For the first few minutes of their drive, they drove in silence and Halle would have gladly let it stay that way—if not for the way Zade kept sneaking glances at her every few seconds. It was subtle at first, but then it became so obvious she could feel his gaze burning into her cheek. She finally turned to him with a faint frown.
"Keep your eyes on the road unless you're trying to make sure we don't get there alive," she said dryly.
Zade's lips curved into a slow, knowing smile before he shifted his gaze back to the road.
"I can drive and admire my wife at the same time," he said, his tone maddeningly casual. "Multitasking happens to be one of my many talents."
Halle exhaled sharply, almost in disbelief. Only he could talk about his unsettling fixation on her as though it were something charming. The man was utterly shameless.
A moment later, his voice cut through the hum of the engine.
"By the way, we'll be going home by tomorrow evening."
She wasn't surprised—she'd been expecting it. "Alright," she replied simply, already mentally mapping out her day. She would have half the day to get most things in order: hand in her resignation letter—something she should have done earlier had she known that her life would drastically change—then spend her last free hours with Jessy. And what better way to spend it than with some shopping?
She turned her head slightly, letting her eyes trace his profile as the passing streetlights washed over his sharp features.
"I will need to pick up a few things tomorrow," she said her voice even. "I will also need some cash for that."
If she thought that might give him pause, she was wrong. Zade had more money than he could ever spend, and if she had already claimed the most guarded parts of his heart—whether she wanted to or not—getting a few bills from him would be the easiest thing in the world.
"Is there anything else you'll need?" he asked, glancing her way.
"For now, no." She leaned back against the seat, her tone deceptively casual. Tomorrow she was going to spend his money like it was minted just for her. If Zade thought he had married himself an angel, he was in for a reality check. She intended to treat herself like a princess.
~~~
After leaving Craig's house, Zade had driven straight to EMZ Corporations, a company owned by the Alpha of the Sylvercrown pack and one of his oldest business associates. The meeting had stretched on longer than he expected.
He had noticed that Halle had changed from her earlier outfit into fitted blue jeans and a black sweatshirt. Her golden hair fell loose over her shoulders, catching the occasional glint of the streetlights. She kept her gaze trained ahead, but Zade could feel the subtle shift in her breathing—she knew he was watching her.
He turned his eyes back to the road, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. He liked that she wasn't one of those women who made a performance of refusing to touch their husband's money, pretending wealth meant nothing to them. He wanted her to spend it—lavishly, selfishly—until she glowed. She deserved that, and more.
Right now, she was guarding herself, building walls brick by brick to keep from falling for him. But he was a patient man. Once she was under his roof, she wouldn't be able to keep her distance for long. Eventually, she would catch up to the feelings he carried for her. And when she did, he could only hope that she would be still conscious to make up for all this chasing.
Minutes later, they pulled up to their destination and headed straight for the penthouse. Zade's phone rang the moment they stepped inside, and he answered without missing a beat. Halle, not caring to listen in on business talk, headed for her room. All she wanted was to stretch out, shut her eyes, and let the day fade away.
The following morning, Halle woke to the stillness of an empty house—no sign of Zade anywhere. The faint scent of his cologne lingered in the air, a quiet reminder that he had been here earlier. After finishing the breakfast that had been brought in for her, her eyes landed on a sleek black card resting neatly on the TV stand. Beneath it was a folded note, the handwriting sharp and deliberate.
"Go make yourself happy, princess."
It was short, a little cheesy, and very him. She could almost hear the lazy smirk in his voice, the unspoken dare behind the words. The gesture was generous, but it carried an undercurrent that made her pulse quicken—like every gift from him came with invisible strings.
Once she was dressed and ready, she slipped the card into her bag, , and stepped out of the penthouse.
She covered a distance before she could finally get a cab and the first thing she did was go to the hospital to hand over her resignation letter and after having a small farewell with a few of the hospital stuff who were less busy, she stepped out of the hospital. Today would be the last day she would come to this building and as she exited, she turned to give it one last look.