The Ceo's contract wife

Chapter 36: If It's Just a Contract, Then Let Me Go

The air between them was thick with unspoken words.

Li stood at the center of Ethan's study, a printed document in her hand—an amendment to the marriage contract she had drafted herself. Her eyes were clear, but her chest ached.

"I've reviewed the terms," she said calmly, placing the paper on his desk. "I want to renegotiate."

Ethan didn't even look up from his laptop. "We already have a contract."

Li exhaled sharply. "Then maybe it's time to end it."

That made him pause.

He slowly raised his gaze, eyes narrowing. "What are you trying to say?"

Li took a deep breath. Her voice was steady, but her heart raced with every beat. "I'm saying this marriage—whatever it is—no longer makes sense. We're pretending. You pretend you don't care. I pretend I'm fine. But I'm tired, Ethan."

She looked at him—really looked—and saw a flicker of something in his eyes. Anger? Hurt? Fear?

"Don't turn this into a drama, Li," he said flatly, standing up.

"This isn't drama. It's reality." She took a step toward him. "You can't control me and push me away at the same time. You say it's just a contract, but every time I breathe wrong, you look at me like I've betrayed something sacred."

His expression tightened.

She didn't stop. Not this time.

"I've tried to respect the boundaries you set. I've kept my distance. I've done everything right. But I can't keep doing this—living under the same roof with someone who refuses to feel anything."

"You knew what this was," he snapped. "From the very beginning."

"I did," she said, her voice soft but unwavering. "But I didn't know it would hurt this much."

The words hung between them like shards of glass.

For a moment, neither spoke.

Then Li walked to the door, picked up the suitcase she had packed earlier that morning, and turned to face him one last time.

"If this is really just a business agreement, Ethan… then let me go."

He didn't move. His jaw was clenched so tight it looked painful.

"If that's what you want," he said finally.

Li felt something inside her crack—but she kept her chin up, her eyes dry.

Without another word, she walked out.

The door closed softly behind her.

And for the first time in years, Ethan felt the walls of his perfectly ordered world begin to crumble.

He didn't chase her. He didn't call out.

But as he stood alone in the quiet room, staring at the untouched contract amendment on his desk, he whispered to no one:

"If she leaves… I won't sign another contract with anyone ever again."