He Never Noticed Me Until I Loved Someone Else novel Chapter 2

It had been nearly three years since they married, and Jarrod only showed any interest in her when they were in bed.

They had gone for second and third rounds before, but right now, Stella simply didn't have the mood or energy to accommodate him.

Still catching her breath, she gently declined, "Mr. Fuller, I have to work tomorrow. I need to sleep."

He didn't say whether it was fine or not. He merely tightened his grip on her waist, asking with feigned casualness, "You work at Mythos Online?"

"Yes."

"Why didn't you say hello to me today? Why did you pretend not to know me?"

...Pretend not to know him.

Did he mean how she had averted her gaze after he hung up the phone and looked over?

In a situation like that, how did he expect her to greet him?

—Hi, Mr. Fuller. I'm the wife you married for convenience. Please leave me some dignity and don't flaunt your affection for someone else in public?

Stella found the thought a little ridiculous.

But she kept a considerate smile on her face, turning her head to answer softly.

"Our contract ends in three months. To avoid causing you any trouble, there's no need for outsiders to know about our relationship."

Jarrod stared at the woman in front of him.

She had a radiant complexion and dark hair, her cheeks slightly flushed, and her stunning eyes curved softly.

A tiny beauty mark at the corner of her right eye added a touch of delicate vulnerability to her features.

Paired with her soft, exhaustion-laced voice, she looked exactly like a docile, obedient little rabbit.

Yet, deep within her eyes, there was a faint, nearly imperceptible distance.

"Mr. Fuller, since your work abroad finished early, will you be staying in the country from now on?"

Feeling a bit unnatural under his stare, Stella asked quietly.

"What, do you not want me back?" Jarrod countered instead of answering.

Stella wasn't sure what he meant by that.

Given their relationship, answering yes or no felt inappropriate.

So she offered a polite smile. "I have no right to interfere with your affairs. I was just thinking, if you're going to be staying at The Sterling Residences, should I pick up some more everyday essentials for you?"

Jarrod studied her for another long moment. She was still waiting patiently for his reply, looking gentle and considerate, as if entirely unaware of how alienating her question was.

In an instant, Jarrod lost all interest. He pulled his arm back from her waist, grabbed his robe, and got out of bed. "Figure it out yourself."

Tossing the indifferent words over his shoulder, Jarrod walked out of the bedroom without looking back.

As the heavy sound of the door slamming echoed, all the tension drained from Stella's body.

Naturally, she wouldn't ask where he was going.

At the very beginning of their arranged marriage, Jarrod had made her sign a contract—

Fulfill her duties as Mrs. Fuller, and don't interfere with or ask about anything else.

Stella had always strictly adhered to the rules.

Now, with only three months left until it ended, she certainly wasn't going to cross the line.

The next day, when Stella went downstairs, Jarrod was nowhere to be seen.

She had no idea if he had left last night or headed out this morning.

"The master has gone to the office. It's rare for him to come back, yet as his wife, you didn't even get up early to make him breakfast." Mrs. Higgins walked over, her expression sour.

Mrs. Higgins had worked for the Quinn family for years. When Stella married Jarrod, she had tagged along to The Sterling Residences.

Her colleague explained that HR had let it slip that there would be a new executive appointment in the project department today.

"With your qualifications, you should have been promoted ages ago, but it kept getting stalled. The moment Mr. Fuller invested, it was locked in! So we all figured you must know him, and he pulled some strings for you!"

Stella hadn't received any notification or message regarding a promotion.

"HR confirmed it's me?" she asked.

"Of course! HR said it was a young woman, and among the young, capable staff in our department, who else could it be but you?"

"Exactly! Stella, once you move up, don't forget the friends who suffered in the trenches with you!"

Listening to their teasing, Stella recalled how Jarrod had asked about her job at Mythos Online last night.

Did he realize how low her position was and bring it up to the company on purpose?

A faint flicker of hope ignited in Stella's chest.

If she really got promoted, she'd finally have some good news to share with a certain someone!

Just as they were joking around, a group from HR led a few people toward their section.

Her colleagues grew even more excited, nudging Stella eagerly.

As the group drew closer, Stella noticed that among the senior executives, Jarrod Fuller was actually there!

He wore a dark turtleneck sweater, his tall, handsome frame and cool aura making him stand out sharply against the men in formal suits.

However, walking right beside him was a young woman in a tailored outfit with striking features.

A sudden intuition hit Stella—this was the woman who had called Jarrod during the meeting yesterday.

Jarrod wouldn't bring someone here for no reason.

The appointment HR had mentioned was probably—