Falling For Her contracted Husband

Third Person POV

Ocean walked beside Sky as they entered the grand hall, the hum of conversation and soft clinking of glasses filling the air. He looked calm, almost indifferent, as if being there didn't bother him at all. Sky, on the other hand, couldn't hide the heaviness she felt. She glanced at him, her heart sinking at the thought of why they were even there. Amanda. His ex—the woman who had shattered him once and, in doing so, had nearly ruined Sky's efforts to help him heal. Yet, here he was, walking into her birthday party as if it was any other social event. 

The room was lavishly decorated, the kind of place that screamed wealth and influence. Chandeliers sparkled above, and a grand piano played softly in the corner. Everyone seemed perfectly dressed, perfectly poised, perfectly fake. Sky's discomfort grew, her sadness easily noticeable as they moved further inside, the air thick with superficial smiles and practiced laughter. 

It wasn't long before Amanda herself appeared, making her grand entrance. Heads turned as she walked in, her red gown catching the light just right. She looked stunning, as she always did. Sky couldn't deny that. And, as if on cue, Ocean's eyes flicked toward her, though his expression remained blank. 

"Ladies and gentlemen," came a voice from the front of the room. Mr. Blake, Amanda's father, took the microphone, his deep voice commanding attention. "Thank you all for being here to celebrate my daughter, Amanda." 

The crowd clapped politely, and Sky forced herself to join in, though her hands felt heavy. 

Mr. Blake smiled warmly, looking toward Amanda, who stood beside him with that ever-perfect smile of hers. 

"Amanda, you've brought so much light into our lives. Your kindness, your strength, your beauty—all of it has been a blessing to this family. I am so proud of the woman you've become." 

The crowd clapped again, this time more enthusiastically. Sky felt a knot in her stomach tighten. She glanced at Ocean, hoping for some sign of discomfort, some crack in his stoic demeanor. But he stood there, motionless, his hands in his pockets, his gaze fixed somewhere far away. 

Sky couldn't take it anymore. "I need some air," she muttered, turning before he could respond. As she walked away, she wondered if Ocean even realized how much it hurt to see him here, so composed in the presence of someone who had once meant everything to him—and who had left him in pieces. 

Sky didn't fail to notice the flicker of something in Ocean's eyes—a quiet storm that he concealed behind a carefully neutral expression. He wasn't happy, but he masked it well, his demeanor betraying nothing to the casual observer. She hated how easily he managed it, while she felt every ounce of her own turmoil spill over into her gaze. 

Her heart clenched painfully as she stood there, forced to endure the sight of the man she loved stealing glances at someone else. She tried to smile, to pretend it didn't affect her, but the sadness lingered in her eyes, a shadow she couldn't shake. 

Later at the party, Ocean slipped away, his footsteps brisk as he made his way to the restroom. He leaned over the sink for a moment, staring at his reflection. The man looking back at him was a stranger, his thoughts too tangled to sort out. He splashed some water on his face, the cold sting barely cutting through his internal chaos. 

As he exited, he almost collided with Amanda, who stood waiting just outside the door. She didn't give him a chance to step aside, her arms folding over her chest as she blocked his path. "Why are you even here, Ocean?" she asked, her voice sharp and accusing. "You act like you don't care, but here you are, showing up anyway. Why?"

He straightened, trying to sidestep her, but she moved to block him again. "I don't owe you an explanation, Amanda," he replied, his voice steady, though his patience was wearing thin. He glanced past her, clearly intending to leave the conversation behind. 

But Amanda wasn't letting him off that easily. "You're such a hypocrite," she continued, her tone laced with disdain. 

"You want to act like you're above it all, but you're just as invested as the rest of us. Admit it."

Ocean exhaled sharply, his temper slipping through the cracks. "Move, Amanda," he said firmly, his voice low but laced with a warning. He stepped forward, but she didn't budge, her chin tilting defiantly. 

That was it. In a swift movement, he closed the distance between them, his palms slamming against the wall on either side of her head. Her back met the surface with a soft thud, and for a moment, the only sound was their breathing, heavy with unspoken tension. His eyes locked onto hers, the storm he'd suppressed now fully visible, swirling in shades of anger and frustration.

