Chapter 26 – You're Not Just My Contract Wife
Li stood in the living room, her arms folded tightly across her chest. The photos were already online—headlines screaming:
"CEO Ethan Jin's Secret Wife Confirmed?"
"Business or Love? The Couple's Chemistry Says Both!"
She threw her phone on the couch. "Was this your plan all along?" she asked coldly. "Using me for attention? For PR?"
Ethan loosened his tie, clearly exhausted from the evening, but his eyes never left her.
"No. That wasn't the plan. But it's true the board is happy now. You've made me look like a stable man."
Li laughed bitterly. "So I'm your image-polishing trophy? Great."
He stepped closer. "You know that's not what I meant."
She turned away, afraid he'd see the hurt she didn't want to admit. "It's just a contract, Ethan. That's what we agreed."
Silence.
Then his voice, low and serious. "Is that all you think this is now?"
She didn't answer.
"I kissed you at that dinner. That wasn't part of the script," he added. "And you kissed me back."
Li clenched her fists. "It was just… the moment."
Ethan closed the distance between them, his voice softer now. "Tell me the truth. When I touch you, do you really feel nothing?"
Li looked up at him, lips parting—then the doorbell rang, loud and sudden.
They both froze.
"I'll get it," she muttered, escaping toward the door.
Standing there was Ethan's assistant, holding a manila envelope. "Sorry to disturb you, Miss Li. Mr. Ethan's legal team asked me to deliver this."
She opened it slowly after closing the door. Inside was a contract amendment—with a note scribbled in Ethan's handwriting:
"You can leave any time. No penalties. But I hope you won't."
Her hands trembled
Behind her, Ethan had followed silently. "I wanted you to know… You're not trapped. But you're also not just a contract to me anymore."
Li turned to face him. Her heart was thudding louder than ever.
And for the first time, she didn't know how to respond.