Love In Disguise: Rebirth of the Heiress
Chapter 67

Chapter 67: Chapter 67

I finished preparing a simple dinner, glancing over at Jason sprawled on the couch. He had either fallen asleep or fainted again—I wasn’t sure which. His breathing was steady, though, and the bleeding had stopped, thanks to my patchwork first aid skills.

"Fucking liability," I muttered under my breath, rolling my eyes as I grabbed a plate for myself.

After a quick meal, I washed up and headed to my room, locking the door behind me. I wasn’t taking any chances with Mr. Charming out there, even if he was injured.

I powered up my system, the familiar hum of the computer calming me as I settled in. "What are you up to, Jessica?" I murmured, pulling up the last recorded footage from the cameras I’d planted in her apartment.

The screen flickered to life, and there she was, pacing back and forth in her living room, her hands running through her hair as she muttered to herself. She looked stressed, panicked even, flipping over the absence of the body.

Jessica grabbed her phone, dialing a number. I cranked the volume up, listening intently.

"Gabriel," she hissed, her voice low but frantic. "The body... it’s gone. I don’t know what the hell is happening, but someone took it."

Typical. I hit record, capturing the call in case I needed it later.

Her conversation with Gabriel was nothing special—just the usual back-and-forth panic and blame-shifting. Gabriel, ever the mastermind of stupidity, told her to "stay calm" while also doing absolutely nothing useful.

I rolled my eyes, shutting the footage off. Same old, same old.

What had I expected?

A notification pinged on my screen, and I opened the message. It was from Kyle, my dark web hire.

"Mrs. Greene has been given a respectful burial. Everything is handled as per your request."

I sighed, leaning back in my chair. At least something had gone right today.

Jessica, though... Jessica was proving to be more of a puzzle than I’d anticipated. The deeper I dug, the more layers I uncovered beneath the polished, perfect façade she presented to the world.

I pulled up everything I had on her—employment records, financials, connections. She’d always seemed like just another manipulative, power-hungry opportunist. But now...

"Who exactly are you, Jessica Wilde?" I whispered, staring at her profile on the screen.

Her debts didn’t make sense for someone earning her salary.

Her promotions were based on stolen work.

And now she was connected to a murder and a missing body.

I rubbed my temples, exhaustion creeping in. Jessica wasn’t just a thorn in my side anymore. She was a full-blown enigma, and one I needed to unravel before she dragged me down with her.

For now, I’d keep watching, keep recording, and keep digging.

Eventually, she’d slip up, and when she did, I’d be ready.

But I needed a break. My eyes were burning from staring at the screen for too long, and my mind felt like it was on the brink of collapse. Closing my laptop, I stretched, deciding to check on Jason.

On my way out, my phone buzzed again, the screen lighting up with Gabriel’s name.

I stared at it for a second, then swiped the call away, shoving the phone back into my pocket.

Some people just didn’t understand the concept of being ignored.

The apartment was dimly lit, quiet except for the soft hum of the refrigerator. I grabbed a bottle of water from the kitchen and walked over to the couch where Jason lay sleeping.

He was sprawled out, one arm draped over his stomach, the other hanging off the side of the couch. His face was relaxed, free of the smirk or sharp wit he usually wore like armor. For once, he didn’t look like the cocky billionaire who could talk circles around everyone.

He just looked... tired.

The light from the lamp caught on his eyelashes, long and dark against his cheek. His features were sharp—cheekbones that seemed carved by an artist, a strong jawline, and lips that were slightly parted as he breathed softly.

"Such a fool," I muttered under my breath, standing there with the water bottle in my hand. "Trusting too easily."

Yet, I found myself stepping closer, my gaze lingering on the small crease between his brows, even in sleep. Did he always look like he carried the weight of the world, or was this new?

Before I knew it, my hand was moving on its own, reaching out to brush against his face. Maybe it was curiosity, or maybe I just wanted to see if he was as unshakable as he pretended to be.

But the second my fingers were about to graze his skin, his hand shot up, grabbing mine in a firm grip.

"What are you doing, Kiara?" Jason’s voice was low and rough, his eyes snapping open and pinning me in place.

I froze, my heart lurching in my chest. "I... was just checking if you were alive," I lied, yanking my hand back.

Jason smirked, though his eyes stayed sharp. "You’re a terrible liar."

"And you’re ridiculously paranoid," I shot back, crossing my arms. "Who grabs someone’s hand in their sleep?"

"Who tries to touch someone’s face while they’re asleep?" he countered, sitting up slowly. He winced slightly, his hand instinctively going to his side where the bandage was.

I rolled my eyes, taking a step back. "You’re such a drama queen."

Jason chuckled, the sound warm despite the tension. "Coming from the woman who was just standing over me like some creepy stalker?"

"I was not stalking you," I snapped, feeling the heat rise in my cheeks.

"Right," he drawled, leaning back against the couch. "So, what were you doing then? Admiring me?"

I scoffed, turning on my heel. "Get over yourself."

"Admit it, Kiara," he called after me, his tone teasing as if he was never sleeping. "You think I’m handsome."

"Handsome isn’t the word I’d use," I muttered under my breath, though I was sure he heard me.

Jason laughed softly, shaking his head. "Keep telling yourself that."

"Were you even sleeping?"