All Chapters of Unexpected Romance, Contract marriage : Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

LEO'S POVI sensed a figure hovering over me. At first, I thought it was Rachel, but then I realized it wasn't her scent.Before I opened my eyes, I heard her words.“Excuse me, you know, I think you seem to have an unrequited interest in my husband.”I stayed silent, listening to their conversation.For some reason, I felt satisfied with Rachel’s comebacks.I could sense the tension between them.I know Helen is saying those things because she seems to be interested in me, but what about Rachel? What was her reason for doing so?“So you were awake?!” she asked, hands on her hips, as though she felt betrayed.I opened my eyes and sat up, raising my face to meet her gaze. Her eyes showed she had just woken up.“Yeah,” was all I could mutter.“Oh, I see. So you enjoyed it while she was here hovering over you?” she asked again, and I wondered why she was so invested in it.“Why do you care?” I asked, and it looked as though those words hurt her. She kept quiet and turned to leave but then

LEO'S POVOf course, I hate Rachel, but I’d rather be in the same room with her than with Helen.For the past few weeks, I haven’t rested well, and after what happened yesterday in the forest, it’s been nothing but a headache. I really need to get some proper rest once we leave this castle.I told myself this as I slowly opened my eyes. I turned to see if Rachel was in the room, but she was nowhere to be found.Then the door opened gently, and there she was, peeking in to see if I was awake.“Thank goodness, you’re awake,” she said, approaching the bed.“If you feel you can stand up, then I need you to get ready because it’s almost time for the ball dance,” she said, and I ignored her.I always ignore her when I have no interest in picking a fight. She had this look in her eyes, as if she wanted to ask, “Are you feeling better?” but I knew she wouldn’t actually say it.Why was I even expecting her to ask?I sat up and slowly got out of bed while she watched my every move.Of course, I’

LEO’S POVRachel looked absolutely stunning in her red dress. The gown hugged her figure in all the right places, flowing elegantly down her legs with a thigh-high slit that added a hint of daring. The silky fabric shimmered under the lights, catching every glint and enhancing her radiant beauty. Her heels were the perfect complement—delicate, high, and exuding an air of sophistication that spoke of both elegance and expense.I was taken aback by how beautiful she looked, but I wasn’t about to let her know that. When I sensed the sincerity in her voice as she asked about Helen, I slowly opened up, realizing she wasn’t planning anything. Then, unexpectedly, the words escaped my mouth: “Care for a dance?”Rachel was silent for a moment, then nodded with a “sure.”I felt a strange satisfaction when she accepted. I wasn’t sure what would follow, but I stretched out my hand, and she placed hers in mine. I couldn’t remember the last time we held hands like this, but her touch was warm and s

LEO’S POVI felt a twinge of guilt for Rachel. I thought about telling her that the article wasn’t posted by me, but after seeing today’s headline, I wasn’t sure it mattered anymore.I went back inside and dressed to meet with the shareholders. Miss Red had arranged the meeting, and I was eager to hear from John. As expected, I saw a call from him.“Did you find him?” I asked, eager to locate the doctor.“Not yet, boss. His real name isn’t Dr. Finn Rian. He changed it three years ago,” John said, raising more suspicions in my mind.“Do you know his real name?”“Not yet, but I’ll figure it out soon,” he replied. I urged him to proceed with the search; time was of the essence.As I opened the door, I bumped into Rachel. Her face looked like she wanted to say something, but her eyes were filled with fury. We exchanged no words, and I passed by her.Today, a new driver would be taking me around since John was away. I received a call from one of the assistants in the States.“Yes, anything

MICHAEL’S POVIf you ask me whether I hate Leonardo Lugard, I wouldn’t have a clear answer. But one thing I know for sure is that I refuse to lose to him. He has abandoned me, discarded me as his brother, and I cannot simply let that go. I don’t know exactly where it all went wrong, but ever since that day, Leonardo has never spoken to me and seems to harbor a deep dislike for everything I do. But I’ll show him. I’m not just someone he can trample on and leave behind. I am Michael Lugard.You might not know me well, but this is my identity: I’m a man of average height with sharp, dark eyes that can pierce through the toughest of facades. My hair is neatly combed, always in place, matching my meticulously tailored suits. I prefer keeping a poker face—it’s my way of masking emotions. In my world, showing emotions is a sign of weakness, and I refuse to be weak, especially in a world where I have no one to rely on except myself and, perhaps, my father.To be fair, Dad isn’t the ideal fat