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

“Yours too?”

father was an expert

our order, and the moment passed. Alexander grabbed three cups, carefully

you need anything–anything at all–you just have to

1/4

23

Chapter 40

“I’m fine, really.”

financially, Olivia. Hospital bills

money you transferred

after? Physical

hadn’t thought that far ahead.

me to stop,

I did, reluctantly.

isn’t charity. You’re my fiancée.

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

spin it right. I’m a wealthy man concerned about my girlfriend’s family. It’s

shifting the coffee cups in my hands. “Can we talk about

agreed, hitting the elevator button with his elbow. “But promise

I said, just to

inside. It was empty except for us, the doors closing with a

brother Ethan seems like a good kid,”

is. Computer

Nicholas works in

eyebrow. “You really did your

the grace to look slightly embarrassed. “I

what? Meeting your fake girlfriend’s family

everything,” he

doors opened on the fifth floor, and we made our way back to the waiting room. My family looked up as we

delivery, I announced,

both,” Mom said,

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

you,” Alexander said to

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