Chapter 4

Xesha's POV

I tapped my forehead. A car as luxurious as that, with personalized license plates, could only belong to someone influential in Manhattan. It could be a government official or a wealthy businessman.

"Crap!" I looked for an umbrella, but couldn't find one anywhere. I reluctantly braved the rain to check on the driver.

I knocked on the car window to make sure he was still alive.

"Hello... are you okay in there? Sir, can you hear me?" I asked loudly. "If you can hear me, please honk twice—"

My words trailed off. The car window opened. A man with a strong jawline, thick eyebrows, and an eagle-like gaze stared at me—from head to toe.

I was stunned, mesmerized by the beautiful sight before me. For a split second, I was speechless. My gaze fell on his dark brown hair that looked flushed with mahogany when exposed to the light of another vehicle. However, I realized that I had to check on his condition.

"Can you speak, Sir? Are you feeling short of breath?" I asked while observing his condition. I quickly grabbed the handle and opened the car door, then grabbed his wrist. "Your pulse is good. Can you focus on me now? Are you feeling dizzy and blurry-eyed? Where does it hurt—"

He didn't react, but I realized my clothes were wet and immediately covered my chest, because his gaze was fixed there.

"I'll call the ambulance if you feel any kind of condition—" I continued as I moved away from him.

He froze for a moment, but then grabbed his cell phone and seemed to call someone. His voice was heavy and deep that made my chest flutter even though I heard it only for a moment. He left me in the heavy rain for a short while, then stopped, and within minutes, several equally luxurious black cars stopped around his sports car.

He got out of the car. Someone approached, holding an umbrella over his head. He took it and gave it to me.

"Get in your car quickly," he ordered, startling me.

"But..." Several men dressed in black got close to me, cornering me so that I obeyed his order and got into the car. One of them approached the open window.

"We will take your car to be repaired, Miss. Here is my business card. You can contact me when everything is finished."

"I hit his car. Shouldn't I be the one responsible?" I asked, but the man just smiled slightly.

"These are the boss's orders. A tow truck will be here shortly to take your car away. If you need anything else, don't hesitate to ask me."

"But how is he? I have to check his condition," I said forcefully.

"You don't need to worry, miss. Our master's car is equipped with an advanced system to withstand the collisions and impact. You see, he wasn't hurt. He's safe and sound." He bowed, then left, and sure enough, a tow truck arrived and took my car, as well as the man's sports car, to the nearest repair shop.

I couldn't talk to him anymore because he got into another car that took him away. Meanwhile, I was in the repair shop with wet clothes that had been attracting the attention of several people.

This was truly my unlucky day! After a failed marriage, then crashing into the car of an influential person, and now...

Hatchu!

Perfect.

It got even more perfect when my phone rang and the number that was stuck in my memory appeared on the screen. Jasper? What did he want now?

I ignored it as much as possible. If I said that I had completely lost my feelings, I would be lying. I still loved him and this breakup still felt hard for me.

However, every time I imagined him sleeping with Helena, even to the point where that damn woman was carrying his child, the hatred overpowered all the love I had.

[Unknown number: Xesha, where are you now?]

Reading that message, I felt something churning in my stomach. Why was he looking for me? Didn't he marry Helena and seem happy? Helena was the most mature and gentle woman, as he said. But why was he still bothering me?

[Unknown number: Xesha, honey. Please answer my call. Tell me where you are now. I'll come pick you up then we talk.]

Damn man! What's wrong with him? Is he drunk that his attitude has changed 180 degrees from his previous arrogant attitude?

I ignored him. Especially when the technician who was working on my car came over.

"I think I need some time to fix your car. Do you mind leaving it here? I'll call you when everything is done," he said. Although it was difficult, I finally nodded in agreement and gave him my number.

I called a taxi, which then took me to a motel. Work was waiting for me tomorrow. So I couldn't be too tired. Forget about heartbreak, forget about everything that happened today, and starting tomorrow, I would be Xesha, alone but happy because there were no more toxic men in my life.

---

One week... I managed to get through one week without crying, even though my feelings still felt so suffocating and heavy. Parting ways with Jasper actually made me happier and more loving toward myself.

However, don't call this life if there are no surprises in it.

Just as I finished my work, someone came and blocked my way. Jasper? What was he doing here?

"Xesha, wait!" He chased after me and matched my hurried pace, out of the building, so I could avoid him. However, with his tall, sturdy posture, he managed to get ahead of me and stand in front of me. "We need to talk."

"There's nothing left to talk about, Jasper. Go away. Otherwise, your wife will kill herself again. Remember, you now have to protect not just one life. Two, Jasper."

"Why do you say that? My wife is you. Your name is written on the marriage paper."

I laughed cynically. "My name? You know very well that it's not valid. Besides, it's just a name. It can't make it valid because the one who exchanged wedding vows with you was Helena, so live up to that vow."

I took another step, pushing past his sturdy body, but he pulled my arm. Accidentally, our heads collided.

"Ouch!" Damn Jasper! Since when did he start acting so stupid? Didn't he know that this was a public area, which meant he just made me the subject of ridiculous attention? "What the hell are you doing, huh? Can't you just leave? We're done, Jasper! Don't start any more drama."

"No, Xesha. This isn't drama. I came because I knew you missed me," he replied, making me smile bitterly.

I missed him? Why not just said that he came because HE missed me?

"How can you say that when you have a woman as beautiful, elegant, and mature as Helena—as you said—by your side? I'm not even a fraction of what she is. Right? You said that. Then why are you acting like this?"

He didn't answer, but looked at my forehead and touched it. I screamed in pain and he, unexpectedly, kissed the sore spot. Long and passionately.

I froze for a moment, trembling at his gesture, but then I realized something. Those lips were the lips he used to kiss Helena's wounds, to kiss Helena's lips, maybe even to lick her pussy.

I pushed him away forcefully and rubbed my forehead. I didn't want those dirty lips to touch me. Not at all.

Strangely, my harshness didn't upset him—something that had clearly never happened before. Instead, he grabbed my wrist, looked at me deeply, and said, "Wait here."

He went to his car, then returned with the first aid kit he carried with him wherever he went. He took out a tube of ointment and applied it to my sore forehead.

His gaze was gentle, caring for me with love.

He had never been this sweet to me in the five years we had been together.

What was your real plan, Jasper?