Chapter Eight

The morning after the break-in attempt was unnervingly quiet. The mansion, which had always seemed so grand and impenetrable, now felt vulnerable. Even with the additional security, I couldn't shake the feeling that we were being watched.

I sat at the kitchen table, nursing a cup of coffee that had long since gone cold. Rex had left for an early meeting, and the absence of his reassuring presence only added to my anxiety.

The staff moved about their duties as if nothing had happened, but I could feel the tension in the air. Marla, the head cook, placed a fresh plate of pastries on the table and gave me a kind smile.

"Try not to worry too much, Mrs. Go," she said gently. "Mr. Go won't let anything happen to you." I nodded, but her words did little to comfort me.

By mid-afternoon, I decided to distract myself by organizing the library. It was a massive room filled with

towering shelves and more books than I could count. As I sorted through the titles, I found myself drawn to a small, leather-bound journal tucked away in the corner.

Curiosity got the better of me, and I flipped it open. The pages were filled with neat, handwritten notes... entries that seemed to belong to Rex's grandfather.

One entry caught my attention:

"Rex has the potential to be a great leader, but his stubbornness worries me. He refuses to see the importance of balance... of love, family, and business. I hope he finds someone who can ground him before it's too late."

The words struck a chord, and I couldn't help but wonder if this was why Rex's grandfather had imposed the marriage condition. Perhaps he had seen something in Rex that even Rex didn't see in himself.

Later that evening, Rex returned home looking more stressed than usual. His tie was loosened, and his expression was unreadable as he entered the living room.

"How was your day?" I asked, trying to sound casual. "Long," he replied, sinking into the couch.

I hesitated before speaking again. "Did you find out anything about the break-in?"

He shook his head. "The security team is still reviewing the footage. Whoever it was, they knew what they were doing. They avoided the cameras."

A chill ran down my spine. "Do you think it was Jane?"

Rex exhaled heavily. "I don't know. But I've already instructed the guards to stay on high alert. Whoever it was, they won't get another chance."

I wanted to believe him, but the fear that had been gnawing at me for days refused to subside.

That night, I had trouble sleeping again. Every noise outside my window made me jump, and I found myself staring at the ceiling for hours, unable to relax.

Around midnight, I heard footsteps outside my room. My heart leaped into my throat as I sat up, straining to listen.

"Sarah?" Rex's voice called softly from the hallway.

Relief washed over me as I opened the door to find him standing there, looking just as restless as I felt. "Can't sleep?" he asked.

I shook my head. "You?" "Same."

There was a brief pause before he spoke again. "Come on. Let's get some air."

We stepped out onto the balcony, the cool night breeze brushing against our faces. The city lights twinkled in the distance, a stark contrast to the unease that hung between us.

"I hate this," I admitted, wrapping my arms around myself. "Not knowing what's going to happen next." Rex leaned against the railing, his gaze fixed on the horizon. "You're not the only one."

I glanced at him, surprised by his honesty. For once, he didn't look like the cold, unshakable businessman everyone else saw. He looked...human.

"Do you ever regret it?" I asked suddenly. "Regret what?"

"All of this. The business, the responsibilities, the expectations. Do you ever wish things were different?"

Rex was quiet for a moment before answering. "Sometimes. But wishing doesn't change anything. This is my life, whether I like it or not."

I nodded, understanding more than I cared to admit. "It's exhausting, isn't it? Trying to live up to everyone's expectations."

He looked at me then, his eyes softening. "It is."

For a moment, we stood in silence, the distance between us feeling smaller than it ever had before.

The next day, things took a turn I hadn't expected. I was in the garden, tending to some of the flowers with the gardener, when one of the security guards approached.

"Mrs. Go, there's someone at the gate asking for you." I frowned. "Who is it?"

"He says his name is Jason Jacobs."

My heart skipped a beat. Jason? What was he doing here?

I hurried to the gate, and sure enough, there was my little brother, grinning from ear to ear. "Jason!" I exclaimed, pulling him into a hug. "What are you doing here?"

"I wanted to surprise you," he said, his excitement contagious. "And...I wanted to see the mansion for myself." I laughed, shaking my head. "You should've called first."

"Where's the fun in that?"

I brought Jason inside, and his eyes widened as he took in the grandeur of the mansion.

"This place is insane," he said, spinning around to take it all in. "It's definitely something," I replied, smiling.

When Rex returned home later that evening, he was visibly surprised to find Jason sitting in the living room, flipping through channels on the TV.

"Jason," Rex said, his tone neutral. "What brings you here?"

"Just visiting my sister," Jason replied, unfazed by Rex's stern demeanor. "Thanks for letting her marry you, by the way. She deserves all this luxury."

Rex raised an eyebrow, but I caught the faintest hint of a smirk. "I'll take that as a compliment."

As the evening went on, Jason's presence brought a lightness to the mansion that had been missing for days. His jokes and easygoing nature were a welcome distraction from the tension that had been weighing on us.

But as much as I enjoyed having him there, I couldn't shake the nagging feeling that his visit might have come at the worst possible time.

That night, as I lay in bed, my phone buzzed with another message from Jane.

"Looks like you've got company. Don't get too comfortable, Sarah. This isn't over."

My heart sank as I stared at the screen. Jane was watching us, and now Jason was caught in the middl

e of whatever she was planning.

Cliffhanger: How far will Jane go, and will Sarah be able to protect Jason from the brewing storm?