The Ruthless CEO's Revenge Wife
Chapter 208: Loose the Restraint

Chapter 208: Loose the Restraint

Jean pushed open the heavy rooftop door, the faint click swallowed by the rush of wind that greeted her. She stepped out, heels echoing against the concrete until even that small sound faded into the city’s distant hum.

Up here, the world felt strangely weightless. The orange glow of dusk bled into bruised purple clouds. Breathing felt easier but only just. This is the feeling of victory.

Jean walked to the railing, fingers curling around cold metal. The faint tremor in her hand annoyed her; she willed it still.

In the glass reflection of the door, she saw him.

Logan.

He didn’t announce himself. Didn’t clear his throat or call her name.

Just stepped out quietly, letting the door close behind him. His tie was loose; sleeves rolled. The day’s exhaustion clung to his shoulders, but his eyes... dark, steady, were only on her.

For a heartbeat, Jean kept her gaze on the skyline.

"Following me?" she asked, the words teasing but her voice softer than she meant.

"No," he replied, tone equally quiet. "I was waiting."

She turned, leaning her back against the railing to face him. The space between them was small, yet still felt too wide.

"Waiting for what?"

His jaw tightened, as if weighing what to admit. "For you to take a moment to yourself. To feel the weight release from your shoulders, even if it’s not all the worries. But at least something is achieved."

Jean swallowed. Why does that sound like he’s been waiting longer... more than just this day?

Wind brushed past them, catching a few loose strands of her hair. Without a word, Logan stepped closer... careful, deliberate and gently tucked the strands behind her ear.

His fingertips barely grazed her skin, but her breath still caught. For a moment, he stayed that close, gaze locked on hers.

Then, he looked away first.

"They won’t question you again," he murmured, voice low, almost raw. "Not after today."

Jean searched his face... his eyes. "But they’ll try again. And again. You know that."

"I know." His eyes returned to hers. "And I know you’ll keep fighting them."

She tried to smile... something tired and sad. "That’s true. But I wonder how long I can do this. Even if it breaks me?"

Logan’s brow furrowed, the air between them tightening. "Then let it break me first."

Jean’s chest tightened.

Before she could reply, her voice already trembling with words she wasn’t sure she could say, he gently took her hand.

Not pulling her closer. Just holding it. A warm, grounding weight in the cool breeze.

They stood like that.

The woman who’d just faced down a room of men twice her age. And the man who had once sworn to make her regret marrying him... now silently swearing to shield her instead.

Jean turned slightly, enough that their arms brushed.

"You’ve been distant," she whispered, words falling out before she could stop them. "Since that day. The forged signature... the fight... you’ve been near, but not really here."

Logan exhaled, his thumb brushing over the back of her hand.

"It’s not like that, I just wanted you to have some space, Jean." His voice dropped to something rougher, honest. "It’s... hard to look at you always guarded around me. So I had to restrain myself from coming too close to you."

Their eyes met again. The tension humming louder than the city below.

"Restraint?" she echoed, her heart tripping over itself.

Logan’s jaw tensed. "Because if I don’t... I won’t be able to pretend I only did all this for the company. Or the contract. Or to simply claim you mine forcefully."

Silence settled. The air got heavy. Vulnerable.

Jean looked down, then back up, her voice barely a breath. "Then don’t stop."

Logan didn’t move. Didn’t pull her closer. But the confession was there, in his eyes.

And Jean, who’d built walls taller than any rooftop, didn’t look away this time.

They stayed like that... the wind teasing the edges of their clothes, the city stretching endlessly below them... until the sunset melted into night.

And for once, the distance between them felt... just a little less impossible.

_________________________

The wind had settled into a quiet breeze by the time Jean and Logan turned toward the door. They walked side by side, down the concrete stairwell... heels tapping in echo, his steps steady beside hers.

Halfway down, Logan’s voice broke the silence. Low. Almost teasing.

"You know," he began, hands in his pockets, "you couldn’t have done it without me."

Jean shot him a look, arching a brow. "Excuse me?"

He tilted his head, smirking just enough to make her want to roll her eyes. "That boardroom performance," he said. "All fire and steel but you needed someone to hand you the boost, didn’t you? My presence there helped you."

Jean scoffed, though the corner of her mouth betrayed a reluctant smile. "Please. It was magnificent because I had to clean up your mess, Mr. Kingsley."

"My mess?" His brow rose, amused.

"Your forged signature idea?" she shot back, a glint in her eyes.

Logan chuckled under his breath, the sound softer than she expected. "Touché."

They descended another few steps, their shoulders brushing lightly.

Jean felt her heart lighter than it had been in weeks, she muttered under her breath. "Besides... I had the best backup dancer on my side."

"Backup dancer?" Logan repeated, mock offended. "I’ll have you know, I’ve been called many things in business but never that."

"First time for everything." She dared a small smile.

Logan leaned closer, just enough so she felt the warmth of him at her side.

"Then next time," he murmured, voice softer, "I’ll steal the spotlight too. Maybe a makeout session with my wife in front of those money hungry men will be a great power show."

Jean didn’t reply but the faint color in her cheeks betrayed her. She could feel getting hot just by hearing him say that.

At the bottom of the stairs, they paused, just before the door that would spill them back into fluorescent lit hallways and curious glances.

Jean turned to him.

"Thank you," she said, quietly, the playfulness gone in a heartbeat.

Logan met her eyes, his voice equally low. "Always."

Then, almost as if they’d rehearsed it, they stepped through the door together... back into the world waiting beyond the corporate drama.