His Contract Wife, His Unexpected Love

CHAPTER 6

She walked downstairs slowly, each step feeling heavier than the last. The house was quiet again, but this time it felt different, like something was about to happen. As she reached the dining area, she stopped for a moment, her breath catching slightly. Ethan Blake was already there.

He stood near the table, his back straight, his presence filling the room without effort. When he turned and saw her, his eyes paused on her for a brief second, something unreadable passing through them. Lily felt her heart skip, unsure of what that look meant.

“You’re on time,” he said simply, his voice calm as always. Lily nodded, stepping closer, her hands still slightly tense at her sides. “I didn’t want to be late,” she replied softly. Ethan pulled out a chair for her, a small gesture that felt unexpected coming from him.

They sat across from each other, the table set perfectly, the silence between them thick but not empty. Lily wasn’t sure what to say, and Ethan didn’t seem like someone who needed to fill silence with words. It felt strange, sitting there with a man who was now her husband, yet still a stranger.

“You’ll need to get used to this,” Ethan said after a moment, his eyes meeting hers again. “Public appearances will start soon.” Lily nodded slowly, trying to steady herself. “I understand,” she said, even though she wasn’t sure she did.

Ethan studied her quietly, as if trying to read something beneath her calm expression. “If you have questions, ask,” he added. Lily hesitated, her fingers tightening slightly against the table. There were so many questions, but only one came out.

“Why does this feel so easy for you?” she asked, her voice softer now, but steady. Ethan didn’t answer right away, his gaze shifting slightly before returning to her. “Because I don’t let emotions complicate things,” he said simply.

Lily looked down for a moment, absorbing his words, feeling the difference between them more clearly now. This was just a deal for him, something controlled and planned. But for her, it was everything, her life, her choices, her future.

She looked back up, meeting his eyes again, her expression calmer now, but stronger. “It won’t be that easy for me,” she said quietly. Ethan didn’t react much, but something in his gaze shifted again, just for a second.

“Then learn,” he replied, his voice firm but not harsh. “Because this is your life now.”

And as Lily sat there, facing the man she barely knew but was now tied to, she realized something deep and unsettling,

This life may not be hers…

But she had no choice but to live it.