《The CEO鈥橲 Orphan Wife》


 Accident

    I dried my wet hands before answering my mother-inw¡¯s call.


    ¡°Hello, Mommy?¡±


    ¡°Dear,e to St. John¡¯s Hospital right away,¡± she instructed as soon as I answered.


    ¡°Um, why, Mom?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll be waiting for you there. We¡¯re on our way,¡± she abruptly ended the call providing no details, causing my anxiety to intensify.


    In my worry and haste, I reached for my wallet, which was resting on top of the refrigerator, without bothering to change my clothes.


    I felt that my mother-inw¡¯s call held significant importance, and I hoped it wasn¡¯t delivering bad news.


    I hailed a taxi, and in under thirty minutes, I arrived at the hospital.


    ¡°Brother, what happened?¡± I inquired, addressing my husband¡¯s eldest sibling.


    ¡°It¡¯s Ivan-¡±


    ¡°What happened to him? What happened to my husband, brother?¡± I asked, tears streaming down my face as anxiety went through me and continued, ¡°Where is he?¡±C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.


    ¡°He¡¯s in the operating room; he had an ident after his car collided with a truck.¡±


    ¡°My God!¡± I covered my mouth and couldn¡¯t hold back my sobs.


    Oh, my God! I couldn¡¯t stop my legs from shaking, and I felt utterly lost. Ivan¡¯s sister hurried over to us and offered me aforting hug.


    The minutes dragged on as we anxiously awaited the medical team tending to Ivan. It felt like an endless wait. After a two-hour stretch, the door to the operating room finally swung open, and we approached the doctor, exiting the room.


    ¡°The operation was sessful, but we need to monitor him in the ICU for the next twenty-four hours.¡±


    I struggled toprehend the rest of the doctor¡¯s exnation. If the operation was sessful, why did they have to transfer him to the ICU?


    A little whileter, I visited my husband in the ICU. A wave of sympathy washed over me as I saw him surrounded by various medical devices, with his vital signs being closely monitored.


    They saidatose individuals can hear you, so I knew I should speak to him. I fell silent for a moment because my tears were uncontroble. I gently held his hand and kissed the unbruised part of his forehead.


    ¡°Honey, please, fight, alright?¡± I bit my quivering lip.


    ¡°You have to pull through.¡± I closed my eyes, taking a deep breath, but no matter how hard I tried, I couldn¡¯t hold back my sobs.


    ¡°If you wake up, I won¡¯t give you headaches anymore¡­ I won¡¯t be jealous, and I won¡¯t argue with you anymore¡­¡±


    There¡¯s a word I¡¯ve been wanting to tell him, but I couldn¡¯t bring myself to say it.


    ¡°I love you so much, Ivan. I love you immensely.¡±


    Throughout the night, I kept watch over Ivan. His parents and siblings had promised toe the next day to relieve me from my vigil.


    Sleep eluded me as my deep concern for him triggered a torrent of thoughts. What if he¡¯s gone for good?


    I gently caressed his hair and gazed at him, dreading that it might be thest time I¡¯d see his face. Imitted the contours of his handsome features to memory, unsure if I¡¯d ever have the chance to see them again.


    I longed for him to wake up, to return to his former self, and for me to finally fade from his life.


    Tears welled up once more. The mere thought of leaving his life was excruciating. It felt as if my heart, already shattered over the past year because one person was being further crushed.


    Yet, despite it all, I still loved him deeply.


    ¡°If you can survive, I¡¯ll set you free. I¡¯ll allow you to be with the woman you love. I know you¡¯ve desired this for a long time, but I clung stubbornly to our separation,¡± I sighed. It felt like my words were strangling me as I uttered them.


    I found it hard to believe that I had summoned the courage to utter those words. In the year we¡¯ve spent together as a married couple, I can confidently say I¡¯ve been a devoted wife. I¡¯ve diligently attended to his needs, even though our rtionship has never followed the conventional path of most married couples.


    He harbored resentment towards me, resentful that I had seemingly stripped away his freedom and shattered his dreams. It was clear that he was disgusted by our situation.


    Being an orphan since the age of fifteen, following my parents¡¯ tragic demise in a ne crash, I had no one else to turn to. Fortunately, Ivan¡¯s parents, who were close friends with mine, graciously took me in because none of my other rtives were willing to provide me with a home and care.


    The first time Iid eyes on Ivan, I couldn¡¯t help but be drawn to him, even though he was seven years my senior. He was my first crush, my initial taste of love. At the time, he was twenty-two and already overseeing the family business. However, his heart belonged to Maureen, his girlfriend, and he waspletely head over heels for her.


    I concealed my feelings for him, even though I was aware that his parents and siblings knew about my affection for Ivan, but they never broached the subject.


    How did we end up as a married couple?


    A year ago, Ivan returned home drunk. I took care of him and helped him to his room. It waste at night, and the household staff had already retired for the evening.


    I undressed him to make him morefortable, but we ultimately ended up in bed together, marking my first time. I was well aware of his intoxicated state, but my vulnerable heart yielded to his warm embraces and sweet kisses. It was a first for me.


    Exhausted and physically sore from our encounter, I drifted off to sleep beside him.


    We awoke to the voices of his parents, discovering us together. I had not intended for them to find out, but sometimes, life takes unexpected turns.


    At that moment, Ivan was furious with me. He used me of taking advantage of him.


    ¡°You¡¯re so desperate. I hate you!¡± Those were the words that escaped his lips.


    His parents were extremely angry with what he said, and I could do nothing but cry in the corner while holding the nket wrapped around me.


    That day, we promptly got married at his parents¡¯ insistence and signed the marriage contract.


    We moved into a separate house, and the na?ve me thought we would be happy. But we weren¡¯t. Not once did he appreciate me. He never even considered me his wife, yet, treated me like a ve. Despite that, I endured it, hoping that one day he would love me.


    But it¡¯s been a year, and even though he doesn¡¯t express it, I haven¡¯t yet secured a ce in his heart.


    It¡¯s still Maureen. She was still the one who held his heart.

 Amnesia

    Despite my desire to monitor Ivan closely, my mother and the rest of the family were adamant that I should return home to get some rest. They advised me toe back in the afternoon.


    Nevertheless, I found it difficult to rest at home, so I returned to the hospital before noon.


    I was surprised not to find Ivan in the ICU. Luckily, his mom called just in time, saying, ¡°He woke up earlier, so we transferred him to a regr room.¡±


    Thank you, my God!


    I hurriedly searched for the private room my inws had arranged for Ivan. I gently pushed the door open, and his mom warmly embraced me. I couldn¡¯t help but be emotional.


    I expressed my gratitude to God for his recovery, relieved that Ivan was no longer on the verge of death. Despite this, I couldn¡¯t shake the sense of sorrow, knowing that our paths were drawing nearer to separation.


    I approached his unconscious form, gently caressing his hand and nting a kiss on his lips, grateful for the chance to do so freely.


    ¡°I¡¯m relieved that you¡¯re doing better now. I love you so much, Ivan,¡± I softly murmured into his ear.


    The doctor had informed us that my husband could wake up at any moment, so my inws decided to stay a while longer. Just as we were finishing our snack, I noticed Ivan¡¯s eyelids flutter, prompting me to rush to his side.


    We gathered around him, eagerly awaiting any sign of further movement. A smile graced my face as his fingers flinched at the hand I was holding.


    ¡°I¡¯ll get in touch with his doctor,¡± my brother-inw dered.


    Shortly after, Ivan slowly opened his eyes, looking at the surrounding people, and then he blinked several times.


    ¡°Ivan, my son,¡± Mom called his name. She gently stroked his arm while I continued to hold one of his hands.


    Ivan remained silent, his brow furrowed, and his gaze fixed on his mother before shifting to the other family members present.


    ¡°Mom, why am I here?¡± he finally spoke, his voice perhaps strained, probably because of a dry throat.


    As the room¡¯s door opened, revealing my brother-inw and the doctor he had called, Ivan¡¯s gaze turned in my direction. He tilted his head, his forehead creasing with concern.


    His next words sent shockwaves through us all.


    ¡°Who are you?¡± he asked me, nearly shattering my world.


    I nced at my mother-inw.


    ¡°Who is she, Mom?¡± he inquired once more, turning his gaze toward my hand that had been holding his. As a result, I slowly released it, though my gaze remained fixed on him, tears welling up in my eyes.


    I find it hard to believe that he doesn¡¯t recognize me.


    ¡°She¡¯s your wife, son. Don¡¯t you remember her?¡± Mom asked.


    Ivan shook his head.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know her,¡± he replied, his voice reflecting both confusion and seriousness.


    My shoulders sagged, and I moved away from him, standing beside the doctor who approached Ivan for an examination.


    ¡°How did she be my wife?¡± he asked, still clearly bewildered. It appeared he was suffering from amnesia.


    ¡°Where¡¯s Maureen?¡± he asked, a question that broke my heart. It was still Maureen. Even amidst his amnesia, that woman remained etched in his memory.


    ¡°How did she be my wife, Mom?¡± he asked in frustration and with a hint of anger.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know her. Maureen is the only one I love. How did she be my wife?¡±


    Tears welled up in my eyes. His words felt like a recurring dagger in my heart.


    ¡°Ivan,¡± his mom gently admonished.


    ¡°Ivan?!¡± We all turned to the door when we heard Maureen¡¯s voice.


    We all looked at Ivan, whose face immediately brightened.


    ¡°Honey!¡± he eximed to his ex-girlfriend.


    Surprise registered on Maureen¡¯s face, but she quickly regained herposure, smiling as she approached Ivan. My husband embraced her tightly, and she responded with warm hugs.


    I couldn¡¯t bear to see the two of them together, so I decided to leave the room. The pain was overwhelming, watching my husband and the woman he truly loved being happy in each other¡¯s arms.


    I may be his wife, but I have no im to his heart.


    I may be the wife, but I am not the one he loves.


    I left the hospital and took a seat on one of the benches beneath the mahogany trees. In silence, tears welled up in my eyes as I avoided drawing the attention of those nearby.


    It¡¯s agonizing, incredibly painful.


    I had believed I could see them happy and united, but that wasn¡¯t the case. Now I¡¯m uncertain about my ce in Ivan¡¯s family, especially since he no longer remembers me, while Maureen has returned.


    I wiped away my tears and gazed at the sky, trying to ease the anguish that enveloped me.


    I found sce in reminiscing about the happier times when my parents were still with me.


    However, I had no one to confide in or share my feelings with. There was no one willing to lend an ear to my grievances, and Icked the support I needed to navigate the challenges I face today.


    Now that Ivan haspletely erased me from his memory, I¡¯m contemting the idea of removing myself from his life altogether. But where would I go? This was a question I had pondered before, but I hadn¡¯t truly considered the answer.


    ¡°Dear¡­¡± I turned to face my mother-inw, who had quietly followed me here.


    ¡°Please be patient with Ivan. He¡¯s suffering from amnesia, but don¡¯t worry; we¡¯re here to help you. We¡¯ll do everything we can to make him understand you are his wife.¡±


    I mustered a bitter smile. ¡°It¡¯s alright, Mom. I understand why he only remembers Maureen.¡±


    She gently ced her hand on mine and nodded with sympathy.Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Let¡¯s hope that his memory returns soon.¡±


    I responded, ¡°Even if his memoryes back, Maureen will always hold a special ce in his heart.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t say that. I believe that you and Ivan can work through this. Trust me.¡±

 Other woman

    Due to Ivan¡¯s condition, my father-inw sent Maureen back home and advised her not toe here, as it would only worsen the situation. He mentioned that Ivan already had a wife, so she needed to distance herself from my husband.Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    I was genuinely taken aback when she returned to the country. When Ivan and I got married, she was extremely upset and confronted me, pulling my hair forcefully.


    ¡°You¡¯re a promiscuous person! A snake!¡± she repeatedly yelled in my face while I could do nothing but cry. Ivan embraced her and offered numerous apologies.


    They left the house, and Ivan returned homete at night. I had no idea what they did or what they discussed, but I had a fear in my heart that their rtionship might persist even though we were already married. Especially since I knew we were only married on paper. All I had was a legal document, not his heart.


    A week after that incident, I received news that Maureen had flown to America with her family. Ivan had never visited that country, so, in some way, I felt relieved.


    However, even in Maureen¡¯s absence, his coldness towards me persisted. He rarely wanted to talk to me and refused to eat the dishes I prepared, yet I continued to serve him.


    Despite having a regr job, I woke up early to prepare his breakfast andy out the clothes he would wear to the office.


    But my efforts still fell short because his heart remained closed, and he had no intention of opening it to let me in.


    Now that Maureen has returned, I might lose my ce in his life. This is what my husband used to repeatedly tell me, that he would leave me after a year, and his parents couldn¡¯t do anything to change his mind, telling me that enduring a year with me was enough.


    ¡°Come inside,¡± my mother-inw invited me.


    ¡°I think it would be best to make the most of him not remembering anything. Take care of him as you¡¯ve been doing. This way, he might eventually fall in love with you.¡±


    I had my doubts about what my mother-inw said because now that he had no memories, he openly expressed his love for Maureen.


    My mom entered Ivan¡¯s room first, and I followed. Ivan was still awake. When I walked in, he focused all his attention on me.


    He gazed at me, leading me to believe that he truly couldn¡¯t remember me, as he never once looked at me closely for an extended period. It was as if he found me repulsive back then.


    I forced a smile.


    ¡°Hi, h-how are you feeling?¡± I asked in a trembling voice.


    He shrugged his shoulders.


    ¡°Can he eat now?¡± I asked my mother-inw, who was silently observing us from the corner.


    She smiled and nodded.


    ¡°Do you want some rice porridge?¡± I asked Ivan in a slow tone.


    He was quiet, but his eyes remained focused on me. I couldn¡¯t help but feel nervous because I wasn¡¯t used to him looking at me. I was ustomed to the disdainful nces he used to throw at me, especially when I was being dramatic like this.


    Despite hisck of response, I proceeded to prepare food for him, grabbing a bowl and spoon from the table in the corner and retrieving the thermos food jar with porridge inside, which I had brought earlier.


    I added shredded chicken to it and approached him slowly. Because of my nervousness, my hands were trembling. I sat on the side of his bed, drawing closer to him as if it were normal for us to be this close because we were a married couple. He couldn¡¯t remember anything, so I seized that opportunity, just as his mom had suggested.


    I mixed the porridge, which was still steaming. Taking a spoonful, I took it to his mouth, but he didn¡¯t open it. Even though he couldn¡¯t remember, he certainly wouldn¡¯t let me serve him.


    ¡°It¡¯s still hot,¡± he remarked.


    ¡°Blow on it.¡± His request took aback me. Blow on it? Was he sure? My breathing near him used to annoy him, so why did he want me to blow on his food? It seemed like his amnesia might have its advantages. I might even enjoy this.


    I followed his instructions and blew on the porridge. After it had cooled down a bit, I fed it to him.


    ¡°Did you cook this?¡± he inquired after swallowing.


    ¡°Y-yes. Did you like it?¡±


    He nodded in response. I added more to his spoon, and he relished a hearty meal, finishing the food I had prepared for him.


    After taking some water and taking his medication, hey down once more. He continued to experience bodily difort, and the bruises on his sides, arms, and legs maintained their purplish hue, making it challenging for him to move. I provided help.


    Around eight o¡¯clock, his parents bid farewell and left the ward. They mentioned they would return early tomorrow so I could head home and get some rest.


    Ivan was sound asleep. Meanwhile, I sat on therge sofa, considering taking a short nap in case drowsiness set in. As the clock struck ten, I began to feel a wave of sleepiness washing over me. Ivan was resting peacefully, so I decided to join him for a brief nap.


    I remained unsure about the number of minutes or hours that had passed when I suddenly heard faint whispers engaged in conversation. I cautiously opened my eyes but promptly closed them when I discerned the voices more clearly.


    It was Maureen! Maureen had returned to the hospital and was now conversing with Ivan.


    ¡°I miss you so much, Ivan,¡± Maureen said, her voice tinged with tears.


    ¡°I miss you too,¡± my husband replied.


    ¡°I came back just as we discussed before. I returned after a year.¡±


    Given the way Ivan was conversing with Maureen, I couldn¡¯t be certain if he truly had amnesia.


    ¡°I¡¯m confused, Maureen. I know I love you, but why did I marry her?¡±


    I froze upon hearing Ivan¡¯s words. I couldn¡¯t bear to listen to Maureen¡¯s response, so I pretended I was about to wake up, although I had been awake for a while, eavesdropping on their conversation.


    ¡°I think she might be waking up. I need to leave before she informs your parents. I love you, Ivan.¡±


    I heard Maureen¡¯s footsteps as she made her way to the door.


    She had been gone for a few minutes, yet I kept my eyes closed, not wanting Ivan to realize that I was awake and not wanting him to see the sadness in my eyes.

 Advice

    ¡°I¡¯ll use the bathroom.¡±


    After waiting for a minute, I slowly opened my eyes. I got up from the sofa and approached Ivan, assisting him as he got out of bed and guiding him to the bathroom.


    I waited for him outside because it seemed like he was still ufortable with my presence.


    ¡°Are you finished?¡± I asked from outside.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± he replied, prompting me to open the door.


    Once he was back in bed, I returned to the sofa, lying down. As I nced in his direction, our eyes met once more. He was gazing at me.


    ¡°How did we end up getting married?¡± he inquired.


    He seemed quite puzzled, as he had been asking this question repeatedly since waking up.


    I believed it was better for him to hear the truth from me rather than from Maureen. I had observed her rude behavior while they were dating. I often overheard her questioning why I was living with Ivan¡¯s family, wondering if I had no other rtives. She mentioned she was ufortable with my presence and didn¡¯t trust me.


    Well, the feeling is mutual because I don¡¯t trust her either. She seemed like a mean girl pretending to be an angel. But Ivan loves her, so he couldn¡¯t see that.


    ¡°You came home that night drunk. Instead of leaving you to sleep on the cold floor, I took you to your room.¡±


    ¡°Did you take advantage of my drunkenness?¡± he asked with judgment in his tone.


    I took a deep breath.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know if I took advantage of the situation. All I know is that you were the one who kissed me first¡­ When we woke up the next morning, your parents immediately instructed us to marry.¡±


    Ivan let out a heavy sigh. I was expecting hurtful things he might say, but he remained silent and closed his eyes.


    I thought he had fallen asleep because he stayed that way for a few minutes, but then he opened his eyes again.


    ¡°I love Maureen. I know it¡¯s unfair to you, but that¡¯s just how I feel.¡±


    ¡°I know.¡±C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.


    I smiled with a tinge of sadness and thought to myself, ¡®Don¡¯t worry, because, after a month, when your body fully recovers, I will leave so that you can freely love each other.¡¯


    The next morning, Ivan remained silent. Even during breakfast, he barely spoke, and his responses to his parents were concise and could be counted on my hands. It appeared as if he had a heavy burden or problem on his mind.


    After giving Ivan his medicine, I bid farewell to my mother-inw, saying, ¡°I¡¯m leaving now, Mom.¡±


    Turning to Ivan, I asked, ¡°Ivan, I¡¯m leaving. Is there a specific food you¡¯d like to eat this afternoon? I¡¯ll cook something for you.¡±


    ¡°I want Maureen¡¯s kare-kare,¡± he replied, casting a somber atmosphere over the room.


    Ivan¡¯s father gently reprimanded him, saying,


    ¡°Ivan.¡±


    I couldn¡¯t help but express a bitter smile. As tears welled up in my eyes, I turned away, choosing to remain silent. I walked straight to the waiting car, my emotions weighing heavily on my heart.


    Tears streamed down my face, and I paid no attention to the thoughts of the driver taking me home. The pain was just too much to bear. There was a time when my husband was distant, making me feel like I had no ce in his life. Now, he¡¯s clearly showing that Maureen still holds a higher ce in his heart, even though I¡¯m his wife.


    As I prepared my breakfast and took a sip of my coffee, my mother-inw arrived.


    ¡°Dear, I¡¯m sorry.¡± I hugged her tightly, releasing all the pain I was holding inside through my tears. I confided all my grievances in her.


    ¡°I don¡¯t believe my dream of being loved by my husband will evere true.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t give up just yet. Don¡¯t lose heart, dear. No other woman deserves my son except you.¡±


    I knew she was saying this just to lift my spirits.


    She¡¯s Ivan¡¯s mother, but she has no control over her son¡¯s feelings and couldn¡¯tpel him to love me. Ivan would simply me us for ruining his life and argue that one year of suffering with me was more than enough.


    ¡°I will still be Ivan¡¯s wife, but only for one more month. Once he recovers, I will leave him willingly.¡±


    My mother-inw sobbed. She said a lot to bolster my resolve and urged me not to give up on her son, but I had already made my decision, and it was final.


    After hearing Maureen¡¯s and Ivan¡¯s conversationst night, I realized that my dream of being loved by Ivan is now a distant prospect, recing Maureen in his heart. That won¡¯t happen anymore. So, I¡¯m letting go of the hope I¡¯ve clung to since we got married.


    My mother-inw promptly returned to the hospital. I took a quick shower before lying down on the bed.


    I messaged my boss to inform him about extending my vacation. However, I omitted the part about the possibility of not returning, as I intend to leave after a month. If Ivan¡¯s recovery had progressed more quickly, I might have left sooner.


    I set my phone aside and tried to get some rest, even if it was just for a few hours. Just as I felt sleep beginning to envelop me, a call came in.


    ¡°How¡¯s your husband, who is still pining for his ex?¡± my friend asked in a teasing manner, causing me to roll my eyes.


    ¡°There he goes. He¡¯s got amnesia, but he still holds a torch for his ex,¡± I replied.


    Rachelleughed, earning yet another eye roll from me.


    ¡°Your life is quite a rollercoaster, girl.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m aware, no need to remind me,¡± I replied with a sigh.


    ¡°Did I interrupt you? I hope not. I just wanted to tell you that my fianc¨¦ bought an ind.¡±


    ¡°Wow! You¡¯re truly living the high life.¡±


    Sheughed again.


    ¡°Not exactly. I thought of letting you know if you ever needed a ce to go and find work. I understand that your marriage might notst long.¡±


    ¡°Thanks, Rachelle.¡±


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll be waiting for your call. And please, as long as you still have some love left for yourself, consider leaving your husband.¡±

 Masochist

    I carefully trimmed Ivan¡¯s fingernails on his hands and feet. I¡¯m pleased that even though he¡¯s not entirelyfortable with me, he allowed me to do it. He remained quiet, only asionally stealing nces in my direction.


    ¡°There we go, all finished,¡± I said with a smile. It¡¯s his third day in the hospital, and he may be discharged tomorrow. He gazed at me unwaveringly, prompting me to divert my eyes.


    ¡°Um, are you hungry?¡± I inquired.


    He responded by shaking his head.Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g


    ¡°Do you want me to peel some fruit for you?¡± I asked, and he nodded slowly as if speech was a challenge for him.


    I peeled an apple and an orange for him and set the fruit bowl on the bedside table. I returned to the sofa to tidy up some clutter when he called out to me.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to feed me?¡± he asked, furrowing his brow.


    ¡°Your hands are improving, aren¡¯t they?¡± I replied.


    ¡°It still hurts!¡± heined. I wasn¡¯t certain if he was being truthful, but despite that, I approached him.


    To be honest, I nearly leftst night. Maureen came over once again while I was asleep. It made me feel like my husband was betraying me.


    However, even though I am the legitimate spouse, I couldn¡¯t stop them because they might just remind me of my role in his life. So now, I can¡¯tprehend his melodrama and his need for me to feed him. Perhaps he felt guilty about his infidelity, so he pretended to be affectionate with me.


    I moved closer to him and fed him slices of apple.


    ¡°Tell me, what kind of husband am I?¡± he asked unexpectedly.


    ¡°Huh?¡± I pondered. I had no pleasant memories from our year together, so I wasn¡¯t sure if I should answer his question.


    ¡°Moody. Cold. Distant,¡± I replied candidly.


    Ivan remained silent for a moment.


    I continued, ¡°In love with someone else.¡±


    ¡°What kind of wife are you?¡± he asked after a pause.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. Only you can answer that,¡± I replied.


    ¡°How did you endure my moodiness, coldness, and being distant from you?¡± Ivan inquired.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, Ivan. I just let the days pass by, and it didn¡¯t even ur to me that a whole year had gone by. Why did you ask?¡± I continued to feed him.


    ¡°I was just curious. Why didn¡¯t you leave me?¡±


    I chuckled, saying, ¡°I must be a masochist. Instead of leaving you despite how you treated me, I drew closer to you.¡± I smiled, but it wasn¡¯t a sweet one.


    There was sadness in my eyes, and even though he had amnesia, I knew he could sense the bitterness and sorrow there. After all, he just forgot, but he wasn¡¯t blind.


    ¡°You know, honestly, it pains me that even with amnesia, I¡¯m the only one you forgot, your wife.¡± I paused for a moment topose myself. I was trembling and afraid that I wouldn¡¯t be able to hold back my tears much longer.


    I took a deep breath and forced a smile.


    ¡°Rest now. You need to regain your strength,¡± I advised him. I took the bowl and carried it to the sink. I was aware that he was still watching me, so I upied myself. I didn¡¯t want to see pity in his expression or make him feel sorry for me.


    That night, Maureen visited again. I stayed awake and didn¡¯t pretend to be asleep.


    ¡°I¡¯ll step out for a while,¡± I dered. It was best to leave, so I wouldn¡¯t overhear their conversation.


    I went outside to get some fresh air, sitting on a bench while counting the stars in the sky to pass the time.


    It was midnight when I returned to the room. Maureen was still there, sitting beside Ivan on the bed. Even with the door open, she didn¡¯t make any effort to distance herself from my husband.


    She had the audacity. It felt as if I were the one experiencing shame.


    I avoided making eye contact with them and went straight to the bathroom. When I returned, I headed for the sofa andy down. I closed my eyes and tried to rest, even though I was grappling with the overwhelming emotions that were on the brink of breaking my heart. The pain was sharp, as their actions were a tant betrayal of my trust.


    Until I heard the door open, I thought it was just the doctor or nurse who had arrived. However, I then heard the angry voices of Ivan¡¯s parents.


    ¡°What are you doing here?!¡± my mother-inw shouted.


    ¡°You shameless people! You didn¡¯t even respect M!¡±


    ¡°You have some nerve! You¡¯re disgusting!¡±


    As Mom uttered those words, tears welled up in my eyes, and I couldn¡¯t stop myself from crying. I just buried myself under the nket and continued to weep.


    ¡°Get out! Leave this ce!¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re going to break up anyway,¡± Maureen reasoned.


    ¡°Who said they were going to break up? That will never happen!¡±


    ¡°Ivan and I made a deal; he¡¯ll break up with M after they¡¯ve been together for a year. Your son loves me, not that orphan!¡±


    I heard the loud p that my mother-inw gave Maureen.


    ¡°Mom!¡± Ivan called out to his mother.


    I quickly got up and positioned myself between them, embracing my mother-inw.


    ¡°It¡¯s enough, Mom,¡± I consoled her to prevent any further esction. She was extremely angry, her face flushed red. It was fortunate that we were in a private room.


    ¡°Leave now!¡± she shouted again.


    Maureen exited the room, and despite Ivan calling after her, she continued to make her way out.


    I assisted my mother-inw in taking a seat on the sofa and gave her a ss of water.


    Meanwhile, my father-inw stayed near the door, holding onto his waist to calm himself.


    I asked my inws, ¡°What are you doing here?¡±


    ¡°Somebody informed us about Maureen¡¯s visits here. Why didn¡¯t you speak up? You should have told me,¡± she said tearfully.


    I was even more moved to tears by the care and love my inws were showing me, prompting me to hug her.


    ¡°And as for you, Ivan, I don¡¯t even recognize you anymore!¡±


    ¡°If only you hadn¡¯t pressured me into marrying her, it wouldn¡¯t-¡±


    ¡°Shut up! You don¡¯t know what you¡¯re saying, Ivan. You have no idea,¡± my mother-inw muttered, her body trembling.


    I suggested, ¡°Maybe you should go home for now, Mom. Take a rest; you might be too overwhelmed. Please try to calm down.¡±


    ¡°How can you remain soposed, my dear?¡± She embraced me once more. ¡°We should have married you to Dn back then,¡± she remarked.


    Dn is their nephew, the son of my father-inw¡¯s eldest sibling. He is kind and cheerful, unlike Ivan, who always appears angry.

 Wife duties

    Despite what transpiredst night, I continued to care for Ivan. I provided him with a meal and assisted him with dressing. The doctor has given the green signal for him to go home, so we¡¯re just waiting for his bills to be settled.


    I was seated on the sofa, Ivan upied the edge of the bed while his sibling stood near the door, seemingly trying to gauge our emotions. I couldn¡¯t help but notice the tension in Ivan, yet I refrained from making eye contact with him throughout.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± my mother-inw dered, clutching the receipt and a few prescriptions for Ivan¡¯s take-home medications. A nurse with a wheelchair awaited behind her.


    ¡°You should head home and rest there.¡±


    I remained silent, anticipating Ivan¡¯sint, but all he offered in response was a deep sigh.


    With help, he was settled into the wheelchair and went out the door ahead, propelled by his sibling. Mom gave me an assuring smile. She embraced me and guided me outside while I remained silent.


    I often observe Ivan¡¯s parents sharing frequent nces with each other.


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you two stay in the guestroom? Ivan needs some morning sunlight, and it would be inconvenient for him if the two of you slept in the upstairs room,¡± his mom suggested. Ivan and I remained silent. His thoughts appeared deep, and he hadn¡¯t spoken a word since earlier.


    Perhaps it¡¯s better this way, rather than saying something that might only upset those around him. I followed him into the guest room. A male nurse assisted him with lying down on the bed. His parents had arranged for a personal nurse to help him, so I wouldn¡¯t have a difficult time taking care of him.


    At this point, I¡¯m uncertain whether I should wait for him to recover as originally nned or simply leave. After all, I have somewhere else to go, thanks to Rachelle. I sat on the sofa and closed my eyes to gather my thoughts, even though my mind was in turmoil.


    After a deep breath, I found Ivan already fixed on me as I opened my eyes.


    I locked eyes with his intense gaze.


    ¡°Allow me to be your wife for a month, Ivan.¡±


    His lips quivered, but he remained silent, his brow furrowed.


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± he inquired.


    I simply smiled.


    ¡°Let me be your wife. And if you still can¡¯t love me within a month, I¡¯ll leave, and you won¡¯t see me again.¡±


    His frown deepened, and his jaw disyed a subtle twitch. I, too, was perplexed by the way he responded.


    I maintained my smile. ¡°You¡¯ll be free after one month and marry the woman you love.¡±


    I rose from my seat. ¡°Just dial the phone if you need anything.¡±


    I briefly left the guestroom and walked to the garden to breathe fresh air. My mother-inw¡¯s flowers were in full bloom, and I found pleasure in observing them.


    I allowed my gaze to wander over the entire surroundings, reaching all the way to the Fabregas mansion. I will miss this house and the family that had be my second family.


    ***


    ¡°What would you like to eat?¡± I asked Ivan when he woke up in the afternoon.


    I positioned a ss of water on the small table next to the bed, alongside his medication, because he was about to take it. However, his stomach needed something in it first.


    ¡°What if, after one month¡­¡± he began.


    We exchanged nces.


