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The Loveless Contractive Marriage 01
Zia POV The doctor put on his spec, and sat up straight, a smile spreading across his face. "Mrs. Audrey, you're going to have a baby!" he announced. My heart raced fast, I couldn't believe it. How could this be happening? It felt really impossible. My friend Mira looked surprised, her eyes wide with excitement. "Did you just say she's pregnant, doctor?" she asked, her voice filled with joy. The doctor nodded, "Yes, she's one month pregnant." He answered. My mind flashed back to that night, the moment that changed everything. I felt a wave of sudden fear wash over me. "How can I be pregnant?' I whispered to myself. But Mira's eyes shone with happiness. "I'm so happy for you, you're finally going to be a mom! This is a new beginning for you and your husband" She said, playing with my chin, while I only fake a smile. What did Mira know? She had no idea that my marriage was a loveless arrangement, a contract that explicitly excluded pregnancy. And now, I was carrying a child
Last Updated : 2024-10-18The Loveless Contractive Marriage 02
Zia POVRaymond's stepbrother pulled up to Lorenzo's mother's house, and I thanked him with a smile. "Thanks so much," I said, feeling grateful. He smiled back, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "You don't have to do that. Have a great time with your mother-in-law," he said, his voice friendly. I smiled again, feeling a warmth in my chest. "Bye," I said, as I got out of the car. Just as I was walking away, he rolled down his window and called out, "Always smile, you're so beautiful with that genuine smile!" He was still smiling at me, and I couldn't help but blush. My heart skipped a beat as I felt a flutter in my chest. I looked away, trying to hide my embarrassment, but I couldn't help but feel a little pleased at the compliment. I waved at him, still feeling a bit shy, and he drove off, leaving me with a warm feeling in my heart. As I approached the door, my heart raced when my eyes met Lorenzo's. His cold gaze made me feel like he was sucking the life out of me. I forced a s
Last Updated : 2024-10-18The Loveless Contractive Marriage 03
Zia POV Sophia burst into the office, her presence igniting my anger. But I took a deep breath and kept my cool. She marched towards my desk, her eyes fixed on me with an air of entitlement. "Is Lorenzo in the office?" she asked bluntly, without even a greeting. I shot her a glare, my eyes flashing with irritation. "Why are you staring at me like that?" she asked, her tone defiant. "I asked you a simple question. Where's Lorenzo?" she demanded again, her voice rising. I replied curtly, my tone laced with disgust. "He's in a meeting and can't attend to anybody right now." Sophia's eyes flashed with anger, her voice rising. "Do you know who I am? I'm not just anyone!" I felt my patience wear thin, my voice matching her volume. "Ma'am, I've already told you, Lorenzo is in a meeting. If you can't wait, please leave." My annoyance surged, fueled by pregnancy hormones. Sophia's face reddened, her words dripping with indignation. "You yelled at me! I'll make sure I get you fire" Sh
Last Updated : 2024-10-18The Loveless Contractive Marriage 04
Zia's POV: As I moved to the front of the table to present the new project, all eyes were on me. I had worked tirelessly on it for the past five days, finally completing it yesterday. My gaze briefly met Lorenzo's, but I quickly composed myself and smiled, focusing on the task at hand. I walked to the displayed monitor, inserted my flash drive, and processed the data. Before facing the shareholders, I began, "Well, I think before the data processes, I'd like to outline the details of the contract." I bowed slightly, preparing to start my presentation. But just as I was about to begin, I noticed the shareholders' faces on the screen behind me. Suddenly, one of them shouted, "What's this? Are you here to show us nude pictures? Is this a hotel?" The room erupted into chaos, and I felt my face flush with embarrassment and confusion. "I am sorry, I didn't know what this is, I guess I picked the wrong flash drive" I said, and quickly removed the flash drive. The shareholder's scolding
Last Updated : 2024-10-18The Loveless Contractive Marriage 05
