All Chapters of BEYOND THE CONTRACT : Chapter 51 - Chapter 60

Vanessa’s stomach twisted. She hadn’t seen them in months. Hadn’t even looked back when she left. And now, here they were—standing in front of her like ghosts from a past she’d buried.“Asher,” she breathed, forcing a smile, hoping to regain some control. “I—I didn’t expect to see you here.”Asher scoffed, shaking his head in disbelief. “Of course, you didn’t. You walked away without a word, Vanessa. You left us—me and our son—like we were nothing. And now, you’re here, ruining another person’s life? Haven’t you done enough damage?”Vanessa flinched, glancing around. A few people had begun to gather, whispers buzzing through the air. This wasn’t happening. Not now. Not like this.“Asher, keep your voice down,” she hissed, stepping closer. “This isn’t the place for—”“This isn’t the place?” he cut her off, his voice dripping with bitterness. “Where is the place then, Vanessa? When you left us struggling? When your son cried himself to sleep every night asking where his mother was? When

Months had passed since the storm that nearly tore them apart. During this time, Julian and Sophia had grown closer than ever. Their love had been tested, shaken, and threatened, but it had never broken. They had faced public scrutiny, betrayal, and challenges that would have destroyed any ordinary relationship. Yet, through it all, they had held on to each other. Now, with the chaos behind them, they could finally breathe—to live without fear, without doubt, and with the certainty that they were exactly where they were meant to be.One evening, they sat together on the balcony of their home, watching the city lights twinkle in the distance. The air was cool, carrying the faint scent of jasmine from the garden below. Julian held a glass of wine in one hand while his other arm rested on the back of Sophia’s chair.“You know,” he said softly, his voice carrying a tone of reflection, “there was a time I thought I would never find peace again. That no matter how much I achieved, someth

Tina rolled her eyes, folding her arms. “Oh please, Alex. Instead of making excuses, why don’t you focus on fixing your life? What if I wasn’t working, huh? What would we be eating? Air?”Alex ignored her as he scrolled through the rejection emails. There had to be a pattern, a reason why every company he applied to turned him down. It didn’t make sense. He was qualified—more than qualified. So why?Before he could dwell on it, his phone buzzed in his hand. His heart skipped a beat as an unknown number flashed on the screen. With a hesitant glance at Tina, he answered.“Hello?”“Mr. Alex Carter?” A firm, professional voice came through the speaker.“Yes, speaking.”“This is St. Clair Industries,” the voice continued. “We’ve reviewed your application, and we’d like to schedule an interview for the supervising position.”For a moment, Alex forgot how to breathe. St. Clair Industries? Julian’s company?His fingers tensed around the phone as a whirlwind of emotions flooded his mind. Out o

Dinner had ended, but neither of them had moved from the table. The plates sat empty, the candles had burned low, and the soft hum of the night breeze carried the faint scent of the ocean from the balcony.Sophia rested her chin on her palm, watching Julian across the table. He was still in his shirt, sleeves rolled to his elbows, the top buttons undone. The faint glow from the chandelier cast a warm light on his face — serious, yet gentle.They’d talked about everything that night — the past, her pain, Alex, Tina, the choices that had led them here. And somehow, between the words, something had shifted. The distance that once felt like a wall between them had melted away, leaving behind something fragile and real.Julian’s gaze lifted, catching hers. “You’re quiet,” he murmured.Sophia smiled faintly. “So are you.”“I’m thinking about you,” he said, leaning back in his chair.She arched a brow. “About me? That doesn’t sound dangerous at all.”Julian’s lips curved into that slow, know

The ride home was thick with silence. The smell of smoke still clung to their clothes, drifting faintly through the car, mixing with the heavy tension that neither of them wanted to break. Streetlights slid across the windshield in broken streaks, painting Julian’s face in gold and shadow.Sophia sat stiffly in her seat, her fingers knotted on her lap, her mind replaying the scene outside Ma Rachel’s club. The broken glass, the yellow tape, the flashing red lights of the police cars. And then—that man.Jason had been talking to him, quietly, almost too quietly, but Sophia had noticed. The man’s posture, the way he glanced at her for a split second before turning away—it stirred something deep in her memory.Her brows furrowed as she stared out the window. Where have I seen him before?The memory tugged at her like a faint echo. Her mother’s voice. The clinking of a teacup. A dim afternoon, sunlight filtering through lace curtains.Then suddenly—it hit her.Sophia gasped softly.Julian