Jealousy Alpha's Regret novel Chapter 235

The realization hit me with surprising force: I didn’t know her. Even during our marriage, I’d kept her at arm’s length, never bothered to learn what made her smile, what her hopes were.

25

Something pulled at me, a need I didn’t fully understand. Before I could stop myself, I leaned down and brushed my lips against hers. Just the lightest touch, but it sent a current through me that was both familiar and new.

I forced myself back to the couch, disgusted with my lack of self–control. What the hell was I doing? This wasn’t like me. Except… it was becoming a habit, wasn’t it? First at the hospital when she was asleep, and now here.

I watched as Iris shifted in her sleep, turning her back to me. Had she felt it? Was she awake? The thought made me freeze, but her breathing remained steady.

What was happening to me? I’d never been this way with anyone else. Never felt this possessive, this unsettled by someone’s absence or

presence. It was like she’d

my skin without even trying, and I couldn’t figure out how to make it stop. Worse yet, I wasn’t

sure I wanted it to st

The

I must have dozed off eventually, because when I opened my eyes, morning light was filtering through

nours, already showered and working on my laptop when I heard Iris beginning to stir.

the screen, pretending to be absorbed in work as she sat up, looking disoriented.

said, aiming for casual. Like I hadn’t spent half the night watching her sleep, like I hadn’t crossed a line by kissing her

er knowledge.

orning,” she replied, her voice still husky with sleep. She ran a hand through her tousled hair, and I had to force myself to look away.

“There are fresh towels in the bathroom,” I said. “And I put out a new toothbrush. The blue one.” The one I remembered she preferred. Another detail I’d stored away without realizing it.

She nodded, sliding out of bed and grabbing her bag. I kept my eyes on my screen, giving her the privacy she clearly wanted. But when I heard her footsteps falter, I looked up.

Iris had gone pale

slamming the

I frown

whi

the other braced against the wall. Without a word, she bolted for the bathroom,

from behind the closed door. Was she sick? Had she caught something

Ten?

the bathroom, concerned. As I did, I noticed her purse had fallen over, spilling some of its contents , gathering the scattered items. A lipstick, her wallet, a folded piece of paper…

tially unfolded, and I couldn’t help seeing the hospital letterhead. Medical results of some kind. My eyes caught

1/2

L

16:56 Thu, May 7

nd a date from just over a week ago,

m the bathroom, and suddenly everything clicked into place. The fatigue. The pallor. The way shed. The way shed Blat the hospital. How she’d kept her distance physically,

rette, but i stopped myself immediately, acutely aware now of why that would be a terrible idea. Myertible idea. My udly folded the paper back up, placing it and the other items back in her purse.

petrying to process what I’d just discovered. Iris was carrying a child. My child, it had to be. And shet to be. And she

schooled my features into neutrality. I wasn’t ready to confront her about this, not when I was still

7