All Chapters of Contracted to him: Chapter 41 - Chapter 50

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- 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 sist

Monday mornings had never bothered me.Most people dreaded them.I preferred them.Mondays meant structure.Control.A full calendar.Problems that could be solved with numbers instead of emotions.Unfortunately, emotions had decided to become part of my life anyway.I stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows of my office overlooking the city, one hand wrapped around a mug of black coffee that had long since gone cold. The skyline shimmered beneath a cloudy morning sky, traffic already crawling through downtown like veins pumping life into the city.Normally I'd have already finished reviewing the quarterly reports.Instead...I found myself thinking about a woman.Again.*"Thinking about endings ruins beginnings."*Her words from Saturday night refused to leave my head.I'd asked what would happen after the contract.She hadn't answered.Not really.But somehow she'd managed to make me question something I hadn't allowed myself to think about.What happened when this was over?

-Theodore- I couldn't shake the feeling. Even after we left the foundation. Even after Eva slipped into the passenger seat beside me and started telling me about her day. I heard every word. I just wasn't listening. "...James wants to move the gala to October instead of September because—" She stopped mid-sentence. "Theo." "Hm?" "You've done it again." "What?" "You disappeared." I glanced at her. "I was right here." "No." She smiled sadly. "Your body was." Damn. She was getting better at reading me. Far better than I was comfortable with. "I'm thinking." "I can see that." She rested her elbow against the window. "Do you want to talk about it?" "No." She rolled her eyes. "I wasn't asking if you wanted to." I almost smiled. Almost. "You always do this." "Do what?" "You decide everything alone." "I handle things." "You isolate yourself." "I protect people." She sighed. "Theo..." I kept my eyes on the road. "You don

- Theodore- The penthouse had never been this quiet. Not even before Eva moved in. Silence usually gave me clarity. Tonight it only reminded me that somewhere in New York, someone had been watching us. Watching her. The thought made my jaw tighten. Arnold had already swept the entire apartment twice. Every camera had been replaced. Every electronic device had been checked. Security outside the building had doubled. Still... It wasn't enough. It never would be until I knew who was behind it. A knock interrupted my thoughts. "Come in." Arnold stepped inside carrying a black folder. "I've got something." I looked up. "Tell me." "It isn't about the photographs." That caught my attention. "It's about X International." Immediately, my focus shifted. "What happened?" He placed the folder on my desk. "The London office received an anonymous complaint this morning." I frowned. "What kind of complaint?" He opened the file. "Financial misconduct." I laughed once. Col