Lahat ng Kabanata ng Contract Bride to the Ruthless Ice King : Kabanata 81 - Kabanata 90

A month had passed since the downfall of Gideon Ross, and life at the Blackwood estate had settled into a beautiful, peaceful rhythm.The dark rain that seemed to hover over our lives for so long was finally gone, replaced by soft summer mornings and clear blue skies. The boys were thriving—their days filled with school prep, playing with their new puppy in the gardens, and spending every evening with Alexander.Tonight, however, was a different kind of evening.Tonight was the annual Blackwood Global Gala—the most exclusive event in New York high society. In the past, the media would have used this event to dissect our marriage, whispering rumors about a fake contract or a cold arrangement. But tonight was different. Tonight was our official public debut as true partners, both in life and at the head of the Blackwood empire.I stood in front of the full-length mirror in our master suite, smoothing down the front of a floor-length dress made of deep emerald silk. It hugged my figure g

The morning sun cast long, golden beams through the floor-to-ceiling windows of our master bedroom, warming the plush carpet under my feet.Two weeks had passed since the Blackwood Global Gala, and today marked a monumental milestone in my life. It was my official first day stepping into Blackwood Global Headquarters in downtown Manhattan—not as a guest, and certainly not as a hidden secret, but as the newly appointed Co-Chair and Chief Strategic Officer.I stood before the full-length mirror, adjusting the collar of a crisp, tailored ivory blazer paired with dark trousers. My hair was styled in a sleek, professional low bun, and on my finger, the heavy diamond band Alexander had given me caught the morning light.Looking at my reflection, I barely recognized the frightened woman who had entered this estate months ago. The fear was gone. In its place was a quiet, unshakable confidence."You look like you're about to conquer the financial world," Alexander’s deep voice echoed from the

The crisp autumn air carried the sharp, sweet scent of pine and ocean salt through the open terrace doors. Below the balcony, the emerald lawns of the Blackwood estate had transformed into a tapestry of deep gold, crimson, and copper. Three months had passed since the afternoon on the shore, and with the change of seasons came a stillness so profound it almost felt surreal. I stood in our private dressing room, wrapping a cashmere shawl of warm cream over my burgundy silk dress. Sunlight filtered through the stained-glass panels of the high window, scattering soft ruby light across the polished hardwood floor. Behind me, the door clicked open with a quiet familiar weight. Alexander walked in, his long stride slow and unhurried. He had already dressed for the morning in a charcoal-gray three-piece suit, his dark tie fastened with mathematical precision. Yet, the old tension that used to rigidify his shoulders was completely gone. His gray eyes, once as sharp and cold as winter frost

The heavy, metallic thud echoing from inside the main hallway felt like a physical blow to my chest.The stairs.The exact staircase that led directly to the upper-level wing where Leo and Julian Jr. were sleeping.For a terrifying fraction of a second, the blood rushed so loudly in my ears that I couldn't breathe. All the peace, the warm autumn air, and the quiet safety we had built over the last few months shattered instantly, replaced by the primal, razor-sharp terror of a mother whose children were in mortal danger.Alexander didn't hesitate for a single microsecond.The calm, loving husband who had been holding me under the moonlight a moment ago vanished. In his place stood the formidable, lethal titan of a man who ruled empires and protected what was his with absolute violence."Stay behind me, Elena," Alexander commanded, his voice dropping into a low, terrifyingly steady register that brooked no argument.He didn't wait. He stepped past the open glass terrace doors, his broad

The morning sun rose over the vast expanse of the Atlantic, washing the coastal estate in a brilliant, golden light that seemed to sweep away every lingering shadow and trace of darkness from the night before. There was a profound, almost sacred stillness in the air—a quiet that didn't feel fragile or temporary, but heavy with the weight of absolute victory and unshakeable peace.When I opened my eyes, the room was bathed in pale morning amber filtering through the sheer silk curtains. I didn't feel the sudden, jarring spike of adrenaline that had characterized so many mornings of my past. Instead, I felt warmth, security, and an overwhelming sense of completeness.Alexander was already awake. He was propped up on one elbow, his broad shoulders bare beneath the morning light, looking down at me with an intensity that made my chest swell with emotion. He had showered and changed into a clean black cotton shirt, the sleeves rolled up slightly over his forearms, revealing the taut, power