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CHAPTER 52: GOLF COURSE
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2025-04-24 07:32:22
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THE CONTRACT THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING ย ย ย CHAPTER 1: CONTRACT
AVA POVโAre you nervous?โMr. Danielโs voice jolted me from my thoughts as the car cruised down the city street.โNo,โ I lied, gripping the edge of my seat so tightly my knuckles turned white.He chuckled, glancing at me. โYouโre a terrible liar, Ava. Relax. This is just a business meeting.โโA business meeting that requires me to pretend to be someoneโs fiancรฉe,โ I shot back, my voice edged with disbelief. โFeels like a little more than just business.โโOkay, fair point,โ he said with a grin. โBut come on, think about it. The money youโre getting for this is life-changing. No more scrubbing coffee machines for minimum wage, no more sleepless nights worrying about Annabel. This is your ticket to a better life for both of you.โI sighed, biting my lip at the mention of my daughter. He wasnโt wrong. Thatโs the only reason I agreed to this insane planโto give her the life she deserved. One week ago, Iโd sent her to stay with my mother, telling her it was temporary. Telling myself it was
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2025-03-12THE CONTRACT THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING ย ย ย CHAPTER 2: SIGNING THE CONTRACT
AVA POV I stood at the entrance of Raymondโs office building, fingers wrapped around the cool metal of the door handle. I paced back and forth, trying to decide whether to go in. I thought of Mr. Danielโs words and that's the only word that confused me back here.."Either way, whatever he did to you, why can't you consider this deal as payback? Deal with him, if you can."Those words stuck with me, reminding me why I was here. This wasnโt about me anymore; it was for my daughterโs future. Taking a deep breath, I pushed the door open and stepped inside.When the elevator doors opened, I walked out with purpose. I wasnโt here to dwell on the past. I had a goal, and nothing was going to stop me from reaching it. I moved swiftly through the hall, avoiding eye contact with anyone, my mind set on the task ahead.I reached his office and paused at the door. I didnโt look back. I walked in, forcing myself to remain composed.Raymond was standing by his desk. He glanced up when I entered, his
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2025-03-12THE CONTRACT THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING ย ย ย CHAPTER 3: PLAN RUIN
Raymond POVI bounced onto my bed, letting out a frustrated sigh. Ava's face wouldnโt leave my mindโthe way she walked off earlier, her back straight, but her eyes I can't even describe that look, I couldnโt stop thinking about it.โIdiot!โ I slapped my cheeks hard, trying to snap myself out of it. What was I even doing? Bringing my shameless ex here? For what? To make Ava jealous?I groaned, sitting up and running a hand through my hair. โThat was so stupid,โ I muttered to myself. I hit my forehead with my palm.I used to be better than this. I told myself Iโd given up on love a long time ago. Every woman I met only cared about my money. None of them ever cared about me. I stopped believing in love after that.But then, Daniel brought Ava into my office. The moment I saw her, it was like something inside me woke up. Just seeing her face made me feel things I hadnโt felt in years.Ava was my first love. Sheโs the only woman who ever made me believe love was real. The only one who ever
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2025-03-12THE CONTRACT THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING ย ย ย CHAPTER 4: WHO IS BELLA FATHER
