The Contract Bride's Unexpected Love

At the airport gate, Katherine Trevet stood poised, her light purple bodycon dress hugging her curves just right. Her golden waves sparkled in the sunlight, framing her deep, mesmerizing amber eyes. Her straight nose led to full, alluring lips, and her eight-centimeter red stilettos only added to her striking presence, attracting glances from passersby. She surveyed the familiar scene before her, a flood of emotion washing over her. Three years had passed since she'd left for abroad right after her wedding. Now, she was finally back. Katherine had returned because her mother had been diagnosed with terminal lung cancer. Her husband, Barnard Kottow, had sent her abroad under the guise of furthering her education, but in reality, he just wanted her out of the way to avoid disrupting his life with his first love. Now that she was back, it was time to settle things. It was time to end her sham of a marriage to Barnard. That evening, after dinner with her family at the old mansion, Katherine returned to the marital home she had never lived in. Barnard arrived later, his black suit immaculate. His brown eyes held a deep intensity, and his handsome face exuded a rugged masculinity. He was as composed as ever, his entire being radiating an aura of inaccessibility. He was a perfectionist, and meticulously clean. As Katherine stood by the window, her heart raced with every step he took closer. Three years had only made him more handsome, his presence even more commanding. He stopped by the sofa, loosening his tie as he sat down. Katherine lowered her gaze, trying to appear nonchalant, like an unassuming subordinate. "I saw my parents," she replied, nodding. "Take a look at this." He leaned forward, retrieving a document from a drawer beneath the table. One glance confirmed Katherine's suspicions. She had seen the recent news and rumors online about him shopping for engagement rings with his first love. It seemed they were true. Their marriage had been a secret, known only to a few close friends. No wonder he was eager to make his relationship public. Katherine picked up the document and opened it. The words "Divorce Agreement" stared back at her. Relieved that she had made the same preparations, she offered a faint smile. "I agree." Barnard's gaze, intense and captivating, settled on her. "Sit down and let's talk." Katherine took a seat on the single sofa diagonally across from him. He had been drinking, his mood somber as he fiddled with his tie. Determined to avoid causing any further discomfort, she quietly read through the divorce agreement. He was offering her two properties, which seemed more than fair. "Do you have a pen?" she asked, a gentle smile gracing her lips. "Hmm?" he replied, tilting his head slightly, as if he hadn't heard her clearly. "To sign," she replied, her smile unwavering. Barnard's dark eyes studied her for a long moment before he bent down and retrieved a pen from the drawer. Without hesitation, she signed her name at the bottom of the agreement. "There." "Elinor's condition is deteriorating. She wants a perfect ending." Barnard's voice was laced with a hint of explanation. Elinor Heyworth was his cherished first love. Katherine's grip on the pen tightened, a familiar pang of hurt in her heart. She had grown used to it over the past three years. Her husband had been indifferent during her time abroad. She had long given up on any expectations. He would sacrifice anything for that woman, including her and their marriage. "I understand," she replied, nodding with feigned understanding. Silence descended upon them once more, broken only when she pushed the agreement towards him. He accepted it, but hesitated before signing, his eyes meeting hers. "If you have any requests, anything at all, I'll do my best to fulfill them." "This is more than enough. Thank you for covering my mother's medical expenses." Barnard felt a suffocating tightness in his chest. He glanced down at her delicate handwriting on the agreement and abruptly set it aside. "Tomorrow, I want you to meet Elinor." Seeing that he had left the agreement unsigned, Katherine readily agreed. "Okay." "If she asks if you're seeing anyone, tell her you are." "Okay." "Make it believable. Make her happy." "Okay," Katherine replied numbly, her eyes drawn back to the agreement. A strange thought crossed her mind. Could he be having second thoughts about their divorce? "Could you draw me a bath?" he asked, his tone suddenly distant. Katherine was taken aback. "I don't think so. We're getting a divorce. You should learn to be self-sufficient." A small smile touched her lips. "It's getting late. I'm going to freshen up." Only then did Barnard truly take notice of her, sensing a change he couldn't quite place. Perhaps it was the years that had driven a wedge between them. He scoffed at himself. What was he thinking? His thoughts should be consumed by Elinor, not by his emotionally detached wife. Unaware of his thoughts, Katherine simply felt that a man who had tormented her so relentlessly, even if she had once harbored feelings for him, no longer deserved her lingering attachment. It was best to part ways.