All Chapters of Playing the Billionaire’s Contract Game: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

Emma“Do you, Emma Ramirez, take Zane Mendoza as your lawfully wedded husband?” As the words sliced through the stillness of the chapel, my lips parted, but no sound came. I stood there, frozen, feeling the weight of my wedding dress suffocating me as my heart beat wildly in my chest. How the hell had I ended up here again? My gaze drifted to the man standing before me, tall and commanding in his custom black suit. Zane Mendoza. The man who once held my heart in the palm of his hand only to crush it five years ago. His dark, cold eyes bored into mine. He looked as infuriatingly handsome as ever with a sharp jawline, perfectly tousled dark wilt cut hair, and lips that had once whispered promises I was naive enough to believe. I couldn’t decide what was worse —the fact that I was marrying the same man who had handed me a divorce paper five years ago or the fact that he knew exactly how trapped I felt and seemed to be enjoying it. Back to the first time I had stood across from Z

EmmaI woke up to the shrill ringing of my phone. For a moment, I didn’t know where I was. My body felt stiff, tangled in the oversized sheets of a bed that wasn’t one that I was used to. The events of last night came crashing back into my head and for a fleeting second, I considered ignoring the call altogether. But then, I saw the name flashing on the screen. It was my cousin; Eleanor.Sliding out from under the heavy duvet, I sat on the edge of the bed and answered with a raspy, sleepy voice.“Emma!” Eleanor’s voice exploded in my ear, followed immediately by Isla’s excited giggle. “Congratulations!” They shouted in unison, their voices gleeful and carefree. Despite myself, I smiled. It had been weeks since I last heard Isla’s voice, and I didn’t realize how much I had missed her until now. “Thanks.” I said softly, holding the phone close. “Emma, this is a big deal!” Eleanor’s voice was filled with exaggerated drama. “Do you know how many women would kill to be in your shoe

Emma“Lie down on the bed.” Zane’s first words hit me just as we stepped into my bedroom. I frowned, feeling completely lost.Throughout the ride back to the mansion, he hadn’t said a single word. And now, he was asking me to lie down on the bed? What did he even mean by that?“Excuse me?” I asked him, raising an inquiring brow. But Zane did not look like he was in for a joke. His eyes were dark and cold, and his jaw was set like a stone.That was enough to let me know that arguing was the last thing I should do at this moment.“Don’t make me repeat myself, Em. Just do like I said.” His voice was low and dangerous as he replied to me, his fingers unfastening the cuffs off his sleeves.My heart thudded in my chest and I swallowed hard. “But why?” I managed to ask. I could hear the vulnerability in my voice and I hated that he made me feel so small and confused like a little child.“Fucking lie on the goddamed bed, or I swear to God, I’m going to scoop you into my arms and set you on

Emma“Your joy is contagious today, ma’am.” Tatiana, one of our househelps remarked with a small smile on her face as we set the table. Eleanor and Isla were back from Paris and had just informed me that they were on their way to the mansion now.With Tatiana’s help, I had prepared their favorites to welcome them. I was more than excited to have them over. Especially Isla. “I know, right?” I chuckled softly as I briefly lifted my gaze to Tatiana before returning my attention back to the table again. “I can’t help it. My cousin and daught…”I froze, catching myself instantl as the word threatened to slip out of my mouth. Getting myself together again, I pasted a smile on my face and continued.“My cousin and little sister are back from Paris and will be coming over to visit me. I’ve missed them so much.”“I know exactly how you feel.” Tatiana folded the napkins in neat triangles and arranged them neatly on the table. “That’s how I feel whenever my son comes to visit for the holidays.”

ZaneI stood barefoot on the cold gravel outside my parents’ mansion. A once grand and beautiful house now engulfed in angry, roaring flames.The acrid smell of burning wood and the deafening crackle of fire filled my lungs and ears. Shaky from the trauma before me, I tried to move my feet but they felt like they were stuck to the ground. I couldn’t move, couldn’t breathe properly, couldn’t scream.The horrified cries of my little brother from inside the burning building caused more tears to stream down my face as I watched helplessly. Around me, firefighters ran around to quench the fire.Through the orange haze, I saw my parents being pulled out of the house. Their faces were streaked in black smudges and their bodies covered in ash and sweat.My mother was crying and struggling hysterically from the grips of the firefighters.“Russel is still in there! Our boy is still inside! Please let me go! I need to get him! Please!”“Please calm down, ma’am.” I heard the firefighters try to c