The CEO'S Contract Bride

ure That S

yn's

way from the city's chaos. The kind of place where you

rounded by trees and silence. It felt sterile and too

why he brou

that had nothing

erything els

llowed wordlessly, my heels tapping on marble f

ble where a folder waited, pen placed neatly on top.

ration had

it," he s

My fingers hovered over the pe

irds flew across the fading sky. So free. So

now I was d

performance rehearsed for years. That behind my l

than his empire could be passed down. A man whose brill

e boardrooms, now bare

e endless meetings. The board members

cradled in silence. The little life that came from the one man

y De

ay his name

tasted l

uddenly, breaking the silence. "But I promis

"What made you th

ou looked like you ne

, caught

at is?" I asked, a flicke

son to be someone else.

e was

daughter, public face. But inside, I was shattered porcelain. A

past that. Ma

ople using each other to su

papers with a

ss the bottom of the p

," I

r will take you home. We'll stage the introduct

grabbin

I hes

ns after th

nish what we started. Then

ughed. Go b

es, ghosts and an unborn child who deserve

uldn't shake the feeling that I had s

away the last

e back w

cross the glass. The city passed in a blur of headlights and faces. All t

vied

ht, my phone

unknow

't ans

rous drug. And I

oss the polished floor. I was too tired to care. I unzipped

of my house

hand over

y yet. Not really. But now

But I promise I'll protect y

r hours, eyes clo

rning came

ndition was slipping again. He hadn't responde

use, no makeup, and pulled my hair into a

d, his eyes o

whispered, we

taking his hand.

eyes blinking s

ny...

ed. "Everyt

always knew yo

harder. "Rest, Dad

I

of

responsibilities, t

ba

e els

as the har

rs, assistants, nurses, executive

up for the first official "

a while, his hands fir

e asked after

face toward

okay." I

quietly. "You do

s mine, but filled with real life. Photos on

ar someone coughing

us at the door, he

she said, hugging me b

warmth caught

ery eyes. "Thank you for doing this

le. "I'm honor

es running from his arm to a small machine. He looke

d with a faint smile.

"It's lovely to me

ured for me to sit beside

di

ment, I felt

use

love. This

eyes-pure joy-made m

nted him to have a strong woman by his si

it me

oked

hand on my shoulder. "Dad, don't tir

he's a Monroe. She d

know I was s

. Shaw's hand brushing mine every now and then

said, "You two would

rly c

the bathroom, lockin

lection-my pale fa

have a baby,"

belly again

er could I ke

r could I play

drove me home, the silen

't easy," he said fi

n't r

y?" he r

im slowly. "D

dn't

gned your deal. Who plays pretend. B

ow how I cry myself to sleep

ke something clicked

fr

t ask. H

I've seen that look. My sister... she lost o

d away,

t's your truth. I just... I hope you'r

t him. "Wh

ope it gives you eno

urpris

pi

nderst

me in weeks, I d

t s

house, I turned to h

you,"

r w

ending everyt

now if you ever need

irst time in

believe some