All Chapters of MARRIAGE PACT: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

KAI'S POVI knocked lightly on the door in front of Zara's door, and my heart was pounding a bit faster than usual—damn it. This had to work; she had to believe that I was really trying hard."Come in," her soft voice echoed from inside.I knocked softly, turned the handle, and went in. Zara had been gazing out the window at the sunset, whose light spilled on her as something soft. It gave her a surreal look. But there, in the eyes, was the sadness that anchored her to reality."Hey," I said, as casual as possible with tense silence in the room. "I brought you something.".….She eyed me warily. "What is it?"Moving a step closer, I handed her the package. "Open it and see."She took it from my hands, and with ostentatious slowness, as if she were working up her nerves to the contents, she commenced unwrapping it. The wrapping was cautiously taken off. In the neat little paper-packet was an exquisitely embossed book. Surprise beamed from the windows of her soul as she read its title.

ZARA'S POVThe sunset beams were reaching through a window and filling a sofa in my lying body, turning the pages of a book but not really reading. My thoughts have been kinda spread through and replayed some scenes with Kai during this day like some sort of recording. Something in him was different lately, something that made me not feel so much on guard and more open to the fact that maybe, just maybe, things could really change between us.But what really went through my mind when, above all things, the door was softly tapped, and I was brought back to earth? I started up. At least, I had not in the least expected someone."Come in," said I, laying the book by the side. Madam Tess entered the room, holding a package. Her warm smile added with a gleam in her eyes kind of swayed my curiosity as in what she had before my eyes."Good evening, Miss Zara," she greeted me as she stood before me. "I have a delivery for you.""A delivery?" I parroted, finally catching the cue and sat up. "

KAi'S POV "Am I going to lose her?”That was the thought my mind vulture kept circling back to all the way home. Liam's smug face kept flashing before me; his words twisted inside me like a knife. He was arrogant, for sure, but the worst was he was too confident-too sure that Zara would come running back to him. And that too-real certainty fed every doubt I'd managed to bury deep.I drove up to the house, my head reeling from that conversation. Every step through those big front doors felt like dragging chains. The maids greeted me with usual politeness; I took no notice. Madam Tess said something, too; her voice fell into the distance. I couldn't stop, I didn't. I went directly into the study and swung the door shut behind me, as if somehow it could shut out the bedlam Liam had stirred."Sir, dinner is ready," one of the maids had said. I hadn't even heard her properly. All I knew was that I was losing control. Slumping into my chair, rubbing my temples, it was weighing down on me.

ZARA'S POV. I stood in front of the mirror, the gown Kai gave me pouring down my body like liquid gold. Hugging my body at just the right places, for a second, I felt like royalty. I ran a hand down the front of my body, smoothing over every inch of it. He had perfect taste; I'd have to admit that."Is it to your taste?" Kai's voice came from behind, even and smooth. I turned halfway, his eyes, meeting mine in the mirror."Perfect," I said, a smile tugging at the corners of my lips. "You always manage to surprise me."He leaned in, warm breath ghosting over my neck as he delicately drew a strand of hair around my ear. "You deserve nothing less."From the tone of his words, it sounded as though he tiptoed around so that one step in the wrong direction snapped the tentative peace we'd forged between us. I couldn't help it, I snorted at the imagery, Kai Anderson, heartless businessman, soft and snuggly. Strange as this change was in him, with each time with him, the onus of this protec

Zara's POVI recovered from whatever daze I was and hastily pushed my phone beneath the pillow just as Kai entered, his features soft yet questioning. I forced a smile, commanded my heartbeat to steady. I couldn't tell him about Liam's call. Not now. Not when everything was looking up finally for us.Kai moved closer and sat beside me on the bed, tucking a strand of hair from my face. His fingers touching my skin sent shivers running down my spine, but this time it wasn't because I was afraid or jittery; it had grown inside, deeper than any doubts and confusion."You've been quiet," he said, his eyes scanning mine. "You okay?”I nodded, trying to swallow as my throat began to shrink in on itself. Really, I really couldn't not tell him everything anymore. But Liam? That part of my past needed to stay buried for now. I wasn't ready to open that door."I'm okay," I said in a whisper that was barely audible, not even convincing myself. "Just thinking."Kai lifted one brow-pretty obviously