Zia's POV:The warmth of Raymond's embrace lingered even after I was settled in his car, the heater blasting away the chill of the rain. His confession echoed in the silence, a truth so raw and unexpected it left me speechless. How could he possibly love me? Me, with my baggage of a marriage and a heart already claimed, however inadequately, by Lorenzo.I snuck a glance at Raymond as he focused on navigating the rain-slicked streets. His brow was furrowed in concentration, yet an air of quiet contentment surrounded him. It was then I realised that his love wasn't a demand, but a simple offering. An offering I was in no position to accept, but one that planted a seed of doubt within the barren landscape of my heart."Raymond," I began, my voice barely a whisper, "You deserve someone who can...who can reciprocate those feelings. Someone who's...""Don't," he interrupted gently, his eyes still on the road. "Don't apologise for something you don't need to. Your happiness matters to me mor
Last Updated : 2024-11-05The Loveless Contractive Marriage 06
Lorenzo's POV Zia haven't spoken to me like this before, I felt disrespected and didn't know how to react to her rude response. I didn't know why I was angry but felt bad. Sophia had called me and she is coming over. I was taunted the looks of things. Zia coming out of Raymond's car last night was the toughest thing ever happened to me. Zia could fuck any other Dick but not Raymond's. Raymond is fucking half-brother to me. She knew it, yet alighting out of his car like it means nothing. Sophia arrived later, as we sits down on the couch. Her smiles were different. Happy filled smile that drown my heart instantly. "Baby, I have good news for you. Guess what?" Sophia said with a smile. "Come on, you know Sofi, I don't know how to guess. Can you please tell me?" I replied, my tone a mix of curiosity and impatience.Sophia leaned closer, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "I'm pregnant, Lorenzo! We're going to have a baby!" Her words hung in the air like a spell, momentarily sile
Last Updated : 2024-11-06The Loveless Contractive Marriage 07
Zia's POV I sat on the edge of my bed, staring blankly at the wall. The silence of the apartment felt suffocating, a stark contrast to the chaos swirling in my mind. I picked up my phone and dialed Mira’s number, needing to hear a familiar voice.“Zia! What’s up?” Mira answered, her tone bright and cheerful.“Mira, I... I don’t know where to start,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper.“Is it about Lorenzo?” she asked, sensing the tension in my voice.“Yeah,” I sighed, feeling the weight of my emotions crashing down on me. “Things have been really bad between us lately. He’s... different. Cold.”“Cold how?” Mira pressed, her concern evident.“He just doesn’t care anymore. He’s been spending time with Sophia, and it feels like he’s completely forgotten about me,” I admitted, my heart aching with every word.“Zia, you deserve better than this,” she replied firmly. “You need to think about leaving him.”“I know,” I said, frustration bubbling up inside me. “But it’s not that simple.
Last Updated : 2024-11-06The Loveless Contractive Marriage 08
Zia's POV The next morning, I woke up feeling the weight of yesterday's confrontation with Lorenzo still heavy on my chest. I had barely slept, tossing and turning as I replayed our conversation over and over in my mind. The coldness in his voice haunted me, and the image of him with Sophia lingered like a bitter taste in my mouth.As I moved through the house, I could hear laughter coming from the living room. I paused, my heart sinking as I recognized the sound of Lorenzo’s voice mingling with Sophia’s. They were so at ease with each other, their banter filled with a warmth that felt like a knife twisting in my gut. I took a deep breath and steeled myself for what lay ahead.“Did you really think she’d say yes?” Lorenzo laughed, his tone light and teasing.Sophia giggled in response, her voice bright and carefree. “Of course not! But it’s fun to watch her squirm.”"Finally, she's going leave you for me." Sophia added which make my heart beat harder. I felt my stomach churn at
Last Updated : 2024-11-07
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The Loveless Contractive Marriage 43
