Chapter 5 ♡♡♡

As Jane is getting ready for bed, she hears the sound of the front door opening and closing. Frowning, she walks to the window and peers out. She sees a woman entering the house, her heels clicking on the tile floor. The woman is dressed in a short, low-cut dress, her hair perfectly styled. "That's strange," Jane mutters. "I wonder who that is." The woman walks into the living room, where Michael is sitting. He looks up in surprise as she approaches him. "What are you doing here?" he asks. The woman flashes him a smile.

"I came to see you, of course," the woman purrs. "I missed you so much. I couldn't stay away." She leans in and kisses him on the lips. Jane's heart stops. She can't believe what she's seeing. Michael breaks the kiss, looking stunned. "I'm sorry," he says. "You have the wrong idea. I'm not interested in you like that." The woman's smile fades, and her expression turns cold. "Are you sure about that?" she asks, her voice sharp. "Because it seems to me like you've been leading me on."

Michael stands up, his face flushed. "That's not true," he protests. "I was always clear that we were just friends. I never led you on." The woman's eyes narrow. "That's not what I heard," she says. "From what I understand, you've been telling people that we're in a relationship." Jane's heart sinks as she realizes what's happening. She feels sick to her stomach. "This is ridiculous," Michael says, his voice rising. "I never said any such thing. I don't know who's been telling you this, but it's not true."

The woman isn't listening. She's too angry. "I don't believe you," she says. "You're a liar and a cheater. And now you're trying to gaslight me, trying to make me think I'm crazy." Michael's eyes widen. "That's not what I'm doing," he says. "I'm just telling the truth. I don't want to hurt you, but I'm not interested in a relationship with you." The woman's face is red with fury. "I don't believe you," she says again. "And I'm not going to let you get away with this."

With that, the woman storms out of the room, slamming the door behind her. Michael stands there, staring after her in shock. A moment later, he turns and sees Jane at the window, watching the whole scene play out. He looks ashamed and embarrassed. "Jane," he says, his voice hoarse. "I'm so sorry. I didn't know she was going to do that. I'm so embarrassed." Jane feels sorry for him.

Jane keeps her composure. She doesn't want to give the woman the satisfaction of seeing her upset. Instead, she focuses on Michael, who is still standing there, looking shaken. She walks over to him and puts her hand on his arm. "Are you okay?" she asks, her voice soft and gentle. Michael looks down at her hand on his arm, then up into her eyes. "I'm not sure," he says. "I'm just so surprised. I didn't know she was going to do that.

"Why did she come here?" Jane asks, her curiosity getting the better of her. "I've never seen her before. Is she someone you know?" Michael sighs, running a hand through his hair. "I met her once, briefly," he says. "She was a friend of a friend, and we had a drink together. I didn't realize she would take it so far." Jane raises an eyebrow. "So you never gave her any indication that you were interested in her?" she asks. Michael looks horrified at the very idea. "No!" he says. "I'm married, Jane.

Jane remembers that, despite the drama that just unfolded, their relationship is not romantic. They are only in a contract marriage, and their feelings for each other are not a factor. "It's just a business deal," she says, looking at Michael. "We have a contract that we need to honor. Nothing more." Michael nods. "You're right," he says. "I'm sorry if this caused you any stress. I never intended for that to happen." "It's okay," Jane says, reassuring him. "I know we can get through anything, as long as we're honest with each other."

"I'm going to bed," Jane says, yawning. "This day has been more stressful than I expected." "Goodnight, Jane," Michael says, giving her a warm smile. "I hope you sleep well." Jane returns the smile. "You too," she says. "See you in the morning." With that, she goes to her room and settles into bed, ready to put the events of the day behind her. As she drifts off to sleep, she feels content, knowing that she and Michael have a strong foundation of trust.

●●●●●●●

On Saturday morning, Michael wakes up and stretches, feeling content. He takes a deep breath, enjoying the peace and quiet. Then, he realizes that he has the weekend off, and he's excited to spend some time with Jane. He gets out of bed and gets dressed, then walks to the kitchen. To his surprise, he finds Jane there, bustling around the stove. She's wearing an apron and humming to herself, seemingly content to be making breakfast for everyone.

As Michael enters the kitchen, Jane turns and smiles at him. "Good morning," she says. "I hope you're hungry." "I am," Michael says, smiling back. "You didn't have to make breakfast. I could have done it myself." "I know," Jane says, "but I wanted to. I enjoy cooking, and I wanted to do something nice for everyone." "That's very thoughtful of you," Michael says, feeling touched. "Thank you." He pours himself a cup of coffee, then stands next to Jane, watching her work.

As Jane stirs the oatmeal, she glances over at Michael. "What are your plans for the day?" she asks. "I was thinking about taking a walk around the grounds," he says. "I love this place, and I feel like I've barely explored it. Would you like to join me?" Jane nods. "I'd love to," she says. "It would be nice to get some fresh air and exercise." "Great," Michael says, grinning. "We can leave after breakfast." Jane smiles and continues to cook, feeling happy that she's spending the weekend with Michael.

After breakfast, Jane and Michael head out to the grounds of the estate. The sun is shining, and a gentle breeze is blowing through the trees. As they walk, they chat about their lives and their plans for the future. They talk about their families, their hobbies, and their dreams. The conversation is easy and natural, and they feel comfortable and at ease with each other. They stroll through the gardens, admiring the flowers and the lush greenery.

Michael watches Jane as she bends down to smell a bright yellow rose. Her auburn hair falls over her shoulder, framing her face in a halo of light. The sun shines through the branches of the trees, creating a dappled effect on her face. She looks like an angel, and he can't help but feel a surge of affection for her. He looks away, not wanting her to see him staring. But then, without thinking, he whispers, "You're beautiful." He regrets it immediately, fearing that he's overstepped his bounds.

Jane freezes, her heart pounding in her chest. She slowly stands up, her cheeks flushed. She turns to face Michael, unsure of what to say. "I'm sorry," he says quickly. "I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable. I just... I just..." He trails off, at a loss for words. Jane takes a deep breath. "It's okay," she says. "I appreciate the compliment." She gives him a shy smile, and they continue walking through the gardens in silence. But now, there is a new energy between them, and they both feel it.

As Jane walks beside Michael, she tries to focus on the scenery around her. But no matter how hard she tries, her thoughts keep drifting to him. She glances at him out of the corner of her eye, admiring his strong jawline, his broad shoulders, and his piercing blue eyes. She feels her heart race as she thinks about how handsome he is, and she wonders if he's thinking about her the same way. She knows it's foolish to think that, but she can't help it.

Jane and Michael are almost back to the house, walking along the path in the gardens. As they walk, they are so close that their arms brush together. They both feel the electricity between them, but neither of them knows what to do. Finally, Jane can't stand the tension any longer. She reaches out and takes Michael's hand in hers. He is surprised by her boldness, but he doesn't pull away. Instead, he laces his fingers through hers, holding her hand gently. They continue to walk in silence, but they feel more connected than ever.