The Billionaire Contact Wife

Chapter 10: "The First Dinner

The black gate of the Carter mansion opened slowly. Luna gripped the hem of her dress so tight her knuckles turned white.

Beside her, Ethan didn’t look at her. His jaw was set, eyes straight ahead.

“You don’t have to be scared,” he said quietly, but his voice was cold. “Just smile. Answer when they ask you. That’s all.”

Luna nodded. Her heart was pounding so loud she was sure he could hear it. This was the first time she would meet his parents as his “wife”. One wrong move and the whole contract could fall apart.

The car stopped. Two butlers immediately opened their doors.

“Welcome home, Young Master. Young Madam.”

Young Madam.

The words hit Luna like ice and fire at the same time.

The dining hall was huge. Too huge. A long mahogany table with 12 chairs, but only 4 people were seated. Crystal chandeliers. Silverware that probably cost more than her father’s hospital bills.

At the head of the table sat Mr. Carter Sr. - stern, with gray hair and Ethan’s same sharp eyes.

And beside him…

Madam Victoria Carter.

She was beautiful. Too beautiful for her age. Hair in a perfect bun, red lipstick, and eyes that scanned Luna from head to toe in 2 seconds.

“Luna,” Ethan said, his voice low. “My parents.”

Luna gave the deepest bow she could manage. “Good evening, Mr. Carter. Mrs. Carter. It’s… it’s an honor to meet you.”

“Honor?” Madam Victoria smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “Sit, dear. Let’s see if you’re worthy of that title.”

Luna almost flinched. Ethan pulled out the chair beside him for her. As she sat, his hand brushed hers under the table for half a second.

It was gone before she could process it. But it was there.

Dinner started in silence.

The first course was served. Soup. Luna didn’t even know what it was called. She copied Ethan - small spoon, small sips.

“So, Luna,” Mr. Carter Sr. began. “Ethan tells us you work at Carter Corporation.”

“Yes, sir. As his assistant.” Luna’s voice was steady. Thank God for practice.

“Assistant,” Madam Victoria repeated. She cut her steak perfectly. “For how long?”

“Three months, ma’am.”

“And in those three months you decided to get married?”

The room went cold.

Ethan put down his fork. “Mother.”

“What? I’m just curious,” she said sweetly. “We barely know her, Ethan. She’s not from our circle. Her family—”

“That’s enough.” Ethan’s voice wasn’t loud. But it was final.

Madam Victoria raised an eyebrow but said nothing.

Luna stared at her plate. Her face was burning. She wanted to run. To explain that this was all fake, that she was only here because her father was sick and she needed money.

But she couldn’t.

So she did the only thing she could. She smiled.

“I’m still learning about the Carter family, ma’am,” Luna said softly. “But I’m trying my best to make Ethan happy. That’s all that matters to me.”

For a second, Madam Victoria looked surprised. Then she hummed and went back to her food.

The rest of dinner was questions about Luna’s background, her job, how they met. Ethan answered most of them. He was good at lying. Too good.

By dessert, Luna was exhausted.

The last course was served. It wasn’t cake. It wasn’t pie.

It was *kare-kare*.

Luna froze.

The butler placed it in front of her specifically. “The Young Master requested this, Young Madam. He said it’s your favorite.”

Everyone stared.

Ethan didn’t look at her. But his ears were red.

Luna’s chest tightened. No one here knew that. She mentioned it once, three weeks ago, when she was working late and too tired to eat. She complained that she missed home food.

He remembered.

“Eat,” Ethan said quietly, just for her.

Luna picked up her spoon. Her hands were shaking. As she reached for the bagoong, her elbow knocked a water glass.

It tipped.

Water spilled everywhere. On the white tablecloth. On Madam Victoria’s dress.

“Oh my God I’m so sorry!” Luna jumped up, grabbing a napkin.

But before she could touch anything, Ethan’s hand shot out and grabbed her wrist.

“Stop.”

His grip was firm but warm. He looked at her. Really looked at her. For the first time tonight, not as a business partner. Not as a contract.

As Luna.

“It’s just water,” he said, voice low enough that only she could hear. “Breathe.”

Luna nodded, eyes wet. She wasn’t sure if it was from embarrassment or something else.

Ethan let go. He turned to his mother. “We’re done here.”

And he stood, pulling Luna with him.

As they walked out of the dining hall, Luna could still feel the heat of his hand on her wrist.

Behind them, she heard Madam Victoria whisper: “Interesting.”

In the hallway, away from everyone, Ethan finally released her.

“Are you okay?” he asked.

Luna nodded. “Y-yes. I’m sorry about the—”

“Don’t.” He cut her off. He ran a hand through his hair. He looked tired. “You did good in there.”

“Really?”

“Really.” Then, quieter: “And… I’m sorry about my mother.”

Luna shook her head. “It’s part of the contract, right? Pretending.”

Ethan looked at her for a long time. “Yeah. Pretending.”

The word tasted bitter.

He turned to leave, then paused. “The kare-kare… was it okay?”

Luna smiled, small and real. “It was perfect. Thank you, Ethan.”

He didn’t answer. He just walked away.

But Luna stood there for a long time, staring at her wrist. The place where he held her was still warm.

And for the first time, she wasn’t sure if this marriage was still just pretend.