My CEO Husband Says I'm Irreplaceable

Chapter 123: Chapter 123: Quite Daring

Someone tried to step forward and help, but Gwen Grayson picked up a wine bottle and hurled it in their direction.

"If you don’t want to see any blood, then get the hell out!"

Seeing that she had gone completely berserk, everyone shot Gael Keane a look that said, ’You’re on your own,’ and quickly filed out.

Gael Keane had always thought that while Gwen Grayson was spoiled and willful, she was at least docile and obedient around him. But what was with her today? She was acting like a total shrew.

"Stop hitting me!"

Driven to desperation, Gael Keane gave her a hard shove.

"You dare lay a hand on me?"

Gwen Grayson grew even more furious. She grabbed his hair and pulled hard, and whenever he tried to fight back, she’d bite him. Terrified, Gael Keane could only dodge her attacks while calling her a lunatic.

Half an hour later, she was tired out from the assault. She sat on the sofa, panting as she glared at him.

Gael Keane’s face was black and blue. He pointed a finger at her, his expression grim. "Gwen Grayson, were you bitten by a rabid dog? What the hell is wrong with you!"

"You had Miles Yates block my approval, and you encouraged him to make a move on my sister! You deserve to be beaten to death!"

"What proof do you have that it was me?" A flash of guilt flickered in Gael Keane’s eyes.

"I was standing right outside the door! I heard everything!"

"I was doing it to help you! If Vesper Grayson’s reputation is ruined, then Grayson Corporation will be yours to lead. You..."

"Bullshit! Don’t you dare claim you’re doing this for my sake while pulling these filthy tricks. Even if I wanted Grayson Corporation, I’d fight for it on my own merits. I don’t need you resorting to such despicable methods!"

Gael Keane winced in pain. "Didn’t you used to hate her guts?"

"That’s between my sister and me! What’s it got to do with you?"

"We’re going to get married someday. Your business is my business."

"In your dreams! I’d rather be a nun for the rest of my life than marry a disgusting piece of filth like you!"

The moment she got home, Joyce Rivers, who had been waiting in the living room, grabbed her by the arm. "What on earth is the matter with you?" she demanded in a low voice. "How could you lay a hand on Gael?"

"He plotted against me!" Gwen Grayson said angrily, taking a gulp of water.

"What exactly happened?"

Joyce Rivers frowned after hearing her daughter’s story.

"Gael was just looking out for you. If Vesper Grayson..."

Gwen Grayson cut her off before she could finish.

"Mom! He wasn’t looking out for me at all! He’s just bitter that he can’t have my sister, so now he’s out for revenge. I can’t handle a man that petty, despicable, and shameless."

"I watched Gael grow up. He’s a good person. Vesper Grayson must have provoked him to make him act out like that."

Gwen Grayson rolled her eyes. "If you like him so much, why don’t you divorce Dad and marry him? Because I sure as hell don’t want him!"

"You wretched girl, listen to the things you’re saying."

"I’m tired. I’m going upstairs to rest."

Utterly exasperated, Gwen Grayson headed straight upstairs, ignoring whatever Joyce Rivers was saying behind her.

...

After dinner and a shower, Vesper Grayson curled up on the sofa and put on a movie to pass the time.

Her phone rang. It was an unknown number.

She didn’t answer it.

Only when it rang a second time did she leisurely answer.

"Hello, who’s this?"

There was a moment of silence on the other end, then a familiar male voice came through.

"Vesper, it’s me."

Hearing that voice again, Vesper Grayson felt as if a lifetime had passed.

A strange wave of bitterness washed over her.

’Perhaps it’s because I gave so much in the past. Even though I don’t care anymore, my body instinctively remembers all the pain I endured.’

She said nothing and hung up.

On the other end, Luke Lockwood’s handsome face froze when he heard the dial tone.

A bitter smile touched his lips.

He sent a text to Vesper Grayson.

