Chapter 4

Nathan stared at the laptop screen, cursor blinking in the empty post box. 2 AM. He couldn't sleep.

The forum was called "Life Advice", anonymous, supposedly for people dealing with "complex personal situations."

He typed: "My contract wife agreed to let me pursue her. What's the next move?"

Refreshed the page. Nothing. Refreshed again. Still nothing.

He got up, paced to the window. Somewhere out there, Lila was probably asleep in her small apartment above the bakery.

His laptop buzzed. Forum notification.

User_8842: "LOL did you just binge-watch a drama? Contract wife? Dude, this isn't a TV show."

User_3391: "Seriously. 'Contract marriage' come on man."

Nathan's jaw tightened. He typed back quickly: "It's real. Two-year agreement. Business arrangement. She needed capital, I needed to be married for inheritance. Contract ends in two months."

He hit send, then added: "She agreed to let me pursue her but we're still living separately. I don't know what to do next."

The responses changed immediately.

User_8842: "Holy shit you're serious."

User_7283: "Okay okay, if this is real... bro, you're still MARRIED. Make her move back in. Close proximity = better chances."

User_4429: "This. You're legally husband and wife. Living separately makes no sense."

Nathan's pulse quickened. He typed back: "We've been living apart the whole time. Won't it seem too sudden?"

The responses flooded in.

User_9156: "You needs to maintain proper family image for the company. That's your angle."

User_7283: "Exactly. Tell her it's for appearances."

User_4429: "And once she's there, you create opportunities. Breakfast together. Movie nights. Casual touches."

Nathan grabbed a notebook, started writing everything down. His hand moved fast, underlining key phrases. Maintain family image. Contract obligations. Increase contact opportunities.

User_6621: "My dude, you're overthinking this. She already said you can pursue her. She WANTS you to make a move."

Did she? Nathan replayed their conversation at the bakery. The way she'd hesitated before saying okay. That wasn't exactly enthusiasm.

But she'd said yes. That had to mean something.

He looked at the notebook. Pages of advice from strangers on the internet. This was pathetic. He ran a multi-million dollar company. He could negotiate billion-dollar deals. Why was this so hard?

Because none of those deals mattered like this one.

Nathan closed the laptop, stared at his notes. He'd ask her tomorrow.

---

Lila's POV

I was in the middle of piping buttercream when Nathan walked in.

He'd been coming every day for a week now. Sometimes twice.

It was getting harder to pretend I didn't notice.

"Hi," he said.

"Hey." I didn't look up from the cake. "Usual?"

"Actually, I need to talk to you about something."

The serious tone made me glance up. He looked nervous. Hands in his pockets, that little crease between his eyebrows.

Oh no. What did the forum tell him to do?

Nolan had been sending me screenshots. Nathan's anonymous posts weren't as anonymous as he thought, Nolan recognized his brother's writing style immediately.

"What's up?" I set down the piping bag.

Nathan took a breath. "I know this is going to sound sudden. But I've been thinking about the contract."

My heart picked up speed. "Okay?"

"We're still legally married. For two more months. And from the outside, we should look like a normal couple, right? For the company image. The board, the investors, they all think we're happily married."

I wiped my hands on my apron, trying not to smile. "What are you saying?"

"I think you should move back in." The words rushed out. "Not because of us, just for appearances. It makes sense professionally. A CEO living separately from his wife raises questions."

"Nathan—"

"I know we've been apart this whole time," he continued quickly. "I know you have your space here. But the contract isn't over yet, and I just think..." He stopped, looked at me directly. "I want you there. Not just for show. I want to know you. Your favorite breakfast, what you watch on TV, how you like your coffee. All the things I should know but don't."

God, he's good at this.

Three years ago, his proposal was "Marry me, I don't want to waste time." Now he was asking to learn my coffee order.

I crossed my arms, made my face uncertain. "I don't know. We're almost done with this whole thing. Moving in together now seems..."

"Please." His voice dropped, softer. More vulnerable. "Just these last two months. Let me try to be a real husband, even if it's temporary. Let me cook you breakfast and ask about your day and just... be there."

"If after two months you still want to leave," Nathan said, "I won't fight it. I promise. But right now, while we're still married, I want to try. I want to show you who I am."

