The Ceo’s Contract Lover

“I’m sorry if I’ve hurt you. But trust me, it was never my intention.”

It was true that he no longer had any romantic feelings for Emilia. Though he still regarded her as a friend and a business partner. As a gentleman, his instincts had driven him to act when he saw Emilia shivering in the cold, which had led to the following events.

He couldn’t quite understand why Nina was making a fuss over it.

Nevertheless, he was willing to make concessions and keep his distance from Emilia to ease the tension between them.

“I don’t need your apology.” Nina looked into his eyes seriously and said.

If an apology could fix everything, there was no need for the laws.

“But I need you,” Jayden replied almost instantly. He leaned in closer, his voice carrying a hint of seduction as he caressed her back. “You know how much I want you.”

“I crave you with every inch of my heart,” As he said that, he held her palm and placed it against his chest.

Feeling the thumping of his heartbeat, Nina felt as though her hand was scalded and she quickly retrieved her arm.

However, the man seemed to have no intention of stopping yet. Bringing his mouth next to her ear, he bit on her earlobe. “Let’s not fight, hmm?”

He was really growing tired of this cold war. He had already made it clear from the beginning that he only desired her as his wife. But she just wouldn’t believe him.

Nina felt an eargasm at his irresistible voice. She had been trying hard to protect herself from falling deeper into his charms. Nevertheless, her heart still softened at his pleas.

Surrendering herself, she buried her head in his chest and rubbed her face against it.

She realized she had fallen too deeply in love with this man and was willing to do anything for him. Even if it meant giving up her own life.

—

In their apartment at Aspen Towers.

Jayden had meticulously prepared everything for the celebration, except for the birthday cake she wanted to bake herself.

It was a simple affair, but the fact that it would be just the two of them celebrating her birthday made Nina feel content and appreciated.

As the time approached eight o’clock, she decided to call Jayden to check on his situation.

However, when she dialed his number, she was met with the operator’s voice on the other end, informing her that the number she had called was unavailable.

Nina attempted to call him two more times and grew concerned when he did not answer his phone.

Disappointment etched across her exquisite face as she lowered her eyelashes. She assumed that he must have been caught up somewhere and thus was unable to answer her calls.

Despite her disappointment, she waited patiently for his return, hoping that he would join her soon.

As the clock struck eleven o’clock at night, there were still no signs of Jayden. He had neither picked up Nina’s calls nor sent her any messages.

It felt as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over Nina, extinguishing all the sweet dreams she had for her birthday.

Jayden had promised that he would celebrate her birthday with her. For him, she had canceled all her other plans. If he could not keep his promise, why did he even have to make one?

The empty room felt colder and lonelier with each passing moment.

In the dimly lit apartment, Nina walked over to the cake on the table and sat in front of it. The flame cast a soft glow on her face as she lit the candles on the cake.

It was a common tradition where one had to make a wish before blowing out the candles.

However, as the candles flickered, Nina found herself at a loss for what to wish for.

She had no parents or a place to call home. Even her husband, whom she had believed belonged to her, had let her down again and again.

It was as though she was forgotten by the world once again.

With a surge of frustration, Nina picked up the knife and aggressively cut into the cake.

“Happy. Birthday. To. Me.” she repeated, her voice filled with bitterness and loneliness.

Nina reached out to pick up a piece of cake and stuffed it into her mouth. As she chewed, she continued to cut more pieces, and shoved them into her mouth, one after the other, as though she were trying to choke herself to death.

Cough, cough, cough!

Before long, she began choking on the cake and coughed violently. Tears welled up in her eyes as she gasped for breath.

In a sudden burst of anger, she swept the cake off the table and began destroying the decoration.

After she was done, she slumped down on the couch and gave in to her tears, crying bitterly.

—

Dark clouds gathered in the sky, and heavy rain fell.

Inside the Moore family’s estate.

“Winter is here. Wear thick clothes.” The person nagged, wrapping a warm scarf around his wife’s neck.

