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Chapter Seven
Last Updated:
2025-04-28 13:56:19
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While Marrying Mr. Steele Chapter Eight
Ethan"You call that progress?" My voice came out sharper than I intended, echoing in the therapy room.Amelia froze mid-step, the resistance band in her hand trembling slightly. Her normally calm expression faltered, and I caught a flicker of something behind her eyes-doubt, or maybe fear.She slowly blew out her breath, setting the band neatly on the table while turning to face me. "Progress doesn't happen overnight, Ethan. You know that.""What I know," I snapped, clamping the armrests of my wheelchair, "is that you've been distracted all morning. If you're not focused, how the hell am I supposed to be?"Her lips parted as if to retort, but then she closed them, shaking her head. "This isn't about me.""Isn't it?" I challenged, wheeling closer. "You've been lost in your thoughts all session. If you're not up for this, just say it. I don't need half-hearted attempts to fix what can't be fixed.”Amelia's eyes flashed then, the mask cracking for a split second. "Don't you dare try put
Last Updated : 2025-04-28While Marrying Mr. Steele Chapter Nine
AmeliaThe ringtone pierced the stillness of the morning, pulling me from a restless sleep. I fumbled for my phone on the nightstand, blinking at the screen. The hospital's number flashed across it, sending a chill down my spine.My heart thudded as I swiped to answer. "Hello?""Mrs. Steele?" A voice on the other end asked, hesitant but polite.Yes, this is she," I said, sitting up. My fingers tightened around the phone. "Is everything okay?"The pause that followed felt like a knife poised over my chest."It's about your mother," the voice finally said. "We've been trying to reach you regarding her payments.""My mother's payments?" I repeated, my stomach sinking. "There must be a mistake. Everything's supposed to be taken care of."We understand, ma'am, but the last two installments haven't been processed. If this isn't resolved soon, we may have to reevaluate her stay here.""What?" My voice rose. "No, no, that can't happen. She needs that care! I'll sort it out today.""Thank you,
Last Updated : 2025-04-28While Marrying Mr. Steele Chapter Ten
Ethan“Really?” I arched an eyebrow, while I stared up at Amelia.Amelia sat opposite me, her notebook on her lap. Her calm eyes met mine, yet I knew she was hesitating, weighing up whether to say something or not, allowing the silence to do the talking."Is this how it's going to be?" I asked, my voice cutting through the stillness.She cocked her head; her brows furrowed slightly. "What do you mean?""You sitting there staring at me like I'm some sort of science experiment."Her lips pressed into a thin line. "I'm not staring, Ethan. I'm waiting.""Waiting for what?""For you to let me in," she said so softly, without judgment.I laughed, the bitter sound echoing in the room. "Let you in? That's rich. The last time I let someone in, it cost me everything."Amelia didn't bat an eyelash. She leaned forward, setting her elbows on her knees. "Maybe that's exactly why you need to try again. Because holding everything in isn't helping you."I rolled my chair closer to the window, staring
Last Updated : 2025-04-28While Marrying Mr. Steele Chapter Eleven
AmeliaThe hallway outside Ethan's office was quieter than usual. My shoes clattered on the marble floor as I made my way to the front entrance, eager to escape the heaviness of today's session. Ethan's news about Ryan still lingered in my mind—a heavy, oppressive grief that I couldn't shake.I moved towards the door handle when I was stopped by a voice."Leaving so soon?"I met Jared's eyes from across the room, where he leaned on the wall with arms crossed behind him, blue eyes fixed on mine. I smiled tightly. "Yup, long day. Ethan—""Yeah," he cut in, moving back from the wall. "I saw."I stiffened my shoulders. "You saw what?"His eyes softened, but it didn't ease tension in my stomach. "You and Ethan. I arrived at an inopportune moment, didn't I?"Heat rushed up my neck. "It was professional," I replied quickly. "Nothing more."Stepping forward, he stepped onto tiles in his shiny shoes. "You don't have to explain." His lips curled in an ugly smile. "I simply didn't expect to feel
Last Updated : 2025-04-28While Marrying Mr. Steele Chapter Twelve
