The Devil CEO's Contract Wife novel Chapter 200

Chapter 200: I Love You

CATHERINE

Explain.

There he was with that authoritative tone of his.

Ares’ eyes searched mine for the unknown, and I knew it then, even though everything fogged.

He could see it, but he couldn’t tell what it was.

I placed my hand on his cheek, stroking my thumb against it gently, trying to record the feel of his skin. My eyes grew heavy, and I tried to fight it, but the more I did, the more everything blurred.

Fatigue was taking over quicker than I expected, and here I thought I could fight it.

"I love you."

After my parents died, all I had were my grandparents. I don’t remember much of mom and dad, maybe it was my brain trying to save me from more grief. I spent my years growing up and watching the unexplainable love my grandparents had for each other.

They were old, yet time had stood still for them. I always wanted something like that, always wished for it, but over the years, I realized not everyone is blessed with that kind of love.

As Granny told me, there were different versions of love. I may not have experienced what they shared, but I knew this feeling was real, and I’m done hiding from it.

I rubbed the side of the bed, hoping to feel a mass of muscles, but it was cold and empty. I flickered my eyes open in disarray. I sit up, looking around the empty room.

There was no sign of Ares. W-Was that a dream?

I ran a hand through my hair. It must’ve been. I really thought I actually said those words to Ares. Jesus! I groaned, burying my face in my hands.

Really Catherine? You dreamt of a love confession?! What are you? Seventeen?!

"I really suck..." I mumbled.

The least I could do was just do it, even my subconscious acted quicker than I did. I want to tell him. I’m probably damning everything, but hey, am I not damned already?

I have been targeted, injected with some weird shit, manipulated, kidnapped, almost sold by a shit head, and almost killed multiple times.

It was like my spirit was trying to tell me I may not have long or I’m just insanely panicking for no reason at all because now I wanna unleash my feelings, it feels like it’s the end of the world!

Oh God, can I do this? Can I really do this?

I pulled my knees to my chest, unable to push the intense feeling that I might be making the biggest mistake of my life.

Suck it up, Catherine Lane!

I took the covers off me, my legs finding the warm floor. I tiptoed to the door and opened it, poking my head. No guards.

I was hoping to ask where Ares was. I lost my phone, so currently I’m phoneless. Why does that feel way worse?

I looked to my right and froze. "Reed?!"

He was leaning against the wall, arms folded, and a smile on his lips.

I quickly straightened my position. "I didn’t see you there! You’re back from your um... assignment."

He pushed off the wall and towered over me.

"Yes..." he replied, lingering on the plaster on my neck.

I placed my hand against it by instinct. "It’s not that serious, really. The worst is over, it seems."

"I heard. I wish I wasn’t away... that I was here."

"It wasn’t your fault, Reed," I said, narrowing my eyes when I saw he was eating himself up about this.

It screamed all over his face, and he didn’t hide it. I didn’t realize this weighed on him so much. I get he was worried about me, and the news of my kidnapping must have been alarming, but... his response seemed way deeper than that.

"I know..." he replied, holding my gaze. "But I should have been here... to protect you."

My lips came apart, and the words to say got stuck in my throat before I summoned the strength to speak. "D-Don’t worry, I’m fine, I really am..."

"I don’t think you are..."

"W-Why would you say that?"

"Being with Mr. King... it’s..." He paused. "It comes with risks."

"If you’re talking about Ares and the mafia, I know..."

Reed blinked. "You do...?"

"Yeah, and I admit I was a bit freaked out but..." I hugged myself. "It’s something that I have accepted."

"I see... I-I’m glad you know, but..."

"But...?"

"Nothing, it’s just knowing you, I was expecting a big reaction, you know..."

"Right?" I said, amused. "Believe me, I did react. Really, you should have been able to tell... that day at the All Hallows’ Gala... remember?" 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

"Ah, that. You knew then?"

"Actually, I had my suspicions, and here we are now."

He nodded slowly, and I could tell he had something else to say, but I spoke before he could.

"Did um... Ares come around?" I asked, veering my gaze around once more in hopes I could spot him walking through the hallway.

Did he really not come by to see me?

Reed was yet to reply, so when I settled my attention on him, his mouth hung before he shut it and cleared his throat.

"Mr. King... he left early."

"Left...?" I blinked.

Oh my god! It wasn’t a dream!

I paced in my room, restless since I found out I had already made a love confession, sleepily, if I might add. Seriously, this is the worst move I have ever pulled off.

Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!

"Yes!" I yelled, facing her. "Something is, but I don’t know what!"

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