Contract Marriage with My CEO Boss

Chapter 99

Chapter 99

"Kylan! Dear son. It's great to see you. You look well! Alois Morgan greeted Rylan with a hug, stepping away from his modest truck situated near the rurb of passenger pack up at the airport.

Kylan ignored the slight discomfort that came from hugging Karrina's father, choosing instead to give him a small smile. "You look well, too. Thank you for meeting me, Alois I appreciate you taking the time out of your busy schedule to help me." He moved to place his suitcase in the bed of the truck, but Alois shooed him away.

"Nonsense, fls. Lalways have time for you and ma fleur. How is she doing? Does she know yet why you're here?" Alois asked, opening Kylan's door for him.

Kylan climbed inside a bit awkwardly, waiting to respond until Alots was situated next to him. He adjusted the collar of his jacket after clipping his seatbelt in place.

"She doesn't have any idea," he admitted, his stomach churning with quiet guilt.

Alois hammed knowingly. "She will be happy, in the end, I know she will be." He entered the flow of traffic, switching the heat to life on the dashboard console. "Now, go over the whole plan with me once more, if you don't mind." He was serious now, and amidst the sounds of the warm aar blowing from the track's ancient vents, and the small city outside, Kylan divulged every minuscule and large detail he could think of to Katrina's father, omitting absolutely nothing.

0-0-

Kylan and Alois were busy the next few days, carefully enacting certain bits and pieces of the plan. Kylan dutifully responded to Katrina promptly each time she reached out to him, hoping to keep any possible suspicions at bay for just a while longer. At the end of every evening. Kylan was completely burnt out, but happy.

It was special, he couldn't deny the fact, having the opportunity to spend a few days with Katrina's father like this. He cherished the moments, he cherished each of the quirks the older man had. He could see bits of Katrina in his mannerisms, in the way he loved without inhibitions and genuinely cared about others.

He could see why Katrina was so special, so incredibly pure. Her father was the same way, easily switching between French and English while he boasted and bragged about his daughter, his precious one. The very being that gave him the will to lead a life that she could be proud of

When Kylan told Alois how proud he knew Katrina was of him, he only smiled, the gentle lines near his eyes drawing up and revealing years of laughter Kylan knew he had experienced with Katrina herself.

Three days came and went, and Kylan returned home a more peaceful, more nervous man. When he greeted Katrina that evening when he made love to her, he made sure to shower her in every bit of affection he held for her.

-0-0-0-

December:

a fall since diminished by the steel grips of winter, and a gloved hand tenderly carefully brushing the flakes of white away from a marble

wind kissed, his hair blowing in the bleary December weather. And still, he stared down at the words engraved on Yasman's final

Kylan, surrounding him. It was different this

after a full year of healing of

never dared to dream that it would ever be possible to be at this point. To feel this. This

deserved this life, this grace. At the same time, the shackles that typically surrounded his wrists and bound his ankles together, had all but fallen away from his skin. Only scars

gloved hand gripping the top

could, or would, forgive myself for what happened. For what I What I contributed to." He swallowed against the sandpaper coating the

But I need to.. Christ, I need to live my life. I want to.. I want to live my life for me, and for you. For all you missed out on because your f*cking heart was a plece of shin. Kylan wiped the pooling moisture I from his eyes, inhaling a shaky breath as he reached into his coat pocket, withdrawing a small pendant. The tip of a covered finger caressed wings and the body of a bird. Looking at the small reminder with piercing eyes and a gaping hole in

A cardinal

cardinal signifying grief,

internal landscape of Kylan's mind, he stood from his crouched position. Knees aching, heart lifting, he walked with his

it's almost your birthday y and because I'm hopelessly in love with you, Kylan Ross," Katrina huffed, buckling the seat belt on her first-class

instead reaching into the bag at his feet. He withdrew a container of sour cherries, along with

her the pair of items, chuckling at the open look of

that I'm hopelessly in love with your She breathed, taking hold of

"Mmm, once or twice, if I'm not mistaken," he whispered, bringing her knuckles to his lips to place a kiss along the tops of them. "Twelve hours and fifty-five minutes, darling. I'll be here for each one. Kylan promised, eyeing the safety video that clicked to life on the small TV monitor along the back of the chair

Well, that's acceptable, I suppose." Katrina grumbled,

unable to stop himself now, even if he wanted

the large, aging, stone building in awe, her eyes raking over

watched her carefully, taking in each of her small and large

minutes?" Kylan asked, handing a few bills to the driver that helped empty their suitcases onto the cobblestone near