บททั้งหมดของ Contractually His: บทที่ 61 - บทที่ 70

The photograph arrived without warning, forwarded to Priya’s office from an anonymoussource three days after her initial report about Selene’s untraceable calls. It showed Amarafrom a distance, taken at the gala, the careful drape of her dress unable to fully disguise thesubtle curve of her pregnancy from a photographer who’d clearly been searching for exactlythat detail.“It hasn’t been published anywhere yet,” Priya explained during the emergency call, hervoice carrying more urgency than her earlier reports. “Whoever sent this to us seems to beoffering a warning rather than actively threatening publication, though I can’t be certain ofthe sender’s actual intentions.”“Do you think it’s Selene?” Amara asked, her hand instinctively moving to rest against her stomach, a protective gesture she’d developed without fully noticing.“I genuinely don’t know. It could be her, offering a warning as evidence of her claimedreformation. It could be someone working for Reyes, testing whethe

With the pregnancy now publicly announced, Julian and Amara finally allowed themselvesthe simple joy of actively preparing for their child’s arrival without the earlier necessity ofcareful discretion. The nursery renovation began in earnest, Julian’s earlier mood boardfinally translating into actual paint colors and carefully selected furniture, the storage roomadjacent to their bedroom slowly transforming into something genuinely ready to welcomenew life.“I want to paint the mural myself,” Amara declared one weekend, surveying the freshlypainted soft sage walls with growing excitement. “Nothing elaborate, just something simpleand meaningful, rather than hiring a professional muralist the way Tobi keeps suggesting.”“What did you have in mind?” Julian asked, genuinely curious about her vision.“A small forest scene, I think. Trees, maybe some gentle animals peeking through.Something that feels alive and growing, the way I hope our child’s life will feel.” Amara’sexcitement ca

The call came late on a Thursday evening, Priya’s voice carrying an urgency thatimmediately set Amara’s nerves on edge before a single word of explanation had beenoffered. “I’ve traced the photograph’s origin,” she said without preamble. “It wasn’t Selene,and it wasn’t directly connected to Reyes either, at least not initially. It was a freelancephotographer who’s occasionally worked for tabloid outlets, someone who apparentlyrecognized an opportunity independent of any coordinated campaign.”“That’s somewhat reassuring,” Julian said carefully, though his tone suggested he wasn’tfully convinced the news was entirely positive. “What’s the concerning part you haven’tmentioned yet?”“The concerning part is that this same photographer has, in the past week, been in contactwith someone connected to Reyes’s new private equity firm, discussing what appears to bea considerably larger deal for exclusive access to future photographs potentially includingthe birth itself, or at minimu

With Reyes’s immediate threat successfully neutralized through the legal filing, Amara andJulian finally allowed themselves to fully embrace the approaching arrival of their childwithout the constant undercurrent of strategic vigilance that had shadowed much of thepregnancy so far. Nia insisted on hosting a proper baby shower, gathering together the fullextended family and close friends who’d supported them throughout the entire improbablejourney.The celebration took place in Richard’s garden, decorated simply but warmly with soft sageand cream colors that echoed the nursery’s careful design. Amara found herself surroundedby genuine love and laughter, watching her father beam with barely contained excitement asguests arrived bearing gifts and well-wishes for the newest addition to their family.“I still can’t believe how far we’ve come,” Nia said, settling beside Amara on a garden benchwhile Julian mingled with guests nearby, Tobi’s booming laugh occasionally rising above the

Selene’s second appearance came without warning, arriving at Whitfield Textiles’ officesdirectly rather than through any of their previously established careful channels, requestingto speak with Amara alone in a manner that immediately triggered renewed unease despitemonths of relatively quiet cooperation since their initial meeting.“I know this is unusual,” Selene said, settling into the chair across from Amara’s desk withvisible nervousness quite unlike her usual composed demeanor. “I wanted to speak with youdirectly, without Julian present, about something I’ve been struggling with since our lastmeeting.”“I’m listening,” Amara said carefully, unable to fully release her instinctive wariness despitemonths of Selene’s apparently genuine cooperation.“I think I need to apologize to you specifically, not just generally acknowledge past behaviorthe way I did with Julian originally.” Selene’s voice carried genuine vulnerability, considerablymore raw than her earlier, more compo