An Affair With The Ceo (Natasha and Jared) novel Chapter 245

Chapter 245 Can’t Date a Married Woman

Chapter 245 Can’t Date a Married Woman

Natasha felt torn inside, her heart caught in a web of conflicting emotions.

Jared noticed she was still hesitating over the menu.

He couldn’t help but say, “Not sure what to order? Want me to pick for you?”

Before Natasha could even respond, he rattled off the names of several signature dishes to the waiter, like he’d done this a hundred times before:

Natasha felt her head was about to explode as soon as she heard the list.

All the dishes Jared rattled off were the most expensive ones in the restaurant.

‘Is he trying to drain my wallet?’ Natasha grumbled inwardly.

But since she was the one treating, she couldn’t bring herself to ask him to order less or pick something cheaper.

So, she could only force a smile and agree to everything.

She suddenly felt like the weight of the bill was crushing her.

Soon, the waiter brought out all the dishes they’d ordered.

It was a fancy restaurant, just the two of them, enjoying a romantic candlelit dinner.

They were eating top-shelf steak and sipping fine wine, the kind of meal they’d never get to enjoy on a regular day.

Every time Natasha thought about the price tag on this meal, her appetite vanished.

“Do you really hate owing people favors?” Jared suddenly asked, pausing as he cut his steak and looking up at her.

Natasha looked a bit startled, then nodded. “Yeah.”

She hated being in anyone’s debt.

If someone did her a favor, she couldn’t wait to pay them back.

Even if she couldn’t do it right away, she’d make sure to return the favor sooner or later.

Otherwise, she wouldn’t have insisted on picking up the tab for Jared that night, even though it was way out of her league..

It was honestly more than she could handle.

Jared’s gaze grew deeper. “Looks like you’ve always been missing love in your life!

Natasha blinked, puzzled. “Why would you say that?”

Jared fixed his eyes on her. “Only someone who grew up without enough love would feel like they can’t just accept a bit of kindness. They always have to pay it back, no matter what.”

Natasha gave a wry smile. “Maybe you’re right.”

As the illegitimate daughter of the Whittier family, she’d always had to walk on eggshells, never daring to let her guard down.

If anyone ever showed her kindness, she’d always make sure to repay them generously.

She never allowed herself to owe anyone a favor.

She hated the thought of just taking someone’s kindness for free.

Jared gazed at her intently. “But there are people out there who are genuinely good to you, not expecting anything in return.” ‘Those are the people who really love you.

‘If you keep everyone at arm’s length like this, you’ll end up pushing away the ones who truly want to be there for you.’

Unfortunately, he left the last two sentences unsaid.

She’d have to figure it out for herself.

Natasha raised an eyebrow. “I believe they exist, but I’ve never met one.”

Everyone she’d ever met before just kept taking from her, never giving anything back.

They always kept things strictly transactional, never letting her get even a little advantage.

If she ever tried to get something for free, they’d turn on her in a heartbeat.

Even her own mother, Sandra, was like that.

Ever since Natasha was a kid, Sandra had always kept track of everything between them. Nothing ever slipped.

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Chapter 245 Can’t Date a Mamed Woman

Every dollar Sandra spent on Natasha, every little thing she did, she expected Natasha to make it up to her twice over

Sandra never let herself get the short end of the stick with her own daughter.

!

Sometimes, Natasha even wondered if they were really mother and daughter, since Sandra kept things so transactional between them.

“You’ve already met someone like that,” Jared said, giving her a meaningful look. “I’m that person.*

Natasha met his gaze, looking utterly stunned.

“Stop messing around!” she snapped.

Even her own mother never let her off the hook for anything. Nothing was ever just given, not even once.

So she thought Jared, who was not even family, would be any different.

‘We’re just friends with benefits, that’s all, Natasha reminded herself.

Jared’s face turned serious. “Do I look like I’m joking to you? I’m dead serious.”

Jared added, his voice low and meaningful, “I hope you’ll reconsider what we are. Maybe we could be something more than just physical.”

Natasha blinked, confused. “What do you mean?”

Jared’s eyes burned with intensity. “I mean, I want you to be my girlfriend.”

This wasn’t the first time he’d brought this up.

He wanted to make things official between them, not just keep it a secret.

He wanted their relationship to be more than just about the physical stuff.

But Natasha couldn’t help but frown. “Didn’t we agree we’d just be friends with benefits, nothing else involved?”

Jared’s heart sank a little.

He looked at her, disappointment etched across his face. “After all the times we’ve slept together, you mean you never once thought about us being something more?”

People always say women only have sex when they’re in love.

But Natasha didn’t feel like that.

“No!” Natasha shot back without a second thought.

Truth was, it wasn’t that she didn’t feel anything for him. She just didn’t let herself go to that part.

She was terrified that if she ever let herself catch feelings, there’d be no way to take them back.

So, she kept drilling it into her head that she and Jared were impossible, that it could never happen.

Jared’s chest tightened with a sudden jolt.

‘No?’ Jared couldn’t believe it. ‘She really doesn’t see me any other way?’

But Jared wasn’t willing to let it go.

After finally finding a woman he was genuinely interested in, he couldn’t stand the idea of just giving up.

He couldn’t accept this outcome.

Jared said, “It’s okay to let yourself feel something for me now.”

Jared’s eyes blazed as he stared at Natasha’s beautiful face. “I’m permitting you to feel something for me. I want you to want me. More than anything. And I promise, I won’t ever let you down.”

This was the biggest promise he’d ever made to her.

But Natasha felt overwhelmed, like it was all just too much for her.

‘Is he really asking me to be his girlfriend?’ Natasha wondered, her heart pounding.

“But didn’t your family already arrange a fiancée for you?” Natasha blurted out, unable to hide her doubts.

Jared froze for a second, then realized what she meant.

“You mean Lizzie?” he asked.

Natasha murmured a quiet yes.

Even if she said yes and they made things official, there was no way his family would ever approve.

Jared spoke up right away. “She’s not the kind of woman I’m into. I didn’t like her before, and I won’t ever like her now or in

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Chapter 245 Can’t Date a Mamed Woman

the future.”

If Lizzie ever heard him say that, she’d probably be heartbroken.

Hearing that, Natasha’s gaze wavered. “Let me think about it for a while, okay?”

She couldn’t give him an answer right then and there.

Deep down, she’d never really imagined things getting any more serious between them.

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