All Chapters of My Contract Marriage with the CEO: Chapter 71 - Chapter 77

Dawn had not fully broken when the telephone in the study of the Lindemann residence rang for the twentieth time.Wilhelm Lindemann sat behind his desk, still wearing the suit jacket from the previous night, which he hadn't bothered to remove. The phone in front of him kept lighting up, displaying names that changed rapidly: media editors, business partners, members of the board of commissioners. He answered not a single one. Beside him, the family lawyer read a draft document in a flat voice."A brief statement, sir. The family does not know of and does not support our daughter's actions. We respect the legal process. We are withdrawing from all cooperation with the Richter Company.""Add," Wilhelm said without turning, "that we regret this.""Sir, that word could be interpreted as an admission—""Add it."The lawyer nodded and made a note.At the doorway, Wilhelm's wife stood in her nightrobe, her fingers gripping the doorframe until her knuckles turned white. Her face was swollen w

Two days after Eleanor was discharged from the hospital, the kitchen of the Richter residence once again filled with the aroma of simmering broth and fried shallots.Eleanor stood in front of the stove with a plain apron tied around her waist, stirring the soup in a small pot. Her hair was loosely tied back. Her face was still slightly pale, but her eyes had regained their clear brightness.The doctor had given her permission for light activity, and Grace had firmly insisted, hands on her hips, that she was not to return to the office before the weekend.And Eleanor actually enjoyed being in the kitchen to pass the time during her forced leave.Eleanor tasted the broth; she had known someone was standing in the doorway all along, watching her, but she ignored it as she remained busy cooking."You don't need to keep babysitting me, Sir," Eleanor said without turning around, a smile already blooming on her face. "I won't cut myself again.""I'm not babysitting." Archie stepped inside, r

The next morning.Eleanor woke up to a ray of morning sunlight falling directly across her eyelids.The first thing she noticed was warmth. The second was a heavy arm draped around her waist, and steady breathing brushing against the crown of her head. Her head was resting on Archie’s chest, and from this close distance, she could hear the calm beat of his heart beneath his warm skin.Memories of last night came flooding back in a single wave. Eleanor’s cheeks immediately heated up.She squeezed her eyes shut tightly and decided that the best way to face this morning was to pretend she was still asleep."I know you're awake." Archie's voice was raspy and low, right above her head.Eleanor didn't move."No, I'm not," she murmured without opening her eyes."Your eyelids moved." Archie's voice sounded again."That was... a reflex." Eleanor tucked her lips tightly inward after speaking.The chest beneath her cheek vibrated softly, and it took a few seconds for Eleanor to realize that Arch

[Eleanor, sorry to bother you outside of working hours. Blackwood Group just sent a request for a private meeting on behalf of Julian Blackwood; they said it isn't about the project. I haven't responded yet. Let me know if you want me to handle it.]Archie felt Eleanor's grip loosen and turned his head. "What's wrong?"Eleanor looked at Archie, hesitation clear on her face, before holding out her phone."It's from Ms. Margaret. I don't know why either."Archie took Eleanor's phone and read the incoming message. He remained silent, his expression completely flat.At the Blackwood Group Office.Julian sat behind his desk with his tie loosened, his shirt rumpled since morning, and his laptop screen displaying three things at once: an email from the bank, a list of suppliers demanding full payment, and a news article he had already read over a dozen times.'Hazelwood Heiress Investigated Over Locking a Woman in a Restaurant Restroom and Acts of Assault.'He didn't need to read it again. T