All Chapters of His Bride by Contract, His Obsession by Fate: Chapter 41 - Chapter 50

Stepping into the elegant, hushed dining room, a waiter immediately approached and guided her toward the most exclusive section of the restaurant—a private dining nook offering a sweeping panoramic view of the cityscape below. Rue was already seated. He held a crystal glass of water, the top collar of his dress shirt casually unbuttoned with his sleeves rolled up to his forearms. Upon her approach, he set his glass down, his dark gaze tracking her movements as she took the seat opposite him. “You’re five minutes late,” Rue greeted dryly just as the waiter placed menus before them. “Traffic was heavy, and I had to take a quick call,” Rory replied simply, setting her handbag on the adjacent chair. Rue picked up on the slight stiffness in her jaw and her unusually subdued demeanor almost instantly. “Who was it this time? Your soon-to-be-ex-fiancé?” Rory looked up, surprised by his razor-sharp intuition. “How did you know?” “There’s only one person capable of putting that particular

The bottle of liquor was half empty. Rory reclined against the plush cushions of the sofa, her legs curled up on the seat as she loosely clutched her glass. The room spun in slow, gentle circles, a warm flush creeping across her cheeks. Beside her, Rue remained immaculate, his demeanor cool and composed as he lazily swirled the amber liquid in his glass. With the alcohol dissolving her usual inhibitions, Rory shed all pretense of formality. She turned her head, her gaze locking onto the sharp bridge of his nose and the razor-thin line of his jawline. "Rue..." Rory slurred slightly, drawing out his name with heavy, sleepy syllables. "Let me ask you something... serious question, okay?" Rue remained silent, offering only a brief side-eye before turning his gaze back to the flickering flames in the fireplace. "Have you ever had a girlfriend?" Rory asked directly, pointing a slightly unsteady index finger at him. "I mean... have you ever actually fallen in love with a woman? Loved some

Rory clutched her head as she slowly pushed herself up to a sitting position on the bed. The duvet wrapped around her was loose now, and she was no longer tied up like the night before. She buried her face in her hands, a wave of intense mortification washing over her as every single detail of her embarrassing behavior rushed back into her memory.She had practically thrown herself at Rue.She couldn't comprehend why she had acted that way. She wasn't much of a drinker, but she knew her tolerance wasn't that low. So why on earth had she completely lost control last night? She had only downed three glasses, yet she had completely abandoned all reason and self-restraint."So humiliating..." she muttered under her breath, shaking her head with her eyes squeezed shut.Glancing to her side, she saw that the other half of the bed was empty. Rue was already gone. She shot a look at the small clock on the bedside table: 8:30 AM.Rory showered quickly, threw on some clothes, and fixed herself

"If that's how you're going to think, it's better if I just leave," Richard said firmly, pushing himself up from the table."Richard! Wait—" Alana yelled, springing to her feet to stop him, but he didn't even glance back.Grabbing his suit jacket and car keys, Richard slammed the front door shut behind him, leaving Alana crying and fuming in the middle of the dining room.Richard's face was dark as he sped through the night. The overwhelming pressure at work, the complete lack of news regarding Rory—whom he desperately needed to appease his parents. And Alana's relentless jealousy had finally pushed his patience past its breaking point. Too much had been weighing on his mind these past few days. His head felt like it was going to explode. He had barely gotten any rest between working and searching for Rory.Half an hour later, Richard slammed his brakes in front of an exclusive, dimly lit bar in the city.Stepping inside, he made a straight line for the counter and took a seat on a hi

Rory had barely settled into the driver's seat when her phone vibrated again on the passenger seat, before she could even switch on the air conditioning. She let out a long sigh, assuming it was Richard's lawyer calling back. However, her expression shifted the moment she glanced at the screen. It was Ace—Rue’s closest friend.Frowning, Rory answered as she pulled the car door shut. "Hello, Ace? Why are you calling?""Rory! Thank God you finally picked up!" Ace’s panicked voice cut through the receiver, backed by the heavy bass and deafening roar of a crowded club. "Where are you right now?!""I'm out. Why? Did something happen?" Rory asked, slowly starting the car."I just need to report this fiancé of yours!" Ace practically shouted to be heard over the music. "We're in the VIP lounge of the club. He's been sitting here scowling and barking at anyone who comes near! To make matters worse, he's drinking himself into a stupor again! He's five bottles of hard liquor deep and shows zero