TITLE: BOUND💍BY CONTRACT

CHAPTER SEVEN: WHAT CHANGED WITHOUT PERMISSION

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CHAPTER SEVEN: What Changed Without Permission

Jordan’s POV

I woke up slower than I should have.

That alone was already wrong.

My body didn’t react the way it always did.

No immediate awareness.

No internal structure forming the moment I opened my eyes.

Just stillness.

Wrong kind of stillness.

Then I felt it.

Warmth.

Against my chest.

My eyes opened fully.

Precellia.

Asleep.

Curled against me like it was normal.

Her arms wrapped around me.

Holding me.

Too close.

Rule Number One came immediately.

No crossing sides.

No physical contact.

No exceptions.

She had broken it.

I should have moved her away instantly.

That was logic.

That was control.

But I didn’t.

I stayed still.

Watching her.

Too closely.

Her blond hair was scattered across the pillow.

Her face softer in sleep.

Unguarded.

Her lips slightly parted.

And then—

Her scent.

Light.

Clean.

Slightly sweet.

It stayed longer than it should have.

I didn’t understand why I noticed it.

Minutes passed.

Then her breathing changed.

She was waking up.

Her eyes slowly opened.

And met mine.

We froze.

Close.

Too close.

She was still holding me.

For a second, neither of us moved.

Then—

“You are awake already?”

My voice came out steady.

Controlled.

But the situation wasn’t.

Her realization hit immediately.

She pulled away fast.

Too fast.

Like correcting an error.

Like I was the error.

She sat up quickly, embarrassed, avoiding my eyes.

I watched her.

I shouldn’t have.

But I did.

Then I stood up.

The warmth disappeared instantly.

I noticed that.

That shouldn’t have mattered.

But it did.

I left the room.

No pause.

No look back.

No reason to.

At least that’s what I told myself.

---

I went to my dressing room.

Not shared.

Mine.

Separate.

Controlled.

When I moved in, I made it clear to the maids—

Space must remain.

No overlap.

No interference.

She stays on her side.

And I stay on mine.

Everything inside was already arranged in perfect order.

I stepped into the bathroom and turned on the shower.

Hot water.

Steady pressure.

Control.

But my thoughts didn’t stay silent.

They drifted back.

Her arms.

Her face.

The way she didn’t move immediately when she woke.

I turned the water colder.

Focus.

It meant nothing.

Just sleep movement.

Nothing more.

I finished quickly, dressed, and adjusted my cufflinks.

Precise.

Controlled.

A knock came.

“Come in.”

Musty entered.

“Good morning, sir.”

“Report.”

“Your schedule has been cleared and most of your work is already completed.”

Good.

A pause.

“And… congratulations on your wedding, sir.”

I didn’t respond.

He continued.

“Everything is ready for your honeymoon in two days.”

Honeymoon.

The word stayed longer than it should have.

I didn’t react.

“Hm.”

Another knock came immediately.

A maid entered quickly.

“Sir… breakfast is ready. The family is waiting.”

“I’m not attending.”

“Sir?”

“I have work.”

No further discussion.

I left.

---

Precellia’s POV

The hallway outside the dining room felt heavier than before.

My steps slowed the closer I got.

This time, I already knew what was waiting.

Or I thought I did.

I took a breath.

Then pushed the door open.

Silence hit instantly.

Not quiet.

Sharp silence.

Like the air itself stopped moving.

I stepped inside.

And saw them properly this time.

The dining table was large.

Elegant.

Intimidating.

Two elderly women sat opposite each other.

Mrs. Felishia — Jordan’s mother.

Calm.

Commanding.

Perfect posture.

Mrs. Megan — Chris’s mother.

Colder.

More distant.

Chris sat beside her.

Relaxed like he belonged anywhere he sat.

And next to him—

Clara.

Her eyes found me immediately.

Sharp.

Measuring.

Smiling without warmth.

“So,” she said softly, “you’re finally here.”

“Good morning,” I replied.

No one responded warmly.

Mrs. Felishia looked at me for a long moment.

