The Ceo’s Contract Lover

Under the heavy rain, Nina’s muffled sobs could be heard.

In the distance, a car could be seen coming in her direction. As it reached near her, the car suddenly screeched to a halt. The door swung open, and a figure emerged, holding an umbrella.

“Nina?” the person called out, approaching her in the dim light.

Startled, Nina raised her head and squinted through the rain to see the person.

To her disappointment, it wasn’t the familiar face she had hoped for, though her expression shifted with a sense of relief.

“Tyler.”C0pyright © 2024 Nôv)(elDrama.Org.

“How long have you been here for?” Tyler inquired, with concern in his voice.

“About two hours,” she replied. Then, as if a realization struck her, she turned the question back on him. “What are you doing here?”

“My office is nearby, remember?” Tyler responded bitterly.

It was only then that it dawned on Nina. This area was close to the corporate district, and Tyler’s office was just a few kilometers away. She had completely forgotten about it.

“I was working overtime today and just left the office. While I was driving, I thought I had been mistaken. However, it was really you. You could have at least sent me a message. Do you not even consider me as a friend now?” He scolded her.

How could she be so careless? It was so dangerous for her to be alone at this hour.

“No signal,” Nina explained, shaking her cell phone in front of Tyler.

“Where’s Jayden?”

“I don’t know.” The sadness in Nina’s voice could not be concealed as she lowered her head to prevent herself from crying.

“Never mind. Let’s take you home. We can continue to talk on the way,” Tyler suggested.

He couldn’t bear to see the person deeply cared about in such a sorry state. He was afraid that if he continued to look at her lonely figure, he might overstep boundaries and push her away even further.

Nina nodded in agreement and stood up, following Tyler behind.

It was well past eight in the evening, and there seemed to be no point in waiting for Jayden now. If he wanted to come, he would have already done so.

Tyler drove Nina to the Meadow Residence. Nina was grateful for his help and invited him inside, but Tyler politely declined.

Once inside the estate, the first thing Nina did was inquire about Jayden from the butler.

“Madam, master hasn’t returned or informed his whereabouts,” the butler informed her.

Hearing this, Nina’s worry deepened. She decided to take a warm shower to fend off the cold before looking for Jayden.

After changing into a light blue sweater dress, she dialed Jayden’s number once again. This time, luckily, the call connected.

“Jay-” Before Nina could even call out his name, she heard Jayden’s faint voice from the other end. “Help me answer the phone.”

“Hello?” This time, another voice that belonged to a woman came on the line.

Taken aback, Nina inquired, “Who’s this?”

“It’s me. Emilia,” the voice on the other end replied. “Jayden… he is busy with me right now and can’t take the call.” With a pause, she added. “Oh, he might also not return home tonight,” she said ambiguously before hanging up the call.

As soon as the call hung up, the cell phone from Nina’s hand slid on the floor and her complexion turned ghastly pale.

Suddenly, a sharp, piercing pain shot through her chest.

She clutched her chest, gasping for breath, and staggered backward. The pain intensified, and the world around her blurred. Nina fell to the floor, unable to withstand the physical and emotional agony that had consumed her.

Hot tears streamed down her cheeks as she cried out in anguish. “It hurts.”

Startled by her cry, the housekeepers rushed inside the living room, their faces etched with worry.

“Madam, what’s wrong?” Ms. Eva asked as she reached down to help Nina up from the floor.

Everything was fine a while ago. What happened suddenly to trigger such a response from her?

“I-It hurts,” Nina could barely speak through her anguish.

“Where does it hurt, my dear?” Ms. Eva asked, pulling Nina into a hug.

“My heart hurts.” Nina closed her eyes and buried her face in her embrace as she sobbed.

—

Meanwhile, on the other side of the world.

William’s condition had suddenly taken a turn for the worse.

Jayden was in a meeting when he received a call from the doctor. Due to the urgency of the situation, he had to make an unexpected trip to Country J. Emilia, who understood the gravity of the situation, offered to accompany him.

As such, he forgot to pick Nina up from her workplace, as he had planned.

And when Nina’s call came through, Jayden was having a talk with the doctor about William’s condition. He had no choice but to ask Emilia to answer the call since he left his phone behind in the ward.

