All Chapters of A contract for two: An Ashwood's bride: Chapter 21 - Chapter 29

The boy sat between them in the backseat, his fingers still sticky with sugar from the cookies he'd devoured at the orphanage. Talon didn’t say much during the drive. Halo glanced at him now and then, noting how he kept checking the rearview mirror, not out of caution, but to glance at the kid.They pulled into a wide stone driveway. A house stood ahead, elegant yet warm, vines curling up one side and flowerbeds neatly trimmed along the porch. There was an old bronze wind chime at the entrance, swaging softly in the wind. The scent of something sweet baking could be smelt from an open window.Halo stepped out first, scanning the peaceful surroundings. Talon opened the door for the boy, who stepped out hesitantly, holding onto the edge of Talon's jacket.The door creaked open before they could knock. An elderly man with a thick grey mustache and sleep in his eyes stepped out, blinking at the sunlight. He straightened when he saw Talon."Ashwood. You're a sight.""Eli. Sorry to drop i

Talon sat on the bench just outside the manor, staring blankly into the trees with his arms crossed.The doctor had come with the ambulance an hour ago. They took his father's body, wrapped it, covered it respectfully, and carried it out of the house. Zorro had watched them leave, his face tear-streaked. Halo stood quietly, a few feet away from Talon, watching him, but not coming too close.She wanted to at least offer comfort to him.But he didn’t want comfort.He didn't want to hear her soothing voice,He didn’t want pity or soft words.,He wanted silence.The doctor lingered behind. Talon had just opened his mouth to ask about the official report, stroke, heart failure, anything that could be written off as a natural death. But Dr. Gregg had hesitated, then gestured for Talon to follow him away from the others."I need to speak to you. Alone," the doctor said.Talon stepped onto the balcony with the doctor following behind him."What is it?"Dr. Gregg looked over his shoulder, the

Halo had found a spare nightwear and fallen asleep in the guest bedroom, expecting to return home later. However, Talon had insisted on spending the night. The new mobile phone Talon had purchased for Halo sat on the bedside table, and Halo had punched in her parent's numbers, accidentally flashing Scarlet instead. When Scarlet called back, her tone was far from happy.As Halo glanced over at Talon, she noticed he was stirring in his sleep. His hands were clasped over his chest, and his knees were drawn up to his torso in a fetal position. Suddenly, Halo heard rushed panicked breaths from Talon, and she was immediately alarmed.She went to his side and lightly shook his shoulders.Talon's green eyes blinked open, glazed over with unshed tears."Are you crying?" She realized it was a stupid question as soon as she saw the tears. Talon stood up from the bed, moving the sheets aside, and muttered, "I'm fine, go back to bed."Halo's confusion and worry grew. "I can't go back to bed, Tal

Halo hadn't felt anything like this before, she had a mini crush once, so she wasn't a stranger to the feeling of desire.But this......was on a different scale.They had said their goodnights and gone to bed, keeping whatever unfinished conversation for the morning to come. But it wasn't till her eyes snapped open in the middle of the night that she felt someone grinding against her."Sshhh, turn wifey." He whispered as his hips worked quickly against hers.How could she go back to bed like this,His lips were caressing and kissing away at her neck. She was trying to reel in her gasps, feeling weak at the knees."Talon.....what are you doing?""Isn't it obvious?" He cocked a brow, "getting some friction." She felt his palm cover the top of her mounds and she sprang up. That action made Talon to roll over the bed in shock, his mouth was wide and his eyes were apologetic."Shit, I didn't.....I thought -"All this while, he had thought that he was in a dream, he didn't realize he wa

As he said it, two officers came through the side corridor dragging a stretcher between them. A bloodied body lay on it, a white sheet already stained crimson around the head and chest. The sight hit hard.Halo turned away immediately. Talon instinctively reached out and covered her eyes with his hand."Don’t look.""What the hell is this?" Talon questioned.The detective pressed his lips together. "That’s one of the kitchen staff. The Chestnut haired girl.""What?" Talon narrowed his eyes. "She’s dead?"The junior detective, Kevin, stepped forward. "We had finished basic interrogation with her. She was quiet yesterday. But this morning, she came in ready to talk. She was very nervous, shaking even. Said she had something to confess, but not in front of everyone. We pulled her into one of the private rooms. She kept glancing at her phone. Then it rang.""She picked it?" Talon asked."She did," Kevin nodded. "We didn’t stop her. We thought it was a family member. It lasted maybe thirt