Loved By My Cold Billionaire Boss

The Crack In The Ice

After the rain kiss, Ethan avoided me for two days. He worked late, left early. I was hurt. I thought maybe he regretted it.

On the third night, I was in the living room reading when I heard a crash from his office.

I ran in. He was on the floor, holding his head, whiskey bottle shattered.

"Ethan!"

I knelt beside him. He was burning with fever.

"You have a fever! You've been in the rain!"

"I'm fine," he groaned.

"You are not fine! You are a stubborn, cold, stupid billionaire!"

I helped him to bed, brought wet towels, medicine. All night I stayed beside him, wiping his forehead, whispering to him.

At 3 AM, he opened his eyes and saw me asleep holding his hand.

"Jennifer..."

"You scared me," I mumbled, half asleep.

He pulled me onto the bed, into his chest. "Stay."

"Your rules... separate rooms..."

"f**k the rules."

He held me tight, his heartbeat against my cheek. For the first time, the cold billionaire felt warm. His arms were so strong, so safe. I had never felt so safe in my life.

I fell asleep in his arms, listening to his heart. Ba-dump. Ba-dump. It was beating fast, just for me.

In the morning, I woke up alone, but there was a note on the pillow, written in his sharp handwriting:

_You broke all my rules in one night. — E_

I smiled. The ice was finally cracking.

But happiness never lasts.

When I went downstairs, I saw Ethan on the phone, his face cold again.

"Yes, mother. I'll bring her. The anniversary dinner. Saturday."

He hung up and looked at me. "My parents' 40th anniversary is Saturday. Everyone will be there. Press. Family. Ex-business partners. My ex-fiancée will be there too."

"Ex-fiancée? You never told me you were engaged!"

"It ended badly. She will try to embarrass you. Are you ready to play my wife for real?"

I took a deep breath. "I was born ready, Mr. Cole."

He walked to me and adjusted the ring on my finger. His touch lingered.

"Good. Because after Saturday, either they will all believe you are my wife... or this contract ends early."

My heart dropped. "What?"

"My mother wants an heir, Jennifer. A baby. If she doesn't believe we are in love, she will force me to divorce you and marry Victoria."

A baby? With Ethan? My mind spun. This contract was getting too real, too dangerous. And my heart... my stupid heart was already falling for the cold billionaire who said he would never love me.