The Ceo’s Contract Lover

Madison watched their exchange with immense satisfaction. She was ecstatic upon seeing Jayden’s unwavering support for her.

See? And Nina still thought she mattered.

An evil grin formed on her swollen face, her voice dripping with disdain. “Didn’t you hear him, Nina? I don’t understand what you’re being so arrogant for. It’s a fact that you beat me up.”

“These bruises are evidence of it. Do you think you can get out of it unscathed? Nothing good will come out if you continue to be stubborn.” Madison said haughtily.

“However, if you kneel and apologize to me, I can consider not taking legal measures against you.”

Madison had always thrived on her power, and now, with Jayden’s backing, she felt invincible.

Nina’s hands trembled slightly at her sides and glanced at Jayden who was silent.

‘You can do whatever you want, and I’ll be your strongest backer,’ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

Once upon a time, those words had given her a sense of security, a belief that he would protect her no matter what.

However, as she stood there witnessing Jayden protect Madison, his actions were like a huge slap to her face and their relationship.

His silence was equivalent to agreeing with Madison. In that case, he also wanted her to apologize, right?

She wondered if she had been naive to expect unwavering support from him against the world when she could not even compare to his niece.

The corner of her eyes turned red as she fought back her tears. She couldn’t let him see how much his actions were affecting her. Clenching her fists at her sides, her knuckles turned white as she struggled to maintain her composure.

“I don’t regret what I did today, and if there’s a next time, I promise it’ll be worse,” Nina spoke with defiance.

Her gaze shifted from Madison and then locked onto Jayden’s. The intensity of her gaze bore into him, the disappointment and hurt evident in them.

“And I’ll never apologize.” With her words hanging in the air, she turned abruptly and ran out of the office.

“You…”

No one expected such a reaction from Nina. They collectively turned to look at Jayden and waited for his answer.

The man, however, merely frowned in exasperation. Upon seeing her fleeing back, he did not even bother to chase after her.

—

The office was dimly lit, the soft glow of the desk lamp casting a warm halo around Jayden. His brows were furrowed in concentration, but beneath that furrow was a faint shadow of fatigue.

After leaving the IDU, he had been working nonstop until late at night.

The weariness in his eyes was unmistakable. Yet, even in his exhaustion, his nobility remained unchanged.

After getting off work, he drove toward their apartment.

As he pushed open the door, an eerie silence greeted him. The air seemed to hang heavy, devoid of the usual warmth that filled their living space.

The couch, where Nina often waited for him, was vacant. His eyes scanned the room, searching for any sign of her presence.

He sighed, running a hand through his hair, trying to shake off the uneasiness that settled over him.

Thinking she might be agitated over the incident during the day, he strode toward their bedroom.

But the bedroom was just as empty, with no trace of her. Even the study and kitchen had no signs of her.

He glanced around, his jaw clenching in frustration. He realized she must be at the Meadow Residence.

Without hesitation, he grabbed his keys and headed out.

After arriving, he threw the keys at the guard, striding inside with steady steps.

As he walked through the living room, he thought about punishing that little wench for making him worry.

“Master, you’re back,” a surprised voice rang from behind. It was Ms. Eva, who had come over after hearing the engine. “Didn’t madam come with you?” she asked, her eyes scanning the living room.

Jayden had been climbing the staircase when Ms. Eva’s words hit him like a sudden gust of wind, halting him in his tracks.

Looking over his shoulder, his eyebrows knitted into a frown as he absorbed her words. “She isn’t home?” he asked.

Ms. Eva met his gaze and shook his head. The couple only returned on weekends, so it was unlikely that Nina would be home since today was Tuesday.

A sense of foreboding tugged at the edges of Jayden’s thoughts. He pulled out his phone from his pocket, his fingers dialing Nina’s number. But after several rings, the call was directed to voicemail.

Jayden’s heart skipped a beat. He tried again, hoping that it was just a temporary glitch. However, the result was the same.

