The witch

Emery slammed his palms on Jane's desk and exclaimed, "You have no right to make Erza talk to me like that!"

The woman sitting at the desk turned slowly to face the angry man standing behind her. She calmly removed her reading glasses and placed them gently on the table. Then, she folded her arms across her chest and leaned back in her soft chair, staring at Emery.

Jane Montgomery is a striking woman with an aura of allure and sophistication. She possesses a tall and statuesque figure that commands attention. Her eyes are a captivating shade of deep brown, reflecting her intelligence and intensity. Jane's brunette hair falls in sleek waves, framing her face with an air of mystery. Her fashion sense exudes confidence, and she carries herself with a graceful and confident stride.

"Welcome back to the office, partner. There are some urgent business matters that require your attention. Could you stop sulking and behave like a good partner right now?

Emery pulled up a chair and sat down in front of the desk. He ignored Jane's sarcastic comment about him sulking and asked, "Who's sulking?"

Jane tapped her finger on the table and replied, "You're avoiding me on purpose."

Emery, suspiciously, looked at Jane's face and said, "Since when did you and Rhea become friends? She hates you, remember?"

Jane responded indifferently, "We are not friends. I ran into her at the coffee house, and we had a small chat. She asked me about you."

Emery shot back, "A small chat about me?" But, of course, he doesn't buy her story at all.

"Well... it's pointless for us to talk about me, right?" Jane replied sarcastically.

"Or perhaps you two are discussing our past," Emery said, looking Jane in the eye.

Jane let out a heavy sigh. "More or less," she admitted, unable to lie to him. He was really good at reading her feelings sometimes.

"There is no us, Jane. Rhea should know it." Emery sighed and leaned back in his chair. He felt drained and regretful. It seemed like Rhea still thought he and Jane were together. But the truth was, they were just business partners. There was nothing more to it.

The relationship he had with Jane ten years ago was history. Rhea shouldn't feel insecure. If he really wanted to be with Jane, he would have never married Rhea in the first place.

"If I were her, I would feel insecure too," thought Jane. "My husband working with his ex-girlfriend? Any woman would feel threatened."

Emery's gaze remained fixed, revealing his discontentment with Jane's words. "So, to appease her emotions, I had to sever our company partnership? Shut down our business? We were already business partners before I married her. She shouldn't have felt insecure. I'm feeling quite bummed right now."

Emery and Jane were sitting in her office, surrounded by papers and files. Jane glanced at Emery and noticed his tense expression. She knew he was having trouble with his wife, Rhea. She also knew that Rhea had confided in her about their marital problems, which made her feel guilty and awkward. She had been Emery's ex before they became business partners, and she still cared for him.

"It seems like she doesn't comprehend our circumstances." Jane said softly, breaking the silence.

Emery furrowed his brow at Jane's statement. He felt a surge of dissatisfaction. How did she know what Rhea thought? How much had they talked behind his back? He hated the idea of his wife sharing their personal issues with his ex.

"Have you discussed our situation with her?" Jane asked, sensing his discomfort. She hoped he would open up to her and trust her as a friend.

"Why should I?" Emery replied coldly, avoiding her gaze. He didn't want to talk to Rhea about Jane. He didn't want to talk to anyone about his past relationship with Jane. He wished they would all leave him alone.

"Try to clarify things to her. Why can't you speak with her openly like we are right now? You are transparent with Erza, but why do you become tight-lipped and cold-hearted when it comes to Rhea?"

Emery thought he had heard the same thing over and over again. First, it was 'the disciple Erza had spoken.' Now the grandmaster Jane is preaching at him, repeating the same argument. He was tired of having to answer the same question repeatedly!

"Is it because you never loved her?" Jane looked at Emery with knowing eyes.

Emery fell silent for a moment before finally shaking his head slightly. "My mother asked me to marry her, so we got married. She said it was okay if we didn't love each other in the beginning because love after marriage is sweeter. But it never happened, Jane. I feel miserable right now."

Jane's voice was filled with sorrow as she spoke, "You never try to fall for her, that's why it never happens." She had been afraid of this outcome. Ever since their failed relationship, Jane had felt that Emery's heart had become cold and distant.

Upon hearing Jane's words, Emery was dazed.

"Marriage is about more than just physical attraction. It's much deeper than that," she added.

Emery's ears were buzzing. He had heard this statement twice in one day.

"How come you ... a spinster and Erza a spinster-to-be... know so much about marriage life?"

And Jane's face turns blood red at his piercing words.