Isabella's POV

It was Adrianna Vineyard.

That is the name of the wine Jayden served when Gabriel and his wife came for dinner three nights ago.

With crossed legs and a book in my right hand, my back resting comfortably on the sofa, I take a sip of the wine, moaning in delight before dropping it back on the coffee table.

I love this wind. The taste is unique. Probably because I haven't had a taste of many wines. Maybe if I take more varieties, I will find others who are good too.

But for now, I love this wine and I will always have it beside me whenever I am reading.

Reading does something magical to me. It makes me create a world of my own. A world filled with nothing but love, laughter, joy, and everlasting happiness. This is in contrast to the reality we are living in.

The reality of challenges and tribulations. Filled with mixtures of laughter and sorrow, joy and sadness, love and hatred, laughter and tears.

If there is one thing I wish for right now, it is LOVE.

True love. Because I believe true love brings fulfillment and happiness. It gives you a sense of tranquility and it brings smiles to your face.

Apart from the fact that reading keeps me busy and away from boredom, this is why I love reading.

Feeling like a classic businesswoman, I lean forward to take the glass cup to sip on again when I hear the knock on the door.

I almost spill the content of the wine on my sleepwear because of how I was in a rush to drop the glass cup back on the coffee table and drop my crossed legs in a hurry.

"Come in", I say loudly when I am composed enough to let the person in.

The door opens and Jayden comes in with his coat around his shoulder leaving him in just his white long sleeves and his briefcase in his hand.

I didn't expect him to knock. But I guess it was done out of courtesy. He must think I am in the bathroom or probably dressing up. To avoid having me run around the room or dashing back to the bathroom, the knocking was the right thing to do, even though I didn't expect him to be back from work this early.

"Welcome", I say with a smile, picking up the novel again to continue reading. I won't take any more wine. If I had known he was the one, I would have gotten rid of it so he won't see it.

But now that he is here already, he will.

In fact, his eyes are fixed on the bottle of red wine.

"How are you?" He asks, surprising me. Though we have been nice to each other, we haven't gotten to the phase of caring about how each other's day went.

Well, I care but he doesn't so I see no reason why I should always be the one asking him how his day went.

Pushing back my nervousness, I reply. "I'm fine."

He falls silent and I am thinking of what next I am supposed to do. How am I supposed to stand up and welcome him home with a hug or a peck on the forehead?

No, he is not my real husband!

Am I supposed to take the briefcase and the coat from him?

No!

"Why are you with my favorite wine?" He looks amused as he drops the coat and briefcase on the sofa next to me before dragging a recliner opposite me and flopping heavily into it.

He grabs the glass cup and pour more wine into it before gulping everything down.

I stare in wonder. Did he just use my glass cup? Did he just down the whole content of the wine? Am I hallucinating?

When he looks up, he smiles. "I never knew you love wines too."

Careful not to show my surprise, I nod. "I particularly like this one. It tastes good."

He nods in agreement before pouring more into the cup and lifting it to his mouth. I watch him take a sip and watch how the drink goes down his Adam's apple, making it pop up.

"What book are you reading?" He asks, shifting his gaze to your book in my hand.

"The Billionaire's Unwanted Bride", I reply.

He raises a brow.

"Are you done with the other? I can lend you this too if you want it. This is the second time I am reading the book." I tell him.

He leans backward with curiosity written all over him and he repeats. "The Billionaire's Unwanted Bride? What is it about?"

I shrug nonchalantly. "You should see for yourself." I stretch it to him but he doesn't take it and I wish so desperately for him to take it from me.

I want him to read it but I have no idea why I want this.

This book reminds me of nothing but Jayden and our contractual marriage. It reminds me of what I have gotten myself into. It is related to my current situation.

But I love it. I love the book.

"I will get it when I am done with the first. You can keep it till then", he rises from the chair and says. "I need to take a shower."

Abruptly, I shoot to my feet too. He wants to take a shower and I think it is high time I go to bed too so this light atmosphere won't become awkward. I won't be able to help not drooling if he comes out shirtless again like always.

"I should go to bed", I say and try to walk to the bed when I sway. I almost fall down but strong pairs of arms are quick to grab me.

This is when it dawns on me that I am a little tipsy.

When his breath fans my face, I realize that these strong arms belong to no one but Jayden and his face is a few inches away from mine.

This action reminds me of what happened at the clubhouse where we bumped into each other a few weeks ago and that was before I accepted his offer to be his wife for a year. Actually, that day was the very day I decided to accept his offer.

I am thinking he will drop me like he did that day but he isn't dropping me. He is watching me intensely with his arms around my waist and my back slightly bending. I realize my mouth is parted when he glances at my lips.

Instinctively and with a loud gulp, I close my mouth. That seems to break the spell because he let me go instantly, making sure that I am back on my feet.

"I should go take a shower", he twirls back and dashes to the bathroom before I can process what just happened and try to think if it is indeed a reality and not my imagination.

Did Jayden just look at my parted lips?

The slamming of the bathroom door jerks me out of my reverie. I blink once and pinch myself to wake up from the dream.

It isn't a dream.

I am tipsy, maybe that is why I am imagining rubbish.

Quickly, I wave it off and rush to the King-sized bed. I place the two pillows in the center of the bed as usual before climbing into bed and turning on my side, praying so hard for sleep to come before Jayden is out of the bathroom.

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