All Chapters of His Bride By Contract: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

MIA POVThe night was thick with silence. I sat on the edge of the bed, my fingers knotted together, waiting for Xander to say something. He leaned against the dresser, arms folded, his eyes dark and unreadable.Finally, I spoke, “Are you still angry with me?”He didn’t answer right away. His gaze was sharp, almost cutting. “What do you think?”My throat tightened. “I just… I don’t want this distance between us.”“Distance?” His voice was low, cold. “You created it, Mia. You hid something crucial from me. Do you expect me to simply forget?”“I didn’t hide it to hurt you,” I said quickly. “I was scared, Xander. I panicked. I thought I was protecting you.”His jaw clenched. “Protecting me by keeping me blind? Do you realize what position that put me in?”Tears threatened, but I blinked them back. “I didn’t want you to see me as weak.”“Weak?” He scoffed, stepping closer. “You think fear makes you weak? No, Mia. What makes you weak is letting Liam control your silence.”I flinched. “He’s

Xander’s POVEric entered my office, carrying a thick folder. “I’ve gathered the preliminary reports on Liam Carter’s lawsuit.”“Sit,” I ordered. My voice left no room for argument. “Summarize.”Eric opened the file. “He’s claiming defamation. Framing Mia as bitter, vindictive. His lawyers are pushing the angle that she fabricated the entire betrayal.”My jaw tightened. “Fabricated? He left her for her sister in front of half the city.”Eric nodded. “But he’s painting it as a mutual decision. And his team is skilled at rewriting narratives.”I leaned forward. “Not skilled enough. I want every witness from that engagement fiasco located. Anyone who saw what happened.”“I’ve already started compiling names.”“Good,” I said sharply. “We’ll bury him in truth.”Eric hesitated. “There’s another issue. Carter’s camp is pushing to tie this case directly to your company. They’re suggesting Mia’s relationship with you creates a conflict of interest.”I narrowed my eyes. “He wants to shake inves

Liam’s POVThe office was quiet, but my fury wasn’t. I stared at the folder of documents from the pre-trial, my jaw tightening.“She looked too calm,” I muttered.Across from me, my assistant shifted. “With Xander by her side, anyone would look calm.”I snapped my gaze to him. “Don’t mention his name like that. He’s not invincible.”“Of course, sir,” he said quickly.My lawyer, Davis, adjusted his glasses. “The judge has set a tight discovery schedule. We’ll need to move quickly. Any inconsistencies in her statements, any gaps in her timeline, we use them.”I leaned back, forcing my voice to stay smooth. “She always leaves cracks. She’s fragile. Push her hard enough, and she’ll fold.”Davis nodded. “Then we request everything, texts, emails, journals, messages. Overwhelm her. She’ll stumble.”I smirked. “Good. I want her to scramble.”My assistant hesitated. “Sir, if this goes public, it will, you risk exposure as well. People might dig into…”I cut him off. “Nothing in my past can’t

~ Mia’s POV~The conference room was too quiet, except for the shuffle of papers. My hands clenched under the table, nails biting into my palms.“Ready?” Sophie whispered beside me.“No,” I whispered back. “But I’m here.”The door opened. Liam walked in with his lawyer at his side, confidence dripping from every step. My stomach dropped. He didn’t even glance at me, like I was already irrelevant.His lawyer, a sharp man with a clipped tone, took the seat across from me. “We’ll begin.”Sophie leaned close, her voice barely audible. “Answer only what he asks. Nothing more.”I nodded, though my throat was bone dry.The lawyer adjusted his glasses. “State your name for the record.”“Mia Blake.” My voice sounded steadier than I felt.“Formerly Mia Evans?”“Yes.”“You were engaged to my client, Mr. Liam Anderson, correct?”The words cut like glass. I swallowed. “Yes.”“And you ended the engagement?”“No.” I forced the word out, quiet but firm. “He did.”In the corner of my vision, Liam’s li

Mia’s POV“Why is he doing this, Xander?” My voice cracked as I paced the length of his office, palms clammy, heart rattling inside my chest. “Why won’t Liam just stop?”Xander sat behind his desk, collected, almost too calm, fingers tapping an unhurried rhythm against the polished wood. His gaze followed me, unblinking, cool. “Because men like Liam don’t stop until they’re crushed.” His tone was steel, his jaw set. Then his eyes flicked up to mine, sharp as a blade. “And you gave him the perfect opening.”I froze mid-step, the words slamming into me. Anger rose, hot and choking, clashing with the sting of shame. “I didn’t give him anything!” My voice was a mix of defiance and desperation. “He’s the one dragging me into court, smearing me in the press, twisting everything I ever said…”“Because you stayed silent when you should’ve told me sooner.” His voice was low, but it hit harder than if he’d shouted.My throat tightened. “You think this is my fault?”“I think you underestimated h