Contract Marriage With The Wrong Billionaire のすべてのチャプター: チャプター 21 - チャプター 28

“That’s different,” I said, but my voice wavered.“How? How is it different?” His eyes blazed. “We were both hiding. Both pretending. Both trying to escape our real lives. The only difference is I’m here trying to explain and you already decided I’m guilty.”We stared at each other across my living room, both furious, both hurt, both refusing to back down.“Why are you really here?” I asked. “Because if you came for an apology, you’re not getting one.”“Good. Because I’m not here to apologize either.” He pulled out a chair at my dining table, sat down without being invited. “I’m here to propose a solution to the disaster we’re both stuck in.”I stayed standing. “What solution?”“The engagement. The marriage. All of it.” He leaned back, crossed his arms. “We’re both being forced into this whether we like it or not. Your father and my family have already announced it. The merger documents are signed. The stock market has already responded. We can’t back out without destroying both our c

It made horrible sense.“We need more proof before we can move against him,” I said.“I know. That’s why I think you should go through with this marriage.” Jennifer grabbed my hands. “Use the next few months to gather evidence. Let Marcus think he’s won. And then we destroy him.”“Using Kai.”“Using Kai,” she agreed. “If he’s really willing to help, if he’s really not behind this, then you have a powerful ally. Zhang Tech’s resources plus Chen Industries’ information. We could take Marcus down completely.”I thought about Kai’s face yesterday. The anger. The honesty. The brutal practicality of his offer.We didn’t like each other. Didn’t trust each other. But we could work together.“Okay,” I said. “Let’s do this.”The lawyers’ office was in a sleek high-rise downtown. Neutral territory. Professional. The kind of place where billion dollar deals were made and unmade every day.I arrived five minute

The engagement party was being held at the Grand Plaza Hotel, in the ballroom my father had rented out for what he believed was a celebration of his daughter’s love story.I stood in front of my bedroom mirror at 5:30 PM, staring at a woman I barely recognized.The dress was champagne silk, elegant and understated. My hair was swept up, makeup flawless. The engagement ring caught the light every time I moved my hand.I looked like a bride-to-be.I felt like I was going to my own funeral.“You look beautiful,” Jennifer said from the doorway. She’d come over to help me get ready, which really meant making sure I didn’t have a complete breakdown before the car arrived.“I look like a liar.”“You look like someone who’s doing what she has to do to survive.” She walked over, adjusted a strand of hair that had come loose. “That’s not the same thing.”My phone buzzed. A text from the driver.Arriving in five minutes, Miss Chen.Five minutes until I walked into Kai’s world. Until this became

He walked back toward the ballroom, leaving me standing there alone in the hallway.My hands were shaking. My vision was blurred with tears I refused to let fall.He’d kissed another woman. At our engagement party. And told me to get used to it.Told me I had no claim on him. That Bangkok meant nothing. That this marriage was just a contract and I was stupid for thinking it could be anything more.I pressed my hand to my chest where something was cracking, breaking, falling apart.I’d known this marriage was fake. Had signed the contract knowing exactly what it was.So why did this hurt so much?Why did seeing him kiss someone else feel like betrayal when I had no right to feel betrayed?I took a shaky breath. Fixed my makeup with trembling hands. Straightened my dress.Then I walked back into that ballroom with my head high and a smile on my face.Because Kai was right. We had a contract. And I’d signed it.The music changed to a slow song. Kai appeared at my side, offered his hand.