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CHAPTER 22
Last Updated:
2025-03-26 16:51:45
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BENEATH THE COLD CONTRACT CHAPTER 23
Chapter 23:Caroline's POV>You look nervous, Caroline. Tell him the truth or I will.“I need to go to the bathroom.” I muttered, my voice unsteady.But before I could move, Kane's hand shot out, firmly holding on to me. “Parker.” He said, calmly. “Where do you think you're going?”I forced myself to meet his gaze, struggling to steady my breathing. “I just need a minute,” I said, trying to pull my hand away. His grip tightened.“Then I'll come with you.” I shook my head quickly. “Kane, I just….”Ding.The sound of another message was not what I wanted to hear right now. I
Last Updated : 2025-03-26BENEATH THE COLD CONTRACT CHAPTER 24
Chapter 24:Caroline's POV We drove to my apartment first. Kane had refused but I insisted. I needed some clothing if I was going to stay in his penthouse.The entire ride over, Kane kept his eyes on the road, refusing to look at me. I could tell he disapproved of it. But I couldn’t just leave without grabbing a few essentials.We parked at my apartment and I stepped out, feeling a chill run down my spine. Kane quickly joined me.“Five minutes, Parker,” he warned. “You only have five minutes.”I rolled my eyes. “I’m just grabbing a bag.”Ignoring his scowl, I quickly made my way inside. The air felt different, what if HE was waiting for me in a corner. I pushed the thought aside and called out, “Gina?”There was no response.I frowned as I moved in further. The living room was exactly as I left it, but something about it felt…off. Maybe I was just being paranoid.Kane stepped in behind me. “Make it quick.” I nodded and hurried to my bedroom, grabbing a duffel bag from my close
Last Updated : 2025-03-27BENEATH THE COLD CONTRACT CHAPTER 25
Chapter 25:Caroline’s POV"Caroline," he muttered. "What the hell is this?"I swallowed hard. Oh shit, Gina, what's with the timing? How do I explain to Kane now?I calmed myself. If I panicked then Kane would really know what's going on. If he found out the truth now, everything could change. Come on, Caro. Come up with something. Then it hit me.I forced a laugh, snatching the phone back. “Relax, Kane. It's not what you think.”He raised a brow. “Then explain.” I rolled my eyes, pretending to be amused. "It’s my cousin. She just got into town a few weeks ago, and she’s… well, let’s just say she’s been panicking about her pregnancy. She was craving fruits the other day, and Gina assumed it was for me. Typical Gina.”I forced another chuckle, hoping he’d buy it.Kane didn’t move. His eyes stayed locked on mine, studying me closely."Your cousin?" His voice was skeptical.I nodded quickly. "Yeah! Amelia, that's her name. You haven’t met her, but trust me, she can be a handful.”A
Last Updated : 2025-03-27BENEATH THE COLD CONTRACT CHAPTER 26
Chapter 26:Caroline's POVKelly Brown. Kane's brother.Of course….. The other thorn in my side had to be a Brown. It just seems like the Brown family were fond of trying to mess my life. I swallowed hard, shifting my gaze between Kane and Jayson. “This doesn't make sense,” Kane said, his voice full of disbelief. Jayson’s tone was firm. “I double-checked. It’s him.”Kane exhaled sharply. “He hates me, but not enough to do this.”Silence. Then my phone buzzed.Unknown Number.> Careful Caroline. We don't want your secret in the hands of Kane now, do we?“Who is it?”“Nothing,” I lied.Jayson scoffed. “Yeah, right.”Kane didn’t wait. He grabbed the phone from my hand. His face darkened as he read the message.“Trace it,” he ordered Jayson.Jayson got to work. Kane turned to me. “You’re staying here.”I didn't argue. It wasn't like I had a choice in the first place.Jayson started working in silence. I folded my arms watching the screen. I
Last Updated : 2025-03-28BENEATH THE COLD CONTRACT CHAPTER 27
Chapter 27:Kane’s POVKelly let out a fake cough. “Well, we can't talk over the phone.”I exhaled. “Where? And when?”“Fairmount Park. Tomorrow. 6 p.m.”A public place. Of course. He wasn’t stupid enough to meet me anywhere private.“Fine, but I’ve got a question for you.”Kelly chuckled. “Feel free to ask me tomorrow.Beep. He cut the call.I pulled the phone away from my ear, staring at the screen for a moment before shoving it into my pocket.He didn’t even give me a chance to argue. He knew I’d show up regardless.And he was right.I turned to Jayson.“We don’t have to track him down anymore.”Jayson sighed, then stood up and reached for his jacket“You’re going somewhere?”He nodded as he put on the jacket.“I’m already late for an appointment with a client,” he said, checking his watch. “I’d love to stay, but you get the gist.”I narrowed my eyes. What was so important that he had to leave immediately?“Something wrong?” he asked, his gaze sharp.I hesitated. “Nah, it’s nothing