I pretending to think.

"Fine," I said finally. "But we keep separate rooms. And separate lives, mostly. This is just about appearances."

The smile that broke across his face was pure sunshine. "Yes. Absolutely. Whatever you want."

"I mean it, Nathan."

"I know. I promise." He was practically bouncing on his feet. "When can you move in? I'll help pack. I'll hire movers. Whatever you need."

"This weekend, I guess."

"Perfect. Saturday. I'll be there at nine." He was already backing toward the door, grinning like a kid. "Thank you, Lila. You won't regret this."

After he left, I pulled out my phone.

Me: He did it. The forum advice worked.

Nolan: HAHAHA I saw the post. "Maintain family image" what a line.

Me: He was very earnest about wanting to know my coffee order.

Nolan: My brother is a romantic disaster and I'm living for it.

Saturday morning, Nathan showed up at 8:45. Fifteen minutes early. With coffee and bagels.

"Thought you might not have eaten yet," he said, holding up the bag.

Nolan pulled up ten minutes later in an SUV, immediately started laughing when he saw Nathan's face.

"What?" Nathan asked.

"Nothing. You just look very... eager." Nolan's eyes found mine. The message was clear: This is hilarious.

I'd already packed most of my stuff the week before. The things I'd moved out when I was "preparing to leave." Now I was moving them back.

Nathan insisted on carrying everything. Even the light boxes. Even the bag of throw pillows. Nolan helped load the car while Nathan hovered, asking every thirty seconds if I needed anything.

"I'm fine," I said for the fifth time.

"You sure? We can take a break. Get more coffee."

"Nathan." I put my hand on his arm. Felt him freeze under my touch. "Relax. It's just moving some boxes."

"Right. Yeah. Sorry." But he didn't relax. Just kept moving, kept helping, kept watching me like I might disappear if he looked away.

The drive to his place was quiet. Nolan followed in his own car. Nathan's hands gripped the steering wheel, knuckles white.

"Nervous?" I asked.

"Little bit."

"It's your own house."

"Yeah, but now you'll be in it." He glanced over. "That's different."

It really isn't, I thought. I've been living there for two years.

But the house looked different when we pulled up. The lawn was freshly cut. Flowers planted along the walkway. All new.

Nathan noticed me noticing. "I had the landscaping done yesterday. Wanted it to look nice."

Nolan appeared at my window. "He's been stress-cleaning for three days. The place is spotless."

"Shut up," Nathan muttered, but his ears went red.

"Your room's upstairs," Nathan said, leading the way. "I, uh, I had it prepared. New sheets, fresh flowers."

He opened the door.

I stepped inside and my chest tightened.

It was my room. The one I'd left weeks ago. But completely redone.

New curtains. New bedding in soft cream instead of the stark white. A reading chair by the window that wasn't there before. Books on the nightstand.

"If you don't like it, we can change everything," Nathan said quickly. "I just wanted you to be comfortable. I asked Nolan what you might like, and he said you mentioned wanting better reading light, so I added the chair and that lamp, and—"

"It's perfect."

He stopped mid-ramble. "Really?"

"Yeah." I set my bag down, ran my hand over the chair's fabric. Soft velvet. My favorite. "Thank you."

Nolan poked his head in, looked around, then looked at me with the most shit-eating grin I'd ever seen.

"Nice digs, sister-in-law," he said, voice dripping with amusement. "Very... thoughtful."

I shot him a look. He just smirked.

Nathan was oblivious, too busy making sure the closet had enough hangers.

"I'll let you settle in," he said. "But if you need anything, I'm just down the hall. Seriously, anything at all."

"I know. Thank you."

He lingered in the doorway for a moment, like he didn't want to leave. Then finally nodded and walked out.

Nolan waited until Nathan was downstairs before leaning in. "He's been planning this for days. Color-coordinated everything. Asked me seventeen questions about throw pillow arrangements."

"Stop."

"He Googled 'how to make a woman feel welcome in your home.'"

"Nolan—"

"This is the best entertainment I've had in years." He squeezed my shoulder. "Enjoy the show, sis."

After they both left me alone, I sat on the edge of the bed.

My bed. In my house. That Nathan had redecorated because he didn't remember it was already mine.

This was insane. But this is too funny!!