I wanted to scream or cry as he led me to our seats that were set just before the priest, but I couldn’t, it was as though my voice had died in my throat right when I needed it the most.“Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today,” The priest smiled warmly as we took our seats, “to celebrate the union of Adriano Belkov and Valentina Florence Moretti-”I barely heard anything that followed after that cause my heart kept pounding in my ears the sound so loud it made it impossible for me to think, all I could register was Adriano’s expensive scent of smoke and cedar that wrapped around me like a collar because of how close he was.The priest continued speaking while the guests watched with happy smiles, and I couldn’t help but wonder if they were aware of the fact that the groom beside me was a monster or they were completely oblivious to it, did my father know that he’d handed his precious daughter over to a cold blooded killer.I shook away the thought, I’m sure he wasn’t aware, other

-Theodore-I didn’t sleep.Not really.I lay in bed long after Evangeline came home, listening to the silence beside me, pretending I wasn’t waiting for the sound of her breathing to change.She was here.But not really.That was the problem.She was physically in my space, in my bed, in my house—yet there were still parts of her I couldn’t reach.And tonight, I had seen exactly where those parts went.Lucas.The name alone made something tight coil in my chest.I turned onto my back, staring at the ceiling.The penthouse was too quiet.Too clean.Too controlled.Everything in my life had always been like that—controlled.Until her.Until Evangeline had walked into it and started breaking things I didn’t even know were breakable.And now…Now I was lying here trying not to imagine her in another man’s house.His house.Cleaning it.Taking care of him.Looking at him the way people look at something they used to love.I exhaled sharply and sat up.The city outside the windows glowed li

- Theodore-Three days.That was how long it had been since I admitted to myself that my reaction to Evangeline had nothing to do with Lucas.Not entirely.I had spent years convincing myself that I was above emotions like jealousy, fear, and insecurity. Those were weaknesses. Things that other people allowed to control them.I didn’t.I made decisions based on logic.Facts.Strategy.Feelings were messy, unpredictable, and dangerous.Yet somehow, one woman had managed to make me question every belief I had built my life around.And the most frustrating part?I didn’t hate it.I hated that I cared.I hated that when she walked into a room, I noticed.I hated that when she was upset, I felt it.I hated that the thought of losing her created a panic I couldn’t explain.And more than anything, I hated that Kennedy had been right.I wasn’t angry at Evangeline.I was scared.The realization had bothered me enough that I found myself driving to my sister’s house before I could overthink it.

All Chapters of Contracted to him: Chapter 41 - Chapter 43

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