    ¡°I¡¯ll leave,¡± I replied. ¡°If you still can¡¯t love me, I¡¯ll depart. It¡¯s sufficient for me to be your wife for a month. Let me y my role as your wife, and you, be a husband to me, even if it¡¯s for a short time.¡± As I conveyed this, it felt as though my heart was being twisted.


    ¡°Okay,¡± he responded briefly.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± I smiled, dispelling the negative thoughts that had been haunting my mind. I wished to fill our remaining time with happy memories. I didn¡¯t want to create another drama. I didn¡¯t want his pity, nor did I wish for him to be irritated by my tears.


    Being dramatic is exhausting, and crying is tiring.


    ¡°Do you want some soup? The cook made it.¡±


    ¡°Okay. I¡¯d like some chop sueyter tonight.¡± I smiled. Chop suey was the first dish I prepared when I arrived at the Fabregas¡¯ house. My inws said I was good at making that dish.


    ¡°I¡¯ll fetch your food from the kitchen.¡±


    ¡°Just have the maids do it,¡± he insisted.


    ¡°Come watch the basketball game with me.¡±


    I¡¯m not really into basketball, but because I was watching it with him, I knew I¡¯d enjoy it.


    As we watched, I took care of his meal, almost as if he were a child in need of my help with his food.


    I didn¡¯t find it bothersome in the least; in fact, I was delighted that he allowed me to look after him this way. It created a sense of genuine togetherness between us.


    ¡°Why aren¡¯t you eating?¡± he asked. I only asked for one bowl from the maid, as he was the only one eating.


    ¡°I¡¯ll eat in the kitchenter,¡± I replied, taking another spoonful and gently offering it to him.


    He took the spoon from my hand, filled it with soup, and then fed me. I was taken by surprise by this gesture, so I didn¡¯t react immediately.


    ¡°Say ¡®ah,''¡± he encouraged. I bit my lower lip before parting my lips. He smiled and fed me once more.


    ¡°What¡¯s gotten into you?¡± he yfullyined. ¡°I¡¯m already feeding you, and you¡¯re still making a mess.¡±


    He delicately wiped the edges of my lips. When he noticed my flushed cheeks, he broke into a smile.


    He continued to spoon-feed me until the bowl was empty.


    I gave him his medicine to take. After the show he was watching ended, he mentioned that he wanted to take a short nap.


    I stepped away for a moment to tidy up our dining utensils, wearing a smile. I couldn¡¯t help but be amazed by what he did earlier. His behavior towards me was indeed quite unexpected.Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    As I ced the tray in the sink, I held my chest as I felt my heart pounding, then took a deep breath. Perhaps I had asked for more than I could handle in my request. It might make it even harder for me to leave when the timees.

 Not blind

    ¡°Is it delicious?¡± I inquired of Ivan, even though it was evident from his reaction that he was enjoying the meal I had prepared. He responded with a smile and a nod, taking another bite and grinning once more. His eagerness to eat was unmistakable, and it brought a sweet smile to my lips.


    ¡°Why aren¡¯t you eating?¡± he asked.


    ¡°You go ahead and eat first because I¡¯m not hungry yet,¡± I replied. It was only six in the afternoon, and he needed to take his medication, so I helped him with his meal.


    ¡°Are you on a diet?¡± This man had many questions.


    ¡°Not particrly,¡± I responded.


    ¡°You¡¯re quite slender.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean, slender? I¡¯m sexy, you know,¡± I retorted with a pout, suppressing a sigh. I was tempted to mention Maureen¡¯s slim figure, but I decided against it as I didn¡¯t want to bring up his mistress¡¯s name.


    He pouted.


    ¡°Am I not sexy?¡±


    I raised an eyebrow. He simply smiled.


    Ah, whatever!


    ¡°Onest thing,¡± I told him. The ¡®baby bull¡¯ hadpleted the meal I had cooked and prepared for him. After that, I gave him his medication, and a nurse arrived to help him with his personal hygiene in the bathroom.


    Meanwhile, I set his dishes aside and had my meal. Ivan has a low tolerance for noise, so when he¡¯s about to sleep, I lie down as well, even if it¡¯s still early. He was seated on the bed, leaning against the headboard when I entered the room. He was watching TV, but he briefly shifted his gaze to me.


    This man continues to give me intense looks, and I can¡¯t help but wonder what he¡¯s thinking. Does he find me attractive?


    Well, I can only hope. I found myself daydreaming again while fully awake.


    I retrieved some clothes from the cab and then entered the bathroom. I showered and changed in there before returning to the room. The TV was already turned off, but Ivan remained seated on the bed.


    I took a pillow and a nket from the cab before heading over to the sofa.


    ¡°Why are you nning to sleep on the sofa?¡± Ivan asked me.


    ¡°Where else should I sleep?¡± I replied. ¡°I usually sleep on the sofa, even at your parent¡¯s ce.¡±


    ¡°Are we not supposed to sleep together in bed?¡± I almost forgot he had amnesia.


    ¡°No,¡± I forced a smile. He paused, but his gaze remained fixed on me.


    ¡°So, I¡¯m¡­¡± He took a deep breath. ¡°The¡­ b-bed is quite spacious. W-we can both fit. If you¡¯re notfortable being close to me, you can stay by my side.¡±


    He pouted and averted his gaze.


    Can you believe this? Am I the one ufortable being close to him? Our situation is genuinely perplexing.


    What am I doing in this scenario? It seems like I¡¯m only making things moreplicated.


    Why am I staying? Do I genuinely want to stay for another month, pretending to be a spouse, only to end up hurt in the end?


    He cleared his throat while I remained motionless.


    ¡°I thought¡­¡±


    ¡°Yeah, alright, go ahead and move to the end,¡± I said.


    Being beside him felt strange, even though he was my husband; it wasn¡¯t our usual arrangement.


    He shifted, but just slightly. I settled at the edge of the bed, lying t, and it made me feel like a corpse because I could hardly breathe while lying down.


    I turned to my side, facing away from him, but as I felt tense, I turned back.


    I gasped when I realized he was facing my way, his eyes wide open, staring at me without blinking.


    My throat went dry, and anxiety welled up within me. Iy t again, adjusting the nket over my body.


    ¡°Do you love me?¡± I froze at his question, torn between answering truthfully or lying. In the end, I chose thetter.


    ¡°N-No.¡±


    ¡°Liar.¡±


    I rolled my eyes. ¡°Why did you even ask, then?¡±


    ¡°I may have amnesia, but I¡¯m not blind. I have feelings too.¡±


    I chuckled. ¡°What a fresh perspective!¡±


    He became different. ¡°You have eyes, yet you¡¯re blind to certain aspects of me. You have feelings, but you don¡¯t seem to care about mine.¡±


    ¡°M-M¡­¡±


    ¡°Sorry,¡± I apologized, attempting to force augh. I knew I shouldn¡¯t be creating drama or holding a grudge, but I couldn¡¯t help it.


    ¡°Go to sleep. You need plenty of rest to recover.¡±


    ¡°Okay. Goodnight.¡±


    ¡°Goodnight, Ivan.¡±


    I turned away, pulling the nket over me. The air conditioner was on full st, his body was warm, while I felt quite the opposite.


    ***


    I was still drowsy, but my mind awoke when I sensed that my pillow had grown firm. My eyes widened as I realized it wasn¡¯t a pillow but Ivan¡¯s body.C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.


    We faced each other, with our arms wrapped around each other¡¯s bodies.


    A flush of warmth colored my cheeks as I shut my eyes firmly and attempted to suppress my breath while I gently disentangled his hand that enveloped me. Yet, without dy, he returned his arm to rest on my stomach.


    How annoying! I attempted to break free once more, but he clung to me even tighter.


    I couldn¡¯t be sure if this man was actually asleep or simply feigning it. However, in that posture, I found it rxing, and I didn¡¯t notice that drowsiness took over me once again. When I woke up once more, I found myself alone in bed this time.


    I swiftly got out of bed in search of my husband. I headed to the bathroom, but he was nowhere to be found. Given that it was already past eight in the morning, I suspected that his nurse had taken him outside to enjoy the morning sun. I took a shower before leaving the room.


    ¡°Good morning, Ma¡¯am,¡± one maid greeted me. ¡°They mentioned that you¡¯d be having breakfast in the garden.¡±


    ¡°Good morning,¡± I replied, following them to the garden where my inws were already seated at a small metal table.


    ¡°Good morning,¡± I greeted them. All eyes were on me, including Ivan¡¯s.


    It appeared he had also taken an early shower, as his hair was still slightly damp.


    Once again, he fixed an intense gaze on me, and I couldn¡¯t help but reminisce about our earlier encounter in the morning. Warmth flushed through my cheeks.


    I noticed his sly grin, prompting me to shift my gaze away. My father-inw coughed softly, and his wife arched an eyebrow, her gaze shifting between Ivan and me.

 I鈥檒l miss you

    While waiting for Ivan to finish his shower, I prepared his clothes for him. I also freshened up the bed sheets and pillowcases.


    They weren¡¯t soiled, but Ivan is very particr about his belongings, even before his amnesia sets in. He insists on having his towels and beddingundered daily, and he¡¯s even more particr about these matters than the average woman.


    I was the one who changed them, but theundrywoman took care of washing them.


    When the bathroom door opened, I nced in his direction, but as he was only in a towel, I quickly averted my eyes. There¡¯s a bathrobe in the bathroom, so why didn¡¯t he use it?


    I cleared my throat because it felt dry and then approached him with my gaze fixed on the floor, helping him move towards the couch where I hadid out his clothes. He should have dressed on his own, but he¡¯s ufortable with his nurse, so she¡¯s no longer around. That¡¯s why I¡¯m the only one looking after him.


    Oh, M, why are you still taking care of him? He¡¯ll eventually leave you because he already loves someone else, my thoughts scolded me.


    To be honest, I often find myself questioning why I continue to do this.


    My heart responds that it¡¯s because I love him.


    Why is it like that? When you love someone, you tend to be blind. I might be the one who¡¯s blind in this situation. It¡¯s me, along with this feeling of numbness, because even though he doesn¡¯t love me, I persist in inserting myself into his life.


    So when I¡¯m in pain and hurting, I can¡¯t me anyone but myself.


    I sighed and offered my shoulder for support as he slowly made his way to the couch.


    He sat down on the couch, and I handed him his briefs before turning away. I probably don¡¯t need to assist him with putting on his underwear.


    ¡°Why are your cheeks turning red?¡± he teasingly asked. I responded by rolling my eyes.


    After he managed to put on his briefs and sweat shorts, I helped him put on his T-shirt. There¡¯s a wound and arge bruise on his arm that hasn¡¯t healed much, so he struggles to move it, particrly when dressing.


    ¡°I¡¯ll get the oil,¡± I told him.


    His leg required a massage for some relief, but he was reluctant to hire a masseuse. I had a feeling he was testing me, perhaps wanting me to struggle, so that I¡¯d leave immediately.


    His woman must be quite impatient.


    I took hold of his leg and positioned it on my thighs for the massage. I sensed him pause and give me a prating look, but I pretended not to notice.Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    Putting oil on my palms, I applied and spread it on one of his legs and began the massage. His lips parted slightly as he adjusted his posture and leaned back.


    ¡°Uhmm,¡± he groaned, causing me to pause, especially when I noticed him closing his eyes tightly.


    ¡°Was it painful?¡± I asked with concern.


    ¡°A little. Please continue with what you¡¯re doing,¡± he replied without looking at me.


    After I finished massaging his leg, I proceeded to massage his feet and repeated the same process with his other leg.


    ¡°Will you massage my thigh?¡± he inquired.


    ¡°Huh? The nurse only mentioned your leg, right?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a bit painful there too,¡± he exined. I couldn¡¯t tell if he was telling the truth, and I had a feeling he might tease me, sensing something peculiar in his eyes.


    ¡°Later,¡± I said, resuming the massage on his leg.


    ¡°You¡¯re good at massaging,¡± he said while looking up. I simply smiled and didn¡¯t respond further.


    ¡°I¡¯m done,¡± I announced.


    ¡°My thigh isn¡¯t done yet,¡± he replied with a mischievous grin. I wasn¡¯t sure whether to be pleased or cautious about what he was saying and doing.


    ¡°It¡¯s time for you to eat because you need to take your medicine,¡± I said as I stood up promptly.


    What a cunning provocateur he was! It seemed like he was trying to seduce me, but I had no intention of allowing him to take advantage of me, if that was the case.


    I could clearly see that he was affected by the massage I had administered, as evidenced by his ¡®bulge.¡¯


    Tsk! Let him be. I stayed because I wanted to take care of him while he was not fully recovered, but I had no intention of sleeping with him.


    My role as his wife ends here because if he didn¡¯t have amnesia, I know he wouldn¡¯t be like that with me. He¡¯d probably find me repulsive.


    We¡¯ll also be going our separate ways, so my role as his wife is limited to taking care of him without any physical involvement.


    I fetched his food from the kitchen because he still hadn¡¯t eaten in the dining room, preferring to have his meals in his room.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to feed me?¡± he asked with a smile. Ugh, he¡¯s trying to be cute again!


    ¡°Weren¡¯t your hands fine now?¡± I muttered as I arranged his food on a small table in front of him.


    ¡°It still hurts,¡± he reasoned. He tried to lift his hand. It was still trembling, but I knew he was just putting on an act.


    He can be quite stubborn, too.


    I simply shook my head and picked up the spoon.


    A broad smile spread across his face.


    ¡°Enjoy your meal, baby bull. Say ¡®ah!''¡±


    Heplied, opening his mouth obediently, which made me chuckle.


    ¡°When I¡¯m no longer here, will you miss me?¡± I blurted out without much thought.


    He paused as he chewed.


    I cleared my throat, realizing it was just a passing thought. Why did I say that?


    ¡°Do you like these vegetables?¡± I asked to change the subject.


    He simply nodded.


    After he finished eating, I handed him a ss of water and his medications, then cleared his dining utensils, cing them on a tray.


    ¡°Take a rest for now,¡± I said, before turning away.


    ¡°M?¡±


    I nced back at him. ¡°Are you really nning to leave?¡±


    I was unsure how to respond to his question, and I couldn¡¯t quite fathom why he had asked it in the first ce. Despite my annoyance, I managed a smile.


    ¡°I have to,¡± I replied sinctly. I needed to, and it¡¯s only fair because you don¡¯t love me anyway.


    ¡°I¡¯ll miss you.¡±


    I froze but didn¡¯t press him with further questions. I continued walking out of his room.

 Not a good husband

    I refrained from returning to our room at the moment. Instead, I spent some time in the garden and came back once I was certain that Ivan was asleep.


    With each passing day, the burden I carry grows heavier and heavier.


    Honestly, I¡¯m causing harm to myself with my actions. Rachelle was right; I truly became a self-sacrificing individual in matters of love.


    However, all of this is temporary. Soon, I¡¯ll be leaving this house. I¡¯ll be leaving Ivan. And eventually, everything will be a part of the past, memories to look back on andugh about.


    For now, Ivan needs me, so I¡¯ll stay to take care of him. I¡¯m still his wife until I leave, and he said he¡¯s going to file for an annulment.


    I looked up and gazed at the sky, filled with stars, while the moon was round and bright.


    ¡°How are you up there in heaven, Mom and Dad?¡±


    I recalled when my grandfather passed away when I was still young. My mom mentioned that he went to the moon, and from there, he watched over the ones he loved. Now, he¡¯s with my mom and dad.


    ¡°If you hadn¡¯t passed away, perhaps I wouldn¡¯t be in this situation¡­ Maybe we would have been happy. I would have pursued my dreams.¡± But things changed. It¡¯s beyond my control. All I can do now is stick to the n-to stay sane until it¡¯s over.


    ¡°I¡¯ll be fine, Mom and Dad. I¡¯ll be fine. I promise¡­¡±


    Feeling the chill in the air, I made the choice to head indoors. Ivan is most likely asleep by now.


    ***


    I observed Ivan¡¯s serene expression while he slept. Even in slumber, he still appeared a bit stern because of the crease on his forehead, as if he carried his worries even into his sleep.


    I gently moved my face closer to his and nted a tender kiss on his cheek. I closed my eyes, allowing my lips to linger on his soft and smooth skin for a few seconds.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    Startled, I quickly moved away from him. His eyes remained closed, and when he finally opened them, our gazes locked. He wore a serious expression, and I couldn¡¯t discern whether he was upset with my actions.


    ¡°Uh¡­ N-Nothing,¡± I stammered, avoiding direct eye contact.


    I attempted to create some distance between us, but he suddenly gripped my wrist. It felt like a scene from a Korean drama, with everything slowing down, especially as my body came to fall beside his.


    My eyes widened, and my lips hung open in disbelief as I gazed at him. His expression remained serious, leaving me unable to fathom his thoughts.


    I tried to distance myself, but our fingers quickly intertwined. He drew me closer, cradling me in his muscr arm.


    ¡°Uh¡­ I-I thought you were asleep,¡± I stammered, attempting to conceal my embarrassment.


    ¡°Hmmm?¡± He nestled his face against my cheek, taking in my scent deeply. I suddenly felt self-conscious. What if I smell unpleasant, and he bes even more disenchanted with me?


    Why bother? He doesn¡¯t like you anyway, my inner critic taunted.


    I remained still, scarcely breathing or shifting due to my proximity to Ivan. I bit my lip and refrained from closing my eyes as a multitude of sensations coursed through me, all due to our closeness. I could even catch a whiff of his pleasant breath.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Ah¡­ Go to sleep,¡± I nervously whispered. I¡¯m not ustomed to him acting like this with me. I¡¯m more used to his cold demeanor.


    I¡¯m starting to wonder, does he really have amnesia?


    Absolutely! It¡¯s likely because he wouldn¡¯t behave like this in his previous state. He¡¯s typically repelled by me.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t we used to do this?¡± he innocently asked.


    I looked at him with a hint of surprise.


    ¡°N-No¡­ You¡¯re the one who said that, right? That you love Maureen¡­¡± I bit my lip and tried to calm myself because it felt like reality was suffocating me. I shouldn¡¯t have let myself get carried away.


    ¡°Not¡­ ever?¡± he asked skeptically.


    I shook my head.


    ¡°Even what happened between us before, you don¡¯t remember. You were really drunk that night¡­¡±


    There was a deafening silence for a moment. It¡¯s as if he¡¯s attempting to delve into his memory based on what I said.


    ¡°Don¡¯t force it,¡± I told him. It wouldn¡¯t be good for him to try and remember forcefully.


    ¡°Go to sleep, Ivan.¡± I¡¯m notfortable discussing this. It just makes the pain worse.


    ¡°Alright¡­ Let¡¯s sleep.¡± He kissed my cheek and embraced me even more tightly.


    A few minutes passed, and he had already drifted off to sleep.


    Meanwhile, I couldn¡¯t hold back my tears. I did my best to stifle my sobs, not wanting him to witness my vulnerability. I didn¡¯t want to exploit his amnesia; I was convinced it was merely the pity he felt for me.


    And when he¡¯s with Maureen again, he will most likely let go of me. There¡¯s no way he¡¯d choose me over Maureen.


    As he rxed his grip on me, I seized the opportunity to distance myself from him. I stood up and sat down, silently observing my husband as tears continued to stream from my eyes.


    I believed I was strong. I believed I could endure, but I¡¯m still fragile. My love for him continues to sap my strength.


    Can I truly distance myself from you? Can I leave you? Can I live far away from you?


    Ivan¡­ Why can¡¯t it be me instead? Why can¡¯t you choose me? I love you. And I can love you better than Maureen can.


    I wiped the tears from my cheeks and took a deep breath.


    But I am not Maureen. I¡¯m not the woman your heart beats for.


    I massaged my temples, shaking my senses back into ce.


    Get it together. You can¡¯t be weak. How can you leave and go away if your mind keeps changing about this?

 Unwelcome visitor

    I woke upter than usual, and Ivan was no longer in bed. It was nearly morning when I fell asleep, so I didn¡¯t notice him getting up.


    I took a shower before leaving our room, with a smile on my lips, but it quickly faded upon seeing the scene before me. Maureen was here! She and Ivan were sitting together on the couch.


    It was already past nine, so my inws had left, and Ivan¡¯s siblings had also gone to work. I watched the two of them for a moment; Ivan was smiling, and Maureen was talking non-stop. Whenever theyughed, Maureen would hug him, and Ivan would put his arm around her.


    I experienced a sudden, intense ache in my chest once more. I believed I might be emotionally numb, but it seemed that I couldn¡¯t. The pain was still very real.


    I was uncertain whether I should head to the kitchen and pretend not to notice them or go back to the room and wait for Maureen to leave.


    Why does this woman persist in constricting my world?


    It¡¯s not that Ick the right to do so. I¡¯mpletely within my rights to dismiss her at this moment, but if I were to, it¡¯s almost certain that Ivan would be upset with me, considering his current condition. I¡¯m attempting to avoid provoking his anger.


    And do my feelings matter to him? My feelings don¡¯t appear to carry weight with him.


    I cleared my throat to get their attention. I noticed the surprise in Ivan¡¯s eyes as he hastily withdrew his arm from the woman.


    Meanwhile, Maureen clung to Ivan¡¯s arms wrapped around her, seemingly indifferent to my presence.


    I sighed and continued walking straight ahead. I couldn¡¯t see any reason to stop, turn around, and acknowledge them. Was that really necessary? Did I need to convey to them that I was okay with what they were doing?


    I discovered two maids in the kitchen whispering to each other. I didn¡¯t need to hear what they were discussing. I¡¯m certain it¡¯s about me, Maureen, and Ivan.


    ¡°What¡¯s for breakfast?¡± I inquired in a casual tone.


    The two of them turned pale with surprise. As they regained theirposure, I could see pity in their expressions. Pity because my husband was with his mistress in the living room.


    I didn¡¯t require their sympathy, so I put on a forced smile.


    I was waiting for them to carry out their chores.


    ¡°Ah, ma¡¯am, we¡¯re warming up the food,¡± one of them exined, sounding frantic while tugging at herpanion¡¯s clothes, who remained rooted in her spot.


    ¡°No need. I¡¯ll take care of my own meal,¡± I said, turning away from them and heading to the pantry. I grabbed some buns and mayonnaise. That would be my meal. It¡¯s one of myfort foods. Yeah, because I¡¯m stressed right now.


    After eating, I went to my mother-inw¡¯s garden to tend to her nts. I also had some vegetable seeds I bought the other day, and I nted them in pots.


    ¡°Ma¡¯am, would you like to have a snack?¡± one of the household helpers asked me.


    I was unaware that it had already be afternoon. I discreetly got up and approached the nearby faucet to wash my soiled hands. Despite wearing gloves, they had still be dirty.


    The helper didn¡¯t leave until I was seated in a metal chair.


    ¡°Has Ivan had his snack?¡± I asked, unable to express the exact question that had been on my mind.


    ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am, along with Ma¡¯am Maureen,¡± the woman replied, her smile never wavering.


    ¡°He inquired earlier if you had had your snack and wanted to invite you to join them.¡±


    My taste suddenly soured because of what she said. Ivan might have amnesia, but why does he seem foolish too? Where¡¯s hismon sense?


    Damn it! I¡¯m starting to feel irritated with him.


    ¡°Ma¡¯am Maureen has left¡­ She just departed,¡± the household helper reported to me.


    ¡°Okay, thank you. You can leave me now. I¡¯ll take the utensils to the kitchenter.¡±Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g


    She gave a slight nod before leaving. I let out a frustrated sigh, shaking my head, and began to eat.


    ***


    It was already evening when Ivan and I saw each other. I entered the room to get dressed for dinner with the whole family. As I moved around the room, I felt his intense gaze on me.


    ¡°M, are you okay?¡± he asked, breaking the silence.


    ¡°Yup,¡± I responded curtly, still avoiding eye contact. I slipped on my t sandals and then finally stole a nce in his direction, gesturing toward the door.


    It¡¯s already five minutes past seven in the evening, and they must be ready at the dining table. We¡¯re the only ones they¡¯re waiting for.


    ¡°Good evening,¡± I greeted Mom and Dad while exchanging nods with some of Ivan¡¯s siblings.


    ¡°Let¡¯s eat¡­¡±


    We dined in silence, the only sound being the clinking of utensils on tes echoing through the room. It wasn¡¯t until dessert that the conversation finally stirred.


    ¡°How was your day?¡± my mother-inw inquired.


    I remained silent, my gaze fixed on the food before me. I was confident that my inws had no idea of Maureen¡¯s visit. Theirposure would have been far from calm if the conversation had revolved around Maureen.


    ¡°Fine,¡± Ivan replied in a bored tone.


    I felt like rolling my eyes. Inwardly, I chastised him. He was still bored in that situation, huh?


    To prevent attracting their attention, I let out a deep sigh slowly. Ivan and Maureen had likely already instructed the household helpers not to mention her visit. I also didn¡¯t want to cause anymotion within the family, so I decided to keep quiet.


    ***


    Wey in silence on Ivan¡¯s bed, side by side, but it wasn¡¯t like the previous night when we were close. I found myself at the edge of the bed, facing away from him.


    ¡°M, are you okay?¡±


    To be honest, I felt tasteless in this rtionship. I couldn¡¯t tell if this was a sign of me moving on or if I was simply angry with him at the moment.


    Regardless, I needed to keep it all to myself. I didn¡¯t want to argue with him; I didn¡¯t want us to fight because, in the end, I would still be the one who lost.


    He inched closer, causing me to tense up. He pulled me in until I could feel his body against mine.


    Damn it! I wanted to curse at him. I also wanted to scold myself because the irritation I had been feeling had transformed into hope.


    M, you¡¯re so vulnerable when ites to Ivan.


    ¡°Are we okay?¡± His warm breath brushed against my neck.


    We? Is there a ¡®we¡¯? my mind inquired bluntly.


    ¡°Well, yes,¡± I replied, simply wanting to conclude the conversation.


    ¡°You¡¯re not mad? Why do I sense that you¡¯re upset with me?¡±


    ¡°No, I¡¯m not mad. Why would I be?¡±


    I¡¯m quite adept at acting, much like Ivan.


    ¡°If you¡¯re not, then face me¡­¡± I wasn¡¯t ustomed to the softness in his voice. It was so gentle that it dispelled my jealousy. I didn¡¯t respond and didn¡¯t move to meet his gaze.


    ¡°You¡¯re upset. Would you care to exin why?¡±


    I took a deep breath before slowly turning to meet his eyes.


    ¡°Let¡¯s sleep,¡± I said tly before closing my eyes to avoid the gaze that seemed to probe the depths of my thoughts.


    He didn¡¯t say anything more. I fell asleep quickly, fatigued from the previous night.


    ***


    Once again, I woke upte the next morning. Unlike yesterday, I felt considerably lighter today. I smiled and moved with agility. However, as I stepped outside, I encountered Maureen once more.


    Doesn¡¯t she have any respect for Ivan¡¯s family? If she can¡¯t respect me as Ivan¡¯s ¡°on-paper¡± wife, she should, at the very least, disy some consideration for Ivan¡¯s family, knowing that they don¡¯t like her.

 Flashbacks

    Seeing Maureen, I walked directly, without ncing back, leaving the house in annoyance since I was supposed to have breakfast in the garden.


    Upon spotting a taxi, I quickly hailed it, clutching my phone containing my ATM card, and directed the taxi driver to make a brief detour to the nearest ATM for cash.


    I headed to the church, fervently praying and wrestling with the tears I had bottled up. Eventually, I let my emotions flow, relieved that only a handful of people were entering the church, sparing me the difort of shedding tears before the Lord.


    By noon, I resolved to leave the church, lighting a candle at the side to pray for my parents before my departure.


    Afterward, I made my way to the mall, where I enjoyed a meal and watched a movie. Around five in the afternoon, I decided to return home, assuming Maureen was no longer there.


    On the way back, I pondered whether I should stay or break themitment I had made to remain for a month, feeling utterly useless.


    Come on, M. You¡¯ve been of no use in Ivan¡¯s life for a while now. You should have left a long time ago.


    If only I had somewhere to go when Ivan¡¯s parents urged us to marry, I would have left. It had given me hope that Ivan might fall for me, but it never materialized.


    ¡°Where have you been?¡± Ivan inquired upon my arrival at home, perched on the couch. I couldn¡¯t tell if he had been waiting for me or not.


    ¡°Just around,¡± I replied, avoiding eye contact as I continued toward the room. I felt sticky, so a shower was in order, and I nned to speak with my inws.


    Entering the bathroom, I began undressing, ready to step into the shower when the bathroom door swung open.


    ¡°Ivan!¡± I eximed as he walked in. I scrambled to cover myself, but my two arms couldn¡¯t hide my naked body. Turning to shield my bare back from his view, I shot him a sharp look, but he remained unfazed. He appeared as surprised as I was but quickly regained hisposure.


    ¡°Where have you been?¡± he repeated, unsatisfied with my response. Stubbornly, he followed me into the bathroom. I stayed silent, realizing he had no intention of leaving.


    So, I turned my back to him and began showering.


    ¡°Want to join me in the shower?¡± I quipped, noticing he was still lingering.


    ¡°Nah¡­ But watching you shower seems like a good idea,¡± he replied with a mischievous grin.


    My cheeks flushed at hisment. Seriously?


    ¡°Nice butt, by the way¡­¡± he added.


    I rolled my eyes and chose to ignore him, focusing on rinsing my hair and pretending his presence in the bathroom wasn¡¯t making me self-conscious.


    I acted like I didn¡¯t care, even though the truth was Ivan¡¯s presence affected me. What he¡¯s doing affects me. There you go again, M. Why do your feelings change so rapidly?¡±


    ¡°Staring is rude, Mister¡­¡±


    ¡°Am I not allowed to admire my beautiful wife while she¡¯s showering?¡±


    I rolled my eyes.


    ¡°Wife on paper¡­¡± I whispered.


    ¡°What did you say?¡±


    ¡°Nothing,¡± I rinsed my hair before I started soaping my shoulders. I parted my hair to the other side while I thoroughly soaped my shoulder.


    ¡°You think you¡¯re seducing me, don¡¯t you?¡±


    What?!


    ¡°I¡¯m just cleaning myself! What are you talking about?¡±


    ¡°Oh¡­ You¡¯re not?¡±


    I swiftlythered the upper portion of my body and rinsed it once more. Then, I used the feminine wash for my private area. When I finished, I retrieved the towel from the nearby hook.


    ¡°You haven¡¯t soaped the¡­¡±


    I gave him a sharp look.


    ¡°Whatever, Ivan! What you¡¯re doing won¡¯t change my mind anymore,¡± I whispered in my final sentence.


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°Nothing! I¡¯m getting dressed. Your parents and siblings are already here.¡±


    I was the first to leave the bathroom and made my way to the closet to pick out an outfit. I opted for the simple dress my mother-inw had given me on myst birthday.


    I hastily closed the closet door as Ivan peered inside.


    ¡°You¡¯re not funny, Ivan.¡±


    I could hear his heartyughter from the outside.


    Damn it!


    Damn it!


    False hope!


    ¡°So, where were you all afternoon?¡±


    ¡°I had a date!¡± I replied with irritation.


    ¡°What on earth, M!¡±


    I was startled by his shouting and door mming.


    ¡°What¡¯s your problem?¡± I retorted, but he didn¡¯t respond.


    I put on some sandals, then blow-dried my hair. I added a touch of red tint to my cheeks and lips before stepping out.


