Lahat ng Kabanata ng BEYOND THE CONTRACT : Kabanata 41 - Kabanata 50

Julian looked at her and gave a small nod. “Thank you,” he said, but there was something off about his tone. Even though this was everything he had worked for, everything he had wanted, he didn’t feel as satisfied as he expected. A strange feeling settled in his chest, something he couldn’t quite understand.Sophia noticed the change in his expression. He looked deep in thought, almost distant. She hesitated for a moment before speaking, choosing her words carefully.“Our contract will soon end,” she said softly, her voice steady, but there was something else in it—something almost uncertain. “Just two months left.”Julian’s fingers tapped lightly on the table. He didn’t say anything.Sophia took a deep breath and continued, “And this… this is why you wanted the contract in the first place, right?” She looked at him, forcing a small smile. “To secure your inheritance, to take over your father’s company. Now that you’re getting it, everything is falling into place.”A heavy silenc

His breath hitched.Vanessa.For a moment, his mind blanked. It was as if time had yanked him backward, forcing him into a past he thought he had buried.She stood there under the porch light, her face calm, almost unreadable. His pulse thundered in his ears, but his voice came out cold. "Vanessa?"A slow, knowing smile spread across her lips. "Surprised?"Surprised didn’t even begin to cover it. His stomach twisted. His fingers itched to slam the door shut, to pretend she wasn’t standing there, but his body refused to move."What the hell are you doing here?" His voice was sharp, edged with the weight of old wounds and fresh irritation.Vanessa exhaled lightly, her gaze sweeping over him as if she were trying to memorize every inch. "I needed to see you."Julian’s jaw tightened. "Now?"Her smile didn’t waver. "Yes, now."Julian’s gaze involuntarily flickered over Vanessa, taking in her appearance. She was stunning—effortlessly so.She wore a sleek, figure-hugging black dress that en

As the door clicked shut behind Vanessa, Julian let out a deep sigh. The tension in the room was thick, but all he could focus on was Sophia—how she stood there, arms folded tightly over her chest, her gaze distant. She looked shaken, her lips pressed into a thin line, as if she was trying to process everything that had just happened.He took a step closer, but she didn’t react. “Sophia,” he said gently, his voice laced with concern. She remained silent, her fingers gripping her arms a little tighter.Julian reached out, tilting her chin up so she had no choice but to meet his gaze. Her eyes—filled with uncertainty, looking for something. Personal Reassurance. Truth.“I don’t want you to think for a second that anything Vanessa said matters,” he said firmly. “You heard what I told her—I have a family now, and that’s you and the twins. Nothing changes that.”Sophia let out a small, shaky breath but didn’t pull away. “But Julian… she’s not wrong, is she?” Her voice was barely above a w

Murmurs rippled through the audience."What is she doing here?""Why is Vanessa interrupting the ceremony?"Julian’s jaw clenched as he turned to her. “Vanessa, what are you doing?” His tone was firm but controlled.“I’m here to make sure the truth isn’t buried under all this glamor and celebration,” she declared, her voice smooth but edged with venom.The room grew tense. All eyes were on her.She turned toward Sophia, her gaze cold and calculating. “I’m sure many of you know Julian’s wife,” she said, emphasizing the word mockingly. “But what you don’t know is where she came from—who she really is.”Sophia stiffened, gripping the side of her dress. Julian’s expression darkened.Vanessa continued, her voice ringing through the hall. “Let me refresh your memory, Sophia. Your mother worked for my family, didn’t she? And she was fired for stealing from us.”Gasps echoed through the audience. Whispers broke out, guests exchanging shocked glances.Julian’s hand tightened into a fist. “That

Sophia sat on the couch, her hands clenched in her lap, her mind replaying every moment of Vanessa’s public humiliation attempt.She had spent years avoiding the past, but now, it had been dragged into the spotlight for the world to scrutinize.Julian sat beside her, his expression calm but firm. “We’re not letting Vanessa control the narrative,” he said. “It’s time we fight back, but we need a strategy.”Sophia nodded, exhaling shakily. “I don’t even know where to start.”Julian said to Sophia. “We need a PR specialist. Someone who knows how to handle a situation like this.”“I know someone,” Jason said. “A friend of mine, Damian Carter. He’s handled worse scandals and turned them around.”Sophia hesitated. “Do we really need a PR team? Can’t I just—”“No,” Julian cut in gently. “This is bigger than just a misunderstanding. Vanessa is playing dirty, and we need to be smarter. I’ll make the call.”Within an hour, Damian Carter arrived. He was a sharp-looking man in his mid-30s, with a