The Contract That Became Forever

THE CONFESSION

CHAPTER 13

Sophia didn’t go home. She went to the hospital. To her mom.

She told her everything. The contract. The kiss. The cold. The leak.

Her mom just held her hand. "Baby, what do you want?"

"I want him to choose me," Sophia whispered. "For real. Not because of a contract."

At 2 AM, there was a knock on her mom’s hospital room door.

Ethan.

He looked wrecked. Tie gone. Hair a mess. Eyes red.

"Can I talk to you?" he asked.

Sophia nodded. She followed him to the empty waiting room.

For a long time, neither of them spoke.

"I’m sorry," Ethan said finally. His voice cracked. "For the contract. For the cold. For the kiss and then pretending it didn’t happen."

Sophia didn’t look at him.

"When my mom died, I swore I’d never need anyone again," Ethan said. "And then you walked in. Desperate and brave and you signed a paper for your mom and I thought... I thought if I let myself feel this, I’d lose you too."

He laughed, but it was broken. "So I pushed you away. Because it’s easier to be the villain than to be the man who’s terrified."

Sophia turned to him. Tears on her face. "Why now?"

"Because you stood in front of 200 people and told the truth," Ethan said. "And you still chose me. Even after everything."

He took a step closer. "I don’t want 6 months, Sophia. I want all of it. I want you. Contract or no contract."

Sophia stared at him. "What about the board? Your grandfather?"

"Screw the board," Ethan said. "Screw the shares. I’ll figure it out. I just need to know... do you want me too?"

Sophia’s heart was pounding.

Four months left on the contract.

A lifetime if she said yes.

She took his hand. "Yes."

Ethan exhaled like he’d been holding his breath for months. He pulled her into his arms and kissed her.

Not hesitant this time. Not careful.

Real.

When they pulled apart, he rested his forehead on hers. "We’re gonna be okay."

"Promise?" Sophia whispered.

"I promise," Ethan said. "No more contracts."