All Chapters of The Loveless Contractive Marriage: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

Zia's POV A week later, I found myself scrolling through social media when a post from Sophia caught my eye. My heart sank as I saw the picture of her hand, adorned with a sparkling ring, resting on Lorenzo's shoulder. The caption was filled with joy and excitement about their engagement, and it felt like a dagger piercing through my chest.It hurt more than I expected. I had always thought that the contract marriage between Lorenzo and me would evolve into something real, something meaningful. But now, with the divorce finalized, I realized how naive I had been. I had stayed with Lorenzo for so long, largely because of his grandfather. He was the reason I had held on for as long as I did, hoping for a change that never came.I shook my head, trying to dispel the painful thoughts as I drove to the hospital for my antenatal care appointment. The morning sun filtered through the trees lining the road, but it did little to brighten my mood. My mind was clouded with images of Loren

Zia's POV As we strolled through the park, the air filled with the scent of blooming flowers, I felt a surge of emotions that I couldn’t quite contain. Raymond’s laughter echoed in my ears, and the way he looked at me made my heart race. In a moment of spontaneity, I leaned in and kissed him again. It was a soft, tentative kiss at first, but as soon as our lips met, he pulled me closer, deepening the kiss and igniting a spark that sent shivers down my spine.When we finally broke apart, breathless and slightly dazed, I couldn’t help but laugh nervously. “Wow, that was… unexpected.”“Unexpected? You mean amazing,” he replied with a playful grin, his eyes twinkling. “But seriously, what does this mean for us?”I felt a mix of excitement and apprehension. “I don’t know yet. Everything is happening so fast. I just got out of a marriage, and now here I am kissing you.”Raymond chuckled softly. “Life is unpredictable. But I want you to know that my feelings for you are genuine. I care ab

Lorenzo's POV I turned to Zia, my heart pounding as I asked, “The timelines ain’t right. Is the pregnancy mine?”She looked me in the eye, and for a moment, the room fell silent. The weight of my question hung in the air, thick with tension as my family watched her intently. I could see the flicker of emotions crossing her face—surprise, fear, and something else I couldn’t quite place.“Does that matter to you now, Lorenzo?” Zia asked, her voice steady but laced with an edge. “We have divorced, and I have a man now…”“That goddamn man you’re talking about is my half-brother!” I shot back angrily. “Stop the shit motherfucker and tell me the truth.”Raymond chimed in, his tone defensive and firm. “You don’t get to scream at my fiancée now, Lorenzo.”The room was charged with tension as we faced off—me, raw with frustration and confusion, and Raymond, protective of Zia in a way that made my blood boil. I felt the heat rise in my cheeks as I struggled to contain my emotions.“Fiancée?” I

Third Person's POV Lorenzo paced the floor of his office, his mind a storm of frustration and regret. The sight of Zia stepping out of Raymond's car had ignited a fury in him that he couldn’t shake. It wasn’t just anger; it was a deep-seated ache that reminded him of everything he had lost. He had gotten used to having her around, and now, with her engaged to his half-brother, it felt like a betrayal he couldn’t comprehend.“Damn it,” he muttered under his breath, running a hand through his hair. He picked up his phone, staring at Sophia’s name on the screen. She had been trying to reach him, but he didn’t want to deal with her right now. Not when Zia was consuming his thoughts.“Mr Lorenzo!” one of his employees called from outside the door. “We need your input on the new project.”“Get in here,” he barked, irritation spilling over. The door opened cautiously, and his employee stepped inside, clearly wary of Lorenzo’s mood.“Sir, we’re behind schedule on the marketing analysis,” th

Third Person's POVMira's ApartmentLater that evening, Mira found Zia lounging in her cozy living room, the soft glow of the TV illuminating their faces. They hadn’t had much time to catch up lately, but the weight of love and relationships often had a way of tightening their bond. “You can’t believe Eleven would survive in Season three of *Stranger Things*?” Mira asked, pointing at the screen where the characters were in a tense standoff.Zia didn’t reply immediately; her mind was elsewhere, lost in thoughts that had little to do with the show. Mira noticed her distant expression and reached out, giving her a gentle nudge.“You freaked me out, Mira,” Zia finally said, shaking herself back to reality.“No, you actually weren’t here. You were far away from this zone,” Mira replied, adjusting her chair to face Zia more directly. “You didn’t give a damn about Lorenzo as we agreed, right?”“Yes, but we both knew it was agreed to disagree. Lorenzo is the father of my baby,” Zia replied w