The CEO's Contractual Wife

Chapter 2

Olivia

Ryan’s head whipped around, his eyes widening with shock. For a moment, time suspended itself. My lungs refused to work, and the room seemed to tilt sideways.

“Liv-” Ryan stammered, still connected to Sophia. “This isn’t—”

“What it looks like?” I finished, my voice surprisingly steady despite the earthquake happening inside me. “Because it looks like you’re fucking my friend on her birthday while I wait downstairs for a drink that’s never coming.”

Sophia turned her head, meeting my gaze without a hint of shame. She didn’t even bother to adjust her dress; she just rested her elbows on the dresser and sighed like I’d interrupted a business meeting.

“Oh, Olivia,” she said, her voice dripping with condescension. “Did you think a man like Ryan would be satisfied with just you?”

Ryan finally pulled away from her, fumbling to pull up his pants. “Baby, please, this is just a… a thing. It doesn’t mean anything.”

This book had been

“A thing?” I repeated, heat rising to my face. “Howadded on youning’ been happening?”

bookshelf.

Before either could answer, I heard footsteps behind me.

“Liv? Did you find—” Emilia’s voice cut off as she appeared at my side, taking in the scene. “Holy fucking shit.”

Ryan’s face paled further. “This isn’t what-”

“If you say ‘this isn’t what it looks like’ one more time, I swear to God I will castrate you with my bare hands,” Emilia snapped, her arm wrapping protectively around my shoulders.

Sophia straightened up, finally adjusting her dress with leisurely movements. She tossed her hair back and had the au- dacity to smirk. “Ryan and I have an understanding. It’s just sex. Great sex, but still just sex.”

“An understanding?” I laughed, the sound brittle and foreign to my ears. “And when exactly were you planning to in- clude me in this understanding? After you gave me chlamydia, or before?”

“Don’t be dramatic,” Ryan said, tucking in his shirt. “We’ve been careful.”

“Oh, careful! Well, that makes it all better then!” I threw my hands up. “You’ve been carefully fucking my friend be- hind my back. Such consideration!”

Sophia leaned against the dresser, crossing her arms. “We’re all adults here. Monogamy is so… limiting, don’t you think?”

limiting around

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16:40

Sophia warned, her eyes

to Ryan. “And you. You pathetic excuse for a man. Two years?

can talk about this. It’s just physical. It doesn’t change how

bought me this dress.” I gestured to my outfit. “So, I could be downstairs putting on a show for your

amazing on you,” he

what you’re going with right

“I’m just saying-”

what you’re ‘just saying.” I turned to leave, then spun back. “Two years, Ryan. Two years of me rearranging my schedule for you and believing every word out of your mouth. Was any of it

took a step toward me. “Of course, it was real. I

spat. “If this is your version of love, I want nothing

“Can we wrap this up? I have

said, turning away. “Enjoy your birthday present. You two deserve each

down the hallway, my legs somehow carry- ing me forward despite feeling like they

still around me as we descended the

continued below us, oblivious to the implosion that had just occurred upstairs. The music seemed too

called my name, but I kept moving, my eyes fixed on the

my face as we stepped outside,

when I heard the front

Ryan called out.

like a

Liv,” he insisted but made no move

anymore,” I called back,

as we rounded the corner, the sounds of the party fading behind

31.3 %

16:40

Chapter 2

sight, my composure crumbled. I stopped walking, my breath

believe… I can’t….” I pressed my hand

know, honey. I know.” Emilia pulled me into a hug. “Let

against her shoulder.