The Ceo’s Contract Lover

As Nora observed the unfolding scene before her, and a sense of deja vu washed over her, compelling her to intervene.

However, Liam restrained her, preventing her from taking any action.

Nora glared at him as she fought against his grasp, trying to break free.

Stefan exchanged a glance with Liam, and suddenly, a sharp pain shot through her neck, and before she could comprehend what was happening, she lost consciousness

“Take her away,” Stephen commanded.

He knew his sister held a deep concern for Nina, but this was an issue that needed to be resolved between the couple.

Kris trailed behind them angrily. He knew he wouldn’t be able to control himself if he continued to watch.

Only Stefan, Irene, and Krystal were left in the room, and the air was thick with tension.

“I was scared,” Nina said with tears in her eyes.

“Scared of what?”

“Scared of losing you.”

Her fear of losing him had driven her to react impulsively at that moment.

As Emilia’s words sunk in, she was terrified of the consequences of her past coming to light.

“Why can’t you trust me?” Jayden knitted his brows, his frustration palpable. “I don’t understand what method I should use to make you understand.”

No matter what the reason was it wouldn’t change his feelings for her.

However, Nina couldn’t bring herself to reply.

She was unable to articulate her insecurities because she feared he wouldn’t believe her, and the fear of losing him hung heavy in her heart.

“Tell me, Nina,” Jayden implored. “Have I ever mistreated you? I have always protected and taken care of you. I’ve done things I’ve never done before, and I’ve changed for you. But what did you do? Time and time again, you keep doubting me. Why? Don’t I have feelings? Doesn’t it hurt me?”

Jayden, who was a man of few words and rarely spoke, now poured out his heart in front of her. The hurt in his eyes was like a sharp knife piercing her heart.

Being on the top came with a price.

Everyone had their eyes on him, waiting for him to stumble and commit a mistake. Nina had inadvertently played into their hands by walking straight into their traps.

In their world, every step had to be taken with the utmost caution.

From a young age, he had to shoulder heavy burdens.

He not only had to manage an entire billion-dollar company single-handedly but also had to protect himself from the intricate webs of schemes and plotting that surrounded him.

Danger lurked at every step.

He had to maintain constant vigilance because a moment’s lapse could mean the end of his life. The relentless threats and countless assassination attempts were a constant part of his life.

Added to that, the weight of family also bore down on him. He had borne it all without complaint.

However, the burden was taking its toll, and he was growing weary of the constant struggle.

He did not even know if he could…

“Have you thought about what might happen if Emilia couldn’t make it?” Jayden finally asked, his words conveying his worry about the situation.

It wasn’t that he was afraid.

He was more than willing to clean up the mess for her, but he wished she had taken a moment to consider her actions more carefully.

It felt as if a bucket of cold water had been splashed over all his plans and efforts by her.

Nina’s silence killed him. In the end, he could only sigh in despair. “You disappoint me, Nina.”

And it was precisely because he loved her too much that he wanted to keep her away from all the chaos and dangers.

He wanted to shield her from the darkness and provide her with all the happiness in the world, while he bore the burden himself.

He would rather dirty his own hands rather than let her be tainted by them.

Looking deeply at her, he strode out of the room.

After Jayden departed, Stefan followed him.

A storm was brewing, and they needed to be prepared for what lay ahead.

—

Nina couldn’t recall how she made it back home.

After locking the door, she collapsed onto the bed, tears streaming down her face.

It wasn’t that she didn’t trust Jayden, but her fear outweighed all other emotions.

Every word Emilia uttered felt like a searing iron, reopening her emotional wounds.

She was afraid.

She was genuinely terrified of facing the scorn of the people she had so carefully distanced herself from.

The harsh judgment and contemptuous gaze people directed at her because of her mother were still a haunting nightmare for her. The memories were etched deep in her mind, and even after many years, they continued to make her tremble in fear.

Emilia had been correct about one thing.

No man would accept a prostitute as his wife.

Even though Jayden was her first and only man. Even though she had cautiously guarded her chastity, her innocence would still be doubted because facts often spoke for themselves.

Morning sunlight streamed in through the windows, casting shadows on Nina’s face.

She had spent the entire night in the same spot, lost in her thoughts.

The room was enveloped in silence, broken by the melody of a ringing tone.

It was a message from her office.

An hour later, Nina emerged from her apartment, dressed for work. She had intended to request a leave, but the management insisted on her presence today.

—

The hospital was filled with tension as doctors and nurses hurried about.

Isaac stood outside the ward, his face shrouded in a dark and chilling expression. His countenance was solemn, and the murderous look in his eyes was so clear that it kept everyone several meters away from him.

