THE CONTRACT THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING のすべてのチャプター: チャプター 21 - チャプター 30

Raymond’s POVAva’s face said it all—she was desperate to follow Samuel.I never thought she was serious when she said she liked him. I always assumed it was just one of her games, something she said to get under my skin. But now, watching her—seeing how her whole body leaned toward the door like she couldn’t wait to follow him—it hit me harder than I expected. And I hated it.Samuel had the audacity to act like I was the one overreacting when I questioned why he kept her away from me. As if it wasn’t obvious. Instead of giving me a straight answer, he went on some self-righteous rant about how this was just a contract and how I had no right to be mad. I let him talk, let him say whatever he wanted, but the longer I listened, the more I felt like punching something. Now, seeing the way Ava reacted to his departure, that anger was only getting worse.“Is it really that deep?” My voice was low, but the sharpness was there. “Do you really have feelings for him?”She tried to pull away fr

Ava’s POV“I will get every one of you arrested!” the woman yelled again, her voice loud and angry.“Check,” Samuel said calmly.She paused, looked at her phone, and suddenly… smiled. Just like that, all the shouting was gone.Then, to my shock, she walked up to Samuel and ran her hand down his chest. “Thank you, handsome,” she said, her voice soft now.Samuel immediately pushed her hand away.I stared at her, speechless. Was this the same woman who had been screaming like a crazy person a minute ago?I sighed. I never wanted to call Samuel. I told myself I wouldn’t. But that woman refused to let me leave, and Bella’s school kept calling. I had no choice, and Raymond is even not an option, I’m sure that little witch called Vivian might still be with him.The cab driver, on the other hand, was acting like Samuel had just saved his life, thanking him over and over. I couldn’t help but admire how calm Samuel was through it all.Just as I was about to say something, my phone rang again.“

RAYMOND POV“Looking at myself in the mirror as I tie my wristwatch, I know Vivian is too emotional to play this kind of game with, but I need the good side of her.”I adjust my white shirt, leaving the top button undone, the silver necklace resting against my skin. I don’t usually care about details like this, but tonight, I need everything to be right. As I step out of the closet, I have no plans to say anything to Ava. She’s been keeping to herself lately, and that works for me most tonight. If she’s minding her business, I’ll mind mine.I reach for the door, ready to leave, when I hear soft footsteps behind me. Turning back, I see Ava standing there in oversized pajamas and big fluffy slippers, lazily eating Pringles. She looks at me, chewing slowly, then tilts her head.“Where are you going?” Her voice is casual, but the question catches me off guard.I wasn’t expecting her to ask. She doesn’t always care, so why now? I swallow, trying to come up with an answer. Lying isn’t an op

AT THE OFFICE RAYMOND POVI sat in my office, barely paying attention to the papers in front of me. My mind was somewhere else, just instructed Daniel to make arrangements for the valentines date with Vivian.Daniel still stood nearby, looking like he was about to lose it.“Valentine….Really…Raymond… the ancient company… we need to focus now,” he said, his voice laced with frustration.I didn’t respond. My eyes drifted to Ava’s desk, the chair she used to sit in.“Just this last time,” I muttered under my breath.Daniel sighed, probably realizing I wasn’t listening. Without another word, he bowed slightly and walked out.As soon as the door shut, I got up and walked to Ava’s desk, running my fingers over the surface.I could still picture her sitting there, and staring at my direction secretly.I could still hear Bella’s laughter echoing in my head, dragging us into her little games. Ava pretends to be annoyed but always gives in.A small smile tugged at my lips.But Then—a suddenly

AVA POVI collapsed. My legs were shaking like I had no control over them anymore.What did I just hear Samuel say?His words kept ringing in my head, over and over again.“I know Bella is Raymond’s daughter.” I thought that's the shocking words but NoHe just told me more, I mean everything..what I don’t know that happened 10 years ago.Raymond really had an accident. He lost his memory. He was transferred out of the country….Samuel just said all of that All this time, I thought he abandoned me, used and dumb me. I thought he knew and didn’t care. But he didn’t know. My chest tightened, and I felt like I couldn’t breathe, remembering how I never give him a small chance to explain.No. No, this has to be a lie.Everything I thought I knew about the past… it can’t be true. This has to be a mistake.I struggled to breathe, my heart racing so fast it hurt. I looked up at Samuel, and something inside me snapped.“Why didn’t you tell me?” My voice was sharp, my hands curling into fists.