The Ceo’s Contract Lover

“If only I could pull open my heart for you to see, would you realize how much I love you.”

Nina’s eyes turned red, and she hugged his waist. “I love you more,” she declared. She felt an urgency to express her feelings, realizing there wouldn’t be a time like this again.

With a sniffle, she continued. “Jayden Luxton, you are my first and only love. You’re my family, the person who gave me a home. You’ve spoiled me and filled my heart with warmth. Because of the complexity of our relationship, I acted like I didn’t care about you. But deep inside, I would wake up in dread, fearing that you wouldn’t want me anymore.”

Just the thought of being abandoned by him suffocated her.

“That’s not true.”

“Maybe not, but have you seen yourself in the mirror? You always sport that cold and menacing face as though someone owes you a billion dollars.”

Jayden touched his nose sheepishly. “You know I’m not good with words,”© 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.

“But I’m your woman,” Nina raised her voice indignantly. “I don’t care how you deal with the outside world, but if you can’t even communicate with your woman, how can I understand what’s going on in that head of yours?”

“I thought you were smart, Ouch-”

Nina hit him lightly on his chest. “It’s because of you that I’ve lost all my reasoning.” She cried.

“Mhmm, sorry. It’s my fault.”

Jayden held her waist, pulling her in his embrace. “Please come back to me, baby. I really can’t live without you,” he pleaded, his voice filled with sincerity and longing.

But Nina still shook her head.

“Now what?” Jayden looked down at her and met her amber gaze. Nina tiptoed and kissed his lips.

Just because they had confessed their feelings, it didn’t mean she could forget everything that had happened in the past.

The wounds were still fresh, and they needed time to heal.

Besides, both of them were inexperienced when it came to matters of the heart.

Perhaps this separation would be an opportunity for them to grow as individuals, find their paths, and return to each other with a deeper understanding of themselves and their love.

“You can take as much time as you want. I’ll wait for you,” he declared. “I will relentlessly pursue you until you have no choice but to return to me. However, I want you to stay by my side.”

Only then would he feel complete.

—

Jayden emerged from the bathroom with a towel wrapped around his waist. His well-defined body glistened with water as he dried his hair with a towel.

His muscular physique was a sight that would cause a nosebleed.

As he stepped into the room, he found Nina, who had her back facing him, tying her night robe.

He moved silently, walking up behind her. In one swift motion, he lifted her and twirled her around before falling on the bed.

Nina let out a yelp as she landed on top of Jayden.

During the fall, the belt of her robe had come loose, revealing her sensual figure. The sight drove Jayden crazy and he licked his lips. Stretching out his hand, he gently caressed her soft body.

A jolt of electricity coursed through Nina as she shivered under Jayden’s tantalizing touch.

Before she could even think of stopping him, Jayden tugged at her night robe, drawing her closer to him. Their bodies pressed together, and he captured her lips in a kiss.

Suddenly, a loud crash reverberated through the room, interrupting their intimate moment.

Nina raised her head, and her heart froze as she locked eyes with Tyler, who stood at the doorway. Her face turned pale, and she instinctively wanted to get up.

However, Jayden was quick to react. He held her in the same position, tied her night robe, and helped straighten her clothes.

“Watch out,” he reminded her, his voice calm yet filled with a protective instinct.

Without staying behind, Tyler turned around and left.

“Tyler, wait,” Nina got out of bed and ran barefoot after Tyler.

Her voice was filled with urgency as she tried to catch up with him. “Tyler, wait. Let me explain.”

Tyler stopped in his tracks and turned around, the corner of his eyes turning bright red. “Is there still something left to explain?”

“I-”

“The thing is, you’ve never stopped him thinking about him. That person has been etched deeply in your heart.”

And no matter how much it hurt, that was the truth.

“Tyler, I did try to nurture my feelings for you and give this relationship a chance. But no matter how much I tried, I just couldn’t,” Nina admitted. “After I realized it, I was about to make things clear with you. But I didn’t expect you to turn up at my place.”

“Why are you even here?” She was puzzled by his unexpected visit.

