The Ceo’s Contract Lover

“She should be at the mansion.” Nora analyzed confidently. “Think about it, the most dangerous place is often the safest place.”

The corner of his lips twitched as Liam found her theory to be ridiculous, yet strangely plausible at the same time.

Women had a way of seeing things from angles that often differed from men. As her comadre, perhaps it was just as Nora said.

He immediately conveyed Nora’s words to Jayden, who too fell into a brief silence after listening to her reasoning.

Liam cleared his throat awkwardly and suggested. “Why don’t you search the entire mansion once again?”

“Thanks. I’ll do that.” Jayden acknowledged before hanging up.

Drawing a deep breath, he turned back to the guards and ordered them again. “Do a thorough search of the entire manor again, every room, every corner.”

Meanwhile, he made his way toward his bedroom.

The master bedroom was a grand stretch. The gloomy gray tones that Jayden had once favored now had a minimalist theme that was meticulously selected.

One look and you could tell that it was all Nina’s work. Her touch had infused the space with warmth, coaxing it to life. A huge open balcony extended from one side, inviting the outside world in.

Jayden moved through the space, his eyes scanning every corner.

His gaze then settled on the walk-in closet that held his and Nina’s belongings. It was meticulously organized, without any hidden nooks or crannies.

With a deep breath, he stepped in closer, his eyes scanning the contents within. Nothing seemed out of place, and yet he couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something amiss.

He moved around, combing through every inch of the closet. His fingers brushed against fabrics, his eyes scanned each rack of clothes and compartments.

Finally, his gaze settled on a corner of the closet, a space that seemed slightly darker than the rest. A piece of fabric stuck out from a spot in a corner. It was a small, inconspicuous detail that might have gone unnoticed if he had not been observant.

With purposeful strides, he stood in front of it and shoved aside a few clothing items, revealing a small hidden alcove that had been concealed behind the hanging trench coats.

A large, hidden wooden storage space was tucked away in the corner.

With trembling fingers, he swiftly opened the wooden door. The world paused as a figure fell agilely from the storage.

With his sharp reflexes, a shocked Jayden reached out instantly. In a swift movement, he caught the figure and held her securely against his chest.

“Thank God!”

A wave of relief washed over Jayden as Nina’s familiar scent reached his senses. He placed his lips against her forehead as his heart continued racing. He tightened his grip around her, afraid she might disappear again.

But, before his tense shoulder could relax, he noticed that something was amiss with Nina.

Her usually radiant complexion was now flushed and her body radiated heat. Reacting swiftly, he strode out of the stuffy closet room and lowered her on the spacious bed.

He leaned over her, a hand reaching to brush away a strand of hair from her forehead. The heat radiating from her skin confirmed that she was running a high fever.

He immediately called Ms. Eva, asking her to contact his private doctor right away. After he ended the call, he noticed that Nina was still in the same clothes she had been wearing since morning.

With a thoughtful expression, he retrieved a new set of her clothes and unbuttoned her shirt. As he worked, his eyes fell on the various wounds on her body.

The glaring red bruises that circled her waist, the tender bump on her forehead, and the abrasions that marked her knees.

As he scanned her from head to toe, the air in the room seemed to grow heavier. He proceeded to change her clothes and avoided touching the wounds directly.

As the overwhelming rage engulfed him, his knuckles turned white, and he fought back his impulsive thoughts. He controlled himself, knowing that his priority was now Nina. Everything else could wait.

A knock on the door interrupted his thoughts as the doctor stepped inside.

The doctor examined Nina’s condition and tended to her injuries. He also addressed her fever and offered his diagnosis.

Nina’s emotional distress had likely triggered the fever. The weight of whatever she had experienced had taken a toll on her body, manifesting as a physical response.

Jayden listened carefully as the doctor explained the situation, and his heart clenched in guilt.

Just how much grievances had she suffered to have triggered a fever?

After he was done with his work, Ms. Eva escorted the doctor outside, leaving the couple behind.

With the door closing behind them, an exhausted sigh escaped Jayden’s lips. His fingers raked through his lush hair.

The events of the day had taken a toll on him, leaving him drained and weary.

He glanced over at Nina, who was sleeping, and quietly slipped away into the bathroom. The warm water soothed his fatigue, temporary relief from the chaos that had enveloped them.

After a refreshing shower, Jayden emerged in his nightrobe and lay beside Nina.

Amid the dimly lit room, his weariness began to catch up with him. His gaze remained fixated on the bedside where an IV infusion was in progress. As the clear liquid bottle emptied, he shifted into a more comfortable position.

That night, the entire Meadow Residence was brightly lit. Other than the couple, every member of the residence was on guard in case Nina’s condition worsened.

Outside, a storm had loomed, turning the entire Spring City upside down. The perpetrator, however, was sleeping soundly with his wife in his arms.

