Anneliese''s expression sharpened with sarcasm. "Oh, really? So Zane is Jess'' boyfriend now?"


    She nced at Jonathan sitting beside her. "Honey, you knew about this, right?"


    Jonathan, of course, sided with Anneliese and shook his head in agreement. "Nope, didn''t know."


    "What a coincidence, neither did I." Anneliese shrugged before turning her gaze back to Zane.


    "I''m Jess'' best friend. And my honey''s basically your buddy too, right? None of us had a clue about this. It seems like your dating life is as secretive as that of a top celebrity''s. Or have all your ex-girlfriends been kept in the shadows like this?" She let out a short, mockingugh and then added slowly, "Really something."


    Her words dripped with sarcasm.


    Zane''s expression tightened. He opened his mouth but found himself at a loss for words. He hadn''t introduced Jessica as his girlfriend to anyone. Hell, he hadn''t even clearly defined the rtionship with her privately. But Jessica had never acted like she expected anything from him either.


    He pushed down the irritation and guilt rising in his chest. Frowning, he spoke in a low voice. "I was actually nning to bring Jessica around that day, introduce her to everyone, but then I got ast-minute call from home and-"


    Anneliese couldn''t believe he still had the nerve to bring up that day. Before Zane could finish his sentence, she raised a hand and cut him off. "Yeah, that day you were the one who set up the meet with Jess. And you bailed without a second thought, disappearedpletely. If you even cared a little about her, you wouldn''t have done that!"


    Even less so. He still has no idea what actually happened. He is not even aware of the entire situation. Zane is awyer. If he wanted answers, he has more than enough channels and ways to dig them up. Not knowing the details is just an excuse. It alles down to one thing. He never truly put Jessica first. So what is he doing now, standing here acting all anxious and deeply devoted?


    Anneliese shot Zane another look, saying everything she wanted to say without opening her mouth.


    Ugh. What a trashy jerk. Go to hell.


    She looped her arm through Jonathan''s and said sweetly, "Honey, I want to bake some little cookies. Help me out, okay?"


    Jonathan lifted an eyebrow, a flicker of curiosity and genuine anticipation crossing his expression. "Sure. You bake now? I had no idea."


    Anneliese blinked, looking pleased with herself. "Oh, I can do a lot more than that."


    Jonathan slipped an arm around her slim waist and nced at Zane, whose expression had clearly soured. "You heard her. I''m going to bake with my honey. It sounds like fun, so I won''t be seeing you out."


    Zane found himselfpletely at a loss for words.


    Jonny the Scoundrel, does he really have to show off right now?


    After Jonathan finished speaking, he did not bother sparing Zane another nce at his pitch-dark expression. He wrapped an arm around Anneliese, turned on his heel, and walked straight into the vi with her.


    Zane could tell by now. Anneliese''s attitude toward him had changed entirely, and the hostility was apparent.


    Jonathan was firmly on Anneliese''s side now, breathing the same air she did. He would not dare go against her even if he wanted to. A full-fledged wife guy through and through.


    There was no way Zane was getting anything valuable out of the two of them. He took a deep breath, chose not to press the issue, and turned away, striding off without another word.


    He mmed the door of his sports car shut and immediately made a phone call. He told the person on the other end the name of the restaurant and the time from the night he left. His voice was cold and clipped as te gave the order.


    "Check whether anything happened at that restaurant that night. Use every connection we have, and find out where Jessica is."


    Everything started going wrong that day. I need to figure out exactly what happened first.


    Anneliese and Jonathan walked into the house side by side. She still looked visibly annoyed, so he reached out and took her hand.


    "Why the sudden urge to bake cookies?" he asked, lifting a hand to stop Margot, who was about to bend down to fetch their slippers. He got them himself, then crouched and ced the women''s pair neatly at Anneliese''s feet.


    She looked down at the dark, thick crown of his hair, and thest trace of irritation on her expression quietly melted away. She did not brush off his kindness. She kicked off her heels and slipped into the slippers. The moment Jonathan finished changing his shoes and fooked up, she spun lightly on her foot, slid right up in front of him, grabbed thepel of his suit, and tugged him down toward her.


    Jonathan had not even begun to process what was happening. He bent instinctively to follow her pull and her soft, warm lips were already on his pressing and lingering. She parted her lips just enough to murmur, "A kiss from honey cheers me up way better." Contént


    There was no way he could resist an invitation like that from Anneliese. The shopping bags slipped from his hand as he wrapped an arm around her slim waist and kissed her back without hesitation.


    Hearing the noise from the entryway, Margot thought something had been knocked over and rushed out of the kitchen to check.