All Chapters of The Billionaire Heiress's Contract Marriage: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

Later that afternoon, Alexis was in the garden, trying to lose herself in the vibrant colors of the flowers and the soft hum of the wind.It was one of the few places where she could find some peace.That peace was shattered when she heard footsteps approaching.“Alexis.”She froze, her heart sinking at the familiar voice.She turned slowly to see Ryan standing a few feet away, looking disheveled and desperate.“How did you even get in here?” she demanded, crossing her arms.“I needed to see you,” Ryan said, his voice trembling slightly. “Your security wasn’t exactly thrilled, but I told them it was urgent.”Alexis scoffed. “Of course, you did. Always thinking your name opens every door.”“Alexis, please,” Ryan said, stepping closer. “Just hear me out.”She raised an eyebrow, her patience wearing thin. “You’ve been texting, calling, sending flowers. What part of ‘no’ don’t you understand?”“I made a mistake,” Ryan admitted, his eyes pleading. “A huge mistake. I was stupid, reckless, w

Julian Bennett leaned back in his leather chair, the dim light of his private office casting shadows across his chiseled features.The city skyline stretched out beyond the floor to ceiling windows behind him, but his focus wasn’t on the view. Instead, his sharp eyes scanned the reports on his tablet, each headline about Alexis Montgomery more inflammatory than the last."Socialite Heiress Ditches Fiancé for Hotel Mystery Man!""Alexis Montgomery’s New Flame: Opportunist or Genuine?""Scandal Rocks Montgomery Engagement, Cheating Allegations Fly!"Julian’s jaw tightened.The media frenzy wasn’t surprising, but the sheer audacity of the speculation infuriated him.He wasn’t angry for himself, he had long learned to remain indifferent to public opinion, but for Alexis.She doesn’t deserve this.The woman he’d seen crying, vulnerable and raw, wasn’t the heartless socialite they were painting her to be.She was fierce, unapologetic, and yes, complicated. But she wasn’t the villain in this

Julian froze for half a heartbeat, startled by the vulnerability in her tone.He cleared his throat, forcing himself to speak.“Alexis? It’s Julian.”There was a pause on her end, and for a moment, he wondered if she might hang up.But then she spoke, her voice a mix of surprise and something he couldn’t quite place.“Julian... Hi. I wasn’t expecting to hear from you.”He let out a breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding. “I hope I’m not calling at a bad time.”“No, not at all,” she replied quickly. “I just...” She stopped, and he could almost hear her mind racing through what to say.Julian leaned back in his chair, his voice softening. “I heard about the headlines. The rumors.”Alexis let out a small laugh, though it held no humor. “Of course you did. Seems like everyone has.”“I wanted to make sure you were okay,” he said, his tone sincere. “I know how ruthless the media can be.”There was silence on the other end, and he wondered if he’d said too much. But then she sighed, the

“Julian,” she began, her voice laced with disbelief, “how did you even manage that? I mean, I know your family is... well, your family, but this is...” She trailed off, gesturing vaguely as if trying to encompass the enormity of what he had done.He shrugged lightly, a faint smile playing on his lips. “Let’s just say I have connections. And I don’t take kindly to seeing people I care about being treated unfairly.”Her heart skipped a beat at his words, and for a moment, she forgot how to respond.Julian cared about her?The thought sent a rush of warmth through her, but she quickly pushed it aside, focusing instead on her astonishment.“Well, thank you,” she said finally, her tone earnest. “I don’t even know what to say. I was bracing myself for weeks of dealing with this mess.”“You don’t need to thank me,” Julian said, his tone firm. “Just promise me you’ll stop reading those tabloids. They’re trash.”Alexis laughed, the sound light and genuine. “Deal. Though I’m still trying to wra

As they moved onto the dance floor, the rhythmic bass of the music enveloped them.The flashing lights painted Alexis and Julian in shifting hues of red and blue, the energy of the crowd pulsating around them.Alexis grinned as Julian attempted to mimic her fluid moves, his reserved nature making it almost comical.She grabbed his hands to guide him, laughing as he finally managed to loosen up.“You’re getting better,” she teased, her voice raised over the music.“Don’t lie to me,” Julian retorted with a smirk, his deep voice carrying just enough charm to make her laugh even harder.For a moment, they swayed together, the world narrowing to just the two of them.Alexis’s gaze softened, her laughter fading as her mind began to spin with the weight of everything happening in her life.She stopped mid step, pulling Julian toward a quieter corner of the dance floor.“What’s wrong?” he asked, concern flashing in his eyes.Alexis bit her lip, hesitating. “I need to ask you something, and I