    The maid knocked on the door just in time.


    ¡°Ma¡¯am, Sir, Madam said dinner will be served early tonight.¡±


    ¡°Alright,¡± I replied, ncing at Ivan, who was seated on the couch with his head down and his fingers interlocked.


    I left him in the room, but he followed me as I descended the stairs.


    ¡°M,¡± he called my name.


    ¡°Yes?¡±


    He didn¡¯t reply either.


    ¡°Good evening,¡± I greeted my inws upon my arrival in the dining area.


    ¡°M, you look lovely. Is that the dress I gave you on your birthday?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mom. It¡¯s this one¡­¡±


    They all smiled, their eyes on me.


    ¡°How are you, Ivan? Do you recall anything?¡±


    Our gaze shifted to Ivan, who remained silent. He shook his head as a response.


    ¡°Alright, don¡¯t push it.¡±


    Our eyes met, but I looked away at first.


    They were engrossed in a discussion about business, so I couldn¡¯t find an opportunity to speak. When dessert was served, they shifted to a conversation about Ivan¡¯s grandfather¡¯s anniversary of death.


    Dinner was drawing to a close, but I still couldn¡¯t find a chance to speak.


    ¡°M?¡± my mother-inw inquired. I raised my eyes, and as I noticed that all their gazes were fixed on me, it felt as though a lump had lodged itself in my throat, and I struggled to find the right words.


    ¡°Y-Yes?¡±


    ¡°Do you have something to say?¡± It seemed like Mom was attuned to my unease. She knew me quite well.


    ¡°Yes¡­ Uhm¡­¡±


    I took a sip of water and cleared my throat to ease the apparent blockage.


    ¡°I¡­ I¡­¡± I managed a smile. ¡°I am nning to leave.¡±


    My mother-inw¡¯splexion paled, and the eyes of my inws brimmed with questions. She gazed at me inquisitively and then at Ivan.


    I couldn¡¯t be certain of Ivan¡¯s reaction, but I could sense his gaze on me. Perhaps he was secretly relieved that I was going to depart.


    ¡°Why?¡± My father-inw was the first to regain hisposure.


    Mom mumbled, ¡°I thought you two were doing well. Why do you still need to go?¡± Her voice quivered as she spoke.


    ¡°I want to leave.¡± I struggled to steady my voice. Shit! Saying goodbye was proving to be more challenging than I had anticipated.


    ¡°Ivan! What did you do?¡± I panicked when they turned to Ivan.


    ¡°He did not influence my decision. This is entirely my choice.¡±


    My gaze fixed on Ivan. He appeared very serious, with his jaw clenched slightly. However, after a few moments, he averted his gaze and fixed his gaze on the floor.


    I couldn¡¯t decipher his thoughts, but I knew I shouldn¡¯t dwell on it.


    ¡°Perhaps you¡¯re just taken by surprise, dear,¡± my father-inw gently suggested.


    I had been nning to leave for some time, but I was finding it exceptionally difficult. Nheless, I needed to stand by my decision.


    ¡°I have decided to leave now. Initially, I contemted not saying goodbye, but it would be unfair to all of you if I did that.¡±


    My mother-inw burst into tears. ¡°No! Don¡¯t leave, please. Ivan, do something. Don¡¯t let her go!¡±


    Ivan abruptly rose from his seat. I thought he was about to storm out, but to my surprise, he seized my hand and led me to our room.


    ¡°Let go of me!¡± I protested.


    Suddenly, he pressed me against the closed door, causing me to gasp.


    ¡°You¡¯re leaving?¡± he asked with a mixture of anger and a touch of tenderness in his voice.


    I turned my face away from him. I didn¡¯t want to meet his gaze, fearing it might change my resolve. But what if he were to plead for me to stay? Not that he would.


    ¡°Why?¡± I remained silent, so he gently tilted my chin to make me face him. I resisted initially, but the pain in my jaw eventually made me relent.


    ¡°Why?¡± he inquired.


    ¡°Does it matter to you?¡± I replied softly, feeling weak.


    ¡°Are you really leaving while I don¡¯t remember anything?¡±


    I clenched my jaw. ¡°Would anything change if you remembered something? I don¡¯t think so, Ivan.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t leave yet.¡±


    Not yet? Not. Yet.


    ¡°My decision is final. It¡¯s best for me to leave now. At least, I can carry some good memories with me. If I wait for you to remember, those precious memories we shared will likely turn bitter. Ivan, you hate me so much.¡±


    Tears welled up in my eyes.


    ¡°You hate me,¡± I whispered.


    ¡°That¡¯s not how I feel, M.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s because of your amnesia¡­ Please, Ivan. Just let me go.¡±Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°I thought you were going to take care of me first. I thought-¡±


    ¡°I thought I could stay and take care of you, too. I thought, Ivan.¡±


    ¡°Why? Why did you change your mind?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m jealous, Ivan!¡±


    ¡°Jealous!¡±


    ¡°Even though you genuinely love her, and I¡¯m merely your wife on paper, I still have feelings. I¡¯m human, not a robot. I love you, Ivan. And I¡¯m hurt by Maureen¡¯s frequent visits. I¡¯m in pain, Ivan. I can¡¯t bear it any longer.¡± I exined, sobbing.


    Ivan embraced me, causing my eyes to widen.


    ¡°I-I¡¯m sorry, M¡­¡±


    His words touched me even more deeply. Throughout our time together, since we had gotten married, this was the first time he had apologized for all the times he had hurt me.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± he said as he pressed our foreheads together. My tears continued to flow.


    ¡°Please, stop. I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    I embraced him, burying my face in his chest. In return, he held me. The room was filled with the sound of my gentle sobbing.


    ¡°Ah¡­¡± Ivan touched his head, seemingly in pain.


    ¡°Are you alright?¡±


    ¡°My head hurts¡­¡± he panted, appearing to struggle.


    ¡°Is it very painful?¡± I asked in a panic. I didn¡¯t know how tofort him or what kind of assistance to provide.


    ¡°Please, have a seat. I¡¯ll call your mom and ask her to call a doctor,¡± I said, guiding him to the bed.


    His palms were icy, and the veins on the side of his forehead were protruding. His face flushed from his head down to his neck. It looked like it was really painful.


    My God! This is my fault! I must have startled him.


    ¡°I¡¯ll get your mom,¡± I assured him as he clung tightly to my hand.


    But he held onto me even more firmly.


    ¡°I won¡¯t go anywhere. I¡¯ll just call your mom,¡± I said gently. Only then did he slowly release my hand.


    I hurriedly left the room, but I paused when I saw my inws near the door.


    ¡°Mom! Ivan has a severe headache.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°Kent, call Dr. Cheng,¡± my father-inw instructed his son.

 Making a move

    I remained in the living room while the doctor examined Ivan. Inside, his parents were with him, while his siblings stood by the door.


    It had been twenty minutes since the doctor entered the room, and I hoped Ivan¡¯s condition would improve. Perhaps he was shocked, which caused his headache.


    I stood up as the doctor emerged with my inws.


    ¡°Take him to the hospital for a thorough check-up tomorrow,¡± the doctor advised Ivan¡¯s parents. Dr. Cheng nodded at me before leaving the house.


    ¡°Mom, how is Ivan?¡± I inquired.


    My mother-inw smiled. ¡°He¡¯s doing better now and is looking for you. Go inside your room.¡±


    ¡°H-Hasn¡¯t his memory returned yet?¡±


    Mom shook her head. ¡°He just had a headache. I told him not to pressure himself to remember. M¡­¡± She held my hands and said, ¡°I know you¡¯re going through a tough time, but¡­¡± Her eyes pleaded as she looked at me.


    ¡°Can you stay a little while longer? Please, dear, just until he recovers as you promised before.¡±


    I looked away and couldn¡¯t respond to Mom immediately. I truly wanted to leave, but¡­Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    I took a deep breath and nodded slowly. Whatever happens, I just hope I won¡¯t regret this decision.


    ¡°Thank you, dear¡­¡± My mother-inw embraced me along with her husband.


    ***


    Gently, I eased open the door to our shared room, where Ivan reclined in the center of the bed, appearing to be in sleep. Prior to nestling beside him, I discreetly changed my clothes.


    ¡°If you don¡¯t want me to leave, then I won¡¯t, at least for now. But if you truly don¡¯t want to see me and be with me, just tell me,¡± I whispered before cing a kiss on his forehead.


    He stirred and embraced me, bringing a smile to my lips.


    ¡°You¡¯re quite the tease, toying with my emotions like this. Do you know that?¡±


    He nestled his face into my neck, and after a while, he started snoring.


    I would have been happy because you¡¯re finally being kind to me and acknowledging me as your spouse, but you let Maureene here.


    I tenderly caressed his cheek and, with closed eyes, surrendered to the embrace of sleep.


    ***


    The knocks on the door stirred me from my slumber. I was about to get up when Ivan beat me to it.


    ¡°Sir, Miss Maureen is outside,¡± the maid informed us.


    Ivan¡¯s gaze briefly swept in my direction, where I sat in poised anticipation, ready for his next move. By the time he ventured outside to meet Maureen, my departure would undoubtedly have already taken ce.


    To my surprise, however, he didn¡¯t go outside.


    ¡°Tell her to go home,¡± Ivan instructed. I couldn¡¯t help but smile at his words. Well, that¡¯s a promising start. I just hope he follows through with it.


    He closed the door and returned to bed. Hey down beside me, drawing me close.


    ¡°Let¡¯s get some more sleep,¡± he whispered. His eyes were already closed, making it seem like he was still drowsy, or perhaps he was trying to lull me to sleep, and once I did, he would go see Maureen.


    ¡°Do you not remember anything?¡±


    He opened his eyes and gazed at me for a moment before he shook his head and sighed.


    ¡°Nothing.¡±


    Of course, if he remembers, he won¡¯t treat me like this. He¡¯s probably in a hurry to go out and see Maureen.


    ¡°Let¡¯s turn in,¡± he suggested once more, his arms enclosing me tightly, eliciting a reflexive wince from me.


    ¡°Ivan, you¡¯re suffocating me with your embrace,¡± I protested, trying to extricate myself, but he clung to me stubbornly.


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure if I should be d you¡¯re suffering from amnesia¡­¡±


    ¡°Why¡¯s that?¡±


    ¡°I might grow ustomed to this situation¡­ I wish it couldst forever.¡±


    A soft smile graced his lips as he nted a tender kiss on my cheek.


    ¡°Ivan¡­¡±


    ¡°Yes?¡±


    ¡°If you want me to stay for a while¡­ Could I make a request?¡±


    ¡°Of course. What is it?¡±


    ¡°For one month, could you treat me as your wife? Be my husband, a devoted and faithful spouse. No Maureen. Just us¡­¡±


    He faced me, yet his hands remained locked in an embrace around my body.


    ¡°Is that all?¡± I gently stroked his cheek. ¡°Yes, that¡¯s all.¡±


    ¡°Okay, deal. You¡¯re not allowed to go out without seeking my permission, either.¡±


    His statement prompted an arched eyebrow from me. I¡¯m quite fond of this amnesiac Ivan version.


    ¡°Okay, love¡­¡± I started with a smile that quickly transformed into a mischievous grin.


    ¡°Is that our endearment?¡± he inquired.


    ¡°We don¡¯t have endearments. You only call me by my name when you¡¯re angry with me.¡± His eyebrows furrowed as if he were lost in thought.


    ¡°Don¡¯t think about it.¡±


    ¡°Am I truly a lousy husband?¡±


    ¡°A bit¡­¡± I let my grin widen. ¡°Well, more like terrible.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not causing you any physical harm, am I?¡±


    I shook my head. ¡°No, you¡¯re just hurting my feelings.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry. Let me make it up to you, even if I can¡¯t remember.¡± He leaned his head.


    ¡°I told you not to push yourself. It¡¯s okay! What you¡¯re showing me now more thanpensates for any past wrongdoings. I could leave if-¡±


    He silenced me by covering my mouth with his palm.


    ¡°No one¡¯s leaving. I won¡¯t allow it.¡±


    ¡°Okay. As long as¡­ our agreement.¡±


    Ivan and I dozed off once more. We woke up at noon and decided to have our meal in the room because he didn¡¯t feel like going out.


    ¡°Do you have any more requests, sir?¡± the maid inquired as she cleared our table.


    ¡°Bring us some popcorn¡­¡±


    Ivan nced at me. ¡°Would you like some juice?¡±


    ¡°Just water.¡±


    He signaled to the maid, saying, ¡°Just water.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s shower first, then watch a movie. I can¡¯t take you to a cinema yet, so let¡¯s just do it at home.¡±


    I smiled. ¡°That¡¯s fine. Thank you, love.¡±


    He winked at me, making my heart skip a beat.


    We watched a movie, a love story, but I¡¯ve already seen it. I don¡¯t like this movie. The couple will break up in the end, which is why I don¡¯t like it. But Ivan said he wanted to watch it though I didn¡¯t tell him that I had finished watching it.


    He had his arm around my shoulder as we watched. He¡¯d feed me popcorn, and sometimes I¡¯d do the same for him.


    We don¡¯t have a fancy date, yet this is the best movie date ever.


    We locked eyes during the most intimate scenes with the leads. They were making out.


    I bit my lip and couldn¡¯t bear to look at the TV any longer.


    But I could see Ivan¡¯s grin.


    ¡°What?¡± I asked in annoyance, nudging him slightly with my elbow.


    He held my chin and turned my face toward him, licking his lips, and then swallowing hard.


    ¡°I-Ivan¡­¡±


    His eyes glistened as he slowly moved his lips closer to mine, and he kissed me. He was kissing me softly. I forced my eyes to close, feeling his soft lips covering mine.


    Grasping the nape of my neck, his tongue met mine, and a gentle, weakening sensation coursed through me, prompting me to recline. Swiftly, he positioned himself above me, prompting a soft gasp to escape my lips.


    His hand stealthily ventured beneath my shirt, and his warm palm traced a path from my stomach to my chest, hidden beneath the fabric of my bra. I couldn¡¯t stifle a moan, overwhelmed by the heat of his hand and the intense passion of his kiss. Just as he started to unhook my bra, my mother-inw¡¯s voice interrupted us.


    ¡°M, I have some-oh! I¡¯m sorry!¡±


    ¡°Mom! Can¡¯t you knock?¡± Ivan asked with irritation, quickly getting up.


    ¡°Sorry, I didn¡¯t know you were busy,¡± Momughed yfully, but she didn¡¯t leave.


    She arrived with a few paper bags, indicating that she had once again gone shopping on my behalf. Whenever I¡¯m in low spirits, she generously purchases various items for me. This thoughtful and caring behavior has been a constant since I moved in with them following my parents¡¯ passing.


    ¡°I also bought some food. Let¡¯s have a snack to regain your energy. The maids said you two haven¡¯t left the room.¡±


    She smiled once more. I chuckled as I emerged from bed and approached my mother-inw. I took the paper bags she was carrying and examined their contents.


    ¡°Thank you, Mom.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re wee, my dear. It would be even better if we went shopping together.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not really into clothes and shopping,¡± I stated. She yfully rolled her eyes, and Iughed.


    ¡°Let¡¯s eat first, love¡­¡± I invited Ivan, who appeared to be in a bad mood. He looked like he had been left hanging.


    Wait¡­ Was he nning to make a move on me? If his mother doesn¡¯t show up, will something happen between us? My cheeks flushed, but his bruises and wounds weren¡¯t fully healed yet. It would only cause him more pain.


    ¡°Love? Do you already have endearments for each other? My heart is so happy.¡± My mother-inw hugged me.


    ¡°Is having my grandchild next in your ns? I¡¯m so excited!¡±


    I scratched my head, meeting Ivan¡¯s gaze. A faint smile graced his lips at that moment. In return, I offered a subtle smile and a nod.


    My affection for him seemed to be deepening. I wished he wouldn¡¯t recall, and I hoped I wouldn¡¯t have to depart from his life.

 Vacation

    ¡°Your dad and I are headed to Vietnam this Friday for a conference,¡± my mother-inw muttered as we enjoyed a snack.


    ¡°And I was thinking that you two should join us¡­ What do you think?¡±


    That would be the next day.


    I turned to look at Ivan, who responded with a nonchnt shrug. When he noticed my gaze, he raised an inquisitive eyebrow.


    ¡°Do you want to go?¡± I asked.


    ¡°How about you?¡±


    But this n would be his decision because there are lingering wounds on his body that had yet to heal.


    ¡°If you want to go, then let¡¯s do it.¡±


    ¡°But won¡¯t it be tough for you?¡± I expressed my concern.


    ¡°I¡¯ll be fine. A little getaway won¡¯t hurt me,¡± Ivan reassured me.


    ¡°Thank you, love,¡± I hugged him tightly, and he patted my back affectionately.


    After our snack, I began packing our clothes for the trip, but I found it difficult to concentrate because Ivan was yfully teasing me. He kept hugging me and stealing kisses, filling my heart with overwhelming love.


    Never did I anticipate that Ivan and I would find ourselves at this point. I had nearly given up, but hey, I¡¯m weak!


    Nevertheless, I chose not to focus on the potential negative aspects that might cast a shadow over the joy Ivan was bringing me at this moment.


    ¡°Ivan,¡± I scolded him whileughing. I paused my packing, hugged him, and kissed his neck.


    He held onto my hip and captured my lips, then showered me with a multitude of yful kisses.


    ¡°Stop!¡± I eximed, pulling away as he intensified the kiss. I directed him toward the bed.


    ¡°You should take a nap while I finish packing. We won¡¯t aplish anything with your current antics.¡±


    ¡°I thought you loved me?¡± He started to act dramatically, pouting his lips. I kissed him on the lips while shaking my head.


    ¡°Love¡­ You¡¯re the one who didn¡¯t love me,¡± I pouted, realizing what I had said. As long as he allowed me to love him, that was fine, but if he could return my love, why not?


    I hope he will love me one day andpletely forget about Maureen.


    ¡°Go to sleep,¡± I said, tapping his shoulder.


    I continued packing, and Ivany quietly on the bed, closely observing my every move.


    When I finished packing, I noticed it was almost dinnertime, and he had dozed off as well.


    ¡°Ivan¡­¡± I tapped him, but he remained fast asleep.


    ¡°Ivan¡­¡± I whispered close to his ear. ¡°Wake up, it¡¯s time for dinner!¡± Suddenly, he hugged me and pulled me to lie down beside him.


    ¡°You¡¯re such a trickster. Let¡¯s eat now; we shouldn¡¯t keep your mom waiting, or she might start thinking that¡­¡± I bit my lip because I suddenly felt embarrassed.


    He kissed my neck and gently nibbled.


    ¡°You¡¯re really crazy! Come on!¡± I eximed once more. But I couldn¡¯t help but squeal withughter as he tickled me.


    I pushed him and yfully smacked his side, but it seemed like I did it too forcefully because he winced.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, love.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re so mean.¡±


    ¡°Sorry. It¡¯s your fault, you know.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll forgive you but give me a kiss first.¡±


    I rolled my eyes at him. ¡°My husband was so cheesy.¡±


    He pouted. ¡°Don¡¯t you like it?¡±


    ¡°Of course, here it is.¡± I puckered my lips and leaned in to kiss him, causing him to immediately ce his hand on my waist.


    ¡°Enough. Let¡¯s continueter,¡± I interjected, concerned that my inws might be getting impatient.


    ¡°Later, huh?¡±


    I chuckled. ¡°We¡¯ll get some restter.¡±


    ¡°Tsss! You said it.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t say anything! Come on.¡± I took his hand, and pulled him up from the bed, and he followed.


    Upon our arrival at the dining area, his family yfully teased us. They were ted and even expressed their hopes for us to have a baby soon.


    I simplyughed, but deep down, I didn¡¯t agree with their sentiments. Bringing a child into the world while we were in this situation was not a wise idea.


    Yes, Ivan and I are doing well now¡­ Now that he had amnesia. This wasn¡¯t the right time, and I wasn¡¯t even sure if there ever would be a right time for it.


    All I knew was that our child would be the one to suffer. I doubted my ability to handle it. While I could endure my own pain, once a child was involved, it would be a different story. I might not be able to cope with it.


    ***


    ¡°What¡¯s on your mind?¡± Ivan inquired as he kissed my shoulder. He had just finished showering, and we were preparing to sleep.


    ¡°Nothing, really¡­¡± I kissed his hand that was resting on my arm.


    ¡°Let¡¯s get some sleep. You shouldn¡¯t stay upte, and you have a doctor¡¯s appointment tomorrow¡­¡±


    He pulled me close and allowed me to rest my head on his chest. Once he had fallen asleep, I moved to the other pillow to prevent him from waking up with a stiff neck.


    ***


    My mother-inw won¡¯t be able to join us for Ivan¡¯s check-up because they have some matters to attend to before our departure tomorrow.


    As we woke up at eight in the morning, we had to rush, and we ended up skipping breakfast.


    We were about to get into the waiting car when Maureen suddenly arrived. I felt drained by her unexpected appearance.


    She nced at our intertwined hands. Her sweet smile turned bitter, and though I could discern the pain on her face, it didn¡¯tst long as she quickly regained herposure.


    ¡°Are you leaving?¡± she asked while looking at Ivan.


    ¡°Uh, yeah. We¡¯re heading to the hospital,¡± Ivan replied.


    Maureen nodded. ¡°Great. I¡¯m right on time. I¡¯ming along¡­¡±


    I looked at Ivan. He seemed reluctant to meet my gaze before turning to Maureen with a sweet, hopeful smile.


    ¡°I¡¯ll go with you.¡±


    I lost all the color in my face after he said that. I wanted to have an outburst, go wild, or simply walk away, but like before, I chose to remain calm.


    ¡°Maureen¡­¡± Ivan didn¡¯t finish his sentence as Maureen abruptly got into the car.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± the woman urged us.


    She tapped the seat beside her as if indicating that Ivan should sit there.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± Ivan mumbled softly. I sighed and took a step toward the passenger seat when he pulled me back.


    ¡°I¡¯ll take the front seat,¡± he said. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, love¡­¡±


    I mustered a smile. Thankfully, the magic word worked, and I wasn¡¯t as angry anymore. But do I have to sit next to Maureen?


    Unbelievable! I didn¡¯t want to start a fight or push her away, I would simply endure it.


    ¡°Ivan!¡± Maureen protested when I sat beside her.


    Ivan didn¡¯t respond. He was clearly torn between being kind to her and keeping his promise to me.


    I would embrace whatever he could provide, as long as he didn¡¯t set me aside. I knew I shouldn¡¯t settle for less, but I could handle it, as long as Ivan needed me.


    Sitting next to Maureen, I was silent. It was awkward, but I had to endure it. As long as we weren¡¯t living in the same house and were sharing Ivan, I think I could handle her.


    I would be nice to her. Well, not exactly ¡°nice,¡± ¡°civil¡± might be a more fitting term.


    The journey to the hospital took thirty minutes. Maureen kept up the conversation during the trip, talking with Ivan and recalling various events from their past.


    I couldn¡¯t believe she even brought up their first date and first kiss. Ivan remained wordless, though the reflection in the rear-view mirror revealed a contemtive look on his face, as if he was retracing the sentiments Maureen was conveying.


    After what felt like a frustrating half-hour, we reached the hospital.


    Ivan¡¯s friend, the doctor, appeared uneasy when we entered his office. He was Doctor Dous, a well-known neurologist in the country.


    ¡°Maureen, I didn¡¯t know that-¡±


    ¡°Shut up!¡± Maureen cut him off. Dous gave me a wry smile. It seemed like he was sensing the tension in the current situation as well.


    Hemenced his examination of Ivan, who mentioned that he still couldn¡¯t recall anything.


    ¡°Is there any medication you can prescribe to help him regain his memory?¡± Maureen impatiently inquired.


    She had more questions for the doctor than I did. She¡¯s the one who asked on my behalf, while I remained silent on the side.


    ¡°He¡¯ll remember once he remembers. You can¡¯t force it because it¡¯ll only worsen his condition¡­¡±Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Avoid stress,¡± he advised Ivan while casting a nce at Maureen.


    Maureen clenched her teeth in annoyance, and I couldn¡¯t help but shake my head at her audacity.


    Well, there¡¯s a saying that mistresses have thick skin and are fearless.


    ¡°Goodbye, doc! Thank you,¡± I expressed to Dous after the appointment. He nodded in response.


    ¡°Enjoy!¡±


    Maureen raised an eyebrow, her expression one of confusion as she directed her gaze toward the doctor and Ivan. Dous feigned deep concentration on hisptop, while Ivan and I exchanged a knowing nce.


    We couldn¡¯t afford for Maureen to uncover our intentions to visit another country; she would surely follow us. Should that ur, it would jeopardize our vacation, and it was certain to irritate my mother-inw.


    ¡°Ivan, wait!¡±


    She took hold of Ivan¡¯s hand, causing my husband to stop in his tracks.


    The woman said, ¡°M, you can head home now. I¡¯d like to spend some time with my boyfriend. I want to have dinner together with him outside.¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t, Maureen. Mom sent a text saying they were on their way home now. She¡¯d be surprised,¡± Ivan exined.


    ¡°Then M cane¡­¡±


    I couldn¡¯t believe this woman.


    ¡°I¡¯m tired. I want to go home now.¡±


    Maureen huffed in annoyance, but Ivan turned away from her. He walked out of the hospital ahead of her. I secretly smiled.


    Good job! I hope this continues. I understand it¡¯s a challenge for him. In his heart and mind, he loves Maureen. Even though he can¡¯t recall me-though his memories of our marriage weren¡¯t happy-I can see he¡¯s making an effort to be a good husband.


    We left Maureen at the hospital. She nearly threw a fit, but Ivan no longer paid her any attention.


    I¡¯m content with what he did. My happiness may be shallow, but it¡¯s enough.


    I feel as though he chose me because of his actions. What used to be merely a dream for me has now be a reality.


    Leaning my head on his shoulder, I met his gaze, and he offered a faint smile.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s okay. Thank you,¡± I responded with my eyes closed.

 Make out

    We were all taken aback by Maureen¡¯s unexpected arrival. She even appeared surprised as she took in the sight of our suitcases in the living room.


    ¡°What are you doing here?¡± my mother-inw asked her sternly.


    Maureen was on the verge of responding when Mom interjected, ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you to stay away from my son?¡±


    Maureen hesitated for a moment, but then summoned the courage to reply, ¡°I¡¯m the one your son loves. Besides, they¡¯re going to break up.¡±


    I clenched my fists and struggled to maintainposure as her gaze fixed on me. She offered a sympathetic smile, not out of kindness but as a silent acknowledgment of my role as a wife, even though I wasn¡¯t the one my husband loved.


    With a sigh, I averted my gaze, determined not to let this ruin my day. I didn¡¯t want to stoop to her level.


    As I heard Ivan¡¯s footsteps descending the stairs, I nced up at him, but he froze in his tracks upon seeing Maureen.


    ¡°You¡¯re leaving? Where are you going?¡± Maureen questioned my husband, assuming the role of a wife, anticipating that she should be cognizant of his every move and feel entitled to ess all information.


    Ivan maintained his silence, his lips firmly sealed, and his gaze unwavering as he continued his descent down the stairs.


    ¡°It¡¯s not your concern¡­ Show some decency, Maureen, even just a little,¡± remarked Ivan¡¯s sister, who had just returned from her jog. Her teeth were clenched, and it was evident that she was avoiding confrontation with the woman.


    ¡°Ivan!¡± Maureen eximed in frustration, clearly losing her patience.


    Maureen had disyed this behavior for some time now-affectionate yet frequently hot-headed. She had a short temper and insisted on having things her way, expecting Ivan to cater to her every desire. They frequently quarreled, with Ivan consistently trying to remain patient.


    It seemed as though I was the one who was growing weary of Ivan during that time. His mother used to warn him that the woman was a warning sign-a red g. Naturally, Ivan couldn¡¯t see it because he loved her, and when you love someone, you tend to see what you want to see.


    During their heated arguments, the woman would often threaten to end the rtionship, and Ivan would make efforts to win her back.


    Ivan had a great deal of patience¡­ for her. However, when it came to me, his patience was limited, and he would be upset over trivial matters.


    There was a time when I used to invite him or insist on having breakfast together, but he would be upset. He¡¯d raise his voice, saying, ¡°I already told you I¡¯m not going to eat with you! Don¡¯t you understand? Who told you to cook?! I won¡¯t eat what you¡¯ve prepared! You¡¯re just wasting money!¡±


    I had a monthly allowance from him, which he would give me. However, I didn¡¯t use it because I also had a job, so I was earning some money. On top of that, his parents were giving me money as well. I declined their offer, so they deposited it into my bank ount.


    My parents left me some money, so I wasn¡¯t facing financial difficulties. However, I won¡¯t receive it until next year. When I do receive the money, I n to repay my mother-inw for the expenses they incurred on my behalf.


    In a way, I¡¯m not a pitiable orphan; I consider myself fortunate.


    I was jolted from my thoughts when Maureen and Ivan¡¯s sister engaged in a heated argument.


    My sister-inw snapped, ¡°Guard! Evict this woman! And from now on, she¡¯s not allowed to enter this house. cklist her from the vige as well!¡±


    Maureen¡¯s countenance became even more resolute, resembling a gamecock preparing for battle, poised to confront its adversary.


    ¡°Maureen!¡± Ivan addressed her with a stern expression. ¡°Go.¡±


    I couldn¡¯t discern any emotion on my husband¡¯s face, leaving me unsure whether he was angry or feltpassion for the woman who was facing the collective disapproval of his family.


    ¡°Ivan¡­¡± Maureen was about to approach Ivan when the bodyguards closed in on her. Once more, she began to shout.


    ¡°Ivan! Ivan!¡±


    ¡°Sorry,¡± Ivan said to us. ¡°Shall we leave now?¡±


    I took a step forward but paused when Ivan sped my hands. He was now smiling, gently squeezing my hand.


    When we reached the airport, my inws¡¯ mood had improved noticeably. Like me, they were pleased with what Ivan had done earlier.


    Ivan also seemed to be back in his yful mood, constantly keeping his arm around me and asionally nting kisses on my head.


    ***


    This is my first time in Vietnam, while Ivan, on the contrary, has been here twice before. He mentioned he came during the summers of both high school and college. I refrained from inquiring about hispanions on those trips, not wanting to dampen the atmosphere. It was during those asions that he was already with Maureen.


    Ivan and I have a nned itinerary. Mom and Dad are upied with a business meeting, which leaves just the two of us to explore and visit various ces.


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you two go ahead and eat? Enjoy yourselves. We¡¯ll just rest for a bit, then we¡¯ll also head out for the meeting,¡± my mother-inw told us before they entered their suite.


    We proceeded to our designated suite. The entire room was spacious, and the view from the ss wall was breathtaking.


    ¡°Let¡¯s take a short break. We¡¯ll explore the ce and have a meal a bitter,¡± Ivan suggested, holding my hand until the moment we stepped into the suite. That¡¯s why the happiness I experienced was immeasurable.


    We took a brief nap for a few minutes. When we woke up, Ivan invited me to dine at the restaurant instead of having food delivered to our suite.


    I also brought my bag in preparation for our uing stroll. Ivan suggested that we visit the night market in the area.


    ¡°Don¡¯t eat too much for now,¡± he advised, so I ced a modest order.


