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Chapter 44
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The Trillionaire's Contractual Bride Chapter 45
ASHER I knew I was done for the moment I saw her standing there, framed by the light from the hallway. The dress I had chosen was doing things to me I couldn't put into words. It hugged every curve, every line of her body, and the crimson fabric only intensified how delicate yet powerful she looked. My fingers twitched at the thought of pulling it off her, but I forced myself to stay calm. “You look…” I began, my voice low as I pulled her closer to me, the words trailing off as they didn't seem enough. It was taking an incredible amount of restraint not to take her into my arms and pull it right off of her, right there and right then. Obviously I didn't, but as she walked closer to me, it made it a lot harder not to. Her eyes softened, a little bashful, as she adjusted the straps of her dress, her cheeks matching the color of it. "I'm glad you like it," she said quietly, with a hint of mischief behind her smile. "Like it?" I stepped closer, leaning in just enough that I could br
The Trillionaire's Contractual Bride Chapter 46
CLAIRE The ride home was quieter than before. Not the awkward kind of quiet, but more like that peaceful silence where neither of us needed to say anything. I could still feel the warmth of Asher’s hand lingering on mine from when he helped me into the car. I turned my head slightly to look at him, stealing a glance while he kept his eyes on the road. His jaw was clenched in concentration, but there was this softness in his expression, a calmness that I wasn’t used to seeing in him. I wondered if he felt the same way I did—like something between us had shifted tonight, like we were getting closer to whatever this was between us. And it was scaring me just a little.My gaze fell back to my lap, and I fiddled with the hem of my dress, replaying the night in my head. He’d been... different. Not that he wasn’t always sweet, but tonight, it felt like he was going out of his way to show me how much he cared. Or maybe I was just finally starting to believe it. That thought made my stomach
The Trillionaire's Contractual Bride Chapter 47
CLAIREThe yellow flowery sundress I had on made my skin pop. I smiled at my reflection in the mirror as I tried to fasten the zip. “Hey, let me help you with that.” That deep baritone voice stirred something in me, my heart picking up its pace. “Hi,” I murmured back, a small smile touching my lips. He stood behind me, our gazes licking as we stared at each other from the mirror. I could feel my cheek heat up, burning up my ears. I averted my gaze from his. His hand grazed my bare back softly, his touch lingering there for a few seconds, before he proceeded to fasten my zip. “Uhm...thank you.” I said, stepping away from him before I gave into the urge to lean into his warmth. “You look beautiful, Mrs Gray.” He said with a smile that reached his eyes, tucking his hands into his pockets. For the first time since he entered the room, I took in his appearance. He had his blazer hung on his left arm, the sleeves of his crisp white shirts rolled up to his elbows, revealing his very ex
The Trillionaire's Contractual Bride Chapter 48
CLAIREI don't know how long I stretched; I only knew that I had no desire to go to work today or leave this bed. I turned to the other side of the bed and blinked in surprise as I stared at Asher's sleeping state. His chest rose up and down in slow motion, and he looked so peaceful that I didn't have the heart to wake him up. I was surprised to see him here. I hadn't audibly voiced out my need for him to stay here last night, but somehow it seems like he knew what I needed before I even asked. I stretched out my hand and then paused as I battled with the need to stroke the side of his face tenderly. With every moment that passed. I felt this insane hunger to touch him. My body instantly came alive with heat at the thought, and my cheeks flushed with color instantly. It was ridiculous that this was the first thing that I would be thinking about in the morning. No shame at all. My subconscious deemed it the perfect moment to mock me. I tried to ignore it. The room was shrouded in co
The Trillionaire's Contractual Bride Chapter 49
CLAIRE I couldn't help but smirk at Liah's reaction as Asher’s words sank in. Her eyes flicked between us, and the look on her face was priceless—a mix of thinly veiled disdain and something I couldn’t quite place.“Of course,” she said, forcing a tight-lipped smile. “I didn’t mean to intrude on your... family time.” Her voice oozed sarcasm, and she lingered on the last two words as if they were bitter to say.Asher’s hand rested on my thigh, his thumb brushing lightly against my skin. I felt a surge of confidence as he held his ground, his stance making it clear where he stood with me. I shifted closer, leaning into his touch, and met Liah’s gaze, refusing to look away."Asher and I were actually discussing a potential stay-at-home day,” I said, letting the implication hang in the air. “You know, quiet mornings together are pretty rare for us.”Liah's jaw clenched ever so slightly before she masked it with a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “Well, isn’t that lovely?” she said, tilt
The Trillionaire's Contractual Bride Chapter 50
ASHER I was aware of the silence that lingered between us. I didn't know how to start the conversation exactly. I was petrified of saying the wrong things. She sat quietly on the stone bench beside me, overlooking the green grass quietly. I brought her to the park. I always came here whenever life got too overwhelming and I wanted to seek some damn solitude.My stomach fluttered with warmth at the thought of her being here to share my intimate space with me. I closed my eyes and sighed for a brief moment. How the hell was I even supposed to start this conversation? I was tired and exhausted from the tension that seemed to linger between us.I needed to fix it. I couldn't spend another day not talking to her. “I didn't get to thank you for stepping in earlier,” she paused. I could notice the way her shoulders were rigid with tension. Like she was looking for the right words to say, just like me. It was oddly comforting to know that at least I wasn't the only one struggling. She felt