Among them was his assistant.

However, he understood the gravity of the situation and positioned himself in front of him. “Sir, they’ve launched a counterattack,” he reported.

Just as Jayden had foreseen, everyone had been waiting for him to make a mistake, hoping for an opportunity to retaliate.

This was especially true for Isaac.

He remembered clearly how Jayden had forced him to beg and how he dealt with his daughter.

Isaac could never erase from his memory the day he had found Emilia, naked, under the influence of drugs, amidst a group of beggars.

The incident had traumatized Alaina.

Witnessing her only daughter in such a dire situation had severely affected her health, and she had to be hospitalized immediately.

Isaac’s once-happy family of three had shattered in just a day, while the person responsible for their suffering continued to lead a contented life.

“Good. I want the entire Luxton empire to crumble, and I want Jayden Luxton to beg me for mercy,” Isaac declared.

The Moore and Luxton families held equal standing. He wasn’t afraid of Jayden or the forces behind him. If he didn’t ruin Jayden, he wouldn’t be called Isaac Moore.”

At that moment, Isaac received a call from Alaina.

As she was not in good health, he hadn’t informed her about Emilia’s accident. The assistant excused himself, while Isaac stepped aside to answer the call.

After he left, Lilian Luxton went into the VIP ward and was shocked to see Emilia with a white gauze on her forehead.

Lilian had never expected Nina to be so audacious as to harm Emilia, affecting the Moore family.

Had she not considered the consequences of harming the sole heir of the Moores, or had Jayden’s indulgence made her so arrogant that she no longer cared about the immensity of heaven and earth?

“Are you okay?” she inquired, taking a seat beside her.

Emilia raised her eyes and nodded, taking a sip of her juice lazily.RêAd lat𝙚St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only

“I can’t believe that insignificant trash defeated you as well,” Lilian remarked.

Emilia shook her head. “You’re mistaken. The game has only just begun.”

Her condition wasn’t too severe. Apart from some superficial injuries, she was unscathed.

“What do you mean?”

“Relax. Revealing too much would do you no good. Just sit back and enjoy the show.”

Lilian, however, seemed uncertain. “Are you sure this time you’ll destroy both of them?”

Emilia nodded confidently.

She had staked her life on this moment, and success was her only option.

In this game, only one of them could survive and she had no intention of leaving soon.

Lilian’s heart finally relaxed.

She didn’t care about anything else as long as that bitch was taken care of.

As for Jayden, his arrogance had persisted for far too long; it was time to completely remove him from the picture.

—

When Nina arrived at the office, she was taken aback by the person sitting in her office.

It was Peter, her competitor at the workplace.

On seeing Nina, a smug smile crossed his face, “You seemed to have caused quite a commotion, Nina. I have to thank you for this opportunity. If not for your recent actions, I wouldn’t be in your seat.”

Nina’s heart skipped a beat upon hearing his words.

Before she could inquire further, she was summoned to the CEO’s office.

Nina knocked on the door and entered. “Victor, you were looking for me?”

Victor let out a deep sigh and took off his eyeglasses. He nodded with a solemn expression and gestured for her to sit down. “Please, have a seat,” he said, pushing an envelope toward Nina.

Nina’s unease grew as she held the envelope, but did not open it. “What’s this?”

Victor’s voice was heavy as he replied, “Your termination letter.”

Nina’s mind buzzed. “W-What?

With a regrettable expression, Victor delivered the news. “I’m sorry, but you can no longer continue working here.”

“What happened suddenly? Did I make a mistake?”

Victor was conflicted, however, given their long friendship, he decided to be honest. “My father received a call from the Moores, asking him to dismiss you from the company,” he revealed with a heavy sigh. “I objected to it, but we can’t afford to provoke the Moores.”

Especially since the price was the entire Elysium Couture.

Nina’s heart sank as she processed the news. “I understand,” she replied.

Victor’s remorse was evident as he said, “I’m sorry. I did my best, and I’m hesitant to let you go, but I have no choice.”

Nina shook her head. “It’s… alright. I could never forgive myself if I dragged an innocent person into my conflict.”

“Thank you for all the care and support you’ve given me. It’s been an honor to work with you and Elysium,” Nina said with gratitude. “Perhaps this is what fate has in store for me. I’ll figure things out soon.” She offered a forced smile, trying to remain calm.

Seeing her positive attitude, Victor struggled to convey the harsh reality to Nina. “You don’t quite understand, Nina,” he began cautiously. “The Moores have blacklisted you from the entire business industry. I’m afraid the only person who can help you now is CEO Luxton.”