    ¡°I¡¯m concerned that you might get tired¡­ I might overexert you,¡± I reminded Ivan. I was excited about our sightseeing ns, but I was keeping his well-being in mind.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± he murmured, reassuring me.


    ¡°What if we postpone sightseeing to tomorrow so you can rest now?¡±


    ¡°Do you think I¡¯d be resting if we stayed in our room?¡± he inquired with a mischievous grin, which took me a moment to fully grasp.


    ¡°You¡¯re crazy!¡±


    He chuckled and then wrapped his arms around me.


    We savored a variety of local dishes and picked up some souvenirs. We captured numerous photographs and encountered some amiable tourists who kindly offered to take our pictures.


    Ivan informed them that we were on our honeymoon.


    ¡°Oh, newlyweds. Congrattions!¡±


    ¡°You make a lovely couple,¡± a gracious foreign coupleplimented us.


    It was their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary, and they decided toe to Vietnam to celebrate.


    Couples who have a strong and sinceremitment to their marriage are truly admirable.


    That¡¯s my dream too. After all, who would want failed rtionships and marriages, right? But sometimes, we don¡¯t have full control over every aspect of our lives. There are unexpected events that can sometimes alter the course of our journey.


    ***


    It was nearly nine o¡¯clock in the evening when we returned to the hotel suite. Although my legs were aching from all the walking, I opted to take a swift shower. The satisfying meal left me feeling quite full.C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.


    When I hadpleted my shower, it was Ivan¡¯s turn to use the bathroom. Given my exhaustion, I chose to skip my usual skincare routine.


    ¡°W-why haven¡¯t you changed yet?¡± I inquired of Ivan, my cheeks flushing as I surveyed him from head to toe. He stood by the side of the bed, d only in a towel.


    ¡°I-Ivan,¡± I called his name with a tremor in my voice, but his grin only broadened.


    ¡°I just want to make out with my wife,¡± he replied yfully. He licked his lips, and I couldn¡¯t take my eyes off him. I swallowed hard as my throat went dry.


    I cleared my throat and averted my gaze, observing his delighted response.


    ¡°Y-you¡¯re tired, aren¡¯t you? You should-¡±


    I gasped as he sat down beside me. His eyes glistened as he tenderly caressed my cheek.


    ¡°My beautiful wife,¡± he softly whispered, gazing at my face. I could discern an array of emotions in his eyes. Tentatively, I met his intense gaze, which brimmed with emotions directed at me.


    ¡°A-are you okay?¡± I asked, noticing his face had turned pale.


    ¡°Ivan¡­¡± I sat up and ced my hand on his shoulder, asking, ¡°Is your head hurting?¡±


    ¡°A bit. It¡¯s gone now¡­ I¡¯m probably just tired.¡±


    ¡°Get dressed, and let¡¯s go to sleep.¡± I got out of bed, retrieved his clothes from the cab, and assisted him in getting dressed.


    Hey down afterward, closing his eyes. I believed he might be contemting something.


    I kept an eye on him until I was sure he had drifted into a peaceful slumber. It was only then that I shifted my own position to settle in for sleep.


    Why do I have the feeling that he¡¯s about to remember something? What if he reverts to his old ways of treating me?


    ¡°I love you, Ivan,¡± I whispered.


    I didn¡¯t want to overthink. I didn¡¯t know what would happen in theing days. But as long as you still want me by your side, I¡¯ll continue to show and make you feel how much I love you.

 Jealous husband

    ¡°You didn¡¯t wake me up,¡± Ivan muttered while gently caressing my back. I had just finished taking a bath, was wearing underwear, and had applied lotion to my thighs.


    ¡°You were sleeping so soundly, and it¡¯s still early,¡± I reasoned, biting my lip as I felt his hands brushing against my skin. His body was still pressed against mine, and I could feel the subtle awakening of his masculinity.


    He nted a kiss on my back, causing me to catch my breath. He gently kissed my skin, tracing his lips on my spinal cord. Consequently, my body tingled, but I tried to resist it.


    I turned to face him and softly caressed both of his arms.


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you take a shower so we can have breakfast?¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s stay here,¡± he grinned, his hand focused on my chest, even though I was wearing a bra.


    ¡°Your breasts are very beautiful, baby,¡± he said with a husky voice. ¡°I want to touch, lick, and suck them.¡±


    My entire body trembled at his words. Goodness, I never knew my husband could be this flirtatious!


    I closed my eyes as a rush of naughty thoughts suddenly filled my mind. When I opened them, I smiled at him.


    ¡°You should take a shower¡­ Let¡¯s save that n forter tonight,¡± I suggested, gazing at him while biting my lip.


    ¡°I don¡¯t believe you,¡± he replied, giving me a skeptical look. ¡°You¡¯re probably thinking I won¡¯t be able to do itter because I¡¯ll be tired from our outing,¡± he concluded, with a challenging expression on his face.


    Iughed. ¡°You think too much! Come on, go and take a shower so we can head out. I¡¯m getting hungry too.¡±


    ¡°Okay, wife. Don¡¯t worry, even if we spend the whole day out, I¡¯ll still have the energy for youter tonight.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll see,¡± I chuckled and turned away to continue what I was doing. Maybe I¡¯ll be enticed by his wordster.


    ***


    Ivan and I savored breakfast at a renowned restaurant here in Vietnam.


    ¡°We ordered an abundance of food,¡± I observed as the dishes were brought to our table. Every dish before me was unfamiliar, yet they all looked mouthwatering.


    ¡°We can certainly handle all of this; we¡¯ll need the energy forter tonight, remember?¡± Ivan teased me.


    I found myself unable to contain myughter, and a deep blush crept over my face as I noticed that my mirth had drawn the gaze of fellow diners in the restaurant.


    ¡°You have such a beautifulugh.¡±


    I blushed at hispliment. I wasn¡¯t ustomed to him showering me with praise and this level of attention.


    ¡°ttered?¡± The corner of his lips curled up.


    ¡°I¡¯m just not used to you being so sweet with me. Thank you, Ivan.¡±


    In response, he stood up and surprised me with a sudden kiss on the lips.


    Ivan, you¡¯re amazing! How will I ever cope with this?


    I was utterly sated, my breathbored by the overwhelming fullness. Consequently, we opted for a pause in our meal before departing the restaurant to resume our nned activities for the day.


    ¡°I¡¯ll gain weight from all this,¡± I whispered as I gently rubbed my belly, gazing at the remnants of our meal.


    ¡°You¡¯re still beautiful even if you¡¯ve gained weight.¡±


    I winced. ¡°You¡¯d probably dislike me even more once I gained weight.¡±


    ¡°Dislike you?¡± he repeated.


    ¡°Yes! I¡¯ve been trying everything to make you like me, and now you¡¯re making me gain weight?¡±


    Heughed. ¡°Who said I don¡¯t like you?¡±


    ¡°You said-¡± I paused, a realization dawning as I considered his question. ¡°Do you like me?¡±


    A mischievous grin danced across his face, but he evaded answering my question directly.


    ¡°Come on, please, tell me. Do you have feelings for me now?¡± I pressed, my impatience evident.


    My frustration grew as I received no response in return.


    ¡°If not, do you think you¡¯d be here with me?¡± he finally replied, sensing my irritation.


    ¡°Really?¡± I questioned, still seeking rity.


    He remained silent, gently pinching my nose.


    I felt a sense of joy in discovering his feelings, yet a lingering unease tugged at my chest. I couldn¡¯t fully embrace happiness, aware that these moments were fleeting, and I wasn¡¯t sure how long they would endure.


    After thirty minutes, he made the decision to leave.


    ¡°I¡¯ll use the restroom first,¡± I mentioned, before heading to the toilet to wash my hands.


    As I approached the toilet stall, I could hear the sound of someone crying. Initially, it sent shivers down my spine, conjuring thoughts of scenes from horror movies. With a degree of caution, I peered through the open space in the cubicle door, catching a glimpse of the person¡¯s feet. The woman inside was wearing high-top Converse shoes.


    It didn¡¯t appear to be a ghost, yet even after I had finished using the toilet, the sound of the person¡¯s crying persisted. It wasn¡¯t particrly loud, more akin to the cry of a woman grappling with a challenging situation, endeavoring to maintain herposure despite feeling vulnerable.


    I had been in that position before, crying in the bathroom nearly every night while Ivan slept.


    After applying lipstick and preparing to close my bag, the woman who had been crying came out of the cubicle. Our eyes met in the mirror before us.


    Her eyes were swollen, and she was dressed in a t-shirt and a denim skirt that came just above her knees. She had fair skin, with some healing bruises visible on her arms. Her long hair framed an attractive, petite face.


    With her palm, she wiped away her tears and proceeded to the faucet to wash her face.


    From my bag, I retrieved the handkerchief and extended it toward her with a hint of uncertainty. However, she regarded the handkerchief with a skeptical gaze.


    ¡°It¡¯s unused,¡± I mumbled in our localnguage.C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.


    ¡°No- Oh, sorry. Take it. It¡¯s-¡±


    ¡°Are you a Filipina too?¡± she asked in astonishment, responding to me in our localnguage as well.


    ¡°Yes, I am. Are you as well?¡± I replied with a smile. Her previously mournful expression brightened. I observed her as she used the handkerchief to dry her wet face.


    ¡°No matter how difficult life may be, and no matter how much pain you may endure, keep pushing forward and stay strong. Never give up.¡±


    Tears welled up in her eyes as she gazed at me.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± she said. ¡°I needed someone to tell me that. I don¡¯t have a family, and hearing those words from a stranger and a fellow woman is incredibly uplifting.¡±


    ¡°Do you want a hug?¡± I asked when I heard what she said. Her need for a reassuring embrace was palpable.


    ¡°Yes, please!¡± She let out a soft sob, prompting me to hug her tightly.


    I asked, ¡°May I have the pleasure of knowing your name?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m Candy.¡±


    ¡°Hello, Candy! I¡¯m M. I¡¯ll include you in my prayers from now on. You¡¯re dearly loved by God.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, M!¡±


    Both of us left thedies¡¯ room while Ivan was waiting impatiently outside.


    ¡°Hubby, I¡¯d like you to meet Candy,¡± I introduced him with a warm smile.


    Ivan extended his hand, and Candy hesitated briefly before shaking hands with my husband.


    ¡°Ivan,¡± he mumbled simply, his gaze briefly fixing on the bruises on Candy¡¯s arms.


    I sensed a shift in Candy¡¯s demeanor; she


    suddenly appeared anxious and ufortable.


    ¡°Shall we go?¡± Ivan asked, turning his attention to me.


    ¡°Where have you been?¡± We turned towards the man who suddenly spoke. A man with sixpanions behind him approached us. His face was stern, and anger emanated from his eyes as he red at Candy.


    ¡°M-Morgan¡­¡± Candy stammered, her surprise, panic, and fear evident on her face.


    ¡°Morgan,¡± Ivan called out, his brow furrowing as he addressed the man.


    As the man turned to my husband, the


    seriousness melted from his face. ¡°You¡¯re here,¡± he said.


    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m here with my parents and my wife. How about you? What are you doing here? And who is she?¡± Ivan fired a series of questions at him, casting a nce at Candy, who remained silent with her head down.


    ¡°Nice to meet you,¡± Morgan said to me, extending his hand, seemingly ignoring Ivan¡¯s inquiries.


    I shook his hand.


    ¡°My wife, M¡­ This is Morgan Reeves, one of my friends,¡± Ivan introduced us.


    Much like Ivan, the man was handsome, with a robust build and standing two inches taller than my husband.


    ¡°And who is she?¡± Ivan inquired once more.


    ¡°Candy, a friend¡­¡±


    Ivan raised an eyebrow, as though he doubted his friend¡¯s words.


    ¡°We have to go now,¡± Morgan said, his expression once again bing serious. He looked at Candy and nodded.


    ¡°Nice meeting you, Candy. I hope we can meet again,¡± I added.


    Candy simply smiled and nodded in response before she and Morgan left the restaurant together.


    ¡°Is your friend really that wealthy?¡± I asked Ivan when I saw the numerous people apanying Morgan. They had four SUVs; Morgan and Candy rode in one, while three other SUVs carried his uniformed associates.


    ¡°Yeah.¡±


    ¡°Is he wealthier than you?¡±


    ¡°Yup.¡±


    ¡°Wow!¡±


    Ivan shot me an annoyed look. ¡°Why? Are you interested in him?¡±


    ¡°What?¡± I replied, taken aback.


    ¡°Well, I just asked, that¡¯s all,¡± I said with a yful tone, realizing his annoyance. ¡°Oh my, Ivan, don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re jealous? I¡¯ll throw a party if you are.¡±


    His reaction remained unchanged, and he continued to stay silent.


    ¡°Are you really that jealous?¡± I chuckled in delight, gently holding his cheeks and nting a passionate kiss on his lips.


    ¡°You¡¯re even getting jealous of your friend.¡±


    ¡°Come on, let¡¯s take a stroll. sh a smile for me, too.¡±


    ¡°I no longer feel like it,¡± he replied, pouting like a sulking child.


    ¡°Why not?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m just not in the mood anymore. Let¡¯s head back to the hotel suite.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re being a bit unreasonable,¡± I said with a yful tap on the arm. ¡°Let¡¯s continue our tour.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m jealous,¡± he blurted out. It was as if my thoughts were caught in a temporary pause. Eventually, I resorted to a subtle eye-roll, attempting to suppress an emerging fit ofughter.


    Really? Ivan, the tough and difficult one, is feeling jealous? It¡¯s like my ears are celebrating what I just heard.


    ¡°Tsss! Why are you jealous when there¡¯s nothing to be jealous of?¡± I took his hand, but he remained sullen.


    ¡°I¡¯m jealous and horny.¡±


    His words left me speechless.

 Desire

    I had no choice but toply with Ivan¡¯s desire for us to go back to the hotel. While we were on the way, I felt a sense of unease in my chest. To be honest, I wasn¡¯t scared; in fact, I was genuinely excited.


    My mind was filled with various explicit thoughts. Would it be painful like the first time? Would he find pleasure in being with me? I hoped he would. I aspired to meet his needs and desires, making sure there was no temptation for him to seekfort elsewhere.


    Ivan nipped at my shoulder, eliciting a yful squirm from me.


    ¡°Ivan!¡± I scolded him, but he responded with a warm embrace.


    ¡°I¡¯m just ovee with excitement,¡± he whispered with a mischievous grin, gently nibbling and lightly tracing my ear with his tongue.


    ¡°When was thest time that we-¡±


    ¡°When you were drunk, and the following morning, your parents arranged for us to marry.¡±


    ¡°No more¡­ intimate moments?¡±


    ¡°You hold such deep disdain for me, Ivan. You can¡¯t even meet my gaze, let alone entertain thoughts beyond that.¡±


    A variety of emotions danced across his eyes.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­ I¡¯m sorry that I can¡¯t remember.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s okay. I¡¯m d that your attitude toward me has changed. I promise you, Ivan, I will do better.¡±


    ¡°I should be the one to tell you that, wife. I promise to be a better husband to you.¡±


    I gently caressed his lips with the tip of my index finger.


    ¡°Thank you, hubby!¡±


    ***


    Ivan and I entered the hotel lobby in haste. Starting from the ground floor, we were the only upants in the elevator. However, when we reached the second floor, three tourists joined us.


    We chose to stand at the back of the elevator, as our room was on the twentieth floor.


    As the elevator ascended, Ivan¡¯s hand subtly moved from resting on my shoulder¡¯s rail to gently gliding down to my butt, where he began to caress it. I shot him an irritated look, but he maintained his gaze forward, a sly smile ying on his lips.


    I had an urge to pinch him, but I restrained myself, recalling the bruises on his arms.


    We were just a few steps away from our suite¡¯s door on the intended floor when Ivan unexpectedly pulled me close to him.


    ¡°I-Ivan¡­¡± I gasped as he passionately kissed me, but I pushed him away and quickly made my way to our suite.


    The door remained unlocked as Ivan drew me close once again. He pressed his lips to mine, engaging in a passionate kiss, his tongue delving into my mouth, evoking delightful moans as a tingling sensation coursed through me.


    I clung to him tightly, resisting the tantalizing movement of his lips against mine. He sucked on my tongue, and I reciprocated.


    A sensuous moan escaped his lips as his hand gravitated toward my breast, tenderly caressing it in a circr motion, causing me to gasp and yield to the sway of his touch.


    He groaned and seemed impatient, lifting up my dress to remove it from my body.


    He proceeded to undo my bra, allowing his gaze to linger on my heaving chest for a brief moment. Afterward, his lips embarked on a seductive journey, descending from my jawline to my neck.


    A soft moan escaped my lips as my fingers wove through the strands of his hair.


    I tenderly guided him lower, towards my eagerly aroused nipples, their subtle rigidity a testament to the anticipation.


    He got what I wanted to happen. His lips moved there, immediately sucking one of my nipples. I gasped, and when he started to suck on it, a loud moans escaped my lips.


    ¡°Ah! I-Ivan¡­¡± My body is leaning against the wall while my head no longer knows where to turn.


    ¡°Oh! So good¡­¡± He tenderly caressed my nipple with his mouth, using the delicate touch of his tongue.


    I surrendered to the rush of electric sensations that swept through my body. My femininity started to get wet, and I sensed a profound change in myself.


    This encounter bore no resemnce to our initial one. He was now sober and deeply aroused, a stark contrast to the past when alcohol clouded his judgment. I had never experienced this level of pleasure before, a stark departure from the painful and unfulfilling first time.


    Well, I did cum, but since it was my first time, it hurts like hell, and then that¡¯s where my misfortune began.


    I¡¯m grateful that we¡¯re engaging once more while he¡¯s clear-headed and in control. He was horny and his cravings were driving this passionate encounter.


    I bit my lower lip when I felt his hand caressing my vulva.


    I came perilously close to injuring my lip with the force of my bite. As I struggled to suppress a loud moan, the sensation grew more intense due to his intimate caresses. Gently, he shifted my panties aside andmenced an exploration of my womanhood.


    A thick, viscous fluid escaped from my wetness as his fingers continued to caress the area around mybia. He keeps doing it while his lips alternately suck on my nipples like a hungry child.


    ¡°Mmm-ah!¡± A long and loud moan escaped from my mouth when I reached orgasm.


    He firmly seized my buttocks and raised me. In response, I wrapped my thighs and legs around his waist, while my hands clung to his arms.


    We exchanged kisses again. He gently guided me to the bed, reenacting the sensuous actions from our prior encounter. His kisses were filled with fervor as he traced a path from my jaws to my peaks, sucking on them and flicking his tongue.


    I struggled to catch my breath as the intensifying pleasure washed over me. It grew even more overwhelming when he descended and began to consume my femininity.


    ¡°Hubby, put it in already,¡± I begged him. I wanted him to fill me with his massive length.


    He got up and quickly removed his clothing, and then he positioned himself between my thighs. When he directed his shaft toward my wetness, I moaned. Delicately, he traced the contours of his shaft around my entrance before gently prating himself.


    He was big and I could feel my pussy walls stretched as he filled me, leading me to close my eyes.


    A subtle twinge of difort lingers, yet the overwhelming delight prevails. As he ventured further with his masculinity, he swiftly withdrew and thrust back in.


    ¡°Damn!¡± He repeatedly did it while biting his lips. The pleasure was evident on his face as he repeatedly withdrew and buried his length.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Oh! Shit!¡± My body arched in response to his deeper pration, and then he quickened his rhythm.


    We moaned each other¡¯s names, synchronizing our bodies¡¯ movements. As he gently surged in and out of me, his gaze remained locked with mine, creating an intimate connection.


    With a gentle parting of his lips, he attentively studied my expressions as our bodies moved in harmony. When restraint could no longer hold him back, he pressed his lips to mine.


    His lips were nearly bleeding from my repeated biting due to the impending explosion of my orgasm.


    Oh, it feels so fucking good!


    ¡°M¡­ Wife¡­ It felt good!¡± Each movement of his hips became more desperate, while my legs tightened their grip around him, weing his body.


    We hugged each other tightly when we both cum.


    ¡°I love you, Ivan. Thank you¡­¡±


    He gently released his hold on me, fixing a thoughtful gaze upon me with furrowed brows.


    ¡°Thank you? For what?¡±


    ¡°For the very intense lovemaking¡­¡±


    Heughed and gently pinched the tip of my nose.


    ¡°You¡¯re wee?¡± he teased.


    We both giggled.


    ¡°My body aches,¡± heined with a grin after a few moments.


    ¡°That¡¯s what I¡¯ve been saying. It¡¯s your fault,¡± I replied.


    I gently pushed him to get off me, when hey down, and he kissed me on the lips.


    ¡°Come on, let¡¯s clean up. I want our second round in the Jacuzzi.¡±


    ¡°You said your body hurts? We¡¯ll continue next week.¡±


    ¡°What? Are you rejecting your husband?¡±


    I yfully pped him.


    ¡°You¡¯re not fully recovered yet.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not good enough? Are you not satisfied?¡±


    I looked at him with annoyance. ¡°It¡¯s your call!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not good enough?¡±


    I giggled, saying, ¡°You¡¯re amazing. It was wonderfully amazing,¡± and then my cheeks flushed.


    He grinned. ¡°Then, let¡¯s do it again.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re so stubborn! I said,ter. Tonight or in the early morning. Rest for now, as you might strain yourself.¡±


    He pouted his lips and refrained from further debate. He has changed a lot, and his transformation is truly remarkable. I¡¯m not used to it, but I hope he maintains this new version of himself.


    Even if we engage in multiple rounds of lovemaking within a day, it¡¯s eptable as long as he doesn¡¯t regress to his previous self.

 Don鈥檛 leave me

    ¡°My meeting with your dad was scheduled for this afternoon, so we decided to have a get-together now,¡± my mother-inw said.


    We¡¯re currently in their suite. It was only half an hour past five in the morning when they called to inform us we should all have breakfast together.


    If it weren¡¯t for my inws, I would have preferred to sleep all day and wake up in the afternoon.


    It wasn¡¯t until around three in the morning that I finally sumbed to a peaceful slumber. Ivan had been incredibly persistent and unrelenting, his desire insatiable.


    Despite mentioning that his body ached, we indulged in passionate encounters. He looks so happy and full of energy now, while I find myself utterly drained with burning eyes.


    My mother-inw wore a warm smile as she gazed at our hands resting on the table, with Ivan holding mine.


    ¡°What a delightful beginning to the day for your dad and me,¡± Mom eximed with a twinkle in her eyes.


    A soft, involuntary chuckle escaped me as I discreetly cast my gaze upon Ivan, whose eyes were filled with tenderness directed at me. I yfully pinched his cheek, and he responded with a loving grin.C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.


    As breakfast continued, the conversation shifted to business matters. Remarkably, Ivan¡¯s amnesia didn¡¯t appear to hinder his capacity to manage the business effectively.


    He frequently shared his ideas with his father when asked.


    ¡°After two weeks, do you think you can return to work?¡± my father-inw asked Ivan.


    ¡°Sorry, M. Numerous events and projects are happening all at once.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s fine, Dad. If Ivan believes he¡¯s ready to go back to work, it will be his decision.¡±


    Nevertheless, a nagging concern persists within me that he may encounter a jarring revtion, where his past memories might resurface. Alongside this, I¡¯m increasingly gued by anxiety about the possibility of Maureen paying him visits to that ce.


    ¡°If that¡¯s the case, I¡¯ll also go back to work,¡± I remarked, to avoid appearing as if I were obsessively fixated on my husband throughout the day.


    Following breakfast, Ivan proposed that we go for a walk on the beach. We sought shelter in the cottages as the sun¡¯s rays grew too intense for our skin.


    We had lunch at a nearby restaurant, and in the evening, we dined in our room.


    ¡°I¡¯ll go ahead and take a shower,¡± Ivan dered with a mischievous glint in his eyes and a yful smile on his lips.


    I let out a softugh while shaking my head, sensing that he had something up his sleeve once more.


    Ivan grew even more affectionate, likely due to our shared night. He kept his arm wrapped around my shoulders and rarely released my hand throughout the day.


    Emerging from the bathroom, he was d in just a robe.


    ¡°Get dressed,¡± I suggested, but instead of retrieving clothes from the cab, he sat on the edge of the bed.


    ¡°Take a shower,¡± he instructed instead.


    Was he attempting to captivate me? Well, so be it. This is an umon urrence. It¡¯s the initial instance he¡¯s demonstrated such a strong attraction to me, so I¡¯ll relish the moment. Besides, my emotions align with his.


    I want him once more.


    ***


    We¡¯re back in the Philippines, and Ivan will be returning to work next week.


    Currently, he¡¯s in the study room, engaged in a discussion with his dad and uncle regarding their business.


    Meanwhile, I find myself in our shared room, clutching my tablet, and tending to my small business that I nearly abandoned in the past due to recent events.


    Surprisingly, I¡¯m still making a profit thanks to my ten active resellers. I have a penchant for exploration. Whenever Ie across viral or trending posts and videos on social media, my curiosity is piqued. The next step I did was to study them.


    I¡¯ve invested in this business, though not a substantial amount; just the minimum required to get started. In case it doesn¡¯t yield sess, it won¡¯t be too regrettable. I learned this approach from Dad and Mom.


    I¡¯m missing my parents once again. They are on my mind constantly, especially during moments like now when I¡¯m feeling nervous and apprehensive.


    If they were still here, I¡¯d have someone to rely on in times like these.


    Ivan entered the room with a smile and nonchntly unfastened the top button of his polo.


    ¡°You had two roundsst night,¡± I yfully remarked.


    A chuckle slipped from him. ¡°Get dressed. We¡¯re going on a date.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± I asked, quickly getting up from bed to prepare before he could change his mind.


    ***


    We headed to the mall and had some fun ying games in the arcade.


    ¡°Why did you choose toe here?¡± I inquired, a bit bewildered. I swapped a token, and we first entered a karaoke booth.


    ¡°I had a dreamst night,¡± he responded without making eye contact while leafing through the songbook.


    Did he dream about something, or was it a memory resurfacing?


    ¡°What was the dream about?¡± I asked, feeling a touch of anxiety. I understood that it could be a positive development if he remembered, but it might alsoplicate our rtionship.


    ¡°My siblings invited me to go to the arcade.¡±


    That was no dream; it truly happened.


    ¡°But I didn¡¯t join them because I needed to work on Maureen¡¯s school project.¡±


    He¡¯s remembering now, recollecting something about me.


    ¡°And in my dream, you looked so sad.¡±


    Back then, I even welled up with a few tears. It may appear somewhat na?ve, but my affection for him dates back to my early childhood. I harbored a deep admiration for him, even during my elementary school years.


    Although I often crossed paths with him during family gatherings or hispany¡¯s events, I could never find the confidence to initiate a conversation. He carried an aura of enigma and detachment, revealing his authentic self exclusively in Maureen¡¯s presence, where his smiles andughter abounded.


    He handed me the microphone, leaving me puzzled. ¡°I thought you were going to sing?¡±


    ¡°That song belongs to you. I dreamt of you singing it.¡±


    My brows furrowed. Was he genuinely certain it was only a dream? My heart skipped a beat as he yed the song he was referring to. I used to sing this one frequently.


    ¡®We keep behind closed doors¡­ Every time I see you, I die a little more¡­¡¯


    My voice quivered slightly as his warm eyes remained fixed on me. It felt as though he was lost in deep thought as I sang.


    After singing another song, he didn¡¯t join in when it was his turn.


    ¡°That¡¯s unfair,¡± I protested with a pout, and he swiftly silenced me with a kiss on the lips.


    ¡°I wasn¡¯t sure if I was singing back then,¡± he exined.


    ¡°Oh,e on! You were! You used to sing,¡± I pressed, though it¡¯s alright because maybe he could only think of Maureen if I pushed him to sing.


    Was he thinking about Maureen while I was singing earlier?


    ¡°Next time,¡± he said, embracing me, ¡°let¡¯s grab a bite first. Then I¡¯ll go shopping with you.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not in the mood for shopping.¡±


    ¡°Well, that¡¯s what I assumed. But I want to shop for you. Don¡¯t you like that?¡±


    ¡°Alright, you know that I¡¯d do whatever you say.¡±


    We hurriedly finished our meal to begin our shopping so we could return home promptly.


    While I was selecting some underwear, Maureen approached us and suddenly kissed Ivan without warning. Even though it was just a peck at the corner of his lips, I still felt ufortable.


    She shed a grin in my direction, her hand resting on my husband¡¯s waist.


    Not wanting to create a scene, I tried to maintain myposure. But in my mind, I envisioned pulling her hair.


    ¡°I never expected you¡¯d already arrive. You didn¡¯t even contact me. How have you been? Do you still not remember anything?¡±


    Ivan remained silent as he discreetly unsped Maureen¡¯s hand from his waist and distanced himself a few steps from her.


    ¡°Maureen¡­ Please go,¡± he implored with a soft and gentle voice.


    ¡°I miss you, Ivan. You asked me toe back to the Philippines, and this is how you¡¯re treating me?¡± The woman looked at Ivan with a sense of sadness.


    Ivan avoided making eye contact with her, while I was the only one feeling awkward in our situation.


    Turning away, I headed to another section and continued shopping. If Ivan wanted to be with the woman, he would decide to do it.


    How frustrating! If I were inclined towards drama, I might have taken action by now, but I¡¯m not that sort of person.


    As someone held onto my shoulders, it alleviated the weight on my chest.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Ivan said.


    I tapped his arm. ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡±


    We carried on with our shopping, both of us maintaining silence. My mood had dwindled, but I hesitated to propose going home. In contrast, Ivan continued to observe me closely.


    ***


    Upon arriving home, I promptly headed to the bathroom without locking the door, allowing Ivan to enter freely.


    He undressedpletely, and I gazed upon him with rapt attention during the process. As he drew nearer, I gracefully withdrew, leaning against the refreshing coolness of the tiles.


    Turning the shower on, the water started to flow over my body.


    Ivan drew closer and pressed his bare body against mine. He kissed me passionately, while his hand swiftly reached over my chest.


    His hands gently traced and fondled my breasts, while our tongues engaged in a passionate and intricate dance.


    My body arched, letting out a breathy gasp as I clutched his hair, savoring the sensation of his fingers exploring my femininity. His tender caresses persisted, stoking the mes of desire within me until my womanhood pulsed with longing.


    ¡°M, you¡¯re driving me wild,¡± he murmured in my ear, his lips descending to my neck, where he tenderly nibbled.


    ¡°Ivan¡­¡±


    I clung to his shoulder as he lifted me and entered his shaft with a swift motion.


    He moved at an intense rhythm, while his mouth upied my nipples.


    Despite the jealousy and resentment I felt, it seemed to enhance the pleasure I experienced while being intimate with my husband.


    ¡°Don¡¯t leave me, M. I may not fully understand what happened, but please have faith in me. Don¡¯t leave me.¡±


    Tears welled in my eyes as I gazed at him.


    ¡°Do you recall anything else?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure, but I have this incredibly strange feeling. It¡¯s giving me a headache.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s not push it. We should see a doctor again.¡±


    He nodded before nuzzling his face into my chest.


    ¡°Don¡¯t leave me, alright?¡±


    I couldn¡¯tprehend why he was behaving this way. It left me feeling anxious, and I had a foreboding sense that something bad might ur.

 Problem at work

    ¡°Are you certain you¡¯re prepared to return to work?¡± inquired my father-inw to Ivan.


    During our breakfast, we recounted an early morning when we strolled through the vige¡¯s nearby park.