"I sold the house in Repulse Bay. You stayed in Ashmore for three years for me, and now I’ve come to your city to be closer to you. Vesper, everything that happened in the past was my fault. But asking me to give up on loving you... I can’t do it!"

Vesper Grayson read the text message and deleted it, her face expressionless.

’Belated affection is cheaper than dirt.’

’I thought I’d made myself perfectly clear to Luke Lockwood, that he’d be able to accept reality. I never expected him to be so stubborn, to refuse to give up.’

When Jared Hawthorne returned, he saw her curled up on the sofa, her brow tightly furrowed.

"Who made you unhappy?"

With his long strides, he was by her side in just a few steps.

Vesper Grayson opened her arms. "Hold me."

Jared Hawthorne froze for a moment, a faint smile playing on his lips. It was rare to see her act so endearingly, to actually ask for a hug. He reached out and gently pulled her into his arms, pressing his cool lips against her soft cheek.

A light, sweet fragrance, mixed with her own unique scent, drifted to his nose and seemed to seep right into his heart. His arms tightened unconsciously, holding her securely in his embrace. He rested his chin on the crown of her head, his voice deep, gentle, and tinged with indulgence.

"Feeling clingy, are we?"

Vesper Grayson snuggled deeper into his warm embrace, rubbing her cheek gently against his shirt like a kitten that had let down its guard. Her voice was soft.

"Does President Hawthorne not like it?"

"I couldn’t ask for more."

’He was reminded of his time recovering on Mount Corvath. Vesper Grayson had cared for him then, and she had been just as clingy. She was always sneaking into his bed to curl up in his arms, calling him "Brother" over and over as she rubbed against him like a kitten, taking full advantage of him.’

"Did everything go smoothly tonight?"

He had planned to pick her up from Grayson Corporation that evening, but she had called to say she was going to dinner with Gwen to discuss the approval with a director.

"Not at all. It went very badly. Gwen beat up Miles Yates. Now getting the approval will probably be even harder!"

’We’ve well and truly offended him now.’

"How could she be so impulsive?"

"That Miles Yates had improper designs on me. Gwen got angry and decided to strike first..." Vesper Grayson chuckled softly. "She landed a couple of punches right on his eyes. It hurt so much he couldn’t even open them."

Jared Hawthorne’s brow tightened. He gently pushed her away, holding her by the shoulders to look her over carefully.

"He didn’t get the better of you, did he? Are you hurt?"

"Neither of us got hurt. I don’t think he expected Gwen to go so completely off-script, so he was caught off guard and couldn’t react in time."

’By the time he came to his senses, we were long gone!’

Jared Hawthorne’s expression darkened. "And you’re laughing? What would you have done if you’d gotten hurt?"

"But I have you, don’t I?" Vesper Grayson’s lips curved into a smile as her slender fingertip tapped against his chest. There was a hint of playful defiance in her eyes. "If he dared to try anything with me, I’d just use President Hawthorne’s influence to do whatever I want!"

"You’ve got some nerve. But I like it."

Jared Hawthorne grabbed her restless fingers as they played across his chest, his gaze darkening. "I didn’t satisfy you this morning, so now you’re starting something again?"

Vesper Grayson’s face flushed red, and she quickly pulled her hand back to push him away.

"That’s not it! You’re talking nonsense again. Go take a shower."

A smile flickered in his narrow eyes. "Together?"

"I’ve already showered!"

"That’s fine. You can take another one."

He stood and scooped her up by the waist. Vesper Grayson instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck as he carried her straight upstairs.

Once in the bedroom, he kicked the door shut with his foot.

Before they even reached the bathroom, he gripped her chin, bent down, and kissed her impatiently.

His tongue parted her lips and plunged deep, stealing her breath with an irresistible dominance.

Their passion was overwhelming, and one thing naturally led to another.

Afterward, Vesper Grayson lay in his arms, too lazy to move. Jared Hawthorne looked down, his gaze falling on her fair cheeks, which were flushed a delicate pink.

"You haven’t been secretly taking your pills behind my back lately, have you?"

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