Contract And Marriage

Bella

“Good morning, Sir,” I greeted Maximus as he arrived.

“In my office,” he responded, not even glancing at me. It’s been five days since we went to the hospital, and he really had everything tested on me. They said I used to work there, so the nurse assisting me kept glancing at me-maybe because of my name, even though I was not wearing the same face. My boss said she was a friend of mine. Now, we’re just waiting for the results.

I stood up from my seat and followed him. What could this man want this time? As I entered, he suddenly closed the door behind me, pinned me there after he lifted me, and kissed me. I was so shocked that I didn’t know how to react until I finally responded to his kiss.

My mouth seemed to have a mind of its own, knowing exactly what to do, and quickly sucked on Maximus’ lower lip. Damn! I didn’t realize I was this lustful. I wrapped my arms around his neck and deepened the kiss, which only stopped because we were both running out of breath.

I think we both felt the same way then, and the happiness and desire I saw in his eyes mirrored my own. “That’s how you say good morning to me, my wife.”

Because of what he said, I quickly rolled my eyes. Here he goes again, insisting on what he wants to believe. “I told you not to call me that,” I said, mixing in a tone of irritation so he’d know I was serious. “What if I’m not really your wife? Do you know how painful that would be for me? The same goes for you, who has put so much hope into this.”

“I’m never wrong when it comes to you, my wife.” Why is he so confident about that? “Whether you believe it or not, my heart will always remember you, no matter what form or shape you change into.”

I couldn’t speak, but I felt immense joy. Honestly, it felt good, and I wanted to be his wife. “Fine, have it your way.” He smiled, so I added, “You can probably put me down now.”

He finally set me down before I directed him to his table. We can’t just fool around in the office because we wouldn’t get any work done, and poor Sir Aries would be swamped with tasks.

“You have a meeting with the finance department about the budget adjustment.”

“Wait, why are you the one reporting that to me?” he asked, puzzled.

“With all the work you’ve given to Sir Aries, I volunteered to do this since I’m also organizing your schedule. He had something to attend to before coming in, so he might be a bit late.”

“Ah, okay.” It’s a good thing he understands his employees. “Since he’s handling other tasks I assigned him, move the meeting with finance earlier because we’ll be leaving after lunch.”

“What?”

“What do you mean, ‘what’?”

“Where are we going now?”

“As if we go out often-this is the first time in a while.”

“Where are we going?” I asked, annoyed. Why does he have to do this during work hours? “You shouldn’t be dragging me around because your employees might start thinking things.”

“I don’t care what others say or think about me or you; being with you and our child is more important.”

“You don’t know what you’re saying, Maximus.”

“The outcome will be the same whether the child is mine or not. I’ll admit, I’d be happy if we had a child. But that doesn’t mean I wouldn’t accept your child, no matter who the real father is.”

“So don’t be too exaggerated.”

“Is it wrong to love and treat your child as my own? If it adds to our happiness, why should you stop me?”

“Maximus, we’re not even sure-”

“I already told you that I’m sure about you. Now, if my wife is really gone and you’re not her, then I’m going to help you file a divorce so we can be together legally. Either way, we’re going to be together.” I sighed exasperatedly at what he said. I mean, how could he say that so casually? Is everything that simple for him? Am I the only one making our situation difficult and complicated?

“As for your son, I hope you’ll give me a chance to help raise him. I accept him completely and want to get to know him, too, if you let me.”

“If you’re using my child-”

“Is that how you think of me?” he asked. I could feel his emotions for me, but it’s different when it involves my child. No matter how much I want him, it’s pointless if he can’t understand or love my child the way a father should. Because I would never trade my child for him. “I already said I am going to treat him like my own,” he finished.

I took a deep breath because it was hard to make him understand. What’s happening to him? I want to give in to everything he wants, but why does it all seem too good to be true? Is that how it is? After all my hardships with my husband, he just came into my life, acting like an angel who saved me from my misery?

Our conversation ended with me having no choice but to agree with him. However, I warned him that no matter what happens, if he cannot accept my child, there would be no chance for us to be together permanently, even if I am his true wife.

I also arranged his meeting with the finance department because he wanted it done early so we could leave wherever he said after lunch.

I thought he would rush the meeting, but that didn’t happen. He listened to everything, so it lasted longer, and we ended up having lunch in the meeting room, which I also ordered.

When the meeting finally ended, Maximus and I went to his office, where he told me we would pick up Chase to bring him along.

