Contract Marriage With Alpha Snow novel Chapter 21

Chapter 21: Strange Woman

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Chapter 21

~Zara’s POV~

What the hell was I thinking? Kissing Snow like that? Letting myself get swept away by his stupid, perfect lips and—gah!

I cursed under my breath, pacing back and forth in the hallway outside his office.

How could I let myself be so stupid? Of course, he wouldn’t want anything real with me. This was all just a game to him.

A contract. Nothing more.

I paused, leaning against the wall and forcing myself to breathe. This isn’t what I wanted. I wasn’t some lovesick girl anymore, chasing after a man who could never love me.

Snow was playing with me, toying with my emotions, and I had let him.

"Damn it."

I shut my eyes, trying to push away the memory of that kiss—how his hands felt on my waist, how my body responded to his touch without thinking.

It was like he had some kind of spell on me, and I couldn’t break free. I felt Astrid stir within me, her desires bubbling up, but I shoved her down.

"Not now," I muttered, taking a deep breath. "I’m not falling for him. I refuse."

Just as I was about to head back to my desk and drown myself in work, the elevator dinged, drawing my attention. I glanced over, my stomach dropping when I saw him walking to his office in his usual stoic self.

My mind raced back to when I saw them leave his office earlier — the classy lady, his chauffeur and his son.

The boy was in Snow’s arms, giggling as they stepped out of the office. My heart clenched painfully at the sight, a pang of something I didn’t want to acknowledge twisting in my chest.

In my past life I never had that. And in this one, just when I let myself believe again, that dream was shattered.

Just when I thought the spectacle was done, it got worse.

The lady leaned in close to Snow, her lips brushing against his cheek. Snow didn’t flinch. He didn’t push her away.

He stood there, completely unfazed. And in that split second, all the air seemed to leave the room.

My chest tightened as I watched her press a soft kiss against his skin, her hand lingering on his arm.

My heart hammered in my chest. Of course. Of course, this was his real life—his perfect little family, I thought—his mistress and son.

How could I have been so blind? So stupid? I was nothing more than a side piece in their world.

A contract wife.

A temporary pawn in whatever game Snow was playing.

I clenched my fists, forcing myself to look away from them. I wanted to scream, to curse at myself for thinking for even a second that I was anything more to him.

The kiss, the moments we’d shared—they were meaningless. As it should have been.

I should’ve known better.

"Zara, pull yourself together," I whispered harshly, reprimanding my idiotic heart for even daring to hope for something else. "He’s not yours. He never was."

But... Why did it hurt so much? Why did it feel like my chest was being crushed?

"Get a grip, Zara. This is what you wanted. You’re playing the game—don’t forget that," I reminded myself again.

But it didn’t stop the ache in my heart, or the tightening in my throat as I tried to swallow it all down. I wasn’t supposed to feel this way. I wasn’t supposed to care. _{ƒrēewebnoѵёl.cσm}

I’m not falling for him. I’m not.

I was stupid ignoring it. I thought about the message for a while. With no Ella to stop me, I texted back: What do you mean? Explain or we won’t be meeting up.

Unknown Number: Interesting. Do you really think you should be bargaining?