All Chapters of Billionaire’s Pretend Wife To Be: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

Two days had passed since I saw Alessandro bare-chested in the gym. Two days of him acting like I was an abstract concept, not a human being. The tension hadn't dissipated; it had pressurized, turning every shared meal into a high-stakes, silent game.The small, square dining room was supposed to be a reprieve from the Grand Salon, but the tension was so thick tonight it could have been the boardroom. It was just the four of us: Alessandro, Lucas, Victoria, and me. Alessandro was seated at the head, radiating controlled intensity, while I was carefully positioned to his right. Lucas was across from me, a beacon of easy charm, and Victoria was adjacent to Alessandro, positioned to observe every subtle shift in the social terrain.Alessandro hadn't touched me since the night of the gala, nor had he even addressed me outside of mandated social prompts. He was punishing me for seeing him vulnerable in the gym, maintaining a chilling, hyper-formal distance that felt like being trapped in a

The house had settled into its late-night silence. It was precisely the time Alessandro preferred to work, and precisely the time I knew I would find him unguarded.The conversation with Arthur had been an injection into my conscience. I couldn’t look at the cold titan anymore; all I saw was the terrified sixteen-year-old boy who had been publicly shamed, buried beneath layers of granite and gold.I found Alessandro in his home office, the same silent, modern space I had stumbled into days ago. He was seated at his desk, the only light source a minimalist lamp casting sharp shadows across his face. He was in a black t-shirt and grey slacks, the casual attire only emphasizing the raw power I’d seen in the gym.I paused in the doorway, my presence a deliberate intrusion on his sanctuary.“Alessandro,” I began, keeping my voice low and even. “We need to talk. I won’t interrupt you long, but this can’t wait.”He didn’t look up from the complex array of data on his screen, though I knew he

The North Wing suite, so coldly impressive under the artificial lights of the previous night, looked like a sanctuary in the soft morning sun. The shield of the dome was currently closed, letting in only a gentle, diffused light that made the white linens and clean surfaces glow.Leo was not just awake; he was thriving. He was sitting cross-legged on the floor, surrounded by his old, familiar books and a selection of the new ones Marcus had provided, massive, glossy tomes on constellations and astrophysics. His cheeks had a healthy, light flush, and his eyes were glued to a detailed star map taped to the wall.I watched him from the doorway of the adjoining sitting area, feeling the knot of guilt that had plagued me for weeks finally begin to unravel.“Okay, Professor Leo,” I said, walking toward him and settling on the plush, floor-length rug. “What are you studying this morning? I need a full report on the Andromeda Galaxy.”Leo looked up, his smile so wide it made his entire face s

The clock on my bedside table glowed 1:17 AM. I had been restless since returning from the North Wing after tucking Leo in. The events of the day, the easy laughter with Lucas, the subsequent, chilling flash of jealousy on Alessandro’s face, had left me with a buzzing energy that bordered on anxiety. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw that brief, unguarded scowl, a possessiveness that had nothing to do with the contract.He's trying to maintain control by treating me like property, and every reaction, even my anger, is a confirmation of his power. But the look he gave Lucas was different. That was primal. That was the emotion he swore he buried.I sighed, throwing off the cool silk sheets. The Manor was eerily silent at this hour, wrapped in the expensive, heavy quiet of old money. I couldn’t settle. A wave of irrational worry about Leo, amplified by the vast, unfamiliar silence of the house, suddenly compelled me. I had to check on him one last time.I pulled on a thick cashmere rob

The day following the early morning fever crisis had been predictable: a period of unnerving calm. Alessandro had departed for Conti Tower early, sending a terse text via Marcus confirming Leo’s improving vital signs and reminding me to schedule a public appearance with him next week. His cold professionalism, re-established immediately after Leo’s fever broke, was his shield, and my acceptance of it was my weapon.I felt mentally exhausted, stretched taut between the genuine fear I’d felt and the false intimacy it had created. I needed air that wasn't filtered by Conti technology.He said it was tactical. He said he secured the asset. He built a beautiful, cold wall of logic to deny the fact that he was a human being who cared. And I, the actress, must accept his version of the truth to protect the actual human being, Leo. But the moment I needed him, the contract vanished. That single, honest moment is the greatest threat to my ability to play this role.The interruption came precis