The Wife Who Jumped on New Year's Eve

Chapter 14: A Glimpse at the Charity Event

Ryan Bennett had been restless all day since catching that fleeting glimpse of Joanna Taylor at the charity fundraiser.

Though she had acted distant and resistant, and though Bianca White's explanation had seemed flawless, Ryan's instincts screamed that she was the one he had longed for all this time.

Bianca handed him the investigation report.

"This girl has no official records. She's supposedly the cousin of a village teacher, displaced after her hometown was destroyed by floods."

"There were severe floods in the southern region recently, so it's plausible that—"

The ice in Ryan's gaze cut her off mid-sentence.

"I'll see for myself."

Joanna sat by the bedside, her brow furrowed with worry.

She carefully carried over a bowl of medicine and settled beside the bed.

"Sean, sit up and drink this."

Sean Yates opened his eyes weakly, managing a faint smile as he struggled to push himself upright. Joanna immediately steadied him, bringing the bowl to his lips.

"Slowly. Don't burn yourself."

The recent heavy rains had swollen the river, and a few reckless children had wandered too close to the water. Sean had rescued them just in time—but the ordeal had left him bedridden with fever.

The children's parents had thanked him profusely before leaving, but Joanna sighed. Sean was one of the few genuinely good people left in this world.

Sean flushed slightly.

"I can manage."

Just then, the village chief arrived with Ryan in tow.

Ryan froze mid-step, his chest tightening as he watched Joanna tend to Sean with such gentle care. A surge of possessiveness burned through him.

He strode forward and roughly knocked their hands apart.

The medicine bowl shattered on the floor, liquid splattering everywhere.

Then he seized Joanna's wrist.

"Joanna, come home with me."

A wave of despair crashed over her. She fought against his grip like a trapped animal, certain this man would only bring her ruin.

Seeing her distress, Sean pushed himself up despite his fever and shielded her behind him. His voice was steady.

"Mr. Bennett, we're grateful for your donations to the school. I respect you for that."

"But A-Rou is my sister. She doesn't want to see you. Stay away from her."

Ryan's temper flared. To him, Sean was nothing but an opportunist preying on Joanna's amnesia. His voice turned glacial.

"This is between Joanna and me. Stay out of it."

"She's my wife."

Sean didn't back down.

"No, she isn't."

Tension crackled between them.

Joanna clutched Sean's sleeve, her heart pounding. She couldn't bear to see him hurt because of her—or let the children's hopes for a new school collapse.

Steeling herself, she stepped forward.

"Mr. Bennett, for the last time—I'm not the person you're looking for. Stop harassing us."

"I know you're powerful, but that doesn't give you the right to hurt me or my brother."

The way Joanna shielded Sean without hesitation sent a sharp pain through Ryan's chest.

Once, her eyes had shone with love and devotion—for him. Now, she defended another man with the same fierceness.

It felt like a thousand needles piercing his heart.

"Joanna," his voice trembled, raw with anguish, "how can you be so cruel to me?"

She felt like a stranger, slipping further away. There was a time when even a scratch on his finger would send her into a panic. Now, she looked at him with nothing but cold resolve.

Joanna pressed her lips together.

"Don't come near us again."

Ryan flinched. But seeing the unyielding fire in her eyes, he finally turned and walked away—defeated.