All Chapters of Love Beyond the Contract Marriage: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

Emma stood in silence as she watched Ryan, his words hanging in the air with heavy suspicion.“This isn't just about the money, Emma,” he repeated again, looking at Emma straight into her eyeballs.Emma swallowed hard. She felt Ryan's eyes on her, expecting explanations she wasn't prepared to share. But he was right. The money she owed wasn’t the whole truth, and that man’s rage wasn’t just about the debt. There was something she had taken—something personal—that made him furious.“I didn’t just borrow the money,” she whispered, finally breaking the silence. Her fingers twisted nervously in her lap. “I stole something from him… something valuable.”Ryan’s expression darkened. “What was it?”Emma’s throat tightened as she recalled the day she fled. “It was a USB drive,” she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. “I didn’t mean to take it. It was mixed in with the documents I had. I found out later that it contained… sensitive information. Details about his illegal dealings, blackm

“Selena,” Ryan said with a flat tone, his voice cold with warning, “this isn’t the place or time for your drama.”Selena’s eyes flicked toward him briefly before settling back on Emma. “Oh, come on, Ryan. We both know I’m just stating what everyone’s thinking.” She raised an eyebrow, looking Emma up and down with a disgusting look. “You two just don’t seem to fit. But I guess... people go through phases, right? I’ll just be here when it all falls apart.”Emma’s heart raced, but she kept calm and refused to show any reaction to Selena’s hurtful words. “I believe it hurts to be referred to as the past, like I could hear people gossip and refer to you as ‘was Ryan’s girlfriend,’ but guess what? I am the present; deal with it, Selena.”Selena's smile seemed forced, her eyes sparkling with malice. "Touché," she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. She stepped closer, lowering her tone. "Let's be honest, sweetheart. You think you can keep Ryan's attention for long? Everyone knows we're me

Alexander stared at his phone, frowning. The message on the screen was from an unknown number, but the content was unmistakably familiar. His private investigator. For years, this PI had been Alexander’s go-to for all kinds of dirt—digging up secrets on business rivals or personal enemies. But this time, the image attached left a strange sensation stirring in Alexander’s chest.He tapped the photo, enlarging it. It was Ryan Miller, down on one knee, proposing to a woman with dark hair. Emma. The caption beneath read: “Did you see this? Word around town is he’s using the engagement to secure his CEO position. Thought you’d want to know.”Alexander leaned back in his chair, eyes narrowing. Of course, social media did a fast one; their news is currently trending online, but Ryan was playing a game. He always was. This wasn’t love—this was strategy. But why did that woman seem so familiar? He felt a great urge that he had seen her somewhere before; he just couldn’t remember where and how.

Emma's gaze remained locked on the photos in the envelope, her heart racing. She hesitated, unsure if she should continue looking, but an inexplicable force drew her in.It was as if a mix of curiosity and a twisted sense of obligation to this fake relationship kept her eyes glued to the images.Emma struggled to reconcile the Ryan she knew with the disturbing allegations in the reports. The graphic evidence stared back at her: a woman's battered face, eyes filled with fear, her life forever scarred by brutality.The text accompanying the photos was even worse—a police report linking Ryan to an assault that had been buried, hidden under the power and influence of his wealthy family.The room spun as Emma clutched the envelope tightly. How had she missed this? Emma's eyes widened in horror. Ryan's intensity had always been unsettling, but this was monstrous. She backed away, holding the envelope as if it were poison.Her mind raced with anger, disgust, and shock. She had thought their

Emma sat alone in the quiet living room, staring blankly into space. The TV hummed softly in the background. She held a cold cup of coffee but didn't notice. Her mind was still reeling from the past day's events: shocking photos, a heated argument with Ryan, and the uncomfortable silence they shared last night.Thoughts went through her mind; she considered leaving the agreement with Ryan, but every time she thought about it, she pictured her little brother Lukas's face. He was counting on her, and she was his only hope. Lukas needed medical treatment, and her marriage was the only way to pay for it.She felt trapped, and her heart hurt because now that she doesn’t really know who Ryan is. She feared him now and what he might become. Leaving would put Lukas’s future at risk; she would have to endure and fulfill her own side of the agreement.Just as she took a deep breath, as if to calm the storm inside her, a sudden voice from the TV caught her attention: “Breaking news…”Emma’s hand