    ¡°Yes, Dad. I¡¯m confident that I¡¯m ready to get back to work. I¡¯m fine, thanks to my wife excelled in looking after me,¡± Ivan replied.


    His family observed us with curious gazes. I exchanged a smile with Ivan, and he spontaneously gave me a kiss, causing my cheeks to flush with warmth. Overwhelmed with embarrassment, I couldn¡¯t bring myself to meet the gaze of his parents and siblings.


    ¡°We¡¯re delighted that you¡¯ve chosen to reconcile with M instead of-¡±


    Ivan¡¯s sister was unable toplete her sentence as their father cleared his throat. He offered a smile and changed the subject.


    ¡°We¡¯re delighted for both of you. Are you nning to have a baby?¡±


    My period arrived today, so pregnancy isn¡¯t a possibility at the moment. Additionally, I intend to visit the OB-GYNter to obtain contraceptives to prevent any unnned pregnancies in the future if my husband and I continue our intimate moment.


    My sole ambition is to enhance our connection and build a happy family with Ivan. Nevertheless, introducing a vulnerable child into this world would be unwise at the moment, as their well-being could be significantly impacted if Ivan and I don¡¯t seed in our rtionship.


    I often find myself consumed by pessimistic thoughts, I¡¯m aware of that. It¡¯s because not everything in this world is permanent, much like Ivan¡¯s amnesia. It¡¯s merely a temporary condition, and when his memory eventually returns, his unkind behavior toward me may resurface.


    Each night, I pray to God, questioning whether Ivan and I can persist in this state, shielding him from the resurgence of his past memories that have only given rise to his hostility towards me.


    Yet, I understand that this isn¡¯t love. Love isn¡¯t self-centered.


    While seated at the breakfast table, I find my thoughts shrouded in negativity, an unweepanion to my morning meal.


    ¡°What¡¯s your opinion?¡± Ivan inquired.


    ¡°Huh?¡± Did I just zone out?


    ¡°Let¡¯s n another family vacation, this time with everyone. How does that sound?¡±


    Today is Friday, and he¡¯s set to resume work by Monday. It presents a wonderful chance for our whole family to rx collectively. It seems that each member of this family is deeply engrossed in their careers.


    I¡¯m currently on leave from my job, and I¡¯m uncertain about my return. My mind is in a state of turmoil, and this vacation might be precisely what I require to gather my thoughts.


    ¡°We had already been packing our belongings when my father-inw received a call from his assistant. There¡¯s an emergency meeting at thepany, and they all need to attend. Everyone has their responsibilities there.


    As a result, I¡¯m uncertain if our vacation will proceed as nned. It appears there¡¯s an issue with a project they initiatedst year.


    I felt toozy to visit the ob-gyn today, so I¡¯ve decided to postpone the visit until tomorrow. To keep away from boredom, I read a few articles, checked my emails, and updated my website.


    I also reviewed my bank ount, which consistently sees a six-digit addition each month.


    When I got a call from Ivan, it was already past lunchtime.


    ¡°Babe, it appears our vacation will have to be postponed for the time being.¡±


    ¡°What happened? It¡¯s fine if the n falls through.¡±


    They mentioned that the six-story building they were constructing copsed, resulting in ten reported injuries. In addition to that, a civilian died from a head injury. Since Ivan¡¯spany is well-known, the media and press are making a big fuss about it.


    ¡°Don¡¯t turn on the TV or watch the news. I don¡¯t want you to be stressed.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s sad. Fine, I won¡¯t. I¡¯m not sure if I can handle seeing what happened. Until what time will you be there? Have you already visited theborers in the hospital? What about the civilian who passed away?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll pay them a visitter with Dad and my brother. Mom and my sister will be heading home shortly. You can go ahead and have dinner with them tonight; don¡¯t wait for me, alright?¡±


    ¡°Okay. Take care. Take it easy, okay? You¡¯re notpletely recovered yet.¡±


    ¡°Yes, my love.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re giving me so many endearments.¡± I pouted and yfully rolled my eyes, like a spoiled child.


    He chuckled. ¡°Goodbye, honey.¡±


    I continued to yfully roll my eyes. ¡°Bye, Mister. Take care. I love you.¡±


    He remained silent, but I could tell he was smiling on the other end of the line. I reciprocated with a yful kiss through the phone.


    ¡°That¡¯s delightful!¡±


    I giggled. ¡°Okay, then.¡±


    ***


    I find it quite unusual that Ivan is not at home. I¡¯ve be ustomed to hispany since he developed amnesia, and his absence has left me feeling somewhat down and agitated. It¡¯s even affecting my ability to sleep.


    My mother-inw and Ivan¡¯s sister are busy today. They¡¯re brainstorming about the business. I couldn¡¯t rte much to that, and I believed I¡¯d just be in their way, so I¡¯m here in my room, attempting to be productive.


    It¡¯s already eight in the evening, and we¡¯ve finished dinner. Dad, my brother-inw, and Ivan have yet to return home. My husband hasn¡¯t called or sent a text either. I hope he¡¯d eaten, as I was worried that something might have happened to him if he missed a meal.


    My phone beeped, prompting me to swiftly pick it up from the table. I initially thought it might be a message from Ivan, but it turned out to be a message from my friend. She informed me that she had sent a video link on Messenger.


    ¡°Is this some kind of scandal?¡± I replied to her, half-jokingly, thinking she might be teasing me again.


    ¡°Just watch it!¡± she insisted.


    I navigated to Messenger, clicked on the link, and an interview with the press about Ivan appeared. They were at the location of the ident.


    At first, I didn¡¯t think much of it, almost deciding not to watch the video. However, I soon noticed the man apanying Ivan, who happened to be Maureen¡¯s father. I couldn¡¯t help but wonder why he was with Ivan.Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    Was Maureen¡¯s father somehow involved in this project? Was he a shareholder or an investor?


    That woman, I can¡¯t believe it! She¡¯s making me overthink things. There¡¯s no problem, but she¡¯s turning it into one.


    I messaged her, saying, ¡°Just let me enjoy my happiness for now, girl! If I get hurt again, well, that¡¯s okay. At least I got to experience happiness with my husband.¡±


    ¡°Did you watch it all the way to the end?¡±


    ¡°No, I didn¡¯t-I didn¡¯t want to stress myself out¡­¡±


    ¡°Indeed, you might have gotten stressed if you had seen Maureen at the hospital. She visited the injured workers, acting as if she¡¯s Ivan¡¯s wife, huh?¡±


    My lips fell open in astonishment.


    What is Maureen doing there? I didn¡¯t respond to my friend but instead returned to the video and discovered that it has a continuation.


    Meanwhile, the injured workers had already received assistance, but I wasn¡¯t paying attention to the audio. I felt as if I had gone deaf, and an odd sensation came over me.


    Maureen visited the hospital with her parents and brought a basket of fruits. It seemed like she was running a campaign for mayor with her actions.


    Ivan was also caught in the video. Dad and my brother-inw weren¡¯t there; it was just him.


    I understand I shouldn¡¯t let irritation creep in, especially since they went there to assist theborers.


    However, considering Maureen¡¯s disposition, she can be quite demanding and has a challenging attitude. She doesn¡¯t enjoy being around those who are less fortunate.


    It appears that this video has been circting for some time.


    Where might Ivan be at this moment? Does he have no intention ofing home? Are he and Maureen currently together?


    I recalled what he mentioned when he called earlier, advising me not to watch the news. This might be the underlying reason for hisment.


    It felt like my heart was being hit hard. Ivan and I have patched things up. I shouldn¡¯t be feeling like this. I shouldn¡¯t be harboring negative thoughts about him. I know, for now, I¡¯m more important to him.


    Rx, M. Rx.


    I had a shower to help me rx. Then, I headed downstairs to the living room, where I can only truly find peace and rest when hees back.


    Ivan arrived at around eleven in the evening. His hair was disheveled, and some buttons on his button-down polo were unfastened. He looked exhausted, utterly drained.


    I couldn¡¯t help but feel sympathy for him, though, at the same time, a part of me wondered what might have exhausted him¡­ Something that I might not appreciate.


    He smiled upon spotting me. I didn¡¯t rush to his side. Instead, I gazed at him and scrutinized his appearance carefully.


    ¡°Why are you still awake?¡± he asked.


    I smiled. ¡°I couldn¡¯t sleep. And even in the past, I¡¯ve always been waiting for your return, haven¡¯t I?¡±


    He smiled and nodded, even though I knew he wouldn¡¯t remember it.


    I used to feel foolish back then, always waiting for him. At times, he wouldn¡¯t return home until three in the morning. I¡¯d stay up all night, and when he did return, he¡¯d be extremely drunk, stumbling and greeting me with hurtful words.


    But he¡¯s different now. He has changed.


    He stood in front of me, and I straightened up, cing both my hands on his shoulders.


    His smile gleamed, as if my presence had dispelled his weariness.


    He yfully pouted, encouraging me to kiss his lips. A brief kiss escted into a passionate one.


    When we heard someone clear his throat from behind us, I quickly pulled away from Ivan, but he held me by the waist instead.


    ¡°How did the meeting go?¡± his dad asked. I didn¡¯t even notice that they hade home. They probably arrived while I was in the shower.


    ¡°Mr. Karim will back out¡­¡±


    His father¡¯s lips tightened.


    I nced at Ivan. It appeared they had an important matter to discuss, so I chose to head to the room ahead of them.


    Before I could leave, my eyes fixed on Ivan¡¯s neck.


    Initially, my eyes narrowed, but they swiftly widened when I spotted the lipstick mark.


    Although it wasn¡¯t very bold, I could identify the shade ¨C ¡°Pussy red.¡± The lipstick mark on his neck was left by Maureen.

 Understanding wife

    Having known Maureen, it appears she intentionally did this. She knew I would notice, so she did it to make me anxious. I made my way to the bedroom while my father-inw and husband carried on their conversation in the study room.


    I tried to calm my thoughts. Someday, Maureen, you¡¯ll have your turn.


    In the quiet early hours of the morning, Ivan quietly stepped into the room. The gentle hum of water in the bathroom indicated that he was taking a soothing shower. However, I quickly drifted back to sleep, even though I felt him lying beside me on the bed and embracing me, all fresh from the shower.


    I shifted towards him and returned the embrace.


    ¡°Go to sleep,¡± I whispered.


    His hand gently slid inside my shirt. ¡°Are you going to ignore me?¡±


    I forced one of my eyes to open. ¡°I¡¯m on my period.¡±


    He reasoned, ¡°That¡¯s alright. We can go to the bathroom, so it won¡¯t stain.¡±


    My eyes widened, and he burst intoughter.


    ¡°That¡¯s gross! Just wait for a few days. It¡¯ll pass soon. If you can¡¯t wait a few days, don¡¯t worry, tomorrow night, I¡¯ll help you find relief.¡±


    Hisughter was so infectious that it shook his body, dispelling my drowsiness. I yfully pped his arm.


    ¡°Get some rest. You¡¯re tired, aren¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°My wife can be quite grumpy,¡± he said with a smile.


    I wrapped my arms around him tightly. He appeared fatigued, and the night was growingte. There was no doubt he would rise early the next day to attend to the urgent matters at his workce.


    ¡°I love you, Ivan. I love you so much,¡± I whispered.


    He tenderly caressed my arm. I smiled and closed my eyes, drifting back to sleep, momentarily putting Maureen¡¯s actions out of my mind.


    Ivan and I woke up and showered together, although I didn¡¯t yield to his advances. While we did share some make-outs, we were unable to linger in the shower, mindful of my inws¡¯ presence, eagerly awaiting us at the breakfast table.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, once we¡¯re done, I¡¯ll take care of you myself,¡± Ivan said with a yful grin.


    We both shared augh, which drew the attention of my inws already seated at the table.


    ¡°What a delightful way for this couple to start the day,¡± his mothermented.


    I smiled, took my seat, and began serving food on my te. His family fell into a hushed silence, which contrasted with the serious conversation they had been engaged in before we arrived.


    As we concluded our meal, my mother-inw was the first to break the silence.


    ¡°What was Maureen up to yesterday at the hospital and the site?¡± Mom¡¯s expression was stern, her attempt to conceal her anger evident as we sat around the dining table.


    Ivan stopped chewing and directed his attention toward me. I took a sip of coffee, and as I set the cup down on the table, I realized that everyone¡¯s gaze was now fixed on me.


    I offered a smile before shifting my gaze to my husband, who was studying me intently.


    ¡°I saw it on the news,¡± I admitted. There was no point in denying it. I believed it would be wiser for him to know that I was aware, as it would illustrate the extent of trust I had in him.


    He gently sped my hand. ¡°She was with her dad. I, too, was surprised by their presence; I hadn¡¯t expected them to be there. I only found out yesterday, and I vaguely remembered that her dad had invested in that project.¡±


    My father-inw massaged his temples. It appeared that he had also forgotten that Ivan had lost some of his memories.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, son. I¡¯m sorry too, M.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s alright, Dad.¡±


    I will ce my trust in Ivan, despite his memory loss, even if his memories favored Maureen as the one he loves. I have confidence that he wouldn¡¯t easily engage in anything that might jeopardize our rtionship or the trust of his family.


    As we interlocked our fingers, Ivan offered a reassuring squeeze. Though he didn¡¯t speak, I could sense his silent encouragement to ce my trust in him, knowing he wouldn¡¯t make choices that could endanger our family.


    Today, Ivan didn¡¯t go to theirpany; he took a brief rest to avoid excessive stress. His elder brother and father are handling things for the time being, while my husband nned to return to work next week.


    It¡¯s just the two of us at home all day. Maureen has repeatedly called thendline, causing the maid to shuttle up and down to convey the messages.


    Ivan refuses to answer any of the calls. Although I¡¯m bing irritated and would like him to answer to put an end to Maureen¡¯s behavior, I respect his decision. He¡¯s upied with reviewing thepany¡¯s sales fromst month.


    ¡°It¡¯s giving me a headache,¡± he grumbled.


    ¡°Your head must be really hurting,¡± I said as I moved closer to massage his head.


    ¡°It feels so good,¡± he grunted. ¡°How did I get so lucky?¡±


    I let out a lightugh and teasingly squeezed his nose. I blushed, feeling somewhat pleased by hisments.


    ***


    We had a wonderful weekend. Miraculously, the issue was resolved. The family of the deceased civilian agreed to a settlement, and my father-inw provided them with sufficientpensation to make amends. We are well aware that no amount can equate to a person¡¯s life, but I believe that it can significantly impact the victim¡¯s family.


    Monday arrived before we knew it, and Ivan is returning to work. My mother-inw reminded him not to push himself too hard and wanted to arrange for a private nurse to apany him, but Ivan declined.


    ¡°Mom, I¡¯m no longer a child.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re just concerned about your well-being.¡±


    We exchanged smiles.


    ¡°Bye, love. Take care on your way.¡±


    I¡¯m also heading out today. I have a meeting with someone regarding the small business venture I¡¯ve entered into.


    My boss calledst night, but I held off on specifying a definite return date. I¡¯m contemting the possibility ofunching my own business or exploring opportunities with otherpanies. I haven¡¯t broached this topic with Ivan, and he hasn¡¯t shown any curiosity about it. It seems as though he has overlooked the fact that I have a job.


    ***


    It was one in the afternoon when my meeting concluded. It felt too early to head home; moreover, I suddenly missed Ivan, so I decided to visit him at his office.


    Before heading there, I ordered some takeout food.


    Reaching the seventeenth floor, his secretary was visibly surprised to see me. I offered a friendly smile. Thest time I had seen her was when she had escorted me out, following her boss¡¯s orders.


    ¡°Hi, good afternoon¡­¡± I handed her a paper bag.


    ¡°For you¡­¡±


    I couldn¡¯t help but notice that the door to Ivan¡¯s office was slightly ajar, and I could hear both Ivan¡¯s and a woman¡¯s voices.


    Approaching cautiously, I peered through the small opening.


    ¡°Ivan, please remember me.¡±


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you im that your heart still holds me, that you love me? You love me deeply. If it weren¡¯t for M, we wouldn¡¯t be in this situation. But you made a promise, you assured me that after a year, you¡¯d file for an annulment. You¡¯d bring me back! We never parted ways. We never missed a conversation. Every day, we maintained our connection. Exchanging texts and even engaging in video calls.¡±


    Maureen wept, her desperation evident.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you remember? We even had phone sex.¡±


    What?!


    I was taken aback, utterly shocked. I felt repulsed, and a mix of anger and hurt surged within me.


    ¡°We masturbated together!¡±


    I clenched my fists.


    ¡°Maureen, please, stop! I¡¯m sorry. But please, stop¡­¡± Ivan rubbed his forehead. ¡°I recall our time together. I remember you were my girlfriend, but¡­¡±


    ¡°But what? Just because you can¡¯t remember, does that make it easy for you to cast me aside? Ivan, please!¡±


    ¡°What happened to our promise of being together until the end? You married her simply to appease your family and avoid their anger. You didn¡¯t want to disappoint your parents, but what about me? I understood your wishes, I understood for a year. I hope you can understand me now too¡­¡±


    ¡°I married her, Maureen. Please, don¡¯t make this situation harder for me¡­¡±


    I couldn¡¯t bear to listen any longer. I couldn¡¯t bear to hear their conversation, but I couldn¡¯t simply leave. Ivan might find himself in trouble. His headaches might worsen because of what Maureen was saying. She was pressuring him to remember.


    I returned to his secretary¡¯s desk.


    ¡°Could you please call Ivan on the line and let him know I¡¯m here?¡± I smiled warmly. She looked at me with confusion before pushing the button to connect to Ivan¡¯s line.


    ¡°Sir, Ma¡¯am M is here.¡±


    I heard Ivan¡¯s gasp. I smiled, knowing he cared. He was anxious that I had arrived here and would encounter Maureen in his office.


    He cleared his throat. ¡°P-Please¡­ let her ce in.¡±


    I took a deep breath before stepping into his private office. Maureen was sitting in front of his desk, giving me a hostile look. She appeared determined to stay, even though Ivan was pleading with her to leave.


    ¡°Hi, love¡­¡±


    Ivan smiled and stood up to greet me. My smile widened, a dream I had only dared to imagine-freely hugging and caressing him anywhere.


    I couldn¡¯t even set foot on this floor before. I was banned from it.


    ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Although his tone was sweet, there was a hint of concern in his voice.


    ¡°I was on my way home when I happened to pass by your favorite restaurant. So, I thought of getting some food for you and bringing it here.¡±


    He kissed my cheek.


    ¡°Oh¡­ You have a visitor, I see.¡± I pretended to be surprised, causing Maureen to roll her eyes.


    ¡°Yeah. She came here for the project, but she¡¯s leaving. Thank you, Miss Gan, foring.¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t believe you, Ivan!¡± The woman gritted her teeth.


    I locked eyes with her and said, ¡°You should know your way out, Miss. And, by the way, I¡¯d like to remind you about Ivan¡¯s condition. Your presence and pressuring him might lead to a permanent memory loss.¡±


    Her confidence grew.


    ¡°While he can¡¯t remember some parts of his past, and as he values our marriage, I¡¯ll act as his loving wife. And as his wife, I don¡¯t wee bitches and mistresses. You better leave now, Miss, or I¡¯ll have security escort you out of this building.¡±


    ¡°Maureen¡­¡± Ivan pleaded.


    ¡°Okay¡­¡± With reluctance, Maureen walked out.


    When Ivan and I were alone, he apologized to me.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­¡±


    ¡°Why are you apologizing?¡±


    ¡°Because you found Maureen here.¡±


    I raised an eyebrow. ¡°Was I too early?¡± It was meant as a joke, but Ivan turned pale. Iughed and hugged him.


    ¡°Come on, let¡¯s go eat. Maybe you didn¡¯t have a proper lunch.¡±


    ¡°I had a little, despite signing too many documents.¡±


    ¡°Perfect, I brought your favorite. You¡¯ll get full.¡±


    ¡°Thanks, love.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re wee, my husband.¡±


    ***


    ¡°I¡¯ll grab a taxi to go home,¡± I muttered after we had finished eating.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you have any other ns? Are you heading home so soon?¡±Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Yup. Why?¡±


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you stay here for a bit? We can go home togetherter. I was thinking of taking you with me to where I¡¯m headed. One of my friends called, and we¡¯re meeting upter tonight. I¡¯d like to bring you along.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ll take me with you?¡±


    ¡°Yes, wouldn¡¯t you like that?¡±


    ¡°I want to!¡±


    I was concerned that if I allowed him to go alone, Maureen might interfere once more. I had to stay one step ahead of that woman, even though she was the one Ivan loved. Now that he had acknowledged my rights as his wife, I should make the most of it.


    I settled on the single sofa to the side to avoid distracting Ivan while he worked. I noticed his asional forehead-rubbing, his lost expression, and the sighs that followed. A hunch began to form within me; perhaps he was pondering what Maureen had disclosed earlier. What if his memories were slowly returning?


    What about me?


    I cleared my throat. ¡°Would you like some water?¡±


    Ivan turned toward me, his smile warm. ¡°Yes, please.¡±


    I fetched a bottled water from the small fridge next to the cab and passed it to him.


    ¡°Are you okay?¡±


    ¡°I-I don¡¯t know¡­¡± He gazed at me, his expression filled with concern.


    It was as if my heart was being squeezed. Please, God. If his memories are returning, please grant me a little more time with him. I want to be with him, even if it¡¯s just for a little while.


    Please¡­


    I felt tears welling up my eyes, so I averted my gaze and regained myposure.


    ¡°Maybe you were just swamped with work. Can¡¯t you postpone some of the paperwork forter?¡±


    He nodded and put his hand on my waist, gently pulling me down to sit on hisp.


    ¡°I-Ivan¡­¡±


    He enveloped me from behind, holding me tightly. ¡°I just need some time to recharge.¡±


    I sat in silence and allowed him to embrace me.


    ¡°Just give me a moment.¡± He tightened his hold around me.


    The ache in my chest gradually subsided.


    ¡°I love you, Ivan.¡±


    He let out a deep sigh and nuzzled his face against my back while his fingers intertwined with mine.


    ¡°M?¡±


    ¡°Yes, love?¡±


    ¡°Uhm, never mind¡­¡±


    I didn¡¯t press for more. He simply said, ¡°never mind,¡± but I sensed that there was something he wanted to share, yet he was unsure of how to broach the subject with me. Perhaps he was concerned about the potential pain it might cause me, given his current state of mind.


    Even though it hadn¡¯t happened, I was already feeling the ache. Why did it seem to be unfolding so swiftly?


    Then I recollected the promise I had made to him after his ident.


    ¡°I love you so much, Ivan. I will always be your understanding wife.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, love¡­¡±

 With his friends

    In the past, I would frequently indulge in social parties, particrly during my college days. However, after marrying Ivan, I refrained from joining my friends on their outings, regardless of their persistent invitations. I aimed to avoid bing a topic of gossip, and I also wanted to make sure that Ivan didn¡¯t perceive me as someone who was still living a carefree single life, even though I was aware that Ivan remained unconcerned.


    Before six o¡¯clock, we headed to the basement parking lot. Our journey to their designated meeting ce, a bar and restaurant in Makati, was a half-hour drive. This is where Ivan¡¯s friends were nning to gather.


    Although I was familiar with his friends, I could count on one hand the number of times I had engaged in conversations or interactions with them in the past. When they visited our home after I had married Ivan, he didn¡¯t usually introduce me to them. However, I ended up serving them because we didn¡¯t have any house helpers.


    My mind was drifting, wondering where all of this was leading. I leaned against Ivan¡¯s shoulder in an attempt to gain his attention. He was gazing out of the car window, lost in his thoughts.


    ¡°Are you okay?¡± I asked softly while gently caressing his hand, which rested on my thigh.


    ¡°Yeah, just a bit tired, but I¡¯m fine. Don¡¯t worry,¡± he reassured me.


    Ivan gently stroked my hair, his lips curved into a smile, yet his eyes betrayed a hint of unease. Something weighed on his mind. Nheless, I refrained from probing further. It was essential for him to put aside whatever was troubling him.


    Upon our arrival, all of Ivan¡¯s friends were in attendance. There were only three of them, as Fourth was notably absent, reportedly out of town.


    The women of his friends appeared courteous but somewhat reserved. They often kept to themselves, offering subtle smiles and asionally engaging in conversation with their partners.


    Ivan held my hand, which was resting on my thigh. There was a ss of alcohol in front of him, which he sipped gradually.


    ¡°Are you starting to get impatient?¡± he murmured in my ear. I shook my head, content to stay with him and his friends as long as he wanted to be there.


    We shared smiles, and he nted a kiss on my lips, causing my eyes to widen. I wasn¡¯t ustomed to his public disys of affection, especially among people who were well aware of the true nature of our rtionship and what I truly meant to him.


    ¡°Thank you, M¡­¡± I raised my gaze when Angus spoke.


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    ¡°Thank you for being such a wonderful partner to our friend. Our vote is for you. If he ever mistreats you, don¡¯t hesitate to let us know. We¡¯ve got your back¡­¡±


    I smiled. ¡°Thank you¡­¡±


    They used to hang out with Maureen in the past, so it¡¯s heartwarming to know they¡¯re supporting me as their friend¡¯s significant other.


    And speaking of the devil bitch, I just spotted her at the bar counter. Probably, she arrived not long ago, possibly tipped off about Ivan¡¯s presence. She¡¯s in thepany of her friends, and it seems a few gentlemen have taken an interest in their group.


    As my focus shifted, Ivan¡¯s friends couldn¡¯t help but perceive the change in my attention. Caius discreetly cleared his throat and shared a meaningful, knowing look with Ivan. My husband, too, redirected his eyes toward that direction. He let out a sigh and then enveloped me with his arm, gently reassuring me with a tender squeeze on my arm.


    ¡°Do you want to go home?¡± he asked once more.


    ¡°And you? Would you like to head home?¡± I cast a nce at his friends, then whispered to him,


    ¡°Later¡­¡±


    ¡°Alright, let me know if you start feeling ufortable.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    They continued their conversation, disying a nonchnt demeanor despite Maureen¡¯s presence in the bar. Ivan¡¯s friends requested another bottle of alcohol. They were seasoned drinkers, and although slightly tipsy, they maintained theirposure.


    Intermittently, the female partners of Ivan¡¯s friends discreetly observed Maureen, their curiosity stirred by her being there.


    Ivan¡¯s friend responded to them in hushed tones, and upon learning Maureen¡¯s identity, their partners offered me sympathetic nces. I responded with a reassuring smile. I was perfectly fine, but their consideration was appreciated.


    ¡°Ivan, you¡¯re here!¡± Maureen couldn¡¯t restrain herself and came over to our table. Herck of respect was evident.


    ¡°Oh, hi, Caius, it¡¯s been a while. Angus, do you have a new girlfriend, I see? Oh¡­ Isn¡¯t she Aurora¡¯s maid, your ex?¡±


    Maureen¡¯sment made Angus¡¯s girlfriend avert her gaze, while I clenched my fist in frustration at Maureen¡¯s audacious behavior. Angus¡¯s jaw tensed.


    ¡°Hello, Huxley. Celeste sent her regards. She had quite a few stories about you, huh¡­ She mentioned that she had a great time with you¡­¡±


    Huxley¡¯s girlfriend cast a disapproving nce at Maureen.


    ¡°Maureen¡­¡± Ivan scolded her with frustration.


    ¡°What?¡± she asked innocently.


    ¡°What on earth are you up to?¡±


    ¡°I was just greeting them. Is that such a big deal?¡±


    I regarded her with a stern look. If she made a misstep, I might not be able to contain my reaction any longer.


    However, she only grinned, clearly having indulged in a fair amount of alcohol. Her eyes were unfocused, and it appeared she was intensifying her audacity.


    I expected her to say more, but she abruptly turned away from us. I believed her disturbance had drawn to a close, but it became apparent that this was merely the prelude to her actions.


    The change in the atmosphere among the women in the couples with us was palpable. Maureen had undeniably cast a shadow over it.


    ¡°Hello!¡±


    I tightly closed my eyes upon hearing Maureen¡¯s voice on the stage, holding the microphone.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to sing a song. This is for my boyfriend, Ivan Nicholo Greco!¡±


    ¡°What the hell!¡± ourpanions eximed.


    ¡°He¡¯s over there-with his wife!¡±


    The crowd reacted. Some cheered, and others taunted.


    ¡°Shit!¡±


    ¡°If she doesn¡¯t stop, you¡¯ll be in the media tomorrow,¡± Caius warned.


    Ivan massaged his temple, a gesture of frustration evident on his face. The thought of removing Maureen from the stage crossed my mind, yet I hesitated, unsure whether it would fix our predicament.


    The woman hadpletely lost her sense of shame. Could she genuinely take pride in publicly dering her role as a mistress? It astounded me. Her willingness to descend to such depths is a testament to herpleteck of shame.


    ¡°I see that look in your eyes, folks! Don¡¯t judge me. I¡¯m not the other woman. Yes, he¡¯s married, but I¡¯m not his mistress. He¡¯s been my boyfriend for several years. And this woman, she a slut and forced my boyfriend to marry her.¡±


    ¡°Ivan, I¡¯m willing to wait. I can patiently wait for your marriage to be annulled, just as we have agreed. I love you.¡±C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.


    The people nearby became increasingly agitated, their inquisitivenesspelling them to find out the identity of the man Maureen was talking about. While some were clearly unaware of our situation, I could discern that a handful of individuals in the room, particrly those from privileged backgrounds, recognized the person she had referred to.


    ¡°Hit it, maestro!¡±


    Maureen began to sing, delivering their signature song. I recognized their theme song, which I had heard during their gatherings at the mansion.


    Ivan massaged his temples, and I maintained my silence. Tears welled up within me, but I managed to keep myposure. I could endure this.


    Maureen sang ¡°Perfect Two¡± with tears streaming down her face. During the performance, Ivan¡¯s eyes remained shut, and his friends gazed at us with apprehension.


    Angus signaled the waiter and asked for the bill.


    ¡°Let¡¯s head home¡­ We¡¯ll all leave together,¡± Caius suggested.


    After settling the bill, we all rose from our seats. Maureen¡¯s song was drawing to a close, and she didn¡¯tplete it.


    ¡°Ivan! I love you very much! I¡¯ll patiently await your return. Please, keep me in your thoughts.


    Please¡­


    I¡¯m aware that everyone is sympathizing with Maureen. She¡¯s in tears, and I can¡¯t help but feel sorry for her.


    I can¡¯t help but feel like the antagonist in this situation. If it weren¡¯t for me, they wouldn¡¯t be apart. However, they¡¯re not truly separated. I know theirmunication has remained intact because she¡¯s the one Ivan cares about.


    Throughout our trip, Ivan remained silent, his eyes closed, and he had been massaging his forehead for some time. I made the choice to remain silent, allowing him his space.


    It¡¯s possible that during this moment, some of his memories were resurfacing due to recent events. As the car approached the vige gate, I reached out and held Ivan¡¯s hand.


    He opened his bloodshot eyes, causing me to avert my gaze. I couldn¡¯t bring myself to look at his face at that moment. I wasn¡¯t ready to let him go.


    ¡°I¡¯ll take the bath first,¡± he mumbled, showing little enthusiasm. He wasn¡¯t the affectionate partner who usually joined me in the shower, resulting in shared moments and bedtime.


    ¡°O-Okay,¡± I replied with a smile.


