Tous les chapitres de : Chapitre 21 - Chapitre 30

The bright sparkle in her eyes and the gentle cascade of her dark, wavy hair mirrored Kayla's likeness down to the smallest detail, heightened by the warm smile she wore.An involuntary wave of nostalgia pulled Adrián backward into memories of his past relationship.Across the table, Elena noticed the softened, tender expression clouding his features. Meeting his gaze for only a few seconds, she felt her breath catch and hastily dropped her eyes. She lacked the emotional armor to endure such intense, focused attention, especially when Adrián looked exceptionally striking today.Dressed in a sharp, tailored polo shirt with a stylish mandarin collar and sleek, modern trousers, he radiated effortless sophistication. Her pulse hammered frantically against her ribs. Fearing her visible reaction, she hurriedly grabbed her coffee cup and took a steadying sip.Taking the initiative, she cleared her throat and began. "Mr. Adrián, I brought you

"Lastly, neither party shall interfere with the other's private romantic pursuits post-marriage. Should either party encounter a genuine romantic connection, the contract stands automatically dissolved. That covers the foundational framework." Daniel shut the folder, fixing his gaze on her. "Miss Elena, do you require any amendments or additions?""Not a single one. It's comprehensive," she answered brightly."Splendid. Since everything is in order, kindly sign where indicated." Daniel proffered a sleek fountain pen.Accepting the pen, Elena glanced down at the document to find Adrián’s bold, slashing signature already inked at the bottom. Realizing there was no turning back now, she pressed the nib to paper and scrawled her name without a moment's hesitation."Fabulous. The arrangements are officially locked in. I wish both of you a harmonious future," Daniel announced, though his eyes drifted sideways to appraise the CEO's face—which

Only upon hearing that reassurance did her mother's tension visibly ease on the other end. While the timeline was shockingly compressed, the existence of mutual affection made the pill infinitely easier to swallow.So she said, "Have you folks talked about your marriage arrangements yet?""Don’t worry, Mom. Adrián will take care of everything. We don’t need to stress over any of it," Elena replied."Oh, really? But we can’t just sit back and do nothing," her mother said hesitantly."It’s fine, Mom. Just text me your and Dad’s clothing sizes. Adrián will have the outfits ready for you both."Realizing they were finally at ease, Elena quickly steered the conversation elsewhere. Her father, who had remained silent the whole time, finally spoke up, "Elena,

After all, their union was merely a business arrangement, and perhaps keeping the circle small was for the best. When the two of them eventually parted ways a few years down the line, the fallout would be minimal.After a moment of reflection, Adrián said, "Our ceremony will be held abroad. Flight details and tickets will be forwarded to you ahead of time.""Overseas?" Elena was taken aback, completely unprepared for an international venue."Yes, abroad. It's a country my parents have always admired. You don't need to stress about the location—it's already taken care of. We simply need to fly out a week early." Anxious that she might take offense, Adrián rushed to clarify."Of course, I have no complaints. It just caught me by surprise that it's out of the country," Elena noted.

"The boss figured this aesthetic would be right up your alley, so he designed the whole layout himself and handed it straight to the planning team," Daniel chimed in at precisely the right moment.Elena was genuinely touched. She hadn't expected Adrián to tune into her tastes so precisely or put in this much effort. Given that it was just a marriage of convenience, why go to such lengths?She looked over at him standing nearby, tempted to ask, but thought better of it. Instead, she offered a soft, "Thanks."With the tour wrapping up as night fell, the two began walking back along the coastal path toward the villa."I should probably tell you a bit about my family so you know what to expect," Elena began.Adrián gave a nod of encouragement."Neither of my parents has a steady job; they run a small shop funded by a loan. My dad recently had surgery, so things are a bit tight financially. But I promise you, they are genuinely good