Semua Bab Fallon’s Reid: An Arranged Contract: Bab 61 - Bab 70

~Reid~The photo showed up in my inbox at noon.The subject line was neutral — Managing Optics — but the attachment hit like a punch to the gut.I shouldn’t have opened it. Should’ve let my PR team handle whatever crisis they were warning me about and focused on the Zurich deal. But my gut told me this wasn’t about business.And my gut was right.Fallon’s face filled my screen — all sunlight and easy laughter, her head tilted back, her hair spilling over one bare shoulder. She looked… happy.And she wasn’t alone.The guy sitting next to her was tall, broad, and entirely too comfortable in her space. His arm rested casually along the back of her chair, his body angled toward hers like he belonged there. Like he had every right to be close to her.My jaw clenched.My eyes stayed locked on the photo, taking in every detail I shouldn’t care about — the way Fallon leaned into him, the soft flush in her cheeks, the familiarity in their body language.I hated him instantly.But more than tha

~Fallon~By the time I came down for breakfast, Reid was already gone.Of course he was.I stared at the empty coffee pot like it had personally offended me, my fingers tightening around the edge of the counter. The kitchen was spotless — too perfect, too sterile — and the air still carried the faintest trace of his cologne.It was a reminder I hadn’t asked for.And I hated how much it made my chest ache.I shouldn’t have cared.I shouldn’t have still felt the ghost of his touch — the warmth of his hands sliding into my hair, the press of his body against mine, the way his lips had devoured me like he was starving.But my skin still tingled where his fingers had gripped my waist. My mouth still burned from the kiss we weren’t supposed to have.And the worst part?He’d been the one to pull away.He kissed me like he needed me — and then walked out like it hadn’t meant a damn thing.So why did it still feel like I was the one left wanting?~~~When I finally saw him again later that aft

~Fallon~“I’m just saying, if my fake husband kissed me like that and then spent a week acting like I didn’t exist, I’d burn the whole house down.”I sighed, flopping back onto my bed as Mia’s voice crackled through the phone. “Helpful.”“I’m serious, Fallon!” she huffed. “You kissed. It happened. And now he’s just… what? Pretending it didn’t?”“Pretty much.”There was a long pause. Then—“I hate him.”Despite everything, I laughed. “You don’t even know him.”“I don’t need to know him. I know you. And I know when you’re pretending you’re okay when you’re very much not okay.”The words hit harder than I wanted them to, because she was right. I wasn’t okay. Not even close.I stared at the ceiling, the ache in my chest tightening. “I don’t know how to be okay when he won’t even look at me.”The silence on the other end of the line stretched, heavy and thoughtful. Then—“Fallon.” Mia’s voice softened. “What are you afraid of?”I swallowed hard. “That it didn’t mean anything to him.”And t

~Fallon~The Prescott estate was already buzzing with activity by the time we arrived.Golden light spilled from the house, stretching long and soft across the lawn, where perfectly arranged seating areas had been set up beneath strings of twinkling lanterns. Waitstaff moved through the crowd with trays of champagne, their uniforms crisp and their smiles polite. Laughter rose from the garden, drifting through the warm evening air, blending with the quiet hum of conversation and the soft notes of a string quartet.It was perfect.Elegant. Polished. Exactly the kind of event my parents loved.It was also the last place I wanted to be.Not with Reid beside me. Not with the silence between us still feeling like a fresh wound.“Smile,” he murmured as we stepped onto the patio. His hand settled at the small of my back — light, steady, a perfect imitation of ease. “Wouldn’t want anyone thinking we’re anything less than perfect.”My teeth ached from the force of my grin. “You’re so good at th

~Fallon~The flashing lights were blinding.Photographers called my name from every direction, the sound of their voices blending into one chaotic blur. I kept my smile in place, my posture perfect — but inside, I was unraveling.Because I was alone.And everyone knew it.I could feel the weight of their eyes, the curiosity sharpening into speculation as the seconds ticked by. I heard the whispers, the subtle shift in energy when they realized Reid Callahan was nowhere in sight.The air was thick with questions.And I didn’t have a single answer.I’d spent all week convincing myself I didn’t care.That I didn’t need him. That his absence didn’t matter.But the second I stepped onto that carpet without him, the whispers started.“Where’s Reid?”“Trouble in paradise already?”“Guess the fairytale was too good to be true.”The words sliced through me, even when I kept my face calm and my smile steady.I posed for the cameras, angled my body just right, and answered questions with practic