    As I waited for him to finish, my tears began to fall slowly. In the past, I was resolute about leaving. But now¡­ why does it feel like I can¡¯t bear to part ways anymore? We¡¯re happy, and I can sense that he may have feelings for me.


    Could he be exclusively mine? We¡¯re already married, God.


    Can I have Ivan all to myself? Please lead Maureen to someone else to love.


    I¡¯m aware of the grave mistake I¡¯ve made against her and Ivan, but, Lord, I never intended topel my husband into this union.


    When Ivan turned off the bathroom faucet, I swiftly brushed away my tears and stood up to take my turn in the shower.


    Tears streamed down my face as I stood beneath the shower¡¯s spray. The pain was overwhelming, and even with my eyes closed, I could vividly picture Maureen¡¯s pitiful and tear-stained face from earlier. Her words and cries seemed to linger in my ears, echoing in my mind.


    Once I¡¯d finished showering, I resolved not to shed any more tears. Iy down beside my husband, who was lost in thought, his arm shielding his forehead.


    ¡°Goodnight,¡± I whispered, nting a gentle kiss on his cheek, and then closed my eyes.


    ¡°M?¡±


    I paused for a brief instant, summoning the strength to lock eyes with him. It was as if I dreaded what his words might hold.


    In quiet contemtion, I observed him. His eyes brimmed with tears, and my own emotions surged, impossible to contain.


    I embraced him, and together we wept quietly, holding onto one another.


    Oh, God. Is this goodbye? Please, don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re releasing me. I¡¯m not ready. Not yet, please¡­


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, M.¡±


    I couldn¡¯t help but sob uncontrobly.


    ¡°No¡­ Don¡¯t apologize. I should be the one saying sorry¡­¡± I restrained myself from breaking down.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry for what happened. I¡¯ll take responsibility for Maureen¡¯s actions earlier.¡±


    Is this not a farewell yet? I wiped away my tears and held his gaze.


    ¡°I¡¯m feeling confused, love¡­ Sorry¡­ Unwanted thoughts keep invading my mind, disrupting my thoughts. They¡¯re troubling this,¡± he murmured, pointing to his chest.


    ¡°I understand. I¡¯m your understanding wife, remember? There¡¯s no need to apologize.¡±


    Silence enveloped us once more. I refrained from pushing him further, especially considering the memories that had reemerged due to recent events.


    Maybe Maureen is experiencing profound joy at this moment. She deliberately orchestrated it to etch herself into Ivan¡¯s memory.


    My husband drifted off to sleep before I did, cradling me in his embrace. I studied his face, realizing that I might only have a few days left with him.


    ¡°I cherish you deeply, Ivan. Wherever your happiness lies, that¡¯s where you¡¯ll find me. Love isn¡¯t selfish, and I¡¯m prepared to set you free¡­¡±

 Go to her

    It¡¯s as if nothing transpiredst night. Ivan awoke with a radiant smile, choosing to skip going to his office and instructing his secretary to deliver the papers he needed for signing instead.


    Later on, we find ourselves seated in the garden. I¡¯m engrossed in a book while he focuses on his work, opting not to discuss the events ofst night.


    Furthermore, he¡¯s making ns for us to take a vacation next weekend. He mentioned that we¡¯d depart on Friday evening and return on Sunday night. He had already informed his parents, and their response was simply encouragement for us to have a baby.


    Earlier, after breakfast, my mother-inw approached me discreetly. She had learned about what happened at the bar the previous night, and I confided in her about Maureen¡¯s actions, detailing everything from the office to the bar.


    ¡°I¡¯m worried, Mom. How many days from now do you think Ivan¡¯s memory wille back?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t fret, my dear. You are his wife. Even if his memory returns, I¡¯m confident it won¡¯t erase the wonderful moments you¡¯ve shared, even though they all urred in a shorter timepared to the years he spent with Maureen as a couple.¡±


    In the depths of uncertainty, my heart clings to the belief that should Ivan¡¯s memories resurface, he will continue to gaze upon me with affection, bestow upon me his tender kisses, and envelop me in his warm embrace.


    I prepared snacks for him while he was working. And when three in the afternoon arrived, he began packing his belongings.


    ¡°Something returned to my memory¡­¡±


    A cold shiver coursed from my head to my toes.


    ¡°I was driving, and then¡­¡± A crease formed on his forehead.


    ¡°Don¡¯t push it¡­¡±


    Could he have remembered the day of his ident?


    ¡°How about taking a road trip? Would you like to?¡± he proposed.


    ¡°Huh? Could you manage?¡±


    ¡°I believe I can manage.¡±


    I examined his face. ¡°It¡¯s your choice if that¡¯s what you want. Sure¡­ I can drive, so if you get tired, I can take over.¡±


    He nodded and smiled. ¡°Let¡¯s change clothes for now.¡±


    And then I informed his parents about our ns.


    ¡°Alright, just be careful, okay? Take care¡­¡±


    We drove north until we reached the expressway, then made a stop at arge church in Bcan.


    He parked his car, and then I asked, ¡°Does this church hold any memories for you?¡±


    I doubt that he and Maureen used to attend this church, so it¡¯s surprising that we found ourselves here.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know¡­¡±


    We stepped into the church and prayed together.


    For more than an hour, we remained seated, enveloped in a hushed atmosphere, our attention devoted to the altar. I couldn¡¯t fathom his thoughts, but the turmoil from the previous night haunted him, and he was afraid of the prospect of his memories returning.


    I¡¯m relieved that we ended up here, grateful that he selected this sacred sanctuary.


    He cast a nce toward the confession room. I don¡¯t believe there¡¯s a confession scheduled on days like today.Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Shall we go home?¡±


    He nodded and stood up, grasping my hand. While we had originally intended to use the side exit, we spotted a group of people engrossed in conversation at the far end of the church.


    ¡°Why?¡± I inquired.


    ¡°I¡¯d like to speak with the priest.¡±


    The individual the priest had been conversing with was also leaving. The priest extended a smile in our direction, and we both extended our respect. The priest then inquired if we were a married couple.


    Initially, I assumed Ivan was seeking a blessing, but his purpose ran deeper.


    ¡°Father, please pray for me¡­ for us¡­¡±


    Ivan went on to exin his situation, admitting to his amnesia, and he shared the details of our rtionship, including the mention of Maureen. My eyes brimmed with tears as I deeply perceived the sincerity in Ivan¡¯s demeanor and the gravity of our situation.


    His resolve to remain faithful to our marriage was unwavering, and I sensed he was slowly recovering his memories, but found it difficult to confide in me. His desire to shield me from any anguish was profound, and his reverence for our marriage ran deep.


    While the priest offered his prayers on our behalf, tears streamed down my cheeks, and I sensed the Holy Spirit¡¯s presence enveloping my soul. In a generous gesture, Ivan emptied his wallet, contributing all his money to the church¡¯s cause.


    Upon returning to the car, our gazes met with a profound connection.


    ¡°Are you feeling better now?¡± I inquired, seeking to gauge his emotional state. He nodded and offered a reassuring smile.


    ¡°Shall we go?¡±


    Instead of heading straight home, we decided to search for a ce to eat. We stumbled upon a quaint eatery with charming huts where we enjoyed our meal. The dishes were delectable, and the prices were reasonable. While it wasn¡¯t our usual dining spot, it offered a delightful and fresh experience for both of us.


    Upon our return home, I discovered that my phone had run out of battery, and Ivan¡¯s anxious parents met us.


    ¡°Sorry, Mom¡­¡±


    ¡°Where did you go?¡±


    ¡°To a church in Bcan¡­¡±


    The couple expressed surprise but soon broke into smiles, their eyes shining as they looked at their son.


    They engaged us in conversation, so we postponed heading upstairs to rest.


    ¡°We understand that both of you are going through a challenging time at the moment. Your father and I discussed it earlier¡­¡±


    ¡°What is it, Mom?¡±


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you consider going to America for a while?¡±


    I fell into a contemtive silence. Were we contemting an escape from the situation? It appeared that they, too, were worried that once their son fully recovered his memory, it might lead to the dissolution of our marriage.


    Their suggestion is quite appealing. If it were solely up to me, I¡¯d agree without hesitation. However, it¡¯s not a decision I can make unterally. Both Ivan and I must agree on this matter.


    ¡°What about thepany?¡± I inquired. Three minutes had passed, and Ivan still hadn¡¯t given a response.


    ¡°We¡¯ll consider it, Mom,¡± Ivan replied a whileter.


    ¡°Alright, take your time, and reach a decision as soon as possible.¡±


    As we went upstairs, Ivan stayed quiet. I thought he might want to take a shower by himself, like he didst night because he seemed lost in thought. But to my surprise, he suggested that we shower together.


    ¡°Is your period over?¡±


    Iughed.


    ¡°Yeah¡­¡±


    He led me into the bathroom, and I let out a scream. We yfully teased each other in the shower, sharing passionate kisses, and our desire led us to explore every corner of our bathroom intimately.


    As we came out of the bathroom, we were utterly exhausted. We promptly copsed, too weary to bother with getting dressed, drained of all our energy.


    In the dead of night, a sequence of sharp knocks resounded through our door.


    ¡°Sir Ivan! Sir Ivan!¡±


    Ivan remained sound asleep, undisturbed by the insistent pounding and the maid¡¯s desperate calls.


    I wrapped myself in a robe before answering the door to the maid¡¯s urgent request.


    ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡±


    With a phone sped in her hand, I had a feeling I already knew who was at the other end of the line.


    ¡°Maureen, Ivan was fast asleep. You know that-¡±


    ¡°M, I¡¯m pleading with you¡­¡± The woman appeared to be inebriated. She wept; her words slurred as she spoke.


    ¡°What is this again, Maureen?¡±


    ¡°Please¡­ I¡¯m pleading with you¡­ I allowed Ivan to be with you for over a year. Please, return him to me. He loves me, M¡­¡±


    ¡°Maureen¡­ Find someone else.¡± Despite my efforts to project resolve, my voice trembled.


    I hung up the call and instructed the maid not to answer if the woman called again.


    As I closed the door, I was startled to find Ivan awake.


    ¡°Maureen called. I think she¡¯s drunk,¡± I informed him.


    He gave a solemn nod and turned his eyes away. I could sense his apprehension towards Maureen, yet he refrained from reaching out to her, for he understood that acknowledging her would be akin to reopening the door to her presence in our lives.


    ¡°Let¡¯s get some sleep¡­¡±


    ***


    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you consider Ivan going to his office if you¡¯re concerned?¡± my mother-inw inquired.


    I gently shook my head.


    ¡°Mom, hovering over him will only push Ivan further away. He¡¯s resisting temptation, and I have faith in him.¡±


    ¡°But you can¡¯t trust Maureen, M.¡±


    ¡°Indeed, Mom. That¡¯s why I hope Ivan will agree to us moving to America.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s persuade him.¡±


    It was only four in the afternoon when Ivan returned home.


    ¡°Is everything all right?¡±


    ¡°Everything¡¯s fine,¡± he assured, embracing me. I understood why he hade home at this hour. My mother-inw¡¯s secretary had called earlier, reporting that Maureen had visited, crying and seemingly in despair.


    My heart has felt burdened for some time now. I sympathize with Maureen, knowing that my husband shares simr feelings for her.


    Ivan invited me to have dinner outside, and I could discern his genuine effort to mend our rtionship.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go to the US,¡± he finally proposed as wey in bed, just after having sex.


    ¡°Are you certain?¡±


    ¡°Yes, love.¡±


    My heart swelled with happiness; his choice was clear-he had chosen me.


    ¡°You might have regretted it.¡±


    The return of his memories might lead to regret.


    ¡°I don¡¯t believe I will.¡±


    ¡°Alright. Let¡¯s discuss this with Dad and Mom tomorrow, but please contemte it thoroughly.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sure, love.¡±


    I drifted to sleep with a content heart, only to awaken to the news that could potentially reshape our marital situation once more.


    Maureen is in the hospital following her suicide attempt. Her parents and a friend hurried to my inws¡¯ house early in the morning, pleading with Ivan to visit their daughter.


    ¡°Please, just have a conversation with her. She¡¯ll only listen to you,¡± Maureen¡¯s mother implored. Tears welled up in the eyes of both her parents, and if they could, they would have knelt and kissed our feet to gain our consent.


    Ivan¡¯s mother was furious and refused, while Ivan remained silent, though I could sense he was suppressing his emotions.


    ¡°Go see her,¡± I said resolutely, which took Ivan by surprise. Maureen needed him.


    ¡°M!¡± my mother-inw eximed in disbelief.


    I smiled as I turned to address her.


    ¡°Ivan will simply visit her, Mom. He¡¯d only have a conversation with her.¡±


    We arranged for his sister to apany him even though she was initially reluctant. Ivan needed someone with him.


    ¡°I¡¯ll be back soon,¡± Ivan said before he kissed me on the lips.


    As he left, my tears streamed without restraint, and a profound ache enveloped me. The weight of responsibility pressed heavily upon my heart, as I couldn¡¯t escape the feeling of being ountable for Maureen¡¯s hospitalization and the turmoil Ivan was enduring.


    One, two, and then three hours had psed, and Ivan still hadn¡¯t returned. My mother-inw bombarded my sister-inw with texts, iming that Ivan was still inside Maureen¡¯s room, having a conversation with her and that she appeared to have calmed down somewhat.


    ¡°Come home immediately!¡± My mother-inw was livid.


    ¡°Start packing,¡± she insisted, looking at me.


    ¡°Mom¡­ Let¡¯s not rush it. Ivan needs to determine when we¡¯ll leave, or it might further unsettle his state of mind,¡± I suggested.


    Ivan and his sister returned home after lunch. They mentioned they had persuaded Maureen to eat something.


    My mother-inw was expressing her frustrations while I maintained my silence. I wore aposed smile to reassure my husband that I was fine. He brought a cake for me, and we enjoyed it together before retiring to our room.


    Later in the evening, Maureen¡¯s friend called, reporting that Maureen was having another breakdown and was once again looking for Ivan.


    The entire household was in turmoil because of the situation. My mother-inw was determined to confront Maureen at the hospital, as her frustration was palpable.


    Ivan remained silent, and so did I. I couldn¡¯t bear the thought of letting him return there, fearing that Maureen would resume her actions.


    We retired to our beds that night, only to be greeted by Maureen¡¯s family once more the following morning.


    ¡°It¡¯s a doctor that Maureen needs, not Ivan. My son is already married!¡±


    Maureen¡¯s parents responded, ¡°We¡¯re all aware that Ivan doesn¡¯t love his wife.¡±


    I was deeply affected by those words, though they infuriated my inws. Instead of offering sympathy and suggesting that Ivan visit the woman for a while, I remained silent, giving Maureen¡¯s parents a stern look.


    ¡°I hope you understand the concept of respect. Ivan and I are married. What parents are you if you condone your daughter bing a mistress?!¡±


    This led to a heated argument, with the household helpers ultimately stepping in to escort Maureen¡¯s family out. My mother-inw refused to allow Ivan to go to work, causing him to be restless throughout the day.


    I¡¯m contemting leaving him and allowing him to be with Maureen. It¡¯s because he¡¯s profoundly affected by all of this. If he continues in this state, I¡¯ll only end up hurting even more.


    ¡°If you want to go to her, then go.¡±


    ¡°M-M¡­¡±


    I summoned a smile. ¡°It¡¯s okay, go to her.¡±


    He embraced me, and our lips met for a few minutes.


    ¡°Are youing with me?¡±


    I shook my head.


    ¡°Just go with the bodyguards or with your sister or brother.¡±


    My sister-inw was livid when Ivan requested herpany, and her anger was directed at me as well, including my mother-inw.


    ¡°M, do you realize what you¡¯re doing?¡±


    We had a conversation after Ivan and his sister left the home.


    ¡°I can¡¯t bear to see Ivan so bewildered, Mom. I sense that he¡¯s deeply hurt and concerned about Maureen. We all know she¡¯s the one he truly loves.¡±

 Betrayed

    I was uncertain about the time Ivan arrived home, as I had retreated upstairs to my room after a conversation with my mother-inw, attempting to find sce in sleep. I was determined not to dwell on my worries and shed tears.


    My husband¡¯s warm embrace enveloped me, and he softly murmured something, but my extreme exhaustion left me unable toprehend his words. The next morning, I awoke before Ivan, showered, and descended to the kitchen to assist with breakfast preparations.


    My inws, Mom and Dad, were already up, sipping their morning coffee and reading the newspaper.


    ¡°We didn¡¯t sleep wellst night, your mom and I¡­¡±


    I looked at my father-inw while I was cutting vegetables. I¡¯m the one who makes sd for my sister¡¯s breakfast. ¡°Why is that, Dad?¡±


    ¡°We were concerned about you, dear¡­¡±


    My emotions welled up, biting my lip. If it weren¡¯t for this loving couple who had taken me in, I couldn¡¯t fathom where I might be today. I am grateful that my parents have apassionate friend who extended their kindness to me. Their affection and the way they treated me made me feel like a cherished part of their family.


    I should probably count myself as fortunate, or at least, I sincerely hope I am.


    ¡°Let us talk to Ivan¡­¡±


    ¡°Thank you¡­¡± My tears welled up, prompting me to pause my task. Mommy motioned for me toe closer, and they embraced me.


    Ivan appeared to have just awakened from his sleep, with disheveled hair and still in his pajamas as he descended to the kitchen. He took a deep breath upon spotting me.


    ¡°Why?¡± I inquired, perplexed, as I looked at him. He approached me and offered aforting hug instead.


    I momentarily set down the tes I was holding to prevent them from breaking.


    ¡°Why?¡± I asked again, while he embraced me from behind, his chin resting on my shoulder.


    ¡°Nothing¡­¡±


    I pondered what might have happened to him.


    As we all exchanged nces during the meal, Ivan¡¯s sister was the one to break the silence as breakfast drew to a close.


    ¡°I¡¯m not happy with how often you visit Maureen, Ivan. Please consider M too¡­¡±


    Their parents cleared their throats.


    ¡°You¡¯re already married to M, Ivan. Your rtionship with her is firmly established, yet¡­¡± my brother-inw trailed off.


    Ivan held my hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, love¡­¡±


    I shed a smile. ¡°It¡¯s alright. I already said it¡¯s fine.¡±


    Mom and my sister-inw exchanged disapproving looks. I could tell they were frustrated with me for allowing Ivan to make his own decision.


    His parents had a private discussion with him in the study room. I didn¡¯t know what they told my husband, but I hoped they wouldn¡¯t put pressure on him, as it could make his situation worse.


    I share Ivan¡¯s feelings, and while it is a source of anguish for me, my empathy for him runs deep. I can discern that Maureen experiences simr sentiments. However, this doesn¡¯t alter the reality that I am now Ivan¡¯s spouse, with a legitimate connection to him.


    Yearning for a friend to share my thoughts with, I find myself wishing for someone else to confide in regarding thisplex situation, but if I were to confide in my friend, she would likely reprimand me.


    Once again, Ivan didn¡¯t go to his office, but he sent some paperwork to his secretary.


    I whipped up fresh juice for him and also offered cookies, which I baked.


    He inquired, ¡°Do you have any ns for today?¡±


    I was all dressed up in a coordinated outfit and heels. I was on my way to meet with a business owner. My intention was to invest and make my money grow. It wasn¡¯t a significant investment because I didn¡¯t have arge sum in the bank.


    ¡°Yes, I have a meeting. It mightst until the afternoon,¡± I responded.


    He pondered for a moment, then drew me close and seated me on hisp. His fingers caressed my pendant, and they brushed against my cleavage, eliciting a smile from me as I yfully shook my head.


    ¡°I need to head out to avoid the traffic,¡± I remarked, kissing him.


    ¡°Later tonight, alright?¡± I couldn¡¯t help but chuckle at his words.


    ¡°Yes, be prepared for tonight!¡± I yfully bit his lip, making him groan as he reluctantly let me go.


    ¡°Ivan, I really must go. I might get stuck in traffic.¡±


    ¡°Okay¡­ Goodbye, wife!¡±


    ¡°Bye, mister!¡±


    I left home with a sense of excitement. I was fortunate not to bete for the meeting; the CEO and I arrived simultaneously, and then promptlyunched into our meeting, covering a wide range of topics. I gathered numerous ideas from him that I could implement once I established my business.


    Our meeting was extended until four in the afternoon. I was on my way home when I unexpectedly ran into an acquaintance who engaged me in a conversation, leading to a dy that stretched into the evening.


    It was already seven in the evening, and I was concerned my husband might be upset by now. To make matters worse, my phone¡¯s battery was running low as I had forgotten to charge it the previous night.


    I hastened to our bedroom, but I found it empty. After changing my clothes, I descended the stairs, hoping to find him in the dining area.


    To my dismay, he wasn¡¯t there either. The only individuals present were my inws, eating dinner in silence and appearing to be in a terrible mood.


    ¡°Where¡¯s Ivan?¡± My voice quivered with anxiety, struggling toprehend the situation. An overwhelming sense of unease washed over me.


    ¡°He left, around two this afternoon,¡± they informed me, their eyes filled with sorrow. I was suddenly ovee by intense anxiety.


    One of the maids promptly came to assist me, and Ivan¡¯s sister and brother approached me as well.


    ¡°Did he¡­ Did he go to Maureen?¡± I stammered.


    I massaged my forehead, my hand trembling. Suddenly, a sharp headache struck, and I squeezed my eyes shut.


    I won¡¯t cry.


    I refused to shed tears.


    My hand shook, and my entire body felt on the verge of giving way. Darn it!


    ¡°M¡­¡±


    ¡°M¡­¡±


    My mother-inw offered a gentle pat on my back.


    ¡°Take a breath, dear.¡±


    ¡°Breathe¡­¡±


    ¡°Water, give her water!¡±


    They were all growing increasingly frantic. My mother-inw tenderly caressed my back and said, ¡°Dear, just let it out. Cry¡­¡±


    Tears streamed down my face, and I found myself sobbing uncontrobly.


    ¡°Go fetch Ivan!¡± Dad instructed Ivan¡¯s brother.


    ¡°No, please, don¡¯t. Let him be if that¡¯s what he wants,¡± I interjected.


    It¡¯s likely he recollected, but he didn¡¯t bid farewell. I wished he had expressed something. I returned home before him, and he didn¡¯t seem to take my feelings into ount.


    I held the belief that he cherished our marriage and held me in high regard. As the clock neared nine in the evening, I chose to forgo dinner and retreated to our room.


    There, I reclined on the bed for a brief moment, patiently enduring the passing of thirty minutes, but Ivan still hadn¡¯t returned home.


    Have you finally made a decision, Ivan? Can¡¯t you suppress your feelings any longer?


    I walked over to the closet, grabbed my suitcase, and began packing.


    By ten in the evening, I descended the stairs. Ivan¡¯s parents were in the living room, their expressions marked by frustration as they waited for him.


    ¡°M!¡± My mother-inw rushed toward me, tears streaming down her face as she enveloped me in her embrace.


    ¡°M, please¡­¡±


    ¡°Mom, I¡¯m sorry, but I must leave now. Thank you for everything-¡±


    ¡°M?¡±


    We both turned our attention to the door. Ivan¡¯s eyes widened as he beheld me and the suitcase I clutched in one hand.


    ¡°Where are you going?¡±


    I offered no reply. I mustered a smile, but no matter how hard I tried, my smile couldn¡¯t conceal the bitterness and sadness that lurked beneath.


    He approached me with determined strides, wrested the suitcase from my grip, and let it fall with a thud before enveloping me in a tight embrace.


    ¡°You¡¯re leaving me? I¡¯m sorry¡­ I¡¯m sorry. It wasn¡¯t my intention. Please. Please¡­¡±


    Tears welled up in his eyes.


    ¡°For the sake of everyone, I have to go. I need to leave.¡±


    ¡°But you¡¯re my wife.¡±


    ¡°Ivan, you don¡¯t love me. I¡¯ve never held a ce in your heart, not even from the start. Though we¡¯re married, your love is not for me.¡±


    He shook his head and sped me with greater intensity.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry. Please forgive me. I promise I won¡¯t repeat my mistakes.¡±


    ¡°Ivan, let¡¯s spare each other further agony.¡±


    ¡°By this Friday, we¡¯re leaving the country. We¡¯re heading to the US. I assure you, Maureen won¡¯t be a part of our lives. I promise!¡±


    I could sense the burden of our situation weighing heavily on him, the inner turmoil he was grappling with.


    He locked eyes with me, his hands tenderly cradling my cheeks. Tears flowed freely down both our faces.


    ¡°We¡¯re going away. We¡¯ll start anew.¡±


    For a prolonged moment, I remained in silence, simply gazing at him.


    ¡°Okay¡­¡± I eventually nodded.


    He smiled and held me in a tight embrace. Oh, God! Why do I get the feeling that he¡¯s beginning to develop feelings for me? Why does it seem like he might already love me?


    Could this be an answered prayer? Please confirm that you¡¯ve heard my years of prayer¡­


    My mother-inw returned my suitcase to our room. They spoke to us before allowing us to rest. They offered a lot of advice about married life and scolded Ivan multiple times.


    By the time we reached our room, it was reaching midnight. He took a shower first while I organized some of our clothes in the closet.


    ¡°Are you alright?¡± I inquired, observing him as he massaged his temples.


    ¡°Just a slight headache.¡±


    ¡°Did you recall something?¡±


    He nodded.


    ¡°Would you mind sharing it with me?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not important, love.¡±


    So, it¡¯s more likely his memories with Maureen that he recollected, if that¡¯s the case.


    ¡°Okay, you should take your medicine first. Then you can go to sleep.¡±


    After taking a shower, I was taken aback when he unexpectedly joined me.


    ¡°What¡¯s the matter¡­ I thought you had a headache?¡±


    He pursed his lips and began to fidget with his hands. He went to sleep ahead of me after wearing himself out.


    ***


    On the following day, Ivan and I ventured out for some shopping. Despite my suggestion that he stay home due to not feeling well, he insisted on joining me.


    His growing affection and attentiveness began to dispel my uncertainties gradually.


    ***


    Our luggage is all prepared and ready. We¡¯ll be departing tonight. Ivan is currently at the office, attending a meeting with the board. I was in high spirits throughout the day, even going as far as inspecting our suitcases to ensure we didn¡¯t leave anything behind.Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g


    ***


    ¡°Hi, are you heading home?¡± I inquired with a smile as he called. It was already six in the evening, and we were supposed to be at the airport by ten.


    ¡°Love, you go ahead to the airport. I¡¯ll follow. I¡¯ll be there in about thirty minutes.¡±


    Ipsed into silence.


    Why aren¡¯t we going to the airport together? Our luggage has already found its ce in the car, and the driver stands ready just outside. My gaze drifted towards my mother-inw and his sister. There was a yearning to convey this, yet I grappled with the question of whether it was essential to disclose this information to them.


    ¡°O-okay¡­¡± I managed a smile, but deep down, the joy I had been feeling started to crumble.


    ¡°Alright, see you¡­¡±


    The call was abruptly cut off.


    My mother-inw asked, ¡°What did he say?¡±


    ¡°He mentioned that I should meet him near the mall, Mom¡­¡±


    ¡°The mall?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mom. Alright, I have to leave.¡±


    I kissed them on their cheek and hastened to get into the SUV.


    ¡°Bye, Mom! Come over with us soon!¡±


    They had promised to visit us in two weeks, so I kept our farewell short.


    ¡°Driver, could you please speed up? We¡¯re going to the Greco Building.¡±


    ¡°Pardon?¡±


    Despite the confusion, the driver elerated. As we approached the intersection near Ivan¡¯s office, his car was just departing from the building.


    ¡°Driver, please follow Ivan¡¯s car.¡±


    I felt like I was on the brink of losing myposure at that moment. I clung tightly to the car seat, unsure of what to make of this situation. I wasn¡¯t certain whether I could trust my current thoughts or if it would be wiser to witness everything with my own eyes for rity.


    After following Ivan for ten minutes, his car came to a stop in front of his favorite restaurant.


    ¡°Dear God, grant me strength.¡±


    My entire body trembled, and I felt almost too feeble to exit the car.


    You can do this, M. You can do this!


    I took a deep breath before cautiously stepping out and proceeding into the restaurant.


    I couldn¡¯t spot Ivan, so it was probable that he was in the VIP room. Whom had he met? How significant was this meeting for him to choose it even with just a few hours left before our flight?


    I¡¯m familiar with the supervisor here, so when I observed their reactions, it was as though my queries had been addressed.


    I reciprocated with a smile and a nod, signaling to them. The surprised supervisor, in turn, nodded in response and escorted me inside.


    I had doubts about whether I could confront the two of them, but I proceeded to their room, anyway. However, I hesitated and didn¡¯t open the door.


    Instead, I peered through a narrow gap, and when I witnessed the two individuals engaged in a kiss, my world fell apart, and my heart shattered.


    Seeing them, one aspect remained unmistakable: my resolve to leave and create distance from my husband¡¯s life.

 Leaving him

    Ipelled myself to leave the restaurant, despite feeling immensely frail because of the intense trembling of my body. As I stepped into the car, I discreetly wiped away my tears before addressing the driver, who remained silent.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±


    ¡°To the airport, Ma¡¯am?¡±


    ¡°Just drive, please¡­¡±


    Stayposed, M. Focus. Focus.


    It took five minutes before I resolved to call my friend, and there was a dy before she picked up the call.


    ¡°Oh, friend¡­¡±


    I discreetly cleared my throat and inhaled deeply.


    She let out a sigh. Even though I hadn¡¯t uttered a word, it was as if she had an uncanny understanding. That¡¯s just the way she is, and it reaffirms my belief in her genuine affection, a true friend.


    ¡°I won¡¯t reprimand you. If you¡¯ve made your decision, I¡¯lle to pick you up. I¡¯ll send you the other details via text.¡±


    She hung up the call.


    ¡°Driver, please pull over to the side.¡±


    ¡°Pardon?¡± The driver was taken aback and didn¡¯t immediatelyply with my request.


    ¡°Kindly pull over, please.¡± Eventually, he followed my instructions.


    He assisted me with unloading my two suitcases and even hailed a taxi for me.


    ¡°Please take care, Ma¡¯am,¡± the elderly driver said with a sorrowful smile.


    ¡°Do not answer their questions, all right?¡± I instructed. There was no need for further exnation as he nodded in understanding.


    ¡°Thank you¡­¡±


    I directed the taxi to Batangas, where Rachelle would be waiting for me. During the journey, I couldn¡¯t help but wonder if the ind she mentioned was located within that province. I was anxious for the Grecos to locate me easily, not Ivan, of course, but his parents.


    My husband wouldn¡¯t waste any time searching for me. By now, he probably knew I had left, and perhaps he was celebrating with his mistress, savoring their newfound happiness.


    I couldn¡¯t suppress the tears. This would be thest time I should be crying. I took a deep breath and wiped my tear-stained cheeks.


    ¡°Find happiness, Ivan. I¡¯ll seek my own.¡±


    I summoned a smile, despite the shattered pieces within me, determined to no longer let tears flow. It had been enough years of shedding tears for Ivan, day and night. It¡¯s time to move on.


    I would let go of the painful memories between us and hold dear the fleeting moments of happiness we once shared. Those were the times when you yed your role as my husband.


    I love you so much, Ivan. I am determined to ensure that we cross paths no more. And should fate bring us together in the future, I can promise that my heart will no longer hold any affection for you.


