Contract Marriage with My CEO Boss (Kylan and Katrina)

The soft crash of waves provided a soothing backdrop as Kylan sat on a beach chair, the warm sand beneath his toes. Clarence's laughter rang out nearby as she dug furiously into the sand, her small hands shaping what she proudly declared would be "the biggest castle ever."

Kylan glanced toward Katrina, who was lounging under the shade of a beach umbrella, her sunglasses perched on her nose as she read a book. She looked peaceful, content. For the first time in months, so did he.

The vibration of his phone broke the momentary stillness. Fishing it out of the pocket of his shorts, he saw Ryan's name on the screen. Frowning slightly, he told Katrina he had to answer. She nodded and put the book down to focus on Clarence. Kylan stood and walked a distance away before he answered.

"Ryan," Kylan greeted, his tone light. "To what do I owe this call? Missing me already?"

Ryan's familiar laugh came through the line. "Don't flatter yourself, Ross. Just wanted to check in. How's the vacation?"

Kylan straightened his back, his gaze flicking to Clarence, who was now enlisting Katrina's help in her sandcastle endeavor. "Perfect. It's exactly what we needed."

"Good, good," Ryan said, though there was a hesitation in his voice that Kylan immediately picked up on.

"What's going on, Ryan?" Kylan asked, his easygoing tone giving way to something more serious.

There was a brief pause on the other end. "Just making sure everything's running smoothly on your end. No surprises or...unexpected visits?"

Kylan straightened slightly. "Unexpected visits? Ryan, what are you talking about?"

Ryan sighed. "I just want to make sure Isabella isn't anywhere near you or your family."

Kylan frowned, his jaw tightening. "Isabella? She wouldn't have a reason to come here. I haven't given her time off so she is back in New York working. Why are you asking?"

Ryan's hesitation deepened. "Look, I don't want to ruin your break, and I'm not saying anything happened. Just...keep an eye out, alright? Isabella's been a little too involved at work lately. Too involved with you."

Kylan's brow furrowed as he glanced back toward Katrina and Clarence. "Is this something I should be worried about?"

"Not if you're careful," Ryan said, his voice firm. "Just focus on Katrina and Clarence. Enjoy your time. I'll keep an eye on things here."

Kylan ran a hand through his hair, unease creeping in despite Ryan's assurances. "Alright," he said finally. "But if there's something you're not telling me "

"I'll handle it," Ryan cut in, his tone brooking no argument. "You deserve this break, Kylan. Don't let her ruin it."

The line went quiet for a moment, the sound of the waves filling the space as Kylan processed Ryan's words.

"Thanks for the heads-up," Kylan said eventually.

"Anytime," Ryan replied, his voice softer now. "And hey-don't forget to send me a picture of Clarence's sandcastle. She's got to be giving you a run for your money in the architect department."

Kylan chuckled, the tension easing slightly. "She's already winning. Take care, Ryan."

"You too, boss," Ryan said before the line clicked off.

Kylan set the phone down and leaned back in his chair, his eyes drifting to his wife and daughter. He couldn't shake the nagging feeling Ryan's words had planted. Isabella had always been ambitious-maybe too much so-but this felt different. He pushed the thought aside for now. His family was here, safe, and happy. Whatever Ryan was worried about could wait.

For now, this was their time, and Kylan was determined to make the most of it.

~0~0~0~

Katrina had Clarence sitting on her lap as she fed her ice cream by the beach. The little girl wiggled her arms excitedly as Katrina moved the small spoon closer. Clarence hummed happily and licked her lips after each bite. Katrina giggled and kissed her temple. "That good?"

Clarence nodded enthusiastically. "Yes, Mommy."

"Good."

"Every time I see you," a voice interrupted. Katrina looked up to see Dexter standing nearby. "You look more and more beautiful."

Katrina cuddled Clarence close. "Um, thank you?"

Dexter sighed and sat down beside her. "You're everything to me, Katrina."

Katrina's eyes darted around the beach until she spotted Kylan in the distance, pacing as he took a work call. She cleared her throat, her voice firm. "Look, Dexter, right?" He nodded. "I'm not interested-really, I'm not. I love my husband and my daughter very much. I don't want to be with anyone else. I'm flattered, but you need to stop. Please." Dexter leaned forward slightly. "It's hard to stop. I mean, you're just so...wow."

Katrina leaned in closer, lowering her voice. "Listen, just back off, okay? I told you I'm not interested. So stop."

He smirked. "I know you really want this. You want us."

"No, I don't!" Katrina exclaimed, covering Clarence's ears with her hands. "For heaven's sake, man, I'm trying for another baby right now. So just leave me alone." "Your anger is sexy," he muttered.

"Tch, oi?" Kylan's voice rang out sharply, drawing their attention. Dexter shot up from his seat and sprinted off. Kylan walked over, his expression dark. "What did I say?" Katrina sighed in relief as Kylan sat down beside her. "You okay?" he asked, his tone softening.

She nodded and resumed feeding Clarence. "So, how was the call?"

