Semua Bab THE MARRIAGE CONTRACT: MY BILLIONAIRE EX WANTS ME BACK: Bab 1 - Bab 10

“You can’t be serious.” I blink, unsure if I heard him correctly.“I’m deadly serious.” Rex leans back again, folding his arms over his chest. “A marriage contract. Nothing personal. You’ll get what you need, and I’ll get what I want. It's a win-win”Five years. It’s been five long years since he walked away from me, from everything we stood for. Yet here I am, sitting across from Rex Patterson, the man who once owned my heart, and now owns half of my soul’s misery. My palms sweat, my heart races—this is the last place I ever wanted to be. I can’t believe I’m here. Yet, the thing about life is that it has a way of forcing you to face what you thought you’d escaped forever.“Vanya Moon.” His voice rumbles like thunder across the luxurious boardroom, and I fight the instinct to flinch. “This contract is the only way I can give you what you want. You give me what I want. I give you what you want. Quid pro quo.”I don’t respond, though every part of me wants to. Instead, I focus on the co

A marriage of convenience may be the contract, but the attraction between us is anything but ordinary. The world sees what we want them to see, but beneath the surface, the tension is undeniable. Tonight, we’re a power couple on display. But can we keep the act up?*********I can feel eyes on us—on Rex, mostly. His presence is magnetic, and even I, his wife, can’t help but be swept into it.But despite all the attention, Rex stays focused on me, guiding me through the crowd with the same calm, composed confidence he’s always had.“We’ll be surrounded by people all night,” he murmurs as we make our way toward the drinks table. “Just keep smiling and nodding. We’re here for a reason.”I laugh softly, the sound light but genuine. “And what’s that reason again?”“To show everyone that we’re the perfect power couple,” he replies, the glint of humor in his eyes. “Nothing more, nothing less.”He’s always had a knack for easing the tension, making light of things when they’re getting too se

I look at Rex across the room, my heart a tangled mess of confusion, desire, and regret. I want to be angry with him, to tell him that I’ve been hurt, that I’ve been betrayed. But I can’t.Because the truth is, a part of me still wants him. Desperately.I swallow hard, trying to steady my breath, but my pulse betrays me. It quickens every time I feel his gaze on me.“Why do you look at me like that?” I finally ask, my voice shaky, though I try to sound composed.He raises an eyebrow, his lips curling into a knowing smile. “Like what, Vanya?”“You know exactly what I mean,” I snap, not giving him the satisfaction of knowing that my words are laced with more vulnerability than I intend. “You think you can just waltz back into my life after everything that’s happened and… what? Pick up where we left off?”His expression softens, but there’s something else in his eyes—something darker, more pained. “I don’t expect you to forget what happened, or to forgive me easily, but I won’t sit here

REX'S POV The gun feels heavy in my hand, a cold extension of my anger. My heart pounds as I steady my breath, the weight of everything pressing on me. I raise the pistol, aim at the target a few feet ahead, and pull the trigger. The shot rings out, sharp and piercing, cutting through the silence around me. The bullet hits the edge of the bullseye. Close, but not perfect. Story of my life. I reset my stance, gripping the gun tighter. Each shot should calm me, but it doesn’t. I fire again, harder this time, and the bullet tears through the center of the target. Better. My jaw tightens as memories flood my mind, memories I wish I could bury alongside the countless targets I’ve destroyed in this very range. The investment deal is slipping through my fingers. If the investors choose the Shaw Dynasty, my company could take a hit so big it would take years to recover. The stakes couldn’t be higher, and the clock is ticking. I adjust my stance, lift the gun again, and fire. This time

Weeks have passed since Victor Patterson’s icy words cut me down like shards of glass, but their echoes linger. Rex and I live in the same house, yet it feels like we’re oceans apart. The air between us is stiff with silence, and every greeting is half-hearted at best. I’ve mastered the art of sneaking around the house to keep from bumping into him.This morning, though, my plan fails.I shuffle into the kitchen in my oversized sweatshirt, bleary-eyed and craving caffeine. The coffee machine hums softly, filling the space with the comforting scent of freshly brewed coffee. I pour myself a cup and lean against the counter, relishing the warmth of the mug against my palms.Then, the sound of footsteps catches my attention.I glance up and nearly drop the cup.He’s freshly showered, droplets of water glistening on his toned chest and well-defined, hard, sculpted abs. His wet hair clings to his forehead, and a single drop slides from his temple, tracing a maddening path down his neck, pas