All Chapters of Rival's Contract Marriage : Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

Cameron’s POVThat night, I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling as shadows twisted across the room like restless ghosts. The streetlamp outside my window flickered every few seconds, casting dim streaks of light over my sheets. My fingers twisted the ring on my finger, the metal cool and unyielding against my skin. The knot in my chest tightened with every turn, a pressure I couldn’t escape.I hated how heavy the ring felt. How it kept reminding me of everything I was trying to forget.This was just a deal.An arrangement.Nothing more.I pressed the ring into my palm, hoping the sting would ground me, but all it did was make me more aware of the ache spreading through my chest.I should’ve been relieved. The arrangement gave me everything I needed: safety, stability, an escape from my father's critics and the constant weight of his control. I made it clear from the start — I didn't want anything real. I just needed someone to play a part, and he was convenient.So why did he defend me

Cameron POVThe bell above the door jingled when we stepped into the suit shop, the scent of polished wood and expensive cologne hitting me like a punch to the gut. I barely had time to breathe before I saw her.My stepmother. And Drake.What the hell are they doing here?My chest locked up, breath snagging like barbed wire. For half a second, I felt small and stupid and powerless.But I shoved it down. Fast.I straightened my shoulders, plastering on a sharp smile that didn’t touch my eyes.“Cameron! Brandon!”I turned, and I saw Mrs. Deville, glowing like actual sunlight. She wore a flowy blouse with a cardigan, her hair in loose waves. The second she spotted us, her face lit up like we were her favorite people in the world.“My boys!” she called, bustling over with her arms outstretched like she couldn’t wait to squeeze us.Brandon groaned, rubbing his hands down his face. “Mom, please don’t call us that in public.”She ignored him completely, wrapping him in a hug that lasted a fe

Brandon’s POVThe store was way too quiet when I stepped out of the fitting room. The kind of quiet that made my skin itch. I leaned against a clothing rack, scrolling through my phone, pretending like I wasn’t listening for every small sound coming from Cameron’s dressing room.He’d been in there for a while. Longer than he should’ve been.I told myself he was fine. That he just needed a second to breathe. But my fingers twitched at my side, restless.The truth? I didn’t trust anyone around him.And right on cue, trouble slithered into view.Drake walked to me like he owned the place.Great, what the hell did he want from him?“Brandon,” he greeted, his voice all syrupy fake concern. “Mind if we talk?”I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. “I kinda do, actually.”He ignored me, stepping closer like a shark scenting blood.“I just want to check in,” he said, his smile sharp enough to cut glass. “I know being around Cameron can be... exhausting.”My spine stiffened. “He’s not exhausting

Cameron’s POVI sat at the massive dining table, my fingers twitching against the edge of my plate. The chandelier above me cast a soft glow over the room, making everything feel too perfect — too unreal.Brandon’s house was ridiculous. Not in a bad way, just... huge. The kind of place with floor-to-ceiling windows and paintings that probably cost more than my rent. The dining room alone was bigger than my entire living room back home, and every corner smelled like cinnamon and something... warm.I wasn’t used to warm.“Eat, sweetheart,” Brandon’s mom said, placing another serving of lasagna on my plate even though I hadn't finished the first. She hovered like I might disappear if she blinked, her smile so gentle it made my chest ache. “You look like you need it.”I nodded, shoving a forkful of food into my mouth to avoid talking. The lasagna melted on my tongue — creamy and rich, with just enough garlic to sting my nose. It tasted like something out of a dream.I swallowed, my throat

Brandon POVI wasn’t about to let the night end with Cameron looking like he wanted to disappear into the carpet. Not after I’d finally cracked through his shell, even if just a little.He was sitting on my bed, cross-legged, picking at a loose thread on his sleeve like it personally offended him. His shoulders were curled in, tense like he was trying to make himself smaller. The room was quiet, save for the distant hum of the dishwasher downstairs and the occasional creak of the house settling. My bedside lamp cast a soft glow, barely enough to reach the corners of the room, like the light itself was hesitant to intrude.I flopped down next to him, hands behind my head, staring up at the glow-in-the-dark stars I’d stuck to my ceiling years ago. Some of them were peeling off, hanging on by sheer stubbornness."You wanna learn something cool?" I asked, glancing sideways at him.He lifted a brow without looking up. "That sounds suspicious."I smirked. "It should."Cameron didn’t say any