Filed to story: The CEO’s Wife Is a Secret Boss Novel (Allison & Jeremy) Free Online
“Your… ex?” Alyssa got the affirmative answer from his stunned expression.
Jonah’s fingertips trembled as he took the photo. His voice was hoarse. “You found that Bible?”
“I stumbled upon it. You know how | like to snoop around. | often like to go ‘treasure hunting’ in your study.”
Jonah smiled, but his eyes were tinged with sadness, and he felt stifled. “When | was still Judas,’ he was one of Cloudtop’s heads.
He sacrificed himself formore than once. He used to be one of the most trusted and cherished people in my life.”
Of course, Alyssa knew about Cloudtop.
It used to be the largest gang in the country, with influence all over Andgalbia. Even during the heyday of the Ivory Gang, it couldn’t compare to Cloudtop back then.
But later, Cloudtop disbanded, and its members scattered to various corners of the world.
Sof the core members from back then were said to have established their own gangs, but no one could recreate Cloudtop’s glory.
To be precise, the glory of the era when “Judas” was in charge.
Alyssa lowered her voice and asked, “So where is he now?”
“Dead.”
Jonah’s chest felt empty, as if the heart that died with the man back then had been brutally dug out again at the mention of him.
“Six years ago, he was exposed as a spy from Kontina’s underground organization called Khaos. His job was to infiltrate Cloudtop, gather intel, and undermine its influence from the inside.”
Jonah continued, “After his identity was exposed, Khaos abandoned him, and Cloudtop hunted him down. Traitors always meet the sfate¡ªdeath.”
“So… back then, you executed him as Judas?” Alyssa’s voice trembled as a chill ran through her body.
Jonah closed his eyes and shook his head in pain.
“When | becthe leader, | swore that | would never kill. It was my bottom line. But back then… everyone was pressuring me and forcingto execute him myself.”
Listening to this, Alyssa felt suffocated. Her heart pounded in fear.
“He didn’t want to putin a difficult position, so he grabbed the gun from my hand and shot himself.”
Jonah’s tone was calm and low as he recounted the event again. If it weren’t for the crimson in his eyes, Alyssa would have thought he was telling someone else’s story.
Would anyone in the world be able to bear such a devastating blow as watching their beloved take their own life before their eyes?
If Jeremy had done that, Alyssa might have picked up the gun without hesitation and followed him into the afterlife.
“Enough about that. It’s all in the past now. It’s all in the past…” Jonah murmured as if trying to heal his bloody wound with those words.
“Jonah, I’m sorry about the person’s death, but | have to ask you.”
Alyssa looked at him intently and continued word by word, “Did you choose to be with Jul because he looks like that person?”
While clenching the photo in his hand, Jonah bowed his head and grazed his teeth with his tongue.
“From the moment you saw Jul, you were attracted to him because he resembled that person. When you approached him and showed him kindness, it wasn’t just to helpwin him over, was it?
“You wanted to see him and couldn’t resist being near him. He simply reminded you of that person, didn’t he?”
After a long silence, Jonah slowly parted his lips. “Yes.”
“Jonah!” Alyssa widened her eyes in shock.
“Lyse, perhaps I’m always perfect in your eyes. To you, I’m a good brother who’s emotionally stable, has strong moral principles, respects elders, and cares for younger siblings.”
Jonah smiled bitterly while shaking his head. “But I’m far from as good as you think. In fact, I’m not even as good as many ordinary people.”
“Jonah… how could you… how could you use Jul as a substitute?”
Alyssa anxiously grabbed his arm. Her fingers were almost embedded into his skin. “Jul gave up everything to be with you! All this time, he’s been helping you, our family, Jeremy, and Lauren wholeheartedly! How could you do this to him?”
“Lyse, | admit that | was attracted to Julien initially because he resembled that person.”
Jonah’s eyes turned red-rimmed. He clenched his fists until the pain pierced his palms before slowly releasing them. “But now… I’ve truly fallen in love with him. It has nothing to do with his face. | love him for who he is.”
