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Ties of a Contract
Last Updated : 2024-12-13
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Sophia Carter has spent her entire life sacrificing her dreams to support a family that never valued her. With a terminally ill narcissistic mother and a selfish brother who sees her only as a source of support, she is on the brink of financial and emotional collapse. When every door seems to close, an unexpected proposal arises: a marriage of convenience with Alexander Hawthorne, the ruthless magnate who embodies everything she fears… and everything her heart insists on desiring. Alexander is known for his coldness and relentless mistrust, especially towards women. To him, everyone has a price, and Sophia is no different. She will be just another piece in his game: the perfect wife to maintain appearances and ensure the stability of his business. He doesn’t want love, nor intimacy. Much less does he intend to share a bed with her. But as Sophia and Alexander become entangled in this dangerous agreement, lines are crossed, secrets are revealed, and the desire they both struggle to deny threatens to ignite the icy facade they’ve built. In a world where everything seems to be a transaction, how far will they go to protect what’s left of their souls? A story of passion, power, and unyielding boundaries, where even the coldest hearts can be broken… or saved.
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Ties of a Contract Chapter 14 – The First Night
Part I – SophiaThe soft evening breeze still carries the aroma of the restaurant where we dined. The city sparkles below us as Alexander and I return to the penthouse in a silence that isn’t awkward but thick with unspoken expectations. For days, I’ve felt our relationship shifting, one small step at a time. The kiss we shared earlier, the MacBook he gifted me this morning, the way he smiled as he watched me write… all of it forms a mosaic of someone entirely different from the cold, calculated man I first met.We enter the living room, and the soft lights cast gentle shadows on the walls. I slip off my shoes with a sigh of relief, while he loosens his tie and shuts the door behind us. We’re alone now—no audience, no curious gazes. Just us.“Dinner was wonderful,” I say, my voice calm, almost timid.“Yes, it was,” he replies in a low voice. “You seemed happy.”“It was… nice to talk without any pressure,” I admit, offering a faint smile.Alexander steps closer. There’s a care in the w
Last Updated : 2024-12-13Ties of a Contract Chapter 13 – New Beginnings
SophiaThe morning arrives wrapped in a comfortable silence. I’ve been awake for a while, nestled in an armchair by the window of the penthouse, watching the sun paint the sky with shades of pink and orange. The city slowly awakens below, while up here, everything feels suspended, as if time has slowed down.It’s strange to think about it. A few weeks ago, I would never have imagined a moment of peace like this in my life. My routine used to be rushed, full of immediate worries: bills to pay, my mother’s condition in the hospital, Leo’s unpredictable moods. Now, despite everything, I have a moment just for myself to breathe.I can’t deny that part of this tranquility comes from the fact that I’m no longer alone in the financial struggle. Having Alexander by my side, even though everything began as a contract, has provided relief regarding debts and medical expenses. But there’s another part, more complex, that unsettles me: the unexpected relationship that seems to be forming between
Last Updated : 2024-12-12Ties of a Contract Chapter 12 – Between Desire and Pride
AlexanderThe tension in the car is almost palpable. The engine hums softly, the road stretches out before us, illuminated by the headlights, but the silence weighs heavily on my shoulders. Sophia is curled up in the seat beside me, her arms crossed over her chest, her gaze fixed firmly on the window, as though something outside has suddenly become more interesting than the man she married.She doesn’t say a word. No cutting remarks, no subtle recriminations. Just silence. This silence irritates me more than if she had shouted. It’s as though she’s ignoring me, denying me the chance to explain, to defend myself, or to attack her with arguments.Why does she unsettle me so much? Why, even now, with her stern expression, tense jawline, and clear irritation, do I still find her beautiful? At every turn, the light from the street lamps outside outlines her face for a moment, and it’s impossible not to admire the soft lines, the slightly parted lips, the curve of her neck. I want to see he
Last Updated : 2024-12-11Ties of a Contract Chapter 11 – Marked Territories
AlexanderAttending social events should be as simple as it’s always been. I’m used to playing the role of the ruthless man, the flawless businessman, in these environments. It’s my comfort zone. But since I married Sophia, nothing feels simple anymore.We’re at a refined restaurant, where a select group of investors discusses deals over crystal glasses and linen napkins. A night to close partnerships, maintain appearances, and reinforce my image. Sophia is by my side, wearing an elegant burgundy dress. The fabric molds to her curves subtly, without exaggeration, but enough to draw attention. And those glances bother me more than I’d anticipated.She’s more reserved than before, yet her presence doesn’t go unnoticed. Many are curious about our sudden marriage, and though I feign indifference, I can’t ignore how her natural charm sparks curiosity and, to my growing irritation, interest.“I need to speak with Mr. Mendez about the European branch contract. I won’t be long,” I inform her,
Last Updated : 2024-12-10Ties of a Contract Chapter 10 – Boundaries