His actions were gentle, as though he were treating the most precious treasure in the world, and in his eyes, that was exactly what she was.

This man was none other than Isaac Moore, a renowned surgeon in Country A and the father of Emilia.

The Moores held an equal standing with the Luxton family and were one of the top families in Spring City. Their legacy could be traced back several generations, and they had a reputation that extended beyond just their name.

Isaac Moore, the current head of the Moores, was a genius in the medical field who could bring people back from the gates of hell.

The Moores held a leading position in the pharmaceutical industry. However, what set them apart was the fact that the company was run by Alaina Moore, Isaac’s wife, who was one of the most successful businesswomen in the country.

The AI pharmaceutical company was a formidable force in the industry, thanks to the joint efforts of the couple. Now, as they aimed to take their business even further, they were preparing to pass the torch to the next generation, their only heir, Emilia.

Alaina put down the documents she had been reviewing and sighed helplessly.

After Isaac had finished wrapping the scarf around her neck, he took a step back and admired her.

Having been together for almost thirty years, their love for each other remained strong and passionate.

In two more years, she would be turning fifty. Yet, the passing of time seemed to have left no mark on her beauty as she still looked as lovely as ever.

Alaina blushed under his fervent gaze. Feeling abashed, she pushed him lightly and complained. “You’re affecting my work.”This text is property of Nô/velD/rama.Org.

Isaac laughed and didn’t trouble her any further.

At that moment, a maid rushed over and knocked on the door. “Master, eldest miss has returned with Mr. Luxton. He seems to be injured.”

Isaac’s face sank when he heard Jayden’s name. With a knowing look, he told Alaina. “I’ll go take a look.”

“I’ll go with you,” Alaina said. As the matriarch, it would be impolite if she did not receive the guest.

Isaac nodded in agreement, and the couple left the study. As they descended the stairs, the couple was shocked by the scene in front of them.

With his face devoid of any color, Jayden was supported into the living room. There was a deep cut on his left arm that dyed his suit red.

“What happened?” Isaac asked with a frown.

When he heard the maid mention about an injury, he assumed it to be minor, given Emilia’s nature, to make a mountain out of a molehill.

He did not expect the situation to be even worse.

Emilia’s eyes held a hint of urgency as she looked at her father. “It’s a long story. Let’s tend to his wound first.”

Nodding, Isaac immediately asked the servants to fetch his medical kit.

With steady hands, he addressed Jayden’s injuries. After removing his coat, they saw Jayden’s entire shirt covered in blood.

It was a ghastly sight.

Isaac’s skilled hands worked with precision, addressing the deep wound that had caused the profuse bleeding.

Throughout the process, Jayden did not let out a sound. Other than his pale complexion, it wasn’t him who was injured.

With the wound properly treated, Isaac turned to his daughter. “Care to explain what exactly happened?”

Emilia first made sure that Jayden was fine. After that, she took a seat beside him and recounted the events.

“We left the office together when a group of assassins ambushed his car. They launched a vicious attack on him, and amidst the chaos, his arm was slashed with a knife.” Her countenance grew solemn as she continued, “Thankfully, I was following closely behind and called for help in the nick of time. Otherwise, the situation could have been worse.”

“What about the bodyguards?”

As far as he knew, highly trained bodyguards always surrounded Jayden. How was it that he could still get injured under their watch?

“The assassins tampered with their car. Hence, it took them some time to reach the scene.”

Hearing the story, Isaac and Alaina were not surprised.

As the head of the most prominent family, it was common for Jayden to meet with an assassination attempt.

Jayden himself wasn’t surprised at the turn of events. He only felt that those people had come prepared in advance, catching him off guard.

“Since you are injured, you should spend the night here. It’s raining heavily outside, and we don’t know if the assassins are still waiting for another chance,” Emilia suggested. Then, with a pause, she continued, “You can inform Nina that you won’t be returning tonight.”