The Trillionaire's Contractual Bride Chapter 51
ASHER My heart raced as I walked past her and entered the condo. It was furnished to perfection just like I remembered me, and it scented of“I bought some cinnamon-scented candles. You used to like it, especially when we used to have sex on the couch,” she said as she closed the door behind her. I resisted the urge to roll my eyes and I sighed.I was going to have to tolerate her antics for now, unfortunately. “Your father texted me. I was supposed to meet up with him for dinner to discuss the features of the contract. I thought he was showing to be here.” I shot her a look. She didn't hide the way her eyes traveled down the length of me.Her eyes darkened with hunger, which heightened my anxiety. What the hell was I still doing here, especially when she was dressed like that? I had no business here. I paused at the sudden urge to bolt. Unfortunately, I was going to have to endure this. There was nothing I could do, and it irritated the fuck out of me.“He called me at the last mi
The Trillionaire's Contractual Bride Chapter 52
CLAIRE I knew how scared I was. I tried to tell myself that there was no need to panic but for some reason. I was afraid. It was already two hours before Asher told me when he was going to return, and when he finally returned, he looked worn out and tired. I could tell that he wasn't in the mood to make conversation. I wondered if something went wrong during the meeting. His face was dark and gloomy, and I could tell that he was trying very hard to look normal. He was smiling in a way that didn't quite reach his eyes. I wanted to ask him what was wrong. I wanted to tell him that he could talk to me, but he looked dead on his feet, so I couldn't really say anything more. As he was about to enter the next room, I caught a glimpse of the red lipstick stain at the left corner of his shirt. My brows furrowed deeply because I didn't know what to do. We had just had a lengthy conversation about trust and honesty. I had told him that I had loved him. I had been beyond elated that he didn'
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The Trillionaire's Contractual Bride Chapter 73
CLAIREThe room was shrouded in silence for a brief second, and I couldn't stop myself from wondering if it was because of me or because of the tension that traveled through the air. I didn't regret my outburst.I guess this would count as the first time that I had the luxury of putting Annabelle in her place without thinking of consequences. I took my time chewing into the chicken tenders. They were juicy and delicious. The only privilege of being in Gregory's company was that at least we had access to delicious food. That was the only thing that I was going to give him credit for. I was still trying to wrap my head and my mind around it. Asher and Regal were family. It dawned on me that there was a high possibility that I was going to be seeing more of Regal. Just when I hoped that I was done with him. “So tell us, Regal. Simply for curiosity sake. How did you two separate considering the fact that the both of you were once married?" Liah asked. I could see her lips curled up in
The Trillionaire's Contractual Bride Chapter 72
CLAIREThe drive to Asher’s father’s house felt way too short, like the universe was speeding things up just to mess with us. The closer we got, the heavier the air seemed to get. I glanced over at Asher. His grip on the steering wheel was tight, his knuckles pale, and every so often, I could see his jaw tighten and then relax, like he was trying—and failing woefully—to keep it together.Neither of us had said much since we got in the car, and the silence was almost worse than any awkward small talk we could’ve tried. The tension between us wasn’t the kind you could ignore. It just sat there, heavy and obvious, like a third passenger we couldn’t throw out of the car.Outside, the scenery blurred past, but I barely noticed. My stomach was in knots, and my hands were clenched in my lap, fiddling with the edge of my sleeve just to give myself something to do.“You okay over there?” I asked cautiously, though I already knew the answer.“Absolutely not,” he muttered. “Going to see my dad i
The Trillionaire's Contractual Bride Chapter 71
CLAIREAsher had this way of making me feel like the only person in the world. It was the little things—the way his hand hovered near mine like he was ready to catch me at any second or the way he smiled like he knew a secret no one else did. It was comforting, almost addictive, and I found myself wanting it more and more.When we left the coffee shop, the city seemed alive in a way I hadn’t noticed before. Maybe it was the buzz of morning activities—people moving around, talking, going about their days. Or maybe it was Asher walking next to me, his hand brushing against mine every so often, sending little sparks of electricity through my skin.“Where to first?” I asked, glancing up at him.“You’ll see,” he said with a sly grin.Of course, he didn’t tell me. Asher loved a good surprise, and while it usually annoyed me, today I decided to let him take the lead.We ended up at a small flower market tucked into a corner of the city that I had never explored. Stalls lined the cobblestone s
The Trillionaire's Contractual Bride Chapter 70
