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The Loveless Contractive Marriage 57
Raymond stormed into his office, slamming the door shut so hard the glass panel rattled. His hands clenched into fists at his sides, jaw locked so tight it could crack a damn tooth. He’d spent the last thirty minutes arguing with his father, and the bastard had the audacity to tell him to back off? To leave Lorenzo alone like some kind of untouchable golden boy? Yeah, right. Like hell that was happening.Yanking his phone from his pocket, he hit Henry’s number and pressed it to his ear, pacing the length of his office like a caged animal.Henry picked up after one ring. “What now, Ray?”Raymond exhaled sharply. “Dad just left my place.”There was a pause. Then, “And?”“He thinks we should leave our half-brother alone. That it’s some kind of cosmic mistake to mess with Lorenzo because Grandpa Edward Audrey has declared him the golden boy of the damn century.” Raymond let out a humorless laugh, running a hand through his already-messy hair. “Can you believe that?”Henry sighed. “You’re
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-04-02The 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
Terakhir Diperbarui : 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
Terakhir Diperbarui : 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
Terakhir Diperbarui : 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
Terakhir Diperbarui : 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
Terakhir Diperbarui : 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
Terakhir Diperbarui : 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.
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-11-06
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The Loveless Contractive Marriage 57
Raymond stormed into his office, slamming the door shut so hard the glass panel rattled. His hands clenched into fists at his sides, jaw locked so tight it could crack a damn tooth. He’d spent the last thirty minutes arguing with his father, and the bastard had the audacity to tell him to back off? To leave Lorenzo alone like some kind of untouchable golden boy? Yeah, right. Like hell that was happening.Yanking his phone from his pocket, he hit Henry’s number and pressed it to his ear, pacing the length of his office like a caged animal.Henry picked up after one ring. “What now, Ray?”Raymond exhaled sharply. “Dad just left my place.”There was a pause. Then, “And?”“He thinks we should leave our half-brother alone. That it’s some kind of cosmic mistake to mess with Lorenzo because Grandpa Edward Audrey has declared him the golden boy of the damn century.” Raymond let out a humorless laugh, running a hand through his already-messy hair. “Can you believe that?”Henry sighed. “You’re
The Loveless Contractive Marriage 56
AfternoonHospitalRaymond sat in the hospital room, his posture sharp, calculated, like a man who never let his guard down. The patient in front of him—Mr. Tade, mid-fifties, a little too thin for his age—watched him with tired, expectant eyes. The steady beep of the heart monitor filled the silence between them.Raymond adjusted his wristwatch before clearing his throat. “Mr. Tade, we’ve gone through all the necessary tests, and based on the results, I believe we have a clear path forward.”The older man exhaled slowly. “And? What’s the damage, doc?”Raymond glanced at the clipboard in his hand, though he had already memorized everything. “Your liver function is severely compromised. If we don’t act fast, it could get worse. I’m putting you on a high-dosage medication plan. It will stabilize things, but it’s not a cure. We need to consider a transplant in the long run.”Mr. Tade chuckled bitterly. “Transplant? You think I got time and money for that?”Raymond’s jaw tightened. “Right
The Loveless Contractive Marriage 55
The morning sun filtered through the tall windows, casting golden streaks across the dining table where Zia sat. A plate of toast, eggs, and a half-empty glass of orange juice sat untouched in front of her. She idly swirled the juice, staring at the table like it held answers to questions she hadn’t yet asked.Then, the door creaked open.Lorenzo walked in, his movements careful, as if stepping into a space where he no longer belonged. He was dressed in black joggers and a plain white t-shirt that clung to his frame, his hair still damp from a morning shower.His eyes flicked to her, hesitant. "Hi."Zia glanced up briefly before looking away. "Hi."The air between them thickened. It wasn’t cold, but it wasn’t warm either—it was that uncomfortable limbo of two people who used to share everything but now felt like strangers.Lorenzo cleared his throat and walked to the fridge. He grabbed a bottle of water and cracked it open. As he took a sip, he turned back to her. "You need a drink, Z
The Loveless Contractive Marriage 54
Chapter 54: Past Reunion.Zac’s Apartment – MorningThe kitchen smelled like fresh citrus and regret. Nia stood at the counter, slicing lemons with the precision of someone who had seen too much, been through too much, and now wielded a knife like a final punctuation to past conversations. Zac walked in, rubbing the back of his head, his eyes scanning the room like he had just stepped into unfamiliar territory—though he had been here countless times before.He leaned against the fridge, arms crossed. “What’s with all the lemons? Planning to blind someone with citrus acid?”Nia didn’t even look up. “Maybe.”Zac smirked. “Still got that thuggery vibe, huh?”She finally turned to face him, a faint smirk on her lips. “What do you want, Zac?”Zac exhaled, running a hand down his face. “I dunno. Maybe closure?”Nia chuckled, a low, dry sound. “Closure? That’s rich. What, you suddenly woke up and thought, ‘Oh shit, let me go find Nia and explain why I abandoned her like some unfinished mixta