Nina’s fever had thrown her body into a state of discomfort, causing her to toss and turn throughout the night. Despite her restless movements, Jayden held her tightly in his arms, preventing her from opening her wounds.

The morning cast a faint glow through the windows of the Meadow Residence.

Jayden’s weariness from the previous night was evident in the heavy-lidded look in his eyes as he extended his hand to touch Nina’s forehead.

A sense of relief washed over him as he felt her temperature subside and headed for a cold shower.

Nina was still unconscious the next day. Knowing that rest was important for her recovery, he let her be.

Settling himself on the couch, he worked on his laptop and listened attentively to the reports Rick disclosed.

Soon, an unexpected arrival disrupted the peace in the Meadow Residence.

The butler approached Jayden with a sense of urgency and delivered the news. “Master, Mr. and Mrs. Heath have arrived outside and demand your presence.”

They were Madison’s parents and also Jayden’s cousin and cousin-in-law.

Hearing the names, Jayden’s fingers paused momentarily on the keyboard, causing a flicker of annoyance across his features.

Without looking up, he instructed the butler. “Ask them to wait outside.”

The butler acknowledged with a nod and swiftly retreated to relay the message.

Soon, an entire day had passed in the blink of an eye.

Yet, every passing minute felt like an eternity for the Heath couple who stood on the threshold.

Amidst their restlessness, the butler made his presence known once more, offering them another cup of tea. “Sorry, but Master is still busy with his meeting.”

Frustrated, Mrs. Heath banged the porcelain cup on the table, shattering the debris everywhere.

Rising from her seat, she pointed at the butler angrily. “I know he is doing it on purpose. Tell him that if he doesn’t see us in ten minutes, I’ll inform Uncle William about what he has done.”

Her daughter, Madison, hadn’t been home since last night.

Mrs. Heath had grown accustomed to Madison returning in the early hours of the morning after partying all night.

But today was different.

The maid, as usual, had ventured into Madison’s room, expecting to find her in her usual state of slumber. But, to her surprise, the room was empty. The bed also seemed untouched by any human presence. She searched for Madison everywhere in the house but found no signs of her.

She quickly relayed the news to Mrs. Heath.

Alarmed, Mrs. Heath reached for her phone and immediately dialed Madison’s number. However, her phone was switched off.

One by one, she contacted each of Madison’s friends, seeking any trace of her whereabouts. But with every call, the unsettling truth became more evident.

None of Madison’s friends had seen her or knew anything about her recent activities.

A sinking feeling settled in Mrs. Heath’s chest.

She knew of her daughter’s obnoxious character. Although, given their status, it was unlikely that anyone would mess with her, one could never be too careful.

With trembling fingers, she picked up her phone once more, dialing her husband’s number. The urgency in her voice was palpable as she delivered the news.

“David,” she began, with fear and urgency in her voice, “Madison’s missing. She hasn’t been home since last night.”

Hearing the gravity in her tone, Mr. Heath immediately went into action.

With his connections, in a matter of moments, he discovered that Madison’s disappearance had something to do with Jayden.

The revelation came as a shock to the couple because, since a young age, Madison had been very close to Jayden. The latter also treated Madison exceptionally well, always giving in to her.

However, everyone present was well aware of who Jayden Luxton was.

Without wasting another second, they hurriedly made their way towards the Meadow Residence to confront Jayden.

As tension hung in the air, Jayden’s cold voice transmitted through the butler’s earpiece. “Tell her that she can do whatever she wants.”

Fury welled up within Mr. Heath upon hearing his indifferent tone.

Madison was his only daughter, and he did not expect Jayden to appear so nonchalant about it. He had an inkling as to where this was going but decided to remain ignorant about it.

With his fists clenched, he rose from his seat and was about to break inside the mansion.

However, his intentions were met with a tough barrier. Before he could even reach the door, the guards took swift action. With a forceful push, Mr. Heath was thrown to the ground.

“David!” Mrs. Heath rushed to her husband’s side.

Mr. Heath’s face turned red with humiliation.

Seeing so many pairs of eyes on his pathetic state, he felt a wave of resentment well up within him. With his pride wounded, he struggled to regain his balance as his eyes blazed with anger.

“How dare you?” Mrs. Heath turned to the guards and screamed. Her voice, laced with intense anger, cut through the air like a sharp blade.

The guards, however, remained unmoved. Their condescending gazes, which made them feel even lower than rats, deepened the humiliation felt by the couple.

It was a reminder of the power and authority that Jayden held.

Gritting her teeth, Mrs. Heath helped her husband up. Turning her gaze toward the door, her eyes glinted viciously. “Jayden Luxton,” she hissed through clenched teeth, “Just you wait. I’ll make sure you pay for the sins you’ve committed.”