The CEO's Contractual Wife

Chapter 40

Chapter 40

Olivia

We reached the café, joining the short line. Alexander kept his hand on my back, his thumb making small, comforting circles that I wasn’t entirely sure he was aware of.

“Your family seems nice,” he commented, scanning the menu board above the counter.

“They are,” I nodded. “They’re also very protective.”

“I noticed,” he said dryly. “Your brother Nicholas looks like he wants to interrogate me.”

“That’s just his way,” I explained. “He’s been the man of the house since Dad got sick. Takes the role seriously.”

Alexander nodded thoughtfully. “Understandable. I respect that.”

The line moved forward, and we stepped up to order.

“Five coffees, please,” Alexander told the barista. “Three black, one with cream and sugar, and…” he turned to me. “What would you like?”

“Just a latte, please.”

“And one latte,” he finished, pulling out his wallet.

“I can pay,” I said quickly.

Alexander gave me a look that made me feel silly for even suggesting it. “I invited you for coffee. I’m paying.”

“Fine,” I relented. “But I’m carrying some of them back.”

“Deal.” He smiled, and for a moment, it felt genuine.

We moved to the pickup counter, waiting in awkward silence until Alexander spoke again.

“How are you really doing?” he asked quietly. “This must be stressful for you.”

“I’m hanging in there. It helps to have my brothers here. And Mom’s being strong, but I know she’s terrified.”

“And you?”

I swallowed hard. “I’m scared too. Dad’s always been invincible, you know? Even when he first got sick, he was still Dad. Cracking jokes, telling us not to worry.”

at that. Hiding

“Yours too?”

an

wanted to ask more, but the barista called our order, and the moment passed. Alexander grabbed three cups,

walked, “if you need

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23

Chapter 40

“I’m fine, really.”

mean financially, Olivia. Hospital bills add

you transferred will

what about after? Physical therapy, medications, follow–up

thought that far ahead. “I’ll

me to stop, too.

I did, reluctantly.

You’re my

only been ‘dating‘ for two weeks,” I pointed out. “It would look weird if

wealthy man

“Can we talk about this later? The coffee’s

elevator button with his elbow. “But promise me you’ll ask

I said, just to

elevator arrived, and we stepped inside. It was empty except for us,

like a good kid,”

Computer science

Nicholas works in construction,

“You really did

to look slightly embarrassed. “I like to

your fake girlfriend’s family during

he

fifth floor, and we made our way back to the waiting room. My family looked up as we entered, their expressions a mix of relief

delivery, I announced, trying to

both,” Mom said, accepting

his cup. My brothers watched him with thinly veiled curiosity, like scientists observing a rare

for you,” Alexander said to Nick. “And cream and

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