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Sophia’s House – NightRaymond walked back inside, his footsteps heavy, his face darkened by the conversation he just had. His mind was still reeling, but he masked it with the usual arrogance in his stride.Henry and Sophia were still on the couch, lost in whatever scene played on the television. But Sophia wasn’t stupid—she caught the look on Raymond’s face the moment he stepped in.“Hey,” she said, sitting up straight. “Is there something wrong?”Raymond scoffed. “Why the fuck should there be something wrong, bitch?”The words sliced through the air like a gunshot.Henry’s head snapped up, his entire body going rigid. In a flash, he was on his feet. His sharp gaze pinned Raymond down, disbelief and fury crackling between them.“What did you just call her, Raymond?” Henry’s voice was low, dangerous. “What the fuck did you just call my girlfriend?”Raymond cocked his head, eyes glinting with mock innocence. “Nothing. Perhaps, you should tell me. Do you hear something? Did I call her
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Grandpa Edward Audrey’s OfficeThe dimly lit office carried the scent of old cigars and aged whiskey. Behind a grand mahogany desk, Edward Audrey sat, fingers steepled, his piercing gaze fixed on the man who had just entered.Gifford stepped inside, his expression unreadable. He stood tall, his posture controlled, but his clenched fists betrayed the tension coiled within him. Meetings with Edward Audrey were never simple. Never casual.Edward gestured toward the leather chair opposite him. “Sit.”A beat of hesitation. Then, Gifford lowered himself into the seat, the weight of the moment pressing on his shoulders. The silence between them thickened, old wounds hanging in the air like unspoken accusations.Edward finally spoke. “Do you know why I brought you into this family, Gifford?”Gifford’s jaw tensed. “Because I earned my place.”A low chuckle rumbled from the old man’s throat. He shook his head, eyes gleaming with something unreadable. “No, boy. You didn’t earn anything. You wer
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Outside Zac's apartment, Lorenzo sat outside on the terrace, the cool night air doing little to soothe the storm in his mind. He took another sip of his drink, the burn of the expensive liquor not enough to drown out the chaos that had become his life. Three weeks. Three fucking weeks, and everything had turned upside down.Zac stepped out, carrying a bottle of vintage whiskey and two glasses. He poured them both a generous amount, the golden liquid glistening under the dim outdoor lights.“You got something frying your mind?” Zac asked, settling into the chair across from Lorenzo.Lorenzo grabbed his glass and downed it in one swift motion. He exhaled sharply, his jaw tightening. “Might be frying a dough in my mind, though it’s a burnt one.”Zac smirked, swirling his drink. “Spit it out, cock. No use sitting here sulking like a bitch.”Lorenzo slammed his glass on the table. “Just a few weeks ago, I made the worst mistake of my life. I divorced Zia. I betrayed her. I didn't know she
The Loveless Contractive Marriage 50
The papers were signed. Zia’s hands shook slightly as she scribbled her name at the bottom of the discharge forms, giving them permission to leave the hospital. It felt surreal—after everything, after all the bullets, chases, and betrayals, they were just… walking out.Zac led the way, his white suit practically glowing under the fluorescent lights. Lorenzo followed, his steps heavier, his mind elsewhere. Nia and Mira trailed behind, their fingers loosely linked, a silent promise exchanged between them.They slid into the car, the low hum of the engine a steady presence in the background. Just as Zac put the vehicle into gear, Lorenzo spoke.“Wait.”Zac shot him a sharp look in the rearview mirror, foot hovering over the pedal. “We don’t have much time. You risking your life, Zia’s—”Lorenzo cut him off, locking eyes with Nia and Mira. “Didn’t you say they have a hacker or some shit tracking our phones?”Nia, her voice edged with sarcasm, replied, “Like hell they’d let us be when chas
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Nia and Mira burst into the hospital, their steps quick and urgent. The antiseptic scent in the air was almost suffocating, a stark reminder that they were finally safe—at least for now. Nia’s hand still trembled from the adrenaline, her hoodie sticking to her skin from sweat and exhaustion.They reached the reception desk, where a middle-aged nurse with a stern face eyed them suspiciously.“We’re here for Zia,” Nia said, voice tight.The nurse hesitated, her gaze scanning their disheveled appearance.Nia’s phone vibrated. A quick glance at the screen—Zia. She answered immediately.“Tell the nurse to let you in,” Zia’s weary voice came through.Nia handed the phone over. The nurse listened for a second, then sighed and nodded. “Third floor. Room 307.”Without another word, they rushed down the corridor, their footsteps echoing against the linoleum floor.The moment Nia stepped into the room, Zia was already waiting. She barely had time to react before her sister pulled her into a tigh
