MY CONTRACT HUSBAND IS A RUTHLESS BILLIONAIRE

Chapter 9 - Wake Up, Mrs. Virel

I woke up to warmth.

And a heartbeat.

My head was on a chest. A very solid, very familiar chest.

I shot up.

Alexander was in my bed.

Shirt off. Eyes closed. Sleeping.

What the hell?

Last night was a blur. Hospital. Crying. "Stay."

Did I... did I pull him to bed?

"Morning." His voice was groggy.

He opened one eye. Looked at me. Then at our situation.

He sat up instantly. Ran a hand through his hair.

"Don't."

"Don't what?"

"Don't make this weird." He stood up. Put his shirt on. "I stayed. That's it."

Right. That's it.

But his collar was crooked. And there was a pillow dent on his cheek.

Cute.

"How's your mother?" he asked, not looking at me.

"Stable. Thank you."

Silence.

"I have a meeting at 9." He grabbed his phone. "Be ready in 30. We have a brunch with investors."

And he left.

Like nothing happened.

Like he didn't sleep beside me.

Like he didn't hold me at the hospital.

I touched the spot on the bed where he was. Still warm.

My phone buzzed.

`New message from Alexander: Wear the blue dress. It looks good on you.`

Blue dress?

I looked at my closet. The 2 million peso blue gown from the gala.

He remembered.

At brunch, he was cold again. CEO mode.

But every time someone looked at me too long, his hand would find mine under the table.

Squeezing. Once.

Possessive.

After the brunch, he walked me to the car.

"About this morning-" I started.

"Don't talk about it." He cut me off. But his eyes softened for half a second. "Just... don't."

He opened the car door for me.

As I got in, he leaned down.

"Your mother would be proud of you."

Then he closed the door.

And I realized:

The ruthless CEO might be bad at feelings.

But he was really good at showing them...

without saying a word.