บททั้งหมดของ The Heiress Contract : บทที่ 51 - บทที่ 60

The digital clock on the bedside table flipped to 7:00 am, but Ryan was already awake. Not because he had rested well because he hadn’t but because his body had learned, over years, how to rise even when his mind was heavy. He sat upright on the edge of the bed, with his feet planted firmly on the floor and his elbows resting loosely on his thighs. For a long moment, he did nothing. He didn’t reach for his phone. He didn’t check the time again. He just stared ahead, his eyes unfocused, breathing slowly but controlled. The room was quiet. Morning light filtered in through the partially drawn curtains, casting pale lines across the floor. Normally, he would already be mentally mapping out his day, security rounds, schedules, possible risks but today his thoughts refused to fall into order. Zade’s voice replayed in his head. Not the tone. Not even the words exactly. Just the implication behind them. Ryan exhaled slowly and pushed himself to his feet. He moved through his morning r

"Are you heading out?" she asked. He paused mid-step, one hand already on the door handle. He turned slightly, not fully facing her. "Yes," he replied.She saw the way he was dressed and figured out where he was going to. She hesitated, then added, "To the training area?" He looked at her this time. Just briefly. "Yes." "Okay," she said. The word came out softer than she intended, like she had more to say but didn’t know how to frame it. He nodded once, a small acknowledgement, then turned back toward the door. He was just about to step out when a staff member hurried in from the hallway. "Mr. Ryan," the man said politely. "Mr. Cole asked to see you. He said he is done with what he was attending to." Ryan stopped again. He exhaled through his nose, then nodded. "Alright," he said. "Thank you." The worker bowed slightly and left. Ryan turned away from the door and headed toward the study without looking back at Sylvie. She watched him go, her arms folding loosely across her

He moved his hands away from her waist first, slowly, like he was forcing himself to do it. Then his hands slipped from her arm too, the warmth disappearing so abruptly it made her body react before her mind did. He stepped back, just one step, but it felt like miles. His eyes stayed on her. She swallowed. "Ryan?" she called, the sound of his name leaving her mouth before she had even decided to say it. This time it didn’t come out confident or teasing. It came out uncertain,questioning, like she was asking him to confirm that he was still there, that what had just happened hadn’t been imagined. He inhaled, a deep breath through his nose, then exhaled slowly. He looked to the equipment rack. "We’re done for the day," he said with a calm voice. "I’m done." Done? He turned away from her, reaching for the face towel he had dropped earlier. The movement felt final, like a door being quietly but firmly closed. Panic rose before she could stop it. "You don’t have to leave becaus

At the meeting, the room felt colder than usual, or maybe it was just Sylvie. She sat upright in her chair with her legs crossed neatly beneath the long conference table and her tablet resting on her lap though she barely looked at it. Around her, familiar faces filled the room. Executives, department heads, people who had worked with her long enough. Mrs Harrington was talking. She listened. "The clients are expecting us to revisit some of the terms of the agreement," she said, flipping through a printed document. "Mostly timelines and deliverables." Another voice joined in almost immediately. "They’re also pushing for reassurance. They want to see commitment. Face-to-face discussions." Sylvie nodded slowly. "It’s about a three-hour drive," the man continued. "If we leave tomorrow morning, we’ll be back the following day. Just one overnight stay." "Four people will be going," Mrs Harrington added. "Myself, Miss Wilfred of course, and then..." she glanced down at the list "...

Sylvie woke before her alarm. For a few seconds, she lay still, staring at the ceiling, letting herself remember where she was and why today mattered. The trip. She had packed the night before. Just a small suitcase sitting neatly by the door, untouched since then. She had double-checked everything before sleeping, even though she knew she hadn’t brought much. A few outfits, work shoes, something comfortable to sleep in, toiletries. Nothing unnecessary. Nothing that would make it feel like more than what it was supposed to be. A work trip. She swung her legs off the bed and stood, stretching slowly. The house was quiet in that particular way it always was in the early mornings, before staff moved about freely, before voices and footsteps filled the corridors. She showered, dressed carefully, choosing something simple and professional, something that wouldn’t draw attention. She took a moment longer than usual fixing her hair, then stopped herself, annoyed. Why am I even overth