đ The CEO's Contract Wife
Chapter 21: A Feeling He Didn't Expect
Ethan had no intention of stopping by the company cafeteria that day.
He was simply passing through.
Or so he told himself.
Until he saw herâhis contract wifeâsitting across from another man.
Li was laughing.
That soft, unguarded laugh he hadn't heard in days. The kind of laugh she never gave him. It caught him off guard, like a melody he didn't know he'd been missing.
The man across from her leaned forward, saying something with a boyish grin. Li playfully nudged his arm, her eyes sparkling with amusement
Something twisted in Ethan's chest.
He didn't even know the man's name
But he hated him already.
By the time he returned to his office, the air felt heavier.
He loosened his tie, sat down behind his desk, and stared at the wall for far too long.
Why did it bother him?
She wasn't really his wife.
This was just a business agreement. A contract. A convenience.
That's what he kept telling himself.
So why the hell did it feel like betrayal?
A knock at the door broke the silence.
"Come in," he said coldly.
Li stepped in, holding a tablet. "You asked to review the client's proposal?"
He didn't even glance at the tablet.
"I saw you earlier," he said instead.
She blinked. "Earlier?"
"In the cafeteria. With that guy. You seemed⊠close."
Her expression turned guarded. "He's from the marketing team. We were just talking."
"Talking," he repeated. "You were laughing like you've known him for years."
Li tilted her head. "Is that a problem, Mr. CEO?"
His jaw tightened.
"You're my wife," he said slowly. "Even if it's only on paper, you represent me in public. You should act accordingly."
She crossed her arms. "So I should stop smiling now?"
"I didn't say that."
"But you implied it."
The room fell silent for a beat.
Then she stepped forward and placed the tablet on his desk. "Unless the contract specifically states I can't interact with other men, I think I've done nothing wrong."
She turned on her heel and walked away without waiting for a response.
He watched her leave, frustration bubbling in his chest.
"Sir," his assistant poked her head in a few minutes later. "You've been staring at the door for five minutes. Should I schedule her next smile on your calendar?"
He glared.
She smiled. "Just asking."
When the door shut again, Ethan leaned back in his chair.
She was only supposed to be a name on paper.
A face to stand beside him.
A lie he could control.
Then why did it hurt to watch her laugh with someone else?
Why did it feel like he was losing something he never had?