The Contract That Became Forever

THE HART MANSION

CHAPTER 3

Sophia woke up the day two and realized she had no idea what she was supposed to do.

She wasn't a wife. She was a tenant with a ring.

Mrs. Hale brought her coffee at 8 AM. "Mr. Hart left at 6. He said you can use the car if you need to go to the hospital."

"Thank you," Sophia said.

She spent the entire day at the hospital. Her mom was awake and smiling. The surgery was scheduled.

"Who paid for this, Sophia?" her mom asked, squeezing her hand. "A donor?"

"A friend," Sophia lied. The word tasted like ash. "From work."

Back at the mansion at 6:30, the house was dark.

Ethan was in the living room. Suit jacket on the floor. Tie loosened. Laptop open on the coffee table. Papers spread everywhere. A glass of whiskey, half empty.

He looked up when she came in. "Dinner's at 7."

"Okay," Sophia said. She hovered in the doorway. "Do you need anything?"

"No."

At 7, they sat. Same table. Same distance.

Halfway through, Ethan's phone rang. He glanced at it and cursed under his breath. "I have to take this."

He disappeared into his office. Through the door, Sophia could hear him. "No, tell them the deal is off if they can't meet the deadline. I don't care what it takes."

When he came back, he didn't sit.

"Something came up. I won't be home tonight."

Sophia nodded. "Okay."

Ethan stopped at the doorway. "The driver is on call. Don't hesitate to use him."

Then he was gone.

The house felt bigger without him.

At 11 PM, Sophia couldn't sleep. She went downstairs for water.

The living room light was on.

Ethan was back. He was sitting on the floor, back against the couch, eyes closed. The whiskey glass was empty on the table. His laptop was closed.

He opened his eyes when he heard her. For a second he looked lost. Then the mask came back.

"What are you doing up?" he asked, voice rough.

"Couldn't sleep," Sophia said. She walked in slowly. "You?"

"Working."

There was a long pause. The only sound was the hum of the house.

"Are you okay?" Sophia asked before she could stop herself.

"Don't," Ethan said immediately.

"Don't what?"

"Don't pretend you care," he said, standing up too fast. He had to steady himself on the couch. "This isn't real, Sophia. The marriage. The dinners. None of it. In six months we walk away and forget this ever happened. Got it?"

Sophia's chest hurt. "Got it."

"Good," Ethan said. He walked past her and up the stairs.

Sophia stood in the empty living room, the ring on her finger suddenly too tight.

Six months.

It was going to be the longest six months of her life.