BOUND BY THE BILLIONAIRE'S CONTRACT

of the evening's events lingering, the unspoken understanding they'd shared in his family's presence still vivid in her mind. She

stopped her. She'd come to realize how carefully Damian guarded his emotions. Yet there was something else tonigh

thered the courage to break the silence. "You

. "She is," he replied, his voice lower than usual. "My mo

sed Zara. "I can see why. She cares about you a lo

her words before replying, "Did she, now?" He managed a faint smile, one that qu

ut she chose her response carefully. "Maybe. But I t

ned that people only see what they want. It's easier that way." His

ing herself from his detachment. "I... I suppose

pped. She hadn't intended to pry into Damian's life, but there was something about him-

d disappeared into his office without another word. Zara watched him g

into the kitchen, savoring the rare stillness of the morning. But her peace was quickly

rised to see her.

he replied, trying to

gala last night-it can be overwhelmin

g a rare moment of openness. "I think you handled i

e doesn't understand about my life, or the choices I've made." Hi

rge to offer comfort. "It must be difficult, balancin

You assume there's something I actually want, Zara. I've built my li

meeting his gaze. "Bu

g. "Loneliness is part of the price for s

wn between them. She could sense that he was a man bound by his past, haunted by unspoken regrets. But she rem

ced at the screen, his expression darkening. "I have to take

every step. It was clear that his world was more complicated than he'd let on, and she won

-a business dinner Damian would attend with a high-profile client. This time, she would be joini

bold, unlike anything Zara would have worn before this arrangement, but as she looked at herself in the mirror

at her, his gaze lingering for a moment longer than usua

ng a spark of defiance. "Appr

nt was filled with a comfortable silence, neither of them needing to fill the space with forced conversation. In a st

e of a man who belonged. Zara followed his lead, matching his composed demeanor as they were shown to a priv

nt greeted, offering Zara a charming smile as he s

ra replied, doing her bes

ndled the business details with his usual precision. She found herself observing Damian more closely

d, his guard lowered ever so slightly in the presence of Vincent, an old friend from his early days in the business

le. "You know, Damian, I never thought I'd see the day you'

is expression remained calm, but she saw a flicker

moothly, glancing at Zara with a small

s decision than mere convenience. But she quickly reminded herself that this was a contract, an arrangem

ass in a final toast. "To Damian and Zara, may your m

ween them. But for a brief moment, as their eyes locked, she sensed an unspoken understa

nsion between them, thick and undeniable. She glanced at Damian, feeli

said softly, unsure what she meant

with an intense ga

enjoy yourself," she replied,

shook his head, his expression hardening. "This is a contrac

the lines they'd drawn between them. She forced a smile,

something in Damian's eyes-a flicker of regret, qu

elf wondering just how long they could both keep up the