"You don't get to tell me what I feel," he said, his voice quiet but cutting. "You don't know anything about me, Amanda. Not anymore." 

Her confidence faltered, her lips parting as if to respond, but no words came. The intensity of his gaze pinned her in place, and for once, she found herself without a retort. He hadn't wanted to come, but when the invitation arrived, something in him couldn't resist. It was simple: he was invited, and he came. That was it. Or so he told himself. 

"Didn't expect to see you here," Amanda said, sidling up to him with a glass of wine in her hand. Her voice was smooth, teasing, and every word tugged at a place Ocean desperately wanted to ignore. 

"I was invited," he said plainly, his voice betraying none of the turmoil inside. "And I came. That's it." 

She raised an eyebrow, a small smirk playing on her lips. "That's it, huh? Sure doesn't seem like it." 

Ocean turned to face her fully, his jaw tightening. "Don't do this, Amanda. Don't read into things that aren't there." 

"Oh, come on." She leaned in slightly, her voice dropping to a whisper. "You're not fooling anyone, Ocean. I can see it in your eyes. You're still in love with me." 

He let out a dry laugh, shaking his head. "Don't flatter yourself. We're both married. Whatever you're trying to get at, it's not happening." 

Amanda tilted her head, studying him as if he were some puzzle she was determined to solve. 

"You keep telling yourself that, but I know the truth. You came here because you couldn't stay away." 

"You're delusional," he said, his voice sharper now, though his gaze faltered when her eyes locked with his. Her presence was intoxicating, and no matter how much he tried, he couldn't stop himself from noticing the way her lips curved, the way her hair framed her face. He clenched his fists, forcing himself to look away. 

Amanda let out a soft laugh, the sound light but loaded. "Ocean, you badly want to kiss me, don't you? It's written all over your face." 

Her words sliced through his composure, and he took a step back, his frustration boiling over. 

"What do you want from me, Amanda?!" he demanded, his voice low but heavy with emotion. 

"You broke my heart, remember? You're the one who walked away." 

Amanda's smirk faded for a moment, replaced by something more complicated. She looked at him, and for a second, the air between them was thick with unspoken history. Then, she smiled again, that infuriatingly knowing smile. 

"Maybe I just wanted to see if you still care." 

Ocean's jaw tightened, his hands still clenched at his sides. "I care, Amanda. But not in the way you want me to. I've moved on. We both have." 

"Have we?" she asked softly, her tone almost mocking. 

Ocean took a deep breath, forcing himself to stay grounded. "Yes. And whatever this is, it ends here." 

Without waiting for her reply, he turned on his heel and walked away, leaving her standing there, her smirk faltering as she watched him go. His heart pounded in his chest, but he didn't look back. He couldn't. 

Ocean's voice was heavy with unspoken pain as he looked at Amanda, his hands clenched into fists at his sides. "You shattered my heart," he said, his voice cracking despite his attempt to sound firm. 

"And now you're acting like it's nothing. Like I'm nothing." He didn't mean to sound so bitter, but the hurt ran too deep, and he couldn't pretend otherwise. Amanda flinched at his words, her lips trembling as she tried to hold back the tears that were already pooling in her eyes. She turned her face away for a moment, her shoulders shaking, before she finally broke down. 

"I never wanted to," she choked out, her voice barely above a whisper. "Ocean, I swear, I didn't want to hurt you." 

Her tears fell freely now, each one carving trails of guilt and sorrow down her cheeks. Ocean's eyes narrowed, and he stepped closer, his frustration giving way to confusion. 

"Then why?" he asked, his voice quieter but no less intense. "Why would you do it? Why would you break my heart if you didn't want to? Tell me, Amanda. I need to know." His words hung in the air, raw and pleading, as if knowing the reason could somehow make the pain more bearable. 

Amanda wrapped her arms around herself, like she was trying to hold her breaking pieces together. She opened her mouth to speak, but no sound came out at first. Her chest heaved with sobs, and she shook her head, like she couldn't bring herself to say the words. But Ocean wasn't going to let it go. 

"Tell me," he urged, his tone softening slightly as he searched her face for answers.