Chapter 24 Jealousy
Sloane's POV
My words struck a nerve.
Jared's expression turned thunderous. The look in his eyes could have killed.
He didn't argue back, because he had no way to argue back.
I took advantage of his distraction and pushed him away hard, turning to leave.
But he reacted faster. His long arm reached out, gripping my waist and pinning me back against the wall.
The next second, his burning lips came crashing down on mine.
This kiss was full of punishment—rough, forceful, without a trace of tenderness.
He pried open my teeth, his tongue pushing in with undeniable force, wildly claiming every inch of air in my mouth. The intense scent mixed with the faint smell of alcohol on him made me feel drunk.
He kissed me until I could barely breathe. My hands pressed against his hard chest, pounding on it, but it was like scratching an enraged lion—completely useless. As I struggled, he pressed my body even tighter against the wall.
Some deep memory in my body seemed to awaken, shamefully responding to his domineering kiss.
Sensing my softening, his kiss became even deeper. His burning hand slid down from my waist, slipping under my clothes, traveling up along my smooth spine.
When his rough fingertips touched my bra clasp and tried to undo it, my whole body stiffened and I suddenly snapped back to reality.
"Jared," I turned my head away, dodging his lips. My voice trembled uncontrollably from lack of oxygen. "We're outside!"
The dim motion-sensor light in the stairwell could go out at any moment, and neighbors could pass by at any time.
He paused, burying his face in the crook of my neck. His hot breath sprayed on my skin, sending shivers through me.
He didn't continue, just held me, his chest heaving violently, as if trying to calm something down.
After a long while, he finally lifted his head. Those blue eyes still burned with desire, like two dark flames.
He pulled me along and went upstairs without a word.
Back home, he kicked the door shut behind him.
He didn't even turn on the lights before pinning me against the door and kissing me frantically again.
My coat was roughly yanked off and thrown on the floor.
Jared scooped me up and strode toward the bedroom.
I was tossed onto the soft bed, my whole body sinking into it.
His tall figure immediately covered me, and he started unbuttoning his shirt.
In the darkness, I couldn't see his expression clearly, but I could feel the intense desire and undeniable dominance radiating from him.
"Jared, let me go." I finally found my voice, but it was as weak as a sigh.
His movements stopped. In the darkness, I could feel his scrutinizing gaze fall on me, cold and sharp.
He laughed coldly, his tone full of mockery. "Still thinking about that man in the painting? Is that why you won't let me touch you?"
I was too tired to explain about that painting anymore.
Exhaustion washed over me like a tide, completely drowning me.
I gave up struggling. I sat up from the bed, looked calmly at his blurred outline in the darkness, and said in an almost numb tone, "Do whatever you want."
Do whatever you want.
This marriage had reached its end anyway. My heart was already dead.
Resisting or submitting—what difference did it make?
My compliance, or rather, this attitude of complete despair, angered him more than any fierce resistance could.
"Sloane!" He roared.
The next second, a loud bang exploded in the quiet bedroom!
I was so startled by the sudden noise that I shuddered, my heart skipping a beat.
He had actually punched the bedroom door hard.
I could even imagine that poor wooden door must have a deep dent from his fist.
The bedroom fell deathly silent, with only his heavy breathing remaining.
In this suffocating standoff, his phone on the nightstand lit up inappropriately, its sharp ringtone cutting through the silence.
I turned toward the screen. The name burned itself into my vision.
Keira.
That ringtone was like hitting fast-forward, completely tearing apart the cold, tense atmosphere in the bedroom.
Jared's movements froze. He looked irritably at the lit phone screen, the name flashing on it making his brow furrow even tighter.
He didn't answer.
I thought that was the end of it, but a few minutes later, I heard the servants downstairs announcing a visitor.
I froze. Before I could react, Jared had already gone to open the door.
"Who is it?" he asked, his voice still carrying traces of anger and hoarseness.
But the next second, I watched as the violent aura around him miraculously dissipated.
I heard Keira's sobbing voice. "I called you and you didn't answer. I was worried about you."
I couldn't help but scoff.
What an act. If you want to check up on him, just say so.
"Don't cry," his voice instantly softened, with a patience and tenderness I'd never heard before. "Didn't I tell you to stay at the hospital? What's wrong?"
"Can I stay here tonight? Please?"
Jared seemed to fall silent. I leaned against the headboard, quietly watching his tall figure, watching him use that gentle tone to comfort another woman.
A sour pain spread through my chest.
Sloane, you're pathetic.
I cursed myself over and over in my mind.
He got angry at you because of another woman, then instantly became gentle for that same woman, and you still feel heartache.
You're cheap to the bone.
Those gentle murmurs cut right through me. I couldn't take it anymore.
I threw off the covers, got out of bed barefoot, and walked silently toward the bathroom.
"...Don't overthink it. I'll come to the hospital to be with you after I finish handling things." Jared probably didn't want to disturb me, so he deliberately lowered his voice, his back to me.
I walked into the bathroom without closing the door, just standing in the doorway. The cold tile floor cleared my chaotic thoughts a bit.
Even from a distance, Keira's tearful, clingy voice still faintly carried over.
I leaned against the doorframe, coldly watching Jared's back.
I wanted to see how he would answer.
Unexpectedly, Jared's patience finally seemed to run out.
"Enough!" Whatever Keira said made him angry, his tone filled with undisguised irritation. "Keira, I told you this has nothing to do with you! If you dare mention Sloane's name one more time, don't blame me for being rude!"
"Why!"
Keira's furious voice rang out. "Why are you protecting her like this? Do you love her?"
My heart skipped a beat.
Love?
That was really too funny.
The two were still arguing, but it was intermittent and hard to hear clearly.
I was shocked that Jared would actually get angry at Keira.
Hadn't he always given Keira whatever she wanted, treating her "depression" like a get-out-of-jail-free card?
Lost in thought, I didn't notice what was under my feet. When I turned around, I accidentally tripped over the coat he'd thrown on the floor earlier. My whole body lost balance, and I cried out as I fell to the side.
"Sloane!"
Jared's reaction was incredibly fast.
He turned around almost immediately, rushed over in a flash, and before I could fall, his long arm reached out and caught me firmly in his embrace.