Contracted To You-Chapter 58: The Family Dinner

Ezra’s gaze narrowed as he stared at the app on his phone—an app he hadn’t downloaded but inexplicably found there.

When he inspected it, realization hit him: it was a phone tracker. His teeth clenched in anger.

There was no doubt it had to be Dawn; she was the only one with the capability. How had she managed to access his phone?

Sure, he had skipped setting a password, which gave her the perfect opportunity to install the tracker. That was about to change. He deleted the app and went straight to the settings. Once he was finished, a pattern lock secured his phone.

Frowning, it suddenly clicked: now it made sense how she had tracked him that day and spied on everything between him and Evie.

How long had she put this tracker on his phone? Even with the new password, was his phone secure?, or had it been completely hacked? Maybe he needed a new one—one she wouldn’t have a clue about.

Lost in thought, his phone vibrated, pulling him back to reality. He glanced at the caller ID and his expression shifted to seriousness. Tom was calling, his assistant who oversaw the investigation he was conducting and was obviously ready to report something significant.

"Speak up, Tom," Ezra commanded, and Tom immediately took his cue.

"I’ve discovered that some members of the investigation team were bribed by Dawn, skewing the results. It seems she’s fully aware of the situation," Tom reported, and Ezra’s fists clenched tightly.

"Fire them all," Ezra growled into the phone.

"Yes, sir," Tom replied.

"Restart the investigation, and this time, ensure it uncovers the truth," Ezra instructed.

"Understood," Tom said before the call ended.

He tossed the phone onto the bed, realization dawning on him. Something had always felt off about the situation, and Dawn’s actions confirmed his suspicions. If she had nothing to hide, there would be no need to bribe his team members.

What if she could hear this conversation with Tom?

He needed a new phone immediately; this one was compromised the moment he saw that tracker. Dawn’s obsession had reached an alarming level, and soon the truth would come out, after which she would disappear from his life as if she had never existed.

For now, he had pressing matters to attend to. He put on a casual shirt and jeans, topped with a white cap to match, and slipped into some sneakers, donning a sleek wristwatch. He looked strikingly different from the professional persona everyone was used to seeing in a suit, complete with that serious expression on his face.

As he descended the grand staircase headed for the door, Dawn suddenly blocked his path, her gaze sweeping over him. He turned away as though he hadn’t seen her, but she quickly hurried up and linked her arm with his.

Ezra shot her a glare.

"Where are you going?" she asked, her need to know everything irritatingly persistent.

He wanted to confront her about the audacity of tracking his phone, but he held back. There was no point in revealing that he was aware. When the time came, he would expose her lies, and there would be no escaping the truth for her then.

"I’m getting something," Ezra replied dismissively.

"What is it? I can come with you," Dawn pressed, her lips curving into a disingenuous smile.

"That won’t be necessary," he snapped, hoping she would take the hint and drop the subject. He didn’t want her to find out about the new phone. It would be better to let Sam handle that, or he could take care of it himself; either way, she wouldn’t know a thing.

Dawn wasn’t backing down. "Please, Ezra," she said, leaning in closely to whisper, "Noah is watching right now."

Ezra’s gaze shifted to the little boy across the room, who was engrossed in his toys. He smiled at Noah.

"Do you want to come along, Noah?" Ezra called out. "Your mom and I are going out."

Noah’s face lit up instantly. "No, have fun Mommy and Daddy. I’ll be right here, playing with my toys," he replied brightly.

"Really?" Ezra asked, and the boy nodded fervently.

"Yes, go have fun together, Mommy and Daddy," he encouraged with a beaming smile before returning to his toys.

Ezra turned his attention back to Dawn, who flashed him that infuriating smile. "Let’s go," he said, his tone firm and unmistakable, the difference from the earlier conversation glaring.

Dawn giggled, excitement radiating from her as she walked beside him, oblivious to the storm brewing beneath the surface.

They entered the car, and as Ezra settled in, he inserted the key and started the engine before they drove off.

The ride was tense. Dawn attempted to engage Ezra in conversation, but he responded curtly, his comments uninspired and disappointing. Yet, she didn’t let it faze her; simply being near him was enough.

It was just a matter of time but she’ll make him fall for her. She was certain of that.

That day she saw him with Evie had ignited her fury, and yes, she had gone so far as to plant a phone tracker on his device to know his whereabouts, alongside other measures to monitor his activities.

Despite her anger, she silently forgave him; it didn’t really matter in the grand scheme of things. Evie was the one losing out here because Ezra was hers now, and she wasn’t about to let him slip through her fingers.

Dawn had made a decision: she would fight to keep him, no matter what it took. She’d already reached out to both her family and his, announcing their readiness to marry and convene for a family meeting this weekend.

