The Contracted Hearts Novels & Stories

Just him. I’m trying to focus on the moment, but all I can think about is how close he is. How close we are. There’s no turning back now. I should be thinking about the contract but my body doesn’t care about that anymore. My heart’s thumping in ways I don’t even understand. I’m not stupid. I know why I’m here. I know exactly where this is heading. But my brain? It’s too clouded with what he’s doing to me.

“That’s all it is.” Dr. Walker’s expression doesn’t change. He sets the chart down and clasps his hands in front of him. “We ran some tests after you were admitted. Your asthma certainly contributed to your breathing difficulties, but it’s not the root cause.” He pauses, letting the words sink in. “You have a congenital heart defect. Specifically, a hole in your heart.”

He snapped. "True, I said that.” The doctor said, pulling up his glasses as though he was going to read out his next words to us. His eyes went over all of us before he finally continued. “Jordan has a rare congenital heart condition. It’s something that has probably been there lying dormant for years, but about a year and half ago, it started showing signs. Jordan had his first attack, was rushed here immediately, and when we managed to stabilize him, we told him how serious this is. Over the last year, his heart has been weakening and now, it has reached a critical stage.”

Kolten hissed in dissatisfaction. Georgia put on a righteous expression as she went on, "I just want everyone to know Sir Lucero has a serious heart infection and tissue edema. It will be extremely difficult to suture the artificial valves. If there is any problem with her suture, Sir Lucero's heart function will not recover. And there is a high possibility of serious complications."

“Read it carefully and sign at the end if you agree to the terms.” Sophia picked up the contract and began to read, her eyes scanning the dense legal language. The terms were straightforward yet binding, outlining the duration of their fake relationship, the public appearances they would make, and the financial compensation she would receive. As she read, Alexander watched her closely, his gaze never wavering. Sophia felt the weight of his scrutiny but refused to let it break her focus. After several minutes, she reached the end of the contract and set it down. “I have a few terms I’d like to add,” she said, her voice steady despite the nerves she felt. Alexander raised an eyebrow but gestur

“It looks like I will have to make the decision for you, considering that I introduced her to you,” Alex said as he looked at Ethan. “We were happy, weren't we? This was supposed to be a contract marriage but then I felt my heart yearning for you and wanting to give you the best. Everyone was against this union, but I fought for you, but this is what I get in return right?” Ethan questioned with tears forming in his eyes Everywhere was dead silence as the only thing I could hear was the beating of my own heart.

I saw it. The heartbeat. Fast and furious and alive. Something cracked inside my chest. Something I'd been holding together since the moment I signed that contract. Tears slid down my temples into my hair. I didn't wipe them away. "The heartbeat is strong," Dr. Hayes said. "Faster than typical for four weeks, but —" She tilted her head. "But there's something else." "What?" Kael's voice was rough. Dr. Hayes zoomed in. The image blurred, then sharpened.

Gustavo was keen to get one of the men on the list given the heart. The man in question was told about the experimental heart and was interested in giving it a go. He was not going to last much longer, and if Lena agreed that the man could have a new heart in less than a week, she would like the fellow to be there in the hospital, isolated from germs and on a drip for something she would not tell me about, but said it helped reduce the rejection. After more pushing by Gustavo,Milena agreed and suggested they get some contracts together, for her side of the heart patient, and also something for the patient, so they could not be sued if it was unsuccessful.

 I laid it out for the whole table. Grace. Daniel. Helen. Cassidy. Jax. Marcus. My mother. All of them in the kitchen by nine a.m. “The Contraction has failed three times,” I said. “Each time it upgrades. Each time it targets something new.” I held the table’s gaze. “The fourth attempt will not target the established marks or the established relationships. Those have proven resistant.” I paused. “It will target the threshold. The point between outside and inside.” “Elise and her family,” my mother said.

Saw the boy who'd lost his parents at twelve, raised by a grandfather who'd been broken by loss, taught that love was a liability. "Is that why you don't want it?" she asked. "Love? Because you've seen what it costs?" "I don't want it because I don't believe in it." He met her eyes. "What my grandparents had was an anomaly. Most people chase that feeling and end up with broken homes and custody battles and alimony payments. They confuse chemistry for compatibility. Attraction for attachment." "And you think a contract is better?" "I think clarity is better. We know what this is. We know when it ends. We know exactly what we're getting from each other. There are no illusions or false hope. So