Lahat ng Kabanata ng Her Return : The Billionaire's Contract Wife: Kabanata 71 - Kabanata 80

"Precisely," I confirmed. "We need to maintain absolute professionalism and focus. I need a clear head to finish this project flawlessly and close that chapter entirely.""Understood, Killian. Strictly professional," she said, her relief clear in her voice. "I'll make sure the rest of the team understands that too.""Thank you, Tanya," I said, dismissing her with a nod. "I need to get some sleep. I'll be in the office tomorrow."She left a minute later, reassured that her boss was finally rational and was treating Nova as an inconvenience to be managed, not a heartbreak to be revisited.I stood in the silence of my house, the guilt still a heavy presence, but the obsession a driving force. I hadn't told Tanya about the lie, the son, or the massive scale of the deception. I hadn't told her that for the past two weeks I was staying in the same building with Nova, only fifteen feet apart. I had simply built a wall and purchased the territory directly across from Nova's.I grabbed the box

I looked her dead in the eyes. "I couldn't find the truth in the files, Nova. The lie is too perfect. But someone orchestrated it. Someone who didn't want me to have a clean break or an honest divorce. Someone who wanted me to be consumed by hatred for you."I paused, letting her absorb that. "I won't tell Tanya I'm here. I won't tell her about Zachary. I won't tell her I know the truth. For the next six weeks, I will be the cold, professional CEO who just wants to finish Project Helios and get rid of Nova Vale. You handle your side, and I'll handle mine. And I will find out who built this lie and why."Her furious expression wavered, replaced by a look of profound, wary exhaustion. She knew I meant it. She knew the investigation was the only thing that could possibly save my sanity.She leaned back against the heavy door, her eyes scanning the newly opened doorway to 80A. "Fine, Ashford," she said, her voice heavy with resignation. "You investigate your lie. But if you cross the prof

I looked at her, at the absolute exhaustion in her eyes, and knew I couldn't lie. The professional game was over."I reacted like that because I know exactly what a life-threatening reaction looks like," I said, my voice thick with guilt. "I reacted like that because I was with you when you almost died on me twice. I can't watch you fight for your life alone. Not ever again."Her eyes held mine, the wariness replaced by a chilling clarity. She knew exactly what memory I was fighting."So now you know," she said, her voice flat and devastating. "And what does that change, Killian? You still chose the lie. You chose hatred because it was easier. You chose to be a victim.""Nova, please. Give me a chance to…""A chance for what?" She cut me off, turning back, her eyes burning with pure contempt. "Now that you know the truth, your penance is complete. I want you to leave this room, and I want you to finish Project Helios flawlessly, and then you will disappear. You owe me that much, Killi

NovaThe first thing I registered was the brutal headache, the kind only Don Julio Añejo can deliver. The second thing was the suffocating weight of six feet, three inches of man pressed against me. I was neatly spooned against Killian’s back, my arm trapped under his shoulder, our legs tangled beneath the sheets.I froze.I didn't move. I didn't breathe. The memory of last night, the desperation, the ruin, and the utter collapse of my professional resolve hit me like a tidal wave of regret. This wasn't a truce; it was a mistake. A massive, unforgivable mistake.I tried to pull my arm free, but his grip instantly tightened, a reflex that was both protective and possessive. I panicked, shoving him sharply.He shot upright, startled, his eyes snapping open. He was awake instantly, his body coiled, scanning the room, the CEO, stripped of his clothes, reacting to a threat. He was still the most dangerous thing in the room.He looked at me, then at the chaotic sheets, then at the empty spo

NovaThe investor dinner the night before was a sheer act of will. I was stuck next to Killian, close enough to confirm he was real, far enough to maintain the professional chill for three hours while we sold Project Helios. Killian was perfect: the slightly rattled, intensely brilliant CEO. I was the calm, necessary co-pilot.Every time I presented a metric, Killian would anchor it, adding context that only amplified my importance. He wasn't giving me credit; he was binding me to the project, demonstrating to the investors that his fate was tied to mine. His six-week siege was totally working, forcing me into relentless, exhausting proximity.By Friday morning, I was running on fumes, but I was focused. The next required meeting was the 10:00 a.m. Phase II deliverables review. I was walking across the main lobby of Ashford Global, my head held high, when I felt a sudden, sharp yank on my elbow.I stopped and spun around. It wasn't security. It was Elara, Killian's sister.She wasn't