His Contract Wife: I Want Divorce, He Wants Me Back

Sophia ~The scotch trembled in my hands as I stood frozen outside Alexander's study."She knew what this marriage was from the beginning." My husband's voice drifted through the half-open door, cold and matter-of-fact. "It's an arrangement that benefits both families. I've given Sophia everything she could want, why should it matter if I don't love her the way she apparently loves me?"The crystal tumbler slipped from my fingers. I caught it just before it crashed, but the damage was already done. Two years of loving a man who saw me as nothing more than a convenient obligation."Elena, you're the only one who understands," Alexander continued, his voice softening in a way it never did for me. "I'll see you at the usual place tomorrow. Yes, of course. You too."I backed away slowly, my heart splintering with each step. The expensive scotch, his favorite, aged thirty years, the one I'd hunted through three specialty stores to find, suddenly felt like a mockery in my hands.How pathet

Sophia ~I waited exactly thirty minutes after Alexander left before I called Rebecca back."Ms. Wyndham?" Her voice was cautious. "I thought you needed to reschedule.""I do. But not because I've changed my mind." I moved to the window, checking the street below for Alexander's car. Paranoid? Maybe. But I'd learned to be careful. "I need to meet somewhere private. Somewhere he won't find out."A pause. "Is your husband monitoring you?""Not yet." I pressed my fingers to my temple. "But he will be. Alexander doesn't lose, Ms. Chen. And right now, he thinks I'm something he owns.""I see." I heard the clicking of a keyboard. "There's a café in Brooklyn. Completely off the grid for people in your social circle. Does two o'clock work?""Perfect."I hung up and stared at my reflection in the floor-to-ceiling window. The woman looking back at me wore a silk robe that cost more than most people's monthly rent. Diamond studs glittered in her ears, a gift from Alexander after our first annive

Sophia ~Three days passed in tense silence.Alexander worked late every night, though I suspected he was avoiding me as much as I was avoiding him. We moved around the penthouse like strangers, carefully orchestrating our schedules to minimize contact.But Saturday arrived too quickly, bringing with it the charity gala Alexander had demanded I attend."The dress is in your closet." Alexander's voice came from behind me as I stood in the bathroom, staring at my reflection. "Valentino. Your stylist will be here at four.""I don't need a stylist.""You need to look perfect." He appeared in the doorway, already dressed in his tuxedo. God, why did he have to look so devastatingly handsome? "The Blackwood Foundation Gala is the social event of the season. Everyone will be watching us.""Watching me, you mean. Watching to see if the Wyndham marriage is cracking." I turned to face him. "That's what this is really about, isn't it? Appearances."His expression remained neutral. "Appearances ma

Sophia ~ Alexander came home two days early. I was in the kitchen making coffee when I heard the elevator ding at six AM. My stomach dropped. He wasn't supposed to be back until Friday. "Sophia." I turned slowly, mug in hand. He stood in the doorway still wearing his business suit from Tokyo, his tie loosened, dark circles under his eyes. He looked like he hadn't slept in days. Good. "Alexander. I wasn't expecting you until—" "Where were you Monday night?" He cut me off, his voice dangerous and quiet. "I told you. I had dinner plans." "With who?" He moved closer, and I forced myself to hold my ground. "I called Jennifer. I called your parents. No one knew where you were." "Because I didn't tell them." I took a sip of coffee, proud that my hands didn't shake. "I'm allowed to have privacy, Alexander." "Not when you turn off your phone. Not when my security can't locate you. Not when you disappear for eight hours without explanation." His jaw clenched. "Do you have any idea wh

Sophia ~I stayed at the institute until seven PM, burying myself in work to avoid thinking about Alexander's parting words."You should go home." James appeared beside my workstation, concern etched on his face. "You've been staring at that canvas for twenty minutes without moving.""I can't go back there." The admission came out broken. "I can't face him. Not tonight.""Then don't." He pulled out his phone. "My sister has a spare room in Brooklyn. She's traveling for work. You can stay there as long as you need.""James, I can't impose—""You're not imposing. You're surviving." He squeezed my shoulder. "Let me help you, Sophia. Please."I nodded, too exhausted to argue.The apartment was small but warm, filled with plants and books and the kind of comfortable chaos that came from actually living in a space. So different from the sterile perfection of the penthouse."There's food in the fridge. Extra towels in the bathroom." James handed me a key. "And Sophia? Turn off your old phone