All Chapters of His Wife by Contract, His Regret by Choice : Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

Damian's POVThe office phone rang nonstop.The shrill sound echoed through the office again and again, interrupting the suffocating silence that had settled over the room.Stacks of documents covered my desk, yet not a single one held my attention.Across from me, my assistant stood quietly with a folder in his hands. He seemed hesitant, as though he wasn't sure whether this was the right time to speak.After several moments of silence, he finally gathered the courage."Mr. Sterling," he said cautiously, "may I report the latest developments?"I lifted my eyes from the desk and looked at him."Go ahead."Only after receiving my permission did he continue."The Sterling Group's stock price has continued to decline since the market opened this morning," he reported carefully. "Several major shareholders have already contacted the company, and the board of directors is requesting an update regarding the partnership with the Vance Group."He paused briefly before adding,"They're asking

Julie's POVI was resting in the living room, enjoying a rare moment of peace with a book in my hands, when hurried footsteps echoed through the quiet house.A servant stopped a few steps away from me before bowing respectfully."Miss Vance," he said politely, "there are two visitors waiting outside the front gate. They insisted on seeing you."I slowly closed the book and looked up."Who is it?"The servant hesitated for a brief moment before answering."It's Mr. Damian Sterling... and Miss Vivian Howard."My fingers tightened around the book."I understand," I replied calmly as I stood up. "Let's go."The servant bowed again."Yes, Miss Vance."I followed him through the mansion and toward the front entrance. As soon as I stepped outside, I saw them standing beyond the iron gates.Damian and Vivian."Miss Vance," he said, "Mr. Sterling and Miss Howard insisted on meeting you. We've informed them that no one may enter without your permission."He paused before asking,"How would you

Damian's POVOn the drive back, silence filled the car. I leaned back against the seat, absentmindedly watching the city lights blur past the window.For some reason I couldn't stop thinking about that fragrance. It was the same faint scent I had smelled years ago.I still remembered that night clearly.Jennifer had fallen asleep on the living room couch while waiting for me to come home. By the time I returned, it was already well past midnight. The lights in the villa had all been turned off except for the small lamp beside the sofa. She had curled up there quietly, still waiting for me despite how late it had become.I hadn't woken her. Instead, I had quietly picked up the blanket beside the couch and gently covered her. The moment I leaned closer a delicate fragrance drifted into the air.It was light, clean, and comforting. That scent had stayed in my memory ever since. Even after all these years, I still remembered it.I slowly closed my eyes.Julie's explanation had been flawle

Julie’s POVI stepped out of the meeting room and quietly rubbed my temples.The meeting had lasted far longer than I had expected. Between reviewing proposals, answering endless questions, and dealing with the department's barely concealed hostility, I hadn't realized how much time had passed.I hadn't eaten anything since early that morning. As I walked down the corridor, I suddenly felt a wave of dizziness wash over me.My vision blurred slightly.I frowned and instinctively reached for the handrail beside me, trying to steady myself.My blood sugar...I had been so focused on work that I had completely forgotten about lunch.I closed my eyes for a brief moment, hoping the dizziness would pass.Instead, my body swayed forward. Before I could lose my balance completely, a pair of steady hands caught me.The familiar touch made my entire body stiffen. Before I could even lift my head...I heard his voice."Julie." My heart skipped a beat.Damian.I immediately opened my eyes and our e

Author's POVThe next few days passed quietly on the surface. At least, that was what everyone in the Vance Group believed.Julie continued attending meetings, reviewing proposals, and personally checking the progress of the fragrance project. She never mentioned the strange discrepancy she had noticed in the report, nor did she question anyone about it.Instead, she quietly asked for additional copies of the relevant documents and instructed her assistant to organize the procurement records.She didn't explain why. Her assistant assumed she was simply being thorough.In reality, Julie had already begun to suspect that the discrepancy was not an accident.Someone had changed the numbers. The problem was that she didn't know why and she had no intention of accusing anyone without evidence.If someone wanted to set a trap for her, then she would simply let them finish setting it.Only then could she see who was standing behind it.Meanwhile, Ethan Collins had become increasingly confide