Then—

“Come sit.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

I moved quickly and sat beside her.

Her presence beside me felt strong.

Not scary.

Just firm.

Like I had to match her calm.

Mrs. Megan spoke next.

“Young,” she said lightly. “Jordan always chooses… unusual things.”

My fingers tightened slightly.

Clara let out a soft laugh.

“Unusual is a polite way to say it.”

Her eyes stayed on me.

Then she leaned forward slightly.

“So,” Clara added casually, “how was your night?”

My entire body froze.

Heat rushed to my face instantly.

“I—” I stopped.

The question was simple.

But the way she said it wasn’t.

Her smile widened slightly when she saw my reaction.

“I hope Jordan wasn’t too difficult,” she added softly.

I looked down quickly.

“I… it was fine,” I managed.

Clara chuckled.

“Fine,” she repeated like it amused her.

Mrs. Felishia glanced at Clara briefly.

A warning.

Clara stopped smiling—but only slightly.

Breakfast continued.

But I barely tasted anything.

---

Afterward, everyone stood.

I hesitated.

Then—

“Come,” Mrs. Felishia said.

I stood quickly.

“Yes, ma’am.”

She turned and walked out.

I followed.

---

We stepped outside where a black limousine waited.

Inside was quiet.

Controlled.

Expensive in a way that didn’t need to show off.

The city passed slowly outside tinted windows.

Then she spoke.

“That dress suits you.”

“Thank you…”

She nodded.

Then—

“You will be traveling soon.”

My head lifted.

“Traveling?”

“For your honeymoon with my son.”

My heart skipped.

“Where?”

“Paris,” she said.

Then added, “Italy.”

My breath caught slightly.

“I see…”

“Two days from now.”

So soon.

Too soon.

She noticed my silence.

“You are allowed to be nervous,” she said gently.

That surprised me.

Her voice was warm.

Not strict.

Not distant.

Warm.

“I just don’t know what I’m supposed to do there,” I admitted.

She smiled faintly.

“Be his wife.”

Simple.

But it stayed with me.

---

We arrived at the Bronks Company Mall.

It wasn’t just a mall.

It was enormous.

Glass towers.

Golden branding.

Luxury everywhere.

Even the air felt expensive.

Inside, we were welcome by the staffs like royalty.

she chose everything.

Dresses.

Shoes.

Bags.

Accessories.

“This is for dinners.”

“This is for travel.”

“This is for Paris.”

Then—

“This is for your honeymoon.”

My cheeks warmed instantly.

I looked away.

She noticed.

But only smiled faintly.

“You don’t need to shrink yourself here,” she said softly.

“You are part of this family now.”

Something in my chest loosened slightly.

---

By evening, we returned home.

The ride home was quiet.

The sky was soft orange.

Calm.

when we got home, the maids were outside the house, like they were already waiting our arival.

Theu hurriedly came and carried the shopping bags.

Before leaving She held my hand briefly.

“If you need anything… call me.”

Then she left.

For the first time today…

I didn’t feel completely alone.

---

Later, I changed into a new dress for dinner.

Simple.

Elegant.

Fitted perfectly.

The maids helped adjust everything quietly.

Then—

A maid rushed in.

“Madam… Young Master Jordan has arrived.”

Immediately, the maids bowed.

“We will take our leave.”

And they hurried out of the room.

The door closed behind them.

Silence fell.

Heavy.

Just me.

Alone.

Then—

The door opened again.

Jordan entered.

Everything changed instantly.

His eyes went straight to me.

Not the room.

Not anything else.

Just me.

He didn’t speak at first.

Just stared.

Like he was taking me in for the first time in a different light.

Then he stepped forward.

Slow.

Controlled.

One step.

Then another.

My breath tightened as the distance between us disappeared.

Too close.

He stopped only when there was barely any space left.

His gaze dropped briefly to my dress.

Then returned to my face.

Something unreadable flickered in his expression.

He didn’t step back.

He didn’t look away.

And after a pause, he said calmly—

“We are going to the dining together.”

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