The Devil CEO's Contract Wife - Chapter 272: The Midnight Pair... Back Together?

Chapter 272: The Midnight Pair… Back Together?

CATHERINE

My eyes moved to and fro as I scrolled through. Our pictures had gone viral across social media in less than one hour, with a heavy focus on the ring on my finger. They captured that diamond pretty well, with annotations scribbled on it.

Don’t get me started on the articles.

The Midnight Pair… Back Together?

Is There a Child? Catherine Lane Decides To Make Her Entrance. The Billionaire May Be Trapped.

Is Their Love Rekindled? Or Is Child Support Just A Rebound.

The articles kept coming and coming. It was endless, with topics that made me run hot and cold every second, as if I would transform into a beast and roar fire.

I didn’t dare go through the comments. I love my sanity… I knew if I did, I’d definitely create an account and troll everyone right back.

“Get a grip, Catherine…” I grumbled. “This is pointless. You saw this coming, so deal with it and face it with courage. They will talk… they always talk. And then something else will grab their attention, maybe if some old bitch trips to her death. I wouldn’t mind.”

But looking at the blowout, I don’t think it was gonna be that easy. This was certainly gonna stay for a really long time.

I released a sharp exhale. I may have spent hours going through what others had to say about my marriage, but there was one good thing that came out of it. Esme’s picture isn’t plastered anywhere.

Ares really meant it when he said no one would know about Esme’s identity except I say otherwise. This brought me ease. The amount of resources to pull that off must have been wild because this was hotter than Anthony Shark’s marriage scandal. Tori couldn’t get enough of it, either.

But nothing Ares King couldn’t manage. So far, Esme doesn’t exist until the time is right, and I pray that when that comes, I’d be strong enough to shield her away from anything.

I leaned back on the seat, and I crossed my legs, eyeing the ceiling.

All I need now is strength… Five years ago, I had no clue what I got myself into when I signed that contract, and it ended up a disaster. But this is different.

I moved my gaze towards the window, the rain beating against the glass. It wasn’t a downpour but it was enough to make a loud statement of just how shitty Midnight City’s weather can be.

Next, we were going to get that good chill like winter, or maybe a heat that would burn through your skin. I wonder which. I was betting on the cold; it was always cold here most of the time.

I smiled, recalling my college days. I was just a simple country girl, and now that I think about it, I wonder how I survived through all that.

I rubbed my ring. I wasn’t alone; a Devil was watching over me.

I clutched my phone. I haven’t had time to check it; there must have been tons of text. I had one, but before I opened the box, I went to my call app, eyeing Reed’s number.

When we were at Rosevale, I had called his line, but it wasn’t going through. I couldn’t help it because Esme kept asking about him, and I didn’t know what to tell her. I don’t even know what happened to him.

I haven’t found the courage either to ask Ares about him. When I thought of Reed, there were mixed feelings… I’m mad that he almost pulled that trigger and even more mad at myself that I didn’t get the chance to talk with him.

After what happened that night, I don’t think he would ever want to see me again. I can’t erase the five years I spent with him. He was good to Esme and cared deeply for her.

I flinched when the door opened all of a sudden. I pushed to my feet as Ares walked in, hair a little damp, maybe his clothes were too.

“You’re back.”

Ares took off his coat and walked towards the hanger. “You didn’t reply to my text.”

“You sent me a text?” I checked my phone. He did. I must have missed it when I started surfing through social media.

“Sorry, I missed it… I was having the time of my life checking how famous we are now. Just pictures…” I set my phone down, my ass pressing into the edge of the marble table when he got close. “Checking the comments would make me go into a bloody rage.”

“Hmm…” he murmured. “I told you to behave.”

“I did behave… I stayed right here on your seat while you were off to your private business.”

“While you refiled papers too.”

“Y-You were watching me?”

“I don’t take my eyes off you. Ever.”

A shiver coursed through me, and I sank my teeth into my bottom lip to still the sparks.

“Then I could have given you a show. Would you have liked that, honey?”

I gasped when he suddenly placed me on the table, my legs part wide as he stepped between them, his hand clawing my thigh, nail sinking into my skin. A sudden heat coiled around us enough to burn through my mind.

God, I’m hopeless to the core. A touch and my panties are already moistened as if I peed on them.

Ares took hold of my thigh garter, his finger playing with the lace, and it kept me on edge when he pulled against it.

“How did your private business go?”

It was almost unreal when he mentioned he would tell me about it.

“Or are you gonna shut me out?”

“This again…”

“This?” I asked with an innocent look.

“That attitude. It’s not just about how my business went, is it?”

“You can’t expect me to just sit still while your grandmother tries to do something else that will surely get my head off my shoulders. She sent two assassins after me.”

“And I told you she won’t get that chance, again…” he said through clenched teeth. “I don’t want you involved.”

“Involved? I’m your wife.”

“Yes, you’re,” he said softly, tucking a few strands of my red hair. “But this is different, baby. It may be family quarrels, but it runs deeper than that.”

“The underworld…”

“Yes.”

I suddenly went back to five years ago, when Noah Voss took me to that casino. I have only had a glimpse so far, and I knew without a doubt that it was much more.

“What if I can handle it? What if I—”

“You can’t.” His reply was abrupt and certain, which felt like a slap to my face.

I frowned. “Why?”

“That world is not for you.”