All Chapters of His Contract Mistress: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

The morning sun cut through the penthouse windows, glinting on the polished marble floor. Aria sat at the breakfast bar, trying to steady her trembling hands. The events of the past nights—Ethan’s dominance, the erotic intensity, the way he claimed her—still left her body humming with heat.She wasn’t prepared for what awaited her today.A knock on the penthouse door startled her. Ethan, as usual, didn’t bother. He was already behind her, dark eyes scanning her with that predatory hunger that made her knees weak.“Who’s here?” she asked, trying to sound casual.He smirked, brushing a hand over her bare shoulder. “An unexpected guest,” he said smoothly. “Someone who thinks they can play in my world.”Aria froze. Her pulse spiked with unease. “Someone… who?”The Rival AppearsThe door swung open, and in walked a woman who seemed to command the room effortlessly. Tall, slender, dressed in a sleek designer dress that left little to the imagination, she smiled—a dangerous, confident smile.

The city skyline glittered like fire beneath the penthouse windows, but inside, the heat was not from the lights outside. Aria paced the suite, silk dress clinging to her curves, heart pounding as she replayed last night’s events over and over.The rival—that insufferable woman—had left, but her presence lingered like a dark perfume. Aria could still feel the way her gaze had tested Ethan’s possessiveness, the way she had moved with deliberate seduction, the way she had whispered that unspoken challenge: “I wonder how long until he loses patience?”Aria shivered, not just in fear but from the erotic ache that had been simmering since the woman’s visit.Ethan’s ArrivalEthan entered without warning, his tailored suit replaced by casual black shirt and slacks, yet the aura of dominance never left him. He stopped in the doorway, dark eyes scanning her as if weighing her very soul.“You’re tense,” he remarked, voice low and commanding. “Thinking about her?”Aria’s stomach twisted. “I… I c

The gala shimmered with chandeliers, crystal glasses, and the hum of the city’s elite. Ethan’s arm rested securely around Aria’s waist as they entered the grand ballroom.She wore a sleek black gown that clung to every curve, her hair swept up to reveal the elegant line of her neck. Ethan had chosen the dress himself, and though she’d wanted to resist, she couldn’t deny the heat in his eyes when he looked at her.“You’ll stay close,” he murmured against her ear, voice smooth but edged with command. “Tonight, you’re mine. No wandering. No doubts.”Aria swallowed hard and nodded. The crowd of strangers was overwhelming, but Ethan’s presence grounded her—dominant, protective, intoxicating.For a moment, she felt untouchable.Until she saw her.The Rival’s EntranceThe rival swept into the gala like she owned it. Her crimson dress glittered beneath the lights, hugging every dangerous curve. She spotted Ethan instantly, her smile curling like a blade.Aria’s chest tightened.“Don’t,” Ethan

The night after Ethan had silenced her doubts with his body, Aria thought maybe, just maybe, she could breathe again. His words, his touch, his ruthless devotion—they had been enough to banish the rival’s poison, at least for a little while.But peace never lasted long in Ethan Blackwood’s world.The DeliveryThe next morning, a sleek black envelope arrived at their penthouse. No name, no return address.Ethan’s jaw clenched the second he saw it. He didn’t even need to open it to know where it came from.“Stay behind me,” he ordered Aria as he tore the flap.Inside were glossy photographs. Ethan. Younger. Shirtless. On a bed with the rival—bound, blindfolded, his wrists tied above his head. The angles were explicit, humiliating, undeniable.Aria’s stomach twisted, her breath catching in her throat. She tried to look away, but the images were already seared into her memory.The rival’s voice echoed in her head: Did he tell you about us? About what he made me do?Ethan crushed the photo

The morning paper hit Ethan’s desk before dawn, its headline screaming across the glossy front page.“BLACKWOOD EXPOSED: BILLIONAIRE CEO’S DARK DESIRES REVEALED”Aria froze as she read the words, her blood running cold. Beneath the headline were blurred, grainy images—Ethan bound, half-naked, the rival’s body tangled with his. They weren’t as graphic as the photos sent privately, but they were enough to feed the tabloids, enough to stir whispers that would ripple through Wall Street like poison.Her hands shook as she whispered, “Oh my God… Ethan.”But Ethan’s face was unreadable. He tossed the paper onto the desk and leaned back in his chair, his jaw tight, his eyes like ice.“She’s made her move,” he said flatly. “And now it’s my turn.”The FalloutBy noon, the scandal was everywhere. Stock tickers crawled with drops in Blackwood International shares. Investors pulled out of deals. Board members demanded explanations.And through it all, Ethan stood tall, cold, commanding. But Aria