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Chapter 118
~Zara’s POV~
The ride home was quiet, but Snow’s occasional glances told me he was deep in thought.
I couldn’t help but replay the day’s events—the successful deal, Andrew’s compliments, and the invitation to the upcoming dinner. It all felt surreal—a milestone I hadn’t fully prepared myself for but had somehow achieved.
When we arrived at the mansion, Snow held the car door open for me, his steady presence grounding me as I stepped out.
"Get some rest," he said softly as we walked to the door. "It’s been a long day."
"I will," I promised, though my mind was already buzzing with the tasks waiting for me.
After a quick shower, I slipped into comfortable silk loungewear and settled into bed with my laptop.
I logged in, preparing to review work files, when an unread email from my lawyer caught my eye. The subject line read: Marriage Contract Review: Notable Findings.
My heart raced as I opened the email, sitting up straighter in bed. The attachment loaded and the email started with formal pleasantries, but my focus zeroed in on the section marked "Clauses Favorable to You."
Clause 5.3: Decisions about personal autonomy, like work and living arrangements, can’t be overridden unless safety is at risk.
Clause 7.2: Controlling actions—like restricting movement or decisions—void any claims of "ownership" between parties.
I reread the clause twice, my heart racing. I smirked. It seemed Snow’s ironclad control wasn’t as absolute as he liked to believe. A missed detail in his meticulous planning.
The email continued with minor points, but these clauses caught my attention. They were my shield against his possessiveness and a safeguard to remind him he didn’t own me, no matter what he claimed.
He couldn’t dictate my life unless I explicitly allowed him to. A smile tugged at my lips. For once, the scales seemed to tip in my favour.
Without hesitation, I quickly typed out a response to my lawyer:
Thank you for your thorough review. The details in the Clauses are particularly helpful. Let’s discuss further at our next meeting.
Just as I hit send and leaned back against my pillows, a soft knock came at my door.
"Zara?" Snow’s voice carried through the wood.
I closed my laptop quickly, composing myself. "Come in."
He stepped inside, still in his suit but with his tie loosened and a look of quiet determination on his face.
"Are you alright?" he asked, his eyes scanning mine.
"Yes," I replied, leaning back against the headboard. "What’s going on?"
"I just wanted to check in." He paused, his gaze lingering. "And to see if there’s anything you need."
"I’m fine, really," I assured him, tilting my head and noting his tone. "I was working."
His eyes flicked to the laptop at my side, a flicker of curiosity passing through them. "You work too much."
"Coming from the man who runs an empire," I retorted lightly.
He chuckled, stepping closer. "Touché. But you’re still recovering. I meant what I said about taking care of yourself."
"And I appreciate that, Snow. Truly. But you don’t need to control every aspect of my life," I said pointedly, my voice calm but firm.
His brows knit together. "I’m not trying to control you, Zara. I’m protecting you. There’s a difference."
"Is there?" I asked, standing from the bed and meeting his gaze evenly. "Because from where I’m standing, it feels a lot like control."
His jaw tightened. "You’re mine, Zara. I’ve told you that before."
"And yet..." I crossed my arms, tilting my head slightly. "Clause 7.2 says otherwise."
The confusion in his eyes was instant. "Clause 7.2?"
I stepped closer, relishing the moment as I explained. "The clause in our marriage contract that explicitly states that any controlling actions void your claim of ’ownership’ over me."
He blinked. Snow’s jaw tightened, his expression unreadable. "Is that so?" he finally said, his tone calm but laced with something dangerous.
"Yes," I replied, my confidence growing. "But it’s there. And it means I have as much autonomy in this arrangement as you do, Snow."
He stared at me for a moment, his lips pressing into a thin line before a slow smirk spread across his face. "You’ve been doing your homework."
"Of course," I replied smoothly. "I don’t like being blindsided."
He nodded, his expression softening. "Fair enough. But just so you know, Zara, a piece of paper won’t change how I feel—or what I’ll do to protect you."
"And you’ll have to protect me without overstepping," I countered, my tone firm but not unkind.
The corner of his mouth lifted into a smirk, and he leaned closer, bracing his hands on either side of me.
"Is that a challenge, Zara?"
I blinked, trying not to falter under his intense gaze. "No, it’s a reminder. Boundaries exist for a reason."
His smirk faded for a moment, replaced by a flicker of something darker—possessive yet contemplative. "You’re playing a dangerous game, Zara." His tone was calm, but there was an edge beneath it.
I squared my shoulders. "Maybe," I shot back, my voice steady, even as my heart raced. "But it’s my game to play."
For a moment, we were locked in a silent standoff, the tension thick in the air. Then, with a soft chuckle, Snow straightened.
"You’re something else," he said, his voice tinged with admiration. "You’re exhausting, you know that?"
"Likewise," I shot back with a small grin.
"Fine. Zara 100 points, Snow 0 points," he replied as he left the room, my heart racing.
As the door clicked shut behind him, I exhaled, my confidence wavering slightly. I’d stood my ground, yet his smirk and the quiet intensity in his eyes lingered in my thoughts.
Had I really gained the upper hand? Or had I just sparked something I wasn’t ready to handle? And oddly enough, I wanted him to.
Either way, I couldn’t ignore the thrill of standing up to him—or the unsettling anticipation of what he might do next.