The Blind CEO's Contract Wife

Chapter Five

Carina POV

We remained quiet throughout the drive home, and the silence between us felt heavy but not uncomfortable. I leaned my head lightly against the window, watching the city lights pass by in a blur, while my thoughts refused to settle. Everything that had happened still felt unreal to me. Marriage was not something I had planned, not like this, not so suddenly, and certainly not with a man I barely knew. Yet here I was, sitting beside Damien as his wife. I turned slightly to look at him, noticing how calm he appeared, his hands steady on the on lap his eyes focused on the road ahead. He looked like a man in control, like nothing had changed, but deep down, I knew everything had.

The car slowed down gently, and I lifted my head, my attention shifting forward. The moment my eyes landed on the mansion in front of us, I froze in awe. It was massive, far more beautiful than anything I had imagined. The structure stood proudly, with bright lights glowing warmly from inside, giving it a welcoming and almost magical appearance. I let out a soft breath, unable to hide my surprise. “Wow… this is better than I expected,” I said honestly. Damien stood still , a faint expression of curiosity on his face. “What were you expecting?” he asked. I gave a small shrug and smiled. “Everyone has been saying you’ve been having a tough time since you fell out with your family,” I replied. He paused for a brief moment before nodding. “I did,” he admitted quietly, then added, “but I get by.” There was something in the way he said it that made me look at him more closely. He didn’t sound weak; he sounded like someone who had learned to survive alone.

I smiled softly and shook my head. “Don’t worry. No husband of mine is going to worry about money,” I said in a light tone, trying to ease whatever weight he carried. Without thinking too much about it, I leaned my head gently against his chest. The action surprised even me, but I didn’t pull away. For a moment, Damien went completely still, as if he wasn’t expecting it either. Then slowly, I felt him relax, and he didn’t push me away. That simple moment created a strange kind of warmth between us, something quiet but real.

Before either of us could say anything else, the front door of the mansion suddenly opened, and loud voices broke the calm atmosphere. “Boss is back!” someone shouted, followed by cheerful congratulations. I quickly sat up straight as several people came out of the house, smiling brightly. An older man, whom I assumed was Mr. Cole, stepped forward with a proud look on his face, while the workers gathered behind him. Suddenly, there was a popping sound, and shiny decorative pieces burst into the air, falling around us like tiny celebrations. I blinked in surprise and then laughed softly. “This is the best welcoming committee ever,” I said, clearly amused. Damien stepped out of the car and walked with his came over to my side, opening the door for me like a gentleman. I placed my hand in his as he helped me out, feeling slightly overwhelmed by all the attention.

“Are they always this sweet?” I asked as we walked toward the entrance “Not always. Maybe they just like you,” he said calmly. I smiled at that, unsure of what to say, but feeling a little more at ease.

As we entered the mansion, I couldn’t help but look around in admiration. The interior was just as beautiful as the outside, if not more. Everything was neat, shining, and clearly expensive. It felt like stepping into a different world, one I wasn’t sure I belonged to. My eyes slowly dropped to my hand, and I stared at the ring resting on my finger. It sparkled under the lights, but instead of feeling happy, I felt uneasy. It was too valuable, too perfect, and it didn’t feel like something that truly belonged to me.

I stopped walking, causing Damien to pause . “What is it?” he asked. Without saying anything immediately, I gently removed the ring from my finger and placed it back into his hand. His expression changed instantly, his eyes narrowing slightly in confusion. “This is too valuable,” I said quietly. “I can’t accept it.” The room fell silent, and I could feel the eyes of everyone on us. Damien looked down for a moment before raising his face. Then, to my complete surprise, he went down on one knee.

A soft gasp spread across the room, but I couldn’t focus on anything except him. “I know that we only got married as part of a deal,” he said calmly, his voice steady and clear, “but as your husband, I insist.” He took my hand again and carefully slipped the ring back onto my finger. My heart began to beat faster as I stared at him, unsure of why his words affected me so much. “Thank you,” I said softly. “I love it.” For a brief moment, something passed between us, something neither of us spoke about.

Slowly, we leaned closer, and our lips met in a soft, gentle kiss. It wasn’t forced or rushed; it was simple, yet it carried a quiet meaning that made my heart flutter slightly.

Suddenly, a loud voice shouted, “Boss, watch out!” Before I could react, a flower vase from the top shelf came crashing down. Damien moved quickly, pulling me into his chest as we both fell to the floor. The vase shattered beside us, the sound echoing through the room. My heart was racing as I looked up at him. “Are you hurt?” he asked quickly, his voice filled with concern. I shook my head slightly. “I think I should be the one asking you that,” I replied. He let out a small breath. “I’m fine,” he said. I managed a small smile. “That was quick.” He gave a faint smile in return. “Just reflex.”

I looked at him and said softly, “We are partners, are we not?” He nodded. “Yes, we are.”

Damien pulled her quickly into his chest as they both fell to the floor, the loud crash of the broken vase echoing through the room. For a moment, everything went silent. His arms were still wrapped around her, holding her protectively, as if he was not ready to let go yet.

“Are you hurt?” Damien asked, his voice low but filled with concern.

Carina blinked, trying to steady her breathing, then looked up at him. “I think I should be the one asking you that,” she replied softly. Damien shook his head. “I’m fine.” She let out a small breath and managed a faint smile. “That was fast… your reflexes are really good.” He gave a slight smile in return. “No… I was just helping.”

Carina looked at him for a moment before speaking again. “We are partners, are we not?” Damien nodded slowly. “Yes… we are.” For a few seconds, neither of them moved. They were still too close, too aware of each other, and the moment felt heavier than it should.

As they finally tried to stand, Carina adjusted her dress, but it shifted slightly in the process. That was when Damien saw it a small birthmark on her chest. His body froze instantly, and his eyes fixed on it without moving. Everything around him seemed to disappear in that moment.

A sudden memory flashed through his mind. A dark night filled with pain. A girl’s voice calling out to him. A hand reaching out to save him when he thought everything was over. And then… that same mark.

His heart skipped.

Could she be the girl I’ve

been searching for?