    ***


    ¡°My poor friend¡­¡±


    Thisdy! She¡¯s relentless in her teasing. I cried even harder as she embraced me tightly and gently caressed my cheek.


    ¡°Stop crying¡­¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re nuts, you made me cry!¡±


    We exchanged eye rolls andughed like a pair of lunatics.Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go, you might be tailed¡­¡± She winced and added, ¡°By your inws. Do you honestly think your husband will chase after you?¡±


    I gave her a light p. Is she truly my friend? She¡¯s attempting to smack me with reality!


    ¡°Come on! You¡¯re annoying!¡±


    We embarked on a boat journey to the nearest ind.


    ¡°It¡¯s rather close, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    ¡°No, it¡¯s far! Once we reach there, a chopper will pick us up¡­¡±


    ¡°Wow!¡±


    ¡°Truly, wow!¡±


    She embraced me. ¡°You¡¯re such a brave girl¡­ No regrets, I hope?¡±


    A forced smile formed on my lips.


    ¡°No regrets¡­¡±


    ***


    The ind that Rachelle and her husband acquired is still in the process of being developed. Its pristine white sandy beaches and crystal-clear waters make it an ideal destination. Surrounded by trees and rtively isted from other inds, it¡¯s a perfect choice for a tranquil getaway.


    ¡°It¡¯s incredibly beautiful here!¡±


    ¡°I told you¡­ My husband and I instantly fell in love with this ce.¡±


    Her husband is currently away, attending a business meeting since yesterday. He¡¯s a sessful entrepreneur and a multi-millionaire. He¡¯s divorced, with his children under the care of his ex-wife in another country.


    I refrained from asking too many questions, as she seemed reluctant to share further details.


    ¡°Let¡¯s get some rest. We can sleep beside each other so I can watch over you. Who knows, you might get any wild ideas, killing yourself, and it could jinx my business before it even takes off.¡±


    I chuckled and affectionately swatted her. ¡°You¡¯re crazy! I¡¯m not in that ce in life. I¡¯m here to make a fresh start.¡±


    She grinned and hugged me.


    ***


    At times, I find myself momentarily stunned and on the brink of tears, but I swiftly banish all that has transpired from my thoughts.


    It¡¯s agonizing. I¡¯d rather not dwell on it. I¡¯m hesitant to fully embrace the pain because it¡¯s bound to sap my strength.


    I assisted Rachelle with addressing all the necessary arrangements. Their operations willmence next year. Initiating a fresh start isn¡¯t straightforward, even with financial resources. Everything must adhere to the appropriate procedures.


    ***


    I awoke to the unpleasant aroma of the caretaker¡¯s cooking.


    ¡°Oh, my goodness!¡± My stomach churned and my vision began to blur. I can¡¯t stand the scent of sauteed garlic. I despise it!


    Unable to restrain myself, I let out a groan and hastily pulled the covers over my head in a futile attempt to escape the pungent smell that stubbornly lingered. I grumbled as I rose from my bed to switch on the fan, hoping to dissipate the noxious odor wafting from the kitchen.


    Rachelle¡¯s temporary abode is a small hut on this ind, up and down. Her house is still under construction at the far end of the ind, which is why the kitchen odors from below are so overpowering.


    ¡°Ugh! It¡¯s so foul!¡± I eximed, waving my hand to disperse the smell.


    ¡°Oh, what¡¯s going on with you?¡± Rachelle walked into the room with a cup of coffee in hand. The scent of coffee was also disagreeable to me. I hurried to the bathroom and vomited, expelling the raw mango I had consumed the night before. That¡¯s why I wasn¡¯t feeling well; I didn¡¯t have a proper mealst night.


    ¡°How far along are you?¡± Rachelle inquired as she sipped her coffee.


    My eyes widened with surprise.


    ¡°Surprised?¡±


    ¡°My God! I¡¯m pregnant!¡± I eximed. She sighed and shook her head. I gently ced my hand on my stomach and let out a softugh, tears of happiness streaming down my face.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to be a mommy¡­¡±


    ¡°Congrats, girl! But you should confirm it. Have you taken a pregnancy test?¡±


    I shook my head. My period was still two days away. Could it be possible to test positively before a dy? Rachelle provided me with a pregnancy test from her cab, and after using it, it was confirmed: I¡¯m pregnant!


    ¡°I¡¯m so happy¡­ I won¡¯t be alone anymore. I won¡¯t be alone in this world. I will have my family.¡±


    Thank you, God! I had prayed for this, and I¡¯m grateful that He granted my wish.


    ***


    ¡°I experience morning sickness, while I¡¯m most active at night. During the nighttime, Rachelle and I stay awake to attend to necessary matters.


    On the day the resort opened, that¡¯s when I started going intobor. I contacted my obstetrician-gynecologist to have here to the ind immediately.


    However, upon her arrival, she determined that I wasn¡¯t yet ready to give birth. I was only one centimeter dted. The pain persisted into the second day, with hourly contractions. I tried to expedite the process by walking around, but it took three days before my water finally broke.


    ¡°You can do this, push!¡± My friend stood by my side, cheering me on. She held my hand and gently wiped the sweat from my forehead.


    On January 12th, exactly at five in the morning, I weed my precious angel into the world. My child with my ex-husband, my first love, and the one I¡¯ll cherish forever.


    ¡°Hello, baby Heather¡­¡±


    Tears of joy streamed down my face as my child was ced in my arms. His chubby cheeks had a beautiful shade of pink.


    ¡°Oh, God! Thank you for this precious angel. I love you, my child. I promise to love you with all of my heart. Mommy will protect and care for you¡­¡±

 Heather is missing

    The morning is approaching, and baby Heather is just about to go to sleep. I yawned and slowly got out of bed, taming my tousled locks before making my way to the kitchen for aforting cup of coffee.


    I¡¯ll dedicate three hours to my tasks before I can finally rest. Later, I might secure an additional two to four hours of sleep before my daughter wakes up. I never realized how challenging it is, a true struggle, but it¡¯s something I have to endure. How can I discover apanion for this odyssey?


    Tsss! There you go again, M.


    ¡°Good morning¡­¡± Rachelle and I stepped into the kitchen simultaneously. She had herptop in hand.


    ¡°Good morning! Is the princess still asleep?¡±


    ¡°Yup¡­¡± I massaged my shoulder, which was sore from carrying Heather¡¯s weight all night.


    I couldn¡¯t help but smile. Time flies by, so I need to savor these moments while she¡¯s still a baby. Before I know it, she¡¯ll be walking, running, and refusing to be carried.


    Even though I¡¯m really tired and need more rest, I¡¯ll keep going. That¡¯s how it is when you¡¯re a single mom. I feel happy because Heather has made my life more colorful.


    ***


    Today marks Heather¡¯s first birthday. It¡¯s as if she was born just yesterday, and now, she¡¯s already one year old, taking her first steps. We¡¯re approaching the stage where we¡¯ll be running after her.


    Our celebration was simple, attended only by the staff here on the ind. We enjoyed a modest feast, and since it was a child¡¯s birthday, there was no alcohol involved.


    The ind staff has be like an extended family to us. Heather is familiar with all of them and easily mingles with them.


    My daughter is a remarkably beautiful and healthy child. Her physical traits are a mix of Ivan and me. She inherited my facial shape and eyebrows, while her eyes and nose are from her dad. Her lips, on the other hand, bear a resemnce to her grandmother, Ivan¡¯s mom.


    I wonder how he¡¯s doing now. Has he started a family with Maureen?


    It¡¯s been over a year. Perhaps they¡¯ve tied the knot, Maureen might be expecting, or they may already have a one-year-old of their own to care for.


    There¡¯s still a lingering ache when I think of him, but I believe it¡¯s a normal feeling, especially considering the deep love I had for the father of my child.


    I know that eventually, our journeys will intersect again, and when that moment arrives, I won¡¯t avoid it. I¡¯ll proudly present Heather to them, and I won¡¯t hide her true identity from anyone. I¡¯mmitted to letting my daughter embrace her real self.


    Rachelle often mentions, ¡°These kinds of situations happen, you know. Sometimes, they don¡¯t even realize they¡¯re siblings.¡± It does make me a bit anxious.


    ***


    ¡°Bye, baby¡­ Mommy has to go to Man for work, okay?¡±


    I have a business meeting scheduled, which is the reason for my trip. Because Heather is still quite young, I¡¯ll be leaving her here on the ind temporarily. I¡¯ll ce her in the care of one of Rachelle¡¯s helpers, who has experience in looking after children, so I have full confidence that my daughter will be well taken care of.


    Rachelle is also here to lend her support.


    ¡°We¡¯ll take good care of Heather for now. Take care over there. And who knows, you might meet a charming guy who can be your boyfriend¡­¡± Rachelle and Lucinda giggled.


    ¡°I¡¯m not thinking about that.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t speak too soon, M.¡±


    I haven¡¯t dismissed the possibility of finding love in the future. If the right person enters my life, that¡¯s great! If not, that¡¯s fine as well. However, my current main focus is solely on my daughter. Love will unfold organically, and if it doesn¡¯t, that¡¯s absolutely okay.


    I¡¯ll be in Man for two nights and three days. I¡¯ve made an online reservation for a condotel that¡¯s conveniently situated near the restaurant where I¡¯ll be meeting three individuals.


    The business was thriving, yielding substantial monthly returns, and this had led me to consider expanding into additional ventures. It¡¯s all for Heather¡¯s future and ourfortable life. I aspire to construct a house and perhaps acquire an ind for my daughter and me.


    ¡°Thank you foring, Ma¡¯am¡­¡± The young CEO I¡¯m conversing with disys great politeness. It¡¯s three in the afternoon, and I arrived in Man just an hour ago. As soon as we met, we already delved into our agenda.


    As our meeting was drawing to a close, I noticed five men entering the hotel. The partner I was conversing with also directed his attention towards them, prompting me to briefly nce at the men he found intriguing.


    ¡°Sorry, Ma¡¯am¡­ I got distracted by those attractive CEOs.¡±


    I smiled.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you recognize them, Ma¡¯am?¡±


    I may not be interested in these men, but I put on a polite smile and shook my head.


    ¡°The one at the back, Mr. Ivan Nicholo Greco¡­¡±


    I suddenly tensed in my seat. Ivan? Shit!


    A frigid wave cascaded through my entire being, and I nearly froze in my seat. Miss Lei continued speaking, but I struggled to understand or pay much attention. I cleared my throat to regain myposure.


    ¡°Ah¡­ I don¡¯t know them,¡± I offered as an excuse to change the topic. Our meeting had concluded, and we only needed to go over minor details. With everything settled, I made a hasty leave, politely declining her repeated invitations to join them at the club with her friends.


    Ivan enjoys going to clubs with his friends, and I didn¡¯t want to further shrink our shared world.


    During my subsequent encounters with fellow entrepreneurs, my thoughts strayed to distant concerns. Anxiety and self-doubt consumed me as I pondered the unexpected possibility of Ivan¡¯s sudden appearance. I didn¡¯t want to encounter him.


    I had asserted, not long ago, that I had moved past any emotional impact, but it had barely been over a year since our separation, since I walked away from him. It wasn¡¯t the right time. Maybe, in another four or five years, I would find the ability to confront him with a serene smile, as if his presence no longer held any significance in my life.


    ***


    I finished what I needed to do in Man, and now I¡¯m back on the ind. Rachelle had lots of questions, but I didn¡¯t answer them. I didn¡¯t share the details because I¡¯m focused on moving on from my ex-husband.


    In the years that followed, when I had business meetings, I made sure to avoid going to Man. Instead, I met my partners in ces like Cebu, Davao, Pwan, and even Boracay. I brought Heather with me so she wouldn¡¯t be without me for too long.


    My daughter is remarkably affectionate and talkative, brimming with questions that often lead me to surrender.


    ¡°When will I meet my daddy, mommy?¡±


    I stopped typing on myptop to pay attention to my daughter, who had brought up the topic of her father once more.


    She hugged her little pillow with her father¡¯s face printed on it.


    I wasn¡¯t the one who had this pillow made, it¡¯s Rachelle. She mentioned that her godchild was constantly requesting a simr pillow, simr to the souvenirs avable in the ind¡¯s store.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, baby. Your dad has been busy. I think he¡¯s in America right now,¡± I replied, trying to deter her from asking more questions.


    She walked over to therge globe on the side.


    ¡°Where¡¯s America, mommy?¡±


    I let out a sigh. Each time she inquired about her dad, it tugged at my heartstrings. But what options did I have? I couldn¡¯t simply take her to Ivan and im that we had a child together. I¡¯m not sure about his circumstances.


    Moreover, I remained uncertain about Maureen¡¯s potential reaction upon discovering that Ivan and I had a child together. The thought of her mistreating my child loomed, potentially resulting in utter chaos.


    Heather grew quiet, engrossed in her quest to find America on the globe, allowing me to resume my tasks.


    ¡°I want my Daddy for my birthday. I don¡¯t want a big Barbie dollhouse anymore. I just want my daddy, mommy¡­¡±


    Her birthday was fast approaching. In previous years, her requests had centered on toys, but now, her heart¡¯s desire was something different-her father.


    Heather settled onto the soft carpet, heaved a sigh, and tenderly embraced the pillow she clutched.


    ¡°Hi, Daddy¡­ Don¡¯t you miss me? Don¡¯t you want to see Heather?¡±


    My heart ached as I observed my daughter.


    I¡¯m sorry, sweetheart. I¡¯m sorry I can¡¯t make your wishe true. Your dad has a different family now. But I promise you, six years from now, you¡¯ll get to meet him. You¡¯ll see him.


    I pray that when that day arrives, Maureen has grown and matured. I hope she¡¯ll embrace you because it¡¯s not your fault for what happened.


    I finally opened the email I had been waiting for before I approached my disheartened daughter.


    ¡°I¡¯ll be heading to Man in two days. Would you like to join me?¡±


    She gazed up at me. ¡°Aren¡¯t my grandparents there in Man? And my uncle and aunt?¡±


    I winced but eventually nodded.


    ¡°Will I get to see them, Mommy?¡±


    I held back a smile. ¡°I¡¯m not sure, dear. Perhaps they¡¯ve traveled to another country.¡±


    Heather¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Let¡¯s go to that country and find them. Do we have tickets, Mommy?¡±


    I rubbed my forehead.


    ¡°I¡¯m not certain which country they¡¯ve gone to, sweetheart.¡±


    May God forgive me for lying to my child.C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.


    ***


    ¡°Are you going to introduce Heather now?¡±


    I narrowed my eyes at Rachelle. Today, we¡¯re leaving for Man. Heather has been quite lively since she woke up. Even though she hasn¡¯t mentioned it, I know she¡¯s hoping to see her father there, despite my telling her her dad is in a different country.


    I sincerely hope he is indeed in a different country. I pray I won¡¯t identally encounter him in Man.


    ¡°Mommy, can we go to the mall after your meeting?¡±


    I was changing my clothes. In less than an hour, I would be meeting with my business associate. Our meeting ce is at the mall, right across from this temporary apartment where we are staying.


    I invited Lucinda to apany us and keep an eye on Heather. My daughter is exceptionally spirited and chatty, which can make it challenging to have her join me during my meetings.


    ¡°Yes, baby¡­ We¡¯ll go to the mall. I¡¯ll text you when it¡¯s time for you to join me.¡±


    ¡°Lucinda, don¡¯t forget to have Heather wear her ID when you leave.¡±


    ¡°Yes, babe!¡±


    I kissed my daughter¡¯s cheek before leaving.


    The meeting was scheduled for ten in the morning andsted until one in the afternoon.


    I was informed that Lucinda and Heather had been at the mall since around eleven because my daughter had been crying in the apartment. She insisted on going to the mall. I allowed them to go and made sure to remind Lucinda to keep a close eye on her.


    As I was leaving the restaurant, I received a call from Lucinda.


    ¡°Oh, babe¡­ I¡¯m on my way there¡­¡±


    ¡°B-Be¡­¡± Lucinda began to cry. I couldn¡¯t understand what she was saying.


    But one thing was certain-she had lost my child!


    Heather! Oh my God!


    ¡°I¡¯m on my way!¡±


    My body trembled, but I quickened my pace to reach the mall.


    ¡°Lucinda!¡±


    ¡°B-Be¡­ B-Be¡­¡±


    Lucinda began to exin. She said they had just been to the restroom earlier.


    ¡°I told her to wait for me before we went to the yground, but after I finished using the toilet, she was gone!¡±


    We spent several hours searching. I also sought assistance from the mall¡¯s management and security. We found a few videos in the mall with Heather walking alone, but we couldn¡¯t ascertain where she had entered or if she had left the mall.


    I was beside myself, and the darkness was setting in. I felt physically drained, but I couldn¡¯t bring myself to stop searching for my daughter.


    ¡°Babe, let¡¯s return to the apartment for now¡­¡±


    It was already eight in the evening. My God! My child. Where could she be?


    What if someone had already taken her? I couldn¡¯t bear to contemte what might be happening to her. If we don¡¯t locate her soon, I¡¯m certain I¡¯ll lose my sanity.


    I went to the nearby police station. They assured me they would call and review the surveince footage near the mall.


    ¡°Babe, someone¡¯s calling!¡± Lucinda eximed in a panic. I was so distracted that I didn¡¯t immediately notice my phone ringing.


    It was an unknown number. Maybe it¡¯s Heather!


    ¡°H-Hello?¡±


    ¡°May I speak to Heather¡¯s mom?¡±


    I felt like I was going to faint as I heard the baritone voice on the other end.

 Heather鈥檚 Dad

    ¡°Yes¡­¡± I hesitated. ¡°This is H-Heather¡¯s mom¡­¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s with us.¡± The man on the other line provided his address.


    I might not have grasped the situation fully, but I recognized it as the address of Ivan¡¯s parents. Heather was there, and I¡¯m uncertain about how she got there.


    This caught me off guard. What have you done, baby?


    I stood up, picked up my bag, and prepared to leave.


    ¡°Come on, let¡¯s go see Heather.¡± I had no choice but to face the person I didn¡¯t want to see just yet.


    I ponder about Heather¡¯s well-being in that ce. Is Maureen apanying her?


    I earnestly hope that she is providing kind care for my child. I am determined to shield my daughter from any emotional distress, and this is precisely why I was initially reluctant for them to cross paths. She does not know about what happened and is unaware that her father had another family.


    I booked a rental car, and within half an hour, arrived at the Greco mansion. The mansion was still the same. Nothing had changed, just like before.


    With anxious anticipation, I stepped out of the car.


    The front door of the residence stood ajar, giving the impression that someone was expected.


    As I entered the expansive foyer of the mansion, I could immediately hear Heather¡¯s voice.


    ¡°I¡¯m Heather Costa¡­¡± I altered ourst name as mother and daughter. ¡°I am five years old, turning six next month.¡±


    Her grandparents exuded pride, and her uncle and aunt shared the same sentiment. Other children, her cousins, were also present in the house. Ivan appeared to be in a world of his own, gazing at his energetic daughter.


    ¡°My mother¡¯s name is-¡±


    ¡°Heather?¡±


    Heather nced in my direction, and the entire family shifted their focus to me.


    ¡°Mommy! Mommy!¡± She rushed towards me, prompting me to kneel and embrace her tightly.


    ¡°My baby¡­ Mommy was so worried about you.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, mommy¡­ I saw Daddy at the mall earlier, so I followed him, but he was already inside his car. Then I saw Grandpa, so I went with him. I told him I was Daddy¡¯s child. He didn¡¯t want to believe that I was Ivan Nicholo Greco¡¯s child. I told him I¡¯m his child with M Costa,¡± she exined, pouting her lips.


    I could picture the expression on her face as she exined it to her grandpa earlier. Heather may have seemed upset because my former father-inw didn¡¯t believe her.


    ¡°I even showed him my pillow!¡± She eximed, referring to the small pillow in her backpack.


    ¡°And then he believed me¡­ I asked him to take


    me to my daddy¡­¡±


    Amidst all her exnations, I found myself rubbing my temples.


    ¡°You know, mommy? They¡¯re in the Philippines now! They¡¯vee back to the Philippines. Even my daddy is in the Philippines now!¡±


    Nervously, I nibbled on my lower lip, feeling the difficulty of meeting the collective gaze of the entire family, their unwavering focus now directed at us.


    I stood up and turned towards them. Uncertain of what to say, I opted for a simple greeting.


    ¡°Hello, um, how is everyone?¡±


    My gaze shifted to my former mother-inw, who was approaching me at a measured pace. Tears welled up in her eyes, and as she drew nearer, she embraced me tightly.


    ¡°Oh¡­ M! You can¡¯t imagine how much I¡¯ve been fretting over you. You¡¯re in my thoughts daily. Every day, I¡¯d pray for your return¡­¡±


    Tears welled up and streamed down my face without restraint.


    ¡°I-I¡¯m so sorry, Mom. I apologize for causing you concern.¡±


    My father-inw approached us, apanied by Ivan¡¯s brother and sister, who enveloped me in their embrace. Uncontroble sobs overcame me, feeling their love for me so deeply.


    Once they released me, I turned my attention to Ivan. He stood with his hands tucked in the pockets of his cks.


    I mustered a forced smile and stammered, ¡°H-Hi.¡±


    His furrowed eyebrows heightened my unease, causing me to shift my gaze away.


    ¡°Have you eaten? We¡¯ve been waiting for you, so we can all dine together.¡±


    Despite my embarrassment, I had no option but to ept my ex-inw¡¯s invitation.


    Heather wasted no time heading to the dining area.


    ¡°I¡¯m so hungry, Mommy!¡± Her eyes practically sparkled. Quite the drama queen!


    I took a seat beside her, while Ivan upied the spot on her other side, maintaining his silence. I served a portion of the food onto Heather¡¯s te.


    ¡°Daddy, why haven¡¯t you started eating?¡±


    I cast a nce at Ivan. He hadn¡¯t made a move to fill his te with food; instead, he was focused on my daughter.


    ¡°I¡¯ll help you, Daddy¡­¡±


    Ivan¡¯s face lit up with a smile, and the entire family shared in the moment¡¯s warmth.


    ¡°Our baby is so sweet¡­¡±


    My daughter fed her father and gently wiped a smear of sauce from the corner of his lips.


    ¡°Was it delicious, Daddy?¡±


    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s delicious.¡±


    Heather grinned and tilted her head as if lost in thought. ¡°Mommy¡¯s cooking is delicious too.¡±


    I offered a smile but shied away from making eye contact, sensing Ivan¡¯s lingering gaze on me.


    ¡°Start eating your food, baby,¡± I instructed.


    ¡°Yes, Mommy¡­ Oh, Grandpa, I¡¯d like the same dish, please!¡±


    ¡°Of course, I¡¯ll dish it up for you.¡± Ivan promptly attended to her request.


    Heather was quite talkative while eating,vishing praise on the dishes.


    ¡°I want some ice cream too! Mommy, can I have ice cream?¡±


    ¡°Of course, baby. But just a small portion, okay?¡± She looked longingly at her cousin, who was eating an ice cream. We typically avoid giving her this food in the evening because thest time Rachelle and I did, she woke up with a cough the next morning.


    We were almost done with our meal, and I didn¡¯t know how to tell everyone that we were going back to the apartment, bringing Heather with me. She appeared sofortable here, and I wasn¡¯t certain whether she even wanted to leave. It was as if she had forgotten that we didn¡¯t live in this mansion.


    ¡°Where have you been living all these years, dear?¡± My mother-inw inquired after we had finished the meal. We were now in the spacious living room, with Heather ying alongside her cousins.


    I didn¡¯t answer right away.


    ¡°We¡¯ve been living on an ind!¡± Heather began to gesture dramatically with her hand. ¡°We took a helicopter, then a boat, and, finally, a car to get to the condo hotel where we were staying!¡±


    Thankfully, she¡¯s unaware of the address; otherwise, she might have blurted it out, too. Ivan looked at me, and I could discern the tension in the movement of his jaw. Was he angry, perhaps with me? Why?


    ¡°Daddy, have you ever been on a helicopter?¡± Our daughter stood up and perched on her daddy¡¯sp.


    ¡°Yes, baby¡­ We have a chopper and a helipad on one of the towers¡­¡±


    ¡°Wow! Daddy, are you rich?¡±


    Ivanughed, but his expression swiftly shifted to seriousness when he realized I was watching him. I averted my gaze and began fiddling with my fingers. On the other hand, Lucinda quietly observed from one side. However, I know that she¡¯ll have plenty to say once we leave this ce.


    It had gottente, and Heather was growing drowsy, so I mustered the courage to say our goodbyes.


    ¡°Um, we¡¯re heading out now¡­¡±


    ¡°Huh? You¡¯re not staying overnight?¡± Mom, or rather Auntie, asked in surprise.


    ¡°We¡¯ve already rented an apartment for our stay.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re wee to stay here.¡±


    Heather said, ¡°Mommy, I want to sleep here¡­¡±


    I hesitantly looked at my daughter. Meanwhile, Ivan cleared his throat, and it left me uncertain about how to exin to my daughter that we needed to leave for now.


    Ivan needed to go back to his own home with Maureen as well.


    ¡°Let¡¯s n toe back here tomorrow, baby.¡±


    Staying here wasn¡¯t an option. I wondered about Maureen¡¯s perspective. By now, she surely had no idea about what was happening. She might suddenly appearter. I was confident that there would be a significantmotion if she harmed my child.


    ¡°You can sleep here. We can retrieve your belongings from the apartment you rented,¡± my former father-inw suggested.


    I furrowed my brow in thought.


    ¡°Your clothes are still in the cab¡­¡±


    My tongue felt as if it were glued to the roof of my mouth, rendering me unable to speak.


    ¡°Do you want to sleep here?¡± Ivan gently inquired of his daughter.


    ¡°Yes, Daddy. I want to sleep beside you¡­ Please, Mommy¡­ Please!¡±


    I contemted the decision for a brief moment.


    ¡°Alright, you can sleep here¡­¡±


    My child pped with joy, and Ivan beamed. He kissed his daughter¡¯s cheek while carrying her.


    ¡°As for your clothes¡­¡±


    ¡°I brought three sets of her clothes!¡± Lucinda chimed in, extracting the clothes from her bag. Was this premeditated?


    ¡°Alright¡­¡±


    ¡°Um,¡± I nervously scratched my arm. ¡°It¡¯s time for your nightly bath so you can get ready for bed.¡±


    ¡°Okay, Mommy¡­¡± She extended her hand to me.


    ¡°You¡¯ve grown quite heavy, baby. Daddy will take you upstairs.¡±


    Ivan led the way up the stairs with myment. I felt a touch of shyness but still managed to smile at my former inws.


    I followed them, but when I noticed Lucinda didn¡¯t follow me, I shot her a look.


    ¡°Oh, am I supposed toe too? Am I a member of the family?¡± She¡¯s absolutely insane!


    It was exceptionally awkward, particrly as we entered the room where Ivan and I had once stayed, where he had treated me as his wife.


    M, you¡¯ve moved on. Don¡¯t dwell on the past. He has Maureen now. Maybe his children were waiting for him at their house.


    Ivan escorted Heather to the bathroom.


    ¡°Where are you going, Daddy?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll be waiting for you outside¡­¡±


    ¡°Okay, please don¡¯t leave, okay?¡±


    ¡°Where would I go?¡±


    ¡°Maybe you¡¯re going to another country again. We don¡¯t have the money for the fare toe after you¡­¡±


    Ivan raised an eyebrow. ¡°I¡¯m not going to another country. Is that what your mommy told you? That I left you and went to another country?¡± His gaze was serious as he looked at me.


    My eyes widened. Heather remained silent, ncing at me before turning her gaze to Ivan.


    ¡°Why are you mad at my mommy?¡±


    Ivan let out a sigh. ¡°No, baby¡­ Daddy is not angry with your mom.¡±


    ¡°I thought you were upset. We should share love, love¡­¡±


    I smiled. Love, love? If only you knew, baby, I was never truly loved or cherished by your daddy¡­


    ¡°Come on, baby¡­ It¡¯s bath time.¡±


    ¡°Okay, Mommy¡­¡±


    As I bathed Heather, I spoke to her gently.


    ¡°Mommy didn¡¯t like what you did earlier.¡±


    ¡°I know, Mommy. I was naughty. I¡¯m sorry. I saw Daddy, so I ran after him.¡±


    I sighed and gazed at my daughter with affection.


    ¡°Are you happy?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mom! I met Daddy, Grandpa, Grandma, Aunt, Uncle, and I even have cousins now!¡±


    A warm smile graced my lips. ¡°Mommy is happy too because you¡¯re happy¡­¡±


    Following her refreshing bath, I dressed her. Ivan, too, looked like he had just finished his shower; it seemed like he had used the guest room.


    ¡°Daddy, can you read me a book?¡±


    ¡°Daddy doesn¡¯t have a children¡¯s book, sweetie. We¡¯ll buy one at the mall tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°Okay. Just tell me a story about monsters.¡±


    ¡°Monsters? Aren¡¯t you scared of monsters?¡±


    ¡°No, Daddy. Monsters are just imaginations¡­¡±


    Ivan began narrating a story, and Heather kept contradicting his story, leading him tough.


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you carry on with the story? Daddy will be the one to listen.¡±


    I sat in one corner as they reclined on the bed, with Heather snuggled up in Ivan¡¯s arms. About half an hourter, she peacefully drifted off to sleep.


    I stood up.


    ¡°I¡¯ll fetch her tomorrow morning.¡±Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    Ivan¡¯s face disyed surprise, but he remained silent.


    ¡°I¡¯m heading back to the apartment for now,¡± I said with a smile and didn¡¯t linger for his response.


    As I was leaving, I noticed Lucinda lying on the floor next to Ivan¡¯s room, sprawled out on the carpeted surface. This woman seemed to nap everywhere.


    ¡°Lucinda¡­¡±


    ¡°Oh, babe! Are we leaving now?¡±


    ¡°Yes, let¡¯s go.¡±


    She rubbed her eyes and stretched, and then teased, ¡°Are you going to sleep here, next to your daughter and husband?¡±


    I pinched her side for her naughtiness.


    ¡°That¡¯s exactly what I¡¯m saying; we¡¯re leaving!¡±


    As we descended the stairs, Ivan¡¯s parents were still in the living room.


    ¡°Oh dear, are you leaving already?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Aunt¡­¡±


    ¡°What? Why just ¡®Aunt¡¯?¡±


    I scratched my eyebrows and mustered a smile. I was genuinely feeling tired and eager to rest.


    ¡°Alright, dear. We¡¯ll chat another time.¡±


    ¡°Your dad and I were thrilled that you¡¯re doing well. However, when we reflect on the challenges you faced during your pregnancy with Heather, it deeply saddens us. Why did you have to leave back then?¡±


    Tears welled up in my eyes, but I chose to remain silent, believing that delving into the past was unnecessary.


    ¡°We¡¯ll have our conversation tomorrow. I¡¯ll be back in the morning.¡±


    ¡°Alright, dear.¡± They embraced me.


    Their driver drove us to the rented apartment. It felt unusual not to sleep beside Heather, but knowing she was peacefully resting next to her father, I could enjoy a peaceful night¡¯s sleep.

 Avoiding him

    The following morning, before indulging in a refreshing shower, I gathered Heather¡¯s clothes and discreetly tucked them into my bag. While delicately smoothing moisturizer onto my skin, Lucinda curiously nced through the door.


