All Chapters of The Heiress Contract : Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

The phone kept buzzing in her hand.Sylvie stared at the screen for a few seconds too long with her thumb hovering just above the answer button. She had not spoken to her mother in weeks. Sometimes months. Not because of a fight or because of distance. Just… because that was how it had always been.She finally answered."Hello?"Her mother’s voice came through clear and calm."Sylvie," she said. "I got informed about the engagement."Of course she did.Sylvie sank onto the side of her bed, her free hand curling into the fabric of her robe. "It’s… recent," she replied carefully."I know." A pause. Papers rustled faintly on the other end, as if her mother were multitasking. "How are you?""I’m fine," Sylvie said, because that was the easiest answer to give. There was another pause."How do you feel about this?" her mother asked.She swallowed. "Does it matter? It's not like I was given much of a choice besides I'm doing this for the company.""You’re strong,” her mother said. "You alwa

Sylvie and Ryan walked side by side down the wide staircase, their footsteps echoing softly against the marble. He moved slightly ahead of her, not rushing or dragging his feet either, just alert and controlled, as always. When they reached the front door, Ryan stepped forward first and opened it, holding it steady until she passed. "Thanks." she muttered, barely looking at him. Outside, the sun was bright. They walked the long stretch toward the iron gates in silence, the gravel crunching beneath their shoes. Sylvie broke it halfway. "Do you by any chance have an idea who it could be?" she asked, glancing at him. Ryan didn’t look at her. "No." She exhaled through her nose. "Figured." The gates came into view, tall and imposing as always. Two men stood just beyond them, dressed in black suits that fit too well, posture too relaxed to be harmless. They weren’t armed visibly, but something about them just looked dangerous. Ryan subtly shifted closer to her. The men str

Zade led her through a corridor, it was quieter and more private than the grand halls they’d passed earlier. The floors here were polished stone, the walls lined with framed black and white photographs: cityscapes buildings that looked like they had stories behind them. Ryan followed a few steps behind. "This part of the estate is my personal wing," Zade said, gesturing ahead as they stopped before a set of tall glass doors. "I don’t bring many people here." He pushed the doors open. Beyond them was a terrace garden, elevated and expansive. Stone pathways cut through carefully manicured greenery, low lights embedded along the edges. Sylvie stepped forward slowly. "It’s beautiful," she said, before she could stop herself. Zade smiled faintly. "I had it designed myself." They walked along the stone path. The evening air was cooler here, carrying the scent of trimmed grass and night-blooming flowers. "The wedding will be in three months," Zade said, breaking the quiet. She glan

Monday morning came like any other. Sylvie sat at the breakfast table, stirring her tea absentmindedly. She hadn’t finished it by the time she pushed the cup aside. The house was quiet, unusually so, and for a moment she considered staying home. Then she decided against it. "I’m going to work today," she said more to herself than anyone else. Ryan, was sitting on the couch near the doorway, looked up. He didn’t question her or comment. He simply nodded and reached for his jacket. She expected nothing less. She finished her breakfast, pushed her chair back and stood up to go and get ready for work. They left the house shortly after. The drive was uneventful, the kind of silence that had become normal between them. No tension. No comfort either. Wilfred Dynamics rose into view as they approached a tall glass building sitting among others like it, polished and modern. It was one of her father's company. This branch of the Wilfred empire focused on real estate development: high end

Meanwhile, Sylvie and Ryan already got back from lunch hours ago. By the time the clock on Sylvie’s desk crept toward evening, her shoulders ached in a way that only came from sitting too long. She leaned back in her chair, her eyes lingering on the computer screen for a few seconds longer than necessary. The office had begun to thin out. Conversations faded into murmurs, heels clicked less frequently down the corridor. People were starting to round up with their work to leave. She saved her work, closed the file, and shut down the computer. That was it for the day. Sylvie gathered her bag slowly, slipping her phone inside, adjusting the strap on her shoulder as if stalling. Returning to work had felt right this morning, necessary, but now exhaustion settled in her bones. When she stepped out of her office, Ryan was already there. He always was. He straightened the moment he noticed her, phone disappearing into his pocket and his attention snapping fully to her. Not rushed ot st