Chapter 203

Clara: POV

I stood frozen in our hotel suite, my heart hammering against my ribs as Andrei waited for an explanation.

His eyes had darkened with barely contained rage, and my silence only seemed to fuel his anger.

"So," he finally spoke, his voice dangerously low. "Are you going to explain why you were locked in a bathroom with your boyfriend?"

The word "boyfriend" dripped with venom.

My palms grew sweaty as I struggled to find words that wouldn't make this worse.

The contract terms flashed through my mind—infidelity meant immediate termination, and financial ruin.

But how could I explain that Daniel knew about our arrangement and was blackmailing me without revealing I'd broken confidentiality?

God, I'd been such a fool to ever trust Daniel. That trust had become my greatest weakness.

"I... I didn't call him here," I finally managed, my voice barely above a whisper. "He showed up on his own."

Andrei's jaw tightened. "And you just happened to take him to the most private place in the venue?"

"I took him somewhere quiet to tell him to leave." The lie tasted bitter on my tongue, but it was closer to truth than whatever Andrei was imagining.

"Bullshit!" Andrei exploded, making me flinch. "Don't fucking lie to me, okay?!" He ran his hand through his hair, messing up the perfectly styled locks. "I specifically told you to be faithful during this marriage, and here you are, sneaking around with your boyfriend behind my back?"

"I didn't do anything wrong, Andrei..." My voice cracked as I tried to explain, but his fury was a wall between us.

My phone buzzed in my clutch. With trembling fingers, I pulled it out, hoping for any distraction from Andrei's accusatory glare.

It was a text from Daniel. [You bitch! You fuck Andrei Wilson under the guise of this contract marriage, but I can't have some fun? ]

[Double standards much. Get me my money and I'll forgive you and let you come back. After all, once this contract ends, he'll kick you to the curb and you'll come crawling back to me on your knees.]

Nausea rose in my throat. I'd once loved this manipulative man with my whole heart.

I'd stayed faithful, dreamed of our wedding, our future—all shattered illusions. I felt hollow, broken by my own naivety.

"What is it?" Andrei's tone shifted from anger to concern as he noticed my expression.

I nervously licked my lips, watching his eyes track the movement, his own lips parting slightly in response.

"I'm worried..." I hesitated, searching for a safe explanation. "We left Daniel alone in the bathroom after you beat him half to death." I swallowed hard. "What if... what if Daniel goes public about you attacking him?"

My panic was real. Daniel would do anything for his own gain—he'd proven that time and again.

Andrei's eyes flashed with renewed jealousy. "You're still thinking about him, huh?!"

What I didn't know was that after he'd taken me away, his security team had entered that bathroom, threatened Daniel with terrible consequences if he breathed a word, and paid him a hefty sum to keep quiet.

"Andrei, I'm worried about what happens if your fans find out you beat a man in a hotel bathroom and left him bleeding!" I shot back, my eyes locked on his. "Do you have any idea what the consequences would be?"

His lips curled into a mocking smile. "And what if they find out I beat that man because I found my wife locked in that bathroom with him?!"

Tears stung my eyes. I felt the ache of injustice—these men judging my character randomly, reducing me to their baseless assumptions. I was done explaining, done defending myself.

"Fine, if I'm the problem, then I should leave." My voice was surprisingly steady. "You don't need to be humiliated because of me."

I rushed toward the room where my belongings were stored, where my suitcase waited. Behind me, I heard Andrei curse.

"Fuck!" His hand raked through his hair as I began frantically stuffing clothes into my suitcase, my hands shaking.

"What are you doing?" His cold voice came from the doorway, hands casually tucked into his pockets.

I ignored him, continuing to move around the room, gathering my things.

Andrei watched me for a moment, then sighed, seemingly trying to calm himself.

He walked over and grabbed my hand, stopping my frantic packing.

"Stop it, Clara," he said, his voice softer now.

I tried to yank my hand away. "What's your problem, Andrei?" My voice rose in frustration. "You can't stand me, and now you won't even let me leave you in peace?!"

Andrei took a deep breath, clearly trying to control himself.

As a superstar, arrogance was his second nature—he didn't tolerate anyone's tantrums. Yet Clara, his contract wife, was making him speechless for the first time.

No, not the first time. He'd been this way when Clara directed him during our work together, when she'd ordered him around like he was a nobody and she was the celebrity. He hadn't seemed offended then either.

Suddenly, he pulled me close. Our noses nearly touched, our faces inches apart.

His sweet breath fanned across my lips, and I gasped, involuntarily inhaling his intoxicating scent. My head spun with his closeness, my body on fire.

"I never said those things, sweetheart," he murmured, his voice so husky it surprised even him.

I clenched my jaw, feeling like he was lying, and tried to pull away. He didn't let go, but gave me some space.

"I want you to stay. That's why I came here with you," he said calmly.

I scoffed, rolling my eyes, making him frown. "Hmm! Your actions say otherwise." I stared him down. "Why don't you decide what you really want?"

In one swift movement, Andrei yanked me against him, my body crashing into his chest as his arms wrapped around my waist, holding me firmly in place.

His eyes darkened, the last of his restraint snapping as he breathed against my lips, "I want you, honey."

My lips parted in surprise, my breath caught in my throat as I tried to process what I'd just heard.

Before I could comprehend the boundary we were crossing, Andrei's lips crashed hungrily onto mine.