The CEO'S Contract Bride

hat Feels

w's

contract, it was su

arances, no emotions, n

aper, something in me shifted. I've seen people like her before-polished, distant, self-assur

n's wasn'

as a

to my life, I've been trying to stop

for this to ge

before he left this world-peace. A moment to

ee me loved, ma

e i

s. But I could fake it. I

ct was how well sh

al it star

gan s

pity but with a kind of reverence, like she knew

ke, her voice had weight. My father c

ried herself. Graceful, yes. B

thing back. Something more than j

e me c

made me

ng me feel thi

eft, my mother pulled m

ovely girl

I replie

. "You're looking at her lik

n't r

she wa

ure when i

to me at dinner, calm but fierce, not

ouched my father's hand a

st maybe it wa

ead turned to the window, not saying anything, a

ret or lo

op wondering w

s twitch on her lap when she's trying not to cry. She hasn't told me

to op

o unders

want more than ju

ould

n't abo

is bu

ing toward my car, dressed in a navy-blue dress that wraps

not sm

arely

er frown i

passenger seat, buck

steering wh

y?" I

here are we

heon. Press might be th

don't ask me abou

a small smi

nd gold?

e. "God, no. I'd rat

gh. "

lence for a fe

e surpr

better yesterday,

di

y to have hi

part-so faintly that most peop

yours?" I

t answer r

ally says. "And there

esty st

ut her eyes are fi

y," I say

e distant. "People leave, some

ment, she's not just t

ng about so

luncheon, we p

e walk in. She links her arm through

congratulates us on our engagement, she thanks them

e moments, th

the champagne flute. Or when her gaze linge

r gently

u o

ut doesn't

hisper something I

eal, I wouldn't

snap up

n-that wall-but

t say that,"

I mea

't even

ow en

and she turns away

ave e

back is thick

comforta

s between two people even

he window again

ve crosse

an't re

"But pretending with you feels less like a lie

e slowly, her

nt to believe

hy

not who you

l me who

not your happy ending. I'm

ruth that would destroy b

shakes b

ant, everything

settles like i

preg

hat she'

of fallin

lt over

a ch

else's

idn't see coming. And yet.

way she touched her stomach wh

o say so

do

t

know wha

er?

usy?

ly... co

man who's not mine. Who's ca

d she loves me, all while holding

till wa

st her

strength. Her s

o trust me,

now what terr

e never

all in love wi