Kabanata 70

“Zia Falls Ill” Si Zia, nakaupo sa couch. May kumot sa balikat. May hawak na baso ng tubig. Pero hindi siya ganoon kasigla gaya ng usual. ⸻ Christian noticed it first. Of course he did. ⸻ “Hindi ka pa ba natutulog?” tanong niya habang lumalapit. ⸻ Zia shook her head slightly. “Hindi pa.” Pause. “Medyo… pagod lang.” ⸻ Christian frowned a little. “Since when?” ⸻ Zia shrugged. “Kanina pa.” ⸻ Simple lang. Too simple. ⸻ Christian sat beside her. Not too close. But enough to observe her properly. ⸻ “You look warm,” he said quietly. ⸻ Zia blinked. “…Warm?” ⸻ Christian reached slightly. Placed the back of his hand on her forehead. ⸻ And stopped. ⸻ Slightly too hot. ⸻ Zia noticed his expression change. “Ano?” she asked. ⸻ Christian didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he checked again. More carefully this time. ⸻ “You’re running a slight fever,” he said calmly. ⸻ Zia frowned. “Hindi naman siguro.” ⸻ Christian shook his head. “Yes.” Pause.

Kabanata 71

“The World Notices They’re Real”Hindi mo palaging napapansin kung kailan nagbabago ang tingin ng mundo.Minsan, hindi siya malakas.Hindi siya headline.Hindi siya biglang balita.⸻Minsan, simpleng tingin lang.Isang larawan.Isang video clip na hindi naman dapat mahalaga.⸻Pero doon nagsisimula ang lahat.Magkasabay silang lumabas ng penthouse.Walang entourage.Walang exaggerated security presence.Walang staged na image.⸻Si Zia, casual dress lang.Si Christian, simple suit jacket over plain shirt.⸻Walang “CEO aura performance.”Walang “perfect couple posing.”⸻Just… them.⸻Pagpasok nila sa elevator, Zia checked her phone.“May meeting ka ulit?” she asked softly.⸻“Yes,” sagot ni Christian.Pause.“Later afternoon.”⸻Zia nodded.“Same building?”⸻“Yes.”⸻Silence.⸻Then Christian glanced at her.“You’re coming?”⸻Zia looked up.“Do I have a choice?”⸻Christian answered honestly.“Yes.”⸻That made Zia pause.⸻Before, hindi ganito ang sagot niya.Before, everything wa

Todos los capítulos de Contract Marriage: Marrying The Gentle Billionaire: Capítulo 71 - Capítulo 72

Kabanata 70

Kabanata 71