All Chapters of Rejected, I Entered a Contract Marriage with a Billionaire: Chapter 81 - Chapter 90

"A part-time job? You used to work regular jobs?" Jack echoed, his voice laced with genuine surprise."Oh, absolutely. I've juggled all sorts of odd jobs over the years. I picked up shifts here during that period mostly to cover my tuition. Didn't you notice? This place is practically around the corner from our lab."She added with a playful, triumphant smirk, "Besides, working here gave me access to plenty of unconventional, firsthand research insights."Jack was genuinely taken aback. He realized just how little he truly knew about her background.When Elena had first joined the team, laboratory gossip had painted a very different picture. Whispers among the staff claimed she had some secretive arrangement with their mentor—that she must be a kept woman; why else would luxury vehicles drop her off every single day?Yet, her undeniable brilliance in the lab was impossible to ignore, which meant those envious remarks remained confined to hush

Rummaging through the upper kitchen cabinets, she pulled out a storage container filled with various silicone egg molds she had bought when they first moved in but had never actually used.After flipping through options shaped like stars, hearts, and circles, she settled on a classic heart shape.She dropped the mold into the hot pan, cracked an egg directly into the center, and watched it form a neat, symmetrical heart. Slipping it carefully atop the pasta, she couldn't help a self-conscious smile—it was turning out to be an unabashedly romantic care package.To complete the presentation, she grabbed a bottle of ketchup and traced a cheerful smiley face across the dish before snapping the lid shut. Quick outfit change completed, she hailed another cab and headed straight for corporate headquarters.Meanwhile, Adrián remained buried under a mountain of paperwork while Daniel rattled off the latest corporate updates.Having visited once

Upon arriving at the office, his first order of business was summoning Daniel.Having endured a heavy dose of public romance the day before, Daniel had walked in expecting a relaxed atmosphere, banking on the cheerful mood of a CEO newly wrapped up in love. To his dismay, he was met with a brooding, frosty expression the moment he stepped through the door.He walked into the executive suite with a rising sense of dread."Morning, CEO. You wanted to see me?" Daniel ventured cautiously."Daniel, didn't I have you run a background check on Elena's ex-boyfriend a while back?" Adrián asked straight to the point.Caught completely off guard by the sudden inquiry, Daniel blinked in confusion. "Whose... oh, Miss Elena's former partner? Bruno?""The very same. I need you to put someone on him again. Dig into what he's currently up to, and I want every single detail you can pull up," Adrián instructed sharply.Nodding in bewilderm

In that exact moment, he cursed his sudden lack of articulation, feeling utterly foolish."Alright, look—what's with the two giant suitcases sitting out in the living room?" he finally managed, stepping closer."Those?" She paused, casting a brief glance toward the hall before turning back to her cooking. "I'm heading to England for a business trip.""A business trip? To England? Out of nowhere?" Panic spiked in his voice as the words registered."It's hardly out of nowhere. Didn't I mention that my mentor recommended me for the Columbia University exchange program? There's a major symposium coming up in England next week, and since my professor isn't well enough to travel, he asked me to step in and represent our department," she explained steadily, keeping her back turned.Her casual tone stung. Adrián immediately jumped to a defensive conclusion—he assumed this sudden trip was merely her retaliation for his late-night shifts o

A heavy wave of panic seized him, driving an urgent impulse to drop everything, race to the airport, and physically block her from walking away.Yet time was completely against him. It was already past six in the evening, and her text had only just arrived—a clear sign that she had orchestrated her departure meticulously."Adrián, please don't lose your temper. I was just trying not to add to your stress while you were swamped with work. I'll only be gone a few days, and we can talk everything through the minute I'm back, alright?" she urged softly, trying to soothe his agitation."No, you aren't going. Exchange your ticket right now and wait for me—I'm coming over," he demanded, the isolation of the office feeding his growing anxiety. The thought of letting her slip away like this filled him with dread over what it might do to their relationship.Without waiting for her to argue, he snatched his coat off the chair and bolted for the do