The Wrong Woman

Imogen gritted her teeth, her gaze cold and tinged with simmering anger she struggled to suppress. She turned away again.

Tears welled up in Ethan's eyes. He stood still like a marionette cut loose from its string.

Scarlett approached him and gently linked her arm with his. Her voice was filled with compassion as she whispered, "Darling, think of our child and me. Stop clinging to the delusion. She's already married."

Ethan could no longer contain himself. He buried his face in his hands, turned away, and leaned against the wall, sobbing.

Scarlett stood behind him, her eyes welling with tears as she watched, her fist clenched and trembling.

…

After leaving the hospital, Imogen hailed a taxi. Feeling dejected, she retrieved her phone from her bag and checked her message. It was a reply from the HR manager at Star Enterprise, Skylar.NôvelDrama.Org (C) content.

"Ms. Kingsley, if today doesn't work for you, we can reschedule for tomorrow or the day after. Any weekday is suitable for your interview."

Imogen stared at the message, feeling it was almost surreal. She wondered what kind of wonderful company this was. Could it truly not be a scam?

As an ordinary, unknown person who didn't even meet the educational requirements, she couldn't understand why Skylar would show her such respect. It all seemed so strange.

This unexpected humility and respect left Imogen feeling doubtful and uneasy as her mind raced with uncertainty.

After returning home, Imogen showered to wash away the day and discarded her stained clothes. She felt disheartened. After blow-drying her hair, she collapsed onto her bed, drifting into a deep, thoughtless sleep.

She missed lunch and slept through until evening. When she awoke, the window sill was bathed in the glow of the sunset, with a breeze stirring the curtains. From outside her bedroom, she faintly heard the front door to the living room closing. 

Imogen tossed aside the blanket and rose from the bed. Clad in slippers, with her long hair flowing loose, she exited the room with a dispirited demeanor.

Jasper was nowhere to be seen in the living room, but she heard sounds coming from the kitchen. She shuffled toward it with weary steps.

Jasper turned at the sound of footsteps, and Imogen's slender figure slipped into his arms. Her arms encircled his waist, pulling him close. Burying her face in his chest, she closed her eyes, savoring the warmth and the steady rhythm of his heartbeat beneath his crisp white shirt. 

Jasper's body tensed momentarily, taken aback yet deeply moved by her embrace. He stood there, silent and contemplative, gazing down at Imogen nestled in his arms.

What was on her mind today? Her unusual display of affection was endearing, yet there was a hint of sadness in her demeanor. He thought something must have been troubling her.

Jasper smiled warmly, pulling Imogen closer as he wrapped his arms around her shoulders. Leaning close to her ear, he murmured, "What happened?"

With her eyes closed, Imogen nuzzled her cheek against his chest, and whispered, "Jay, just hold me."

Jasper tightened his embrace, gently nuzzling her neck as he pressed a kiss against her skin. His voice was husky as he spoke, “Alright, I’ve got you. Is something bothering you? Talk to me about it, okay?” 

"Just being able to hold you like this brings me joy," Imogen said.

Jasper breathed in the sweet scent of her, momentarily swept up in his emotions. He blurted out, "Why did you skip the interview today?"

Imogen hesitated for a moment, tilting her head slightly to meet his gaze from within his embrace. Her eyes were clear as she asked, "Jay, how did you find out I didn’t attend the interview?"