All Chapters of Contracts of Desire: The Billionaire Romance Collection: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

Nova-I stood frozen, my eyes burning with unshed tears.I hadn't expected this.We were only supposed to announce our engagement, but somehow, somewhere along the way, it had transformed into a full-blown proposal.Not that I should have been surprised. We were already engaged, after all.And yet...Nicolai had managed to catch me completely off guard.The roar of the crowd pulled me from my thoughts. I looked down at the man who had stolen my heart like a thief in the night and never once apologized for it.The man I loved. The man I would love for the rest of my life. My vision blurred as tears finally slipped down my cheeks.I nodded."Yes," I whispered.Nicolai's entire face lit up. His smile widened into something so beautiful it nearly stole my breath as he carefully slid the diamond ring onto my finger.For a moment, I could only stare at it.It felt impossibly heavy and weightless all at once, as though one chapter of my life had closed while another was just beginning.Then

Nova-I was speaking with Ophelia Winart—the heiress of Dover Pharmaceuticals—when I heard a voice I knew far too well.“Nova!”This time I didn't flinch. Not because the sound was any less irritating, but because I'd known she was here.I'd already spotted Tanya earlier with Ethan and the rest of my family. Nicolai had confirmed Ethan received an invitation through his new employer, and judging by the look on my fiancé's face when they arrived, he wasn't thrilled about it.The sight of them immediately brought back the argument we'd had last week.Our first real disagreement.It had happened during breakfast when the subject of my family came up. Specifically, what should be done about them. Nicolai and his father had made their opinions very clear.They wanted to destroy them.Bankrupt my father's company. Ensure Ethan never worked for another respectable law firm. Turn high society against my mother and Tanya. Drag Jordan's reputation through the mud.Everything.Leave nothing stan

Tanya-I'd had that smug bitch exactly where I wanted her.Turns out Ethan's boss pushing him to sign with OmniCore had given me the perfect excuse for my plan.I watched Nova's eyes darken as she glanced around the ballroom, clearly looking for Mom and Dad. Lucky for me, they'd already slipped into the hallway.Everything was in place.The plan was simple. Get her to drink the wine laced with Rethynol. Keep her talking for a few minutes while the drug kicked in.Then, just before its full effects hit, lure her into the hallway.Mom, Dad, and Jordan would already be waiting. Together we'd get her upstairs to Sinclair's room.Easy. Perfect.At least, that's what I kept telling myself. So why was a knot beginning to tighten in my stomach? Nova was too distracted scanning the crowd to notice the change in me. The shift in my mood. The tension creeping into my expression.Something wasn't right. Why the hell didn't she look any different? Rethynol worked fast. That was why I was desperate

Chapter 27: Not Quite Right….Nova-More than two weeks had passed since the Gala, and I was now deep into wedding planning alongside Perra and Patrice.As we sat in the bridal boutique waiting for my wedding dress fitting, my thoughts drifted back to that night.Thankfully, Elizabeth Warner had made a full recovery. It turned out she reacted so violently to the drug because it contained almonds in its elixir. Drug dealers often mix in a compound called benzaldehyde to mask the bitter taste. Its primary ingredient comes from almonds—and Elizabeth happened to be severely allergic.Even though everything had settled down since then, there were still so many unanswered questions swirling through my mind. I could vividly remember what happened immediately after I shared my suspicions with everyone.Once the Gala ended, Nicolai, myself, and the rest of the family headed straight to the kitchen service area. Patrice immediately demanded that the evening supervisor come forward.“Mrs. Moreau

Nova-I stood near the airport pickup area beside our driver, who was holding a sign that read:CHLOE BAKERMy heart felt like it was trying to climb out of my chest.Her flight had landed twenty minutes ago, and she'd already texted me that she was collecting her luggage. I was halfway through typing another message when—“NOVA!!”The familiar voice echoed through the terminal. Several travelers turned to stare. I didn't care. My eyes instantly filled with tears as I spun around.“Chloe!”She dropped her carry-on and ran straight for me. We collided in the middle of the airport.“Oh my gosh!” I laughed through my tears. “Look at you! You're gorgeous!”And she was.West-Bay had been very good to her.Her hair was longer, her skin carried a warm bronze glow, and she looked happier than I'd seen her in years.Chloe pulled back and immediately grabbed both of my shoulders.“Okay, excuse me,” she said dramatically. “When did you become this beautiful?! Married life already looks amazing o