Semua Bab My Contracted Husband, The Heartless CEO has Amnesia?!: Bab 131 - Bab 140

Chapter 131XENOISAnd that's when it happened.Without thinking about it, without making a conscious decision, I shifted in my chair. My posture changed—straighter, more imposing. My hands moved to rest on the table in a position that looked casual but that I somehow knew projected dominance. One hand flat, one hand slightly curved, positioned exactly where a weapon would rest if I were carrying one.I wasn't carrying a weapon. But my body had moved into the stance anyway, muscle memory from years of negotiations where I had been armed, where the subtle threat of violence had been part of the psychological landscape.And I watched Marcus Hartwell's eyes track the movement, watched his body language shift from skeptical to wary. He'd recognized something—not consciously, probably, but on an instinctive level. Prey recognizing a predator."Marcus," I said, and my voice had changed too. Lower, quieter, carrying an edge I didn't remember putting there. "Let me be very clear about somethi

Chapter 133CELESTEThe charity gala was exactly the kind of event I used to dread—excessive opulence disguised as philanthropy, where the wealthy gathered to see and be seen while writing checks that would earn them tax deductions and social capital. But Miranda's friend Elena Whitmore was hosting it to benefit children's literacy programs, which was a cause I actually cared about, so I'd agreed to attend.Xenois had offered to come with me, but I'd insisted he stay home with the boys. He'd been working long hours since the acquisition deal closed last week, and I could see the strain in his face, the exhaustion that came from constantly monitoring himself for signs of reverting to old patterns. He needed rest more than he needed another social obligation.So I'd come alone, wearing a navy blue gown that Alina had helped me select—elegant without being flashy, expensive enough to fit in with this crowd but not so ostentatious that it drew unwanted attention. My goal was to make a don

Chapter 135CELESTE Miranda's hands found mine, squeezing tightly. "Celeste, listen to me. That woman is playing mind games with you. Whatever she said, whatever she implied, she's trying to mess with your head.""But what if she's right?" I asked, and I could hear the desperation in my own voice. "What if his memories do come back and everything changes? What if the past two months have just been this bubble that's about to burst?""Then you'll deal with it when it happens," Miranda said firmly. "But you don't let some manipulative woman who's clearly got her own agenda make you spiral in anticipation of something that might not even happen.""His memories are coming back, though," I said. "He's been having flashes, remembering things from before. It's not a question of if—it's a question of when.""And when that happens, you and Xenois will figure it out together," Miranda insisted. "Based on who you both are now, not who you were six years ago. The relationship you've built over t

Chapter 137CELESTEExcept that he'd promised to be home by morning and he wasn't.Except that his phone was going straight to voicemail.Except that after everything that had happened—the shooting, the threats, Victor Bennett's betrayal—I knew that our lives were dangerous in ways I usually tried not to think about.I must have dozed off at some point because the next thing I knew, I was being gently shaken awake. I opened my eyes to find Troy, Lake, and Soren standing around the couch, all three looking concerned."Mommy, why are you sleeping on the couch?" Soren asked.I sat up quickly, my neck protesting the awkward angle I'd been sleeping at. Sunlight was streaming through the windows. I checked my phone—7:15 AM. And still no messages from Xenois."I just fell asleep watching TV," I said, forcing a smile. "What are you boys doing up so early?""We wanted to make Dad breakfast as a surprise," Troy explained. "But his door is still closed. Is he still sleeping?"My stomach dropped.

Chapter 139XENOISI strained my ears. Voices from somewhere above me—at least two people, maybe three. The sound of a television or radio. Normal sounds that meant whoever was up there didn't know I'd gotten free yet.*How far away is the exit?*I couldn't see one from where I was standing. The hallway extended in both directions, with doors on either side. I picked a direction at random and started moving, keeping the gun up and ready.*Your form is terrible. Adjust your grip—thumb forward, both hands on the weapon. And stop tensing up. You're going to shake yourself into missing if you have to shoot.*I adjusted my grip as instructed, and it immediately felt more natural. Muscle memory again, my body knowing what to do even if my conscious mind didn't understand why.I cleared three rooms—all empty—before I heard footsteps descending stairs somewhere ahead of me. Multiple people, moving quickly.*They know you're out. Someone must have found the guard. Get ready.*I ducked into one