The CEO’s Hidden Bride: Leaving After 2555 Days - Chapter 5: Chapter 5
You are reading The CEO’s Hidden Bride: Leaving After 2555 Days, Chapter 5: Chapter 5. Read more chapters of The CEO’s Hidden Bride: Leaving After 2555 Days.
The morning had been chaotic, thanks to Isabella’s endless chatter. To make up for the disturbance, she offered to treat everyone to lunch.
Lucas shut her down immediately. “No. You’ve caused enough trouble. It’s time to leave.”
Isabella pretended not to hear him. She grabbed his wrist and dragged him toward the door. A few of Natalie’s friends, worried he wouldn’t come, pulled Evelyn along with them.
Soon, they were all piling into cars, heading toward a luxurious hot spring retreat.
Evelyn wasn’t part of their usual circle and had no interest in forcing herself into it. She sat quietly in the corner, watching as they toasted, laughed, and lost themselves in the boisterous energy.
Lucas noticed her sitting alone and approached, holding out a glass of juice. But just as she reached for it, he abruptly stood and disappeared back into the crowd.
Isabella had just lifted a glass of whiskey to her lips when Lucas snatched it from her hand.
His sharp voice cut through the noise. “You’re allergic to alcohol, and you’re still drinking? Are you trying to kill yourself?”
Isabella blinked, feigning innocence. “I thought it was juice. Must’ve grabbed the wrong glass. Why are you so worked up?”
Then, without hesitation, she plucked the juice from Lucas’s other hand and flashed him a sweet smile. “Thanks.”
His fingers tightened briefly, but he said nothing, returning to his seat while absentmindedly holding the glass out to Evelyn.
Noticing the amber liquid and his distracted expression, Evelyn didn’t take it.
Instead, she stood, slung her bag over her shoulder, and murmured, “I don’t drink. I’m going to the springs.”
Only then did Lucas realize his mistake. He had handed her the wrong glass. Lost in his thoughts about Isabella, he hadn’t even noticed he’d mixed up the liquor and juice.
He wanted to explain, but Evelyn was already gone before he could speak.
Sinking into the warm, soothing water, Evelyn felt the exhaustion seep out of her. Leaning back, she watched the steam curl upward, and before she knew it, drowsiness overtook her.
The knocking at the door went unheard—she had grown accustomed to the noise outside. Lucas called her name a few times, but she didn’t stir.
His chest tightened. Without thinking, he pushed the door open. The sight of her dozing in the hot spring made his pulse stutter. Without hesitation, he stepped in and pulled her into his arms.
Evelyn’s eyes fluttered open, still dazed. Her arms instinctively wound around his shoulders as he lifted her. Between the rising steam and the heat of their bodies pressed together, the air between them shifted.
Lucas found himself leaning in. Their breaths had barely mingled when footsteps suddenly echoed through the space.
A second later, Isabella appeared. The moment she saw them, her smile froze. She bit her lip hard, shock and disappointment flashing across her face. Then, without a word, she turned and fled.
Lucas stood frozen for a moment. His first instinct was to set Evelyn down and chase after Isabella.
Before leaving, he muttered, “She misunderstood. I need to explain.”
Misunderstood? They were legally married. Even if they were caught kissing, what was there to explain?
But Lucas was still trapped in the past. He kept slipping back into the role of Isabella’s boyfriend, which was why he felt the need to justify himself constantly.
He was the kind of man who had once given everything for love. Shaking the habit of always explaining himself was hard.
Watching him rush off, Evelyn laughed softly—but tears welled up soon after. Wrapping a towel around herself, she cracked open the window for air.
Just then, she spotted Isabella storming outside. Isabella yanked open a car door, but Lucas grabbed her wrist before she could get in. Their heated argument carried clearly through the night.
“Evelyn was asleep. I just didn’t want her to catch a cold. Do you really have to make this into something it’s not?”
“Of course I do! She’s your wife, and I have no right to be upset! Why don’t you go back to her and stop explaining everything to your ex?”
“Isabella, do you really have to say it like that?”
“What? I’m just stating facts!”
The argument hit a dead end. Eyes red with tears, Isabella wrenched her arm free, jumped into her car, and sped off. Lucas hesitated for only a second before getting into his own car and chasing after her.
Once the dust settled and the road fell silent again, Evelyn turned and headed to the changing room.
When she stepped out, dressed and ready to leave, Lucas’s friends pulled her aside, their faces pale with panic.
