The Ceo's contract wife

Chapter 31 – They Think I'm Not Good Enough for You

Li stared at the untouched coffee in front of her.

She had been sitting in the quiet café near Ethan's office for nearly twenty minutes, her phone on the table, screen dark—but her thoughts were anything but.

Last night's conversation kept replaying in her mind.

"Not the right time," he had said.

But if not now, then when?

Her phone buzzed suddenly.

[UNKNOWN]: Check the news. You're trending. Again.

Her chest tightened.

She opened the link. There it was:

"CEO's Mysterious Wife: Background Exposed? Former Model Turned Designer Under Fire"

Her old photos. Rumors. Speculations about their "contract marriage" resurfaced.

She quickly paid and rushed out—just as her phone rang again.

"Li?" Ethan's voice was sharp. "Where are you?"

"I saw the news."

"Don't move. Come to my office. Now."

Ten minutes later, she was standing in front of him.

Ethan's expression was unreadable, but his jaw was clenched.

"Why didn't you tell me your old agency had these photos?"

"I didn't think it mattered," she said softly. "It was before I met you."

He sighed, then turned his laptop screen to face her.

A live article updated in real-time—comments pouring in, most of them cruel.

"She's not from a good family."

"A model? Not CEO wife material."

"This is all PR. Look at her past."

She closed her eyes.

"I told you," she whispered. "They think I'm not good enough for you."

He stood and walked around the desk, standing close. Too close.

"I don't care what they think."

"But you do care what your board thinks. Your family. Your investors."

He paused.

"Maybe I do," he admitted. "But that doesn't change the fact that I made this choice. You and I—contract or not—this is still my decision."

She looked at him, eyes searching.

"Do you regret it?"

His silence lasted just a second too long.

She stepped back. "That's all I needed to know."

But before she could turn away, he grabbed her wrist—not forcefully, but firmly.

"I don't regret you. I regret that I didn't protect you from this sooner."

Li's heart thudded painfully.

Just then, his phone buzzed.

He answered. "Yes?" His face darkened.

"Fine. I'll come."

He ended the call and looked at her.

"That was my mother. She's called an emergency family meeting tonight. About us."