MY CONTRACT HUSBAND IS A RUTHLESS BILLIONAIRE

Chapter 12 - It Was Never About The Merger

We got back from Bali 3 days ago.

Things were... different.

He'd look at me longer. Touch my hand "accidentally".

Say goodnight instead of just leaving.

It was scaring me.

Today, I went to his office to drop his forgotten files.

His secretary wasn't there. His laptop was open.

And on the screen... a folder named: `ISABELLA`

I shouldn't have. But I did.

I clicked.

Hundreds of files. Hospital bills. All paid. Mine.

Photos. Me sleeping on the couch after Paris.

Me crying at the hospital.

Me in the blue dress.

And one document. Dated 1 year ago.

`PERSONAL CONTRACT: ALEXANDER VIREL`

My hands shook as I read.

`Reason for contract marriage:

Subject: Isabella Santos.

Mother: Maria Santos - ICU Patient St. Luke's.

Debt: 3.2M.

Objective: Protect. Do not let her know.`

Protect?

The door opened.

Alexander froze.

"Get out." His voice was ice.

I held up the paper. "What is this?"

"Leave. Now."

"IT WAS NEVER ABOUT THE MERGER?!" I yelled. "All this time- the board, the contract renewal- it was all a lie?!"

He closed the door. Slowly.

"Yes."

The word hit me like a slap.

"Why?" Tears fell. "Why me?"

He walked to the window. Back to me.

"Because 1 year ago, you saved my sister's life. Car accident. You donated blood. You didn't even know her name."

I remembered. A girl. 8 years old. Bleeding.

"I owed you." He said quietly. "And when I found out your mother was sick and you were drowning in debt... I couldn't let you suffer."

"So you bought me?"

"I saved you." He turned. Eyes red. "In the only way I knew how."

"By lying? By making me fall-"

"Don't." He cut me off. "Don't say it."

"Say what? That I fell for you?" I laughed bitterly. "That this contract became real for me?"

Silence.

"Answer me, Alexander."

He looked at me. For a long time.

Then he whispered: "I can't."

And walked out.

Leaving me with a contract.

And a truth that broke me more than any lie.