His Contract Wife, His Unexpected Love

CHAPTER 4

The car ride felt too quiet, and Lily Carter sat still in the back seat, her hands resting tightly on her lap. The city moved outside the window, fast and bright, but she barely noticed it. Everything that had just happened still felt unreal, like she had stepped into someone else’s life by mistake. The driver didn’t speak, and neither did she, and the silence pressed against her thoughts. She kept replaying the moment she signed the contract, wondering if she had just made the biggest mistake of her life.

Her phone buzzed softly in her hand, pulling her out of her thoughts, and she looked down to see a message from the hospital. Her heart skipped as she opened it quickly, her eyes scanning the words with growing disbelief. The payment had already been made, and her mother’s treatment would begin immediately. Lily let out a slow breath, her chest rising and falling as relief washed over her. For a moment, nothing else mattered except that one thing, her mother was going to be okay.

She leaned her head back against the seat, closing her eyes for just a second, letting that small peace settle in. But it didn’t last long. The reality of how that payment had been made came rushing back, and her stomach tightened again. This wasn’t a gift, and it wasn’t kindness. It was a deal, one she had agreed to, and now she had to live with it.

The car finally slowed, turning into a long driveway lined with tall trees that seemed to stretch endlessly on both sides. Lily opened her eyes and looked out the window, her breath catching slightly at the sight ahead. The house wasn’t just big, it was massive, standing tall with glass walls that reflected the sunlight. It looked more like something from a movie than a real home, and for a moment, she forgot how to breathe.

When the car stopped, the driver stepped out quickly and opened the door for her, and Lily hesitated before moving. Her feet touched the ground slowly, like she wasn’t sure she was allowed to be there. She looked up again, taking in every detail, from the clean white walls to the quiet surroundings that felt too perfect. This was where Ethan Blake lived, and now, somehow, it was where she would live too.

Inside, the house felt even larger, the space open and bright, with soft colors and expensive furniture placed carefully around the room. Everything looked untouched, like no one really lived there. Lily walked slowly behind the driver, her eyes moving from one corner to another, trying to take it all in. It didn’t feel warm or welcoming, just quiet and controlled.