Reborn as his captivating wife

The morning air in the Hart mansion felt lighter, though neither Elena nor Sebastian dared to acknowledge it aloud. Days after the dinner with Noah, the atmosphere between them had subtly shifted. Sebastian wasn't as cold, his glances lingered longer, and Elena… she wasn't in a hurry to escape his presence anymore.

Elena finished reviewing Stratus's overnight financial reports before heading down for breakfast. As she passed the living room, she found Sebastian already dressed sharply, sipping coffee with one leg crossed, his phone in hand. He glanced up, and something in his gaze softened before returning to its usual neutrality.

"Morning," Elena greeted, grabbing a cup of tea.

"Good morning," Sebastian replied, his tone surprisingly even.

Mason entered seconds later. "Sir, madam Sofia has sent urgent updates. The Winstone Group filed a formal market petition against Stratus, accusing fraudulent growth projections."

Elena's calm didn't waver. "Of course they would."

Sebastian's jaw clenched. "Cowards hiding behind legalities."

Elena straightened, her confidence unshaken. "They don't know who they're dealing with."

—

At Stratus Innovations, Elena took control of the boardroom, countering every accusation with ironclad evidence and expert testimony. Several skeptical board members quickly turned into her allies after witnessing her composed dismantling of Winstone's attack. Media outlets picked up the fiery confrontation ...headlines soon praised Elena Hart's business acumen and resilience.

But as one storm settled, another brewed elsewhere.

—

In a dimly lit suite across town, Devon Grant sat with a mysterious middle-aged man dressed in bespoke gray.

"Winstone failed," Devon said bitterly. "The Hart woman is too smart."

The man sipped his whiskey, unbothered. "Then we adjust. There are other ways to destabilize her. The business world isn't her only vulnerability."

Devon's grin returned. "Then we attack her personally."

—

That evening, Elena returned home late. She didn't expect to find Sebastian waiting by the hallway, two wine glasses in hand.

"Victory should be celebrated," he said simply.

Elena blinked in surprise, then smiled faintly, joining him outside on the terrace. They stood in silence under the moonlight, a quiet understanding building between them.

For Elena, the world was full of battles… but for the first time, she realized—she wasn't fighting alone.

And neither were her enemies.

The terrace was bathed in silver moonlight, the city lights of Oakridge twinkling like distant stars. Elena and Sebastian stood side by side, each cradling a glass of deep-red wine. A soft breeze carried the scent of jasmine from the garden below.

They'd just concluded a long day of battling Winstone's legal assault and emerging victorious. The triumph lingered between them in the form of shared relief and unspoken respect.

Elena took a slow sip, her gaze drifting out over the skyline. Sebastian watched her profile—the gentle curve of her neck, the way her hair caught the light.

Their proximity crackled with electricity. Sebastian's breath hitched, and for a long moment, neither spoke. The city murmured below them, but here, time seemed to suspend.

Suddenly, Sebastian reached out, brushing a stray lock of hair from Elena's cheek. His fingertips lingered, warm against her skin. Elena's pulse thundered.

Before she could pull away, Sebastian closed the distance. His lips met hers in a short, electrifying kiss—gentle but charged with everything unspoken between them. Elena's eyes fluttered closed, and for one suspended heartbeat, the world narrowed to that soft contact.

Then Elena drew back, eyes wide. "I'm… sorry." Her voice trembled, eyes flitting away. "I shouldn't—"

She turned on stumbling feet and hurried toward the terrace door, the hem of her dress brushing against cool stone. Sebastian remained frozen, shock and something far deeper swirling in his gaze.

---

Inside the studyroom , Sebastian stood motionless under the moonlight filtering through the open door. I kissed her… The thought echoed, impossible and thrilling.

He set his glass on a side table, fingers trembling as he tried to steady himself. His usual discipline wavered as the memory of Elena's warmth beneath his lips replayed in vivid detail.

Contract envelopes lay unopened on his desk in the study downstairs—urgent documents demanding his attention. He forced himself forward, each step weighted with hesitation. Candlelight flickered across the papers; he reached out, turning a contract sheet.

But the words swam before his eyes. His mind wasn't on mergers or clauses—it was on Elena's startled expression, the soft curve of her lips, the scent of jasmine and wine that clung to him...ohh heat was rising in someone's body.

He dropped the paper. Focus. He whispered it to himself.

He then decided to just take a cold shower to get rid of the rising heat.

---

The shower was cold—icy water lashing his shoulders, cascading down his back. Sebastian inhaled sharply as the chill cut through his overheated thoughts. He pressed his forehead against the cool tile wall, letting the water sluice away the last remnants of logic-shaking emotion.

His heart still pounded fiercely, but under the pounding water, his mind cleared just enough for reality to settle: Elena Hart was no longer just his business partner or contractual wife. She had become something unexpected—someone he felt he needed, someone he wanted.

He closed his eyes under the cold stream, the world reduced to the sound of rushing water and the pounding of his own heart. The night had changed everything.

When he finally turned off the tap, Sebastian stood a moment longer, gathering himself. He toweled off and dressed in a crisp robe, resolve hardening in his chest.

Tomorrow, contracts would be signed, enemies confronted, business as usual. But he knew this truth would guide every decision from now on: his feelings for Elena were shifting, and there was no turning back.

With that realization burning in his veins, Sebastian stepped away from the bathroom mirror—and into whatever future awaited them both.