All Chapters of TIED BY CONTRACT : Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

KATE'S POV: I adjusted the collar of my dress for what felt like the hundredth time and looked at myself in the hallway mirror. My hair was curled neatly at the ends and pulled back in a soft clip. I selected a soft mauve gown with lace sleeves. It wasn’t extravagant, but it felt elegant and appropriate. As I stood before the mirror, slipping in pearl earrings and applying a light gloss, I took a deep breath. Della had insisted it would make a good first impression. I trusted her judgment more than my own. The mansion buzzed with quiet movement as the staff prepared for Nikolai’s relatives. Ten of them. Ten unfamiliar faces. I kept reminding myself to breathe. The butterflies in my stomach had long since multiplied, and now they were doing acrobatics. Ten unfamiliar faces that might not like me very much, the thought alone makes me nervous and my my palm all sweaty. The clock struck half past six. They would be here any moment. I stood beside Nikolai and Della in the grand

KATE'S POV: I wasn’t expecting anyone in my room, let alone Nikolai. He was on my bed, the covers of the bed over his body like he belonged there. I had just finished clearing up the dining room with Evelyn and Pia, and after bidding everyone goodnight with a polite smile, and seeing Aunt Leda to her room. I was more than ready to call it a night. I didn't want any awkward night alone with Evelyn, she creeps me out. And I know that she's up to something, and I don't trust her at all. But I don't have it in me to be an FBI agent all of a sudden. Whatever she has going on with me, I really don't want to get involved.My feet ached slightly from standing for a long time, and the sleeves of my clothes were damp from accidentally getting water on them while rinsing the plates.I needed a feet massage to badly, but sadly there was no one to do that for me. I had barely reached the door of my room when I noticed the dim light spilling from underneath it. Frowning, I pushed the door o

KATE'S POV: The first thing I felt when my eyes fluttered open was the cold emptiness beside me. I turned, reaching instinctively for warmth, but instead, my fingers brushed against the smooth, untouched sheet. Nikolai was gone. Again. I blinked into the stillness of the room, the sunlight peeking through the sheer curtains casting soft golden hues across the floor. The pillows we had used to separate ourselves the night before were nowhere in sight. I leaned over the edge of the bed and found them crumpled on the floor like fallen barriers. A breath escaped my lips, half a sigh, half an emotion I couldn’t yet name. I wasn’t sure what I expected when we agreed to play house, but I hadn’t anticipated this quiet ache in my chest by time I woke up alone.So this is what I'll have to be going through till his family members leave, waking up to a cold bed every morning. I threw the duvet off me and sat up, rubbing my eyes before padding to the walk in closet. The wooden floor felt co

KATE'S POV: The back garden was tucked away behind tall hedges, a quieter, more secluded part of the estate that looked like it had been forgotten for years. As we walked around the mansion and came upon it, I noticed the wildness of the place. Vines snaked up the stone walls, and weeds had claimed most of the flowerbeds. The sun was brighter here, casting long shadows across the overgrown greenery. It was the kind of space that begged for attention, and oddly enough, I felt excited by the challenge.How come Della didn't tell that a place like this exist, I could have spent my time here more than spending it in the mansion doing nothing. Aunt Leda stepped in first, her straw hat tilted slightly to the side, eyes scanning the area. "Oh, this place has potential. It just needs a little love, and it would turn out beautiful." she said, clapping her gloved hands together. I smiled and followed after her, the soft earth crunching beneath my feet. Evelyn trailed behind, quieter than u

NIKOLAI'S POV: The sound of the front door shutting behind me echoed through the marble floored corridor, and for the first time all week, I felt a small weight lift off my chest. Home. A word that used to mean very little to me. Now, it felt...different. Heavier. Warmer. “Welcome home, Sir!” one of the maids called out as I passed. I nodded in acknowledgment, tugging my tie loose with one hand. The scent of garlic and rosemary drifted down the hallway, guiding me toward the dining room like a trail of breadcrumbs. Laughter floated down with it Evelyn’s sweet giggles, Della’s low and throaty chuckle, and Kate’s unmistakable laugh, soft but guarded, like she didn’t trust herself to let it out fully yet. When I walked into the dining room, I was met with a chorus of greetings. The whole family were gathered together in the big dining room, like they were waiting for someone. “There he is!” Della announced with a smirk, standing from her chair to give me a quick hug. “We