“Do you love Jul, or do you love that person more?” Alyssa persisted.
“They cannot be compared, Lyse. It’s a different kind of love.”
“Love is love! Love only varies in depth! How can there be a difference?”
Alyssa was both anxious and angry. Her chest heaved violently. “Jonah, have you ever considered the consequences if Jul were to find out? How would he feel knowing he’s just a replacement for someone from your past?
“How devastated, angry, and desperate would he be? How could you do this? How could you mistreat someone who loves you so deeply?”
Jonah parted his pale lips but couldn’t utter a word, as if a sharp thorn had pierced his throat.
“Burn this photo in front ofnow and forget about this person completely.” Alyssa’s eyes blazed with fury. “If you really want to grow old with Jul, if you truly love him, then burn it!”
Jonah’s pupils contracted sharply. His eyes rimmed with red from anguish.
He had thought that those painful memories had gradually been buried with his self-restraint and the passage of time. Even after he officially got together with Julien, he hadn’t touched any of the items he had treasured about that person.
But when Alyssa angrily accused him and demanded that he burn the photo to show loyalty to Julien, his heart was wracked with pain, as if she were asking him to burn his own body.
Alyssa stared at Jonah with frustration. His sorrowful and pained expression said it all. He couldn’t bear to do it. He still had lingering affection for his ex.
Even though that person had been dead for many years, he still held a significant place in Jonah’s heart. It was profound enough to stir Jonah, who was typically calm and composed.
“Lyse… | haven’t touched these things since Julien and | got together. I’ve let go of him. | really have.”
Jonah’s eyes were bloodshot. He was almost pleading as he said, “Please, don’t makedo this. He was my savior…”
“But you love him. The so-called savior is just an excuse for you to keep him in your heart.”
Alyssa shook her head in disbelief. “If Jeremy and | were together because | resembled his ex, | wouldn’t be able to accept it even if he fell in love withlater. | can handle his indifference when he doesn’t love me, but | can’t tolerate having someone else’s shadow loom over our relationship.
“That’s not pure love and too unfair for the person being treated as a substitute. It feels like fake love, and | can’t accept it. | only asked you to burn the photo, yet you’re in so much pain. But Jonah, have you ever considered how much it would hurt Jul if he knew you were still in pain over your ex?
“He’s well and alive in front of you, yet he can’t replace someone who’s been gone for so many years. How can he, such a proud person, endure such a blow?”
Each of her words was like a dagger, piercing Jonah’s already faltering soul.
“Fine… I’ll do it.” Jonah lowered his eyelids and looked deeply at the man in the photo. “I’ll burn it, and | won’t think of him again.”
Alyssa sighed.
Actually, it was better that the problem was discovered earlier.
There must be more things Jonah had collected about that person besides this photo. Since she could find it, Julien, who was always by Jonah’s side, would sooner or later discover them too.
When that happened, it would beca serious matter. She couldn’t even begin to imagine the turmoil it would cause.
“Jonah, are you in the study?” Julien’s lazy voice cfrom outside, causing the siblings to panic.
“Hide it,” Alyssa urged in a low voice. She then rushed to the door and took a deep breath before opening it.
“Jul!” She smiled sweetly while standing in the doorway to block Julien’s view.
“Oh… Lyse, it’s you.”
Julien was wearing matching pajamas with Jonah and rubbing his sleepy eyes. His open collar revealed a pair of beautiful collarbones, marked with faint traces of hickeys. “I thought it was someone else.”
Alyssa quickly averted her gaze from his neck, but her cheeks were already burning. “Uh… Jonah is inside. | cover without notice and didn’t know you guys were still asleep. Jonah got up first, so he cto chat with me.”
Julien chuckled. “Why are you so nervous, like you’ve done something wrong?”
Alyssa’s cheeks flushed even more, and her heart raced.
