Chapter Ten – Rules and Realizations

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• The Billionaire’s Paper Wife   Chapter Twenty-One – Afterglow And Shadows

  The morning light filtered through the floor-to-ceiling windows in soft golden streaks, washing the bedroom in a warm, quiet glow. Lena blinked slowly, the unfamiliar softness of the silk sheets brushing against her skin, and for a moment, she wasn’t sure if she was still dreaming.Then she felt the steady rhythm of Zane’s breathing behind her. One of his arms was curled around her waist, holding her close, while his other hand rested loosely against her thigh, his body tangled with hers like they’d belonged that way all along.A deep warmth bloomed in her chest. It was different this time. This wasn’t just about physical connection—though, God, it had been that too. It was the way he’d held her afterward, the way his lips had brushed her temple as if to memorize her. He hadn’t said much, but then again, Zane rarely did. Still, last night had spoken louder than any promise.She turned slightly, careful not to wake him, and studied his face—so peaceful, so unlike the sharp edges he sho

• The Billionaire’s Paper Wife   Chapter Twenty – No More Lines

  Lena hadn’t moved from the doorway since Victoria left. The silence clung to her, louder than any threat.She should have told Zane. The moment he walked through the door, she should’ve opened her mouth and let the truth fall out like broken glass.But something about the way Victoria had looked at her—that sweet, polished smile with venom curled underneath—had made her pause.Victoria wasn’t coming to Zane as a rival. She was coming as someone who thought she still owned him.And Lena wasn’t going to let her win.Not by reacting. Not by looking weak.Not by running.So she slid the silver business card into the drawer, closed it quietly, and turned back to her sketchbook like nothing had happened.When Zane came home hours later, tired and silent, Lena greeted him with a smile and a warm plate of pasta.He raised an eyebrow. “You cooked?”She shrugged. “You brought me breakfast. Seemed fair.”He didn’t ask what she’d done all day. He didn’t press. He just watched her, like he could f

• The Billionaire’s Paper Wife   Chapter Nineteen – The Fracture Line

  Lena woke to the press of warmth behind her, Zane’s arm draped protectively over her waist, his breath steady against the curve of her neck.For a second, she didn’t move.She just let herself feel it—how right it felt to be in his arms like her body had finally found a place it recognized. The bed sheets were tangled from the night before, their clothes abandoned in a lazy trail toward the doorway.“Are you awake?” Zane murmured against her shoulder.She smiled into the pillow. “Barely.”He kissed the spot just below her ear. “Good. Stay here with me.”She turned, facing him. His hair was a little messy, and his eyes were softer than she’d ever seen them—unguarded.“I can’t,” she whispered, running her fingers down his chest. “I need to breathe.”He blinked, then nodded slowly and let his arm fall away. “Did I push too far?”“No,” she said gently. “You gave me something real. That’s what scares me.”Zane sat up, rubbing a hand over his face. “I’m not asking you to promise anything. Ju

• The Billionaire’s Paper Wife   Chapter Eighteen – Pressure Points

  The first crack appeared at breakfast.Zane had left early, sharp-suited and unreadable, barely touching his coffee before disappearing into a whirlwind of meetings. Lena tried to distract herself with sketching, but her hands kept trembling. Something about the night before—Zane’s kiss, the unspoken promises—they clung to her skin like warmth after a fire.She was finishing a line when her phone buzzed.Unknown Number: Good morning, Mrs. Caldwell. Hope you don’t mind a surprise visit. —M.L.Lena stared. M.L.?Before she could respond, the doorbell rang.The air in her lungs vanished. She padded barefoot to the door, slowly pulling it open.A tall man in a navy coat stood on the threshold, sunglasses perched low on his nose, his smile shark-like and charming.“Lena Hart,” he said smoothly. “Or should I say… Caldwell?”“Who’s asking?”He removed his sunglasses. “Marcus Lane. Zane’s… friend.”She didn’t buy it for a second. That smile had too many teeth.Zane had mentioned Marcus only o

• The Billionaire’s Paper Wife   Chapter Seventeen – The Shape of Softness

  Lena didn’t remember falling asleep, only the weight of exhaustion pressing her into the mattress after Noah left. When she opened her eyes, the world outside was still dark, the city quiet beneath layers of night and fogged glass.But something was different.She sat up slowly, her heart still heavy, her body stiff from lying curled too long. The apartment, usually filled with silence that pressed in like fog, held a different kind of quiet now—gentler, softer. She swung her legs off the bed and noticed the door cracked open. There was a light on down the hall.And then came the scent. Warm. Familiar. Toast? Maybe eggs?She padded barefoot into the hallway, the wooden floor cool beneath her feet. The scent grew stronger as she approached the kitchen. Her breath caught at the sight in front of her.Zane stood at the stove.Not a chef. Not a cook. Just Zane Caldwell—billionaire, boardroom shark, and her husband on paper—in grey sweatpants and a black t-shirt, barefoot, stirring somethi

• The Billionaire’s Paper Wife   Chapter Sixteen – The Cost of Love

  The knock on the door was sharp. Too sharp.Lena paused halfway through wiping off her lipstick. Zane hadn’t messaged. She wasn’t expecting anyone. Her heart thudded once, hard.She opened the door.And there he was.Noah.Her little brother—though he wasn’t so little anymore. Taller now, broader in the shoulders, but still with the same stubborn jaw and steady eyes.His expression wasn’t soft.“Hey,” he said, hands buried in the pockets of his hoodie. “Nice place.”Lena blinked. “What—what are you doing here?”“I was in the city. Took a cab. Thought I’d stop by and congratulate my sister.”He pushed past her gently, stepping into the penthouse as if it offended him.Lena’s stomach dropped. “Noah…”He turned slowly.“Is it true?” he asked, voice low. “Are you marrying a billionaire?”She swallowed. “It’s… complicated.”“I’ll simplify it for you,” he said, stepping closer. “Did you lie to me?”Lena’s throat went tight. “Noah—”“You told me you got a grant,” he snapped. “You said some g