(Ethan POV) The door slamming behind me echoed down the hallway as I wheeled my chair into my bedroom. Awave of rage washed through me, and I could feel my heart pounding in my ears. I should have just left it alone, I should have left that accursed photograph alone, and let her deal with whatever curiosity she had aroused.No, she had seen it. She had seen him. Ryan. One boundary I had been afraid all along that he would cross.My brother's smiling face haunted my mind every day, but the eyes of another—above all, Amelia's—made the weight of that guilt absolutely unbearable.She is confused.I reached my door, grasping the handle firmly in my hand and pushing it open with resolve. My chair's wheels stalled momentarily on the carpet before rolling free, pulling me deeper into the surrounding darkness.I closed my door behind me and leaned forward again, resting my elbows on my thighs. Shallow, rapid breaths spilled from my lips as I struggled to compose myself.Why was she so infuri
Last Updated : 2025-04-28While Marrying Mr. Steele Chapter 13
Amelia’s POV"You look like death warmed over."Ethan’s voice pulled me from the haze of pain as I pressed a heating pad against my stomach. I had barely opened my eyes when a sharp cramp twisted deep inside me, making me groan."I feel like death warmed over," I muttered, shifting under the blanket.I had planned on sleeping in, skipping my early morning session with Ethan. He'd think less of me if he knew, so I'd warned him in advance by texting him. I hadn't even hoped to have that response, let alone for him to drop by to visit. And here he stood, in my doorway, arms crossed, looking at me with an unreadable face.He came as a surprise to me. Ethan was far from being comforting."Already skipping on me?" he asked, raising an eyebrow."Not by choice," I ground out through teeth clamped in an icy line as another spasm surged through me. "Believe me, I'd rather be anywhere but here, all bundled up like an dead cockroach."His lips twitched, as though he was fighting a smirk. "Dramati
Last Updated : 2025-04-28While Marrying Mr. Steele Chapter 14
(Amelia’s POV)Some ghosts don't bind you with chains but haunt you in your mind and sometimes on a page with ink.I never thought I’d find anything interesting in Ethan’s study. The room was too pristine, too calculated—like everything in his life. But after days of being cooped up, I needed something to do, and if I spent one more second doom-scrolling on my phone, I’d lose my mind.The shelves were lined with weighty tomes, most that lay unopened. Some had gilded trim, but others smelled of leather and old books; still, nothing about them felt personal. No photos from boyhood, no worn notebooks—nothing that disclosed anything about Ethan Blackwood other than his carefully constructed facade. The room was quiet, except for the soft crunch of paper as I sorted through the books and papers stacked high on the mahogany desk. Light filtered through the thick curtains, sending warm golden angles across the lines of bookshelves. Ethan had hardly set foot in this room since I came, and i
Last Updated : 2025-04-28While Marrying Mr. Steele Chapter Fifteen
Ethan's pov"Your request has been approved by the board, Mr. Blackwood," she informed me when she came into my office. "The signed forms are on your desk."I didn't even look up from the computer. "Anything else?"She paused. "The office in Tokyo requested a final confirmation prior to proceeding. They need your authorization by tomorrow.""Carry on. I'll take care of that later." I was brusque and curt in attitude. I should have been relieved at last that finally the day was over, but only tension brewed in my gut. Rather, tension ran through my veins. I needed to get home. Not home, I reminded myself—home to her. Amelia.It was a jarring realization. I exhaled a deep sigh, rubbing my temples. When had I ever needed comfort from a human being? When had I wanted her around after a bad day? I needed to shake this, and fast."I'm going to leave now. Reschedule any further calls," I replied, rising from my chair.My assistant blinked but gave a consenting nod. "Yes, sir."I remember ste
Last Updated : 2025-04-30
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While Marrying Mr. Steele Chapter 25
