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.

Nick, her hand finding his automatically. They had been

a pang of something, not quite

David doing?” she asked, looking around at our tired

Mom answered, checking her watch. “The nurse said it’s going well,

into her oversized tote bag. “I brought reinforcements.” She pulled out a bag of chocolate chip cookies from the bakery near her office.

you,” Nick

bag around. “So, fill me in. What have I

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23

Chapter 42

I said, taking a cookie. “Just waiting. Alexander was here

eyebrows shot up. “Alexander Carter? Your

cookie. “Apparently, they’re dating. Super serious. He was here playing poker with

said, looking at me with new interest. “That’s… unexpected. When

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

enough that he came to the hospital?” Amelia asked, her journalistic instincts kicking in despite working

be supportive,” I explained, feeling my

see the best cardiologist in the city,” Mom added proudly. “Dr.

Amelia said, looking genuinely surprised.

I found myself saying, wondering why I felt the need to defend Alexander’s

not being

just intense,”

into you,” Ethan teased. “The way he kept looking at you? Like

scolded, but she was

saying what we all

my neck. “Can we please stop talking about Alexander like he’s not going to walk back through

hope he does,” Ethan grinned, wiggling his eyebrows. “I

challenged, crossing my