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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
Last Updated : 2025-04-02The Loveless Contractive Marriage 58
On the Way to the Police Station, Zac’s fingers tapped against the steering wheel as he sped down the road, the city lights reflecting off the windshield. Mira sat beside him, one leg crossed over the other, her knee bouncing like she had energy to burn. She was watching him, her eyes narrowing slightly as if she could see right through him.“How did you meet Nia?” Zac asked, his tone light but probing.Mira scoffed, rolling her eyes. “What do you mean? I’ve known Nia for a long time. Not her entire life, but I’ve been friends with her sister, Zia, for more than a decade.”“I see.” Zac nodded, shifting gears. “I heard she isn’t entirely about that lesbian life.” His words were careful, but he threw them out like bait.Mira’s head snapped in his direction. “Excuse me?”“You know,” Zac shrugged. “That she’s a normal girl.”Mira’s lips curled, not in a smile but something close to irritation. “First of all, what the hell does ‘normal’ mean? Second, what exactly are you trying to say?”Z
Last Updated : 2025-04-05The Loveless Contractive Marriage 59
Grandpa Edward Audrey's OfficeAudrey Co-opLorenzo, Nia, and Zia sat in the assistant’s reception, the air thick with tension. The receptionist at the desk barely spared them a glance, her perfectly manicured fingers clicking away at the keyboard.Nia huffed, arms crossed. “Can’t the damn receptionist just tell your grandpa that we have to see him now?”Lorenzo sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Nia, everything has a procedure. He might be in an important meeting right now.”“More important than my mother?!” Nia snapped, her voice sharp enough to cut glass. “I don’t have anything to say to you, Lorenzo. This is Zia’s fault anyway. She’s the one who dated you. She’s the one who let you put a baby in her belly.”Zia whipped her head around, her eyes narrowing. “Oh, shut the hell up, Nia! Are you seriously blaming me for this? Are you trying to say I’m the reason our mother is missing?”“Of course! You heard what he just said! His grandad can’t come out yet because he might be in
Last Updated : 2025-04-08The 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 : 2024-11-05
Latest chapter
The Loveless Contractive Marriage 59
Grandpa Edward Audrey's OfficeAudrey Co-opLorenzo, Nia, and Zia sat in the assistant’s reception, the air thick with tension. The receptionist at the desk barely spared them a glance, her perfectly manicured fingers clicking away at the keyboard.Nia huffed, arms crossed. “Can’t the damn receptionist just tell your grandpa that we have to see him now?”Lorenzo sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Nia, everything has a procedure. He might be in an important meeting right now.”“More important than my mother?!” Nia snapped, her voice sharp enough to cut glass. “I don’t have anything to say to you, Lorenzo. This is Zia’s fault anyway. She’s the one who dated you. She’s the one who let you put a baby in her belly.”Zia whipped her head around, her eyes narrowing. “Oh, shut the hell up, Nia! Are you seriously blaming me for this? Are you trying to say I’m the reason our mother is missing?”“Of course! You heard what he just said! His grandad can’t come out yet because he might be in
The Loveless Contractive Marriage 58
On the Way to the Police Station, Zac’s fingers tapped against the steering wheel as he sped down the road, the city lights reflecting off the windshield. Mira sat beside him, one leg crossed over the other, her knee bouncing like she had energy to burn. She was watching him, her eyes narrowing slightly as if she could see right through him.“How did you meet Nia?” Zac asked, his tone light but probing.Mira scoffed, rolling her eyes. “What do you mean? I’ve known Nia for a long time. Not her entire life, but I’ve been friends with her sister, Zia, for more than a decade.”“I see.” Zac nodded, shifting gears. “I heard she isn’t entirely about that lesbian life.” His words were careful, but he threw them out like bait.Mira’s head snapped in his direction. “Excuse me?”“You know,” Zac shrugged. “That she’s a normal girl.”Mira’s lips curled, not in a smile but something close to irritation. “First of all, what the hell does ‘normal’ mean? Second, what exactly are you trying to say?”Z
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
The Loveless Contractive Marriage 53
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
The Loveless Contractive Marriage 52
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
The Loveless Contractive Marriage 51
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