CLAIRERegal was becoming a thorn in the flesh. I couldn't think of any way to get him to stop bothering Asher and I. The more that I tried to get him to stay away. The more he would keep coming back to prove a point and I was getting extremely tired of entertaining his antics. How could I not see that he has been such a pain when I married him. I closed my eyes and sighed.I shivered when Asher ran a finger over my bare arm tenderly. My gaze met his. Somehow, he had been awake and I didn't even know it. He had a way of taking his time to observe me before I became aware.“Whatever is bothering you. It's best you tell me so that I can take care of it,” he said softly. But then I still couldn't find the courage to bring up Asher. Bringing him up is going to ruin the mood completely and I wasn't so sure that I could have that. Regal had already caused so much tension between us. I wasn't going to let him ruin the morning too. “Nothing. Just thinking about the pile of work that I had
The Trillionaire's Contractual Bride Chapter 69
CLAIREI toweled off quickly, feeling the residual heat from the bath clinging to my skin. Asher's gaze lingered on me with a mixture of affection and intensity, which had me fighting a blush that I knew was already creeping up my neck. He wrapped his towel around his waist, his eyes never leaving mine. Back in the bedroom, I watched as Asher moved with ease, the muscles in his back flexing as he reached for clothes. For a moment, I just stood there, taking him in—the effortless confidence in his movements, the way the faint light caught on his skin. I found myself unable to look away."You're staring," he said without turning, but there was a hint of a smile in his voice, as if he had been watching me and not the other way around."You're too smug for your own good," I shot back, rolling my eyes to hide the flush creeping up my neck. "Maybe put on a shirt before your ego inflates."He turned around, one eyebrow raised. "So you admit you were enjoying the view?""Maybe I was just adm
The Trillionaire's Contractual Bride Chapter 68
CLAIRE“So what's in it for her?” Asher asked after a few seconds of silence.“That's the thing,” I told him, “I have no idea, and I can't seem to figure it out.” “That's very strange...and suspicious. Liah wanting to help someone for no reason? That's practically impossible, to be honest. The Liah I know wouldn't be caught dead doing someone a favor without getting a single thing in return.” He went back to massaging my scalp. It was more of him running his fingers absentmindedly through my hair while he spoke than it was a massage. "Well, I don't think it's for no reason. She kind of said she might be doing this for you when I asked what she would get out of it.” “Oh, that definitely sounds more believable. So what exactly did she ask for?”My body tensed up a little bit as I thought of answering his question, and he seemed to notice. “Anything wrong? You seen tense. What did Liah tell you?” He placed a hand on my shoulder gently, and I started to feel slightly relaxed. Then I r
The Trillionaire's Contractual Bride Chapter 67
CLAIREThe proximity between us evaporated as he clutched my face tenderly in his hands. My breathing heightened. I was still trying to recover from the heat of his kiss. I was drowning in the heat that threatened to consume me. My hands were on fire as soon as I realized they were still placed across his torso. It was impossible to concentrate. “I've been waiting for you all day. I thought you were going to take forever to get back home. Get back home to me,” his voice drifted into a whisper as he placed his head against mine.I closed my eyes. My heart was threatening to give way from my body. I couldn't breathe, but it was a good kind of discomfort. “I've been thinking about you all day too. I-” I paused as my eyes watered with tears. I was terrified that Asher was going to see me in a more vulnerable state than he has ever seen me in his life. I wondered if it was the right time to be vulnerable with him. I closed my eyes. I needed to breathe. I need to pause every negative thou
The Trillionaire's Contractual Bride Chapter 65
CLAIREIt was a good thing that I had a very firm practice of keeping my temper on a leash. The sight of Liah seated comfortably on the chair from across made me want to lung out in frustration. I was exhausted from feeling so many intense emotions in a day. Everything about her irritated me, right from the sight of her perfect legs to the cold, sassy smile on her face. My headache intensified and I inhaled deeply to at least regain composure because my anger was already beginning to rise to the surface. “I'm not sure I'm going to need your forgiveness for anything. I'm also certain that you're imposing on my private time. So if you're done spewing your BS. You can as well leave my office,” I said. I gave myself a mental pat on the back for sounding unbothered.I could have almost sworn that I saw irritation flash through her eyes, and when I looked again, the same smug smile still remained on her face.When she remained on the chair, making no attempt to move, I raised an eyebrow a
The Trillionaire's Contractual Bride Chapter 65
CLAIREI couldn't stop thinking about the look in Asher's eyes. Every inch of my body awakened each time my mind went to it. It was impossible to do anything else. Every inch of my body awakened each time I thought about how he confessed that he couldn't keep his hands off me. I knew that the both of us were on a tough path, but at least it was another sign to stay hopeful.I closed my eye and got out of the car almost immediately. I needed to stop thinking about Asher for the time being. I wasn't going to be able to attend to all that I had to today if I kept on thinking about his bare torso.As I headed closer to my office, dread engulfed me. This was certainly not the day where I had the mental capacity to tolerate Asher. I closed my eyes and sighed, and I breathed with relief when I spotted no one waiting for me by the door. I closed my eyes and sighed. It was indeed a great relief. “Good morning, miss. I've been expecting you,” Ella smiled at me. I wasn't really in the best of
