The Housewife's Return To Her Alluring Prime - Chapter 60: Chapter 60

Time seemed to stand still. It wasn't exactly a mess, but things were definitely awkward, especially now that Jared knew Nathan and I had been talking in private.
"Mr. Holcomb, Mrs. Holcomb, haven't you started eating yet?" Nathan's eyes brushed over my face before he turned to Jared with a smile.
"We're just about to have dinner upstairs. Want to join us?" Jared asked politely.
Nathan's smile suddenly grew a little deeper, though I wasn't sure what set him off. "Not really a good time for me. Maybe next time, when it's more convenient," he replied.
Jared's lips pressed into a thin line, and his face no longer looked as pleasant as before.
I didn't say a word, but without meaning to, my gaze kept drifting toward Nathan.
With his glasses on, he had this refined and handsome look, like a leopard hiding in the shadows, exuding a mysterious and dangerous aura.
Then I glanced at Jared again. He was dressed all prim and proper, but his vibe was more like a refined rogue than a true gentleman.
"Alright, we'll head up then," Jared said as he reached out and pulled me firmly into his arms, holding me close to his side.
That sudden show of gentleness made my heart skip a beat.
This was honestly kind of funny. 'Is Jared actually getting possessive over me now?' I wondered. 'Could he really be starting to care about me, just like Melissa said? Or am I just overthinking it?
'If he really splits his heart and gives part of it to me, what about Tracy? She's a rich girl. She wants all of Jared, heart and soul. But why should I even care? It's Jared's business if he loves her, not mine.'
Out of the corner of my eye, I caught Nathan still standing by the staircase, as if his gaze was drifting in our direction.
Jared held me close as we climbed the first step, but as we turned toward the second, he suddenly pressed me up against the wall.
Before I could react, one hand cradled my head while the other was planted firmly on the wall by my shoulder, and he lowered his head to claim my lips.
I never expected Jared to be so wild. In my previous life, I'd never seen this side of him, but here he was, as if he were staking his claim on me.
I didn't pull away. Jared got what he wanted, and as I cracked my eyes open, under the warm glow of the lights, I caught a glimpse of Nathan's shadow slipping past the staircase.
He had quietly followed us up a few steps, but when he saw what was happening, he quietly retreated.
Jared didn't kiss me for long, but the air between us was thick with intimacy. For the first time, I could almost hear his heart pounding like a drum. His breath was hot and a little ragged, and I even caught his ears turning red.
Jared was never the kind of guy to lose control like that. If he did, it had to mean he was going against everything he usually was. He must have felt awkward and a little ashamed, too.
He didn't say a word. He just gave my cheek a gentle squeeze before turning and heading upstairs.
I wondered, 'Are all men just this greedy? Do they all want their goddess in the sky and the red rose right in their backyard? Maybe I should learn to want it all, too.'
Upstairs at dinner, I could barely taste a thing. Jared acted totally normal in front of his friends, like nothing had happened. It was just a regular meal. They just talked about work, not women, maybe because I was there.
After dinner, Jared took me straight home. He'd had a few drinks, so he leaned back in the passenger seat while I took the wheel.
As we pulled out, the Maybach parked nearby suddenly roared to life. I snuck a glance at Jared, wondering if he'd noticed.
My heart skipped a beat as I checked the rearview mirror. The car sat quietly with its headlights on, and I could just barely make out the shadowy figure in the driver's seat.
I started the Bentley and focused on pulling out of the parking lot. When I checked the mirror again, I saw that Nathan wasn't following us. Maybe he'd just started his car to let me know he was leaving, too.
That kind of subtle thoughtfulness really made my heart skip a beat for a couple of seconds. Honestly, Nathan just understands women way better than Jared ever could.
When we got home, Yvonne still hadn't come back. Looked like Sally was dead set on giving us some alone time.
I got out of the car, and so did Jared. He wasn't actually drunk. He was just clutching his suit jacket in his hand.
As he walked toward me, I could tell he was about to offer me his jacket, but I turned away at the same moment and walked off.
There was a soft thud as his suit jacket unexpectedly slipped from his hand and fell to the floor.
I went upstairs without so much as a backward glance. Jared bent down to pick up his jacket, his expression looking pretty sour.
Wendy and another maid came over to ask if we needed anything, but Jared just told them to go get some rest.
The first thing I did when I got home was take a shower. I was a bit of a clean freak. If I didn't shower first, I just couldn't bring myself to sit on my bed or even the couch in my room.
It was like I had this little OCD thing, thinking all the outside germs were coming in with me.
After my shower and finishing up my skincare routine, I crawled into bed and started to drift off. Half-asleep, I suddenly felt the mattress sink on the other side, and I snapped awake on instinct.
"I had a nightmare. Go back to sleep. I won't do anything." Jared's voice came from behind me, and before I knew it, his arms were around me, holding me tight.
'What kind of nightmare could actually scare a guy like Jared?' I couldn't help but wonder to myself.
But true to his word, Jared didn't try anything, so I just drifted back to sleep.
Ever since I time-traveled, sleeping had been so much easier for me. After all this, I guessed I had super courage.
When I woke up the next morning, I could hear the soft patter of rain against the window, and the air inside felt a little thick and muggy.
I realized my sleeping position had totally changed. Last night, I was sure I'd been facing away from him, but now my head was resting against his chest, and one of my legs was draped over his.
It was like my vulnerability had been exposed, and I suddenly felt annoyed with myself for letting it happen. I pulled myself away from him and slipped out of bed.
By the time I finished washing up, Jared had already gotten out of bed and left the room.
It was the weekend, and since Sally was looking after Yvonne, I figured I'd take a trip out of town—just me, no kid, no husband.
I grabbed my small bag and headed downstairs. Jared had just finished his morning run and was still in his black tracksuit.
When he noticed my bag, his eyes narrowed a bit. "Where are you going?"
"Shaville," I replied.
"Is it something for work?" Jared asked.
"No, I just want to go to enjoy the scenery," I replied simply.
Jared looked a little taken aback, like my answer had caught him off guard. He let out a slow breath and asked, "You're going alone?"
"Yep." I nodded.
Jared stared at me like he could see straight through me. The next second, his voice went cold. "No way."
I let out a laugh. "If you don't trust me, then why don't you come with me?"
I always thought he wasn't into traveling. He only ever left town for work. But actually, that was not it at all. It turned out that he did like going places. He just didn't like going with me.
Jared furrowed his brows. I knew he'd turn me down.
Jared brushed past me, looking indifferent. As he started up the stairs, he glanced back at me and asked, "Did you arrange a car?"
"I'll drive myself," I answered.
He didn't say anything else and just went upstairs. A few minutes later, he came back down carrying a bag. "I'll have Warner drive us. It's a long trip. You can't drive that far by yourself."
My eyes widened in disbelief as I stared at the bag in his hand.