Love Renewed: The CEO's Wife Escaped

"Come to Imodon Hotel."

After reading the message from her husband Ryan Haynes, Jenessa Wright rushed to the hotel.

The entrance was filled with colors. A new red carpet gleamed, and flowers overflowed from every corner. It was clearly a celebration of some kind.

Today was their marriage anniversary. Was Ryan planning a surprise? A shy smile tugged at Jenessa's lips as she retrieved the crumpled checkup report from her purse. She was pregnant. Her heart overflowed with a sweetness that threatened to spill.

This was the perfect moment to tell Ryan. She wondered how he would react.

Butterflies danced in her stomach as she entered the bustling hotel.

The celebration hall was a crowded buzz. In the center stood Ryan, his tall figure radiating a confidence that always made her knees weak.

He was her husband, the soon-to-be father of their child.

Jenessa approached him, a joyful greeting on her lips. "Ryan!"

Ryan whirled around, his smile dissolving into a chilling frown. "Jenessa? Why are you here?"

The warmth in her chest evaporated. "Didn't you ask me to come?"

He scowled, a crease forming between his brows. "No. When would I have done that?"

Panic clawed at Jenessa's throat. Just then, a woman in a designer dress sashayed up to Ryan and gently linked arms with him. "Ryan, don't be so harsh on our guest."

Jenessa's blood ran cold.

It was Maisie Powell, Ryan's first love!

When did Maisie return? Why was she never told?

"Actually, it was I who invited Jenessa," Maisie purred, her gaze flickering to Ryan.

Jenessa's head spun.

Ryan guarded his phone like a hawk, yet Maisie could send messages from it? A bitter taste filled Jenessa's mouth. "I..." Jenessa stammered, unsure of what to say.

Maisie released Ryan and held Jenessa's hand, saying softly, "I had just come back and Ryan threw this lovely party for my return. When I saw you weren't here, I took the liberty of inviting you."

Maisie's smiling face was met with Jenessa's confused gaze. "Why the glum face? Don't you want me back?" asked Maisie.

"No, it's not that. I was just a little surprised," Jenessa choked out, the words heavy on her tongue.

Maisie's smile remained unfazed. She snagged a glass of champagne from a passing waiter and offered it to Jenessa.

"Come, Jenessa, it's been ages since we last met. Cheers to my return."

Jenessa stared at the offered glass, her hand hovering in the air. "Actually, I can't drink..."

The words barely left her mouth when the wine glass slipped from Maisie's grasp, showering Jenessa in alcohol.

The crystal glass shattered on the floor with a sharp snap.

"Ah!" Maisie shrieked, stumbling backward, feigning horror at the flying shards.

Before Jenessa could react, Ryan shoved her aside.

He scooped Maisie up and held her close. "Are you hurt?" Let's get to the lounge. We'll get you to the private doctor there."

His protectiveness stung Jenessa worse than the spilled wine.

Maisie cast a hesitant glance at Jenessa. "But Ryan, what about-"

Ryan cut her off, his voice laced with impatience. "She shouldn't have even come. She's spoiling the mood."

He carried Maisie away, leaving Jenessa exposed in the middle of the hall.

Shame burned in her cheeks as guests disdainfully gaped and murmured.

It was as if she, the wife, was the shameless other woman.

Despite the humiliation, a sliver of concern for Maisie's safety pricked at Jenessa. She couldn't simply walk away.

After a long, agonizing moment, she followed them to the lounge.

The door was ajar, revealing a snippet of their conversation.

"Ryan," Maisie chided, "that was harsh. Jenessa's been your wife and took care of you for years. A little kindness wouldn't hurt, especially considering you're going to divorce her soon..."

Jenessa froze, the blood draining from her face.

Ryan's voice was cold. "Fine, I will do anything you say."

Maisie cautiously asked, "How will you handle your grandmother? She pushed for the marriage, you know. I heard in the three years you've been married, she's been pushing for grandkids..."

"Don't worry. I'll deal with it," Ryan said curtly. "I promised you. You're the only woman for me, the only one who deserves to be my wife and the mother of my children. Jenessa, she doesn't deserve that."

Each word was a shard of ice piercing Jenessa's heart. She stumbled back, a daze clouding her mind.

The journey home was a blur.

When she finally reached her room, it was completely dark outside.

Mechanically, she pulled out the checkup report, a bitter smile twisting her lips.

This was supposed to be a surprise for Ryan. What a cruel joke.

He wanted a divorce, didn't want their child. If he knew she was pregnant...

"What are you doing?" A cold voice shattered the silence. Ryan stood in the doorway.

Ryan's voice startled Jenessa. The checkup report crumpled in her hand as she shoved it back into her pocket. He darkly stood in the doorway.

"N-Nothing," she stammered, pretending to be calm.

Why was he back? Shouldn't he be comforting his precious Maisie?

