Chapter 22
The next morning, Caitlin left home at dawn.
The moment she stepped through the gate, Xander jolted awake in his car. He flung the door open and rasped toward her silhouette, “Honey!”
His ragged voice alone betrayed his wretched state.
Last night he never left, wanting to explain things to Caitlin in person and hoping for her forgiveness soon, so he spent the night in the car.
Drenched by rain and chilled, he’d already caught a cold.
Just as he stepped out before his feet touched the ground, a dizzy spell washed over him, and he nearly lost his balance.
Hearing the noise, Caitlin paused her steps.
Spotting him still there, a surge of anger flared up inside her. She was about to shoo him away again when a gentle voice called from behind:
“Caitlin.”
It was Javier.
But why would he come here?
Surprised, Caitlin ignored Xander and walked toward Javier. “Mr. Harrison, what brings you here?”
The man leaned lazily against the hood, relaxed and casual.
Gone was the sharpness from days before. As she approached, the
soothing sandalwood scent clinging to him mingled with the morning air,
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bringing an unexpected calm.
H
Javier stood up, smiling. “Didn’t you invite me to visit your company? I happened to be passing by, so I thought I’d pick you up on the way.”
He walked over and opened the passenger door.
Passing by?!
The excuse was barely believable, but how did he even know her address?
Caitlin felt puzzled but didn’t dare ask.
After all, Mr. Harrison wasn’t complaining. Why refuse a free ride?
“Thank you, Mr. Harrison.”
She nodded without refusing.
Completely forgetting about Xander, the man watching from behind felt both hurt and jealous.
Xander stepped forward, blocking her path.
He glared at Javier with suspicion. “Mr. Harrison, we haven’t interacted much before, but now I see your tactics clearly. You used media warfare to buy shares cheaply and swallow the company I built from scratch. Now you’re here eyeing my wife? Is this the Harrison family tradition?”
He was a man, and men understood men best.
Javier was notoriously icy and aloof, never known to show interest in women. If it weren’t for genuine affection, why would he specifically come to pick up a woman?
He didn’t buy that “just passing by” nonsense.
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But Caitlin was sweating bullets for herself.
She immediately cut him off: “Xander, don’t go too far!”
Otherwise she dreaded what he might say next. Other things didn’t matter, but her work couldn’t be affected.
Yet Javier showed no irritation.
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Instead, he scoffed: “Wife? What right do you have to call her that now?”
Those words instantly ignited Xander’s fury.
Without hesitation, he slammed his fist into Javier’s face, releasing days of pent–up frustration.
Javier was completely unprepared.
He stumbled backward a few steps, blood immediately seeping from the corner of his mouth, yet triumph gleamed in his eyes.
And Xander happened to witness it.
In an instant, the fury in his chest blazed fiercer. He stepped forward, about to strike again, when Caitlin resolutely positioned herself between them and slapped him.
Slap!
The sharp crack echoed piercingly.
Caitlin’s chest heaved with rage as she shouted, “Xander, what madness possessed you this early morning!”
Xander froze on the spot.
Then he lifted his head in disbelief, wounded eyes fixed on Caitlin, voice
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Chapter 22
trembling as he uttered, “Darling…”
“I’m not your wife!”
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Before he could finish, Caitlin cut him off: “If you harass me again, I’ll call the police.”
な
With that, she helped Javier up. They both got into the car and drove straight away.
She couldn’t even be bothered to give him a glance.
Watching the car drive away, Xander felt his heart tear open, the pain ripping through him.
So this was how being ignored felt…
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