Bound by a billionaire のすべてのチャプター: チャプター 21 - チャプター 30

~JESSICA~“You’re late,” Daniel finally said to me, and I blinked rapidly.Was he really waiting for me??His tone wasn’t accusing, just low and unreadable.I dropped my purse on the console.“I dropped Grace off at home first. And we really spent time with Sarah at the hospital” I replied.Daniel nodded slowly. “How is she? Your stepmom??” He asked, and I was surprised he cared about her health.“She’s recovering. Actually smiling. It felt... good to see her like that again” I replied.Something shifted in his eyes. “I’m glad,” he said.I walked further in, noticing how tired he looked. The shadows under his eyes, the way his posture leaned forward like he’d been sitting there a while.“You waited up?” I asked quietly. I wanted to confirm if he really waited up for me.He didn’t answer right away. Then, finally he said, “I told you this doesn’t have to be torture, Jessica.”I sat across from him, curling my legs and waiting for him to speak after an extended

~JESSICA~I stepped out of the hospital room just in time to see Daniel standing by the window, holding something in his hand. His jaw was tight, his expression unreadable.He turned slowly, and I could see the storm in his eyes.“Jessica,” he said, walking toward me. “There’s something we need to talk about.”My stomach twisted. “What is it?”“First, how's your stepmom doing??” He asked me.“Luckily, she's doing fine. The doctor said she reacted to a particular medication but she's fine now” I replied.“Thank goodness” he said.I eyed him from head to toe, taking in his tensed look.“What is it, Daniel??” I asked.He handed me the envelope.I opened it, and froze.Plane tickets. Housing accomodations. Press schedules.And then… my name.On a banner.Next to his.“Welcome Mr. and Mrs. Sutherland… The Future of Armitage england.”My hands trembled.“They seriously want me to go with you?” I asked, stunned. “I thought it wasn't as serious as this.”He nodded. “The

~DANIEL~ After I left Jessica to answer the call from my team, I didn't go back to her.I was really worried about the threat but I didn't want to show it to her.She could get murdered like my mom if I don't act fast.So, I didn’t sleep.I couldn’t.Not when Jessica's life is in danger.Instead, I sat in my study all night, combing through every detail, every email, every interaction over the past few weeks. Something wasn’t adding up. Whoever was watching Jessica had access to information that wasn’t public. They knew the specifics of the Armitage contract. And they were close.Too close.By morning, we had a name. My team and I.Troy Carrington.Damon Masters’ assistant.I remembered the way he looked at me during the Armitage dinner party….cold, sharp, like a man who thought I’d stolen something from him. And maybe in his mind, I had. Damon was supposed to get that contract. Until I swooped in and sealed the deal.I couldn't wait till day break to break the good news to

~JESSICA~ I was in a private jet with Daniel and we're on our way to England three days after the threat incident and the arrest of Troy Carrington.Sarah was fine already and discharged from the hospital, and I had nothing holding me back from going to England with Daniel as his wife.It's a deal. A contract. And it's up to me to keep my own part of the deal as he's doing everything he promised me.He has taken care of my stepmom's expensive bills and now she's fine and discharged. Plus the huge monthly salary he pays me for being his wife.The steady hum of the jet’s engines was oddly soothing, even as I tried to keep my heart from flipping out of rhythm for the hundredth time.I kept my eyes on the clouds outside the window, trying not to sneak glances at Daniel, who sat just across the aisle, reviewing a document on his tablet like we weren’t sitting in the same space pretending our kiss hadn’t flipped our entire dynamic upside down.He hadn't brought it

~JESSICA~It was funny how Daniel bolted into the bathroom like he's trying to avoid me by all means possible.Why did he stare at me that way??There's no way he had found me attractive.In Albert's words, I was just a tall, skinny, ugly looking girl.So there's no way Daniel would find me attractive.I was still wondering why Daniel stared at me in that manner as I searched the wardrobe for something less revealing to wear tonight.Clara had gotten revealing and sexy night wears for me.That woman!!!Just then, I heard a loud beep from my phone.I picked it up and saw that it was a text message from Clara.“Speak of the devil” I murmured before opening the text to read it.“Hope you love your sexy and attractive night wears?? Hope to see you back in America heavily pregnant. Enjoy. With love from Clara”I laughed heartily at the text.Such a silly sweet soul, but she wished!There's no baby as it's a fake marriage.Just that she didn't know that.I kept my ph