"Nothing major. Just Ryan checking in. Everything's going well, though. Strange thing-Isabella's off at the moment."

Katrina wiped Clarence's face and teased, "Maybe she's stalking you."

Kylan raised a brow. "What?"

She laughed. "I'm joking, honey. I doubt she'd do that. Anyway, what's the plan for our last day here?"

Kylan reached over to tickle Clarence's cheek. "Whatever our little princess wants."

Katrina peppered her daughter's cheek with kisses, making her giggle. "What do you want to do, Clarence?"

Clarence pointed excitedly at the beach. "Play!"

Katrina grinned. "Good thing we've got our swim things on."

Kylan stood. "I'll go grab all the beach gear from the hotel. You and Clarence can take a little walk."

Katrina lifted Clarence up to Kylan. "Kiss your daddy."

Clarence leaned forward, planting a sweet kiss on his cheek. "Love Daddy."

Katrina hummed a laugh. "That's right, we love Daddy loads, don't we?"

""Yes!" Clarence cheered.

Kylan kissed Clarence's forehead, then leaned in to kiss Katrina. "Love you both. I'll be back soon."

Katrina set Clarence on her feet and held her tiny hand. "Lead the way, sweetie."

Clarence giggled and skipped ahead, stepping onto the sand with a little gasp. "Eh!"

Katrina laughed. "Does the sand feel nice on your feet?"

"Yes!" Clarence exclaimed, running ahead before stopping suddenly. She crouched down, picked up a small shell, and ran back to show it to Katrina. "Mommy!" Katrina crouched to her daughter's level, smiling warmly. "It's lovely. Do you want to keep it?"

Clarence nodded. "Yes, please."

Katrina kissed her cheek. "Alright, let's find more, shall we?"

They walked along the shore, Clarence eagerly gathering shells and showing them to her mother. Eventually, she yawned and plopped onto the sand. "Daddy?" Katrina ruffled her hair gently. "He'll be back soon, I promise." She glanced toward the hotel, hoping to see Kylan returning.

At that moment, Kylan emerged, bumping into someone as he did. "Sorry," he muttered, before catching a whiff of a familiar perfume. His eyes narrowed. "Isabella?" The woman blushed, clearly flustered. "S-Sir?"

"What are you doing here?" Kylan asked, his tone guarded. His mind quickly went to Ryan's call earlier.

She hesitated before replying, "It's the weekend, Sir. And I'm just exploring the area. I didn't realize you'd be here too."

Kylan frowned but nodded politely. "Well, have fun."

"Are you enjoying the holiday? It's Clarence's birthday, right?"

"Yes, it is," he said. "Speaking of which, I should get back to my family. It's our last day here."

Isabella smiled faintly. "Have you enjoyed yourself?"

Kylan returned the smile. "I am," Kylan admitted with a small smile. "We're even trying for another baby."

Isabella's smile faltered, but she quickly covered it. "Congratulations." She cleared her throat nervously. "Would it be okay if I got Clarence something for her birthday?"

Kylan rubbed the back of his neck, uncertain. "I don't know about that, Isabella. Clarence doesn't really know you well. But thank you for the thought."

She nodded and swallowed hard. "Alright then. Well, you look great. You look... happy." She took a deep breath, feigning nonchalance. "I should probably get out of your hair and explore the area by myself. Early night for me, I guess." Kylan noticed Isabella's sigh and the sad expression on her face. He glanced toward the door, then back at her, his conscience tugging at him. "Are you alone?"Published by Nôv'elD/rama.Org.

She nodded quickly. "Yeah... but it's okay. I'm fine, really."

Kylan frowned, not liking the idea of

her being by herself, even though he had misgivings. He knew he might regret it, but his soft heart got the better of him. "Would you like to spend some time with Katrina, me, and Clarence? It's our last day here, and Clarence just wants a fun beach day. Why not join us?"

Isabella's heart leaped at his invitation. Her calculated sadness had paid off, and she smiled warmly, masking her triumph. "Thank you. I guess I could stay for about an hour."

He nodded. "Alright, just follow me."

As Kylan led the way, Isabella felt like she was floating. To her, it felt like a dream, almost like a date. When they arrived, Kylan's face softened at the sight of Katrina playing with Clarence. Just seeing his wife and daughter filled him with joy.

"I'm here!" Kylan called out, his voice brightening as he approached.

Katrina looked up as Kylan approached with Isabella in tow. She forced a polite smile, though her heart sank at the sight. "Welcome back. Clarence missed you."

Kylan spread out a blanket and set up an umbrella. "I missed you both too. I hope you don't mind I ran into Isabella, and she said she was all alone."

Katrina's smile didn't falter. "Of course, there's plenty of room for everyone. Come join us, Isabella."

Isabella smiled warmly. "Thank you."

As Kylan removed his shirt, Katrina's cheeks flushed. His toned body proudly displayed the love bites and faint nail marks she'd left during their intimate moments. He seemed to wear them with pride. Kylan caught her staring and smirked knowingly before sitting down. "Sweetheart, could you put some sunscreen on me, please?"

