All Chapters of The Billionaire Heiress's Contract Marriage: Chapter 31 - Chapter 40

Inside the private elevator, Charlotte pressed the button for the top floor, her lips curling into a satisfied smirk.Let them whisper all they want. They’ll see soon enough who truly belongs here.She adjusted her hair in the elevator’s mirrored walls, mentally preparing herself for what she assumed would be a warm welcome from Julian. After all, she was Charlotte Wainwright, wealthy, sophisticated, and an ideal match for someone of Julian’s stature.As soon as the elevator doors closed behind Charlotte, the employees erupted into hushed conversations.“She’s really delusional, isn’t she?”“She probably hasn’t heard about Alexis yet.”“Or she’s heard and refuses to believe it. I mean, look at her.”“She thinks her money and family name are enough to win him over.”“Julian doesn’t even like her. Everyone knows that.”The receptionist shook her head, leaning over the desk toward a colleague. “Mark my words, this is going to be a disaster. Charlotte’s about to get a reality check, and I

Charlotte stood rooted to the spot, her mind a whirlwind of disbelief and fury.She replayed Alexis’s words over and over, each one hitting her like a sledgehammer. His wife. Alexis Devereux.For close to five minutes, she didn’t move, her expression shifting from shock to rage.Her hands clenched into fists at her sides as she tried to steady her breathing. But the more she thought about it, the more the anger bubbled to the surface.Finally, unable to contain her emotions, she let out a piercing, guttural scream that echoed down the hallway.“AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!”The sound startled the nearby staff, who exchanged wide eyed glances before quickly ducking back into their workspaces, afraid to be caught in her wrath.Charlotte stomped to the elevator, her heels clicking furiously against the polished floor.When the doors opened, she stormed inside, furiously pressing the ground floor button.The ride down was tense, her chest heaving as she tried, and failed, to compose herself.

Ryan’s gaze flickered between Julian and Alexis, his jaw tightening.He looked as if he wanted to say something but held back.Sophia, on the other hand, wore a smug smile, her eyes scanning Alexis up and down before landing on Julian.“Well, well,” Sophia began, her voice dripping with mock sweetness. “Look who decided to show up at our new place.”Alexis arched a brow, recovering quickly from the surprise. “Your place?” she asked, her tone sharp but controlled.Ryan stepped forward, his usual arrogance in full display. “We’ve just finalized the paperwork. This penthouse is ours,” he said, his voice filled with satisfaction as he glanced at Julian.Julian’s jaw tightened, his usual calm slipping for just a moment. “Interesting,” he said coolly, his tone flat. “I wasn’t aware the building allowed doubles to be purchased. We were told the top floor penthouse was reserved.”Sophia’s laugh was high pitched and mocking. “I guess money talks, doesn’t it? Maybe you two weren’t quick enough.

Ryan stood rooted in place, the weight of his choices pressing down on him like a suffocating blanket.The anger and humiliation of losing the penthouse to Alexis and Julian were bad enough, but Sophia’s words stung even deeper, carving into wounds he had tried to ignore.His mind drifted back to the beginning, to the time when he and Alexis were the "perfect couple" in everyone’s eyes.They had been the talk of the city, two powerful families uniting in a relationship that promised wealth, influence, and prestige. But beyond the public facade, there had been cracks.Alexis had boundaries, ones she had made clear from the start.She wanted to take things slowly, to build something meaningful before giving herself completely. But Ryan had felt entitled.He needed to be satisfied, and Alexis’s hesitation had pushed him to seek gratification elsewhere.Sophia had been willing, eager even, to fill that void.At first, it had been thrilling, a secret, forbidden affair that stroked his ego.

Julian leaned back in his chair, his thumb hovering over his phone screen.Alexis’s message glowed back at him, cheerful and sweet, but the weight of his conversation with his mother bore heavily on his chest.He typed slowly, as if choosing his words carefully could change the course of everything.“I can’t make it tonight. Something’s came up. Will call you tomorrow.”He hesitated before hitting send, staring at the words for a moment longer than he intended. Finally, he pressed the button and set the phone down with a sigh.His jaw tightened as his mother’s voice echoed in his mind.“Are you using her? Or lying to yourself about your feelings?”He closed his eyes, rubbing his temples. But before he could dive too deeply into his thoughts, the sharp trill of his phone cut through the silence.It was Alexis.For a moment, Julian considered letting it ring out. He wasn’t sure he could face her voice right now, wasn’t sure he could handle the warmth and trust she carried for him. But h