Reborn Heiress: Escaping My Contract Marriage with the Cold CEO Chapter 15: Nate’s Fickle Heart

VANESSA BELMONT

His phone rang.

A muscle in his jaw twitched as he pulled it from his pocket. One glance at the screen and his entire deanor shifted. He answered and listened to the caller. "You vomited blood?" His voice was tight. "Where are you? The sa ergency room as before? Okay. I’ll be right there."

He hung up and looked at , already straightening his clothes. "Fiona’s—"

"I know." My voice was flat.

"Vanessa, I want to stay."

"Oh?" I arched a brow. "Then stay."

His expression twisted. "She doesn’t have anyone else."

I exhaled sharply. Here we go again.

I had been given a second chance at life, and yet, like a fool, I kept walking the sa path—straight into Nate’s arms. My love would never be enough. I would never be more important than Fiona. But this ti, I knew where that road led.

To a cold, lonely grave.

"I’m not going to be a third party in my own marriage," I said, stepping back. "Why should I sleep with a man who doesn’t have in his heart?"

His eyes flashed. "You won’t sleep with anyone except ."

I laughed, the sound hollow. "Sorry, Nate. You don’t get a vote. Especially when you’re rushing off to take care of another woman." I crossed my arms. "You’ve made your choice."

"Yes. I chose you."

"You chose to sign a contract. I did, too. We didn’t pick each other as life partners. We picked each other as business partners. It’s my fault for wanting a real marriage. For wanting soone who thinks I’m the most important person in the world."

He opened his mouth—probably to argue, to feed more empty promises—but his phone rang again. Fiona. Of course.

I didn’t wait for him to speak. "Go. She needs you, right? More than I do."

His jaw clenched. "You didn’t eat enough tonight. Order room service." He grabbed his jacket. "I’ll be back later."

I smiled bitterly. "No, you won’t."

He shot a frustrated look before striding out, the door slamming behind him.The mont Nate left, the room felt colder, emptier—like all the warmth had been sucked out with him.

The silence that followed was deafening.

I stood there for a long mont, staring at my reflection. The necklace glimred, a cruel reminder of Nate’s fickle heart. With trembling fingers, I unclasped it and set it on the counter.

I got dressed and called Malone. I asked him to take care of securing the necklaces and to arrange a ride ho for . Within the hour, I was back at the Belmont mansion.

The house was dark and quiet so I went straight to my bedroom. Henry greeted with a slow blink from my bed, his tail flicking.

"Love stinks," I muttered, sinking onto the mattress.

He lifted a leg and licked his butthole.

Huh. I guess he thought so, too.

After a shower hot enough to burn away the mory of Nate’s hands, I slid into bed, the silk sheets cool against my skin. Henry curled against my side, his purrs a quiet comfort.

But sleep didn’t co.

Instead, my mind replayed the night—the way Nate’s eyes darkened with hunger, the way he’d whispered "You’re mine" like it was a vow.

And then ... he’d chosen her.

Again.

My phone buzzed on the nightstand. I looked at the screen and saw a text from my not-so-significant-other.

Nathan Jang: You still awake?

Vanessa: No, I’m asleep. Right now. In fact, I’m not even typing this text.

Three dots appeared. Disappeared. Then—

Nathan Jang: Let’s break up.

Let’s break up.

It’s what I wanted, right? Fiona could have Nate and I could have freedom. So, why did I feel so disappointed?

In my other life, Nathan abandoned over and over again. Why did I expect him to be different just because he’d given a little attention and said so nice words?

"This is my problem," I told Henry as we cuddled on my bed. "I settle for crumbs when I deserve the whole cake."

Henry put his paw on my cheek and owed. I took that as his agreent that yes, I was a whole-cake kind of girl.

The next morning, I woke up and then wished I hadn’t. Henry had abandoned , so it was just and my morose thoughts.

My phone beeped, and I checked the screen.

Ollie: May I call you?

I sent a thumbs-up. The phone imdiately rang.

"Hi, Ollie."

"There’s a birthday party for my twin nieces. They’re turning seven today. You want to co out and play?"

"It depends on the dress code."

"Shirt, shorts, and comfortable shoes. Also don’t wear anything too nice. It’s all outdoor activities, including a water-gun fight."

"It sounds fun. What ti?"

"I’ll pick you up in an hour."

***|***|***|***|***

VANESSA BELMONT

On the way to the King estate, my phone rang. Oh, look, Nathan. Well, sorta. Last night, I renad him Asshat.

"You have the papers?" I asked.

"What papers?"

"Cancellation of our engagent and contract marriage."

"Are you seriously going to end our marital arrangent? Do you want our parents to die from anger?"

"You were the one who said we should break up!" I ended the call. "Asshat!"

"You’re breaking up?" asked Ollie. "Why? It’s just a business marriage."

"Not for ," I muttered. "I don’t wanna talk about it," I said louder.

Fifteen minutes later, we arrived at the family ho of the Kings, which included a mansion, a pool, a pool house, stables with purebred horses, basketball court, tennis court, and everything else you could think of that would entertain people who could afford anything in the whole world. And all this splendor sat on acreage filled with verdant trees and rolling green hills.

Behind the house, the birthday party was in full swing. Well, it was more like a carnival with the amount of activities and people here.

Oliver led to a beverage booth and grabbed a cup of lemonade for . "Drink this. You’ll need to stay hydrated if you want to survive today."