He Said I Was Clingy, So I Walked Away on the Day Our Contract Ended Chapter 07

He Said I Was Clingy, So I Walked Away on the Day Our Contract Ended Chapter 07

On the drive to the Carter Family Estate the next day, weariness weighed on me, and my head kept drooping with fatigue.

His hands came up to cradle my cheeks, easing my head down onto his shoulder. Asher’s voice was as cool and reserved as always, yet there was a faint hint of good humor beneath it.

“Go ahead and doze off. I’ll rouse you once we pull up.”

His heartbeat boomed loudly through his chest and against my shoulder, keeping me from settling down at all. Annoyed, I pushed him away and leaned toward the opposite window instead.

The air inside the vehicle grew noticeably colder. No more movement came from his side. I slipped into a peaceful slumber at last.

Our three-month spousal agreement was entirely private, undisclosed to both our families.

After I’d publicly clung to Asher and put on a loving show at the estate last time, the entire Carter family had become convinced our relationship was rooted in genuine love.

After a brief moment of consideration, I decided to fall back into my old routine to avoid unnecessary hassle.

The moment I stepped out of the car, I stretched lazily and slumped bonelessly straight into Asher’s arms.

I caught the way his breath hitched and his arms stiffened. I grumbled petulantly under my breath.

“My lower back is throbbing something awful, and it’s your fault.”

Asher fell silent for a few seconds, then lifted his arms to wrap me up gently. After a long beat, he let out a quiet hum.

“It’s all my fault.”

I pressed myself fully against him, clinging.

“Carry me on inside, honey—I’m still dead tired.”

The second those words left my mouth, his grip tightened sharply around my waist, jolting most of my drowsiness away.

He lifted me off my feet, clearing his throat softly.

“Alright then, you can go back to dozing.”

Eleanor Carter’s face broke into a bright, beaming grin the instant we walked through the door.

“What’s this all about?”

The tips of Asher’s ears flushed pink. He coughed lightly under his mother’s curious, teasing gaze.

“She’s just worn out from the drive over.”

I was far too tired to register how we’d made it into the house at all, and only roused once dinnertime rolled around.

“What have you been up to, honey?”

I’d just descended the stairs to find Asher seated on the living room sofa, while Eleanor directed the staff to move various items around. I raised my voice on purpose to grab everyone’s attention before leaning snugly against Asher.

His features softened slightly, yet his reply remained as terse as always.

” Just doing some reading.”

I threw myself down beside the sofa and leaned into his chest. A flicker of emotion flashed across Asher’s eyes.

After a beat of silence, he looped an arm around my waist to hold me close. His solid arms locked me in place, stirring an inexplicable sense of restraint, and I instinctively tried to pull back and sit upright—only to find I couldn’t move an inch.

He was ridiculous, holding me so tightly he could barely let me breathe.

” Just look at how glued at the hip you two are,” Eleanor winked at the staff. ” When our families first floated this arranged marriage idea, I said that with Asher being so reserved and closed off, you two would end up living completely separate lives under one roof, just like so many other high-society couples around us.”

“I wouldn’t be surprised if I’ve got a grandson to spoil before too long.”

I curved my lips into a sweet, practiced smile.

She was bound to end up disappointed. On the very first night of our marriage, Asher had laid that three-month contract out in front of me.

I never would’ve taken the initiative to pursue him if I hadn’t accidentally caught him indulging himself in the bathroom for hours, proving he was just as craving and insatiable as me.

“Mom, what’s wrong with us having a granddaughter instead, huh?”

My urge to keep up the fake loving act flared up on a whim. I planted my hands on my hips and pinched Asher lightly on his side.

“C’mon honey, which would you rather have, a boy or a girl?”