The muffled ticking of the clock echoes in the living room, each second feeling like another beat pounding in my head. The whiskey in the almost-empty glass in my hand should have silenced the confusion that has followed me since the moment we left the event.But it hasn’t.I lean back on the leather couch, staring at the ceiling with a frustration I can’t explain. The night was supposed to be a simple public display, a formality to keep up appearances. Sophia was supposed to play the perfect wife, and I, the husband everyone expects me to be.And she did. Perfectly.Sophia Carter… no, Sophia Hawthorne now. A woman who was supposed to be nothing more than a piece in a carefully calculated game. An alliance to avoid a public scandal.But nothing about her is simple.The black dress she wore, that unwavering gaze that met every malicious comment… and the way she confronted Olivia.She surprised me. Again.And then came Louis Mitchell.The memory of his smiletoo easy, too confidentmakes
Last Updated : 2024-12-04Ties of a Contract Chapter 9 – Under the Spotlight
The black dress Alexander chose for me slides over my skin, a constant reminder that tonight, I am not just Sophia Carter. I am Sophia Hawthorne.My reflection in the mirror is elegant, yet far removed from who I truly am. The diamond earrings sparkling in my ears could cover months of my mother’s hospital bills. And the delicate necklace around my neck, Alexander's choice, weighs more with its symbolism than with its gold. “Are you ready?”His deep voice pulls me from my thoughts. I turn to see him standing in the doorway, flawless in a black suit that seems tailor-made for his body. The man watching me now is not the Alexander I’ve known in the privacy of his penthouse. He is the ruthless magnate, the man everyone either reveres or fears. “Ready,” I reply, trying to ignore the nervous knot tightening in my stomach.Alexander studies me for a moment longer than necessary. His eyes take in every detail, and for a brief moment, I see something resembling approval in his gaze. “Let’s
Last Updated : 2024-12-04Ties of a Contract Chapter 8 – Shadows of the Past
The morning is gray, and the soft sound of rain against the penthouse windows only amplifies the emptiness I’ve felt since last night.After the confrontation with Alexander, my sleep was restless. The tension between us, the almost kiss that never happened, and the words he left hanging in the air won’t leave me alone.I get out of bed with a heavy sigh, determined to occupy my mind with something else. I refuse to get stuck in this cycle of thoughts.The house is massive, cold, and empty, just like Alexander. The silence is suffocating, but today I decide to explore it. Maybe it will distract me. Maybe I’ll understand the man I married a little better.Every room I walk through seems meticulously planned, with no space for anything personal. Nothing reveals who Alexander truly is. Just elegant, impeccable, but impersonal decor.Until I find a door at the end of the hallway.It’s slightly ajar, revealing a room that feels different from the rest of the house. I approach slowly, hesit
Last Updated : 2024-12-04Ties of a Contract Chapter 7 – Attraction and Confrontation
The night drags on, slow and suffocating. The silence in Alexander’s penthouse is so heavy that every soundthe ticking of the clock, the rhythm of my own breathingfeels amplified.After what I witnessed, my heart is restless. It shouldn’t matter, but it does. It shouldn’t hurt, but it does.Alexander is with another woman. I heard muffled laughter, saw the intimate touch. I don’t know what I was expecting. He made it clear from the start that this marriage was nothing more than a contract. A cold agreement, with no room for emotional involvement.But the scene shook me more than I’m willing to admit.Without thinking too much, I get out of bed. I need to talk to him. Ask. Confront him, even though I have no right.Barefoot, I cross the cold floor of the penthouse to the hallway leading to his office. The light is on, but the door is now closed. I hesitate for a moment before raising my hand and knocking.“Come in.”Alexander’s voice is low but firm. There’s no hesitation.I take a dee
Last Updated : 2024-12-04Ties of a Contract Chapter 6 – Vows of Ice
The wedding day arrived before I could decide whether I was truly strong enough for this.Through the bedroom mirror, I gaze silently at my reflection. The white dress is elegant but understated, without extravagance. I chose something that wouldn’t draw attention, exactly as Alexander suggested. For him, everything must be perfect, functional, leaving no room for unnecessary emotions.My heart feels heavy. This should be a significant day, but there’s no joy, no hope. It’s a contracta cold transaction I’m signing to save my mother and support my brother.My brother…I take a deep breath, trying to push the thought away. Leo doesn’t know about the wedding. Neither does my mother.I didn’t tell them because I know exactly how they’d react. My mother would pressure me to get the most out of this marriage, treating me like a bargaining chip. Leo would see it as an opportunity to live even more comfortably, without lifting a finger.That’s why I decided to keep this a secret.When I left
Last Updated : 2024-12-04
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Chapter 1 - The Agreement
The smell of freshly brewed coffee mixes with the constant noise that already fills the diner. Another day begins, where I, with my inseparable worn apron, force a smile on my face. I haven’t had many opportunities in my life, so I’ve resigned myself to taking what comes and smiling, even if the world is crumbling at my feet."Table three, Sophia!" shouts Charlie, the manager, from behind a towering stack of plates she balances with precise movements."I'm on it!" I reply, grabbing another tray loaded with sandwiches, hot coffee, and muffins.The in-and-out of people is relentless. Some mumble a good morning; others don’t even notice my presence. After all, to most of them, I’m just here to serve. But that’s okay. I know I’m more than that. I’m a daughter fighting to give my family some comfort and juggling to keep them togetherdespite my mother… I sigh without realizing it. Also, an older sister trying to give my younger brother a better future than mine, even though he doesn’t seem
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