#Chapter 58: Stand By Me

Ella POV My hand trembled slightly as I took the pen from Alexander. The weight of the moment pressed down on me as I stared at the long contract in front of me, its fine print blurring as my pulse pounded in my ears. I sat down slowly, trying to focus on the words, but my mind was spinning. This contract was more than I had expected. It was a binding promise—one that went far beyond the simple terms I had anticipated. “What is this?” I whispered, my voice barely steady as I lifted my gaze to meet Alexander’s eyes. "A promise," he replied, his voice calm but with an edge of seriousness that made my heart skip a beat. "In light of the scandal, August has convinced me we need to protect your interests in this deal. I can’t allow my reputation to harm you. That would be a violation of our agreement. So, by signing this, you agree to the terms I’m proposing." His intense gaze held mine as he continued, his words sending a chill down my spine. "I will have no lovers, no one-nigh