**Raymondโs POV**The drive back to Avaโs apartment was suffocatingly silent. The only sound came from the low hum of the music playing through the car speakers. She sat stiffly in the passenger seat, her hands clenched together on her lap. I could tell she was blaming herself for almost ruining the plan, but somehow, sheโd managed to turn the moment around. No one suspected anything, not even my grandmother, who could see through most facades.When we finally pulled up outside her building, the tension was still thick. Ava unbuckled her seatbelt, and we both exchanged polite nods, bowing slightly to acknowledge the end of the night. Just as I turned to leave, her soft voice stopped me.โRaymond...โI turned back, my hand still on the car door. She hesitated for a second, her head bowed slightly as she said in a low, almost broken voice, โIโm sorry for almost ruining the plan tonight.โI froze, my eyes lingering on her face. There was something so vulnerable, so... innocent about her
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2025-03-12THE CONTRACT THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING ย ย ย CHAPTER 5: MARRY HER
AVA POVโWho is Bellaโs father?โ Raymondโs question caught me off guard.I forced a small smile, trying to stay calm. โHeโs dead,โ I said quietly. โNot in the way you think. Heโs alive, but to meโฆ heโs as good as dead.โRaymond looked at me, waiting for more. I hesitated before adding, โHeโs my first enemy, and heโll always be my enemy. Heโs the reason I never got to feel my parentsโ love. The only time I saw them again was when they were dead.โBefore Raymond could respond, Bellaโs scream cut through the room. We ran inside to find her tossing and turning, caught in a nightmare.I hurried to her side, stroking her hair gently. โMummyโs here, baby. Relax. Itโs okay, Iโm here.โHer little body slowly calmed under my touch, and she drifted back to sleep.I sat beside her for a moment, my thoughts lingering on everything Iโd just said.*****TWO MONTHS AFTERโMom, why am I changing my school all of a sudden?โ Bella asked, her small voice breaking the silence in the car.I glanced at her
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2025-03-25THE CONTRACT THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING ย ย ย CHAPTER 6: I WILL NEVER MARRY YOU
Ava's POVNo, Ava! I screamed internally. I sat down, covering my face with both hands. My chest rose and fell quickly; my legs bounced restlessly against the floor. I was angry, upset, frustrated โ so many feelings I couldn't even name. It felt like everything was closing in on me, and I couldn't breathe.I heard Raymond try to say something, but I didn't let him finish. I raised my hand, silencing him without looking his way. I couldn't deal with him right now, not with everything racing through my mind."Marriage?" I muttered, incredulous.Without a word, I grabbed my bag and stormed out of the apartment. I didn't wait for him to explain, apologize, or make excuses. I didn't care; I just wanted to get away.I reached my car, slid into the driver's seat, and drove straight to the apartment Raymond had set up for me when this fake engagement nonsense started. My hands gripped the steering wheel tightly, but I didn't stop; I just kept going.As soon as I got inside, I didn't waste a s
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2025-03-25THE CONTRACT THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING ย ย ย CHAPTER 7: LIONS DEN
RAYMOND POVI picked up Bella from her boarding school, pulling a few strings to get her out for the weekend. Ava had given her permission, and I wanted this time alone with Bella. She was nearing ten, but her smartness is something else, and it was time she knew about my relationship with her mom, even though I canโt tell her itโs fake and just for 6 months. Ava insisted on telling her about the marriage herself, but definitely not the Fake part.We spent the day hopping from restaurants to parks. She laughed easily at things, her laughter to every one of my jokes is contagious. As we sat on a bench, watching the ducks glide across the pond, I took a deep breath.โOkay Bella girl, what would you think if someone wanted to marry your mom?โ I asked, trying to sound casual.She looked up, eyes wide. โI would love that!โ she exclaimed. โAs long as heโs not a bad guy. Maybe then Mom wouldnโt look so sad when I ask about my dad. And I could tell my friends I have a daddy now.โHer words hi
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2025-03-25THE CONTRACT THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING ย ย ย CHAPTER 8: ANYONE CAN HAVE HER 6 MONTH AFTERโฆโฆ.
