When Contracts Turn to Forbidden Kisses Chapter 163

Amelia

I woke at 6:30 AM, uncomfortably hot. Ethan's arm was wrapped tightly around my waist, his body radiating heat like a furnace.

"Ethan," I whispered, trying to create some space between us. "You're burning me alive."

His eyes opened immediately, alert despite the early hour. "Sorry," he murmured, loosening his grip but not fully letting go. His hand slid lower, resting on my hip. "Force of habit. I like keeping what's mine close."

I rolled my eyes. "I'm not a teddy bear."

"No, you're much better." His lips found my neck, pressing a trail of kisses toward my collarbone. "Much, much better."

I felt his arousal pressing against me and gently pushed him away. "Don't start something you can't finish. Don't you have an early meeting?"

Ethan groaned. "I do. My schedule's too tight this morning. I wouldn't have enough time to properly..." his eyes darkened, "...take care of your needs. I'll take a rain check."

I slipped out of bed and headed to the bathroom. When I emerged, Ethan was already dressed in a charcoal suit that fit his broad shoulders perfectly.

"I had the closet stocked with some things for you," he said casually.

I opened the walk-in closet and found an entire section filled with medical scrubs in my size, casual clothes in my preferred style, and several designer dresses. All perfectly tailored, all exactly my taste.

"When did you do this?" I asked, touching a white cotton dress.

"I have people for that." Ethan shrugged. "Try it."

I took off my pajamas directly and changed in front of him. Ethan stood with his hands in his pockets, watching me intently with a subtle, meaningful look, a slight smile playing on his lips.

“Amelia, you’re just changing clothes in front of me like this,” his voice low and teasing, “are you testing my self-control?”

He stepped a little closer, the space between us shrinking, and I caught the faint scent of his cologne—something woody and intoxicating.

I deliberately pretended not to hear him, pushed him away gently, and said, “It's time to go downstairs for breakfast.”

---

In the car, Ethan drove with one hand on the wheel, the other resting possessively on my thigh. When we arrived at New York City Hospital, he locked the doors before I could exit.

"What are you doing?" I asked.

"Collecting my goodbye kiss."

"We're not teenagers, Ethan."

He raised an eyebrow. "Kiss me or we'll sit here all day."

I sighed and quickly pecked his cheek before sliding out of the car. "Happy now?"

"Not remotely," he called after me, "but I'll collect the rest tonight."

I hurried into the hospital, fighting a smile despite myself.

---

Noah

I wiped blood from my lip, feeling the sting as my fingers touched the broken skin. My designer workout gear was soaked with sweat, and my ribs ached from Julian's precise jabs. Across from me, he stood barely winded, his perfect form making this less a sparring match and more a one-sided beating.

The private boxing area at the back of Blue Note bar smelled of sweat and expensive cologne. From the sidelines, a man in a tailored suit puffed on a Cuban cigar, observing us with detached interest. Two high-end luggage cases sat beside him, untouched.

As soon as he returned to New York, he came to settle the score with me—probably because Olivia had told him about us.

Julian landed another perfectly aimed jab to my ribs, causing me to stumble backward. Despite the force behind each hit, I noticed his careful control – painful but avoiding any permanent damage. Small comfort as my body throbbed.

"Enough!" I finally gasped, dropping to the mat. "Jesus Christ, Julian, are you trying to kill me?"

Julian yanked off his gloves and tossed one directly at my face. "You think you shouldn't be punished? You got her pregnant and she had a miscarriage."

I touched my split lip again, feeling blood smear across my fingers. Frustration bubbled in my chest. I'd come to Blue Note expecting a friendly drink, not this ambush.

"I was coming home to tell you I'm going to ask her to marry me," I said, pushing myself up to sitting. "But you had to 'educate' me first, huh?"

Julian's eyes narrowed as he reached for a towel. "You want to marry Olivia?"

"Yes," I replied, keeping my voice steady despite my battered state. "I want to marry your sister."

We moved to the VIP lounge area, where I pressed an ice pack against my swollen jaw. Julian poured himself a whiskey, his expression unreadable.

"If you actually care about her, you need to prove it," Julian said. "I won't stand by while you play with her emotions."

"I'm not playing with anything. I've changed."

Julian snorted. "I heard you had three different models in your bed in just a year."

"That was before." I leaned forward, ignoring the pain in my side. "Now there's only Olivia. I love her."

Julian's glass hit the table with a sharp crack. "Listen carefully. Olivia is my only sister. If she comes home crying because of you, I will personally destroy everything you've built. Your precious film company will be nothing but a footnote in next week's business section."

I didn't doubt the threat for a second.

"She seems carefree and spoiled, but Olivia feels things deeply," Julian continued. "She's smart, loyal, and incredibly sensitive behind that party girl image."

"I know who she is," I said quietly.

Julian's expression softened slightly. "When she was fifteen, she watched all those medical dramas and decided she wanted to be a doctor. She even volunteered at the children's hospital with Amelia."

I noticed the change in Julian's eyes at Amelia's name – a dimming, a shadow passing across his face.

"What happened with you and Amelia?" I asked carefully.

Julian's jaw tightened. "Nothing worth discussing."

Later that night, I pulled my Porsche up to my family estate. The security guard looked surprised as he waved me through. I hadn't been home in weeks, preferring to live alone.

My mother appeared in the foyer, wearing a silk robe despite the late hour. "Noah? We weren't expecting you. Is Olivia with you?"

"No," I said, removing my sunglasses to reveal my bruised face.

My father emerged from his study. "What happened to your face, son?"

I touched my split lip and smiled, despite the pain. "Julian happened. But it's fine. Actually, it's better than fine." I looked between my parents. "I'm planning to propose to Olivia."