“Evelyn, something terrible happened! Lucas and Isabella were in a car accident!”
Lucas shut her down immediately. “No. You’ve caused enough trouble. It’s time to leave.”
Isabella pretended not to hear him. She grabbed his wrist and dragged him toward the door. A few of Natalie’s friends, worried he wouldn’t come, pulled Evelyn along with them.
Soon, they were all piling into cars, heading toward a luxurious hot spring retreat.
Evelyn wasn’t part of their usual circle and had no interest in forcing herself into it. She sat quietly in the corner, watching as they toasted, laughed, and lost themselves in the boisterous energy.
Lucas noticed her sitting alone and approached, holding out a glass of juice. But just as she reached for it, he abruptly stood and disappeared back into the crowd.
Isabella had just lifted a glass of whiskey to her lips when Lucas snatched it from her hand.
His sharp voice cut through the noise. “You’re allergic to alcohol, and you’re still drinking? Are you trying to kill yourself?”
Isabella blinked, feigning innocence. “I thought it was juice. Must’ve grabbed the wrong glass. Why are you so worked up?”
Then, without hesitation, she plucked the juice from Lucas’s other hand and flashed him a sweet smile. “Thanks.”
His fingers tightened briefly, but he said nothing, returning to his seat while absentmindedly holding the glass out to Evelyn.
Noticing the amber liquid and his distracted expression, Evelyn didn’t take it.
Instead, she stood, slung her bag over her shoulder, and murmured, “I don’t drink. I’m going to the springs.”
Only then did Lucas realize his mistake. He had handed her the wrong glass. Lost in his thoughts about Isabella, he hadn’t even noticed he’d mixed up the liquor and juice.
He wanted to explain, but Evelyn was already gone before he could speak.
Sinking into the warm, soothing water, Evelyn felt the exhaustion seep out of her. Leaning back, she watched the steam curl upward, and before she knew it, drowsiness overtook her.
The knocking at the door went unheard—she had grown accustomed to the noise outside. Lucas called her name a few times, but she didn’t stir.
His chest tightened. Without thinking, he pushed the door open. The sight of her dozing in the hot spring made his pulse stutter. Without hesitation, he stepped in and pulled her into his arms.
Evelyn’s eyes fluttered open, still dazed. Her arms instinctively wound around his shoulders as he lifted her. Between the rising steam and the heat of their bodies pressed together, the air between them shifted.
Lucas found himself leaning in. Their breaths had barely mingled when footsteps suddenly echoed through the space.
A second later, Isabella appeared. The moment she saw them, her smile froze. She bit her lip hard, shock and disappointment flashing across her face. Then, without a word, she turned and fled.
Lucas stood frozen for a moment. His first instinct was to set Evelyn down and chase after Isabella.
Before leaving, he muttered, “She misunderstood. I need to explain.”
Misunderstood? They were legally married. Even if they were caught kissing, what was there to explain?
But Lucas was still trapped in the past. He kept slipping back into the role of Isabella’s boyfriend, which was why he felt the need to justify himself constantly.
He was the kind of man who had once given everything for love. Shaking the habit of always explaining himself was hard.
Watching him rush off, Evelyn laughed softly—but tears welled up soon after. Wrapping a towel around herself, she cracked open the window for air.
Just then, she spotted Isabella storming outside. Isabella yanked open a car door, but Lucas grabbed her wrist before she could get in. Their heated argument carried clearly through the night.
“Evelyn was asleep. I just didn’t want her to catch a cold. Do you really have to make this into something it’s not?”
“Of course I do! She’s your wife, and I have no right to be upset! Why don’t you go back to her and stop explaining everything to your ex?”
“Isabella, do you really have to say it like that?”
“What? I’m just stating facts!”
The argument hit a dead end. Eyes red with tears, Isabella wrenched her arm free, jumped into her car, and sped off. Lucas hesitated for only a second before getting into his own car and chasing after her.
Once the dust settled and the road fell silent again, Evelyn turned and headed to the changing room.
When she stepped out, dressed and ready to leave, Lucas’s friends pulled her aside, their faces pale with panic.
“Evelyn, something terrible happened! Lucas and Isabella were in a car accident!”
End of The CEO’s Hidden Bride: Leaving After 2555 Days Chapter 5. Continue reading Chapter 6 or return to The CEO’s Hidden Bride: Leaving After 2555 Days book page.