My CEO Husband Says I'm Irreplaceable

Chapter 48: Chapter 48: Can We Continue Again?

Vesper frantically shoved him away and retreated two steps, intentionally creating distance. Her stance was a clear attempt to avoid any appearance of impropriety.

"Jared Hawthorne, you knew I was supposed to marry into the Hawthorne family. Why did you hide your relationship with Elias?"

The man’s narrow, dark eyes instantly grew cold, his tone edged with ice. "Miss Grayson, I wasn’t the one who threw herself at her savior."

"..."

Vesper’s expression stiffened as she slowly regained her composure.

"I’m sorry. I just found out about your relationship, and it’s a little hard to accept."

In Ashmore, she had nearly been violated by three thugs, and it was Jared who had shown up just in time to save her.

She was the one who had lost control first, who had taken his virginity.

’She was the one who had made the first move. She had no right to be angry with him.’

Jared took out a cigarette, dangling it from his lips. A flare of light, and smoke began to drift, blurring the sharp lines of his handsome, aloof face.

"Are you in such a hurry to marry into the Hawthorne family out of guilt for running from the wedding all those years ago? Or does it not matter who you marry, as long as it’s a Hawthorne?"

Vesper froze. After a moment’s silence, she said softly, "I just think it’s a suitable match."

"You met my uncle tonight. Are you satisfied with him in every respect?"

"I don’t know. He’s not quite what I imagined."

’Elias was good-looking, but you wouldn’t call him drop-dead gorgeous. But from his conversation just now, he seemed easygoing and not difficult to get along with.’

’Spending a lifetime in a polite, respectful marriage with someone like him... it didn’t seem so bad.’

Jared slowly exhaled a plume of smoke. "How so?" he asked nonchalantly.

"Mr. Spencer said he was handsome, distinguished, and one in a million... but I don’t think he’s as handsome as you," Vesper mumbled quietly.

"If you’re not keen on him, perhaps you could consider someone else."

Vesper’s heart skipped a beat.

’I could switch?’

"Don’t tell me you mean... swapping to you?"

Jared raised an eyebrow. "What, am I not good enough for you?"

"Of course not. It’s not like I have the right to be picky."

’It’s not like my opinion matters anyway.’

’He’s just some distant relative of the Hawthornes who happens to call Elias his uncle. How much influence could he possibly have?’

Jared’s eyes narrowed, his voice deepening. "What if I said we could?"

’Compared to slowly cultivating feelings for a complete stranger, Jared was, without a doubt, a far more suitable candidate in her mind.’

’It’s just that things like this were never that simple.’

She replied dismissively, "We’ll talk if you can actually make it happen."

The look in Jared’s eyes deepened. He dropped the cigarette butt on the ground and lightly crushed it out with his foot.

"Get in the car."

Just as she had settled in her seat, a shadow fell over her, and the crisp scent of pine mixed with a faint hint of tobacco washed over her.

Her heart clenched. She instinctively leaned back, pressing herself firmly against the seat.

"What are you doing?"

Jared leaned over, reached for the seatbelt, and deftly buckled it for her.

His narrow, dark eyes swept over her tense, flustered form. He let out a low, derisive chuckle. "What part of you haven’t I seen? Still worried I’ll take advantage of you?"

A deep blush spread across Vesper’s cheeks.

She had fair, cool-toned skin, so pale it was nearly translucent. The moment she blushed, the color spread from her cheeks to the tips of her ears, like a dusting of pale pink rouge on fresh snow. It was a faint color, yet utterly captivating.

Even her neck was flushed a pale red, making the curve of it seem all the more slender and soft. It was a sight that made a man’s throat tighten.

It made him remember how bewitchingly seductive she’d looked in bed...

Jared’s gaze darkened instantly. His Adam’s apple bobbed, almost imperceptibly, as a dark, predatory hunger filled his eyes.

’What a little siren!’

Silence filled the car as they drove on without another word.

Soon, the car stopped at the entrance of The Grayson Residence.

"Thank you."

Vesper whispered her thanks. The moment her fingertips brushed the door handle, a large, searing hand clamped around her wrist. The grip was powerful, offering no chance of escape.

She glanced back instinctively. He had already leaned in, his lips—cool, yet searingly hot—crashing down on hers without warning.

"Mmph... Jar—"

The hand on her wrist tightened. His other hand cupped the back of her neck, trapping her between the seat and his body, leaving her no room to escape.

His kiss was demanding and fiery. With a possessive turn of his lips, he devoured her protests and stole her breath.

Vesper’s body went pliant under his kiss, her consciousness dissolving until nothing remained but the searing, tangled heat of their mouths.

His lips traveled down her throat in a series of slow kisses and gentle nips. As he neared the hollow of her chest, his scent—the crispness of pine and clean tobacco—enveloped her entirely. Her reason shattered, and she drowned in the surging tide of passion, completely mesmerized.

"BEEP—"

The sharp, piercing sound of a car horn shattered the silence of the night.

Vesper jolted. Her hazy consciousness snapped back into place. She frantically raised her hands to push away the head buried in the crook of her neck.

"Jared, someone’s here!"

Mortified and furious, her voice trembled, soft and unwittingly seductive.

Jared was lost in the heat of the moment, paying no mind to the commotion outside.

His large hand clamped down on the back of her neck, and his mouth covered hers again, forceful and almost obsessive.

Vesper was frantic and flustered.

’He was insane, and she was about to lose her mind right along with him!’

’How could she let him be so reckless right here!’

’This was right in front of the Grayson Residence! If anyone saw them, she wouldn’t be able to talk her way out of it.’

Outside, Joyce Rivers laid on the horn, her brow deeply furrowed as she stared at the Maybach parked by the gate.

In the glare of her headlights, she made out the custom plate.

"It’s President Hawthorne’s car."

"Wasn’t he driving the Bentley tonight?"

"Silly girl. Rich men don’t just own one car," Joyce Rivers said, her voice low. "Go over and say hello to President Hawthorne. Apologize for how you acted tonight."

Gwen immediately refused. "No! It’s too humiliating! He publicly reprimanded me tonight. I don’t want to see him."

"You’re giving up after one little setback just because you weren’t subtle enough?" Joyce’s tone turned cold. "Do you really want to watch Vesper marry into the Hawthorne family and have her hold it over your head forever?"

Gwen’s heart clenched. Of course she couldn’t accept that.

But when she pictured Elias’s cold, intimidating face, she couldn’t help but feel a pang of fear.

"Mom, but..."

"No buts," Joyce interrupted. "There’s no shame in using a few tactics to get what you want."

Gwen bit her lip, but ultimately walked forward and lightly tapped on the car window.

"President Hawthorne..."

Inside the car, Vesper heard that voice, and her heart nearly leaped out of her throat.

But the man beside her acted as if he’d heard nothing, continuing to kiss her deeply.

Panicked, she pounded his shoulder with her fists and, in her desperation, bit down hard on his lower lip.

"Gwen is outside!"

Jared drew in a sharp breath with a HISS but didn’t even glance out the window.

He licked the spot on his lip where she’d drawn blood, his eyes dark and still wanting more.

"Don’t worry. The windows are tinted, and the glass is specially soundproofed."

He leaned in, his hot breath ghosting against her ear as he let out a low, husky chuckle. "...Can we continue now?"

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