Chapter 2

Sean's agonized screams echoed through the entire villa.

Jasmine rushed him to the hospital that same night.

"Even between husband and wife, you can't roughhouse like this. How did he end up this badly hurt? There's bleeding from a contusion to the testicular membrane. We'll start with an IV drip and some anti-inflammatory medication." The doctor frowned, grumbling as he examined Sean.

"Doctor, will this affect his... his..." Jasmine asked, her face flushed, forcing herself to get the words out.

The doctor glanced at her. "Worried now, are you? No sex for at least the next two months. As for whether there's any lasting damage to his sexual function, we'll need to wait and see after some recovery time."

Sean looked at Jasmine, his expression dark.

Feeling guilty, Jasmine avoided his gaze. She thanked the doctor, then quietly sat by the hospital bed watching the IV drip.

Neither of them said a word. The minutes ticked by, and the ward fell into an uneasy silence.

That made the buzzing of his phone sound impossibly loud.

He answered immediately, his voice carrying a gentleness Jasmine had never heard from him before. "Kayla..."

Kayla's voice came through, slightly trembling. "Sean, that reporter who was photographing us at the airport — I think he followed me. He's right outside, knocking on my door. What should I do?"

"Don't be scared. Keep the door locked and don't open it. I'll be right there."

Sean hung up and yanked the IV needle out of the back of his hand in one swift motion. Beneath the white medical tape, blood spread rapidly across his skin. He seemed not to notice at all. He grabbed his jacket, called his driver, and strode out of the room.

"You haven't finished your IV..." Jasmine's words trailed off. Sean was already gone.

Wasn't he the one who'd walked in here hunched over, clutching himself aslike he could barely stand upright? How did he just walk out that fast?

Looks like she hadn't kicked him hard enough.

Why didn't she kick him where it counts and render him impotent for good?

[Don't forget what the doctor said — no sex for a while.] Jasmine thoughtfully sent him a reminder.

She took a cab home, arriving at three in the morning to find Sean handing Kayla a cup of hot water.

He'd beaten her home. And he'd brought that woman back with him.

Spotting Jasmine, Kayla smiled with easy confidence. "Long time no see. Hope I'm not intruding?"

"How about the fact that you already are?" Jasmine looked at her with a thin smile.

"Jasmine!" Sean's expression darkened like a storm rolling in. He said her name through clenched teeth.

Kayla gave Sean a gentle shake of her head. "Sean, don't let me come between you two."

She turned to Jasmine. "If it's not convenient, I can find a hotel instead."

Watching the two of them exchange that overly familiar look, Jasmine felt a wave of disgust — and actually gagged.

Sean's face went even colder. "Jasmine, that's enough!"

Jasmine waved them off. "Sorry, that was just a reflex — nothing to do with you two. It's been a long night and I'm exhausted. Do whatever you want."

She headed upstairs to bed as she spoke.

Sean followed her into the room and yanked her blanket away. "Jasmine, we need to get some things straight."

She'd barely started to drift off, and being jolted awake like that pushed her irritation over the edge. "Can't this wait until tomorrow? I need to sleep."

"Kayla is only staying here for a few days. I'm asking you not to start trouble during that time." There was no mistaking the warning in Sean's voice.

Jasmine let out a cold laugh. Since he wasn't going to let her sleep anyway, she sat up. "A few days — how many exactly? Three? A week? Or maybe a week isn't enough, so a month? A year?"

Her sarcasm set him off. "Jasmine, how can you be so cold? Kayla is being followed. It's not safe for her to stay at a hotel alone. Do you have to be like this?"

"So I don't even have the right to ask questions?" Jasmine looked at him calmly.

"What do you think?" he snapped back.

Clearly, as far as Sean was concerned, she didn't.

Jasmine studied Sean — this man she'd been married to for three years — and found him oddly unfamiliar in that moment.

She knew there was no love between them. Her own father and stepmother had conspired to put her in his bed, snapping a cage shut around her — trapping her, and trapping Sean too.