Ryan's gaze swept over Jenessa, taking in the wine-stained dress and damp tendrils clinging to her face. She looked like a mess, pitiful and helpless.

"What happened to you?" His voice was rigid, devoid of warmth.

Jenessa remembered his attitude towards Maise and felt a fresh stab of pain.

It seemed there were two Ryans; one for the woman he loved and one for the woman he barely tolerated.

Keeping her emotions in check, she forced a smile and explained, "I just got back. Haven't changed yet."

An itch tickled her nose, erupting into a violent sneeze. The wind must've gotten to her on the way back.

Ryan's frown deepened. "Drop the pitiful act. The party's been over for hours. Go change your clothes and hop in the shower. I don't want you getting sick and adding to my troubles."

The smile on Jenessa's lips evaporated. "Sorry," she mumbled.

She was pregnant now, she recalled. She couldn't afford to get sick.

Without another word, she retreated to the bathroom. The hot water washed away the physical chill.

As she stepped out, wrapped in a towel, she froze. Ryan unexpectedly stood in the doorway.

A startled yelp escaped her lips as she clutched the towel tighter.

Ryan's gaze was unwavering. "Why are you covering up?" he said, his voice calm. "There's nothing I haven't seen."

Heat flooded Jenessa's cheeks, memories of their passionate sex flashing before her eyes.

But the impending divorce cast a long shadow, chilling the warmth.

He produced a pill and a glass of water. "Take this. It's cold medicine."

Jenessa hesitated, her mind on the tiny life growing within her.

"I think I'm okay. No need for pills. Maybe some water...?"

"You look awful," Ryan countered, his tone firm. "We're seeing Grandma tomorrow. Don't get sick now."

Torn between concern for the baby and the pressure from Ryan, Jenessa persisted, "Warm water will be fine. I won't get sick."

Impatience flickered in his eyes. He shoved the pill in his mouth, then took a sip of water.

"What are you-"

Before Jenessa could finish, Ryan leaned over and cupped her chin. Then, his lips were on hers.

The pill entered her mouth along with the water. He held her head, forcing her to swallow.

Jenessa crumpled in his grasp, her head dizzy. She was completely defenseless against him.

The brief kiss awakened Ryan's lust. He shoved her to the bed. His eyes, usually cool, burned with primal hunger. He straightened up and loosened his tie, fixing eyes on her rosy lips.

Just as he leaned in again, Jenessa snapped out of her haze. "No!"

Her voice startled them both. Reaching out with trembling hands, she pushed against his chest.

"What?" Ryan frowned, bewildered.

He lunged for another kiss, but she turned away, refusing to meet his gaze. "Ryan," she forced out, her voice shaking, "let's get a divorce."

The desire in his eyes flickered and died.

He pinched her chin and forced her to look at him. His gaze was unrelenting. "Say that again."

Jenessa's heart hammered against her ribs. Ignoring the storm of emotions threatening to engulf her, she met his gaze. "Let's get a divorce," she repeated.

A flicker of something complex crossed Ryan's features. "Why?"

Jenessa faltered. Why? Because he didn't love her, obviously.

Because his heart belonged to Maisie. Because she wanted to grant him his wish, allowing him to be with the one he loved.

She'd rather end things on her own terms than wait for him to.

"Because..."

Jenessa started, but Ryan cut her off, his voice laced with impatience. "Is this about money? Are your parents strapped for cash again?"

The question hung heavy in the air. Jenessa's eyes widened.

Her parents were once on the verge of bankruptcy. They could float by due to Ryan and Jenessa's marriage.

Shame burned Jenessa's cheeks. It was true. Her parents had milked their marriage to get whatever benefits they could get.

Seeing her reaction, Ryan misinterpreted her silence. He scoffed, saying, "Don't pull this, Jenessa. Whatever you want, just name it. Don't throw a tantrum and expect me to cave."

Jenessa's fists clenched at her sides.

So that was what he thought; that she was using divorce as leverage to extract more benefits.

A bitter, cold smile twisted Jenessa's lips. "Don't worry," she said, her voice surprisingly calm. "I don't want anything. Just a divorce. We both know it's inevitable. Now or later, what's the difference?"

Ryan didn't answer, his gaze unreadable. An unsettling tension filled the room.

Jenessa grew nervous. Unconsciously, she clung to some hope. "Or... do you not want to?"

The thought that Ryan might want to stay married made Jenessa's heart skip a beat, her chest heaving from anticipation.

However, under her hopeful gaze, Ryan scoffed coldly. "Jenessa, don't kid yourself." His tone was full of mockery, each word piercing her heart like a knife. "Do you really think I'd say 'no' to a divorce?"

He locked eyes with her, his gaze icy cold. "Remember this, Jenessa-you're the one who asked for a divorce. You'd better not come crawling back to me when it's all said and done."

With that, he got out of bed and left, slamming the door behind him.

Jenessa lay despondently on the bed, her heart heavy with disappointment.

