THE CONTRACTED HEART: A Billionaire Romance Tale

ought about it, the more confused I became. A part of me wanted to say yes, to go along with the plan and see whe

saw that it was a message from Ethan. "Meet me

or to meet him. I found him sitting on a bench, staring out

ting the space next

ter of excitement in my stomach as I looked at him. Despite everything, I s

ecision?" Ethan asked,

nt, but then I nodded.

rin. "That's great news, Av

lief wash over me. I had made my decision,

ext?" I asked, eag

me. "This is the contract. You'll need to read it over a

a lot to take in, but I tried to focus on the details. I could feel Ethan'

him. "I'll sign it," I

ng felt perfect. But then, just as suddenly, th

t the screen. "I have to take this," he

oping to talk to him more, to get a better sense of what this contract marriage would rea

h. I watched as he spoke quietly into his phone, his face tense and serio

hake the feeling that something was off, that there was more to this contract marriage th

o the bench. "Sorry about that," he said, sitti

he was hiding something from me. "Is every

e wheels turning in his head. "Actually, there's

myself for bad news. "What is it?" I a

ng directly at me. "She's eight years

Ethan had a daughter. "Why didn't you tell me b

ng for the right time," he said. "A

ontract marriage with a man who had a child I had never even me

is?" Ethan asked, his

I didn't know if I was okay with it, but I didn't want to

aid. "But I hope that you'll at least give her a chance.

ow to make sense of it all. As Ethan stood up to leave, I felt a sense of empt

of unease that had settled in my stomach. I had just found out that Ethan had a daughter,

e the silence. "I'm sorry for dropping this

t want to hurt him, but I also didn't w

said finally, turning to face him. "I don't know

rstand," he said finally. "Take all the time you need.

n was trying to be patient with me, but I wasn

cing a smile. "But I need to be honest

ciate your honesty," he said. "And I'll be

hing, I knew that Ethan was a good man. I just wasn

p but feel a sense of unease. I didn't know what the future h