All Chapters of The Contracted Alliance; Accidental Marriage : Chapter 61 - Chapter 70

LEENA'S POVThe rain was over, yet the city continued to sparkle from it, rooftops gleaming like crystal and the atmosphere thick with the aroma of damp stone and blossoming lilies. From the penthouse balcony, Leena stood without shoes, embracing herself as the cool breeze swept her thoughts away into the distance. It was after midnight, and Ethan still hadn’t called. It’s not like she thought he would. No longer. She realized it was self-centered, even ridiculous, to feel a hurt when he was silent....especially since she had been the one to say goodbye initially. Yet, the quiet shattered her determination. Behind her, the glass doors parted with a soft murmur. She did not spin around. “Are you still awake?” a recognizable voice inquired gently. It was Zack. Zack had shown up more in her life recently, transforming from the protective cousin of her childhood into a steady, silent support. He wasn’t boisterous in his love. He didn't insist. He merely… was present with her. Stabl

Leena’s POVThe rain softly tapped on the skylight over their bed, a calming beat that ought to have put Leena to sleep. Yet she lay awake, her body entwined with Ethan’s, her thoughts far too unsettled. It wasn't worry. No, this was not the same. It was the burden of comprehension, of sensing something authentic and everlasting establishing itself between them. He was observing her, his head supported on one arm. His fingers lightly traced the contour of her jaw, lingering with the ease of someone who had committed to memory her every curve and every sigh. "You're contemplating once more," he remarked, his tone soft and unhurried. “I’m constantly pondering,” she murmured. Ethan moved closer, pressed his lips to her cheek, and then continued down to her collarbone. "Now consider this, we have overcome tougher challenges." "Whatever lies ahead, I want us to confront it together."His words resonated deeply. After all that—secrets, distance, the forced marriage, Zack's scheming—this

The rain had recently ceased, enveloping the city in a moist silence. Drops trickled down the window of Ethan’s penthouse like sluggish tears, mirroring the light from streetlamps and the distant buzz of late-night traffic. Within, the quietness shared by Ethan and Leena was far from hollow—it pulsed with something fragile, something that was on the verge of spilling over.Leena was by the window, her delicate fingers gliding over the foggy glass. Her white satin robe was loosely fastened at the waist, exposing the curve of her collarbone and the delicate hollow at her throat. The dim light illuminated her face perfectly, making her appear as a statue too holy to be handled.Ethan observed her from the other side of the room, sitting at the couch's edge. His elbows rested on his knees, a whiskey glass still in his hands. Yet his eyes were fixed on her, as if she were the sole anchor tying him to this reality."Aren't you going to say something?" Leena inquired, her tone gentle yet tin

Leena’s POVThe gentle patter of rain on the windows was the sole noise in the serene penthouse suite. The city lights created a golden glow on the marble floor, and the fragrance of sandalwood hung in the air, bringing back memories of Ethan—of all that I had previously attempted to erase, and now discovered myself holding onto.He stood near the window, wearing a grey shirt with rolled-up sleeves, his eyes far away as if observing the rain narratingour history against the dark sky. I could still savor his kiss, sense the shake in my knees from his earlier touch. The universe may have plotted to separate us, yet in this instant, nothing else was important.I stood up from the plush armchair and walked to him without shoes. My fingers glided over his forearm before I encircled them around his hand. He didn’t glance at me right away. He no longer hurried—he remained patient. For my approval. For my reality. And perhaps, just perhaps, for the barriers I constructed to ultimately collaps

LEENAThe gentle glow of the chandelier enveloped the lofty suite in a warm golden hue, its shadows softly swaying over the satin linens. Leena stood next to the floor-to-ceiling window, her fingers gently touching the glass, her silk robe drapingfreely around her figure. The city thrummed down below, a mix of activity and noise, yet up here—everything was quiet.She listened to the door shut quietly behind her. His steps had become recognizable by now. Stable. Leisurely. Ownership. Ethan.“I figured you could still be sleeping,” he remarked, his voice deep, smooth yet rough like velvet, resonating in her chest. He was without a shirt, towel resting on one shoulder, his skin moist from the shower. He resembled a portrait created bya man crafted not only from strength but from an unmistakable, powerful presence."I was unable to sleep," Leena whispered, still not facing around. “Not with everything in my mind.”He moved nearer, positioning himself directly behind her, so near that she