All Chapters of Married to a Stripper: Chapter 41 - Chapter 44

Amber returned to the ballroom, her head still reeling from the heated exchange in the conference room. Her body still buzzed with the electric tension of the moment she’d shared with Ryan, but now, as she made her way through the crowd, everything feltdifferent. His hand rested possessively on her waist, guiding her through the maze of guests. It wasn’t affectionate or comforting, just a firm reminder that she was there beside him, but not truly with him. They moved among the people, exchanging pleasantries and mingling, but it felt as though Ryan was miles away, both physically and emotionally. His mind wasn’t on her, it never was.Amber’s thoughts circled back to what had transpired in the conference room. “Amber, sweetheart, don’t start games you know you can’t win.” His words echoed in her mind, each syllable colder than the last. She had hoped for more between them, had allowed herself to believe that there could be something real, something beyond the cold contract that bound

Amber avoided Ryan like the plague. It had been a week since she began finding reasons to distance herself, excuses piling up as if trying to build a fortress between them. He hadn’t said much at first, probably assuming she needed space. But tonight, as they sat across from each other at the dinner table in their large, cold house, Ryan finally snapped.“What’s going on, Amber?” His voice was sharp, cutting through the silence like a blade. He leaned forward, his piercing gaze locking onto hers.Amber felt her heart stutter. She hadn’t expected him to confront her so soon. She fumbled with her fork, pushing the food around her plate as if it would give her the answers she needed.“Nothing’s going on,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.“Bullshit,” Ryan countered, his tone frustrated but steady. “You’ve been avoiding me for days. You won’t even sleep in the same bed anymore. What the hell is going on?”Amber clenched her fists under the table, fighting the urge to look away.