Revenge: Once His Wife, Now His Regret - Chapter 98: Chapter 98

Jaxon demanded, "Since you said upstairs is all rooms, what exactly were you doing up there with your so-called client?" He stopped dead in his tracks and shot her a piercing look over his shoulder.
Sally met his gaze and realized. He'd gotten it all wrong.
Upon reaching the second floor, the grand piano in the living room caught Jaxon's eye. With just a casual glance, he made his way toward it.
Sally followed his gaze.
This piano was originally purchased by Brad for Nick. After they moved out and got a new one, this one was left behind and has remained here untouched for all these years.
Jaxon leaned against the piano, staring at the master bedroom in silence.
The vase had to be delivered tomorrow, so she still had to work on it that night; otherwise, she wouldn't be able to get it to the client on time.
After a moment's hesitation, Sally stepped forward. "Mr. Zale," she said, "I still need to get back to work. Why not—"
Before Sally could finish her sentence, Jaxon suddenly grabbed her wrist, spun her around, and pinned her against the piano.
A discordant burst of piano notes reverberated through the upstairs living room.
Jaxon scoffed, "What could you possibly be so busy with at home? Don't tell me you've got another client waiting for you."
Jaxon's eyes turned icy in an instant, a sudden chill flickering deep within them.
Sally looked up in disbelief. "No."
Jaxon said coldly, "If you're short on cash, you could've just come to me. Why resort to this?"
Jaxon planted his hands on either side of the piano, caging Sally in with his arms.
"Mr. Zale, have you got the wrong idea?" Sally asked, her tone tinged with confusion.
Jaxon's voice was dangerously low as he growled, "You resist me at every turn, yet sneak behind my back like this. Do you think I can't give you what you want? Or is it my age that makes you doubt I can satisfy you?"
Sally snapped, "Jaxon, what the hell are you talking about?"
Jaxon gritted his teeth. "Huh? You wouldn't sleep with me even when you were drugged, but you went behind my back and found yourself some rich guy?"
Sally froze for a moment, taken aback. 'So he really had misunderstood me,' she thought. For a brief moment, a dull, inexplicable ache struck Sally's heart.
It felt like something had just slammed into that soft, vulnerable spot deep in her heart.
Her chest tightened with a sour, bitter ache. The kind that twisted her insides and left her utterly wretched.
Sally let out a cold, bitter smile. "So this is the kind of person you think I am, Mr. Zale?"
Jaxson fell silent, his piercing gaze locked on her.
"Mr. Zale, I do have other work, but not what you're thinking. It's just a side job—honest work, not related to sex you're suggesting. Please don't slander me like this. It really hurts," she said.
Sally shoved him away with determination and turned to head for the third floor. Just as she turned to leave, Jaxon suddenly seized her wrist from behind. The next instant, Jaxon swept her up into his arms.
Jaxon lifted her onto the piano, cradled her face in his hands, and demanded sternly, "What other work?"
"Given the nature of our relationship, Mr. Zale, I hardly think I need to account for every detail, do I?" Her tone was icy, her voice dropping to a low murmur.
Jaxon suddenly gripped her chin. "Just one question. Besides me, are you seeing anyone else?"
Under Jaxon's icy glare, Sally instinctively swallowed hard. He must be furious—she'd never seen him look this stern before.
"I—" Before Sally could finish speaking, he silenced her with a sudden kiss. Sally's heart leaped into her throat.
Sally's hands, resting at her sides, accidentally struck the piano keys. The sudden burst of sound startled her, sending an involuntary shudder through her whole body.
She pressed her hands against Jaxon's chest, trying to push him away, but he seized her wrists, leaving her no chance to break free.
The erratic rise and fall of the piano notes mirrored the turmoil in her heart—a feeling too tangled to put into words.
Jaxon's ragged breath against her ear sent Sally's heart racing uncontrollably.
In just sixty seconds, Sally went from fierce resistance to reluctant surrender.
It wasn't until Jaxon's lips trailed down to her neck that Sally suddenly came to her senses, realizing just how dangerous this was. Snapping back to reality, Sally seized the hand reaching for her skirt.
Sally looked at him with turbulent eyes. "Mr. Zale, what exactly are we right now? What do I even mean to you?"
"I've told you before," Jaxon murmured, his gaze dark with smoldering hunger. "If you're willing, you can be mine anytime. I'll give you everything you want."
Sally couldn't say she hadn't wavered especially at this moment.
'But I'm still married, still stuck in this mess myself. How could I drag him into it?' she wondered. 'Besides, I know there's someone else in his heart.'
'I might have been a fool once, but I sure as hell won't make the same mistake twice,' Sally thought.
"What I truly want, you just can't give me, Jaxon." Sally shook her head and pushed him away again.
Just as Jaxon was about to say something else, a child's voice rang out from downstairs, "We're back, Sally."
Sally smoothed her skirt and said coolly, "Lillian's back. You should go see her. Isn't that why you came?"
Jaxon's brow furrowed slightly, his gaze deep and unreadable. In a low voice, he said, "Sally, are you truly oblivious, or are you just playing dumb?"
Sally's hands at her sides clenched involuntarily for a split second. Of course she knew exactly what he meant. She just didn't want to believe it.
"I honestly don't get it." Sally's tone was icy and detached, her voice low and heavy with unspoken emotion.
Jaxon moved closer again, cupping her face with one hand. Leaning in until his lips brushed her ear, he murmured, "Need me to step in about your divorce?"
The unspoken message was clear—he was done waiting. At that moment, Sally's heart was in utter chaos.
'Just what kind of man is Jaxon?' Sally thought, 'If Jaxon steps in, all hell will break loose.'
She replied without hesitation, "No, thanks, Mr. Zale. I can handle it myself."
Jaxon warned, "Hurry up. Don't make me step in." Jaxon planted a brief kiss on her lips, then headed downstairs.
Sally's legs suddenly felt weak, her knees nearly giving way. For the first time, a surge of resistance toward this man rose within her.
'Has he really set his sights on me now?' Sally wondered, feeling a wave of unease. 'What does he want from me? Is it just my body he's after?'
Hearing Abigail and Jaxon talking downstairs, Sally felt her mind spinning in utter chaos.
Without hesitation, she headed straight up to the third floor, firmly locked her bedroom door behind her, and resolved to shut out the world—she simply wouldn't care about anything anymore.
Sally thought to herself, 'He clearly has feelings for someone else, so why is he getting so close to her like this?' She grew more and more bewildered.
Sally had no idea when Jaxon had left. The next thing she knew, Abigail was standing at her third-floor door—a full half hour later.
Abigail didn't even bother to knock. She just barged right in. She looked at Sally with a grave expression. "Sally, level with me. Are you and Jaxon secretly seeing each other?"
Sally's hand, still holding the restoration tools, suddenly stilled. 'Looks like I can't hide it anymore,' Sally thought.
Sally hesitated for a moment, then said, "We're not together, but things are kind of messy right now."
Abigail frowned slightly. "What do you mean?"