THE 20 MILLION CONTRACT

BACK TO HELL

CHAPTER 14

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_Sunday - 8:30 AM - Private Airport_

Richard was waiting.

Black car. Black sunglasses. Black energy.

"Welcome home, Mr. and Mrs. Hart."

Sophia stopped walking. Ethan moved in front of her.

"Don’t," Ethan said low.

"Don’t what?" Richard smiled. "The photos are beautiful. Page 6 already has them."

He turned his phone.

Maldives. Sophia laughing on the beach. Ethan watching her.

Headline: _HART CEO FINDS LOVE IN PARADISE_

"Board meeting. 10 AM," Richard said. "They want to meet the wife."

---

_10:00 AM - Hart Tower - 47th Floor_

20 board members. 20 pairs of eyes.

Sophia’s heels clicked. Ethan’s hand brushed hers.

He didn’t take it. But he didn’t move away either.

"This is Sophia," Ethan said. "My wife."

Questions came fast.

"How did you meet?"

"How long?"

"Will she be at the gala?"

Ethan answered all of them. Lies. Half-truths.

Sophia smiled. Nodded. Played Mrs. Hart.

Richard sat at the end. Didn’t speak. Just watched.

When it was over, Ethan said, "We’re done."

In the elevator, Sophia exhaled. "That was hell."

"You were perfect," Ethan said.

"I was lying," Sophia said.

Ethan looked at her. "I know."

---

_3:00 PM - Penthouse_

Silence. Heavy.

Sophia dropped her bag. "I need to call Chidi."

She did. Video call.

Chidi: bald, Spider-Man hat, big smile.

"Auntie! Did you swim?"

"Yeah baby," Sophia said. Voice cracking. "Lots."

"You look tired."

"I’m okay," Sophia lied.

After she hung up, Ethan was standing there.

"How much for the rest of his treatment?" he asked.

"5 million," Sophia said. "Why?"

"I’ll pay it," Ethan said. "The last 10 million. From me. Not the contract."

Sophia blinked. "You can’t—"

"I can," Ethan cut her off. "And I will. Because he’s your brother.

And because..." He stopped.

"Because what?"

"Because I hate seeing you scared," Ethan said quietly.

---

_11:00 PM - Balcony_

Same balcony. Different night.

Sophia had wine. Ethan had water.

Neither was drinking.

"I’m scared," Sophia said. "That this is all fake.

That in 11 months we go back to strangers."

Ethan leaned on the railing. "What if it’s not?"

Sophia looked at him. "What?"

"What if we stop pretending?" Ethan said. "Just for us. Not for them."

Sophia’s heart was loud. "Ethan..."

"Can I kiss you?" he asked. "Not for the contract. Not for Clause 3.

For me."

Sophia set her glass down.

"Yes," she whispered.

He kissed her.

Soft. Slow. Like he was asking permission with every second.

Sophia kissed him back.

When they pulled apart, they were both breathing hard.

"That wasn’t in the contract," Ethan said. Half smile.

Sophia laughed. Watery. "I know."

Ethan reached out. Tucked hair behind her ear.

"Goodnight, Sophia."

"Goodnight, Ethan," she said.

They went to separate rooms.

But neither of them slept.