His Contract Wife, His Unexpected Love

CHAPTER 12

The answer was short, but it carried weight. Lily didn’t respond, but she felt it settle in her mind. There was history there, unfinished, unspoken.

Later, the event continued, but something felt different between them now. Not tense exactly, but more aware. Lily stayed closer to Ethan without being told, and he didn’t move away. When they finally left the building, the night air felt cooler than before.

Inside the car, silence returned. But this time, it wasn’t empty, it was full of thoughts neither of them spoke aloud. Lily stared out the window, replaying Victoria’s words in her mind. He never used to bring anyone before.

It stayed with her longer than she wanted.

Back at the mansion, everything was quiet again. The kind of quiet that made thoughts louder. Lily walked upstairs slowly, expecting to go straight to her room. But as she passed the hallway, she noticed light coming from Ethan’s office.

She hesitated.

Then she stopped.

Before she could change her mind, she knocked softly.

“Come in,” his voice came immediately.

She opened the door slowly. Ethan was sitting at his desk, still in his suit, loosening his tie slightly. He looked up at her with mild surprise, but didn’t question her presence.

“You didn’t sleep,” Lily said quietly, noticing the documents still open in front of him.

Ethan leaned back slightly. “I work late,” he replied.

There was a pause. Lily didn’t leave. Instead, she stepped inside.

“I wanted to ask something,” she said.

Ethan studied her for a moment. “Go ahead.”

Lily hesitated, then spoke carefully. “Victoria… who is she to you?”

The room went quiet.

Ethan didn’t answer right away. He stood slowly, walking toward the window instead of looking at her directly. For a moment, it felt like he was choosing his words carefully for the first time.

“She was part of my past,” he said finally.

“That’s all?” Lily asked.

A long pause followed.

“No,” Ethan admitted quietly. “Not all.”

That honesty surprised her more than anything else he had ever said.

Lily nodded slowly, unsure why her chest felt heavier now. “Does she still matter?” she asked before she could stop herself.

Ethan turned slightly, looking at her now. His expression wasn’t cold, but it wasn’t open either.

“Not the way you think,” he said.

The answer didn’t fully satisfy her, but she didn’t push further.

Instead, she nodded and turned to leave.

But before she reached the door,

“Lily,” Ethan called.

She stopped and looked back.

His voice was quieter this time. “You did well tonight.”

It was simple.

But it stayed with her longer than she expected.

And as she left the room, she realized something she didn’t want to admit yet,

This arrangement wasn’t just affecting her life anymore.

It was starting to affect her heart.