The CEO's Contractual Wife

Olivia

We fell into silence then, each lost in our own thoughts. The steady tick of the wall clock seemed unnaturally loud in the quiet room. I checked my phone, surprised to see a text from Alexander.

Alexander: Made it back to the office. Let me know when your father is out of surgery. I can have dinner delivered if you’re staying late.

The thoughtfulness of the gesture made my chest tighten. I typed a quick response: “Will do. Thank you.”

Just as I put my phone away, Nick’s phone rang. He glanced at the screen and stood up.

“I need to take this. I’ll be right back.”

He stepped into the hallway, his voice a low murmur through the partially closed door. Mom closed her eyes, looking exhausted, while Ethan continued his endless shuffling of cards.

“Want to play War?” he asked me, breaking the silence.

I smiled, remembering how we used to play for hours as kids. “Sure, why not?”

We were halfway through our game when Nick returned, but he wasn’t alone. Amelia Hayes walked in beside him, her auburn hair pulled back in a neat ponytail, still dressed in her office attire, a pencil skirt, and blouse that somehow looked fresh despite the late hour. Her presence immediately brightened the somber atmosphere of the waiting room.

“Amelia!” Mom exclaimed, standing to embrace her. “You didn’t have to come, sweetheart.”

‘Of course I did,” Amelia replied, hugging Mom back. “I left as soon as Nick called. Mr. Harrington was surprisingly understanding about me ducking out of the quarterly budget meeting.” She worked as an executive assistant at some investment firm downtown; I could never remember which one.

Ethan abandoned our card game, moving to give Amelia a quick hug. “Perfect timing. I was just about to lose spectacularly

to Liv.”

“You were not,” I protested, gathering the cards. “I had terrible cards.”

‘Sure you did,” Ethan grinned, returning to his seat.

to Nick, her hand finding his automatically. They had been dating for almost

not quite jealousy, but a wistfulness for that

asked, looking around

in surgery,” Mom answered, checking her watch. “The nurse said it’s going well, but we

out a bag of chocolate chip cookies from the bakery near her office. “Sugar

you,” Nick

passing the bag around. “So, fill me in. What have

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23

Chapter 42

taking a cookie. “Just waiting. Alexander was here

shot up. “Alexander

cookie. “Apparently,

with new interest. “That’s… unexpected. When did this

I said vaguely, not wanting to rehash the whole fake backstory again. “It’s

but serious enough that he came to the hospital?” Amelia asked, her journalistic instincts kicking in despite working in finance. She’d studied journalism

wanted to be supportive,” I explained, feeling my cheeks warm under

for Dad to see the best cardiologist in the city,” Mom added proudly. “Dr. Weaver wouldn’t normally take new

said, looking genuinely surprised.

myself saying, wondering why I felt the need to defend

snorted. “When he’s not

just intense,”

Ethan teased. “The way he kept

Mom scolded, but she was

just saying what we

“Can we please stop talking about

does,” Ethan grinned, wiggling his eyebrows. “I have so many more questions

what?” I challenged,