All Chapters of A contract for two: An Ashwood's bride: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

"Halo, this isn't me curating you. I will not deny you the freedom that I promised. I mean, I did say yes to you appearing in the crowd in front of the press with me, right? I am not withholding freedom from you, but this is for your safety. I cannot go into details till I am sure, and I don't think you should know about this for now. But Halo, please, I can't have you or us attend that party".They pulled up in the driveway.Halo stepped out of the car, slammed the door shut, and walked towards the entrance without looking back. The sound of the door echoed in the coming night, sharp and final.Talon sighed and followed after her. He didn't rush. He knew where she was going.The driver remained in his seat, eyes forward, but his grip on the steering wheel tightened. The staff by the entrance exchanged cautious glances, unsure if they should acknowledge the new madam in her current state. Halo unintentionally ignored them all, heading straight up to her destination.She walked in, lea

She stirred, her head throbbing with a dull ache as her senses slowly returned. The room was quiet, except for the faint rustling of fabric and the distant sound of water running. Soft light filtered through the curtains, casting a warm glow across the space.Her fingers twitched against the sheets, and it took her a moment to register the unfamiliar texture beneath her palm. Blinking, she turned her head slightly and winced. A sharp sting shot through her temple, bringing back flashes of what had happened.Talon. The book. The chase.And then...Her gaze lifted, landing on a man she did not recognize."Good, you are awake," he said, his voice calm and professional. He was middle-aged, dressed in a crisp white coat, and held a small flashlight in his hand.Halo's confusion deepened. "Who...?"Before she could finish, another voice cut in."He is the doctor I called."Her eyes snapped toward Talon. He stood at the foot of the bed, arms crossed, watching her with an expression that was

The ride had been neither calm nor pleasant. The driver was under a lot of pressure because Talon had ordered him to get there as fast as he could, and he still had to maintain the speed limit.Calming down Talon didn't work at all, in fact he snapped at her the first time she tried to tell him to calm down.Surprising for someone who held his cool at the breakfast table, despite being disturbed."Halo, you'll be seeing Zorro sooner than I anticipated""But....B-But you said that Zorro wasn't around when your father had the heart attack""He is around now. So you'll have to deal with my dad, while being cautious of him. Do you understand?"This was too much. Meeting with Mr Sullivan Ashwood and then with Zorro Ashwood, something about Zorro made her anxious. Especially one of the files where it was written that he was jailed twice for attempted murder. Yeesh."I understand. But....you'll be there right?, constantly with me?"Talon scoffed, his foot tapping impatiently."Are you a chil

Halo stood before the heavy oak doors, inhaling deeply before knocking twice. The pause that followed was brief, but it felt like an eternity before a muffled voice granted her entry.She pushed the door open, stepping inside with measured caution. The room was dimly lit, the warm glow of a bedside lamp casting shadows across the walls. Mr. Sullivan lay against a mountain of pillows, his figure reduced to frailness.But he wasn’t alone.Zorro stood near the window, arms crossed, a glass of whiskey in his hand. His presence was a stark contrast to the old man in bed, alive, bright, and daunting, unlike Mr Sullivan's sick figure.Halo stiffened, but she did not let it show. She closed the door behind her and took a few steps closer. "Mr. Sullivan," she greeted, her voice calm despite the tension pressing against her ribs.His tired eyes flickered to her, assessing, calculating. "Halo Remington."A silence settled between them, only disturbed by the soft clink of ice against glass as Zor

Talon picked up his phone and dialed Esil while the boy sat quietly beside him. The orphanage caretaker accepted his card without a word and hurried off to bring the boy snacks and a big meal. The little one was clearly a foodie. His eyes lit up when he saw the plate of treats, and he eagerly dug in. Halo watched him from where she stood, feeling an unexpected fondness well up inside her. She had never been close to children, but there was something about his innocent enthusiasm that captivated her.The boy looked up at Talon and Halo as he munched on his food and said in a soft, cheerful tone, "I never expected this much, thank you." "You're most welcome." Halo responded in a quiet tone.Talon, noticing her softened expression, sat beside her. He engaged the boy in small talk, asking about his favorite food and making silly faces that drew genuine laughter from the child.Halo listened as the boy answered in a clear, high voice, his excitement infectious. She didn't expect him to