I Fled the Wedding and Came Back With a Contract Husband Chapter 13

I Fled the Wedding and Came Back With a Contract Husband Chapter 13

“I’m saying,” he said, raising his tea to his lips, his tone even-but the tips of his ears red, “that these two years have been fine. If you don’t need to end things, we could continue. If you do, no hard feelings. Your

.call.”

I watched him. “Derek, when we signed the contract, were you already planning to renew it?”

“Honestly? No.” He set down the cup. “But these two years with you-you’re compatible. You think clearly. You don’t make drama. You handle your own messes. It’s easy.”

“That’s all?”

“That’s all.” He paused. “Maybe one other thing. We’ll get to that later.”

I didn’t push. I raised my water and tapped it against his cup. “Then let’s renew.”

The corner of his mouth lifted. He said nothing. Under the table, the toe of his shoe brushed mine-then

retreated.

After dinner, the wind off the lake was sharp. He drove me back to my hotel, got out, and opened the door for

“Visiting your mother tomorrow?” he asked.

“Mm.”

“I’ll come with you.”

“Good.”

I walked toward the entrance and looked back. He was still standing by the car, the breeze pulling at his

shirt. He raised a hand. I waved and turned.

Inside the elevator, my phone lit up.

Nathan: [I said everything I had to say today. What I owe you-I may never fully repay. But I hope your future is good.]

I read it three times, then typed: [Take care.]

The elevator climbed. I leaned against the wall and closed my eyes.

Summer, when I was fourteen-Nathan carving my name into that oak, then looking up with a grin. “I’ll carve deep. If the tree falls, the name stays.”

The tree was still there. But we’d both left that summer behind.

The elevator opened. I swiped into my room.

On the table, a bowl of grapes and a note in Derek’s scrawl: [For the hangover.]

I smiled, popped a grape my mouth, and texted him: [Home safe?)

He replied: [Just got in. Sleep. See you tomorrow.]

I said okay.

Through the gap in the curtain, city lights flickered in a tangle of dark and gold.

I sank onto the couch and closed my eyes. The stone in my chest was finally gone.

My phone buzzed softly. Another message from Derek: [About the renewal-I already drafted the contract.

Whenever you want to sign. Long-term.]

I stared at the screen for a long moment, laughing. Then I typed: [Signed.]

He replied: [Good. Now sleep, Mrs. Vance.]

I pressed the phone to my chest, smiling, as the night breeze drifted through the window-soft as the spring wind from childhood, carrying that last warmth of May.