When His Perfect Mask Shattered I Awoke (Anneliese) novel Chapter 429

Chapter 429 A Shadow in His Path

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In the very next heartbeat, Jonathan drew Anneliese’s fingertip into his mouth. The heat and softness of him closed around her, wet and teasing, sending a sharp jolt through her nerves that rippled down her entire body.

She shivered with her face blazing scarlet, and hastily yanked her hand away.

“I…I need to make a call. You finish the dishes!” she stammered before fleeing toward the bedroom.

His low chuckle followed her retreat, his voice rich with lazy amusement. “Careful, don’t strain your wound. I’ll put ointment on it later.”

Her only answer was the sharp slam of the door.

He shook his head with a helpless laugh, only to glance down and find Meatloaf squatting at his feet. The little dog tilted her head, staring from him to the firmly shut door and clearly baffled by the situation.

Jonathan bent to ruffle the pup’s head. “Relax, we’re not fighting. You wouldn’t understand- you don’t have a wife.”

Meatloaf gave two indignant barks and spun in a little circle, as if voicing her protest.

When Anneliese finally switched her phone back on, several missed calls from George flashed on the screen. They had planned to head to the lab together that morning, but thanks to her late start, it was already past noon.

Mortified, she cursed a certain guilty culprit in her heart, picturing herself smacking Jonathan on the head with a tiny hammer.

That afternoon, Jonathan drove her to the lab.

She couldn’t shake the suspicion that he was using this as an excuse, especially since the lab was conveniently only a ten–minute drive from AeroAir’s offices.

When the car rolled to a stop, Jonathan leaned over with his arm brushing close as he unfastened her seatbelt. His voice was low, coaxing, and almost too casual. “You really don’t want me to walk you in?”

Anneliese waved both hands in a rush. “No, no need!”

Before Jonathan could say another word, Anneliese twisted toward the door, as though the

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Chapter 429 A Shadow in His Path

slightest hesitation might give him enough time to follow her out.

A quiet click froze her in place. His long fingers had tapped the central lock.

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She turned back slowly, only to meet his gaze–cool annoyance laced with something softer, almost wounded.

“Am I really so embarrassing to be seen with?” he asked.

“How could you be?” she rushed to reassure him. “You’re our… sugar daddy.”

His brows lifted, but his gaze held steady. “Then let me

walk

you

in.”

She shook her head firmly. “No. That’s exactly the problem. The lab is your project. If Prof. Clocke and the others find out we’re married, it’ll only make things awkward. Otherwise, everyone could just be themselves around each other.”

And it was true–being suddenly labelled ‘the boss‘ wife‘ would cast a shadow over every interaction, no matter how small.

His lips pressed into a thin line, frustration flickering in his dark eyes. “But we’re not hiding our marriage. Plenty of people in Oceaton already know. Prof. Clocke and the others could hear it from anyone, at any time.”

He wasn’t wrong. They had never truly kept it a secret. On the very day they received their marriage certificate, he had announced it openly at AeroAir, even going so far as to update his online profile to read ‘married‘.

Later, at Derek and Marlowe’s Silver Anniversary celebration, Jonathan had taken everyone by surprise when he appeared without warning and introduced her openly as Mrs. Fullbuster.

For a man as private as he was, the gesture had carried weight. Jonathan guarded his personal life fiercely, and their marriage had never once surfaced in the news or on social feeds.

He kept himself buried in work, rarely attending social functions, while she had always preferred to keep a low profile. To the outside world, it almost looked like a secret marriage.

Anneliese offered Jonathan a reassuring smile. “Don’t worry. Prof. Clocke and the other seniors hardly pay attention to outside gossip. They won’t hear about us so easily.”

She thought, Gianna already knows, of course. But she stayed quiet through dinner last night, and I can tell she’s not the kind who’d let something like this slip.

Jonathan swallowed his frustration and gave a quiet nod after seeing how determined Anneliese was. “I’ll come pick you up this afternoon.”

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