Chapter 22
Karl didn’t look at Layla again.
He simply reached for my hand and started walking, his grip firm and steady, guiding me back toward the house. His voice was calm, cold, the kind that didn’t wait for questions.
“Kent,” he said without turning. “arrange the release.” I was still in shock.
Layla’s voice trailed behind us, cracking as she yelled her gratitude. Thank you, thank you. Karl, I swear I’ll never forget this!”
He didn’t respond, neither of us did.
The sound of the door closing behind us swallowed everything
Inside, it was quiet.
I stood near the center of the hallway, wrapping my arms tightly around myself. My fingers gripped the fabric of my sleeves as I turned to him, trying to steady my breath.
Thank you so much.” I said softly lifting my gaze. “That was… I don’t even know what to say, nobody has ever protected me like that.”
He didn’t blink. His expression didn’t shift, didn’t show even a flicker of emotion. For a moment I thought he might say something, maybe give a nol, maybe ask if I was okay.
Instead, he just turned and w
walked away.
I stayed where I was, his silence echoing louder than any words could have.
Once he disappeared down the hallway, I stood there for a long second, arms still wrapped tight around my waist. I let out a breath and dropped onto the nearest bench, palms pressed to my knees.
My face was warm. My chest, fluttery in the most annoying way.
What is wrong with me?
brushed a hand across my cheek, feeling the heat there, and sighed.
This was nothing. It didn’t mean anything. He did what anyone would do if they saw their contract wife being humiliated in front of a mansion full of guards, right?
Sull, my stomach flipped just remembering the way he held my hand.
I lay in bed for what felt like hours, staring at the ceiling, arms stretched out, counting the patterns in the molding. I turned to my side, grabbed my phone, checked it again, nothing interesting. 1 dropped it on the mattress with a sigh.
Bared didn’t even begin to cover İL
I pushed the covers off, slipped my feet into the soft house slippers and stood, brushing my fingers through my hair. The room still didn’t feel like mine. It was too clean, too untouched. Every piece of furniture looked like it had been set there by a designer, not by someone who actually lived in
I stepped out into the hallway, trailing my i
my fingers along the cold railing as I walked. A maid carrying folded linens passed by and gave me a polite
1 larsitated for a second tim do you know where Karl is?”
She stopped, turned slightly. “He’s in the study, ma’am
Inodded oner Tanki
The door to his study was at the end of the hallway. I walked toward it slowly, my heart doing that annoying thing again where it beat faster for no reason. When I reached the door, I raised my hand and knocked twice, then stepped back quickly.
A beat passed before I heard him say, “Come in”
I pushed the door open carefully and dipped inside.
He sat behind the large mahogany desk, sleeves rolled up, pen moving across a set of papers. He didn’t look up.
Chapter 22
I stood in front of the desk, fingers laced in front of me.
He finally
lifted his gaze, just slightly. “Yes?”
I shifted my weight onto one foot. “I, um. I wanted to talk
He leaned back slightly in his chair, eyes still on me, the faintest flicker of curiosity in his face.
“I’m bored,” I admitted. “I’ve been doing nothing, and it’s driving me crazy. I want to start my own business.”
His brow lifted, but he didn’t say anything.
I stepped closer. “Fashion, maybe a boutique. 1 just… I want to do something that’s mine. I wanted to ask if you’d give me permission.”
He studied me for a second, then shrugged lightly. “I don’t see anything wrong with that.”
“Really?” I blinked, surprised. “You’re okay with it?
“Yeah,” he said simply, signing something on his desk. If it keeps you busy, I’m all for it.”
1 smiled. but tried to hide it quickly.
He went back to his papers, but I stayed there, watching the way his fingers moved across the page, calm and sure, like he was in full control even in
the silence.
I didn’t know what I expected. Maybe more questions, maybe a lecture: But he said yes, just like that. And for some reason, it made my chest feel.. lighter.
I turned to leave, fingers brushing the edge of the door, then paused.
“One more thing I said, glancing over my shoulder.
He looked up again, pen resting loosely between his fingers.
-If I’m
‘m going to do this properly,” I started, stepping back toward the desk, “I need to study what other boutiques are doing, Get inspiration. understand layout, pricing, aesthetics. Would it be okay if I went out for a few hours? just to take notes.”
He didn’t even blink. That’s fine.”
I raised a brow “Really?” was expecting him to start blasting things about my restrictions I was going to get used to this sudden calm version of him if things continued this way.
He nodded once. “Kent will go with you.”
I stared at him for a second. He already returned to his paperwork like it was nothing,
I folded my arms across my chest. “You know, you’re giving me everything I’m asking for way too easily.
He smirked slightly, eyes still on the page. “Don’t get used to it.”
I turned to leave again, but I was still smaling by the time I reached the door.
AD
