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Chapter 39

ผู้เขียน: Tear stained lore
last update ปรับปรุงล่าสุด: 2026-01-29 02:38:57

I almost don’t go.

That’s the truth I don’t tell Ethan when I’m standing in front of the mirror, earrings half on, dress zipped but not settled on my body yet. I keep adjusting it like if I get it right enough, the night will behave.

The invitation has been sitting on the counter all day. Heavy paper. Embossed letters. The kind of event where people remember what you wore and forget what you said.

The Harrington Foundation Gala.

His family. Their world. Cameras that pretend not to look directly at you.

Ethan watches me from the doorway. Already dressed. Already composed. He looks like himself again, the version the world knows. It makes my chest tighten.

“We can leave early,” he says.

He’s been saying that a lot lately. As if everything is survivable as long as there’s an exit.

I nod. I don’t say what I’m thinking, which is that leaving early doesn’t undo being seen.

The car ride is quiet. Not tense exactly. Just full. His hand finds my thigh at a red light. Grounds me. Claim
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  • Second Choice: Wife by contract   Chapter 39

    I almost don’t go. That’s the truth I don’t tell Ethan when I’m standing in front of the mirror, earrings half on, dress zipped but not settled on my body yet. I keep adjusting it like if I get it right enough, the night will behave. The invitation has been sitting on the counter all day. Heavy paper. Embossed letters. The kind of event where people remember what you wore and forget what you said. The Harrington Foundation Gala. His family. Their world. Cameras that pretend not to look directly at you. Ethan watches me from the doorway. Already dressed. Already composed. He looks like himself again, the version the world knows. It makes my chest tighten. “We can leave early,” he says. He’s been saying that a lot lately. As if everything is survivable as long as there’s an exit. I nod. I don’t say what I’m thinking, which is that leaving early doesn’t undo being seen. The car ride is quiet. Not tense exactly. Just full. His hand finds my thigh at a red light. Grounds me. Claim

  • Second Choice: Wife by contract   Chapter 38

    It doesn’t come from her. That’s the worst part. I find out the way people always do now. Through a screen. Through someone else’s voice. Through a headline that pretends it isn’t about me. Mara sends the link first. No caption. Just the link. That’s how I know it’s bad. I’m standing in the kitchen, barefoot, half-awake, holding a mug I’ve already forgotten about. I open it without thinking. Celeste Laurent makes rare public appearance at the Harrington Foundation Gala. Opens up about love, loss, and learning to let go. Rare. Public. Harrington. My chest tightens before I even scroll. There’s a photo. She’s wearing white. Of course she is. Soft makeup. Hair pulled back in that effortless way that screams discipline and money and self-control. She looks untouched by time. By consequences. By Ethan. I scroll. “She was my family before she was my partner,” Celeste says in the interview. “Some bonds don’t disappear just because circumstances change.” Circumstances. I swal

  • Second Choice: Wife by contract   Chapter 37

    I notice the room change before I see her. It’s subtle. A shift. Like when air pressure drops and your ears don’t pop, but your body still knows something is coming. People straighten. Voices lower. Laughter thins out, like someone turned the volume knob just a little to the left. I’m holding a glass I’ve already forgotten to drink from. My fingers are cold. Or numb. Hard to tell. Ethan’s hand is at the small of my back. Familiar. Anchoring. And then it stills. That’s when I know. I look up. Celeste doesn’t announce herself. She doesn’t need to. She steps into the space like it was always hers and everyone else is just borrowing it for the evening. She looks exactly how I remember her. Which is annoying. Which feels unfair. Like time didn’t dare to touch her without permission. Elegant. Composed. Soft smile that doesn’t reach too far, like she’s careful not to give more than necessary. Her eyes find Ethan first. Of course they do. Something passes between them. It’s fast. O

  • Second Choice: Wife by contract   Chapter 36

    “I need to tell you something.” The words come out wrong. Too formal. Too late. I’m already sitting across from him, already here, already feeling like I crossed a line just by showing up. Luca looks up from his cup. Waits. He’s good at that. Waiting without pushing. “I’m married,” I say. There. Out in the open. Heavy and undeniable. He doesn’t blink. Doesn’t look shocked. That almost hurts more. “I know,” he says gently. Then, after a beat, “No offense, but the terms of your marriage are… very public.” I flinch. Not because he’s rude. Because he’s right. “I don’t mean to intrude,” he adds quickly, reading my face. “Or disrespect it.” I nod, my fingers tightening around my bag strap. “I just didn’t want you thinking—” “That I didn’t know?” he finishes. “Or that I expected something?” I look down. The table has a small crack running through it. I trace it with my eyes like it might save me. “I don’t expect anything from you,” Luca continues. His voice is steady, careful. Li

  • Second Choice: Wife by contract   Chapter 35

    The call comes when I’m alone. Of course it does. Ethan has stepped out to take a meeting, something brief, something “nothing serious.” He said it like a promise. Or maybe like a warning. I don’t know anymore. I watched him grab his jacket, watched the way his eyes lingered on me like he was checking if I’d still be there when he came back. I’m sitting on the edge of the bed, phone in my hand, scrolling without reading, when it rings. Unknown number. I almost don’t answer. Something in my chest already knows. “Hello?” “Hi, Solene. This is Nadia, from Crestview Properties.” My stomach drops so fast I have to put my other hand on the mattress to steady myself. “Yes,” I say. My voice sounds normal. I hate that it does. “I’m calling to let you know the apartment you viewed is ready. If you’re still interested, we’ll send over the final paperwork today.” Ready. The word echoes. Loud. Heavy. “Oh,” I say. Brilliant. Eloquence at its peak. “Okay.” There’s a pause on her end. P

  • Second Choice: Wife by contract   Chapter 34

    The question just hangs there. “How long have you liked him?” It feels heavier than it should. Like it already knows the answer and is waiting for me to catch up. “I don’t,” I say. Too fast. Defensive. My voice jumps before my thoughts do. That’s how I know it’s not clean. Not a lie. Just unfinished. Ethan’s mouth tightens. He nods once, slow, like he’s bracing himself. “You don’t have to protect me,” he says. “I can handle it.” That makes something hot rise in my chest. Because I’m not protecting him. I’m trying to protect myself from saying something I don’t fully understand yet. “I don’t like him,” I repeat, softer. “Not like that. It’s not romantic.” He doesn’t respond immediately. Just stares at the floor, jaw working. “He hasn’t even said anything,” I add quickly, like that helps. “He hasn’t crossed a line. Ever.” “That’s worse,” he says. I blink. “Why?” He exhales, sharp. Like he’s been holding it in all night. “Because he didn’t need to.” That lands in my chest

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