The Ceo's contract wife

Chapter 29 – Living Together

Moving in with Ethan felt surreal.

Li stood in the doorway of the luxurious penthouse, her suitcase rolling behind her like a silent reminder—this wasn't a real home. Just another clause in their new contract.

"This is your room," Ethan said, gesturing to a sunlit bedroom down the hall. "Unless… you'd rather stay in the master bedroom?"

Li blinked. Was he teasing her?

"I'll take this one," she replied quickly, brushing past him before her cheeks betrayed her.

Unpacking felt like walking on glass. Every movement echoed. Every item she placed on the shelf reminded her that she didn't belong here.

By dinner, the silence had stretched too long.

She stepped into the kitchen, expecting a chef or takeout containers. Instead, Ethan stood at the stove in a crisp shirt, sleeves rolled up, cooking pasta like it was second nature.

"You cook?" she asked, genuinely stunned.

He turned, flashing a small smile. "Only when I need to think."

Li watched him move—confident, precise, oddly… comforting. It was a side of him she'd never seen. Not the CEO. Not the contract husband. Just Ethan.

He set a plate before her without a word. She took a bite—and paused.

"This is… actually good," she murmured, eyes widening.

"I'll take that as a compliment," he said, a soft laugh escaping his lips.

Dinner passed in unexpected ease, their conversation light, full of gentle jabs and awkward silences that somehow felt less heavy than before.

Afterward, while exploring the living room, Li paused at a bookshelf. Hidden behind thick business books and sleek décor was a thin photo frame.

She pulled it out, curious.

It was a photo of her. From a company charity event three years ago—she'd forgotten about it entirely. She was laughing in the picture, mid-spin on stage, unguarded and bright.

Her breath hitched.

"You kept this?" she asked, turning to face him.

Ethan stood in the doorway, hands in his pockets. He didn't look away. "You looked happy that night. Real."

Li didn't know what to say. Her fingers trembled slightly as she set the frame back.

Later that night, she tossed and turned in her bed, the silence now loud in her ears. Living with him felt too intimate, too close to something she'd tried hard not to want.

Unable to sleep, she padded out barefoot, hoping for water or maybe some clarity.

Instead, she found Ethan standing on the balcony, staring out into the city lights. His posture was calm, but there was a stillness to him—a kind of quiet ache.

She stepped closer. "You're still awake."

He glanced over. "Couldn't sleep either."

They stood side by side, the cool night air brushing their skin. The city glowed below, distant and detached—unlike the tension between them.

"Li," he said suddenly, his voice low, "do you think we ever had a chance… outside of the contract?"

Her breath caught.

He turned to her slowly, his expression unreadable but raw. "Because sometimes, I think this would've been easier… if I never met you. But most of the time, I think meeting you is the one thing that ruined me in the best way."

Her heart thudded.

She wanted to speak, but no words came. Just the thrum of something too dangerous, too tender, rising between them.

And for the first time, Li didn't know if she wanted to resist it anymore.