Amelia's POV"You didn't have to blindfold me," I laughed, tugging at the silk around my eyes as Ethan wheeled himself and helped me out of the car."You would have peeked," he said with that boyish grin I had come to love. "Just a few more steps.""You mean rolls?" I teased.He chuckled. "You're terrible. Alright, you can look now.”He took away the blindfold, and I stood with my mouth wide open.The villa materialized like something out of a dream, set in between great cliffs and overlooking an undiscovered beach. There, regal palm trees swayed gracefully in the wind, as the sun warmed the marble of the courtyard. It was nothing short of stunning—peaceful, secluded.“You brought me here?”"I yearned for us to get away from everything and go where the rest of the world could not find us," he told her. "Even for an instant."I bent and softly pressed my lips to his. "You did well."A warm mist surrounded the pool that night, steam curling elegantly upwards through the amber luminescen
While Marrying Mr. Steele Chapter 24
Ethan's POVJared returned just as the sun set below my estate’s gate.He also seemed refreshed as well, too refreshed for someone who'd been sent over to seal off one of our largest foreign transactions. As soon as he stood in front of my office, I could sense the sting of betrayal seeping just below the surface.He wasn't pulling the wool over our eyes with his sly alibis and evasive maneuvers. No way."You have been away for days, Jared," I answered frostily, whirling around from my desk to glare at him. "And your name still comes up where it shouldn't."He raised an eyebrow, tugging on the sleeves of his designer jacket. "Ethan, I just arrived from a 14-hour flight. If this is regarding the Taiwan deal—"“It is about Ryan.”His eyes finally shifted. Flash of fear, of surprise, of guilt, then the mask returned over his features. "Still harping on about that? We have already spoken of everything."“Did we? Because somebody sent me an anonymous USB with footage of the fight between y
While Marrying Mr. Steele Chapter 23
Amelia's Pov I rose to the sweet, earthy scent of coffee wafting down the corridor, a warm embrace enfolding me. I let myself linger in bed for an instant, enjoying the stillness as the aroma crept onto my lips in the form of a soft smile.It was calming, comforting—one of life's small pleasures I used to take for granted in my old life, but now presented to me, it felt so indulgent.I fell out of bed and stumbled into the kitchen, still wiping the slumber from my eyes. The sun streamed through the windows, lighting the room in warm, glowing light, and there at the counter sat Ethan. His wheelchair was positioned in front of him with perfect precision, a tray on his lap, and a mischievous crinkle at the corner of his mouth.“Good morning,” he whispered, his voice soft and low. “I made breakfast.”I stared in disbelief. "You didn't."He gestured proudly at the tray. "Scrambled eggs, toast, and a bit of bacon that may be a bit overcooked. Don't examine it too closely, please; I had to
While Marrying Mr. Steele Chapter 22
(Amelia, First Person, Past Tense)The house felt heavier without him.His silence bore down on me like heavy mist that clung to my chest as I went by his empty room.I was awake. Not quite. I'd spent the day at the hospital after the surgery, but the physicians had released me to rest while he recovered. Rest—a harsh word.I sat in front of my vanity, brushing my hair with slow, rhythmic strokes, looking at my reflection but not seeing it. My thoughts wandered repeatedly to Ethan, who lay in that sterile hospital bed, as white as a ghost, lips parched, hand bound tightly where Veronica had cut him.He had rescued me. With his body. And before he lost consciousness, he told me that he loved me. That he didn't need a contract anymore. That he needed me.I should have agreed.I should've yelled it.But I had frozen. And now I had no idea what that silence cost.I sighed, pinning on the brush when some aspect induced hairs on my neck to bristle.A shadow. Movement. I turned to face the d
While Marrying Mr. Steele Chapter 21
(Ethan's Pov)Time stood still the instant Veronica charged."Amelia, return!" I cried, trying to propel the wheels on my chair to move more quickly.She was frozen stiff, unable to move, inches from the thin strip of metal that was hidden in Veronica's jacket. The knife glinted in fluorescent light, gliding through air with lethal precision. My heart seemed to be working overtime.Without hesitation, I pushed ahead. A stinging, burning agony ran down my back as I forced my legs to support more weight than their unaccustomed frames could bear. But I showed no weakness.Amelia let out an anguished cry. I caught her in time, shoving her back. At that moment, searing agony pierced my wrist. Hot blood gushed out in an instant. My breath stuck in my constricted throat.Rather, the blade had found me.“Ethan!” Amelia fell to her knees next to him, seizing his wrist in alarm. “You’re bleeding—God, you’re bleeding!”I gritted my teeth, doing my best to keep my pain from blinding my eyes. “I’m
