Novel & Cerita Paid To Love

Elijah stared at me for a long moment. "Love isn't something you earn with good behavior," he said. "It's not a reward system. You don't get it because you performed well enough or healed fast enough or became powerful enough." He held my gaze. "They love you because you're you. The stubborn, funny, terrifying, occasionally catastrophic you." A pause. "That's not conditional on you deserving it. It just is."

However, admitting it indirectly meant admitting she loved money, right? “Hmm.” Paige nodded, looking at Chris. “Because I know that you gave me the money out of love. You want to take care of me, ensuring I have a worry-free life. I love you more not just because you gave me money, but because through this billion, I'm even more certain of your love for me. Since you love me so much, of course, I love you more too.” Paige finished speaking, silently giving herself a mental pat on the back. She felt she had expressed herself exceptionally well.

“Let’s just get this done with then.” I didn’t move yet. Instead, I tilted my head and said, “Before I sign anything, let’s talk about the money.” His gaze sharpened. “Money.” “Yes,” I said calmly. “Fifteen million upfront, after we sign and get the certificate. The rest after the year is done.” He studied me for a long moment. I wondered if he could hear how hard my heart was pounding. Finally, he gave the faintest smile. Not warm, not kind, more like someone who had just confirmed what they already believed. “Straight to business. You really are something.”

Lisa's Pov "Love does not pay taxes," she said. "Money does." She took a breath and looked at me like she wanted me to feel the shame she had been carrying. "You think he cared about your heart? He cared about his line. He cared about the papers. He cared about his father's approval."

He pauses, but continues, "At the end of our arrangement, I’ll compensate you with three million dollars." The number means nothing to me. I should be grateful. I should be thrilled. But my heart aches instead. I want love, not a transaction. Still, I pick up the pen and sign. "Thank you," I whisper, pushing the contract back to him. "For everything... for saving me, for shielding me. I know I owe you a lot, Lucian." The tears are dangerously close. I won’t let him see them. "I need some fresh air," I blurt, bolting toward the door before the emotions win.

I’ll stop, no matter what. 7. Lastly, falling in love means that the contract is automatically terminated—with the person paying a compensation f*e of fifteen million dollars. Slowly, I lifted my eyes to him…

I quickly switched to the chat interface with Lindsay. Lindsay wrote, [Sharon, you were right. Money really does show whether someone loves you or not. He hasn't bought me any gifts lately.] I replied, [If he doesn't buy you stuff, you just have to push. Men have a tipping point. The more you spend his money, the more they'll feel invested, and they'll love you more.] Lindsay eagerly agreed. [Sharon, you're so amazing. This time, I want a car. Let's see if he agrees!]

There was a look of determination on his face. Yet, the words that came out of his mouth next were still as repulsive as ever. "Lia, I'm so sorry for misunderstanding you. She… Since she doesn't love me, it's clear that she didn't get into that car accident that day because she heard that I was getting engaged. I've made you suffer all these years for nothing, and for that, I'm sorry. I…" Clearing his throat, he fixed me with a gaze full of love before continuing, "I didn't actually answer your earlier question. Lia, whether she's still alive or not now, I'll only ever love one person—you. It's always been you and only you."

"And I've spent five years making sure his wife and daughter never have to feel what it was like growing up in that house upstairs, because it's the only way I know how to pay him back for everything he ever gave me. This room, the way he stood up for me every time our father lost his temper, the way he never once let me feel like an afterthought even after he married Emily and had a family of his own. I owe him more than I could ever repay in one lifetime, and this is the only currency I have left." I don't say anything right away, because there isn't anything clever enough to say to that, so instead I reach across the small space between us and take his hand, the same way he took mine walk

She would be damned if she allowed him to push her around. Justin was out of words once again. First at lunch and now here. Well, he was definitely wrong to judge her, but you can't blame him. He was aware of the fact that she had married him for a reason. But, like a jerk, he thought it was all of his own money. Because she works for her father's company, her pay will be good, and her father admires her, so he will not force her to marry a woman who is obsessed with money. Of course, he should have thought about that before, but being brought up in a family with a good financial background makes you wary of every situation. And it isn't easy to trust people around you. You never know who mi