So in the beginning, she'd felt guilty toward Sean. She'd tried hard to make it up to him, tried hard to build something between them.

But she'd learned the hard way that it takes two people to make a relationship work. One person's effort alone isn't enough.

And so the child who was never meant to be had slipped away.

And so three years had passed, and somehow everything felt exactly the same as where it started.

All of a sudden, she was just tired.

Three years.

She didn't have another three years to give. Why should she keep wasting herself on him? Why couldn't she do something for herself, just once?

Seeing her go quiet, Sean seemed to realize he'd gone too far. He tried to soften his tone. "I just want you to understand — Kayla just got back to Astoria. She has nobody here. I can't turn my back on her."

"So what are you saying?" Jasmine gave him a sideways look. "If you want to rekindle things with her, just say so. I'll get out of the way. I'll move out tomorrow."

Sean's brow furrowed. He turned away, unwilling to meet her mocking gaze. "Think whatever you want. My conscience is clear."

He paused, then added, "There's something else. Kayla's research focus at Crestview University is AI and bionic technology — she's the kind of talent every major company is trying to poach. Since the Horizon Tech deal has hit a snag, I want you to bring her along when you meet with Mr. Baker to renegotiate. Having her there will give him a clearer picture of our technical edge. It'll make the whole negotiation easier."

Jasmine had thought Sean was just letting an old flame cloud his judgment. She hadn't expected him to start meddling in her work too.

"Sean, do you think the Horizon Tech deal is some kind of game? She knows nothing about our products. The 'technology' you're talking about would just be empty promises. Do you really think Horizon Tech is going to fall for that?" Jasmine didn't bother softening her words.

Her response ignited his temper. "Don't be so full of yourself. The core of this company is technology, not sales. She has real ability — she deserves to be recognized. Jasmine, stop letting your personal feelings get in the way."

"You're the one letting personal feelings get in the way. My team has spent over two months grinding away at this contract. I'm not about to let an outsider walk in at the last minute and take credit for what we built." Jasmine's position was firm.

Any lingering goodwill she had toward Sean evaporated in that moment. If bringing Kayla home without a second thought had crossed a line, then sticking his nose into her work had blown straight through the last one she had left.

Looking at her stubborn face, Sean felt a wave of helplessness.

How was he supposed to explain things so she'd see Kayla clearly, without all this hostility?

Two quiet knocks came from the doorway. Kayla stepped in with an apologetic smile. "Sorry — I didn't mean to overhear. But it sounds like I'm the reason you two are fighting, and I feel terrible about that."

The coldness in Sean's face softened almost immediately. "Kayla, this has nothing to do with you. You don't need to apologize."

Kayla lifted her chin slightly with a hint of pride. "Jasmine, I don't agree with you calling me an empty promise. I've spent years at Crestview University doing serious research with my advisor, and I've published multiple papers in international journals. I'm not here to steal credit from your team. I'm here because I want to see Helix Technologies grow."

Sean turned back to Jasmine. "I get it — her thinking is too narrow-minded. Go get some rest, Kayla. Beat the jet lag. I'll handle this."

Kayla hesitated for a moment, then gave a slow nod and headed back to the guest room.

Sean paused in the doorway and gave Jasmine a cool, warning look. "Think it over. When you've figured things out, come find me. I'll be in the study."

A woman this inflexible — maybe she needed to learn her lesson.

Left alone in the empty bedroom, Jasmine couldn't sleep.

Her life was already short enough that she could see the end of it from here. She could feel her body wearing down. Whatever time she had left, she couldn't keep spending it on pointless jealousy and rivalry.

She felt like she'd been locked in a cage for three years. Even if she died at the end of it, she wanted her soul and her body to be free.

So this man, this marriage that never should have started — she was done with all of it.

It was time to take her life back. Time to give Sean his back too.

His first love had come home. It was time for his hidden wife to step aside.

She picked up her phone, opened her chat with Kevin, and typed:

[Kevin, can you draft a divorce agreement for me?]

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