Chapter 1
Chapter 1
By the fifth year of their arranged marriage, Hannah Paine and Kaden Humphrey remained perfect familiar strangers, their intimacy as formal as a business transaction.
Even in bed, they maintained an almost clinical politeness. Kaden would follow their established routine–a light kiss on her collarbone with a murmured, “May I?”
Then he’d methodically undress her, asking quietly, “This okay?”
Before entering her, his voice would drop: “Just say stop if it’s too much.”
Hours passed, the bed frame creaking rhythmically. Hannah’s breathing grew labored, her fingers twisting the sheets. After enduring as long as possible, she finally broke the silence.
“God, I’m sorry–this is getting out of hand. It’s been three hours and I just can’t anymore. Can we
stop?”
Kaden froze instantly. “Shit, sorry,” he muttered, withdrawing with difficulty, his breath ragged. He pressed an instinctive kiss to her forehead, apologized again, and disappeared into the bathroom for
a cold shower.
The water ran for ages before Hannah could pull herself together. She sat up slowly, hands still trembling as she dressed, covering the trail of marks on her skin. Switching on the lamp, she reached into the nightstand and pulled out a document.
Divorce papers.
She exhaled slowly. Five years. It was finally time to end this charade.
Everyone in their social circles praised the Paine–Humphrey marriage as the perfect business alliance–the couple who treated each other with such apparent respect and consideration. The
model marriage. Nobody knew they were each in love with someone else.
Kaden was in love with his adopted sister, a relationship society would never accept. Hannah’s love had died five years ago, forever beyond her reach.
One impossible love, one lost forever.
The day after their wedding, they’d confessed their situations and struck a deal: a five–year contract
The Forgotten Love Contract: When Regret Comes Too Late
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Chapter 1
marriage to satisfy their families and the business alliance. They would fulfill obligations, nothing more. After five years, they’d walk away.
Now the time had come.
Hannah was waiting to discuss the divorce when the bathroom door suddenly swung open. Kaden emerged with wet hair, grabbing his car keys as he headed for the door.
“It’s almost midnight. Where are you going?” Hannah asked, surprised.
Kaden paused. His typically detached voice carried unusual urgency: “Phoebe had a nightmare. I need to be there. You should get some rest.”
Phoebe Humphrey–his adopted sister and the woman he couldn’t stop loving.
Hannah understood perfectly. She never questioned when he rushed to Phoebe, regardless of circumstance–through Hannah’s car accident, her fever, her crippling cramps… She’d always respected their agreement, spending nights alone in their empty house, never interfering with his time with Phoebe.
But tonight was different. “Could you spare five minutes? There’s something important we need to
discuss.”
Kaden looked genuinely surprised. “Is it urgent?”
Hannah hesitated. “Pretty important, yeah.”
As he opened his mouth to respond, his phone rang. One glance at the screen–Phoebe,
The moment he answered, her tearful voice spilled through: “Kaden? I’m freaking out. Are you coming? I just–I need you here with me…”
His expression softened instantly, voice gentle: “I’m on my way. Just hang on.”
Hanging up, he turned to Hannah with practiced politeness. “Whatever it is, just handle it however you think best. No need to consult me.”
Hannah paused before nodding and flipping to the signature page of the divorce papers. “Then just sign here.”
Without even glancing at what he was signing, Kaden scrawled his signature and hurried out.
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As his car engine faded into the night, Hannah called her lawyer.
“He’s signed the papers. How long until it’s official?”
“The standard one–month cooling–off period applies, Ms. Paine, then it’s done,” the lawyer replied.
A weight lifted from her chest. After hanging up, she booked a one–way flight to California.
Her reason for choosing California wasn’t random. Recently, Tamia had spotted a college student working at a bar there who was Chace Crawford’s doppelgänger. The young man was clearly struggling, picking up shifts just to get by. –
Hannah couldn’t bear that someone with Chace’s face should be living like that. Since he needed money and she had plenty, the solution seemed obvious.
She’d had Tamia approach him with an arrangement. After a few days‘ consideration, he’d agreed, with one condition–he couldn’t leave California because of his grandmother.
Hannah reflected on her situation in New York. With her parents gone and no real connections keeping her there–why not California?
If she could wake up to that face–so hauntingly like Chace’s–for the rest of her life, maybe her remaining years wouldn’t be so empty after all.
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