Rebirth: The New Bride Wants A Divorce-Chapter 312: I might be tempted to provoke
Has he lost his mind?
She watched him carefully, unsure whether to feel embarrassed or offended. Here she was, admitting something raw and vulnerable, and he was smiling like he had just been handed the world.
Daniel leaned in, his thumb brushing lightly over her chin, his eyes warm now, amused and tender all at once.
"Do you have any idea," he murmured, "how rare it is for a woman like you to admit that?"
Her breath hitched. She hated how easily he unraveled her, how her jealousy, which she had viewed as weakness, had somehow become something precious in his eyes.
"And can you tell me what made you jealous?" he asked, his thumb brushing along her cheek, lingering as if he were memorizing the faint pink tint that bloomed on her skin.
Anna hesitated. The words sat heavy on her tongue, suddenly feeling far more vulnerable than anything she had done moments ago. She shifted slightly, her fingers tightening in his shirt as her gaze dropped to his chest.
"I didn’t plan on coming here like this," she said softly. "I just... heard a name. Saw a situation I didn’t like."
Daniel watched her closely, not interrupting, his touch gentle but steady, urging her on without pressure.
"She was waiting for you," Anna added quietly. "And I didn’t like the thought of you entertaining her. Not when I was already feeling..." She trailed off, biting her lip, clearly choosing her words.
Daniel lifted her chin again, coaxing her eyes back to his.
"Feeling what?" he asked, his voice low, patient.
"She might take advantage of you"
Anna had never intended to tell Daniel anything. Not really. But once the words began, they refused to stop, spilling out in fragments until Fiona’s name, her persistence, the waiting, all of it lay bare between them.
Daniel listened without interrupting, his expression shifting from curiosity to something dangerously amused.
By the time she finished, the corner of his lips had already curled upward. Before Anna could protest or retreat, his mouth was on hers, stealing her breath in a brief, decisive kiss that left her startled.
"You are adorable," he murmured against her lips, his tone light, teasing.
Anna pulled back just enough to glare at him, her nose scrunching as she shook her head in firm denial. "No, I am not," she insisted, crossing her arms as if to shield herself from his smile. "You can take it as a punishment too."
Daniel chuckled softly, clearly enjoying her reaction far too much. His hand reached for her again, thumb brushing her cheek as his eyes warmed with affection.
"If that’s your idea of punishment," he said, leaning closer, "I might be tempted to provoke your jealousy more often."
Anna huffed, trying and failing to hide the smile tugging at her lips, even as she shot him a warning look.
"Come, let’s continue this at home," Daniel said, pecking her lips one more time, his voice low and coaxing.
Anna huffed at him, clearly unimpressed by how effortlessly he thought he could sway her, but she didn’t refuse. Instead, she slipped off the table and straightened herself, casting him a look that promised this conversation was far from over.
Minutes later, the couple left the building through the private exit, unnoticed and unbothered, their hands brushing as they disappeared into the waiting car.
Meanwhile downstairs, in the gleaming parking area, Fiona continued to wait. And wait unaware that the man she was determined to see had already left, taking his wife with him and leaving nothing behind but silence and unanswered expectations.
***
[Bennett Mansion]
"I heard you went out today?" Hugo asked, his gaze lifting from the documents in his hand as he looked at Roseline.
She nodded lightly, smoothing the fabric of her dress. "Yes. I was getting restless sitting at home, so I decided to visit a few friends." She did not lie, but she did not tell him everything either.
Hugo studied her for a brief moment, then nodded and moved closer, sitting beside her on the bed. His expression softened, but concern lingered in his eyes.
"Roseline, you need to be careful," he said quietly, making sure he had her full attention now.
She met his gaze and gave a small nod. She already knew the risks, already felt them hovering over the house like a shadow, but agreeing with him felt easier than arguing.
"I will be," she assured him.
Hugo exhaled slowly, his thoughts drifting elsewhere. Collin still hadn’t surfaced. Days had passed, and there was not a single trace of him. No calls. No records. Nothing that pointed to where he had gone or what he was planning.
The absence unsettled him more than any bad news could have.
"Are you sure you want to cut ties with the Stewards?" Roseline asked, her question sharp enough to seize Hugo’s full attention.
His expression changed instantly, the softness draining from his face. "After everything Fredrick tried to pull, I don’t see how we can continue working with them," he said firmly. "The ties that were formed by the elders have outlived their purpose. It’s time we step away."
Roseline studied him carefully. "But this will ruin them," she said quietly. "Are you certain you want to watch their downfall?"
Hugo turned toward her, his gaze steady, unflinching. "And why does that concern you?" he asked. "We were more than generous keeping things cordial, even after Fredrick schemed behind our backs. All I did was allow him to withdraw his shares and announce new policies cutting professional ties."
He paused, his jaw tightening. "The real blow didn’t even come from me," he added. "It came from Daniel."
Roseline knew the truth was more layered than Hugo let on. He had been the one to sever the connection, yes, but Fredrick had already planned his exit long before that. The new policies had only sealed what was inevitable.
And yet, Daniel’s involvement had accelerated everything.
As Hugo looked away, Roseline’s thoughts drifted elsewhere. If Daniel was the real problem, then perhaps he was also the key. And she could not help but wonder whether convincing him would be easier than changing Hugo’s mind.