Now she just had to break the news to him.

After she finished buying the last item, Dawn walked side by side with Ezra, a playful giggle escaping her lips. He was as detached as ever, his gaze averted, his expression blank as they descended the escalator.

"I wanted to let you know that we’ll be having a family meeting this weekend," Dawn stated with confidence, and finally, she had his attention; he looked at her, eyebrows furrowed in confusion.

"A family meeting?" he inquired, suspicion creeping into his voice.

"Yes," she nodded, clearly pleased. "It’s to discuss our future."

Ezra paused, rolling his eyes at her naivety. "There is no future, Dawn," he said firmly, a cold truth lurking beneath his words. Couldn’t she see that he didn’t like her and had no intention of marrying her?

"That’s what you believe, but both families have already agreed to come together," she countered boldly.

"When did this happen? What did you do?" he asked sharply, sensing her involvement—she’d orchestrated this, and he hadn’t even informed his parents.

"I just told them we’re getting married," she replied nonchalantly.

"What?" Ezra demanded, his voice low and dangerous, a glare directed at her for her casual announcement of something so significant.

"Yes, both families are on board. We’ll visit this weekend," she stated, a wink thrown his way as she turned her attention to something else she needed to buy.

Ezra stood there, stunned, feeling like ice water was poured over him. This couldn’t be real; there was no way they were planning to get married. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

***

Dressed in a sharp charcoal suit, no tie—deliberate and composed—Ezra’s jaw remained clenched. The sheer ridiculousness of the situation gnawed at him; he couldn’t believe it was happening.

He had called his mother to confirm Dawn’s claims, and it turned out there truly would be a family meeting. His mother had urgently expressed her desire to see him, and he knew he couldn’t evade this one—he had to go. Now, here he was, in the car headed to a meeting he hadn’t requested, all orchestrated by Dawn.

Beside him, Dawn wore a pale mauve midi dress that accentuated her curves tastefully, pearl earrings dangling elegantly from her ears, her makeup meticulously applied.

In the backseat, Noah fidgeted in his navy blazer, white shirt, and khakis. "Are they nice?" he asked innocently.

"They’re your grandparents, sweetheart," Dawn assured him with a smile. "Of course they’re nice."

Ezra fixed his gaze on the window. "You’ll be fine."

As they arrived at the gated residence—large, modern, and pristine—memories of his childhood flooded back to him. This was the home he hadn’t visited in years.

Stepping out of the car, Ezra’s mother appeared at the door, her eyes shimmering with emotion. "Ezra."

He exhaled and approached her, receiving a tight embrace. "It’s good to be back."

His father followed, tall and dark-haired, warm yet reserved. "Son."

"Dad," Ezra responded, shaking his father’s hand firmly.

Dawn advanced gracefully. "Mr. and Mrs. Thorne, it’s a pleasure to see you."

Ezra’s mother smiled warmly. "You’re very welcome, my dear."

Just then, another car pulled up.

Dawn’s parents emerged, her mother in a cream dress suit and heels, her father sharply dressed in a neat navy ensemble.

"Ezra," her father greeted, extending a handshake. "Good to see you again."

"Sir," Ezra replied coolly, steeling himself for whatever was to come.

The families moved inside.

The dining room radiated a modern elegance, showcasing a striking blend of glass and wood. A sleek, polished table anchored beneath an impressive chandelier, the dinner already elegantly arranged: grilled salmon, herb chicken, pasta, fresh vegetables, wine, and sparkling water.

Everyone took their seats. Ezra positioned himself beside Noah, while Dawn settled next to him. Their parents occupied the ends and opposite sides of the table.

Raising her glass, Ezra’s mom declared, "To new beginnings — and to family."

Dawn’s mother chimed in confidently, "And to the bright future that awaits you both."

Ezra raised the glass to his lips, "To the future" and coldly added,"Let’s just hope it’s not as forced as this dinner."

Silence hung in the air.

Dawn broke the tension with a light laugh. "Ezra does love his dramatic flair."

The room filled with light laughter.

Ezra’s father leaned in, his tone assertive. "So, what are the concrete plans going forward? Wedding? Co-parenting? Living arrangements?"

Dawn lifted her chin with pride. "We’re already on the right track. Noah is thriving, and Ezra and I are fully committed to making this work."

Ezra’s mother placed her hand firmly over his. "Whatever happened before is in the past. What matters now is that you’re back, son."

Ezra’s expression darkened for a moment, but he nodded with resolve. "Thanks, Mom."

Noah suddenly interjected, "This chicken is exceptional."

Laughter erupted, dissipating the tension momentarily.

Yet when Ezra met Dawn’s gaze across the table, the smile he wore didn’t reach his eyes.