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Chapter 256 Shocked Jackson
Chapter 256 Shocked Jackson
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“You got married? Married? But that’s impossible! You just got out of a marriage, Anneliese!”
Jackson’s eyes widened. Shock and pain twisted across his face as he stared at her. He did not stop to think if he had the right to ask and simply blurted the question out.
Anneliese’s cheeks warmed slightly. She did move on from one marriage to the next at an astoundingly fast pace.
A stranger might think she had been unfaithful in her previous relationship, and that her new husband might not have been too new after all.
The truth was simple. She felt nothing for Jackson beyond friendship and did not want him to keep hoping for something that would never happen.
She nodded once. “We got the license this afternoon.”
Jackson’s mind immediately flashed back to lunch, when he had been tricked into leaving. He had even asked Jonathan to give her a heads–up.
Now it all clicked. Now he knew why Jonathan did what he did.
Jackson raised a finger at the screen, his voice tight with fury. “Jonathan, I trusted you! You sneaky, devious devil! You don’t deserve Anneliese at all!”
His anger flared hotter with each word. His hand trembled and formed a tight fist.
Jonathan’s face remained calm, radiating a quiet authority and steady patience, like a man who had seen the world and commanded respect.
“Jackson, thank you for your feelings for my wife. Your taste is admirable. But a man must live by his code, and one of it states that his friends‘ wives are off–limits. I hope you can let go of thoughts you should not have and behave like a gentleman by wishing us well.”
Jackson froze.
Friend, my foot! he thought.
I’m not your friend, and what’s that about being a gentleman? Are you calling me scum if I refuse to congratulate you on your marriage?
His eyes reddened. His fists shook with frustration and helplessness.
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Chapter 256 Shocked Jackson
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Anneliese, seeing that everything was cleared up and fearing Jackson might push himself too far, quickly lowered her phone.
“Thanks, I should go now.”
She turned and jogged toward her car. Only after buckling her seatbelt did she finally exhale, letting the tension drain from her shoulders.
At that moment, Jonathan’s voice came again, calm but teasing.
“You seem to have a line of admirers waiting to take your hand in marriage, honey.”
Anneliese glanced at the phone lying on the center console and bit her lip before picking it up.
Jonathan lounged on a sofa, swirling a glass of red wine in his hand. His expression was unreadable, but there was a faint spark of amusement in his eyes.
Anneliese felt that familiar prickle of unease. She shifted her gaze and tried to steer the conversation.
“You are at the hotel already?”
The dim interior light of the car did not hide the faint blush rising to her cheeks.
Jonathan studied her carefully through the screen. She was his wife, and the law acknowledged it.
The thought made him restless. Travel was routine, but tonight it made him impatient and oddly uneasy.
He made up his mind to pick up the pace of his project. He took a slow sip of wine and spoke, smooth and teasing.
“I was going to talk to you about my schedule, but guess I got in the way of a confession session, and it was initiated by a handsome lad, no less. I hope you’re not too mad?”
Anneliese remained silent.
He’s not going to let this go, is he? she thought.
She shot the screen a mock glare. “Of course I’m not mad. I should be thanking you. You shielded me from a romantic advance, and you’re only on your first day. Thanks.”
Jonathan’s lips curved in a subtle smile. Through the look on her face, he saw that she held no feelings for Jackson. Quietly, he leaned closer to the screen.
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Chapter 256 Shocked Jackson
“I hope your gratitude doesn’t stop at mere words.”
His face suddenly filled the screen. The jawline was sharp, the lips soft and perfect.
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The first two buttons of his shirt were undone, revealing the movement of his throat and a beauty mark.
The effect was intense, as if the screen could not contain him.
Anneliese’s heart skipped. She instinctively moved the phone slightly away, letting her eyelashes lower.
When she lifted her gaze again, Jonathan had stepped back.
His wine glass rested on the table. He appeared to be reading a document handed by his assistant.
She bit her lip nervously. “You… you have company? You should get back to work now. I’m going home.”
The embarrassment was overwhelming.
That meant someone else had also witnessed Jackson’s confession.
Jonathan glanced at her. He saw the tremor in her eyes. He made no comment and simply said, calm and measured:
“Of course. Text me after you get back home.”
“Okay, got it,” Anneliese mumbled and hung up.
She rubbed her heated cheeks and only after parking did the strangeness of the moment hit her.
She and Jonathan were in a contract marriage. There was no reason to report every move to each other on the very first day.
