Pleasure Contract: The Mother the CEO Swore to Dominate

Prologue – New Beginning

Juliet Pierce

I was parked on the shoulder of I-95, rain hammering the roof of the car. The sound of rain had always calmed me. My dad used to say, "A real downpour can wash your soul clean, Juliet." I glanced at the back seat for a moment. My two little ones were sleeping peacefully, curled up under the blanket, as if the entire world hadn't just collapsed around us only hours ago.

Then I looked at myself in the rearview mirror. The deep purple bruises around my eyes were still there. So were the fingerprints on my wrists and the faint marks on my forearms.

A brutal reminder that years of love, sacrifice, and devotion had always been repaid with screams, slaps, punches, kicks... I straightened my spine and gripped the steering wheel so hard my knuckles turned white.

From this day forward, I was no longer Juliet Monroe. I was Juliet Pierce again.

The phone rang one more time. Him. There was nothing left to say. I had signed the divorce papers. And-even deceived-he had signed too. I dried the tears running down my face, turned the key in the ignition, and pulled back onto the highway.

I had no idea where I was going, but I had to decide soon. The money my father left us would keep us afloat for a while... but not forever.

A sleepy little voice came from the back seat. "Are we there yet, Mommy? I'm hungry."

"Almost, baby," I said, forcing a smile as I looked at him in the mirror. "Just a few more minutes and we'll stop at a diner. And we're going to have the most delicious pancakes in the whole world."

"I want a burger and fries," Heitor declared.

I laughed softly, even though my heart was still in pieces. "It's eight in the morning, sir, but today is a special day. Today you can have a burger and fries for breakfast."

"Can I have a milkshake?" Laurinha's sleepy voice joined in.

"Of course you can, princess."

I desperately needed a break. I had driven all night. I remembered seeing a sign a while back for a motel with a diner attached. Perfect-feed the kids, let them stretch their legs, maybe sleep for a couple of hours.

Ten minutes later we pulled into the parking lot. To my genuine surprise, the place looked warm and welcoming, almost like someone's home. I let out a breath of pure relief. The last thing I could handle right now was one of those filthy roadside motels full of truckers and addicts.

Before getting out, I pulled on a long-sleeved hoodie to cover the bruises. The black eye was still visible under layers of concealer. I took a deep breath, climbed out, and took my children's tiny hands in mine.

Inside the diner, a kind-faced older woman behind the counter greeted us with a bright smile. "Good morning, sweethearts!"

"Good morning!" we answered together.

"Have a seat