KayElle

Elena Vasquez never imagined that saving her late mother’s boutique would come at the cost of her own freedom. But when Jason Sinclair—the ruthless billionaire responsible for her father’s downfall—offers her a contract marriage in exchange for financial security, she has no choice but to accept.

To the world, they are the perfect power couple—graceful, untouchable, enviable. Behind closed doors, their marriage is a battlefield of icy glares, sharp words, and a tension neither of them can fully control. Jason needs her to seal a high-stakes merger, and Elena needs him to keep her mother’s legacy alive. But as much as she resents him, she can’t ignore the way his presence consumes the air around her.

Jason Sinclair has always played to win. Business, power, control—he’s mastered them all. Marriage, however, was never part of the equation. Until now. Elena was supposed to be a means to an end, a pawn in his carefully orchestrated plan. But the fire in her eyes, the way she challenges him at every turn, makes him crave something far more dangerous than victory.

As their worlds collide, desire turns into a slow-burning inferno neither of them saw coming. But secrets from the past threaten to shatter their fragile truce—Jason isn’t the only one with a hidden agenda, and Elena is about to uncover truths that could destroy them both.

When business and emotions intertwine, the line between hate and something deeper blurs. Will Elena and Jason continue their war of wills, or will the contract that binds them become the very thing that sets them free?

The Contract Bride's Dilemma

Chapter 22: The Test of Loyalty

Elena sat across from the two executives, her hands folded neatly on the table as she listened intently. The offer was almost too good to be true—expansion into high-end markets, strategic partnerships, and financial backing that would skyrocket her boutique's reach overnight.

It was everything she had been working for.

"We believe you have the vision and brand appeal to take this to the next level," one of them said. "Of course, this partnership would require exclusivity. No ties to Sinclair Enterprises."

Elena's pulse slowed. There it was—the catch. It felt eerily similar to the unspoken terms of her marriage contract, another agreement where her independence came with conditions. Accepting this deal meant cutting all business ties to Jason. On paper, it shouldn't have mattered. Their marriage had an expiration date, and she had fought for independence.

But this wasn't just about business. It was about control.

Her fingers curled slightly on the table. "I'll need time to consider."

The executives exchanged glances before nodding. "Of course. But we would need an answer soon. These types of opportunities don't wait."

Elena forced a smile, but her mind was already spinning.

Would Jason see this as betrayal? Would he use this as an excuse to remind her of the power he still held over her?

Jason already knew about the offer before Elena had even stepped into the meeting. After the press conference, he had doubled his surveillance, ensuring that no potential threats to their carefully crafted image went unnoticed.

His sources had kept him informed, and now, as he studied the contract sitting on his desk, his jaw tightened. It wasn't just an opportunity for Elena—it was an exit strategy.

His grip on the pen tightened. Elena was ambitious, intelligent. But was she still playing by their rules? Or was she looking for a way out—before the contract was up?

He needed to know where she stood. And there was only one way to find out.

Elena stepped into the penthouse that evening, her mind still torn between the offer and the consequences. She wasn't naïve—Jason would find out. If he hadn't already.

She barely had time to shrug off her coat before she noticed him standing by the bar, pouring a drink.

Jason turned, his gaze unreadable as he lifted the glass. "Busy day?"

Elena hesitated. This was a test. She could feel it in the way he watched her, measured, calculating.

"I had a meeting," she said smoothly. "An interesting proposal."

Jason swirled his drink, his expression unchanged. "And?"

She crossed the room, keeping her posture relaxed. "I haven't decided yet."

His smirk was slow, dangerous. "Haven't you?"

Elena's stomach twisted. He knew. Of course, he did.

"If you're asking whether I intend to walk away, Jason, you should know me better than that."

He took a step forward, the air between them shifting. "Then prove it."

Elena lifted her chin. "And how exactly do you expect me to do that?"

Jason set his drink down, his gaze locking onto hers. "By showing me where your loyalties lie."

She exhaled sharply. "You want me to reject the deal."

He didn't blink. "I want you to choose."

Silence stretched between them, charged and heavy.

Elena wasn't sure what infuriated her more—the fact that he had orchestrated this moment, or the unsettling truth that, no matter how much she fought for control, Jason always seemed one step ahead. And worse—she wasn't sure she wanted to change that.

This was no longer just a contract marriage.