Lahat ng Kabanata ng Contract Over: You're Free to Go: Kabanata 241 - Kabanata 250

Renovation of the old textile mill officially began on what everyone had decided was a lucky day, marked by a lively groundbreaking ceremony. The long-abandoned building instantly came alive with jackhammers, screeching saws, and enough cement dust to turn the early-spring sunlight hazy.As both the client and lead designer of a newly funded eight-million-dollar project, Silas should have been sitting in the temporary site office with fresh coffee, directing the crew from behind a set of plans.Instead, he pulled on an old tracksuit and threw himself straight into the dirtiest part of the job."Mr. Langston, please come down from there!" Frank Dalton shouted from beneath the scaffolding, waving a hard hat in exasperation. "Let my crew handle the brickwork. That's what they're here for. You're breathing dust, and if you get hurt, how am I supposed to explain that to Ms. Parker?"Up on the scaffolding, Silas wore a dust mask and held a piece of coarse sandpaper. He was carefully wo

It was a world away from the dusty, bustling construction site. Inside Alice's therapy office in the city center, a humidifier released a fine, cool mist with the faintest hint of sandalwood. This was Teresa's second time sitting in the oversized armchair. Today, she wore a simple black cashmere turtleneck, and without her usual intimidating CEO armor, the understated outfit made her look unusually exhausted and fragile."For the past few nights, I've dreamed about that fire." Teresa lowered her head and stared at her clasped hands. Her voice sounded dry in the quiet room. "I dream that he's standing in the ruins. No matter how many times I call his name, he never turns around."Alice, sometimes I feel this terrifying emptiness inside me."Teresa paused, struggling to put the feeling into words. "But when I really think about it, that emptiness doesn't seem to come entirely from losing him. It's more like… I don't even know who I am anymore."Alice sat across from her, slowly t

In a motel on the outskirts of Bellmere, where half the neon sign outside had burned out, the stench of mildew mixed with cheap tobacco smoke was strong enough to turn anyone's stomach.Carlton sat on the edge of the bed, unshaven and disheveled.His bloodshot eyes remained fixed on the secondhand burner phone he had just bought. He looked like a gambler who had lost everything.He really had become a hunted man. Seek Capital's lawyers had pursued him relentlessly, freezing every bank account under his name and barring him from leaving the country.Even the old drinking buddies and hangers-on he used to be tight with wanted nothing to do with him anymore.Not long ago, Carlton had spent the last of his cash hiring a thug to set the fire at the Meliere Art District, convinced it would send Silas, that pathetic freeloader, straight back into the gutter.Instead, the news had been flooded with reports that Valence Capital was investing eight million dollars to help Sil Studio create

The two-million-dollar funding gap loomed over Sil Studio. Somehow, with Avery around, even the most ridiculous stroke of luck could start to feel like part of the plan. Three days after Avery tore up the revised plans and stormed out after their argument, Sil Studio's newly opened business account received a sudden two-million-dollar deposit.The memo sounded impressively official—"Anonymous angel investment loan". With that lifeline secured, reinforcement work on the east-side foundation moved forward smoothly.Heavy micropile equipment rolled into the old factory, and one thick steel pile after another was driven through the saturated soil and anchored deep into solid bedrock. Standing beside the roaring machinery, Silas watched the foundation stabilize and finally felt some of his tension ease."Where exactly did you come up with that money?" Silas had asked Avery.Wearing a hard hat, Avery casually swept her hair back before answering."I've spent years in venture cap

The pile drivers were still roaring, and dust still hung thick inside the old factory. Silas stood stunned in place, his head buzzing, before bending down to pick up the dust-covered hard hat.Early spring weather could turn in an instant. One moment, the sun was blazing overhead. The next, thunder rolled across the horizon, and rain poured down without warning. Heavy drops hammered against the unfinished metal roofing, filling the factory with a deafening rattle. The cold downpour shocked Silas back to his senses, cutting through the anger that had taken over moments earlier.He had been an asshole. Avery wasn't Teresa.Avery had sold the city-center apartment that gave her a sense of security and put everything she owned on the line. She had bet it all on Silas' talent and the future they were trying to build together.She had staked practically everything on this broken-down factory, and he had stood there pointing a finger at her and accusing her of giving him charity."Fuck