When Jealousy Spoke Louder Than Pride

Chapter 21: When Jealousy Spoke Louder Than PrideMorning came too quickly.Aaliyah barely slept, her mind replaying the memory of Ethan’s lips against hers, the warmth of his hands, the promise in his eyes. When sunlight filtered through the curtains, reality rushed back in—along with fear.Kisses don’t rewrite contracts, she reminded herself.Downstairs, the mansion buzzed with quiet activity. Staff moved efficiently, greeting her with polite smiles. But something felt different today. Maybe it was the way her heart refused to calm, or the way she caught herself hoping to see Ethan again.She found him in the dining room, already dressed in a crisp charcoal suit, phone pressed to his ear.“Yes,” he said sharply. “Cancel my morning meeting. I’ll be late.”He looked up and froze when he saw her.The tension from the night before filled the room instantly.“I’ll see you later,” he said into the phone, then ended the call.“Good morning,” Aaliyah said softly.“Good morning,” he replied,

Last Updated : 2026-01-28

Dinner Without a Contact

Chapter 22: Dinner Without a ContractThe restaurant overlooked the city skyline, its glass walls glowing softly under golden lights. It was elegant but intimate—nothing like the loud, extravagant places Ethan usually entertained business partners.Aaliyah noticed that immediately.“This place is beautiful,” she said as the waiter pulled out her chair.“I thought you’d like it,” Ethan replied, waiting until she was seated before sitting across from her.That simple gesture made her heart stumble.For a moment, they just looked at each other, the space between them unfamiliar without the weight of paperwork, staff, or expectations.“No contracts tonight,” Ethan said quietly. “Just… dinner.”Aaliyah nodded. “Just dinner.”But both of them knew it was more than that.As wine was poured and menus set aside, the tension slowly softened. Ethan asked her about her childhood, her dreams before the marriage, the things she loved but rarely spoke about. And for the first time, he didn’t interru

Last Updated : 2026-01-28

The Clause That Changed the Truth

Chapter 23: The Clause That Changed the TruthThe drive back to the mansion felt nothing like the one before dinner.The silence this time was sharp, uncomfortable—cutting deeper with every mile. Aaliyah stared out the window, her reflection faint against the glass, her thoughts spiraling around the words Ethan had dropped so casually.A clause you’ve never seen.“What does the clause say?” she asked again, her voice calm but strained.Ethan tightened his grip on the steering wheel. “It was added by my legal team before the contract was finalized.”“And you didn’t think I deserved to know?” she asked.“I thought it wouldn’t matter,” he said quickly. “The contract was supposed to run its course. Clean. Simple.”Aaliyah let out a short, bitter laugh. “Nothing about this has been simple.”The car pulled into the driveway, but she didn’t move to get out. Neither did he.“The clause states that if either party terminates the marriage before the agreed period,” Ethan said slowly, “there’s a

Last Updated : 2026-01-28

The Choice That Cost Him Everything

Chapter 24: The Choice That Cost Him EverythingAaliyah didn’t come down for breakfast.That alone told Ethan how badly he had messed up.He stood at the dining table, untouched coffee growing cold in his hands, staring at the staircase as if she might suddenly appear. She didn’t.The house felt empty without her presence—too quiet, too large.He made a decision right then.If he was going to lose her, it wouldn’t be because he stayed silent.Ethan canceled his morning meetings, ignoring the surprised protests from his assistant. Instead, he headed straight to the legal wing of the company.Within the hour, he stood across from his head attorney, jaw set.“I want the clause removed,” Ethan said flatly.The attorney blinked. “That clause protects you.”“It cages her,” Ethan replied. “Take it out.”“That could cost the company millions.”“Do it anyway.”Silence followed.“You’re serious,” the attorney said slowly.“I’ve never been more serious.”By the time Ethan left the office, his na

Last Updated : 2026-01-28

When the World Turned Against Them

Chapter 25: When the World Turned Against ThemThe headline went live at 08:17 a.m.“CEO’s Contract Marriage Exposed: Inside the Billionaire’s Fake Love Deal.”Aaliyah saw it on her phone before she even got out of bed.Her stomach dropped.The article was detailed. Too detailed.Photos. Legal language. Contract excerpts. Anonymous insider quotes. Even private dinner photos she didn’t remember being taken.Her hands started shaking.Downstairs, the mansion erupted into chaos.Phones rang. Staff whispered. Security rushed through halls. Ethan’s assistant was shouting into her headset.Ethan burst into the living room, his face pale as he read the article.“Amara,” he said through clenched teeth.Aaliyah came down the stairs slowly, her face drained of color.“They know everything,” she whispered.Ethan crossed the room in three strides. “I’m handling it.”“No,” she said, stepping back. “This isn’t just your reputation. It’s my life.”She held up her phone. “They’re calling me a gold di

Last Updated : 2026-01-28

All Chapters of The Contract Bride He Never Wanted: Chapter 21 - Chapter 25

When Jealousy Spoke Louder Than Pride

Dinner Without a Contact

The Clause That Changed the Truth

The Choice That Cost Him Everything

When the World Turned Against Them