The Ceo's contract wife

Chapter 34 – I Was Never Just Your Wife on Paper

Silence lingered in the car as Ethan drove them back from the gala.

Li sat with her hands clenched in her lap, eyes staring blankly out the window. Her heart was still racing from what had happened in the hallway—the way he cornered her, the intensity in his eyes, the heat of his breath against her lips.

And then… he walked away.

Just like always.

She bit her lip hard, trying to push back the rising sting in her eyes.

"You didn't have to make a scene," she finally said, her voice quiet but sharp.

Ethan didn't take his eyes off the road. "He was flirting with you."

"And?" she snapped. "Since when do you care?"

He didn't answer.

Li turned to him. "You made the rules, remember? No feelings. No boundaries. Just a business deal. I was never supposed to matter."

He tightened his grip on the steering wheel. "Maybe I was wrong."

That stunned her into silence.

She stared at him. "What?"

His voice was low. "Maybe I was wrong to think I could do this and stay detached."

Her heart skipped a beat.

"I don't know what this is, Li," he continued, eyes still on the road. "But every time I see someone else near you, I feel like I'm losing control."

She laughed bitterly. "Congratulations. You're finally experiencing what it feels like to be human."

He pulled into the driveway and parked without a word.

The moment the engine turned off, the silence became unbearable.

Li opened the door, stepping out quickly, desperate to escape. But as soon as she entered the house, Ethan caught up to her.

"Li—"

"No," she said, turning to face him, eyes flashing. "You don't get to do this. You don't get to push me away and then pull me back whenever you feel like it."

He stepped forward. "I'm not trying to—"

"Yes, you are!" she shouted. "You're scared. You don't want to admit that this marriage isn't fake anymore. That you're feeling something!"

His voice dropped, trembling. "And what if I am?"

She froze.

Before she could answer, a cold chime rang through her mind—

[System Notice: Emotional breach detected. Host emotional sync at 71%.]

[Warning: Emotional boundaries exceeded. Termination clause initiated.

Her eyes widened. No. Not now.

[System Decision Pending: Will you continue this emotional path? YES / NO]

Ethan stepped closer. "Say something."

She blinked back the panic. "I—"

[Warning: If emotional path continues, contract system will deactivate in 72 hours. Please choose.]

He touched her arm gently. "Tell me the truth, Li. Do you feel something for me too?"

Her lips parted, but no words came out.

[System override in progress…]

Suddenly, her body swayed.

"Li?" Ethan caught her just before she collapsed.

She shook her head weakly. "I'm fine. Just a little dizzy."

"You're pale," he said, voice tight. "I'm calling a doctor—"

"No!" she grabbed his sleeve. "I'm fine, really…"

Ethan looked at her, torn between concern and frustration. "Stop pretending you're okay."

She stared at him.

"I was never just your wife on paper," she whispered. "I was never pretending, Ethan. I just… didn't want to get hurt again."

The words slipped out before she could stop them.

Ethan's eyes darkened. "Then stop running."

He leaned in again—but this time, he didn't stop.

His lips brushed against hers, soft but desperate. She gasped—but didn't pull away.

For a moment, they both forgot the rules, the contract, the lies.

But deep inside her mind, the system's voice whispered again:

[Final Warning: Host's emotional state incompatible with mission objectives.]

[Countdown to deactivation: 72:00:00]