I Chose Me Over My Marriage novel Chapter 102

"I'll be staying here for a while to assess the situation and ensure my own security. My only demand is that during this time, you must be on call whenever I need you. Understood?"

That seemed like a perfectly standard request.

Aria didn't hesitate, but just as she opened her mouth to agree, he added another condition.

"Remember. I mean on call at any time. Whenever I want."

The words themselves were simple enough, but the underlying tone was heavy with implication.

Suddenly, everything clicked into place for her.

"I... Being on call is fine, but there are certain things I simply cannot do."

Mr. Jude nodded, accepting her boundary.

"Don't worry. I have no other intentions."

Aria let out a quiet sigh of relief.

"Then we should head back and discuss the details thoroughly, Mr. Jude."

Seeing the bright smile return to her face, Nathaniel gave a faint hum of acknowledgment and turned to walk away.

By the time Lyra reached the ground floor, her hired driver had just pulled up.

She slid into the backseat and rested her head against the cool window.

She had consumed quite a bit of alcohol that night, and the buzz was finally catching up to her, bringing a dull, throbbing ache to her temples.

Ding—

Her phone buzzed.

Lyra pulled it out and saw a text message from an unknown number.

[Long time no see.]

Staring at the cryptic message, she furrowed her brow.

She couldn't think of anyone she hadn't seen in a long time who would text her like this.

When she checked the number, she realized it was an untraceable, out-of-area contact, which meant the sender was likely hiding their identity on purpose.

Who could it be?

He tried to push her away.

He was strong—all it would take was a slight shove to send Lyra sprawling onto the floor.

But the moment he pushed her away, he immediately yanked her back.

Lyra crashed right into his chest.

The smell of alcohol mixed with his heavy, signature cedarwood scent, radiating an undeniable masculine magnetism.

In that split second, a realization hit her out of nowhere.

He was a man.

And a man she shared zero blood relation with.

Even though she had always willfully ignored that fact, the undeniable boundary between a man and a woman still existed between them.

"Miles, you..."

She started to speak, but the words died in her throat the moment she looked up at his face.