Lahat ng Kabanata ng A Wife For Him (Hearts Under Contract): Kabanata 1 - Kabanata 10

The door creaked open, its sound oddly loud in the otherwise muffled stillness. Irene stepped into the room, her pulse thundering in her ears as her eyes landed on the bed. The sight before her was like a slap, freezing her in place.Dave was sprawled in the middle of the bed, his arm draped lazily over Diane—her best friend. Next to them lay Tom, Dave’s so-called best friend, the sheets tangled around their naked forms. The smell of sweat and musk hung in the air, unmistakable and revolting.Irene’s throat tightened, her voice catching before she managed a strained, “What is going on here?”Three pairs of eyes turned toward her, not with guilt, not with shock, but with a kind of casual indifference that twisted the knife even deeper. Diane smirked lazily, her lips curling as she propped herself up on an elbow.“Oh, you’re home early,” Diane said, her voice light, almost amused.“Are you serious?” Irene’s voice cracked, trembling with the weight of her disbelief. “Diane… Dave… Tom

Inside the dimly lit car, the tension was palpable. Irene leaned closer, her breath warm and heavy with the scent of liquor. Before Daniel could react, her lips were on his—soft, desperate, and intrusive.Daniel froze for a heartbeat, stunned by her audacity. Then, like a spring snapping back, his annoyance surged. "What the hell are you doing?" he growled, shoving her away with more force than he intended.Irene's head collided sharply with the car window, the thud echoing in the confined space. Her body slumped to the side, motionless, her hair spilling over her face."Shit," Daniel muttered, his heart skipping a beat. He leaned forward, panic flickering in his eyes as he shook her shoulder. “Hey, lady—wake up! Miss, can you hear me?”Irene didn’t respond. She remained limp, her head lolling slightly to the side. For a moment, Daniel’s mind raced with the worst possibilities. He glanced at the divider.“Ken!” he barked, his voice sharp and unsteady.The driver’s calm reply came thro

The sun had barely risen, painting the streets in soft, golden hues as Irene walked hand-in-hand with her twin sons, Ethan and Elias, toward their school. The gentle breeze carried with it a sense of promise, but Irene's mind was clouded with the weight of unfinished tasks and looming deadlines.“Mom,” Ethan began hesitantly, breaking the silence. His tone was thoughtful, as though he’d been rehearsing the question in his head. “Why do you always look so tired?”Irene blinked, caught off guard. She glanced down at him, his small face full of concern far beyond his years.“Because grown-ups have a lot to think about,” she replied softly, trying to keep her tone light. “But don’t worry about me. You’re my biggest reason to keep going.”Ethan frowned, his tiny brows knitting together. “But I don’t want you to be tired because of me.”“You’re not the reason I’m tired, sweetheart. You’re the reason I smile every day,” Irene said, crouching to his level. She cupped his cheek gently, her h

Irene let out a long, weary sigh, the sound barely audible over the steady thud of her aching footsteps against the stairs. Her legs trembled beneath her, the strain of repeated trips up and down the floors sapping what little energy she had left. Her arms burned from the weight of the thick files she clutched to her chest, and every muscle in her body screamed in protest. She had lost track of how many times she had climbed these stairs today. Three? Four? Maybe even more. It didn’t matter anymore. The only thing that mattered was the fact that she had no choice but to keep going. Her first day at work, and she was already being punished. The thought made her chest tighten with frustration, but she swallowed it down, forcing herself to focus on placing one foot in front of the other. She had been in a hurry earlier, just trying to do her job, and in her desperation, she had unknowingly stepped into the CEO’s private elevator. A simple mistake. One that should have warranted

Irene was still replaying the humiliating moment on the plane in her mind when the car rolled to a smooth stop in front of an opulent five-star resort. The towering building loomed before them, bathed in golden lights, its grand entrance adorned with luxury cars and uniformed doormen assisting well-dressed guests. She barely had time to adjust to the sight before Mr. Blackwood stepped out, straightening his cuffs as if this were just another mundane stop on his schedule. Irene hesitated. She didn’t belong in places like this. The marble floors, the crystal chandeliers visible from the entrance, the air of exclusivity—it all screamed money. And not the casual kind. The kind that whispered in private jets and dined on meals worth more than her monthly rent. Swallowing hard, she gathered her courage and stepped out of the car. The moment she did, she felt entirely out of place. Even in the sleek black dress, which now felt like a poor attempt at blending in, she stuck out. She was st