All Chapters of Contract Marriage with the Disabled Billionaire : Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

Isadora’s POV The Morning After the GalaI didn’t sleep.Not really.The ride home had been silent. Not the kind of silence that was comfortable — but the kind that pressed against my chest like a weight. Darren hadn’t said a word the entire drive. He didn’t reach for my hand, didn’t glance my way.And I hadn’t asked.Because I didn’t want to hear the answer.He’d nearly kissed me. In front of everyone. And I’d felt it — the charge, the hope, the realness of it.And then the mayor laughed.And Darren pulled back.Like it had all been part of the joke.Like I was.When we got home, he went straight to the study and shut the door. I went upstairs and peeled myself out of the black satin gown Lita had sworn would turn heads.It had.But not the way I’d wanted.Now, hours later, I sat at the edge of our bed in one of Darren’s old shirts, watching the sunrise through the window, wondering how love could feel this heavy.A knock came at the bedroom door.“Ma’am?” It was Alex. His tone was

The rain had finally stopped by the time I stepped into the café.I wasn’t here for the coffee.I was here to sign off on a charity partnership between Darren’s foundation and a local community group. Nothing political. Just quiet goodwill — something clean in a world full of shadows.I didn’t expect to see Richard.Not here.Not now.He sat by the window, casual in a dark blazer, one hand on a porcelain mug. His hair was neatly styled, his jaw clean-shaven. He looked like a man who was very good at appearing harmless.He looked up, and the instant our eyes met, he smiled.Like he’d been waiting for me.“Isadora.”I stopped cold. “Richard.”He nodded toward the seat across from him. “Join me?”“No,” I said. “I’m not here for you.”“Didn’t say you were.” He gestured again. “Five minutes. You used to give me hours.”I hesitated.I shouldn’t have.But some part of me wanted the air cleared. Wanted to say aloud what I’d buried.I sat — stiff, cautious — my bag still slung over one shoulde

Isadora’s POVI sat at the edge of the bed, brushing my hair slowly.Darren came out of the bathroom, toweling his face.“You met Logan?” I asked.He nodded.“Did he say anything useful?”“Only that Richard isn’t working alone.”I lowered the brush.“Then what are we going to do?”He walked over, knelt in front of me, and took both my hands in his.“We’re going to be five steps ahead.”I swallowed.“I won’t let them take this from us,” he said.“I know.”“And I won’t let them touch you.”I nodded.But deep down, I feared it wasn’t me they were after.It was him.Darren’s POVI hated coming here.The mine’s original administrative building stood like a skeleton — stripped of its purpose, but full of memories. Memories of before the explosion. Before the death toll.Before I learned what it meant to carry guilt.Today, I wasn’t here for work.I was here for a man named Trey Connor, a former shift supervisor who’d disappeared after the tragedy. Alex tracked him down through union records

Isadora’s POVThe house was quiet, but my mind wasn’t.I stared at the ceiling, wrapped in Darren’s arms, thinking of all the moments that led here.The reluctant wedding.The contract.The kiss at the gala.Celeste.Richard.And now this.This coming storm.I reached for his hand under the sheets and laced our fingers together.His grip tightened instantly, like he’d been waiting.“I’m not letting anything happen to you,” he whispered without opening his eyes.“I know,” I whispered back.“But I’m still afraid.”His voice was barely audible. “Me too.”“But not of them.”“Of what?”“Of losing you.”I turned toward him, kissed his chest.“You won’t.”And for the first time that night, we both slept.Not because we felt safe.But because we knew we’d fight.Richard’s POVThe stars above Texas were sharp tonight.Cold and endless.My brother lit a cigarette behind me, but I didn’t turn around.“She’ll thank us,” I said.He didn’t reply.“I’m not the villain,” I added. “I’m the one who see

Richard’s POVRichard sat in the cold room, cuffs tight around his wrists, face still swollen from Jace’s takedown.He hadn’t spoken since they booked him.He hadn’t requested a lawyer.He hadn’t asked for medical attention.Just one thing.“Tell the mayor I’m ready.”The guard had scoffed, but the message went through.Now, he waited.And smiled.Because even behind bars, he knew one thing:Men like Logan always needed weapons.And he was volunteering to become one.Logan’s POVThey cleared the room for him.Richard was escorted in, looking like a man who had lost nothing.Logan folded his arms and leaned against the table. “You’ve made quite a mess.”Richard sat, unbothered. “I got close.”“Close doesn’t count in politics.”“I’ll get closer next time.”Logan raised a brow. “You assume there’ll be a next time?”“I know there will be. You want him out of the picture, too.”Logan didn’t deny it.Instead, he said, “You know what they’re calling me now? The man who hosted a massacre.”Ri