Outside the state’s judiciary residence, where Mr. Justin, Chief Justice of [State Branch], resided, the street was eerily quiet. Raymond and Henry sat in their car, the engine humming faintly, both smoking in contemplative silence. Raymond flicked his cigarette out of the window, nodding to Henry.“Let’s do this,” Raymond muttered as he stepped out of the car.The two approached the grand yet modest house, its white exterior showing the slight wear of time. Henry knocked sharply, the sound echoing in the silence. After a moment, the door creaked open, revealing a middle-aged woman with tired eyes. Mrs. Juliana, Mr. Justin’s wife, stood there, her face creasing into a slight frown.“Can I help you?” she asked cautiously, her gaze darting between the two men.“We’re here to see Mr. Justin,” Raymond replied, attempting a polite tone.Mrs. Juliana hesitated but eventually stepped aside. “Come in. He’s in his study.”They followed her through a polished hallway, where old photographs and
The Loveless Contractive Marriage 42
At the New HospitalZia stepped out of the cab in front of the new hospital, pulling her hijab closer around her face. She wanted to stay unnoticed. Her eyes scanned the entrance before she walked in, her steps steady but careful.The hospital was big and clean, with shiny floors and the smell of disinfectant in the air. Zia walked through the hallway, keeping her head down. She didn’t want anyone to recognize her.At the reception desk, a nurse looked up from her computer.“Can I help you?” the nurse asked.“I’m here to see Lorenzo,” Zia said, her voice quiet.“Lorenzo who?” the nurse asked, her eyebrows raising slightly.“Lorenzo Audrey,” Zia replied.The nurse paused, her eyes narrowing a little. “And you are?”“I’m… family,” Zia said.The nurse didn’t look convinced. She picked up the phone and made a call. Zia stood there, her hands tucked under her coat, waiting.After a moment, the nurse hung up and turned to her. “I spoke with Mr. Edward Audrey. You’re allowed to visit. Lorenz
The Loveless Contractive Marriage 41
Chapter 41Zia was damned gone from the flips, head fogged as the SUV rattled to a stop in front of Nia's run-down, junkied-out building. The zicky looked worse every time she showed up, like the concrete itself was getting high and crumbling under the weight of its sins. She stumbled out, gripping the SUV door for balance. The stench of piss and rot wafted in the breeze, mixing with the distant sound of someone shouting obscenities. Classic Nia’s territory.She took a deep breath—regret instantly—and headed inside, her boots clunking on the uneven stairs. The door to the apartment was ajar, a faint cloud of smoke seeping out. Zia pushed it open, and there they were.Mira and Nia. Kissing.Zia blinked, the scene in front of her like a twisted fever dream. Nia, her sister who couldn’t keep her shit together long enough to stay clean for a week, and Mira, her so-called best friend, tangled on the couch like teenagers sneaking behind their parents’ backs. Nia broke the kiss, her lips sme
The Loveless Contractive Marriage 40
Third person's POV The man didn’t get far before Grandpa Edward Audrey’s men tackled him to the ground after a wild chase down the hood. A sharp gun butt to the head silenced his struggle, leaving him sprawled on the pavement. Moments later, another SUV screeched to a halt nearby, and the men roughly dragged the intruder into the vehicle before peeling off toward Nia’s place.Back at the scene, Grandpa Edward Audrey stood composed, Zia nervously at his side, while one of his enforcers, a stocky man with a cigar clenched between his teeth, approached. “We’ve got him,” the man said gruffly. “What now?”“Interrogate him,” Grandpa replied coldly. “Make sure he talks. I want everything.”Turning to Zia, he motioned toward a sleek black SUV parked a few steps away. “Get in,” he said. “Let’s get that drink.” Without waiting for a reply, he climbed into the vehicle, and Zia hesitated briefly before following, her mind racing with unease.The bar was dead silent, a hole in the wall that scr
The Loveless Contractive Marriage 39
Third Person’s POVNia’s place was a damn pit—a cramped room with mismatched furniture, ashtrays overflowing with cigarette butts, and the faint stench of spilled booze and stale sweat. The kind of place where the air felt thick with stories no one wanted to tell.Zia sat on a lumpy couch, her knees pulled to her chest, glancing sideways at Nia and Mira. The two hadn’t said much since Mira arrived, their awkward silence heavier than the smoke clouding the room. Mira flipped through an old magazine like it owed her money, while Nia cleaned her nails with the edge of a battered pocketknife, looking bored as hell."You two gonna act like strangers all night?" Zia asked, breaking the quiet.Mira snorted. “Ask your sister. She’s the one with the attitude.”Nia didn’t even look up. “Don’t come in here acting like you know me, princess. This is my space, not your high-rise drama.”“Alright, alright, enough,” Zia said, her voice low but firm. “I didn’t come here to babysit your beef. We’ve
