Falling For My Accidental CEO Husband
Chapter 158: Anger

Chapter 158: Anger

Serena winced inwardly, careful to keep it from showing on her face. It wasn’t out of pain but pure, unfiltered discomfort—a certain someone’s fingers had found their way to her waist. The possessive touch sparked an immediate resistance within her, even though she held her composure. She didn’t like it. Not one bit.

As she turned slightly, preparing to lift his hand off her waist and give him a warning look, he leaned in, his breath warm against her ear. "So," he murmured, low enough for only her to hear, "I’m thinking we basically just keep whispering in each other’s ears, throw in a few laughs now and then at absolutely nothing—convince everyone we’re a couple. How about it?"

The audacity of the suggestion made her pull back, meeting his gaze with a smile laced with enough menace to communicate the threat she meant for him to feel. "If you think that, you’re mistaken severely.One wrong move, and I won’t hesitate to make a scene—punch you, even, if that’s what it takes to teach you a lesson about boundaries. I could always frame it as a lover’s spat if needed," she said, a sweetness masking the warning in her words.

His smile faded as the message landed, and though he didn’t remove his hand entirely, he refrained from inching any closer. Serena let it slide, for now, as she saw the influential Investor Ji approaching them through the crowd.

***

Aiden’s gaze locked onto her the moment she entered. His immediate reaction was shock. He hadn’t expected her to be here. In the past, she’d done everything possible to avoid these sorts of gatherings. Serena, the girl who’d once looked for any excuse to skip social events, was now mingling among the crowd with ease. He hadn’t even considered the possibility that she might attend tonight.

But what struck him next was a powerful, unfamiliar sensation—jealousy. It crept up unexpectedly, spreading through his veins like wildfire. He tried to shrug it off, to shake himself free of the feeling, but it only intensified, gnawing at his composure. He wasn’t sure what he wanted to do more: march over there and shout some sense into her or yank her away from that smirking rat, Sidney, who stood far too close by her side.

The second thing that he felt was so black and unfamiliar that he didn’t at first recognise it travelled through his veins like wildfire – jealousy. He tried to shake off that odd feeling but couldn’t. At that moment he didn’t know what he wanted to do more; yell at her or grab her away from that rat who was holding her by his side.

Instead, he kept his expression carefully blank, determined not to let her see the effect she still had on him. Not anymore. She was his past; he needed to remember that. But his resolve faltered as his gaze lingered on her, drinking in every detail—the elegance of her dress, the tendrils of hair that brushed her shoulders, the quiet confidence in her posture. She was utterly captivating, and everyone around her seemed to notice it too. Not that she was aware—her focus remained firmly on Sidney, as if no one else in the room existed.

A single, possessive thought erupted within him, fierce and undeniable: Mine. She is mine. The realization shocked him. Where had that come from? He dismissed it, shaking his head as if trying to rattle some sense back into his brain. He was just a bit disoriented tonight, that was all. Seeing her had simply thrown him off balance. He needed to remind himself that she was with the enemy now and he was supposed to hate her.

Almost as if she had felt his gaze boring into her, Serena turned her head and met his gaze and then turned away as if he was of no consequence. A bitter smile came to his face and he turned back to the person in front of him, putting her out of his mind.

***

Serena had turned her head because she felt the intensity of the gaze. Even though she should have expected it, she was still shocked to see his gaze on her. And something in his gaze had then shocked her. It had taken all her will power to move her head away and not keep staring at him.

She hadn’t expected to see him here tonight, nor had she been prepared for the surge of emotion that hit her like a wave the moment their eyes met. It was as though the crowded room had faded away, leaving only him standing there across the floor, every detail of him sharper, more vivid. The last time she’d seen him, his gaze had held the anger and betrayal. And now, there was heat and indifference.

From the corner of her eye, she noticed him standing close to a woman and her heart clenched.She had no right to look at him and yearn for more when she had been the one to let him go.

Just then, she felt Aiden’s presence moving toward her through the crowd, every instinct on high alert. Her breath caught, heart pounding as she sensed him closing the distance between them. For a fleeting moment, she dared to imagine that he was coming for her, but then shook her head at her ownself for her active imagination.

As if sensing her distraction, Sidney’s grip tightened possessively around her waist, bringing her back to reality. She forced a polite smile his way, although a spark of irritation simmered beneath the surface. Sidney’s fingers pressed firmly into her side, a silent reminder of their unspoken arrangement for the evening. She resisted the urge to pull away, knowing that causing a scene now would only complicate matters.

Before she could gather her thoughts, Investor Ji turned, his attention lighting up as he spotted Aiden. With a broad smile, he beckoned Aiden over and introduced him to the group. "Ah, Mr. Hawk! Allow me to introduce you all to the man of the hour," he said, clapping a hand on Aiden’s shoulder.