Chapter 4 - it’s unlimited

Jude POV

I woke up feeling a comforting weight pressing down on my chest. When I opened my eyes and looked down, a slow smile found its way to my lips. It was Rosie. Her head was nestled perfectly right over my heart.

For a second, I closed my eyes again, checking to make sure I wasn’t dreaming, before opening them back up to drink in the sight of her.

She was beautiful.

I resisted the urge to reach out and touch her face. I didn’t want to break the spell; I just wanted to enjoy the quiet moment of staring at her sleeping face.

My wife. My woman.

I grinned to myself, hoping the erratic thudding of my heartbeat wouldn’t wake her up. I could definitely get used to mornings like this.

As I grinned, glancing past her shoulder at the row of pillows she had lined up last night. The makeshift wall had been scattered to the floor. She was the one who had crossed the border in her sleep, slinging an arm around my waist and burying her face against my skin.

Suddenly, I felt her shift, making a soft, sleepy sound, her fingers trailing lightly across my chest. Her fingers drumming on my skin paused before she jolted awake, and that moment, I slammed my eyes shut, pretending to be asleep.

I felt the mattress shift violently as she scrambled away from me. A gasp echoed through the room, followed by the frantic sound of her feet shuffling across the floorboards.

A chuckle threatened to escape my throat, but I reined it in. I couldn’t give away that I was awake yet.

The click of the bathroom door told me she was inside, and I peeled my eyes open with my hand running through my disheveled hair. I stared at the empty side of the bed and shook my head in disappointment.

What a shame. I still wanted that moment.

Slow and steady, Jude. I reminded myself. You don’t want to scare her off.

I reached for my phone on the nightstand. Two taps on the screen, and I saw a series of notifications from messages from my parents, my younger sister, and some friends.

I winced internally, already dreading the lecturing I was going to get from my father. Quietly slipping out of the bedroom, I closed the door gently behind me and dialed my mother’s number. Elena Winters was always the easier way.

First ring, second ring, before she answered on the third ring.

“Hello, son!” she greeted, her lovely voice filling the line. “How are you? Have you—” My mom was one of the renowned artists in the state. I still didn’t understand how she stayed with my grumpy father.

“Don’t cajole that boy, Elena,” my father’s deep, booming voice barked from the background, and I closed my eyes briefly, bracing myself. Marcus Winters, CEO of Winters Enterprises—a man whose corporate empire stretched everywhere.

My parents had always indulged me, but ever since the day I told my father I was refusing the corporate throne to play professional hockey, our relationship had been strained.

“Hi, Dad,” I chimed in, keeping my tone deliberately over-cheerful. I heard him grumble something incoherent on the other end.

“What the hell was that stunt you pulled yesterday?” That was my father, always going straight to the point. No how are you, I miss you, bye. He never did small talk.

I shrugged my shoulders, even though he couldn’t see me through the phone. “I got married. Exactly like you wanted.”

“Y-you!” he bit out, letting out a sharp, furious breath.

“You wanted me to get married and finally settle down,” I countered smoothly. “I did. What else do you want?”

“But not with the chosen bride!” he snapped.

“Well, at least a wedding still happened.”

“Don’t think I don’t know what you did, Jude. You paid someone to crash your own wedding! Do you have any idea how much money I lost smoothing things over with Kira’s family? Do you know what it cost to scrub those headlines from the internet?”

“Well, that’s your job, Dad,” I responded casually. I could literally picture him fuming, his face turning red while my mother tried to pacify him.

“Honey, calm down,” I heard Mom whisper in the background. “Remember your blood pressure.” There was a shuffling sound as she took the phone back.

“Juddy, are you there?”

“Yes, Mom.”

“You should have just told me you didn’t want Kira, and I would have helped you deal with it...”

I cut her off gently. “If I told you, would your husband have agreed?”

The line went completely silent because she knew the answer was no. My dad was stubborn as a mule.

