All Chapters of BEYOND THE CONTRACT : Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

“I’ll go home,” Sophia said firmly, though exhaustion made her voice weaker than she intended.Julian sighed, crossing his arms. “You heard what the doctor said. You need someone with you.”“I can take care of myself.”He scoffed. “Yeah? Is that why you passed out in my office?”Sophia clenched her fists. She hated that he had a point.“I’m not going to your house,” she said.Julian exhaled, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Fine. If you don’t want to come with me, at least stay somewhere safe.”She shot him a wary look. “What do you mean?”“I have a friend who owns a hotel,” he said. “I’ll arrange for you to stay there for a while. You’ll have staff available if you need anything, and I’ll make sure someone checks on you.”Sophia hesitated. She didn’t want to be under his control, but the idea of going back to her empty apartment didn’t sit right with her either. After a long silence, she finally nodded.“Alright.”Julian wasted no time making the call, and within an hour, they arriv

Sophia stepped into Julian’s house, her breath catching in her throat. Calling it a house felt like an understatement—it was more like a palace.The high ceilings stretched endlessly, adorned with intricate chandeliers that bathed the grand foyer in a soft golden glow. Marble floors gleamed under her feet, reflecting the elegance of the carefully curated interior. Every detail screamed wealth, power, and exclusivity.She shifted her gaze to Julian, who casually removed his jacket and handed it to a housekeeper. His expression remained unreadable, as if this level of luxury meant nothing to him.Sophia exhaled slowly, taking hesitant steps forward. "This place… it’s like heaven."Julian glanced at her, a faint smirk appearing at the corner of his lips. "It’s home."She turned to face him fully. "You live here alone?""Yes, with my staff," he said simply, as if it were the most normal thing in the world.Sophia's brows knitted together. A man with his wealth and power, living in a man

Sophia was still curled up in bed when she heard a knock on her door. She groaned softly, reluctant to get up, but the door creaked open, and Julian stepped inside. He was already dressed in a crisp suit, his presence commanding as always."You’re awake," Julian said, leaning against the doorframe."Not really," she muttered, rubbing her eyes. "What do you want?"Julian smirked, his hands tucked into his pockets as he walked further into the room. "We need to talk about the wedding."Sophia sat up straight, suddenly more awake. "Wedding?""Yes," he said, standing at the foot of her bed. "We need to have a small ceremony. Just something formal in front of my father’s lawyer and a few board members. That way, it’s legally binding."Sophia blinked, trying to process his words. "You mean... like, tomorrow?"Julian shook his head. "Today."Her jaw nearly dropped. "Today?""I already have everything arranged," Julian continued, unfazed by her reaction. "You don’t have to do anything. Just b

Julian hesitated for only a second before pushing off the chair and making his way to the bed. The room was dimly lit, casting soft shadows across the walls. The air between them was thick, charged with something neither of them wanted to name.He sat down beside her, his warmth seeping through the space between them. Sophia turned her head slightly, meeting his gaze. The intensity in his eyes sent a strange warmth rushing through her. Her heart pounded, and for a moment, she forgot how to breathe.Julian's fingers twitched against the bedspread, as if resisting the urge to reach for her. "Are you sure you want me here?" he asked, his voice lower than usual.Sophia swallowed, her throat suddenly dry. "Yes."Neither of them moved. Neither of them spoke.But the silence was deafening.Her gaze flickered to his lips, remembering the way they had once felt against hers. A memory from that night—his touch, the heat, the way he had consumed her—came flooding back.Julian noticed the shift i

The past few days had been a whirlwind—marriage, moving in together, and now, an unspoken change in the air between them. It wasn’t forced. It wasn’t scripted. It just... happened.Sophia found herself watching Julian more than usual. The way he carried himself, the way his lips curled in amusement when she said something sarcastic, the way he always seemed to be near, as if he had unconsciously started gravitating toward her.And Julian? He had always seen Sophia as someone who challenged him, someone whose presence disrupted his perfectly controlled life. But now, he found himself welcoming that disruption. There was something about her—a strength beneath the pain, a quiet resilience that made him respect her even more.It started small.Like the time Julian absentmindedly tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear when she was ranting about a dress that didn’t fit right. His fingers lingered, brushing against her skin, and when their eyes met, there was a moment of stillness, as if