His smirk faded, and his eyes darkened.
A heavy silence settled between them. It wasn't just silence, it was thick, suffocating, like the calm before a storm.
Aneira swallowed hard.
She had struck a nerve.
She hadn't meant to upset him, but she was only speaking the truth. This marriage wasn't built on romance or affection, but it was a contract, a situation forced upon them by circumstances.
Slowly, Jaxton released his grip on her chin, his fingers dropping away as if her skin had suddenly burned him. His lips curled into a small, unreadable smile. But it wasn't his usual smirk.
It wasn't amusement.
It wasn't warmth.
It was a mask.
Without another word, he turned on his heels and walked out of the room.
The door clicked shut behind him.
Aneira stood frozen, her heart hammering against her ribs.
That smile…
She recognized it for what it was.
It wasn't just a smile.
It was a cover-up.
A shield.
She had hurt him.
And for some reason, guilt twisted deep in her chest.
Aneira shook her head, pushing away the lingering thoughts of Jaxton's reaction. She didn't want to dwell on it. It wasn't as if she had said anything wrong, she had only stated the truth.
With a sigh, she turned her focus back to the task at hand. She walked into the bathroom, filling the tub with warm water. The scent of expensive bath oils filled the air, and she carefully arranged a fresh towel on the counter before stepping back.
She sighed softly.
Everything was ready.
She wiped her slightly damp hands on her dress and left the bathroom, expecting to find Jaxton in the living room. But when she reached the space, it was empty.
Her eyes scanned the room. No sign of him.
She frowned slightly.
Was he in his study?
That was the only other place he could be.
Aneira hesitated. She knew he was definitely angry with her.
Should she go to him and remind him to take his bath before the water gets cold?
Or should she just wait until he was ready to come out?
Her fingers brushed over her phone as she debated with herself. She didn't want to disturb him, but she also didn't want him to fall asleep in his study without freshening up.
Finally, she sighed and unlocked her phone, typing a short message.
Aneira: Your bath is ready. Don't take too long, or the water will get cold.
She hit send and placed her phone on the couch.
If he wanted to come, he would.
With that settled, she turned on her heels and walked into the kitchen.
He hadn't eaten anything since morning.
If she couldn't make him take care of himself, the least she could do was prepare him something warm.
—
The Argent Manor
The sound of heels clicking against the cold marble floor broke the heavy silence of the grand Argent Manor. It was already deep into the night when Sophia finally returned home. The entire house was dimly lit, and the servants had long retired to their quarters.
The air was tense, as if the walls themselves knew that a storm was brewing.
As she stepped into the living room, she barely had time to remove her coat before a stern voice cut through the quiet.
"Where have you been?"