His Contract Wife, His Unexpected Love

CHAPTER 7

The morning light in Ethan Blake’s house never felt warm, it felt controlled. It came through the glass windows in clean lines, falling perfectly across the floor like it had been planned. Lily Carter stood in her room for a long moment, still wearing the weight of yesterday like it had not ended. She had barely slept, her thoughts looping between fear, relief, and confusion. Somewhere in the distance, the house was already awake, but she still felt stuck in her own silence.

A soft knock came at the door, and Lily straightened quickly, adjusting her simple dress before answering. Maria stepped in with the same calm expression as before, holding a small tablet in her hand. “Good morning,” she said politely, glancing at Lily’s face for a moment. “Breakfast will be served in fifteen minutes. Mr. Blake prefers punctuality.” Lily nodded, even though her stomach was still too tight to think about food.

When Maria left, Lily walked slowly to the mirror, studying her reflection like it belonged to someone else. She looked cleaner, dressed better, but still out of place in every way that mattered. This wasn’t her world, not even close, but she was expected to move inside it like she belonged. She exhaled softly, pressing her fingers against the edge of the table for balance. Today would require more than silence.

Downstairs, the dining room was already set perfectly, every detail placed with care. Ethan was not there yet, which gave Lily a strange kind of relief she didn’t understand. She sat quietly at the table, hands folded in her lap, trying not to overthink the emptiness around her. The house felt too big for sound, too expensive for mistakes, too perfect for comfort. She wondered how someone could live in a place like this and still feel nothing.

Footsteps interrupted her thoughts, and she looked up just as Ethan entered the room. He was dressed in a dark suit, sharp and clean, like he was stepping into a different kind of world entirely. His eyes briefly met hers, then moved to the table as if nothing unusual was happening. “Morning,” he said simply, taking his seat across from her. Lily responded softly, her voice careful, still unsure of where she stood with him.

Breakfast was served without conversation, the silence between them steady but not comfortable. Lily picked at her food slowly, aware of every movement she made. Ethan ate without hesitation, focused, as if even eating had a purpose. She watched him for a second before looking away, unsure why she felt nervous around someone who wasn’t even speaking. It wasn’t fear exactly, it was pressure, invisible but constant.

“You’ll be attending a small gathering tomorrow evening,” Ethan said suddenly, breaking the silence. Lily looked up quickly, caught off guard by how easily he spoke. “What kind of gathering?” she asked, placing her fork down. Ethan didn’t look at her directly, just continued calmly. “Business partners. Their spouses will be there. You’ll need to be present as my wife.”

The word wife still felt strange in her mind, like it didn’t belong to her life. Lily nodded slowly, trying to process it without letting panic show on her face. “What am I supposed to do there?” she asked quietly. Ethan finally looked at her then, his gaze steady and unreadable. “Nothing complicated. Just be present. Speak when spoken to. Follow the flow.”

It sounded simple when he said it, but Lily knew nothing about his world felt simple. She pressed her lips together, thinking carefully before speaking again. “And if I don’t know what to say?” she asked. Ethan leaned back slightly in his chair, watching her more closely now. “Then don’t speak,” he replied. It wasn’t unkind, but it wasn’t comforting either.