The CEO’s Ex-Wife Can’t Escape

To Love You Again, My Husband

Chapter 16: Attracted To You

Jackson opened the door for her with a grin on his face. He spoke in a happy tone, “If I could take you home just like this, it’d be a blessing to me.”

She randomly pushed him out of her way and then gave him five dollars as a fee for taking her to the place she was going. Before Jackson could even say anything, she had already gone inside the restaurant.

At exactly seven in the evening, she had already arrived at the meeting place. All she had to do was wait for the other party to show up to confirm whoever was making money out of her pieces. It was hard to make a meetup with that person so Airina made sure she would make her or him pay.

While scrolling on her phone, a knock came on the table. She looked up to see Linda, her stepmother smiling widely at her. She had expected Nicole to appear in front of her, but it seemed that the mastermind who decided to sell her pieces was Linda. She was also the person who was optimistic about making Airina paint more every day. Whenever she missed her biological mother, Linda would make sure she’d paint two pieces in hopes that she wouldn’t be sad anymore.

Remembering it felt heartwarming but since she utilized it as a means to make money, Airina felt betrayed. Why do people around her keep betraying her? What did she do to deserve this? She held her breath for a moment, before pointing to the seat across from her. To prevent the other party from recognizing her, she wore black sunglasses and red lipstick, which she rarely uses.

Linda, smelling money from selling Airina’s pieces was sweetly smiling, obviously of the fact that the very person she kept hidden in the dark was right before her eyes.

Airina kept her cool asking in a mature voice, the one she proceeded when talking to business partners.

“Hi, Miss Lin. I saw your pieces online and had been very interested in buying ‘Two’s Hearts In A Jar’. Among others, I found ‘Cupid’s Arrow’ exceptional. Can you send me the exact piece, too?”

Linda was skeptical. The pieces she sells don’t have copies. She lied, “Sadly, Miss. We don’t sell the same piece.”

Airina questioned, “I like that. Then, may I see whoever paints the pieces? You see, if I want to buy the paintings, I’d like to mention the painter and help her boost her fame online.”

Linda flinched. “A-ah. The painter… doesn’t want to show her face so-”

“No, I only want to take her social media accounts and give her credit for legitimacy.”

Linda was relieved, “I see. However, the painter is a private person thus she only sends someone to discuss the wanted painting of the client.”

Airina was feeling horrible the more she kept up with this. She thought that her stepfamily had accepted her and Evan. Even after she was successful, she was sure to give some money to repay her gratitude but all she ever got was betrayal. Why?

She roughly swallowed her saliva.

“How long have you been selling these… spectacular pieces?”

Linda enthusiastically responded, “It had been two years.”

“Two years? Was it after I got married?”

“Huh, married?”

Airina pulled her sunglasses down, staring into Linda’s eyes with a scoff. She couldn’t believe this. All along, the comfort she had said was only for her own benefit. Linda gasped after seeing Airina’s face. She hurriedly grabbed the pieces she had carried along with her but before she could do so, Airina grabbed her wrist, preventing her.

Linda squirmed but Airina was not letting go of her.

“Why… are you doing this?”

Linda aggressively pulled her wrist from her. “Why, are you going to blame me? Because of you, Nicole didn’t have the chance to get married to Jackson! Do you know how long she had spent crying in her room?”

Airina defended in a small tone, “J-Jackson cheated on me with Nicole. Don’t you think you’re going a little bit far with your chosen words?”

“Chosen words? Nicole only wanted to pull the family out of the misery of our finances!”

Airina was baffled, “But you received the money even if I was the one who married him…”

Linda yelled at her, “That was a different story! Because of you and your despicable brother, I had to waste my long years just so I could live peacefully. If it hadn’t been your father’s wishes to grant your marriage with Jackson, I wouldn’t have agreed!”

“I am not asking about that darn marriage but your betrayal!” Airina fought back with a shout. Huffing from anger, she pointed to the paintings, “And do you know that you could literally get imprisoned from doing that thing? That is my personal asset.”

Linda rolled her eyes, “Asset, my foot. I was the one who inspired you and this is what I get in return? You’re such a bad person, Airina. I fed and raised you to be a good girl. I merely sold your ugly paintings-”

Airina snatched her paintings, telling. “Ugly or not, the fact that you sold it doesn’t change. How much are you going to destroy my life?”

“Aren’t you a wealthy person now? What more do you want? You could have easily painted them but you directed your anger at me. It was your fault for not fulfilling your duty as Jackson’s wife and making him lust over Nicole!”

“… Is that how you see me? That I stole the man your daughter liked?”

Airina’s tears fell down from her eyes. Nicole had betrayed her for Jackson, Jackson cheated on her because she was lacking, and now Linda blamed her for all the misfortune they had gone through. Before her marriage to Jackson, Airina, and Evan lived together to not make their father worry about them. It was true that he gave them money monthly, but it was enough for five days’ worth of food. Yes, it wasn’t that much as her father worked as a mere laborer. Even so, her father worked hard for the family.

As for Airina, she was also working three jobs just to help. Moreover, it didn’t give Linda the right to sell her precious paints. She felt like she was losing her consciousness all of a sudden.

She weakly spoke, “Right… I could paint them again. You’re truly despicable, stepmother.”

Linda then ran outside with the paintings in her hand. Airina was dejected again. Somehow, she ended up failing her mission to stop Linda. It even made things worse. Just when did it go wrong?

***

Airina frowned as her gaze focused on the familiar back of someone. She held her breath for a moment.This text is property of Nô/velD/rama.Org.

“What are you doing here?”

She asked then Jackson turned around to face her. However, his eyes soon turned sullen when he discovered that her eyes were red and swollen. In and hurry, he cupped her cheeks and then stared into her eyes.

She pushed his hands away, “Don’t touch me!”

“Why did you cry?”

“It’s none of your business.”

“I know, but I can lend a shoulder.”

She slapped his hand away, then pressed the password to her door. She halted in her tracks, questioning Jackson.

“What is the matter now?”

Jackson gently pushed her inside her house and then locked it softly. He asked, worriedly looking at her face.

“Who did you meet up with? Tell me and I’ll-”

“Can you stop your unnecessary worry?”

He sighed. “… Can you close your eyes for a while?”

She covered her mouth while glaring at him. Jackson giggled, “I won’t, I won’t kiss you. Can you close your eyes?”

Reluctantly, she didn’t know why she closed her eyes. She had always hated Jackson but why does he feel warm tonight?

Jackson’s hand soon reached her upper cheekbone, gently massaging her while speaking kindly.

“When you’re stressed, you can ask for a massage from a famous massager. I can recommend you to some places.”

Slowly, she felt her nerves calming down. “You go for a massage?”

“Rarely.”

As silence engulfed them, Airina felt more relaxed as his hands were occupied of massaging her. When he had stopped, she furrowed her brows, as if asking him why he stopped.

Jackson laughed, “Grant me a kiss first.”

“No need and leave the house.”

“Not even a thank you?”

“Why should I?”

“You almost fell asleep in my hands; you even lowered your guards.”

Airina scoffed. “I was just saving face for you.”

“I didn’t know you were concerned about me. Does that mean you’re not mad anymore?”

Airina folded her arms at his boisterous atmosphere.

“Why are you doing this?”

He then suddenly winked at her, “Maybe I’m attracted to you.”