The Ruthless CEO's Revenge Wife
Chapter 23: The Soft Warm Kiss But Still A Venom

Chapter 23: The Soft Warm Kiss But Still A Venom

Henry and Emma followed Mr. Kim down the narrow hallway. No one said a word. The rain kept beating against the windows, and the yacht swayed slightly with each passing wave. The tension was thick in the air.

When they reached the captain’s cabin, the door was already open.

Junho was sitting in the corner on a chair, soaked and slumped forward, his head in his hands. He looked up when they came in, eyes wide when he saw his father. But Mr. Kim didn’t even look at him.

"Show me the footage," he said to the captain, voice flat and sharp.

The captain nodded and went straight to the control panel. He clicked a few buttons, and soon the screen lit up with security footage.

Henry and Emma stood behind Mr. Kim, watching closely.

The video showed Jean and Logan along with Junho and his secretary at the deck, arguing. Then as the storm hit harder Jean leaped at Junho and began to snatch the phone. By now when the waves grew rougher Farah and Jean went to the edge of the deck. And then, in one terrifying moment, a massive wave crashed over the side and Jean was gone.

Emma gasped and covered her mouth. Henry’s jaw tightened.

Mr. Kim said nothing, just stared at the screen. He saw how Logan jumped in right after Jean without wasting a moment.

Junho didn’t move. He sank lower in his seat, hands still gripping his head.

The video ended. The room went quiet except for the sound of the storm outside.

Mr. Kim slowly turned toward his son. His voice was cold and sharp.

"Tell me everything. Right now."

Junho didn’t answer right away. His throat tightened. "I... I can explain, Dad."

__________________________________

Jean’s eyes fluttered open when a streak of sunlight broke through the clouds and fell on her face. For a moment, the warmth felt heavenly, like she’d slipped into a dream far from the chaos.

A small smile tugged at her lips. I’m really in heaven...

But that thought shattered the moment she realized she couldn’t move.

Something... or someone... was gripping her tightly, arms wrapped around her like chains, holding her body against theirs. Her chest tightened and limbs started to freeze.

Panic surged through her like ice.

Her muscles ached, her head throbbed, but nothing made her more uncomfortable than the suffocating pressure of that hold. She wanted to scream, to push whoever it was away, but her body was too weak to fight back.

Her breath hitched.

That scent.

Familiar and musky.

Logan.

She gathered what little strength she had and forced her head to turn slightly. Her heart pounded. His face was impossibly close, so close that if she even flinched, her lips might brush against his.

She froze again.

Her body trembled. Why is he holding me like this? What happened?

Everything hurts.

Her memory was scattered, all in pieces. But one thing was clear, Logan wasn’t just nearby. He had clung to her like she was something precious.

Jean could hardly stand a man’s touch, her skin had always crawled in fear but now that Logan had her caged in his arms it was terrifying.

"Logan..." Jean’s voice came out as a faint whisper. She hadn’t realized how raw her throat felt until she tried to speak. It burned, like every word scraped against her insides.

But even that whisper was enough.

Logan’s eyes snapped open. For a second, he looked in daze, then startled, like he was unsure if he was imagining her voice.

But the moment his gaze locked onto hers, all that confusion melted into overwhelming relief.

His chest rose with a shaky breath. Then, without a word, he pulled her tighter against him, one hand cupping the back of her head, the other pressed firm at her back. He buried his face into her damp hair, his joy spilling out in a trembling exhale.

She was shocked seeing him acting this way but then came the kiss... soft, lingering; right on her forehead.

Jean stiffened. Her eyes widened in disbelief.

What the hell just happened?

Logan Kingsley, the man who mocked her, challenged her, made her life hell... had just kissed her. Gently and affectionately.

No. No, this wasn’t right.

She couldn’t handle the closeness, not when her skin was crawling, not when her body still remembered the way that unwanted touch used to haunt her. She tried to pull back, but his arms didn’t budge.

"Don’t," she rasped, her voice barely there. "Let me go."

He froze.

Jean pushed a little harder this time, trembling as she repeated, "Please... let me go."

And that’s when he finally heard her... not just her words, but the strain behind them. The pain.

Logan slowly loosened his grip, confusion flickering in his eyes, unsure what he did wrong. But Jean didn’t explain. She just turned her face away, unable to look at him.

Logan didn’t understand it at first.

One second he was relieved... grateful to see her conscious, breathing and alive. But the next, she flinched at his touch. Like he was someone to fear.

He sat there, frozen, as Jean struggled to sit up on her own. Her hands shook, her arms barely holding her weight, but when he reached out to help, she pulled away like his fingers burned her.

That stung.

"I’m just trying to help," he said, voice tight, jaw clenched. She didn’t answer. She didn’t even look at him.

Logan looked away, running a hand through his damp hair, rain still dripping from his clothes. The tension in his chest returned, heavier this time. Why did it feel like he had done something wrong by saving her?

Jean’s eyes scanned their surroundings, her lips parting in shock. There was nothing... no land, no yacht in sight. Just gray skies and endless waves around the small survival boat.

Her voice came out hollow, barely a whisper. "How did this happen...?"

But Logan heard her.

He let out a bitter breath, his patience thinning. "You don’t remember? Of course you don’t."

Jean turned to him, confused.

"You just had to be a damn hero," Logan muttered. "Went chasing after Farah like this was some dramatic movie scene. Snatched the phone right before the waves snatched you."

His tone was sharp, too sharp. He knew it. He saw the way her face tensed at his words. But he couldn’t help it.

"You think I wanted to be in the middle of the ocean right now? I had to jump in after you! You were unconscious, not even breathing and now you look at me like I’m the villain in your life."

Jean swallowed hard, unable to meet his gaze.

He turned away again, gripping the edge of the boat, trying to calm his rising anger. "You’re welcome, by the way."