“Where are we going? My son is-”

“A special child. You already told me about it. We’re taking him to our doctor because we’re also getting the results of your labs and your DNA test.”

I couldn’t respond to what he said. “Look, I know everything is happening so fast between us, and I understand if you’re a bit surprised or confused. But I don’t want to waste any more time. I want to be with you and our child, so please let me.”

“My DNA? Who did you match it with?”

“With your parents, who else?”

“My parents?” I was stunned because I didn’t think I had any parents left, at least Sarina. I felt overwhelming happiness and excitement. “How did you-”Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

“The envelope Aries asked you to bring to my condo contained documents about you and the hair samples we requested from your parents for comparison.”

“Maximus, you’re raising my hopes. Please, this will be painful for me if you’re wrong.” My tears began to fall freely, and as we stood near his office table, he picked me up and sat down on the couch in the receiving area, holding me on his lap.

“Shh… don’t cry, my wife.” But even with his comforting words, I continued to cry out of joy, anxiety, and fear. I didn’t want to be disappointed, so I didn’t want to hope too much. And then Maximus added the words “my parents.”

“Maximus, I won’t be able to handle it if all of this isn’t true.”

“I’ve already told you, I know what I feel, and I’m telling you that I only ever felt this way with my wife.”

“What if you just feel strongly about me?”

“That’s possible, but it shouldn’t be like this. How could my feelings for my wife and for you be the same? I don’t believe in coincidences, especially when your personalities and voices are identical. You can even ask Aries.”

I had no idea that even his assistant had thought about that. Is that why he’s been so kind to me? Probably not; he’s just genuinely kind to me and, I’m sure, to other people as well.

“Aries feels guilty because he insisted I take you to Vegas back then. I’ve already told him he’s not at fault and that our time there was the happiest and most important event in my life because that’s where we confessed our feelings for each other.”

If I look at Maximus, I don’t think he’s romantic. Maybe that’s how much he loves his wife, that he can show her his most hidden self. “Thank you, Maximus. And I hope I am the wife you’ve been searching for.”

“I’m sure of it,” he replied confidently.

Once I had composed myself, as he had calmed me down, I called Aunt Amor to tell her to get Chase ready because Maximus and I would pick him up.

Even though I was a bit nervous, I gathered my courage to face the results of my labs, especially the DNA test that I didn’t even know Maximus had arranged. He said it wouldn’t be necessary if it were up to him, but he wanted me to feel at ease, so he did it anyway.

Before this, he had already thought of doing it, according to Sir Aries. His assistant worried I wouldn’t believe him if he told me outright that I was his long-lost wife.

Sir Aries also arranged to talk to my parents. But they didn’t give them any false hope because they were concerned it might harm the elderly couple if they got their hopes up. They just gave an excuse to confirm something, and my parents didn’t ask any more questions.

We passed the house, and Eunice and the others were surprised when they saw Maximus with me. They didn’t expect me to be with my boss, and I didn’t tell them about us yet. I just said my boss knew a good doctor who could help my son.

They were even more surprised when Maximus hugged Chase as if he had missed him so much. I felt like crying but held back because I didn’t want them to notice or get suspicious. It was better if they knew nothing about what was happening. I didn’t want to worry them either.

Afterward, we went straight to the hospital. We first saw the pediatrician, who was introduced to Maximus by his doctor friend, who would be the one to check on Chase. The doctor was very pleasant, so my son wasn’t afraid and delighted listening to what she said.

Then, the doctor talked to me while Maximus played with my son nearby. “Mr. Lardizabal said to do all the tests that can be done on him, so we’ll start with lab tests because Mr. Lardizabal mentioned that you had been drugged before, so that might be related to Chase’s condition now.”

After realizing that my husband had been drugging me without my knowledge, I never thought he could do the same to my son. But after hearing what the doctor said, I felt an overwhelming anger towards that wretched man.

“Do whatever is necessary,” I replied. After a few more reminders, I approached Maximus and couldn’t help but hug my son tightly.

“M-Mommm, w-what’s w-wrong?” he asked innocently.

I pulled him away slightly before answering, “I just realized how big you’ve grown.” He smiled at me sweetly, unaware of the danger he had endured while living with the man he thought was his father.

Afterward, we went to Maximus’s doctor friend. “You’re here, sit down,” Dr. Jerold said. We sat across from him, and he handed Maximus an envelope. “Everything’s in there.” I felt intense nervousness as I watched them exchange documents. I took a deep breath and prepared myself for the truth that would shock me.