“Well, Mom, it was nice talking to you,” I said, hearing the bedroom door click open down the hall. “I’ll call you later. I’ll make sure to bring my wife to see you. You’ll like her. Love you.”

Before she could protest, I ended the call and slid the phone into my pocket. I quickly glanced at a text from my best friend, Leonard, who was currently playing across the state.

Leonard: Man, I’m so sorry I missed your wedding.

When Rosie walked into the living room, her eyes widened slightly before she quickly looked away. I didn’t miss the faint blush creeping up her neck. I was shirtless, wearing nothing but a pair of low-slung grey sweatpants. I had no intention of putting on a shirt anytime soon; I knew exactly how much she was attracted to my body by the way her eyes kept straying to my chest.

“Don’t you have a shirt?” she mumbled, crossing her arms to hide her bashfulness.

So cute.

I smirked, deliberately flexing my torso as I leaned against the kitchen counter. I watched her lower her lashes, trying desperately to ignore me. “Why? Attracted to it, wifey?”

She grumbled something uncomplimentary under her breath while I chuckled, walking over to the entryway where I had left my wallet.

I walked back over, sliding my black card across the counter toward her. She stared at the sleek metal, completely dumbfounded.

“What!” She was in the middle of taking a sip of water and practically choked. “What is this?” she gasped, wiping her mouth.

I raised a brow at the question, then exhaled. “Black card,” I said slowly, then smiled. “Use it,” I added, pushing it closer to her before turning toward the stove to start a simple breakfast. “Buy whatever you need.”

Rosie looked from me to the card, then back to me, her lips curling into a challenge. “Do you have any idea what you’re doing? I’m going to bankrupt you with this.”

I shrugged, unbothered by her words. “I don’t care. It’s unlimited, wifey. It never runs out.”

Her eyes wavered, her jaw tightening in annoyance. I loved unruffling her. She looked so breathtakingly perfect when she was angry that I had to bite my lower lip to keep my composure.

She was just as beautiful as she was years ago.

The lavish honeymoon my mother had planned was supposed to be for me and Kira. Kira was the daughter of my mother’s closest friend—a corporate merger disguised as a relationship. Kira didn’t want me, and I certainly didn’t want her. But our families had pushed us together anyway.

Kira had slapped me before she left me at the altar. But it was worth it because I was able to marry Rosie.

Rosie Winters. My surname sounded beautiful next to her name.

I walked up behind her, taking in her scent. God, I loved her scent. Lavender with a tinge of cinnamon. Everything in the mansion had been prepared for her, and the walk-in closet in the master bedroom was already fully stocked with clothes in her exact size.

Because I knew who would be crashing that altar.

Even the little princess needed a massive gift; she had played her part flawlessly yesterday.

I bent down, leaning close to Rosie’s ear. “Our daughter will be awake soon,” I murmured, reaching out to gently trail my fingers through a strand of her hair. I breathed her in like a starving man. Years of searching, and she still smelled exactly the same.

I resisted the urge to bury my face in her neck and claim her right there. Instead, I settled for a lingering, slow kiss against her temple.

“Go out and spend whatever you want today. I don’t mind,” I muttered.

Rosie instantly swatted my hand away, her eyes flashing as her jaw set. “Mia isn’t your daughter. She’s my niece,” she ground out.

My smile only widened. I loved the way her eyes flared up, the tiny stubborn tilt of her nose. “Anything you say, wifey,” I chuckled loudly, turning on my heel to head to the shower.

I deliberately slowed my pace as I walked away, knowing the arrogant tunting view of my back drove her absolutely crazy. 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

***

So, the update will be 3 times a week or more than that. I can’t say but there’ll surely be 3 update a week and if I can’t update, I’ll drop announcement on discord (link in bio) I’m currently writing 3 books. This 3 Chapters a week, bear shifter book is also 3 Chapters a week. Monster romance is one Chapter a week and the second chance book is 2 Chapters a week.

May God sees me through... But there’s a cheat, if there’s comments, reviews and gift... I can push myself pass my limit.

Thank you for reading