The billionaire's contract wife

The Web Tightens

Chapter two

Matilda found herself losing track of time as the days went by quickly. Her physical pain was starting to lessen, but her mental worry was stronger than before. Ever since their unfriendly first meeting, she hadn't crossed paths with Theo, yet she sensed his existence throughout the mansion. His assessment, acting as an invisible pressure, bore heavily on her, indicating that she was out of place.

Thomas had maintained his distance, preoccupied with his usual business, but every now and then, she would notice him looking at her with a blend of worry and interest. His gaze had a calculating quality, suggesting he was anticipating her to share more than she had already done.

In reality, she had dedicated all her waking moments to pondering her next steps. Deceiving about her identity had given her a temporary reprieve, but the deception was a delicate string that could break at any instant. She was aware that Thomas would eventually start asking additional questions and digging deeper into the life of the mysterious stranger he had welcomed into his home. And if he did, what would her response be?

Standing by the window, she gazed at the expansive garden outside while feeling the chilly autumn breeze against the glass. From this vantage point, the world appeared far away, as if nothing outside the mansion's walls held significance. However, she was aware of the truth. The world remained outside, and she knew deep down that the storm she escaped was lurking somewhere within it.

Only after Matilda looked away from the window, she caught the sound of soft footsteps coming closer. She gasped, her breath stuck in her throat. Do you mean Theo? She had not laid eyes on him for days, yet the tension between them had escalated like an unseen thread, becoming tauter by the minute.

However, Theo was not the one who appeared when the door was opened. One of the maids in the house, a jittery girl, looked around nervously as if she feared getting caught doing something improper.

"Miss... Emily," the girl spoke cautiously, continuing to remain near the door. "Mr. Thompson wants you to come to his study."

Matilda felt her heart skip a beat. The research he conducted. This indicated that it was not a relaxed conversation. Thomas was prepared to receive responses.

The government's decision to increase taxes on imported goods will have a negative impact on the economy.

The study was a large and dimly lit room with towering bookshelves. Thick curtains prevented most daylight from entering the room, with the only source of light being the small fire in the fireplace. Thomas was seated at his large oak desk, reclining in his chair with a calm yet inscrutable expression.

Matilda entered the room, inhaling deeply before walking on the plush carpet with barely a sound. Feeling as if she was being lured into a trap, she realized it wasn't Thomas she was wary of, but the unanswered questions.

"Thomas greeted Emily, his voice still silky smooth." "Kindly take a seat."

She complied, sitting down in the leather chair in front of him. The room was incredibly silent, only the crackling of the fire disrupting the oppressive stillness.

"Thomas started by mentioning that he had provided you with some time to relax, and then he folded his hands on the desk in front of him." However, I believe it is now the appropriate moment for us to have a conversation.

Matilda affirmed with a parched throat. She had been expecting this moment, but it still didn't make it easier.

"You have been staying at my house for a week, yet I haven't learned much about you." With a slight tilt of his head, his gaze pierced through. You said you had no place to go. Without a family. "Could that be accurate?"

She paused, her thoughts going a mile a minute. The deceit she had constructed was starting to show signs of breaking. What if he had investigated her history? What if his knowledge surpassed her expectations?

"It is indeed accurate," she mentioned, with her voice barely maintaining stability. I have no family remaining. I escaped from a challenging circumstance.

Thomas tipped forward a bit, intrigued. "What type of scenario?"

Matilda's voice wavered as she said, "I can't," before looking down at the floor. I am unable to discuss it. The pain is too intense.

She briefly believed she detected a glimmer of comprehension in Thomas's eyes, as if he were reflecting on the significance of her words. However, it disappeared as fast as it arrived, being replaced by the familiar calculating expression he always had.

"After a pause," he said, "I comprehend." "But I require assurance that you're telling me the truth, Emily. I've brought you into my house, and I must make sure that I can rely on you.

Matilda's heart rate increased rapidly. He tested her, urging her to disclose more than she was prepared for. For the first time since she got there, she experienced the complete burden of her deception weighing heavily on her.

"I'm trustworthy," she assured him, making a conscious effort to look him in the eyes. "I didn't come here to stir up problems."

For a long moment, Thomas observed her closely, looking for any hint of falsehood on her face. In the end, he gave a nod, but his face still showed doubt.

"I trust your correct," he whispered. For your benefit.

The team worked collaboratively to achieve their goals.

That evening, Matilda remained awake in bed, gazing up at the ceiling. The words from Thomas reverberated in her thoughts, instilling a feeling of dread that was impossible to dispel. For how much time could she continue like this? How much time passed before the truth collapsed around her?

The mansion, once a place of safety, now felt confining, the walls encroaching as each day went by. Even though she hadn't come across him again, Theo remained a constant, looming figure, poised to uncover her at any misstep.

She felt her fears intensifying as she believed she was losing grip on the situation, until she was startled by a sound coming from outside her window. A quiet rustling noise, with a subtle tap afterward. She stopped suddenly, her breath trapped in her chest.

She stood up gradually from the bed and approached the window, her naked feet making no noise on the wooden floor. The curtains fluttered gently in the breeze, despite the fact that she had kept the window shut.

Carefully, she drew back the curtain, gazing into the dimly lit night. Initially, all she could see were the garden shadows down below. However, at that moment, her heart almost came to a halt. A form lurked at the border of the garden, partially obscured by the trees, observing the house.

Matilda stepped away from the window, her thoughts moving quickly. There was somebody present. Observing her. However, who? For what reason?

Before she had a chance to consider her next move, the door to her room slowly opened, revealing Theo standing before her with a stern expression and intense, threatening eyes.

"In a commanding and cold tone, he conveyed the message that you have to depart."

Matilda felt her heart racing in her chest. "What is it that you are discussing?"

Theo moved nearer, his face appearing grim. I have no confidence in you. I haven't trusted anything you've said since you got here. He stopped talking, quickly looking out the window as if he felt something. "You pose a danger to my family."

Matilda felt a chill in her blood. I am unsure of the subject you are discussing.

Theo stared intensely into her eyes, his voice dropping to a threatening whisper. I have more knowledge than you realize.

The room was completely silent for a brief instant, with tension hanging heavy in the air between them. Matilda sensed the ground collapsing beneath her, her hidden secrets on the brink of being revealed.

Matilda quickly stated that she saw someone outside, her voice shaking. "There is somebody—"

Theo's expression grew even darker. "You are not telling the truth."

Before she could reply, a noisy bang reverberated from the lower floor, accompanied by the noise of glass breaking. Matilda felt her heart jump to her throat when Theo quickly turned and hurried towards the door.

She asked, feeling panic in her chest, "What was that?"

Theo remained silent. He had already exited the door and was speeding towards the origin of the sound.

Matilda paused momentarily, frozen in place by fear. However, she later faced the harsh truth of the situation. There was a person inside the house. A person who presents a threat.

She chased after Theo without stopping, her mind filled with fear and confusion. The previously tranquil and quiet mansion was now a scene of disorder, with the sound of footsteps, furniture being thrown, and an even more disturbing presence.

Just as the clock hit the perfect moment, she made it to the bottom of the stairs and witnessed Theo facing off with a unknown person in the hallway. The tall person was clad in dark attire, with a hood covering most of his face. In his hand, he gripped a sharp and shiny object under the dim light.

Matilda gasped as the intruder shifted his gaze towards her, causing her breath to catch in her throat. She realized immediately. He came not only for the Thompsons.

He stood by her.