Last Updated : 2025-03-28BENEATH THE COLD CONTRACT CHAPTER 28
Chapter 28: Kane's POVBy the time I got home, the sun had already set. Kelly had proven his point. He'd be back and when he did, he'd take everything from me.Well at least he would try. I sighed, draping my jacket over the couch. Immediately I walked to the bar, pouring myself a glass of champagne. I gulped it down in one go. I needed something to keep my mind off what had happened. Kelly wasn't bluffing. I dropped the glass on the counter. My fingers curled around the edge of the bar as I exhaled slowly.Then out of the corner of my eye, I saw someone move in. I turned sharply, my hand moving straight to my gun's holster but then realized it was no longer there. I looked up, ready to face whoever it was. But it was just Caroline standing near the couch watching me. Shit… I forgot that I made Caroline stay here.I had been so tense about Kelly's words, I didn't even remember to check on her. “You’re late,” she said.“Didn’t realize I had a curfew.”Her eyes narrowed sli
Last Updated : 2025-03-29BENEATH THE COLD CONTRACT CHAPTER 29
Chapter 29:Diane's POVThe world has a cruel sense of humor.I had always been the best. The most intelligent. The most worthy.Until she appeared. I didn't even want to look at it. The damn poster. But there it was, plastered on the side of the building like a goddamn trophy.>Caroline Hayes: A Visionary in Modern Art.… I would never admit it.She was supposed to be small, insignificant. A bug that could be crushed at anytime.Yet, somehow, she excelled.Every exhibit, every review, every mention of her name was a reminder that she had taken something that should have been mine.My nails dug into my palm as I turned away from the poster, bile rising in my throat.No, not anymore. I wouldn’t sit back and watch her bask in the limelight while I faded into the background.I
Last Updated : 2025-03-29BENEATH THE COLD CONTRACT CHAPTER 30
Chapter 30:Kane's POV I opened my eyes, feeling a certain warmth beneath me. Where was I? I turned around only to see Caroline's sleeping face above me. For a moment, I didn't move. I just stayed there watching her.What happened last night? Did I ……No, if I did, we'd be on the bed. Not on the couch. I let out a slow breath, running a hand over my face. My head was still foggy. What had happened last night?How did I end up on Caroline's lap?I squinted as if trying to force the memories to take shape. Yeah, I came back from seeing Kane. Then the gun….. but I remembered telling Caroline to go to bed.Then I dreamt that Caroline came in, hugged me from behind then laid my head on her lap. I groaned, slapping myself on the forehead.Oh God, I wasn't dreaming.Carefully, I lifted my head, the movement making her stir slightly. My breath hitched, waiting to see if she’d wake up, but she didn’t. Her face was relaxed, peaceful in a way I wasn’t used to seeing.I should move, I tol
Last Updated : 2025-03-30
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BENEATH THE COLD CONTRACT CHAPTER 55
Chapter 55:Caroline's POVI lay there in Kane’s arms, his breath still warm against my skin, his heartbeat steady beneath my palm. But my mind was far from calm.I wanted to freeze this moment, to trap it between my fingers like glass and never let it shatter. But that was the thing about peace in this world… it never lasted. At least not for me.I tilted my head slightly, watching him sleep, his jaw finally unclenched, brows relaxed, the weight he always carried no longer etched into his face.He looked human like this. Vulnerable. But that didn’t make the storm behind his eyes any less real.And still… I loved him. Damn me for it, but I did.I curled my fingers into the sheet and let out a slow breath, trying to ignore the tightness in my chest. The babies had kicked earlier, right before everything melted into heat. A reminder that everything had changed.I was no longer just Caroline Parker.I was a woman caught between the past and the future. Between heartbreak and healing. Bet
BENEATH THE COLD CONTRACT CHAPTER 54
