Todos los capítulos de Contracted to the man who broke me : Capítulo 161 - Capítulo 170

Ethan's POV The mansion grew closer with every passing mile, its familiar silhouette rising against the darkening sky, and something in my chest tightened with each meter the car covered. *I don't want to go in.* *Not yet. Not today.* I wanted to run. Wanted to disappear somewhere quiet for just a few hours, somewhere that didn't hold Grandpa's hopeful smile or Adrian's cold, knowing eyes waiting for me behind those gates. But I knew what waited on the other side of that decision too. Grandpa, puzzled and hurt by my absence. Adrian, irritated at having to explain it, or worse, irritated that I'd dared to keep his grandfather waiting. I sighed, gripping the wheel tighter. *Just go home. Just face it.* Just before the turn that led toward the Blackwood estate, my foot pressed the brake. I knew the consequences. I was fully aware of what waited for me, of how Adrian might react, of the explanations I'd have to give. And still, my leg refused to move, refused to release t

Ethan's POVI slap Adrian hard across the face. The sound cracks through the room, sharper than I intended, sharper than I expected from my own hand. His head turns with the force of it. A beat of silence follows. My palm stings. My chest heaves.His sharp, disgusting comments, his doubts about my character, had been falling on me day after day, chipping away at something I did not even realize I was still holding together. I was fuming. My whole body shook with fury, a tremor running from my shoulders down to my fingertips."Just zip it," I seethe. My voice is low and cracked at the edges. "Zip your filthy mouth."Adrian stares at me, stunned. His hand hovers near his cheek but does not touch it, like acknowledging the sting would mean acknowledging something else too. I glared at him, my breath ragged, my jaw locked so tight it aches."Just by seeing something on a phone you don't have any fucking right to throw degrading comments at me." I point my finger at him, stepping closer. D

Ethan's POVThe news was scattered all around the town that next week we were getting engaged. Staff, clients, friends. Everyone was sent cards, little notes of advance thank you, some dry fruits small packs and chocolates wrapped in a dark blue hamper. "It looked very cute!"Grandpa was ecstatic, handling every single arrangement himself, refusing to let me lift a finger. Even the venue and the decorations were kept hidden from me, tucked away behind closed doors like a surprise I had not asked for."Grandpa have some medicine.., water, take some rest", was all I heard from Adrian, Mrs. Rosamand and Damian. "You will not go to work until the engagement is over", Grandpa also strictly put restrictions on me. I was too free. And that was something I can't bear to myself. It's so hard to sit and see everyone doing something or anything. While I just stared at their face like a idiot doing nothing. Honestly, it made me have cold feet nervousness and excited too. But at the same tim

Ethan's POV The Grand Royal Hotel looked like something out of a dream I never let myself have. Lights climbed the building all the way to where the sky started, and the whole structure glowed like it had been carved out of gold and set on fire from the inside. Los Angeles sprawled beneath it, indifferent, unaware that somewhere inside that blaze of light my entire life was about to change. But here, tonight, none of that mattered. Nothing outside these walls mattered. No press. No phones. Adrian had made that clear in a voice that left no room for negotiation. "Anyone caught taking a picture loses the phone. On the spot." He had said it once, at the entrance, and the silence that followed told me everyone understood he meant it. I sat in front of the mirror while Davel adjusted my collar for what felt like the tenth time, the stylist fussing over my hair after finishing it twice already. My hands wouldn't stop shaking. I pressed them flat against my knees, willing them still, a

Ethan's POV My chair scraped back before I fully decided to stand, my legs a little unsteady beneath me. Every face at the table was turned toward me, waiting, warm, expectant. I found Adrian's eyes first, anchoring myself there the way I'd learned to all night. "I'm not good at speeches," I started, my voice thinner than I wanted it to be. A few soft laughs rippled through the table, kind ones. "But I'll try." I turned the glass slowly in my hand, gathering whatever nerve I had left. "I never thought I'd be someone's choice. Not really. Not like this." My throat tightened around the words. "And then Adrian happened, and somehow I became exactly that. Someone's choice. His choice." I glanced at him, and his eyes hadn't moved from mine once. "I don't have big words for what tonight means. I just know that whatever this is between us, I don't want to spend a single day without it. Thank you all for being here. And Adrian," my voice cracked slightly, "thank you for choosing me too."