The Loveless Contractive Marriage 38
Third Person's POVOutside the new hospital, the air felt too quiet, like the world held its breath for what was coming. Eight black SUVs roared up the drive like a storm, the engines snarling before they cut off in unison. Doors slammed, heavy boots hit the pavement, and out stepped Grandpa Edward Audrey, leading the pack like a goddamn warlord. His cane tapped the ground with authority as he strolled toward the entrance, his entourage a ripple of dark suits and watchful eyes.The hospital staff froze for a second, then snapped to action, ushering him inside. A medical supervisor, a lanky guy with a clipboard that looked like it weighed more than he did, hustled up to him."Mr. Audrey," the supervisor started, voice trembling just enough to show respect—or fear.Edward nodded but kept walking, his sharp gaze sweeping the hospital like he owned it. Maybe he didn’t on paper, but everyone knew that money and power made the rules, and Edward Audrey had both in spades.The supervisor
The Loveless Contractive Marriage 37
Third person's POVNia and Zia sat inside the dim, grimy room that reeked of stale smoke and spilled liquor. The cracked walls seemed to sweat secrets no one dared speak aloud. Nia flicked open a battered pack of cigarettes and shoved one toward Zia. “Here, take the damn thing,” Nia muttered, already lighting hers. Zia waved it off, her other hand resting protectively on her rounded belly. “Can’t. You know why.” Before Nia could respond, the door creaked open, and a jittery junkie girl stumbled in, her eyes darting like a trapped animal. “Someone’s askin’ for Zia outside,” she rasped, scratching at her arm like she could dig out her demons. Nia was on her feet instantly, snatching her pistol from under the stained couch cushion. She cocked it with a practiced motion, ready for whatever hell might walk through that door. “Wait,” Zia hissed, eyes narrowing. “What’d they call themselves?” The junkie girl blinked, her lips twitching like she was piecing together half-forgotten wor
The Loveless Contractive Marriage 36
NowThird Person's POVZia’s head pounded as her eyelids fluttered open. The world spun in a haze of cigarette smoke, cheap perfume, and damp walls. Her body felt like dead weight, slumped against a rickety old chair.“Rise and shine, little sis.”The voice was raspy, smug, and painfully familiar. Zia’s head snapped up, and there she was—Nia. Leaning against the wall, dragging on a cigarette like she owned the air in the room.Zia blinked, her throat dry. “Nia?” she croaked, her voice raw.“Surprise,” Nia smirked, flicking ash onto the dusty floor. “Long time, no see, huh?”Six years. Six years since Zia had seen her sister, and she looked as chaotic as ever. Nia’s jet-black hair hung in jagged waves, her eyeliner smeared like war paint. She wore a ripped tank top, jeans that had seen better days, and an expression that screamed, trouble’s here.“What the hell are you doing here?” Zia snapped, her voice shaky but laced with anger.Nia shrugged, taking another drag. “Grandpa called. Sa
The Loveless Contractive Marriage 35
Third Person's POVFive Years AgoThe streets were a labyrinth of cracked asphalt, broken glass, and desperate souls. Zia sprinted down a narrow alley, her breath coming in ragged gasps, her feet pounding the ground as if her life depended on it—which it did. She clutched a small packet of snuffed narcotics tightly in her hand, its weight burning into her palm like a brand.Behind her, a chorus of angry shouts echoed through the labyrinth. Junkie girls, lean and fierce, barreled after her like a pack of predators. Their leader, a wiry figure with sharp features and a cruel smile, stood at the entrance of the alley, her arms crossed. She didn’t run; she didn’t need to.“Zia!” the leader’s voice cut through the chaos like a blade. “You really think you can outrun me? Not on my streets.”Zia’s legs burned, but she pushed on, refusing to look back. She knew what awaited her if they caught up, but the hope of escape was quickly fading. The narrow path ended in a pile of garbage and rusted