My heart skipped a beat as soon as our eyes met. I hadnโt expected this. Raymond, not aware of the tension, smiled and casually introduced us. โAva, this is my cousin, Dr. Samuel. Heโs a pediatrician.โI forced a smile, but it felt like a mask. โNice to meet you,โ I said, trying to keep my voice steady, though my pulse was racing.Dr. Samuelโs handshake was firm, and he looked at me for a longer than moment, that looks unnecessary. it made my stomach twist. Had he remembered? Did he know? Ofcourse, he will remember the drama I displayed at the hospital that day, no one might ever break that recordโฆ..โAva, Iโve heard a lot about you,โ he finally said something , his voice warm, but there was an undertone to it that I couldnโt quite place.I glanced at Mrs. William, who was watching the exchange closely. Her eyes darted between me and Dr. Samuel, and I couldnโt shake the feeling she could sense something was off. Grandma beamed with pride, happily watching her family reunite, the twi
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2025-03-25
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THE CONTRACT THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING ย ย ย CHAPTER 52: GOLF COURSE
AVA POVRaymond had just left for work. Daniel came to pick him up in that clean-ass Rolls Royce. I watched them from the window, Raymond adjusting his suit jacket like always, straight face, not even looking back. Of course, he didnโt. Why would he?The second the car drove off, I turned and walked straight to the bedroom.I locked the door behind me.Went straight to my bags, pulled it open, and brought out the recorder.My hands shook as I slipped the recorder into the playing. I sat down on the floor, cross-legged, like a kid again. Pressed play.And there it was.My fatherโs voice.That thick, deep voice that used to make me sit up straight even when I was about to sleep. I couldnโt even focus on the words, those last words he left for meโmy mind just grabbed the sound. The tone. The way he used to sound when heโd call my name in the middle of the night just to double-check the front door was locked.I looked at the old picture I picked along with the recorder. My eyes stuck to h
THE CONTRACT THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING ย ย ย CHAPTER 50: HIS PHONE
AVAโS POVI wasnโt really having a sound sleep.My eyes were closed, but my mind wasnโt at rest. I kept tossing, turning, opening my eyes every few minutes. The room was quiet, but not the kind of quiet that brings peace. Just the heavy, awkward kind.Then I heard something.A weird sound.At first, I thought it was coming from outside. But then I turned a little and realized it was Raymond.I sat up straight.He was right beside me, but he wasnโt sleeping peacefully. His head kept moving from left to right, his eyebrows were drawn tight, and his lips were mumbling something I couldnโt make out. His whole body looked tenseโlike he was fighting something in his sleep.A nightmare.I didnโt need anyone to tell me. It was written all over his face.โRaymond?โ I said softly, leaning closer.No answer. He just kept moving, sweating, like he was trapped in some dark place and couldnโt find a way out.I didnโt even think. I reached out and touched his arm gently, hoping heโd calm down.โRaym
THE CONTRACT THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING ย ย ย CHAPTER 49: MY WIFEโฆNO
AVA POVWe were back in the city, heading straight to the family mansion.I was at the backseat, looking at my phone. I stared at Bellaโs picture for a long while. My heart tightened. That small smile on her face. I quickly locked the phone and tossed it back into my bag.No distractions. Thatโs the promise I made to myself.Even back at the hospital when I was treating Raymond, that thought wouldnโt stop comingโIโm the reason this boy ended up like this. If not for me, he wouldnโt have had that stupid accident. He wouldnโt have been unconscious for days.I tried to fight it. Told myself itโs not the time. Promised myself I wonโt let any emotion ride me againโnot guilt, not love, not even pity.Right now, my focus is on one thingโbringing Mr. Williams and that sweet madam of his down. They will pay for everything they did to me.That is the only emotion I allow in. No love. No pain. No regrets. Just revenge.Finally, we got to the mansion.Raymond stepped out of the car first. His fac
THE CONTRACT THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING ย ย ย Chapter 48: GOING WITH RAYMOND
Avaโs POVโDo you really have to do it?โ Sandra asked, her brows pulled together in a worried frown as she leaned against the counter, arms crossed.I had just finished explaining the planโhow I was going back to the city with Raymond, but Bella would have to stay back here in England. I could already feel the weight of Sandraโs silence even before she spoke again.โDo you really think this is going to work?โ she added, her voice soft but firm. โYou should consider the fact that Bella might be angry with you again. You just got her trust back, Ava.โI lowered my eyes for a second, staring at my own fingers as they fidgeted in my lap. I had already thought about that, probably more than Sandra could imagine. But I couldnโt let guilt stop me. Not now.What ifโฆ What if one day, Bella looked at me and asked why I didnโt try harder to fix things? What if, by trying to keep her close, I actually ended up hurting her more in the long run? I didnโt want her growing up like meโbroken, scared,