His unease deepened, settling like a heavyweight in the pit of his stomach. He tried a couple more times, each attempt met with the same outcome. He couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off, that something wasn’t right.

At that moment, a hundred thoughts raced through his mind. Leaning against the staircase railing, he tapped his feet impatiently.

Ms. Eva watched him struggle to reach Nina and was anxious herself. “Perhaps she entered the mansion without notifying anyone. I will start a search and ask the security guards to get the surveillance footage.”

Although it was unlikely, there was no harm in checking.

Jayden nodded absentmindedly and dialed Rick’s number.

“Find Nina’s location asap,” Jayden ordered with a hint of urgency.

Rick, who was about to sleep with his girlfriend, groaned after being interrupted by the unexpected call.

He hurriedly gathered his clothes and apologized. “Sorry, babe,” he muttered, “Work emergency.”

With a resigned sigh, he then assured Jayden, “I’ll get on it right away.”

Within moments, he reported to Jayden about the results. “Madam’s cellphone location appears at the Meadow Residence.”

Coincidentally, one of the household servants approached Jayden at the same time and held out Nina’s cell phone, “Master,” he began hesitantly. “There’s no trace of madam, but we found her mobile phone in your bedroom.”

The servant’s words hung in the air, casting a gloom over the room.

Jayden’s face darkened, his expression mirroring the storm that brewed within him. The servant shivered, noticing the changes in him, and subconsciously took a step back.

If anything happened to Nina, the entire Spring City would turn upside down.

The surveillance footage was soon retrieved. However, the result was equally disappointing. The footage showed no trace of Nina entering or leaving the premises. It was as if she had vanished.

“Did you check with Madam’s friends?” Rick’s voice cut through the tense atmosphere, amid Jayden’s swirling emotions.

Jayden realized the call with Rick was still ongoing and his mind throbbed, contemplating his question.

Nina was a loner and barely had friends. He did not know who to call.

Hesitating, he asked Rick to contact two or three of her classmates she hung out with before dialing Liam’s number.

The call was picked up, and he heard Liam’s voice. “Hello?”

Jayden wasted no time, his urgency clear in his tone. “Nina’s missing. Ask your woman if she knows anything about it.”

Since the two women were on good terms, he thought Nora might have some clue.

Liam, who had just finished taking a shower, paused as he dried his hair with a towel. “How is she suddenly missing?”

Jayden then briefly explained the situation.

“Okay, let me check with her.” Putting the call on hold, Liam moved back into the bathroom where Nora was doing her night care routine.

Seeing Liam stride over, she hastily turned into a defensive mode. “No more, please. My body feels sore all over.”

Liam’s mouth twitched as he flicked her forehead. “Put your head out of the gutter. Nina’s missing.”

Dumbfounded, Nora put away the bottle of lotion and walked out of the bathroom. “What happened?”

Liam filled Nora in on the details, concluding it with a ‘couple fight’ tag. His voice was low as he explained the urgency of the matter. “Jayden seems really worried. He asked if you have any clue about it.”

Nora shook her head.

Last night when they chatted on SNS, there was nothing off with Nina.

Considering that she was the only one who had known Nina for a long time, her body relaxed. Sitting at the edge of the bed, her thoughts swirled as she started considering the possibilities.

Liam did not disturb her and retrieved the hair dryer, blow-drying her hair.

Nina wasn’t someone who would disappear for no reason. Even the thought of a potential kidnapping didn’t sit right with her. If Nina had been taken against her will, given her intelligence, she would’ve definitely left a clue. Hence, that possibility could be excluded.

As Liam’s long fingers ran through her hair, a light bulb seemed to go off in her head.

“If I fought with you, I’d definitely not want to see your face.”

Her voice grew louder as realization hit her. “In Nina’s case, though, she can’t just avoid Jayden. First, she doesn’t have anyone else to rely on in this city. And second, they’re married.”

As she connected the dots, the logic became apparent and her eyes lit up.

Since they found her cell phone in the bedroom, it was likely that she was still inside the mansion.