đź“–Â The CEO's Contract Wife
Chapter 22: Mixed Signals
"If this isn't real, then why does he keep acting like it is?"
Li couldn't stop thinking about the conversation in his office.
Ethan had looked… jealous.
Or maybe she was just imagining it.
But the way he said, "You're my wife"—not as a reminder of the contract, but as if it actually meant something—stayed with her all night.
She sat by the window of the penthouse living room, watching city lights blink against the darkness. Her tablet sat forgotten on her lap.
She didn't hear him come in.
"You're still awake?" Ethan's voice broke the silence.
She looked up. "Couldn't sleep."
He walked past her into the kitchen, poured himself a glass of water, then paused. "Was it something I said?"
She blinked. "What do you mean?"
"This afternoon. In the office."
"Oh. That." She gave a small, humorless smile. "You made yourself pretty clear, Mr. CEO."
He sighed, rubbing his temples. "I didn't mean to sound… controlling."
"Just a little possessive, maybe?" she teased lightly, trying to defuse the tension.
To her surprise, his lips curved faintly. "Maybe."
Her heart skipped. That was new.
Ethan rarely joked. Rarely smiled. But tonight, his defenses seemed lower.
He stepped closer, leaning against the wall near the window. "I'm not used to this," he said quietly.
"This?"
"Sharing space. Sharing… anything."
She nodded. "Me neither."
There was a long pause.
Then he added, "I just didn't like the way he looked at you."
Li turned to him slowly. "You mean… the guy from marketing?"
He didn't answer.
She studied him for a moment, then said softly, "Ethan, are you forgetting this is just a contract?"
"I'm not forgetting," he said. "I just don't like pretending anymore."
That caught her off guard.
She opened her mouth, but no words came.
He pushed off the wall and walked past her, pausing only to say, "Good night, Li."
She sat frozen, her heart pounding.
Pretending?
Then what were they doing now?