BEYOND THE CONTRACT のすべてのチャプター: チャプター 11 - チャプター 20

Two years ago…The café hummed with life—clinking cups, soft laughter, and the warm scent of freshly brewed coffee. Sunlight streamed through the large windows, casting a golden glow over Sophia and Tina’s usual corner booth.Tina was radiant today, her eyes sparkling as she stirred her cappuccino with an unnecessary flourish. “Okay, Sophia,” she said, barely containing her excitement, “I have to tell you. I met someone.”Sophia’s lips curled into a grin. “Oh? Spill!”Tina leaned in, her voice hushed but bubbling with joy. “His name is Alex. He’s… perfect. Tall, charming, and those dimples? Deadly.” She placed a hand on her chest dramatically. “Honestly, I think I’ve already fallen for him, and we’ve only been on two dates.”Sophia’s eyes softened. She loved seeing Tina like this—glowing, giddy, and hopelessly romantic. “T, you’re smitten!”Tina sighed, her cheeks warming. “I am, but... I don’t want to mess this up. He’s different. I feel it.” She paused, then, almost shyly, added,

After Sophia told Tina what she had to sleep with Julian to save her mother's life, Tina hung up.She didn’t hesitate, dialing Savi’s number without a second thought.The phone rang only twice before Savi answered.“Hello?”, Savi said, dressing up after satisfying one of her customers in bed.Tina’s tone was sharp, no small talk, no time to waste.“I need you to record Sophia and the man she will be sleeping with tonight in the bedroom.”Savi stood trying to make sense of what she was hearing.“Wait, what? You want me to... record Sophia? In the bedroom with a man?, ”Tina: “Yes. It’s important. I’ll pay you well. Half now, the rest when I get the footage.”Savi ran out, surprised. “Wait , you mean Sophia wants to have sex with someone in this club, I saw her cleaning earlier today”“Yes, she needs the money from it to save her mother from a terminal illness ... .it's very urgent”, Tina said with a hasty tone. “Why do you need this? What’s going on?I thought she was your friend, " Sa

Sophia stood outside the glass doors of St. Clair Industries, staring at her reflection. The woman looking back at her wasn’t the same one who had walked through these doors weeks ago. Her face was pale, her eyes hollow, her once soft features now sharp with exhaustion. Grief had stripped away every ounce of warmth she used to carry.She took a deep breath, forcing herself to move. The doors slid open, and the familiar hum of the office swallowed her. Phones rang, keyboards clicked, and employees bustled about, their lives unchanged. No one stopped to look at her. No one knew how much her world had fallen apart.Her feet felt heavy as she walked down the hallway toward the janitor’s supply room. The air smelled the same—coffee, ink, cleaning detergent—but everything felt different. As if she was moving through a place she no longer belonged.She reached for the mop, her fingers tightening around the handle. Work. That’s what she needed. Something to keep her hands busy, her mind distr

The rhythmic beeping of the heart monitor was the first thing Sophia heard as she drifted back to consciousness. The sharp scent of antiseptic filled her nose, and the coolness of the hospital sheets pressed against her skin.Her eyelids felt heavy, but she forced them open, blinking against the fluorescent lights. For a moment, she was disoriented. Then, the memories came rushing back—the contract, the confrontation with Julian, the overwhelming dizziness before everything went black.A low voice broke through the fog in her mind.“You’re awake.”She turned her head slightly and found Julian sitting in a chair beside her bed, his arms crossed, his expression unreadable. His usual composed demeanor was still there, but there was something else in his eyes—something she couldn’t quite place.“How long have I been out?” she asked, her voice hoarse.“A few hours.” He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “You collapsed.”Sophia exhaled, closing her eyes for a brief moment. Of

Julian had barely fallen asleep when his phone buzzed on the nightstand. He groaned, shifting onto his side, the dull glow of the screen piercing the darkness.His first instinct was to ignore it. It was late—too late for any call that wasn’t bad news. But then he saw the name.Sophia.He frowned. She never called him. After everything, she had been determined to keep her distance, refusing any unnecessary interactions.So why now?A strange feeling settled in his chest. His thumb hovered over the decline button before he exhaled sharply and pressed accept.“What is it Sophia?” His voice was rough with sleep, his tone clipped.Silence.Then, a shaky breath.His body tensed.“Julian…” Her voice was fragile, unsteady. “I don’t feel well.”Instantly, sleep was forgotten. He sat up, muscles tight with unease. “What’s wrong?”“I don’t know…” Her voice wavered. “My stomach… It hurts. I feel dizzy. I—I don’t know what’s happening.”A curse slipped under his breath.“Are you alone?”“Yes.”Ju