The Contract

Chapter 145-The Answers

2nd of November.

We were almost at the end of the year, and that meant the contract will soon be over. I don't know why that was the first thought I had when I got up this morning.

I felt his gaze on mine as I fixed the bandaid around his arm. Was the whole thing gonna be over when this ends? I didn't even know what this was, I didn't know what to call this.

We have been good, playing along with this charade even but at some point it felt real and don't know if he felt it too. "What are you thinking about?" His voice cut through my thoughts and my gaze met his.

I concentrated back on what I was doing, leaving his questions hanging for few more seconds. "Don't tell me you're considering attending my Mother's event" I said, my tone coming off casual but there was an edge to it.

"She did send an invite and she mentioned I was special guest" he reminded and I shot him a pointed look. " You do know what she's doing right? She's needs your... reputation, your accolades, she's feeding off you, using you for her own interests " I made it clearer, Incase he didn't see it.

His lips curved into a smirk. "I know "

I hissed and pushed past him, walking back into the room and he followed. "What else is on your mind? " He questioned, sensing my unease. There was a lot bugging me this morning.

I turned back around, crossing my hands over my chest. "What's back Italy?" I asked the first thing that came to mind and watched as his features hardened and his eyes turned icy.

He turned away from me, "No no no no no!" I stopped him immediately, walking to him. "Let's not talk about this" he said, shutting his eyes.

"Why? You wanted to know what's on my mind, that's what on my mind, that's what's on my mind" I interjected, staring up at him. "Why the hell did say I shouldn't communicate with anyone back, even your mother and Raquel!" I pointed out.

This was me opening the not so pretty boxes.

He let down a sigh staring down at me. "It's for your own good"

"Okay, you're pissing me off now"

"Pearl..." He tried grabbing hold of me but I pulled away. "Just answer one question, Travis. And be honest, all I ask is your honesty, nothing more!" I demanded and he held on a gaze with me.

"What's going on?"

"That's a lot of questions in one" he answered. "Alright, here's a specific question..." I said, taking a step towards him. "Who shot you?" I asked the one that was bugging me the most.

I could unravel the rest easily, I just needed to get to Raquel or Rosa. I watched as he hesitated to answer that one, he didn't expect that question. He cast his head down, "Trent"

I felt a sharp pain shoot through my chest at the answer, I blinked profusely, looking away, I didn't know how the question made me feel. It...it ached me, I could only imagine what he was feeling right now.

He got shot by his own brother —his twin. The betrayal.

I mean, I know Trent was up to no good but this...this was extreme. This was...like the height of it. Does Rosa know? Does Raquel?

He held me from stumbling back, his hands cupping my face, my eyes locked with his. What was he feeling right now? The inner pain must hurt more than the physical.

He must be battling a lot in his kind but he's always... he's always so composed and put together. He's always collected and calm.

"I'm fine" he assured, not giving out otherwise, he did look fine but I doubted it. I reached in and embraced him, my hands over his neck and he  stood still at first, his body stiff.

I couldn't help him, he wouldn't let me in. He wouldn't let anyone in. "I'm sorry" I whispered, tears streaming down my eyes.

His hands slowly looped round my waist and he pulled me closer. "He'll be" he promised lowly and I let out a sigh, pulling out. "This isn't why I didn't want to tell you" he said, wiping the tears from my eyes.

I pushed his hands away, wiping out my own tears. "That isn't a reason"

"I didn't want to get you worried" he reinstated and I looked up at him. "Men too can be dependable, you don't have to put it all on your shoulder" I told him and his gaze lingered on mine before he looked away.

"So, what are you doing now?" I asked and before he could answer, "And don't give me that bull crap on me not worrying and you handling it all" I beat him to it and chuckled, reaching out to pull me closer.

"I'm serious, Travis. I'm not joking"

"I know" he said, that smile still on his lips. "But remember you promised to let me handle it" he reminded and I shot him a narrowed look.

"I didn't promise—"

"I told you to let me fix it and you stopped insisting, so you agreed, you basically promised" he explained and I rolled my eyes, crossing my hands over my chest.

"Hey" he tilted my chin back up to him, "Here's another promise, I'll fix this" he assured and I stared at his silver eyes, he meant that.

"And you better not fail" I stated before pulling out of his grip, he chuckled and my phone began ringing. I walked to the side table and picked it up, it was Bella calling.

I answered immediately and she began blustering in excitement, my eyes shot open and I turned back to Travis, his brows knitted in confusion at my reaction.

"Oh my gosh!" I screamed, jumping up. The call ended and I dropped the phone beside and ran back to him immediately. "He agreed!" I yelled and get tried holding me back but I wouldn't stop.

"Derrick finally agreed, she's gonna own a restaurant!" I continued screaming.

_________________________________________

So, the thing was, I had been debating whether to go and apologize to Derrick. After my lunch with Bella yesterday, I couldn’t shake the guilt that maybe, in some twisted way, I was part of the reason for the chaos in her life. She hadn’t said it outright, but the way she talked about him—about everything—made me wonder if I’d pushed too far.

I wanted to help. But how do you help someone whose partner sees every action as interference? I didn’t have a roadmap for dealing with Derrick. He was stubborn, controlling, and, frankly, insufferable. But still, I felt like I owed it to Bella to try, even if it meant swallowing my pride and apologizing for my part in the mess.

I’d made up my mind to take to him when Bella’s call came in this morning. Her voice was bursting with excitement, and for the first time in a while, it wasn’t tinged with frustration or sadness.

The news caught me off guard. Derrick had finally agreed. She was going to get her restaurant—the dream she had been quietly fighting for all along.

I couldn’t stop the smile spreading across my face, It was unexpected but not unwelcome. Maybe my mother was right after all—everyone has their own way of getting what they want. Mine was loud and relentless. I’d argue, push, and refuse to back down until I got my way. But Bella? Bella was different.

She didn’t need to yell or fight. She didn’t need to push people to the edge. All she had to do was be herself—caring, patient, and unwavering in her belief in the people she loved. Somehow, that had worked even on someone as inflexible as Derrick.

I wondered what had made him change his mind. It wasn’t like him to give in, especially when it came to something this big. Maybe he’d finally realized that holding Bella back wasn’t just unfair—it was cruel. Maybe he’d thought about what it would mean to lose her.

Still, I wasn’t entirely ready to celebrate him. Derrick might be changing, but a single good decision didn’t erase the months of tension and control. He still didn’t deserve Bella—not really. But for now, that didn’t matter.

What mattered was that Bella was happy. And maybe, just maybe, this was the first step toward something better—for both of them.