“I received a message from you saying there was a surprise for me.” If not, he wouldn’t have come to her place.

“I… didn’t send any message,” Nina denied. As she reached the end of her sentence, her voice turned into a whisper as it dawned on her.

“I must say it was quite a memorable surprise for me,” Tyler let out a bitter chuckle, as he finally accepted the truth that had been weighing heavily on his heart. He should have known better than to pursue someone who never belonged to him.

“Farewell,” With his eyes filled with sadness, Tyler bid her goodbye and turned to leave.

As she watched Tyler’s retreating figure, Nina wanted to stop him. Yet, she understood she had no right to do so.

The pain in his eyes was a testament to the depth of his feelings. And she knew this ending was for the best, even if it was painful.

Hence, she let him go.

When Nina returned to her bedroom, she noticed Jayden had already dressed. He took a step forward to hold her, but a crisp slap landed on his face.

“Leave,” Nina shut her eyes, her voice laced with disappointment.

Jayden sighed.

He retrieved a pair of slippers and put them on her feet before exiting the room.

Outside Nina’s apartment, Liam sat in his car, patiently waiting for Jayden.

As Jayden approached the car, he caught sight of the bright handprint on his face and laughed out loud. “You’re an a**hole,”

Jayden settled into the passenger seat, fastening his seatbelt. “Let’s see if you’d still laugh when your woman dates another man.” He challenged, giving him a side glance.

Liam fell silent as he considered his words.

Speaking of which, if he were in Jayden’s position, he, too, might react similarly, perhaps even more intensely.

The thought of another man being with the woman they loved was a difficult pill to swallow. And he, like Jayden, wouldn’t tolerate it, even if they were no longer together.

Don’t blame them, but their possessiveness was deeply rooted in their bones.

As the car drove, Jayden leaned back in his seat, closing his eyes to rest.

He had deliberately orchestrated the situation to allow Tyler to witness the scene back then.

To eliminate a problem, one had to get rid of its roots.

Though he and Nina had reconciled, Tyler’s presence remained a looming issue that couldn’t be ignored.

Even if Nina had clearly expressed her feelings to Tyler, he might not have understood and continued to bother her.

Tyler’s advances were annoying him and he decided it was time to use a more direct approach, ending things once and for all.

He decided to let Tyler realize that no matter what he did, Nina would never fall in love with him.

In this lifetime, Nina belonged to him and him alone. Others could only forget about the idea of winning her heart.

“Jayden?” Liam’s faint voice reached his ears.

Jayden wanted to respond, but he found himself unable to move. He knitted his brows tightly, attempting to open his eyes, but failed to do so.

Suddenly, a sharp pain gripped his chest, and cold sweat started to bead on his forehead.

Liam quickly pulled the car to the side of the road. He turned toward Jayden and shook him, trying to wake him up.

After a few agonizing minutes, the intense pain in Jayden’s chest subsided, and his eyes shot open. He gasped, breathing heavily, his face still pale.

“Are you alright?” Liam asked in concern.

Jayden nodded his head. “I’m fine,” he replied in a hoarse voice.

—

In a private room, a small party was underway, hosted by the younger crowd.

As such, the guest list included only those under the age of 25, leaving out the two older monks, Jayden and Stefan.

The private lounge exuded luxury in every corner. It was a spacious room with a high ceiling.

A well-stocked bar with an array of bottles was located at one end of the room. Guests sat on high chairs arranged in front of the bar area to enjoy their favorite drinks. In another cozy nook, a comfortable couch was decorated with plush pillows.

A large chandelier dangled from the ceiling, bathing everything in a warm light.

As the evening unfolded, what was supposed to be a night filled with excitement turned into a mourning hall.

Instead of hitting the dance floor and letting loose, everyone’s spirits were dampened by their collective suffering.

Everyone held onto their respective corners. Their glasses filled with liquor as they contemplated their sorrows.

In a secluded corner, Nina sat alone on a plush two-seater couch, her dainty fingers wrapped around a glass of champagne. Her gaze seemed distant, as she quietly sipped the drink.

Observing Nina from a distance, a young man seemingly the same age approached her.