Chapter 54: Caroline's POV I moaned as his tongue brushed against mine.It had been too long, too many sleepless nights tangled in fear, betrayal, and the weight of what-ifs. But now, with his hands on my waist and his mouth moving against mine, something inside me broke loose.Something raw. Something hungry.I needed this. Needed him.His lips were warm and firm. He kissed me like he’d been holding back for far too long. Like I was something he’d kept behind glass, and tonight, he’d finally shattered it.My hands found his shirt, clutching the fabric, pulling him closer until our bodies touched fully, chest to chest. The heat of him soaked through my skin, making me more aware of his presence.I could feel my pulse everywhere, in my neck, my fingertips, the swell of my stomach.The babies shifted lightly, a gentle flutter like a reminder… but my body didn’t shy away. If anything, the hormones intensified everything. I was burning from the inside out.Kane’s hand slid up my spine,
BENEATH THE COLD CONTRACT CHAPTER 53
Chapter 53Kane's POV“Jayson?” she whispered.He smiled faintly. “I guess no one told you I was back from the dead.”Gina stepped protectively closer to Caroline. “What the hell is he doing here?” Caroline snapped at me.“I was just about to ask the same thing,” I said, my voice low.Jayson raised both hands in mock surrender. “I didn’t come to start a fight.”Caroline's expression hardened. “You were missing. Everyone thought you were….”“Dead,” he finished for her. “Yeah. I figured as much.”“And now you just show up here?” she demanded, her voice shaking. “After everything you did? After leaving without a word?”“It wasn’t by choice,” he said quietly. “But I get it. You don’t trust me. None of you should.”Kelly appeared from around the corner, leaning casually against the wall like he’d been watching the whole time. “That might be the smartest thing you’ve said all night.”I was shocked at his appearance, I thought he had left. But I didn't have the time to attend to him.Jayson
BENEATH THE COLD CONTRACT CHAPTER 52
Chapter 52Kane's POVImmediately, my hand reached to the back of my pocket for my gun.Kelly raised both hands in mock surrender, that smug, infuriating smirk still on his face. “Easy, Kane. I’m not here to crash your little contract celebration. Just stopping by to say hello.”“You picked the worst possible moment,” I said coldly.He glanced toward Caroline, then back at me with a flicker of something unreadable in his eyes. “Yeah, I noticed. Poolside proposals. So unlike you.”“Get to the point.”His smirk slipped, just a little. “Alright. I came to deliver some news. Something you should hear from me before it spreads.”I folded my arms, tension pulsing behind my eyes. “Then talk.”He stepped closer, lowering his voice. “Jayson’s back.”The world tilted. For a second, I wasn’t sure I heard right.“What?”“He’s alive,” Kelly confirmed, his tone now laced with gravity. “Walked into Robertson’s penthouse like a ghost rising from the grave.”My mind stuttered. “That’s impossible. He w
BENEATH THE COLD CONTRACT CHAPTER 51
Chapter 51Kane's POV The silence that followed was deafening.Caroline blinked, caught between confusion and disbelief. "Excuse me?""A contract marriage," I clarified, voice even. "No pressure, no wedding gowns, no roses. Just a paper. A binding legal agreement.""For… what exactly?" Caroline asked, her voice tight now, more cautious."Protection," I said. "Legal rights over you means I can move you, protect you, act instantly if anything happens again. It gives me leverage in a way bodyguards can’t."Caroline’s mouth opened, but no words came out. Gina, on the other hand, looked like I’d sucker-punched her in the gut."That’s a bit extreme, don’t you think?" Gina said, trying and failing to sound light about it."It’s the safest option." I looked back at Caroline. "You don’t have to give me an answer now. But the longer you think about it, the more danger you stay in. So it should be just a contract for now and if you think I'm worthy then we can do a proper marriage.”Gina’s eyes
BENEATH THE COLD CONTRACT CHAPTER 50
Chapter 50Kelly’s POVBefore I could respond, Diane ran and threw her arms around him.“Jayson…” she squealed. “I thought you were dead.”“Dead?” Jayson raised a brow, his usual calm smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. “That’s dramatic, even for you.”Robertson stepped forward, the sound of his boots heavy against the marble floor. He stopped just inches from Jayson, staring hard.“You were rumored shot and dead,” he said, rubbing his temple as if the whole situation was giving him a migraine. “Though we told the public you were missing.”“Good,” Jayson replied smoothly, brushing Diane off gently. “Let them believe it. It gives us leverage.”Robertson’s brows knitted together. “What do you mean?”“Kane thinks I’m gone. And so does Mr. Reynolds, for now. That puts us in a position of control. If I’m presumed dead, no one’s watching my movements. I can go where others can’t. Dig where others won’t.”Clever bastard.Robertson narrowed his eyes. “You saw him, didn’t you? Reynolds.”
