Liam's POV
As I gazed out at the airport exit, my eyes widened in awe. Jessica erged, luggage in hand, radiating warmth and elegance. Her arms stretched out, embracing the morning sun, and a dazzling smile lit up her face.
My heart skipped a beat, then galloped with unfamiliar emotions. Transfixed, I drank in her beauty.
Jessica's porcelain skin glowed golden in the sunlight, complented by her chestnut hair, styled in a chic bun. Her champagne-hued off-shoulder gown hugged her curves, paired perfectly with matching heels.
Ti seed to have refined her features, transforming her into a stunning woman. Her figure had blossod into a sensual pear shape – slender upper body, curvaceous hips, and shapely legs.
My gaze lingered, and heat stirred within . I realized, belatedly, that Jessica had been just 18 when we married, still blossoming into her beauty.
Living with her, I'd failed to see her growth, because I was consud by Zoey's figure that was stuck in my mind. But now, after two years apart, I see my wife with fresh eyes.
Regret and a sense of sha overwheld . I was an asshole. I'd judged her unfairly, blinded by my obsession with Zoey, to not have seen the damsel I had at ho.
My legs took to her and my arms instinctively stretched out to pull her to my chest, to feel her breath on my skin again. I've missed the closeness of our bodies, the sound of her voice, her giggles...fuck! I missed her.
But my sanity quickly kicked in, warming to keep my claws to myself. After what I put her through, she must still be angry at . So, I let my arms drop and called out her na instead.
"Jessica?"
But it ca out as a question. She froze for what seed like forever, then turned, our eyes locking.
Her expression was blank as she stared at . My heart sank, dropping like a stone to my stomach, when I didn't see that familiar look in her eyes. The spark, the joy...was gone.
She used to look at as if I were a trophy. Her eyes would light up, shining brightly and her lips would spread into a sweet grin.
I bit the inside of my mouth, my fist clenched, not knowing how to continue... Suddenly, her gaze shifted from mine and locked onto sothing behind . The blank look in her eyes slowly regained their shine. Her lips stretched into a smile...
Then I heard the dreaded voice of my worst enemy, Kristen, sounding unlike himself...joking with my wife and pulling her into his arms!
That instant, sothing in snapped, imdiately giving rise to jealousy and extre hatred for Kristen, prompting to act without thinking. I yanked her behind , reading to beat Kristen into a pulp, but my wife stood with him against , stabbing my already wounded heart and twisting the knife deep inside it, leaving breathless.
When she asked : "...who do you think you are?"
My mind went blank. I couldn't understand how she'd changed into a total stranger in just two years. Her unwavering confidence and poised deanor left flabbergasted. And her gaze, boring into my souls without hesitation, was a huge contrast to her timid and clumsy self two years ago.
Before I could fully process this change, she delivered the final blow: "As I thought."
Her words cut deep, implying that she'd expected my reaction. The sneer of disdain that followed only deepened the cut.
"Boss, I've tried but couldn't gather anything on her. It seed like her record in Country M was non-existent."
Michael reported, rudely yanking back to my surroundings. I'd asked him to look into Jessica's stay in Country M and the so-called relationship she shared with Kristen.
"So, Kristen manipulated her and took her away to Country M for two years, and got in my way of finding her?"
My face contorted in a scowl, as if I'd been fed poison. Kristen was using my wife; I strongly believed.
Otherwise, how else could Jessica, who left with nothing, return looking so refined and elegant? There couldn't have been other explanations.
"Find out where she is, now." I ordered, my heart growing restless with dangerous thoughts.
"I already did." Michael replied. "She's gone ho to her mother and sister."
My eyes lit up and without another second wasted, bolted out of the company for the second ti that day.
...
"What are you doing here?" Jessica's mom stood by the entrance, refusing to let in. "I thought I already told you to stop coming here? You're not welco here, Mr. Crawford!"
I swallowed, this had been a recurring incident for two years. Who would have thought that Jessica's family who'd always been greedy for more and more money would cut ties with and reject my money in those two years?
"I just want to see Jessica," I told her.
Jessica's mother scoffed. "Why? You've been parading that slut around, neglecting my daughter.
"What?" she mocked. "Has she left you now that your brother wants to throw you out of the company?" she began. "I knew it. n who don't stick to their wives end up with nothing! See, this is your retribution."
She continued, "Look, Mr. Crawford, I don't care who you are, but this is my house, and Jessica is my daughter. If she says no, that's it. And she'd said no, now get out!"
"Jessica and I are not divorced." I retorted. "She's angry at and that's why I'm here to sort things out. Don't stand in-between us, mother-in-law. Otherwise, I won't be lenient."
I'd run out of patience with this woman. I just wanted to see Jessica and fix things. Why was she being so difficult?!
"Are you threatening , Mr. Crawford?" she arched a brow. "So, you don't want to leave?" She repeated. "Okay, Watch what a crazy woman is capable of."
The next minute, the woman slapped herself harshly in the face, spotting a faint redness. She stepped out, closing the door behind her, then sat on the floor and began wailing really loudly.
"Sobody help! The Crawford family is bullying my children and I! Look at my face, he abused ! Because we are poor, because we have no male in the family to hold his ground against him, Mr. Crawford wants to swallow my small family whole! Help us, sobody, please call the cops!!"
In no ti, a small crowd had pulled up around the steel fence, holding out their phones and recording.
My head throbbed, I hate this woman. She'd frustrated for two years and was still happily doing so. I gritted my teeth.
I shouldn't let this woman ruin my good reputation, otherwise, if her lies reach the dia, it would affect the company's stocks and there would be more trouble for to deal with. I've managed to disrupt the voting, used dubious ans to silence and intimidated the most active board mbers, but it would only be for a while before they raise their heads again.
Giving them a weapon to brandish against was not a wise decision.
I stared at the woman, not knowing what to say or do to her. She's my wife's mother after all. Turning on my heels, I walked away.
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