All Chapters of The Billionaire’s Contracted Bride: Chapter 71 - Chapter 80

The moment his lips touched mine, it was like everything around me fell into silence.Not just quiet, but the kind of silence that sinks deep into your bones. The soft splash of water in the pool behind us suddenly felt like it didn’t exist. Even the chaos in my head, the never-ending questions, the doubts, the pain, it all paused, just for that single heartbeat.My heart thudded, hard and loud. I could hear it pounding inside my chest like it was trying to break free. This wasn’t the first time he kissed me but his lips were gentle, almost too gentle, like he wasn’t sure if he was allowed to touch me, but something in him needed to. There was hesitation in his kiss, a quiet pleading, like he wasn’t just kissing me, he was begging me to feel what he felt.But I didn’t move.I didn’t kiss him back.I was frozen. My body stiffened, my breath caught in my throat. My hands stayed still, curled at my side

It took me a moment before Kyle’s voice drifted back into earshot. He was still reading, but now with more intensity less like he was reading to me and more like he was absorbed in the world inside the pages.Then he stopped abruptly and looked at me, eyes slightly narrowed in disbelief.“How the hell would he sell his dog?” he asked, incredulous, like I’d been following every word he’s been reading. Luckily, I had read the book before, and I knew exactly which part he was at.“Maybe because he’s too broke to even feed his dog?” I offered, my voice hesitant half answering, half questioning.Kyle’s brows furrowed. “So he sold the dog to someone else… so the dog would have a better life?” he repeated, almost like he was trying to convince himself of it.I watched him, how seriously he took it, how invested he was. It was oddly… endearing. But also fascinating. This was the same Kyle who used to shrug off everything that didn’t directly benefit him. Now here he was, caring about a fict

After minutes of driving through quiet roads and dim-lit streets, Kyle finally pulled the car to a gentle stop. I blinked, adjusting to the stillness. The hum of the engine faded, replaced by the softer sounds of the night leaves rustling in the breeze, the distant hum of life somewhere else. We were here.We stepped out of the car, and I looked around, wrapping my arms around myself instinctively against the slight chill in the air. My eyes widened when I realized where we were.The observatory.It stood quietly in front of us, its dome like a crown beneath the sprawling night sky. The path up to it was lined with small lights, leading us like stars on the ground.“Well, we’re here,” Kyle said, sliding his hands into his pockets.I turned slowly in a circle, taking it all in. “Wow,” I breathed, and I meant it. The beauty wasn’t extravagant, it was calm, reverent, almost like the univers

Mrs. Jones’ voice softened, so gentle it felt like silk brushing across my skin.“Close your eyes, Naina… and focus on your breath.”I hesitated for a second, heart pacing with the uncertainty of what I was about to unlock. But her voice, steady, warm, wrapped around me like a familiar lullaby, and I obeyed. My eyelids fluttered shut, and the world behind them slowly began to darken.“Breathe in deep. Feel the air fill your lungs.”I inhaled, slowly. My chest rose, and with it came a quiet warmth curling into my ribs.“Now breathe out, slow… let the tension fall away.”As I exhaled, something inside me unraveled. My shoulders softened, slumping into the chair beneath me. My arms felt heavy, my fingers numb, like I was drifting downward into a calm ocean where time didn’t exist.“Good, Naina,” Mrs. Jones murmured. “Now, I want you to imagine your youn

The living room felt too quiet, like the walls themselves were holding their breath.I sat on the edge of the couch  while DK sat opposite me, hands clasped like he was holding something fragile between them.Kyle had gone upstairs without a word after a long look that I didn’t quite understand, and now it was just me and DK.Awkward silence stretched between us, until DK cleared his throat.“Sorry about your friend,” he said softly.Amy.My heart gave a weak thud at the mention of her, and I nodded.“Did you know from the very start?” I asked, and my voice barely made it across the room. My eyes met his, and he understood instantly what I meant.He let out a long sigh and looked down at his hands. “I waited for you,” he said. “Always did. And when I found you… just by your name, I knew. I knew you were Naina Bear.”The way he said that