BENEATH THE COLD CONTRACT CHAPTER 49
Chapter 49:Kane's POV“What do you mean Mr. Reynolds has escaped?” I growled, my voice slicing through the room like a blade.The air went still.Micah hesitated, then straightened. “We received intel from Russia ten minutes ago. Facility 09 was compromised.”I leaned forward slowly. “Compromised how?”“There was an assault. Clean. Fast. No security feeds survived, and over forty guards are confirmed dead. Reynolds is no longer in custody.”A sharp pain pulsed behind my eyes.“That prison was underground,” I muttered. “Built to contain the worst of the worst. There were only two ways in or out—and both were death traps.”Micah nodded grimly. “Whoever orchestrated this knew that. It was inside help. The escape was executed using one of the facility’s backup helicopters.”Of course it was.I turned my back to them, staring out the window, jaw clenched hard enough to ache.Reynolds was out.That meant the nightmare wasn’t over. That meant the ghosts from our past weren’t done with us ye
BENEATH THE COLD CONTRACT CHAPTER 48
Chapter 48:Jayson's POVThe wind howled like a beast as the helicopter blades cut through the frozen Russian air. I looked down at the blanket of white below, vast, endless, and suffocating. Somewhere beneath that snow-covered wilderness was the place I swore I’d never return to.The prison.It was buried so deep underground that even the devil would think twice before stepping in.“We’re here,” the pilot said, his thick accent slicing through my thoughts. “Five minutes.”I nodded and adjusted the black gloves on my hands, tightening them as the metal bird began to descend onto a narrow helipad surrounded by nothing but ice, barbed fences, and cold steel watchtowers. The sight alone pulled old memories I’d buried so deep.As soon as the chopper touched down, I stepped out, boots crunching against the snow. The wind slapped me in the face, biting through my coat like needles, but it didn’t matter.I was here for a reason.Two guards in heavy winter uniforms approached, rifles strapped
BENEATH THE COLD CONTRACT CHAPTER 47
Chapter 47Kelly POV“What do you mean they failed?” Robertson snarled, banging on my table.“We don't know what happened,” the messenger stuttered, stepping back. “Everything was going as planned then suddenly Kane showed up with his men.”“Kane?” Robertson paused. The messenger lightened up. “Yes, Kane, it was Kane's fault.” “And how did he know?” Robertson asked calmly, brandishing his pistol. “Well… I.. I…” BANG!!!The messengers face gave a neutral expression as he clutched his bloody chest, he gave me one look then landed on the floor with a hard thud. I walked over the lifeless body and stood across Robertson who was pouring himself a drink. “You didn't have to kill him,” I sighed. Robertson’s eyes flickered to me. “Well, he failed to kidnap the bitch.” “He was still one of your best hitman,” I reminded him, taking the seat in front of me. “Besides you're up against Kane, you shouldn't expect it to be that simple.” Robertson took a sip from the glass, poured more on a