Tears rolling down her cheeks, she gently placed a hand on her belly, feeling the little life growing inside her.

She had originally planned to tell Ryan the good news, but in the span of just a few hours, they were on the brink of divorce.

After thinking about it a moment or two, she decided it was best to keep Ryan in the dark about her pregnancy. Even if they separated ways, she could raise the baby on her own.

Then, thinking about her job as Ryan's secretary, she felt a pang of helplessness.

Ryan's grandma had arranged for her to work under Ryan to nurture their relationship, and back then, it seemed like a good idea.

But now, things were different, and it was high time she left that job.

The following morning, as soon as Jenessa arrived at the WorldLink Group's headquarters, a few of her more gossipy colleagues surrounded her.

"Jenessa, we've been waiting for you all morning! What's going on with Mr. Haynes and that Maisie girl? Are they an item now?"

"News of Mr. Haynes throwing a welcome-home party for international supermodel Maisie Powell went viral overnight. He even invited all his friends. Looks like he's planning to make their relationship public soon!"

"I heard that after the party, they spent the night together. Maybe she's his future wife!"

Jenessa felt a pang of bitterness as she listened. After a brief hesitation, she replied despondently, "I don't know much about it."

Her colleagues exchanged glances and rolled eyes. Obviously, they didn't believe her. "Come on, Jenessa! You're Mr. Haynes' secretary. You know him better than anyone. How could you not know any insider information? Just spill the beans already!"

Jenessa forced a weak smile. Everyone knew that she was Ryan's secretary, but very few people knew that she was also Ryan's wife. He was even reluctant to make their relationship public.

With a soft sigh, she stood her ground more firmly. "I really don't know, okay? Enough with the gossip."

The colleagues wanted to press her further, but Jenessa cut them off before they could get another word out. "I said there's nothing to say, so quit pestering me. Were you all hired just to gossip? Get back to work, all of you!"

Her stern expression made them uneasy, but she was right; they had to comply.

"Okay, okay, we get it."

As Jenessa walked away, they couldn't help but mutter and grumble among themselves.

"Who does she think she is? Acting all high and mighty. Humph! She's not the only secretary here."

"Yeah, when she started working here out of the blue three years ago, we all thought she had some kind of relationship with Mr. Haynes. But in the end, he didn't pay her any special attention-never took her to meetings with clients. She's his personal secretary, but what of it? Just eye candy!"

"Her days here are numbered. Once Maisie marries Mr. Haynes, Jenessa will be the first one to go. After all, who would trust a pretty secretary around their man?"

"Exactly!"

Their laughter and unrestrained chatter filled the office, but Jenessa turned a deaf ear to it all and walked straight to her desk, immersing herself in her work.

She knew how those seemingly friendly colleagues truly saw her. But she couldn't argue with them, because even she herself felt like a joke.

Before she knew it, it was time to get off work, and most of the secretaries had already gone home.

Just as Jenessa was packing her things, she received a call from her best friend, Brinley Lloyd.

"Hey, I saw the news this morning. What the hell is going on with Ryan and that Maisie girl? Just rumors, right?"

Hearing the disbelief in Brinley's voice, Jenessa sighed heavily.

"It's true."

Brinley gasped in shock mixed with horror. "What the hell?!"

Throughout the day, Jenessa had thought things through, so she was relatively calm as she explained, "In the first place, Ryan and I only got married as part of an agreement. I always knew he had no feelings for me; he only married me because his grandma insisted. Now that the woman he loves is back in the picture, there's no reason for me to stay. It's time to let them be together."

Brinley felt both incredulous and indignant. "But... What about the baby? Weren't you going to surprise him?"

"Would it be a wonderful surprise to him? Or a horrifying shock?" Jenessa instinctively touched her flat belly, a bitter smile on her lips. "Anyway, what matters is I've made up my mind-I want a divorce, and I'll raise this baby on my own. There's no need for him to know."

"Seriously, a divorce? Are you sure about that?" Brinley sounded very concerned. "If you don't want him to know you're pregnant, then you can't keep working at WorldLink. Your belly will get bigger and bigger."

"Don't worry, I'm way ahead of you. I'll resign soon. Then, I can finally go back to doing what I truly love."

The mention of her long-lost dreams brought a rare smile to Jenessa's face.

"Oh, my God! Jenessa, are you going back to your old career?" Brinley was thrilled. "That's fantastic! I always believed in you! You're a genius designer! Look out, world-Sloane Todd, a legend in the fashion design world, is coming! You shouldn't have wasted your talents as Ryan's secretary all these years. He's not worth it!"

"Sloane Todd..." Jenessa felt a bit dazed at the mention of that long-forgotten pseudonym.

For Ryan, she had lost herself for so long. She almost forgot who she truly was.

"Jenessa."

A magnetic, masculine voice suddenly sounded behind her.

Startled, Jenessa whirled around to find a stern-looking Ryan standing behind her.