THE TERMS OF OUR MARRIAGE
Elena Rossi’s life ended the day a plane went down in Milan.
One phone call stole her parents, her inheritance, and the future they built for her. What remained was a paralyzed younger brother, mounting hospital bills, and relatives who promised protection but left her with nothing. Survival becomes her only dream. Pride becomes optional. And when desperation pushes her onto a stage behind a mask, she tells herself it’s temporary.
Adrian Vale does not believe in love. As the billionaire CEO of a global fashion empire, he believes in control, strategy, and clean exits. But when his grandfather’s failing kidneys turn time into a countdown, Adrian is forced into a choice he never wanted — marry his manipulative ex or lose the only family he has left.
So he makes a deal instead.A contract marriage with the last woman anyone would expect.Two years. No feelings. No intimacy. No strings attached. He is a man who no longer believes in love and she is a girl in desperate search for mean.
What begins as an arrangement of convenience slowly becomes something far more dangerous. Between hospital corridors, shared grief, and sacrifices no one asked for, lines blur. And when their fake marriage is exposed to the world, pride tears them apart — leaving behind secrets that could bind them forever.
Because some contracts expire,but love doesn’t follow terms.
What happens when a deal meant to be temporary changes the course of your life?
Can true love actually blossom from a contract marriage?
Would their love story survive the test of pride?
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Chapter: CHAPTER 35 : COURT WEDDINGThe morning sun spilled through the hospital windows in thin golden slivers, reflecting off the sterile white walls and the faint shimmer of Elena’s watch. She hovered at the threshold of Luca’s room, her steps light but deliberate, a subtle attempt to hide the guilt twisting in her chest. Her brother’s eyes, tired yet ever observant, lifted as she entered.“Elena,” Luca whispered, his voice hoarse from the IV and constant medications, but with a small smile that tugged at her heart. “You’re finally here.”She swallowed hard, forcing a smile that she hoped appeared convincing. “I’m here, Luca,” she said softly, brushing the fine strands of hair from his forehead. “I… I’ve been so caught up at the fashion house. My work as a personal assistant, these duties...they… they’ve been so overwhelming. I couldn’t even step out to check on you properly,” she lied like a pro.He squinted, his brow furrowing slightly. “Fashion house? Since when?”Her chest tightened. “Since….a few days now,” she
Dernière mise à jour: 2026-05-20
Chapter: CHAPTER 34 : CHILDREN TALKThe dining room of the Vale mansion glowed warmly under the soft light of the crystal chandelier. The polished mahogany table reflected the golden glimmers above, and the delicate china, cutlery, and crystal glasses were arranged with impeccable precision. The maids moved quietly around the room, placing finishing touches on the table, smoothing napkins, and arranging a centerpiece of white lilies that exuded both elegance and subtlety. The air smelled faintly of roasted meats and rich sauces, a homely aroma despite the grandeur.Elena adjusted the folds of her blush-toned dress as she followed Adrian to their seats. Each step was deliberate; each motion was measured. She reminded herself that tonight was not about her, nor about her discomfort but it was about performance. She was to pretend for survival. And keeping Adrian from suspecting the chaos inside her.Adrian’s hand rested lightly on her back as they approached the table. Not controlling, but guiding, st
Dernière mise à jour: 2026-05-19
Chapter: CHAPTER 33 : MEETING GRANDPA The Vale mansion loomed ahead, its lights cutting through the twilight like a lighthouse in the dark. The streets had become quieter as the limousine wound its way up the private drive, and the sprawling estate revealed itself piece by piece. The manicured gardens, the softly glowing fountain, the sweeping marble steps that led to the grand entrance. Elena’s pulse raced, though she fought to keep her composure. Her breaths were still uneven from the earlier confrontation, but she forced herself to stand tall, straighten her shoulders, and let the façade of the perfect fiancée settle over her like a second skin.“Ready?” Adrian’s voice was calm, but the faint edge of tension in it betrayed his own unease. He handed her a small clutch, his fingers brushing against hers briefly. It was subtle, but enough to make her heart skip.Elena nodded, a controlled smile on her lips. “As ready as I’ll ever be.” She adjusted her delicate, blush-toned dress that clung to all the r
Dernière mise à jour: 2026-05-18
Chapter: CHAPTER 32 :WORLDS APART The limousine moved smoothly, still heading to Adrian's mansion to see his grandfather. Elena sat rigidly on the leather seat, her hands clasped tightly in her lap, her knuckles white as the tension coursed through her body. She had stared out of the tinted windows for the last ten minutes, but the city lights blurred into meaningless streaks, because her mind was spinning faster than the streets outside.Adrian watched her carefully, noting the way her shoulders were taut, the subtle tremor in her hands. He had sensed the shift the moment she had received the backstory email, but now, sitting across from her, he realized it was far more than just nerves or hesitation. Her eyes flicked toward him, sharp, almost panicked, and he knew she was fighting an internal war he could not yet penetrate.“Elena…” His voice was low, calm, measured but behind it lingered an edge, a subtle plea he couldn’t quite hide. “Talk to me. What’s wrong?”She shook her head rapid
Dernière mise à jour: 2026-05-17
Chapter: CHAPTER 31 : CAR REVELATIONThe limousine glided through the quiet city streets, its tires whispering against the asphalt as the soft hum of the engine filled the cabin. The interior smelled faintly of leather and polished wood, with a subtle scent of roses that Adrian had carefully placed for Elena. Outside, the city lights flickered past in a soft blur, but inside, the tension and anticipation were far more vivid than anything the skyline could offer.Adrian sat opposite Elena, his posture precise, controlled, as if every inch of him was calibrated for observation. But behind the composed exterior, a peculiar warmth and curiosity stirred an uncharacteristic eagerness that he found difficult to suppress. Elena, for her part, sat upright, hands neatly folded in her lap, her expression calm yet alert, every so often glancing out the tinted window. She had grown accustomed to his calculated presence, but tonight, the atmosphere was subtly different—charged with a sense of possibility that neither dared voice outri
Dernière mise à jour: 2026-05-16
Chapter: CHAPTER 30 : TENSION AND ATTRACTIONThe limousine’s engine hummed softly as Adrian sat in the backseat, hands folded neatly on his lap, fingers tapping a measured rhythm against the leather upholstery. The city streets blurred past the tinted windows, but his focus was singular, unwavering. He wasn’t just waiting; he was anticipating. For once, it wasn’t a board meeting, a high-stakes negotiation, or a precarious financial deal. It was Elena.He had instructed the driver to wait outside the spa, giving her ample time for the treatments, the makeup, the wardrobe adjustments. The thought of her transformation had him unusually restless. Normally, Adrian Vale maintained a controlled detachment, a careful emotional reserve that had been drilled into him since his parents’ accident. But today… today felt different. There was a thread of curiosity woven through his meticulous planning, a subtle awareness that the person stepping out of the spa could change everything about their arrangement, if only for a moment.Inside the s
Dernière mise à jour: 2026-05-15
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