THE CONTRACT THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING ย ย ย CHAPTER 47: ME AND BELLA
AT ENGLANDWeโre finally in England.The moment Bella opened her eyes this morning, she asked, โAre we going to see Daddy today?โI just nodded. I didnโt have the heart to tell her how unsure I felt about it.I didnโt want her to see him like thatโhooked up to machines, bandaged, paleโฆ not the strong, playful father she remembered.But Iโd promised.And I couldnโt break her heart again.So I helped her brush her hair, buttoned her jacket, and forced a smile even though my chest felt tight.Daniel met us outside the hospital. His face said everything before he even spoke.He looked like he hadnโt slept in days.We walked in silence through the white, quiet hallway. The smell of antiseptic was strong. I hated itโฆBellaโs small hand gripped mine tightly, and for a second, I wished she would stay that age forever. Unaware of how cruel life could be.When we reached the room, Daniel opened the door gently.Raymond was sitting up on the hospital bed.He lookedโฆ different.A white bandage wa
THE CONTRACT THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING ย ย ย CHAPTER 46: I CANโT BELIEVE
AT NEW YORK CITYโAvaโs POVโSo, thatโs it?โMiss Lilian and another teacher stood in front of me, a female police officer beside them. They had just explained how my daughter went missing.โWeโre doing our best already,โ the officer added.I looked at Miss Lilian. She was panting, probably scared. I placed a hand on her shoulder, then turned around. I could feel their eyes on me. Maybe they expected me to grab the teacherโs collar, scream at her to bring back my child. But no. Thatโs not it.Their explanation was clear. I already knew who to fight.Bella was left alone in her hotel room. The hotelโs CCTV showed her getting into a cab. The police found the driver. He dropped her off at The Diamonds Company.So, the answer to my missing child pointed to just one place.For now, I donโt really want to know why Bella goes thereโฆ*************โMr. John William!โ I shouted Raymond Father's full name as I stormed through the hallway.I turned into the living room. Then the dining area.One
THE CONTRACT THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING ย ย ย CHAPTER 45: IโM SORRY
Raymondโs POVThe moment I saw her, my breath caught in my throat.Three days. I had been in England for three days, watching her from a distance. Watching her leave the building in the morning and return at night. But now, standing this close, seeing her with my own eyes instead of through a screen or a windowโsomething inside me cracked.Sheโs lost weight. She looks so lean.That was the first thought that ran through my mind as I stood there, staring at her. Her colour. Her makeup was smudged, her hair messy, as if she hadnโt even cared to fix it before stepping out..The elevator doors started to closing. She hesitated for just a second before turning to walk awayMy body moved before my mind could catch up. I shoved my hand between the closing doors, forcing them back open, and grabbed my phone from the floor. By the time I stepped out, she was already moving fast toward the stairs.I wasnโt about to let her go....I reached out and grabbed her wrist.She stopped.But she didnโt
THE CONTRACT THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING ย ย ย CHAPTER 44: MY DAUGHTER..WHAT??
The taxi driver had just put a cigarette in his mouth when he noticed Bella watching him through the rearview mirror. With a sigh, he hesitated, then pulled it back, shoving it into his pocket instead.Bella barely noticed. She leaned her head against the window, her thoughts far heavier than the smell of smoke, even though she hated it. This night was supposed to be different. She had imagined knocking on the door, seeing her fatherโs face, feeling the warmth of him again. But instead, she had stood outside for nearly an hour, knocking until her hands ached. No one answered. Not even the maid.The only stroke of luck she had was that the taxi driver who had dropped her off earlier was still thereโhis car had broken down.That gave her time to think.Her fatherโs company.It was her last chance.When she told the driver where she wanted to go, he immediately recognized the name. Maybe everyone in the city did. But before agreeing, he demanded double the fare, but theyโre finally on th
THE CONTRACT THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING ย ย ย CHAPTER 43: FIND HER
Avaโs eyes opened slowly. Her head felt a bit heavy, and just as she looked around, She immediately blinked more than twice, trying to understand. This wasnโt her room.She sat up quickly, looking around in confusion. Then she looked down at herselfโstill in the same clothes from last night. Her heart started racing.She jumped out of the bed and ran out of the bedroom.That was when she saw him.Her next-door neighbor.Sitting at the dining table - shirtless, eating like nothing was wrong.โYouโre awake,โ he said without even looking at her.Avaโs breathing was unsteady. โWhy am I here?โ she asked, but she got no response. Then again, โWhy am I here? Why am I here?โ she raised her voice littleHe finally turned to her and let out a deep sigh.โYour daughter didnโt open the door, and I should have just let you sleep outsideโฆ..butโ he said. โMaybeโฆ you should try to remember the drama you put on last night.โHe raised his hand slightly like he was about to say something even more worse
