All Chapters of The Heiress Contract : Chapter 91 - Chapter 100

Soon, it got to evening. Liana had arrived much earlier, entering into the house with her usual brightness. It was time for dinner, Amelia and Cole were already there when they walked into the dining hall. They sat around the table. Liana’s back was straight, her smile polite in that careful way she used when she was trying to be on her best behavior. Sylvie glanced at her and bit back a smile. She noticed that Liana was nervous around her parents. Her gaze then drifted briefly toward the dining hall entrance as she thought of Ryan. She shook her head as she brushed off the thought. He could be doing a routine sweep of the grounds. Or maybe he simply didn’t just feel like joining them. Dinner passed quietly and soon, they were all done eating. When the last plates were cleared and they were all standing up to leave, Sylvie stood and reached for Liana’s hand without thinking. "Come on," she murmured. "We're heading up," she announced to the room without waiting for a respon

By evening, the house had settled into quiet. Sylvie hadn’t moved much all day. She stayed where she was, curled into herself like someone trying to disappear into the mattress. Liana had hovered around her for hours, unsure of what to say, unsure of what might make things worse. Earlier in the afternoon, hunger became impossible to ignore, not because Sylvie felt it, but because Liana did. "You have to eat something," Liana had insisted, crouched in front of her with a plate of sandwich in her hands. "Even if it’s just a few bites." Sylvie had stared past her, her eyes dull amd unfocused. "I’m not hungry." "That’s not the point," Liana said softly but firmly. "You can’t just… not eat" Eventually, after much persuading, after promises that she didn’t have to finish it, Sylvie had taken a few bites. Liana watched her like she might vanish if she looked away. Ryan still hadn’t answered. Sylvie had tried again earlier, twice. Then she stopped before Liana could notice. Ea

Morning arrived quicker than anybody expected. It was a little past six. Sylvie was already awake. She sat up slowly. Her feet touched the floor, and the cold startled her just enough to remind her she was awake, fully awake, not dreaming and definitely not imagining any of this. For a moment, she simply just sat there. She tried to name the feeling that lodged in her chest, but it refused to settle into anything familiar. It probably was panic she decided. She was scared and nervous at the same time. She had never felt like this before. Her heart wasn’t racing, but it wasn’t calm either. It beat steadily, heavily, like it was counting something down. Every breath felt deliberate. She stood up. The room was too quiet as the wedding dress hung neatly from the dresser, the one Zade had picked for her, white and untouched, catching the faint glow from the window. She didn’t look at it for long. Looking at it made something twist inside her. Just then, a knock broke the

By the time the bus came to a stop, it was almost noon.The sun was high now, bright and casting shadows across unfamiliar streets. Sylvie stepped off the bus slowly, her legs was a little bit stiff from sitting too long.For a moment, she just stood there. Her hairdo was already starting to fray, with a few loose strands of hair falling across her face.This city felt different from hers. Nobody here knew she was supposed to be getting married that morning. Good.She adjusted the strap of her bag on her shoulder and began walking. She asked three different people before she finally found the right direction to a car rental place. Her voice was steady each time she asked, though her heart hadn’t stopped pounding since she left home.The rental building wasn’t large. Just a modest storefront with wide glass windows and a faded sign overhead. She stepped inside.A man behind the counter looked up. Mid-forties with a neutral expression."Good afternoon. How can I help you?""Good afterno

The mall lights were already glowing against the deepening evening when they pulled into the parking lot. It was one of those malls with glass front, automatic sliding doors, soft gold lighting. Ryan cut the engine and glanced at her. "You okay?" She nodded. "Yeah." He stepped out first, walking around the car to open her door. She noticed the way he automatically took most of the weight, always positioning himself between her and everything else. Inside, the mall hummed with life. It was almost six-thirty now, the early evening rush still alive but beginning to thin. Ryan slowed his steps so she could walk beside him. "Pick whatever you want," he said quietly. "Don’t worry about anything." She looked at him. "Ryan..." "I mean it." His voice was firm but soft. "Whatever it is at all that you need." She hesitated. "I can pay for some of it." He gave her a look, gentle, but unyielding. "No. You shouldn’t worry about that. Just… trust me. It’s not an issue." She swallowed and