All Chapters of The Billionaire's Hired Bride : Chapter 31 - Chapter 37

Once we got to the hospital, I hopped down from the car. As soon as I step into the hospital lobby, something feels different.People glance my way and not with judgment, not with whispers, but with warmth. Some smile politely. Others nod, as if they’ve known me all along. I blink, confused. Just yesterday, this same hallway felt like a courtroom. Today it feels like an embrace. What is going on?Then, my phone vibrates.A notification from I*******m.“Anonymous_Lens just went live…”But the preview isn’t hateful this time, it’s… the maid. The very one I was accused of harming. I quickly tap on the video.She’s sitting up in her hospital bed, her eyes puffy from tears as her voice shake with emotion.“I’ve been unconscious for a day now but when I woke up and they told me what’s been going on, I knew I had to say something. Lila Lancaster didn’t hurt me. She helped me. I passed out in the kitchen from a fever. I have a condition and she gave me paracetamol and took me to my room. I w

My eyes moved to Asher as he ate. Something in me is relaxed as I steal glances at him. He's spending time with me. Does that mean something? Is he trying to show he's sorry?“ Are you here to bribe me again?”, I ask suspiciously.He chuckles softly.“You can’t even pretend not to care.” I raise a brow, playing it cool. “ I can't because I'm curious .” He sighs and sips his wine. “Let’s not ruin the mood.” For a moment, there’s silence. Just the quiet clinking of cutlery. It’s almost too peaceful. Then his phone, resting on the edge of the table, lights up. A message flashes on the screen. I don’t mean to look but I do. It's a message from Elise.(Elise: You left me waiting again. Should I come over instead? 💋💋)Wait… is he trying to spend time with me because he's bored?He have another girl waiting for him outside? Elise!My throat tightens. My grip around the glass falters. The wine inside trembles like my pulse. I freeze, and I swear my skin prickles with heat and dis

The first time we came here, I was wearing a sky-blue sweater and boots too big for my ankles. Ryan had brought me after a long day of exams saying he knew somewhere “quieter than silence.” I had laughed at that, but followed him anyway.That night, we sat side by side on that same bench, our knees brushing, my fingers fidgeting. I had been rambling about something — maybe books, maybe dreams and he just kept staring at me.And then, without asking, without warning…He leaned in.It wasn’t sudden, but it wasn’t slow either. Just a quiet moment that stretched too long. I remember my breath catching, my heart hammering so hard I thought he might hear it. I remember how unsure his lips were soft, a little hesitant as if he was asking me a question with that kiss.I didn’t pull away.I kissed him back.It was sweet. Gentle. Not passionate like the movies but safe, like home. Like he was promising something without words.Back then, I thought that kiss meant forever.Now I wonder if it onl

I step inside my room and shut the door. I sighed deeply as the door clicked shut behind me, cutting off whatever storm of emotions Asher might’ve had brewing. I leaned against it for a second, my chest rising and falling slowly, then pushed myself off and walked over to the dresser. My hair is damp, the hem of my dress still clinging to my skin. Without thinking too much, I changed into a soft, dry night robe and tossed the cold, wet clothes into the basket.I wasn’t hungry. The tension in my chest had eaten up whatever appetite I might’ve had. All I wanted was to disappear under the covers and pretend tonight never happened. I slipped into bed and pulled the blanket up to my chin, staring blankly at the ceiling. My mind buzzed at Asher’s face, Ryan’s voice, the way I’d said his name like I wanted it to hurt. Maybe I did.Just as my thoughts were starting to drift, my phone rang beside me. I grabbed it off the nightstand without checking the screen and whispered a tired “Hello?”“L