Little did he know that this small incident would trigger a series of events that would challenge their relationship.

—

Jayden had not returned home for an entire week.

The sun shone, casting its warm glow over the city.

Nina went to the office like any other day. Upon her arrival, she was summoned to the CEO’s office.

“Good morning,” she greeted Victor as she entered.

“Morning,” Victor nodded, motioning for her to take a seat. After the initial pleasantries, he inquired, “How’s work treating you?”

“Excellent,” she replied, satisfied with her recent accomplishments. But the seriousness on Victor’s face didn’t go unnoticed.

“Is anything the matter?” she asked, curious about the reason for this unexpected meeting.

Victor nodded. “There’s a business summit tomorrow, and I want you to accompany me as my plus one.”

Nina blinked, taken aback by the unexpected request.

She had a basic understanding of this business summit.

The event was held every three years in Spring City, inviting experts and industry leaders from around the world. The gatherings were a hub of knowledge exchange, and networking, that carried immense weight in the business world.

“I know I’m informing you about it on brief notice, but I hope you can consider it.”

Noting her silence, Victor assumed she was hesitant. However, Nina quickly shook her head, her stance clear. “I have no objections.”

She was honored to receive an invitation from Victor to participate in the summit.

It was an opportunity to network with key figures in the industry and learn from their experiences, and she wasn’t about to let it pass.

Victor was delighted by her response.

Having seen her potential, he knew that this event would be pivotal for her growth. Hence, he hoped to pave the way for her.

The night of the highly anticipated summit had finally arrived.

Tonight, Nina had donned a long, elegant white spaghetti fishtail dress, a stunning choice that accentuated her grace and poise.

Victor, who was accompanying her, couldn’t hide his awe at her beauty.

As they entered the grand event, Nina noticed the familiar faces of her friends and acquaintances.

The venue was abuzz with the presence of entrepreneurs and influential figures from various industries. It was a gathering that had drawn attention from all walks of life.

And as a prominent figure in the business world, Jayden couldn’t be absent from such a prestigious event.

Dressed in a sharp gray suit, he appeared at the venue, exuding his usual dignified and authoritative aura.

But what truly drew the crowd’s interest was the stunning woman by his side.

Beautiful and elegant, Emilia accompanied Jayden with her arms wrapped around him. Her aura wasn’t inferior to Jayden’s in the least as they entered together, commanding everyone’s attention.

Ever since Emilia had returned, there had been rumors about the possibility of Jayden divorcing Nina. However, many had dismissed them, given the possessiveness and affection Jayden had shown toward his wife.

But now, observing the scene in front of them, they did not expect the rumors to be true.

The husband was accompanied by his ex-girlfriend, whereas the wife attended the event with her boss.

It was indeed a laughable situation and everyone was waiting to watch a good show.

Jayden and Emilia moved through the event with a harmonious grace that was impossible to ignore.

They interacted with various business partners, sharing insights, and discussing the industry’s latest developments.

Emilia, who had recently taken charge of her family’s business, showed a depth of knowledge that surpassed industry veterans. Her talents and expertise were undeniable, leaving everyone to marvel at her capabilities.

She was a force to be reckoned with in the business world.

While they conversed with others, people couldn’t help but conclude that the future of the business world seemed to be in the capable hands of these two influential figures.

Amidst the buzz and the whispers, Jayden was unaware of Nina’s presence at the event.

As the night wore on, the temperature suddenly dropped. Chilly winds swept through the venue, causing everyone to shiver.

As another gust of cold wind swept over, Emilia, who was dressed in a strapless gown, shivered visibly.

The sudden chill in the air made her sneeze three times in a row, causing Jayden to frown. Without hesitation, he removed his coat and placed it over Emilia’s shoulders.

It was a gesture born out of reflex that showcased his thoughtfulness as a gentleman.

Unfazed by this gesture, Emilia continued her conversation as if it were a common occurrence between them. However, to the onlookers, Jayden’s actions painted a picture of an extremely loving couple.

Standing on the balcony of the first floor, Nina had her gaze fixed on the scene below. Her eyes had been drawn to her Jayden, ever since they had entered the event together.

The sight that unfolded before her was strangely familiar, and it triggered a sense of deja vu.