All Chapters of Mrs. Vale by Contract : Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

The drink in front of Lydia sat untouched for several minutes.Her thumb drifted across her ring finger.A pale line circled the skin where the ring had rested for two years.She lifted the drink and swallowed. The burn down her throat was easier to bear than the ache in her chest. The bartender slid the bottle away. “I'm cutting you off.”Lydia gave him a tired smile. “Please.”Tomorrow was supposed to be her wedding. A small ceremony with family and friends. She had spent months imagining it.She lifted the glass before the tears could fall.And this time, she didn't taste the alcohol at all.When she finally stood, the floor tilted left, and she grabbed the bar to keep from following it.She descended the stairs, gripping the railing.Two men nearby noticed her.One stepped into her path. “Easy. Where are you going?”“Move.”Another laughed and caught her wrist.Lydia jerked against the grip. “Let me go.”Louis Vale emerged from the private elevator with Carter. Carter's gaze imme

At 1:45 P.M., the taxi stopped in front of a quiet glass building. Lydia stepped inside.A receptionist looked up. “Miss Hayes?”She nodded.“This way, please.”The receptionist led her to an office, knocked once before opening the door.Louis didn't look up when she entered. He signed the final page of a document and slid it towards Carter.“Handle it.”Only then did Louis raise his eyes.“Sit.”He placed a black folder on the desk and slid it toward her. “I need a wife.”Lydia frowned. “Are you joking?”“For one year.”She stared at him. “I won’t marry you.”Louis leaned back. “Don’t be in a rush”He gestured towards the folder. “Read.”She hesitated but opened it. The first page was a marriage contract. Her eyes moved across the terms.One-year legal marriage. Shared residence. Separate bedrooms. Public appearances together when required. Travel and event attendance when necessary. All personal expenses covered by Louis Vale. Monthly financial compensation. A final settlement upon

The deep hum of an engine drew everyone's attention to the front gate.Two long black luxury sedan rolled into the Hayes residence. The Hayes family went outside.Carter stepped out first. He walked around the vehicle and opened the rear passenger door.A young woman in a fitted navy suit stepped out beside him. She carried herself with quiet professionalism and gave Carter a slight nod before following him towards the house.Lydia frowned. “Carter…” She glanced at the vehicles and the woman “What's going on?”Carter's mouth curved. “Mr. Vale believes first impressions matter.”“Isn't this a little excessive?”He lowered his voice. “People need to see how important you are to him.”The young woman stepped forward. “My name is Naomi Ellis.” She inclined her head politely. “I'll be assisting you with appointments, clothing, scheduling, and anything else you may require.”“Okay, thank you.”Carter removed a cream envelope from his briefcase. “This is from Mr. Vale." He walked towards Ric

Her bedroom was spacious, with elegant furniture and wide windows overlooking the grounds.She opened the wardrobe.Nothing but bare wood and wire hangers. “I thought rich guys stocked their wives' wardrobes before they moved in.”She arranged her clothes before taking a shower. Lydia woke to voices and movement downstairs. Curious, she walked downstairs.Several people carried bags and boxes through the entrance with Naomi directing them. A cook worked in the kitchen.Lydia paused on the stairs, taking in the activity.Naomi noticed her. “Good morning, Ma.”“Good morning.”“I'm sorry if the noise disturbed you.”Naomi gestured towards the bags. “Mr. Vale arranged for your clothes, shoes, jewellery, and other essentials to be delivered.”Lydia looked at the number of bags. “Where is he?”“He left for the office.”Lydia nodded.Naomi continued. “I'm here to help with the preparation, You’ll be hosting the event with Mr. Vale.”Lydia's eyebrows rose. “Host?”“Yes. You’ll welcome the gu

Eleanor was the last person Lydia wanted to meet looking like this. “Naomi.” “Yes, Ma.” “If she asks for me, please tell her I urgently need the bathroom.” “Okay.” Inside the bathroom, she faced the mirror. There was no saving the makeup. She turned on the tap. Cold water rushed over her fingers. She cupped her palms and splashed her face. The water did little more than smear the makeup further. She tried again, but the black streaks only spread farther across her cheeks. Lydia exhaled sharply and glanced around the counter. A small bottle sat beside the sink, micellar water. A stack of cotton pads rested beside it. She grabbed the bottle, unscrewed the cap, and soaked a cotton pad. Pressing it gently against her eye, she held it there for a few seconds before wiping. She reached for another pad and repeated the process until her skin was clean. Lydia stared at her reflection. Her face was bare, a little pale and raw. But at least she no longer looked like she’d been cry