Katrina rolled her eyes playfully, retrieving the bottle. "Alright, turn around." She squeezed some lotion onto her hands, then began rubbing it into his back.

"Don't forget my chest and face," Kylan added cheekily.

Katrina chuckled, shaking her head at his antics. "Clarence, come here, baby." She put some lotion on her daughter's hands. "Help me put this on Daddy's face."

Clarence giggled and patted the sunscreen onto Kylan's face in enthusiastic smacks. "Da-da-da-da!"

"Thank you, princess," Kylan said, beaming as he kissed Clarence's hand.

Katrina glanced up at Isabella, who stood awkwardly to the side. "You can sit with us," she offered gently.

"Oh, I didn't want to intrude," Isabella replied, slipping off her sundress.

Katrina's heart sank again. Isabella's figure was stunning, toned, and flawless, while Katrina couldn't help but feel self-conscious about the lingering signs of childbirth on her own body.

"Thank you for letting me join," Isabella said sweetly, settling onto her towel.

Kylan noticed the look on Katrina's face and frowned slightly. He could tell where her thoughts had wandered. He couldn't understand why Katrina thought Isabella was better When he looked at Isabella, he felt absolutely nothing. But when his gaze fell on Katrina, a surge of desire and adoration consumed him. She was everything he wanted.

He gently lifted Clarence, setting her down with her toys before turning his attention to Katrina. Without a word, he teaned over and slipped the straps of her dress off her shoulders. Katrina started to protest, but Kylan stopped her with a mischievous smirk. He leaned in close, brushing his lips against hers in a tender, lingering kiss that left no

doubt about how he felt.

"You're beautiful," he said.

Katrina blushed. "Thank you." She turned around, then lay on her tummy and played with Clarence in the sand. "You having fun sweetie?"

Clarence giggled as she played with a sand mold, revealing a perfect little sand shell. "Priddy!"

"It is, sweetheart," Katrina said, kissing her daughter's cheek.

Isabella shifted her posture, arching her back and pushing her chest forward, hoping to catch Kylan's attention. However, his gaze remained fixed on Katrina, specifically on the curve of her figure as she played in the sand with their daughter. Frustrated, Isabella pouted and propped herself up on her elbows, silently fuming. She couldn't understand it, why did Kylan want Katrina instead of her? In her mind, she was superior in every way.

She cleared her throat, breaking the moment. "So, Kylan, is it straight back to work after this?"

Kylan leaned back on the blanket, his tone casual. "Unfortunately, but I'd rather not think about work today."

"Right. Sorry," Isabella replied, her tone a touch deflated.

Kylan sighed, running a hand through his hair. "How's it going with the whole ex situation?"

Isabella smiled, tilting her head slightly. "Good. I've moved on, and I feel much better."

"Great. I'm glad to hear that." His attention shifted to the bag beside him. "Do you want anything to eat or drink?"

She returned his smile. "If it's not too much trouble."

"Not at all." Kylan rummaged through the bag and pulled out some snacks and a drink, handing them to her. "All made by my wife. She's incredible in the kitchen, so you're in for a treat."

Isabella's smile faltered for a brief moment, though she quickly masked her disappointment. She didn't want Katrina's cooking; what she wanted was something prepared by Kylan himself. "Oh... thanks," she replied, feigning enthusiasm.

Katrina smirked to herself as she played with Clarence, but her moment of satisfaction was interrupted by Clarence rubbing her eyes. "Tired, Mommy."

Katrina lay down on her side, opening her arms. "Alright, sweetheart. Nap time."

Clarence crawled over, snuggling close to her mother and clutching her hand. "Love Mommy," she murmured sleepily.

Katrina kissed her head. "I love you too, baby." She glanced at Kylan. "We're having a nap together."

Kylan smiled warmly. "Alright." He lay on his back, closing his eyes. "I'll rest too."

Isabella watched the scene, feeling an ache of jealousy. She glanced at Kylan's relaxed figure, her eyes lingering on his muscular frame. In her mind, she couldn't understand why he was so devoted to Katrina. She felt she was better in every way-prettier, more polished, more...available. Kylan, however, had no interest in her. When he opened his eyes briefly, his gaze landed on Katrina, specifically on the way her body rested in the sand next to Clarence. He smiled softly to himself. To him, Katrina was perfection.

Isabella's attempts to catch his attention were met with indifference. Even as she subtly adjusted her posture to highlight her figure, Kylan didn't so much as glance her way. Instead, he leaned over, gently removing Clarence's hand from Katrina's hair, and kissed Katrina's shoulder.

"You're beautiful," he whispered, repeating what he said to her earlier.

Katrina flushed again and playfully elbowed him as she laughed. "Thank you."

Kylan lay back with a satisfied sigh, already thinking about the night ahead. As soon as Clarence was asleep, he planned to remind Katrina just how much he adored her.

Meanwhile, Isabella simmered silently. She knew she'd have to wait until after the holiday to put her next plan into action, but for now, all she could do was watch from the sidelines.