Chapter 202

Chapter 202
Clara(Andrei‘s contract wife): POV

I froze when I spotted him across the reception hall. Daniel.

My blood ran cold as our eyes locked, his lips curling into that smug smile that once made my heart race but now only filled me with dread.

What the hell was he doing here? He wasn't on the guest list—I'd made damn sure of that.

The wedding reception was in full swing.

Viktor and Maya's vow renewal had been beautiful, and now everyone was celebrating both couples. It might be the perfect cover for Daniel to slip in unnoticed.

He began weaving through the crowd toward me, nodding politely at guests who had no idea who he was.

My heart hammered against my ribs as panic set in.

If he approached me here, surrounded by media and Andrei's business associates, everything could fall apart.

I glanced around desperately and spotted a corridor leading to the restrooms. Nobody would be there—they were all focused on the celebration.

Without thinking, I intercepted Daniel before he could reach the main gathering.

"What are you doing here?" I hissed, grabbing his arm and steering him toward the empty hallway.

"Clara, baby, don't act like you're not happy to see me," he said, his voice carrying that fake charm that used to work on me.

I pulled him into the women's restroom and locked the door behind us. My hands were shaking with rage.

"What the fuck are you doing here?" I repeated, my voice low and dangerous.

Daniel's eyes swept over me, taking in my designer dress.

His lips curled into a smirk as he stepped closer. "You look beautiful, Clara."

He reached out to touch my face, but I slapped his hand away. "Don't."

"Don't be mad, sweetheart." His voice dripped with false affection. "Since you weren't returning my calls, I had to come find you."

"What is there left to talk about, Daniel?" I spat, my chest heaving with anger. "Everything ended the day I caught you in bed with Hannah. My cousin, for fuck's sake!"

The memory flashed vividly in my mind.

I'd been worried when Daniel hadn't answered his phone all day.

With his history of addiction, I'd feared the worst.

I'd rushed to his apartment, using the key he'd given me, only to find him in bed with Hannah.

The betrayal had been devastating. I'd slapped him hard across the face and walked out, cutting off all financial support I'd been providing.

Daniel's expression hardened. "Baby, I'm short on cash this month because you didn't send any money."

I laughed bitterly. "Why don't you ask Hannah? I'm sure she'd be happy to fund your habits."

His face contorted with anger as he grabbed my chin roughly. "Don't be smart with me. Give me the money, or I'll go out there and tell the media all about your contract marriage with Andrei Wilson."

My stomach dropped. "You're blackmailing me?"

I struggled against his grip, but he held firm, his fingers digging into my skin.

Andrei: POV

I stood in the grand hall, watching Viktor and Maya share a look that made even me, a man who'd given up on love, believe it might exist—at least for them.

They weren't just putting on a show; their love was palpable, almost tangible in the air between them.

For once, I was glad the media had finally stopped watching my every move.

I certainly had no desire to upstage the main event by having the media excessively publicize the affairs between Clara and myself.

Speaking of Clara... I scanned the room, suddenly realizing she wasn't by my side where she should be. My eyes narrowed as I spotted her slipping away with—

"Fuck," I muttered under my breath as recognition hit me. That was her boyfriend, Daniel.

My jaw clenched as I watched them disappear down a hallway.

Anger surged through me, hot and unexpected.

I'd made it perfectly clear to Clara that while our marriage was just a business arrangement, she needed to be discreet about her relationship with that loser until our divorce.

Inviting him here, with media crawling everywhere, risked exposing our arrangement and creating a scandal neither of us needed.

I excused myself and followed them, my good mood completely evaporated.

My breathing grew heavier with each step. When I reached the hallway, I saw them enter the women's restroom together and lock the door.

"You've got to be kidding me," I growled.

The thought of my wife—contract or not—locked in a bathroom with another man made something primal and possessive rise within me.

I strode toward the door, ready to break it down, when I suddenly stopped, a strange feeling washing over me.

My heart was pounding, but not just with anger. There was something else—something that felt uncomfortably like jealousy or fear. I was shocked by my own reaction.

Shit. Andrei Wilson wasn't ready to face the reality of his wife with another man.

I waited outside, each second making me more unsettled.

The discomfort transformed into suspicion, then back to anger. Finally, I couldn't take it anymore. I pushed the door open forcefully.

What I saw made my blood boil. Daniel was holding Clara's face roughly, standing too close to her. Her eyes were wide with a mixture of anger and fear.

Something snapped inside me. I lunged forward, yanking him away from Clara and delivering several hard punches to his face.

"You dare touch my wife," I snarled, landing another blow that made him stagger backward.

Clara looked panicked, not for herself but worried someone might see me beating the shit out of this loser.

"Andrei, please, stop!" Her trembling hand landed on my arm. "Let him go!"

I turned to look at her, my eyes bloodshot with rage. The fear in her expression made me pause.

"The media is here," she whispered urgently.

I clenched my jaw and gave Daniel one final hard shove, sending him sprawling to the floor.

I grabbed Clara's arm and pulled her out of the bathroom.

She struggled to keep up with my long strides, stumbling slightly in her heels.

She nearly tripped several times, but I didn't slow down.

Instead of heading back to the reception hall, I marched straight toward the elevators that would take us to our suite on the top floor.

I pushed her into the VIP elevator and stepped in after her, still gripping her arm tightly.

The doors closed, leaving us alone.

My grip was painful, and she winced.

"Andrei, you're hurting me," she said quietly.

Instinctively, she tried to pull away, but I only held tighter and pulled her closer.

My furious gaze met her pleading one, and for a moment, something changed inside me—the anger seemed to recede slightly, replaced by a strange calmness that spread through my chest.

But then I looked away, staring straight ahead as we ascended to the top floor.

When the elevator doors opened, I pulled her out and marched directly to our suite.

Clara glanced around nervously, but the hallway was deserted—this was the VIP floor with restricted access, and most guests were still at the reception.

Once inside our suite, she finally found her voice. "Andrei, you're hurting me."

I muttered a curse and released her arm.

She rubbed the spot where my fingers had dug into her skin.

"What the hell were you thinking, meeting your boyfriend in the bathroom?" I demanded, my voice dangerously low. "Why would you even invite him here?"

Her cheeks burned with embarrassment and fear.

Before she could answer, I continued.

"You know you've violated the terms of our contract, right?"

She stared at me, heart pounding, as the full weight of the situation crashed down on her.