While Marrying Mr. Steele Chapter 20
– Amelia's Pov I hadn't told Ethan about the kiss.Not because I was confused, not because I was covering for Jared. I wasn't. Jared's behavior was inappropriate and uncalled for. But I didn't want to sabotage what Ethan and I had started to develop, not when he was finally being open with me. Not when he was working so hard.I avoided Jared. I avoided him in messages. I avoided letting our paths cross. I went so far as to switch where I ate lunch, just to be safe. But still, I couldn’t shake this nagging sensation that he was still there. Watching.I tried to brush it aside as I strode down the hallway of the hospital. The walls were too white, the lighting too harsh. My clothes carried with them a faint whiff of the disinfectant. My feet felt leaden as I went towards my mother's door, and I inhaled before entering.She slept, her face tilted to one side, an oxygen tube resting across her cheek. Her face was more gaunt than I remembered. Fragile. I sat next to her, watching her ches
While Marrying Mr. Steele Chapter 19
Ethan's POV"Are you sure about this?" Amelia asked softly, clenching the folder in her fingers as if it could possibly burn them."Because you told me Veronica was being quiet, I've been observing it more," I whispered. "She's quieter than that woman is when she's cooking breakfast."She threw a furtive look around the office hallway before softly pushing the door. We both entered the boardroom.I moved my chair to the front of the table. "Close the door and lock it," I said.She did.With a determined motion, she pushed the folder in my direction. “I found these in finance's archive files—three levels down from the main server backups.”I opened it.A silence fell over the room as I read page after page of forged documents. Money transfers. Shell companies. Deals with suppliers who were nothing more than imaginary."She's been withdrawing small amounts from the money," Amelia whispered. "Just enough not to arouse suspicion.""Who approved these approvals?"It might not suit your ta
While Marrying Mr. Steele Chapter 18
Amelia's PovI stood in her hospital room, cradling this sheaf of white lilies in my hands too tightly. I was hit by the acrid smell typical in hospitals first, followed by the gentle humming of machines, before I spotted her—my mother—lying still between too many pillows. Her face was whiter than usual. Her hair that she so lovingly styled was flat on her face and disheveled. A nurse nodded courteously at me before she quietly disappeared, leaving us alone."Hello, Mum," I whispered, trying to keep my tone even as I set down the flowers on the window.She lay still. Her eyes were closed, but even though machines told me she was still alive, it still unsettled me that she appeared so vulnerable. As if she could disappear in an instant if I blinked.I sat next to her bed, holding her hand in mine and curling my fingers over her own. She didn't squeeze back. She never did now."I've been all right," I answered quietly, gazing at her face. "I'm doing my best. The job's been tough. Ethan
While Marrying Mr. Steele Chapter 17
Ethan's Pov"You're ignoring me."“I'm not.”"You're. You've not even glanced at me all morning.""I'm simply exhausted, Ethan."“No. You're angry.”“I’m not—”“Talk to me, Amelia.”She stood by the hall window, arms across her chest, attempting to look outside at the garden. I wheeled in towards her, making sure to narrow the distance between us to make her look at me."Was this troubling last night?" I asked, trailing a finger up her legs. “Did you hate it when I touched you?”"No," she answered too rapidly.“Do You regret it.”“I never mentioned that.”"Yes, you do.""Don't!" she snapped, drawing in sharply to face me. "Ethan. Can you not automatically assume for one second?""Now assist me here. I don't read minds, damn it!"She glared at me for an instant, her jaw clenched. "Somebody threatened my mother."I stiffened. "What”“I was awakened by an incoming message. In the dead of night.”"Why didn't you wake me?"“I had not wanted to distract you.”"You're living in my home."“An
