All Chapters of THE CONTRACT OF MARRIAGE: TWO YEARS: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

“What did you say? We’re getting married?” Aria’s question hung in the quiet hospital corridor beneath the cold glow of the fluorescent lights. Her voice trembled, weighed down by a mixture of confusion and mounting disappointment. Lucas looked at her without the slightest hint of regret. His jaw remained clenched, his dark eyes radiating anger hidden behind a mask of cold calculation. He reached into his suit pocket and pulled out a thick document bound in a black cover, already prepared as though he had anticipated this very moment. “You heard what my mother said yourself,” Lucas replied, his voice cutting sharply through the silence. “She thinks you’re the one who can save my life. She believes my life will be ruined if I don’t break free from my girlfriend, and somehow, you’ve become the solution. But we both know the truth. You were nothing more than a pawn in that dining room earlier. So let’s make this a fair business arrangement. One that benefits both of us.” Lucas press

“Two more months, Mr. Lucas. Get your lawyer ready.” Aria’s poisonous whisper echoed through Lucas’s mind all night. She had spoken those words beneath the relentless flashes of the media cameras when they had been forced to pretend they were a happy couple. But now, inside the cold, silent Manhattan penthouse, the mask of affection had completely fallen away. Days turned into weeks, yet the atmosphere between them never thawed. Their contract marriage, born from the coercion of a will, the desperate arrangement made for Mrs. Sterling’s health, and business negotiations to fulfill Aria’s architectural dreams, had instead become a cold battlefield. Tonight, Sterling Corp was hosting a grand gala to welcome New York Fashion Week, the most prestigious annual event fully sponsored by the Sterling family. As the CEO’s legal wife, Aria was required to attend. Aria descended from the upper floor in an ivory silk-crepe evening gown. Its A-line silhouette draped elegantly over her figure,

The hardwood floors of the Sterling Corp penthouse felt as cold as ice beneath Lucas’s feet. The white gold wedding band he had just retrieved slid into his coat pocket, leaving a trail of guilt that now burned away every shred of his good judgment. The divorce papers spread across the glass desk were like a mirror, reflecting just how foolish he had been all this time.How could he have thrown away a woman as remarkable, as strong, and as beautiful as Aria?She possessed not only a breathtaking beauty capable of stilling an entire world-class gallery, but also a spirit that was genuine and unshakeable. Aria had been the steady foundation beneath the chaos of his life, a woman who had stood tall and held fast to her dignity without ever asking for a single penny of his wealth or an ounce of his pity. And now, having finally realized her true worth, Lucas was forced to face the bitter truth. He had driven her away all on his own, blinded by his own arrogance.“No. I will not let you le

Morning in Manhattan was greeted by heavy gray clouds hanging low over the horizon. For Lucas Sterling, every second since Aria’s departure had felt like walking across a bed of shattered glass. The regret eating away at his chest could no longer be drowned out by business or power. He was willing to throw away his pride and neglect crucial Sterling Corp meetings for one thing alone: earning back the trust and forgiveness of the woman who had officially severed their marriage.Every day, Lucas remained somewhere within Aria’s orbit. He appeared as a patient, remorseful man. He sent bouquets of Aria’s favorite white roses to the architecture studio, arranged for her favorite lunches from prestigious restaurants, and even parked his car across from her Soho loft just to make sure she returned home safely.But behind the scenes, Chloe had carefully constructed a devious scheme to sabotage every one of his good intentions. Knowing that Lucas often sent bouquets of flowers and thoughtful g

Chloe watched the three hulking men walk away, a crooked smile adorning her triumphant face. The meticulous malice orchestrating inside her mind consumed whatever remnants of conscience she possessed. To her, if she had to crumble and be cast out from the Sterling family's lavish life, then Aria would have to suffer a fate a million times more horrific. Adjusting the designer gown she wore, Chloe stepped out from the shadows of the second-floor corridor, rejoining the Architectural Gala as it reached a fever pitch to the thumping bass of electronic music. However, Chloe's focus suddenly shattered when her eyes caught a tall, intimately familiar figure near the main atrium entrance. Lucas. He stood there with his black shirt sleeves rolled up carelessly and his tie loosened. His eyes, bloodshot and radiating severe exhaustion, scanned every corner of the room to locate the woman he sought. His unexpectedly swift arrival sent Chloe's heart racing, triggering a sudden spike of adrena