Contract Marriage: The President's Stand-in Lover - Chapter 24:

Fractures and the Search

The morning sunlight was cruelly pale, too bright for a world that had broken overnight.

When Vianne woke, the only light in the room came from a thin line between the curtains.

She had spent the night at her friend Song Qian’s apartment, sleepless, staring into the dark.

Her pillow was damp, her eyes swollen, but she had no more tears to give.

The well of grief had run dry.

Song Qian entered quietly, carrying a tray with breakfast.

Seeing Vianne sitting motionless at the edge of the bed, her heart ached.

Vianne, Gu Chen looked for you all night. He even called the police

when your phone didn’t go through.

Vianne lifted her gaze, her voice hoarse and dry like sand.

Why would he need to find me? To keep controlling me?

He seemed genuinely worried about you, Song Qian murmured.

So what? Vianne gave a faint, bitter smile. A man can worry about his property or his pet.

Gu Chen probably doesn’t even know which one I am to him.

Song Qian opened her mouth to speak, then fell silent.

Vianne turned toward the window. The sunlight spilled across her pale face,

outlining the quiet determination settling there. For the first time,

she knew what she needed to do. She couldn’t stay trapped in the shadow of that man any longer.

Even if she had to start over from nothing, she would leave.

Gu Chen hadn’t slept at all.

He had canceled every meeting, every call. His assistant and driver took

turns reporting updates until finally one of them said,

Miss Lin stayed at Song Qian’s place last night.

He said nothing.

By noon, he drove there himself.

When Song Qian opened the door, she froze. Gu Chen stood before her, dressed in black, eyes

bloodshot, exhaustion etched deep into the hard lines of his face.

The man who had always exuded control now looked haunted, almost human.

Is she here? His voice was low, rough.

Song Qian hesitated. Mr. Gu… Vianne is leaving.

Leaving? His brows furrowed. Going where?

Before she could answer, the soft roll of suitcase wheels came from inside.

Vianne appeared, wearing a beige trench coat. Her expression was calm, almost serene,

as if the storm of last night had never happened.

I’m going to Paris, she said simply. There’s a long-term

brand training program through the company. I’ve already applied.

Gu Chen froze, his voice tightening. You can’t go.

Vianne lifted her chin, meeting his eyes. I’m not the woman who stops just

because you say I can’t anymore.

Isn’t this just running away? he burst out, his composure finally shattering.

Do you think you can forget by leaving?

If I can’t forget, at least I don’t have to see you every day.

Her tone was calm, but her words were merciless.

I don’t want to keep softening for you, and I don’t want to keep suffering because of that face.

Vianne—

Gu Chen, she interrupted softly, I used to believe, even for a moment,

that those embraces, those fragments of tenderness were real.

But later, I understood they were just your nostalgia.

Just your way of reaching for another woman’s shadow.

She drew a deep breath, her lips trembling.

I’m done being someone’s reflection.

His face changed, anguish flashing through his eyes.

He stepped forward, his voice low, unsteady. You’re not her, Vianne.

I’ve known that for a long time.

She stopped, startled.

At first, yes, it was the resemblance, he confessed, his eyes closing briefly.

But later I realized… it was your smile I wanted to see again.

Your stubbornness when you fight for your family.

The way you keep pretending to be strong even when you’re terrified.

That’s you, Lin Vianne. No one else.

He trembled as he said it, his voice raw, stripped of pride and pretense.

For once, there was no armor left in him only truth.

Vianne’s fingers curled into her palms. Pain flared in her chest, sharp and unbearable.

She tried to stay composed, but her vision blurred again with tears she thought were gone forever.

If you had said this earlier, she whispered with a fragile smile,

maybe things would have been different.

Gu Chen reached out to touch her shoulder, but she gently pushed his hand away.

It’s too late, Gu Chen. Truly too late.

She lifted her suitcase and walked past him, her steps steady,

her gaze forward. She didn’t look back.

He stood there, frozen, watching her silhouette fade into the sunlight.

His throat tightened until he could barely breathe.

His heart felt like it had been hollowed out, piece by piece.

Song Qian, standing beside him, finally asked in a small voice,

Aren’t you going after her?

Gu Chen lowered his eyes. The shadow over his face deepened,

and his voice was quiet, almost numb. I’m afraid that if I do, she’ll cry.

A bitter smile touched his lips.

And if she cries, I’ll give in.

Sunlight streamed through the window, spilling across the floor,

stretching his lonely shadow until it seemed endless.

Their love had begun as a transaction and had now reached

a point where neither of them could turn back.

And in that quiet, Gu Chen finally understood.

The real punishment wasn’t losing control.

It was losing her.