Chapter 29 — The Heat Beneath The Hurt

Through The Empty Halls
Meanwhile, Jenna stepped out of the kitchen, her eyes scanning the lounge and hallway. He wasn’t in sight.

Hmm, he must have gone upstairs.

She walked past the stairs and opened the bedroom door, but the room was empty. The bath, the balcony, she checked everywhere, then returned to the lounge and hallway, her anxiety rising with every empty corner.

Ahh, where have you gone now? She let out a slow, frustrated breath, wrinkling her forehead and placing her hands on her hips.

Should I call him or check downstairs again? She thought, pouting briefly before changing the decision. No... I’ll go see for myself.

Descending the stairs, she glanced around the quiet space once more, her heartbeat quickening.

When she reached the entrance, her eyes caught the familiar car parked outside. Relief and tension tangled inside her chest as she realized he was here.

A man stood there, his presence sharp and slightly intimidating, but Jenna forced herself to appear calm, offering her signature gentle smile.

“Excuse me, do you know where Evan is?” she asked neutrally.

The man bowed his head politely before speaking.

“Ma’am, I’m not certain exactly, but you can ask Liam,” he said, referring to Evan’s personal guard.

Liam. She knew him well, always at Evan’s side, familiar and dependable, almost like family. Whenever she needed to know something about Evan or pass a message, it was Liam she sought.

“Okay, thanks.” She gave him a small nod, and he returned it with a polite bow.

Jenna moved toward the usually silent hallway where Liam would often stay.

She noticed the two guards who normally patrolled this area weren’t there.

Oh, no one is here to stop me. A mischievous grin crept across her face as she hurried down the hallway, feeling a sudden thrill of freedom, like a child allowed to run outside.

Her footsteps echoed sharply on the marble floor, the cold seeping through her shoes. The air was still and heavy, the eerie silence amplifying every step.

She furrowed her brow when Liam didn’t appear. Where have they both gone? Her eyes darted around impatiently as she continued down the main hallway until she reached a pillar, peering around it cautiously.

From the center of the hall, her gaze swept over the branching corridors, narrow passageways that led to different rooms and wings of the building.

Is he in his study? What if someone else is with him? Her eyes flicked nervously along each side passage, scanning for any sign of movement.

Suddenly, Liam spotted her and rushed forward. “What’s going on, ma’am? Why are you here?”

His voice carried concern as he took in her lone figure, aware that his boss had strictly warned her not to wander this far.

“I’m looking for Evan. Where is he?” Her eyes darted past him, scanning the hallway again, impatience knotting her chest.

“Boss is busy in his study. He’ll be free in about half an hour,” Liam replied cautiously, trying to balance honesty with reassurance.

“But I need to talk to him now, just once, please,” she insisted, her voice soft but urgent.

Her shoulders tensed, and she fidgeted with the edge of her shirt, trusting Liam to understand the weight of her request.

“I’m sorry, ma’am. You really shouldn’t be here. Please, go back. I’ll tell him you’re waiting,” Liam said gently, unwilling to confront her directly.

She knew she wasn’t supposed to be here. Evan had strictly warned her to stay away. This part of the mansion was reserved for his closest associates and gang members.

Even Liam had strict orders to keep her out. But tonight, a rare opportunity presented itself, and she had slipped in.

Her lips pressed together, sadness flickering in her eyes as she nodded slowly. “Okay, then tell him I’m waiting. I need to talk to him.”

“Sure, ma’am.” He inclined his head, giving her a small, understanding smile as she turned back toward the building.

Once inside the bedroom, she flipped on the golden LED lights, casting a soft glow across the space. She moved toward the window and opened it, the chilly night air brushing her face.

Outside, the trees swayed in the wind, their shadows flickering against the ground, while clouds drifted lazily across the night sky.

Her elbows rested on the railing, chin propped on the back of her intertwined hands. She let her gaze wander across the cold night, shivering slightly as a gust of wind brushed her skin. She hugged her arms around herself, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear.

What would Mom and Dad be doing now? Probably snuggled under blankets, whispering to each other.

She imagined the small habits and tender moments they shared, and a soft ache settled in her chest.

And Alexa? She pictured her sister with a mug of coffee, studying, or maybe just savoring the stillness of the night.

The thought made her own fingers trace absent patterns along the railing as she murmured softly to herself, lost in reflection.

A faint, sad smile tugged at her lips, and she shook her head slowly.

They all lived free lives, moving without restrictions, without constant tension. Alexa could wander wherever she pleased, laugh, enjoy the night.

And she? Even in her own husband’s home, she felt confined. Evan’s ever-watchful eyes, his dangerous reputation, his strict rules, they left her with little freedom, always measured, always cautious, leaving her no space to move on her own.

She exhaled softly, pressing her forehead to her hands, the cold wind brushing against her warm skin, sending shivers through her body.

Yet she wasn’t ready to leave. She liked observing these quiet nights, the moon, the stillness that seemed to pause the world.

The diamond ring on her finger glimmered, the only reminder of his presence until the bedroom door opened.

She didn’t turn. She already knew who it was. He cleared his throat as he closed the door behind him, but she kept her gaze fixed on the night beyond the window.

Approaching her slowly, he stopped just behind her, hands sliding into his pockets.

“Didn’t hear me come in?” His voice was calm, low, that quiet authority that always made her chest tighten.

She stayed by the window, her reflection faint in the glass.

He watched her from behind, tone dipping lower. “You’ve been looking for me, haven’t you?”

Her fingers brushed against the railing, restless, but she didn’t answer.

“Jenna.”

Her name left his lips in that husky, deep voice that sent a shiver crawling up her spine. She rolled her eyes aside, trying to shake it off.

“I’m angry at you,” she said finally, her voice small but steady.

He chuckled softly. “You waited up just to tell me that?”

She turned to glare at him, ready to argue, but the moment her eyes met his, the words caught in her throat.

His gaze held hers, steady and unguarded, the soft light catching in those deep, doe-like eyes that always drew her in without effort. For a moment, she forgot why she was even mad.