    ¡°Why are you dressed like that, babe?¡±


    I had on a white undershirt with a zer over it, fitted jeans, and t closed-toe shoes.


    ¡°Why? What¡¯s the issue with my outfit? I have a meeting today, so I need to appear somewhat formal.¡±


    ¡°You have even more stylish and beautifully coordinated outfits in your suitcase for formal asions.¡±


    ¡°Tsk! Not today. We still have a few days ahead. I¡¯ll save it for another day.¡±


    She proceeded to search through my suitcase.


    ¡°Here, take a look¡­¡± She presented the three-piece ensemble, acy cream undershirt, and the matching zer and shorts.


    ¡°I¡¯ll wear it the day after, for my meeting with a


    CEO friend who runs a beauty products business.¡±


    ¡°Wear it today. You look stunning in this outfit.¡±


    I shot her a meaningful nce. ¡°I¡¯m not sure, babe. I don¡¯t want to. It¡¯s up to you!¡±


    I examined myself in the full-length mirror.


    ¡°It might be a good idea to wear heels,¡± she suggested. Lucinda had a strong affinity for clothing and fashion, making her skilled in outfit coordination and styling.


    I carefully chose a pair of heels and elegantly put them on before leaving the room to brew my coffee.


    ¡°You¡¯re not considering that outfit, are you?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m aware of your intentions,¡± I replied, ¡°and nope, my outfit is just fine.¡±


    We enjoyed a light meal before departing the apartment to see Heather.


    ¡°It appears your ex-husband still doesn¡¯t have a new wife,¡± Lucindamented, as we were on our way.


    ¡°Well, he¡¯s unlikely to bring up his wife to Heather during their initial meeting. He knows it would upset the child, so he has disclosed nothing yet. They may also know my daughter is unaware of our current situation with her father.¡±


    ¡°But what if he doesn¡¯t have one?¡±


    ¡°There is! I¡¯m convinced Ivan loves Maureen deeply. Perhaps she¡¯s just at their home, their shared residence as a married couple.¡±


    I rubbed my temples as a sudden headache struck.


    ¡°As for me, I truly believe that you and Ivan are destined for each other.¡±


    I rolled my eyes but remained silent.


    ¡°I¡¯m certain, based on the way he looked at youst night¡­¡± she chuckled.


    ¡°Oh,e on!¡±


    ¡°Why not? It¡¯s a possibility.¡±


    I rolled my eyes again. ¡°He never loved me. Haven¡¯t I told you that before?¡±


    ¡°Yes, but that¡¯s your story. Remember, there are three sides to every story: yours, his, and the truth.¡±


    ¡°Whatever¡­ We¡¯re almost there. Let¡¯s not dwell on it. Let¡¯s keep a formal demeanor.¡±


    We stepped out of the car and proceeded directly to the living room. Mom-she¡¯s aunt now-and uncle were already present, appearing to await my arrival. Heather wasn¡¯t there yet; she might have just woken up.


    Has Ivan already headed to work? It¡¯s five minutes before eight, and he might have left by now.


    ¡°Good morning, dear¡­¡±


    I walked up to the two elderly people.


    ¡°Where¡¯s Heather?¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s in the bathroom with her aunt. Ivan is there as well.¡±


    He¡¯s going to bete, huh? He hasn¡¯t even left for the office.


    I settled onto the couch next to my former mother-inw as I waited for my daughter to descend the stairs.


    ¡°How are you, dear?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m fine, thank you¡­¡± I replied briefly, a distinct sense of difort filling the air. It appeared as if my inws had something they wanted to discuss with me, but they were hesitating, as if some reservations were holding them back.


    My heart lightened when I spotted Heather making her way downstairs, and I greeted her with a warm smile. Heather waved back, apanied by her father, both freshly bathed.


    Ivan sported a button-down polo, suggesting he might be running a bitte for work.


    ¡°Mommy!¡±


    ¡°Hello, baby¡­¡±


    ¡°Why weren¡¯t you here when I woke up?¡± Heather inquired.


    ¡°Uhm, well¡­ Mom had to grab something from the apartment,¡± I exined.


    ¡°Okay, Mommy. I¡¯ll go with Daddy to the office.¡±


    ¡°¡±Huh?¡± I was taken aback, as I nned to pick her up, bringing her with Lucinda today.


    ¡°Was that okay?¡± Ivan asked, sporting a smile.


    ¡°Please, Mommy!¡±


    ¡°A-Alright. Just behave, okay? Please bring Lucinda with you,¡± I nodded at Heather.


    ¡°Yay!¡±


    Ivan smiled and nodded.


    My inws got up and said, ¡°Come on, let¡¯s have breakfast.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve already eaten. I have a meeting at nine, so I¡¯ll leave early.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I see. Take care, dear.¡±


    ¡°Thank you.¡± I walked over to Heather. ¡°Be a good girl, okay? Don¡¯t be a bother. Don¡¯t give your daddy a hard time, okay?¡± I said to my daughter.


    ¡°Yes, Mommy! Will youe backter?¡±


    ¡°Yes, baby¡­¡±


    My n was to pick her upter, and she¡¯d spend the night at the apartment. Ivan might not be here tonight because he¡¯s going to see Maureen. That woman might get upset and think all sorts of things about her husband since he didn¡¯te homest night.


    Ivan also needed to talk to her about Heather. As for our daughter, I don¡¯t know how to tell her that her daddy and I are no longer together.


    ¡°I love you, mommy!¡±


    ¡°I love you too, baby¡­¡±


    ¡°Lucinda, you¡¯re in charge of Heather. Please take care of her.¡±


    ¡°Okay, babe. Let¡¯smunicate through text.¡±


    I bid farewell to Ivan¡¯s parents, giving him a tight smile and a nod as he continued to gaze at me intently.


    Leaving their house, I finally breathed a sigh of relief. I hailed a taxi and directed it to the hotel where I was scheduled to meet my business associate.


    In a way, I felt reassured. I knew my child was content and not feeling bored, allowing me to fully focus on the matters I hade to Man for.


    ***


    Lunchtime¡­


    The meeting had concluded, but I remained in the area. A familiar face approached me. My next meeting was scheduled for three in the afternoon, so I took the opportunity to catch up for a bit.


    ¡°Just inform me when you have the time to see the production firsthand, and I can provide a more detailed exnation¡­¡±


    He ordered a drink while awaiting his next meeting, which was roughly thirty minutes away. He was simply biding his time.


    ¡°Very well, before I depart Man, I¡¯ll send you a text or give you a call¡­¡±


    We still have eight days, and it will take a while, as I have numerous tasks to attend to.Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    I¡¯m not concerned about Heather growing restless; she¡¯s likely preupied with Ivan¡¯s family at the moment.


    As we were conversing, Lucinda called, prompting me to excuse myself from mypanion.


    ¡°Hello, is there something wrong?¡± Did something happen? Perhaps Maureen stormed into Ivan¡¯s office.


    ¡°M¡­ Maureen contacted Ivan¡­¡± Her voice was barely audible. It appears she¡¯s situated outside Ivan¡¯s office or near the fire exit.


    ¡°Oh¡­¡± I arched an eyebrow.


    She let out a sigh, appearing disappointed, as if her assumption had been incorrect.


    ¡°Well, I just brought it up. I¡¯m frustrated, babe. Ivan seemed stressed after their talk.¡±


    ¡°Let him be, babe. We shouldn¡¯t interfere in his personal life. Just keep a watchful eye on Heather. Don¡¯t let her out of your sight. Maureen might show up unexpectedly.¡±


    ¡°Yes, babe. If she storms showing up here, I¡¯m prepared!¡±


    I chuckled. ¡°Make sure to get Heather out of there promptly if Maureenes over.¡±


    ¡°Sure¡­ What time will you be picking up Heather?¡± Then she remembered, ¡°Oh, by the way, it looks like Heather doesn¡¯t have any ns to stay at the apartment tonight.¡±


    ¡°She mentioned that?¡±


    She replied, ¡°She didn¡¯t say it directly, but it seems that way. Her dad bought her toys and books. She wanted Ivan to read them to her tonight.¡±


    I rubbed my temples. What should I do now? It also appears that Ivan¡¯s wife is looking for him. I think I¡¯ll speak to Heatherter.


    ¡°Alright, Lucinda. We¡¯ll catch upter. Keep a close eye on Heather.¡±


    ¡°Yes, babe. Take care over there.¡±


    I¡¯ve been inquiring Lucinda for updates throughout the day.


    ¡°She¡¯s being quite affectionate with her dad, sitting on hisp. Ivan seems preupied, and it¡¯s possible he¡¯s turned off his phone,¡± Lucinda messaged earlier.


    My meeting has just concluded, and it¡¯s already five in the afternoon. They were nning to leave Ivan¡¯s office at five-thirty, ording to the information Lucinda received.


    ¡°He¡¯s inquiring about you from Heather¡­¡±


    I couldn¡¯t help but roll my eyes. ¡°I¡¯m not


    particrly interested, Lucinda.¡±


    ¡°But don¡¯t you want to mend things between you two?¡±


    ¡°He had a chance to make amends back then, but he chose not to take it¡­¡± Shit! I identally deleted the message I intended to send to Lucinda.


    I¡¯m putting on a facade of indifference. I made a quick stop at the mall to check on the two food stalls I established after graduating from college. I¡¯m feeling a bit awkward around Ivan¡¯s parents, so I¡¯ll head thereter.


    Due to recent events, I¡¯m feeling quite embarrassed and awkward in their presence. I¡¯m certain they have many questions, and I¡¯m not at ease discussing those matters. For Heather¡¯s sake, I prefer our interactions to be casual while we¡¯re here in Man.


    Lucinda texted me that they were nearly at the Greco mansion. I hailed a taxi and joined them there.


    Upon my arrival, I found a multitude of toys scattered in the living room. Heather¡¯s grandparents had been on a shopping spree, and Ivan had their personal shopper procure some items earlier. Heather was overjoyed. It appears she¡¯s not very keen on returning to the rented apartment with me.


    ¡°Mommy, look! I have so many clothes and toys!¡±


    I smiled and asked, ¡°Did you already thank your grandma and grandpa?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mommy. I also thanked Daddy. Daddy, didn¡¯t you get something for Mommy too?¡±


    What?!


    My smile faltered, and Ivan appeared to scratch his head in embarrassment.


    From the corner, he reached out a paper bag and handed it to Heather.


    ¡°Here you go, Mommy! Daddy and I picked this out.¡±


    I didn¡¯t need to see what was inside; I knew it contained jewelry.


    ¡°Th-Thank you, but¡­¡±


    ¡°Come on, M¡­¡± I tightened my lips, resolute in my response. There was no need for him to purchase something for me.


    A sigh escaped my lips as I ced the paper bag by my side. I harbored no intention of carrying it along when I departed. I would pretend I forgot about it.


    I remained quietly seated, watching the father and daughter engage in y, interjecting with asional responses to my former mother-inw¡¯s questions, all the while monitoring the email messagesing in.


    Before dinner, I called Heather.


    ¡°Baby, it¡¯s time to head home. Say goodbye to your daddy.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re going back to the apartment, Mommy?! We¡¯re not spending the night here?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ll return tomorrow, sweetie. I¡¯ll bring you back early.¡±


    ¡°Mommy, I want to stay here. I want to sleep here. Let¡¯s sleep next to Daddy.¡±


    Ivan cleared his throat, his unwavering gaze fixed on me.


    ¡°We need to go home tonight, baby.¡± I¡¯m sure Maureen is already looking for your daddy. However, instead of following, she burst into tears. I ended up looking like the viin here.


    ¡°Alright, baby, no more tears. You can sleep here tonight.¡±


    ¡°And the night after, Mommy?¡±


    ¡°Okay, if your daddy wishes for you to sleep here.¡±


    ¡°Why not?¡± I almost rolled my eyes as Ivan responded.


    ¡°You wanted me to sleep here, Daddy, didn¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°Yes, baby¡­¡±


    ¡°You see, Mommy?¡±


    Resigned, I nodded in agreement. ¡°Alright, you can stay and sleep here while we¡¯re in Man. When Mommy¡¯s work is finished, we¡¯ll go back home, alright?¡±


    ¡°Okay, Mommy. Thank you, Mommy¡­¡±


    I nted a kiss on my daughter¡¯s cheek and then stood, casting a look toward my former inws.


    ¡°I¡¯m going now, Auntie, Uncle¡­¡±


    They nodded with a touch of sadness.


    I also exchanged a brief nce with Ivan. ¡°You¡¯ll be in charge of looking after Heather for a while.¡±


    He heaved a sigh before nodding.


    ¡°I can drive you¡­¡± Ivan offered.


    ¡°No need. I¡¯ve already booked a rental car.¡±


    I offered a smile, but he appeared the more solemn of us.


    Lucinda was still dawdling, so I gently ushered her out of the house.


    ¡°Wait! We forgot Ivan¡¯s gift for you!¡±


    She¡¯s such a ditz! Did she even realize that I intentionally left it behind?


    Ivan, overhearing Lucinda¡¯s remark, spoke loudly enough for everyone to hear. ¡°Here¡­¡±


    ¡°Thank you,¡± I whispered. I left with a sense of irritation that persisted throughout our journey.


    ¡°Are you sure you won¡¯t stay there? Girl, I¡¯m telling you. It¡¯s pretty obvious that your ex-husband still has feelings for you.¡±


    I chose to ignore Lucinda.


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you consider rekindling your rtionship, so you can be together for Heather¡¯s sake?¡±


    ¡°So, we can repeat everything that happened? No, Lucinda. Besides, I¡¯ve moved on.¡±


    ¡°Alright. I hope Ivan reconciles with you, so you and your daughter can be happy.¡±


    ¡°My daughter and I are already happy.¡±


    ¡°Yes, but you might be even happier if you all got back together.¡±


    ¡°Being together, maybe, but in chaos? No, Lucinda.¡±

 Family date

    After we arrived at the rented apartment, I settled onto the sofa and gazed into the distance. I patiently awaited the delivery of the food I had ordered from Grab, a food delivery app.


    It was only then that I noticed Lucinda sitting next to me. She was sporting a smile as she handed me the paper bag that Ivan had given me.


    ¡°Why?¡± I inquired, crossing my arms.


    ¡°Open it, I¡¯m excited.¡±


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you open it?¡± I suggested. I wasn¡¯t particrly eager to open it; she had been the one making all the noise earlier, and now my n had been disrupted.


    ¡°Are you sure?¡± I didn¡¯t respond. Lucinda, unable to resist her curiosity, opened the paper bag and revealed a moderately sized jewelry box.


    Lucinda gasped, but my expression remained devoid of enthusiasm.


    ¡°A set of diamond jewelry!¡±


    It included a ring, a bracelet, a pair of earrings, and a ne adorned with numerous precious stones. This set was worth millions. Why had Ivan given such costly jewelry to me?


    Tsss!


    ¡°It¡¯s beautiful! You should wear it tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯d rather not¡­¡±


    Lucinda frowned. ¡°You said so. Very well, I¡¯ll ce it in your suitcase.¡±


    Wearing it was not my intention at all; rather, I nned to present it as a gift to Heather. I was convinced that she would cherish it, particrly because it was a heartfelt gesture from her father.


    Lucinda and I enjoyed a nice dinner before retiring to our separate rooms for the night. As I stepped out of the shower, I noticed three missed calls on my phone from an unfamiliar number, though I had a pretty good idea of who it was.


    I didn¡¯t see the need to save the number earlier, since I didn¡¯t deem it of significance. After all, both Heather and Ivan possessed their mobile phones and could easily reach out to each other once we were back on the ind.


    I couldn¡¯t help but wonder about Ivan¡¯s intentions now that he was aware of our child. Specifically, I pondered how often he nned to see his daughter. The idea of traveling with Heather just to facilitate three or four days a month with her father was both mentally and physically draining.


    But, at that moment, I decided to let it be. Iy down on the bed, clutching a pillow, and felt the absence of Heather sleeping beside me. It¡¯s been several nights since she chose to be with her father instead, and it left me feeling somewhat lonely.


    Just as I was settling into bed, my phone rang, and it was Ivan on the line. I thought perhaps Heather wanted to say goodnight, so I answered.


    ¡°Hello, Heather?¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s already asleep. She drifted off just now¡­¡± If my daughter was already asleep, I couldn¡¯t help but wonder why he had called.


    I cleared my throat. ¡°Alright, goodnight¡­¡±


    ¡°M, wai-¡±


    I disconnected the call, but he dialed back.


    ¡°Yes?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m on my way to your apartment¡­¡±


    ¡°What? Why?¡±


    ¡°I want to talk to you¡­¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s it about? Can¡¯t we do this tomorrow? I¡¯m getting quite sleepy, Ivan.¡±


    I feigned a yawn.


    ¡°Okay, let¡¯s n for tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°Alright, if it pertains to your responsibilities as Heather¡¯s father, I¡¯ll make the necessary preparations. Goodnight.¡± I hung up the call and attempted to get some sleep.


    ***


    My enthusiasm for getting out of bed was quite low. I went through the motions of taking a shower with a somewhat absent mind, dressed myself, and enjoyed a cup of coffee before departing from my home. Lucinda was engaged in lively conversation, yet her words seemed to elude my fullprehension.


    I didn¡¯t have a strong desire to go to the Grecos¡¯, but it was inevitable that I would see my child. When I got there, they had already assembled in the dining area, having risen earlier than me. I struggled to turn down their offer to have a meal together.


    Heather sat between Ivan and me. I ate in silence while Heather continued her animated chatter about various topics.


    ¡°Mommy, I want to go with Daddy to work again¡­¡±


    I nodded slowly, taken aback by Heather¡¯s unexpected request. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you sleep with me and Daddy, Mommy?¡±


    Heather¡¯s curious question paled me.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you miss my daddy?¡± she inquired innocently.


    My heart skipped a beat, realizing the delicate situation. My cheeks flushed with a mix of emotions.


    ¡°Just focus on finishing your meal, baby.¡±


    I grappled with how to broach the subject with Heather, exining that her father and I had been separated for a significant period. Their reunion had caught me off guard, as I thought I¡¯d wait a few more years until I believed she could fullyprehend theplexities of our situation.


    ¡°Daddy, haven¡¯t you missed my mommy?¡±


    Ivan cleared his throat. I expected he might dismiss his daughter¡¯s question, but he replied,


    ¡°Of course, I miss her, baby. I miss both of you.¡±


    Heather giggled. ¡°I haven¡¯t seen you hugging and kissing each other. Shouldn¡¯t you be hugging and kissing, like, all the time?¡±


    What the-!


    Laughter erupted around the table. Ivan chuckled with a mischievous nce in my direction. I concealed my emotions behind aposed expression. I was nearly done with my meal, and when I finished, I politely excused myself.


    ¡°I must take my leave now. Thank you for the breakfast,¡± I conveyed my appreciation to my former inws.


    ¡°Do you have work today, dear?¡±


    ¡°I have a meeting, Auntie,¡± I responded, my attention not drawn to Ivan¡¯s clinking silverware. Was that bothering him? I chose not to acknowledge it.Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Heather, baby¡­ you must behave, okay?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mommy! I love you, Mommy¡­¡± After kissing Heather, I exited the dining area and made my way out of the mansion. However, Ivan caught up with me.


    ¡°Why?¡± I inquired.


    ¡°You can join us, and we¡¯ll take you to your meeting ce.¡±


    ¡°I have a different route to thepany; I don¡¯t mindmuting.¡±


    ¡°Come on, M¡­¡± He appeared to be growing impatient as he massaged the back of his neck.


    ¡°It¡¯s truly not a problem.¡±


    I turned away, but he grasped my arm.


    ¡°Ivan!¡± I reprimanded him firmly. ¡°What are you up to?¡± I suppressed my irritation, not wanting to lose my temper in front of my daughter.


    ¡°And you, what do you think you¡¯re doing?¡± he asked in response.


    I arched an eyebrow. ¡°I need to leave now, Ivan. I¡¯ll be runningte.¡±


    ¡°Fine!¡± He released his grip on me.


    I averted my gaze and strolled away, only allowing myself to nce back after I had arrived at the taxi waiting by the gate.


    I deliberately refrained from ruminating on my previous meeting with Ivan. I had already progressed beyond it, and I held no inclination to retrace the anguish he had once inflicted upon me.


    The following hours were incredibly hectic. It passed lunchtime when I had a chance to eat, and that¡¯s when I read Lucinda¡¯s messages.


    ¡°It seems Maureen couldn¡¯t get in touch with Ivan, so she called the secretary¡¯s phone¡­¡±


    I couldn¡¯t help but roll my eyes.


    ¡°Lucinda, your responsibility is to keep an eye on Heather,¡± I reminded her. I didn¡¯t instruct her to report to me about my ex because I genuinely don¡¯t care about that guy.


    ¡°I just wanted to let you know. I think Ivan is ignoring her because-¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s discuss itter; my meeting is starting now.¡±


    That girl is quite entric. She¡¯s quite the gossip. I shrugged and finished my meal.


    By approximately four in the afternoon, I had wrapped up all my tasks. As Ivan¡¯s office hours were still in session, I found myself with a few hours to spare. Neither did I wish to visit his office, nor was I inclined to head home early.


    Therefore, I made the choice to stroll through the mall, and came across some enticing clothing and footwear, prompting me to indulge in a bit of shopping. Following this, I ventured into a nearby coffee shop.


    I had already ced my order when Ivan called. Initially, I wasn¡¯t nning to answer, but I thought it might be my daughter who asked him to call me.


    ¡°Hello¡­¡±


    ¡°Where are you?¡±


    I furrowed my brow.


    ¡°I¡¯m here at the coffee shop, inside the mall¡­¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re leaving the office. We¡¯ll swing by your location. Heather wants to buy something¡­¡±


    I pressed my lips together and remained silent.


    After twenty minutes, the three of them arrived.


    ¡°Mommy, I want to buy some toys. I saw them online earlier. Daddy said he¡¯d buy me that toy.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡± She already has so many toys from the Grecos; she¡¯s getting even more.


    ¡°Did you go shopping?¡± Ivan inquired, eyeing the paper bags I was holding.


    ¡°I simply fancied a pair of shoes and some clothing.¡± And it¡¯s none of your business, I thought silently,


    He nodded.


    We apanied Heather to the toy store, and afterward, Ivan took us to a boutique, mentioning that he was going to buy more clothes for our daughter.


    ¡°You should get something for yourself as well,¡± Ivan suggested.


    ¡°No, I don¡¯t need to,¡± I responded. I have plenty of clothing on the ind that I haven¡¯t worn yet.


    ¡°I think the one on the mannequin would suit you,¡± he said.


    I let out a sigh.


    ¡°Miss, please have that wrapped,¡± he instructed the sales staff.


    ¡°Ivan¡­¡±


    ¡°Go ahead. It¡¯s on me.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to buy me anything.¡±


    ¡°Why not?¡±


    ¡°Because-¡±


    ¡°Mommy! That dress is so beautiful!¡±


    ¡°It looks good on Mommy, doesn¡¯t it?¡±


    I rolled my eyes.


    ¡°Yes, Mommy. Wear


    the dress tomorrow. Then go on a date with Daddy. Oops! Sorry, Daddy,¡± Heather covered her mouth. What is Heather saying?


    Ivan chuckled softly.


    ¡°Those shoes seem to go well with that dress¡­¡± He pointed out.


    ¡°That¡¯s enough,¡± I scolded Ivan firmly. What¡¯s this guy¡¯s deal, taking me shopping? ¡°I can purchase my clothes¡­¡±


    ¡°I understand, but I¡¯d like to get you some clothing. Come on, M. I want to show my appreciation for the sacrifices you¡¯ve made for our child.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m Heather¡¯s mother. It¡¯s my duty and responsibility to care for her and provide everything she needs to the best of my abilities.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s a responsibility you didn¡¯t bear alone if-¡±


    ¡°What? Let¡¯s put a stop to this.¡± I shook my head.


    ¡°Are you two arguing, Mommy and Daddy?¡±


    ¡°No, sweetie. We¡¯re just having a conversation. Let¡¯s go now.¡±


    We didn¡¯t immediately head home. Heather suggested dining at Jollibee.


    ¡°Your grandparents are waiting for us at home, baby,¡± I reminded her.


    ¡°It¡¯s alright. If she wants to eat at Jollibee, we¡¯ll eat at Jollibee.¡±


    Ivan phoned them and rmended that they go ahead without waiting for us.


    As we entered the fast-food restaurant, we attracted attention, especially Ivan, who caught the eye of several young office girls seated at the side.


    One of them couldn¡¯t resist and approached Ivan.


    ¡°Sir, I saw you in a magazine. You¡¯re an actor, right?¡±


    Ivanughed, but the smile disappeared from his face when he looked at me. What¡¯s his problem?


    The girls asked to take a picture with him. Two of them, one on either side of him, couldn¡¯t avoid touching him.


    ¡°Please don¡¯t touch my daddy like that. My mommy will get jealous,¡± my daughter eximed.


    My eyes widened. Ivan also smiled broadly.


    ¡°Sorry, baby. Sorry, ma¡¯am,¡± the girls apologized.


    I shook my head and smiled quietly. I didn¡¯t want to seem like the viin in this situation. And what¡¯s all this talk about jealousy? My child is making things up, and I¡¯m the one who¡¯s being pointed at as if I did something wrong.


    Throughout our meal, Ivan¡¯s smile never faded.


    ¡°Why are you so happy, Daddy?¡± His child was also curious.


    He took a sip of juice before answering his child.


    ¡°I¡¯m happy because I¡¯m having dinner with you and your mom.¡±


    Lucinda coughed.


    ¡°I told you so,¡± she whispered to me. I subtly kicked her foot under the table.


    ¡°I¡¯m happy too, daddy. Mommy is happy too.¡±


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t seem like your mommy is happy,¡± Ivan remarked.


    ¡°Mommy, aren¡¯t you happy?¡±


    Forcing a smile, I said, ¡°Of course, I¡¯m happy. I¡¯m really, really happy.¡±

 His girlfriend

    ¡°Do you still feel like eating?¡± Ivan turned to me, while I shifted my gaze to Heather.


    ¡°I¡¯m sleepy already, Daddy¡­¡±


    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s head home.¡± Ivan lifted his daughter when he noticed her eyes welling up from a repeated yawn.


    She seemed genuinely exhausted. Fortunately, the Greco mansion was conveniently close to the mall we were at.


    Upon our arrival, Heather struggled to keep her eyes open. Though her grandparents weed her with affectionate kisses, she found it challenging to articte her words to them.


    I apanied Ivan as we guided Heather to his room, gently encouraging Lucinda with a subtle pinch when she hesitated to join us.


    ¡°Why am I included? I¡¯m not part of the family¡­¡± she whispered as she ascended the stairs with me. Teasingly, she added, ¡°Are you afraid of being alone with Ivan?¡±


    I shot her a re. She grinned and yfully gazed back at me.


    Heather requested my help with freshening up. I swiftly attended to it as she was feeling very drowsy.


    ¡°Mommy, sleep here¡­¡± Heather spoke with her eyes closed. I kissed her on the forehead.


    ¡°Goodnight, baby¡­¡±


    As her breathing became steady, I stood up.


    ¡°We need to talk,¡± Ivan said. He sat on the sofa near therge window.


    I yawned. I¡¯m genuinely sleepy, not just putting on an act.


    He sighed. ¡°Okay, just go to sleep. You can sleep beside our daughter. I¡¯ll sleep here on the couch if you¡¯re notfortable sharing the bed with me and our daughter.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll return to the rented apartment, Ivan,¡± I insisted.


    ¡°You¡¯ll still have to travel.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s fine. Furthermore, I need to wake up early to review some documents¡­¡± I paused. Why am I even mentioning these things? I continued, ¡°I¡¯m leaving.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll take you.¡±


    ¡°No need. I¡¯m fine. Heather might wake up and look for you.¡±


    His jaw tightened, revealing a subtle disy of frustration. It was evident that he harbored a genuine desire to engage in conversation with me, yet my persistent avoidance seemed to wear on his patience. His gaze briefly shifted to our peacefully sleeping daughter before he released a sigh.


    ¡°Sure, let¡¯s talk another time. What about tomorrow? Until what time will your work be finished?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know¡­¡± It¡¯s only until three o¡¯clock, but, of course, I won¡¯t tell him that.


    Earlier, I contemted entrusting awyer with the task of managing Ivan¡¯s visitation rights concerning our daughter. Ivan could have custody of Heather for a duration of five days and four nights each month.


    I must limit the visitation to that duration, since he already has his own family. I want to avoid being the source of any discord between them and my child. I am determined to shield Heather from any potentialplications arising from Maureen¡¯s reservations, should she harbor any.


    ¡°I¡¯ll walk you downstairs.¡±


    ¡°No need¡­¡± I said, but he had already walked ahead of me.


    Lucinda, the gossipmonger, wore a grin as she trailed behind Ivan. In irritation, I rolled my eyes and reluctantly followed them outside.


    ¡°Dear, it¡¯ste. We have a guest room here if you don¡¯t want to sleep in your and Ivan¡¯s room,¡± my ex-mother-inw suggested.


    Lucinda cleared her throat, and amid her cough, I found myself unexpectedly choking on my saliva.


    ¡°I have something to attend to by four am, Auntie,¡± I exined.


    ¡°Alright, dear. Have the driver take you, so your dad and I can rx,¡± she responded.


    After exchanging kisses, they headed upstairs to their room. Ivan and I then made our way outside. The driver awaited us, offering a slight bow before opening the door for me. Ivan observed until the car disappeared from his view.


    Feeling the weight of fatigue, I closed my eyes. I was truly, utterly sleepy.


    ¡°Hey, you know,¡± Lucinda started, and I let out a sigh as she continued, ¡°Your strategy of ying hard to get was effective. Ivan seemed to fall for it.¡±


    I opened my eyes, the drowsiness fading away with Lucinda¡¯s words. A mischievous grin adorned her face.


    ¡°What ying hard to get?¡± I shot her a re, but she brushed it off.


    ¡°You deserve to be courted and pursued,¡± she dered, firmly shutting her eyes.


    She¡¯s truly out of her mind! Probably influenced by the romance novels she¡¯s been immersed in. She believed life was akin to a novel with a guaranteed happy ending, but reality is far from that.


    ***


    This morning, I had a little detour to see Heather at the Greco Mansion but left promptly as I had an early meeting. I simply nodded at my ex-husband. They didn¡¯t press me to join them for breakfast, understanding that I needed to leave.Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g


    Upon reaching my destination, Ivan sent me a text.


    ¡°Don¡¯t skip your meal. Take care.¡±


    Well, well! Was he showing concern?


    I disregarded his message. I was caught up with work, and I didn¡¯t check my phone until around two in the afternoon. Lucinda had sent multiple texts, providing yet another update on Ivan¡¯s personal life.


    ¡°A woman visited-she¡¯s beautiful and sexy, but the secretary rified that she was not Maureen.¡±


    Oh, so now she¡¯s close to Ivan¡¯s secretary!


    ¡°Let the person do her job,¡± was my response to Lucinda.


    ¡°It seems something is happening between the woman and Ivan,¡± Lucinda continued.


    I shook my head. ¡°So? It¡¯s none of my business, Lucinda.¡±


    ¡°Of course, you should care because you have a child with Ivan.¡±


    I didn¡¯t reply to thatment.


    ¡°You should be aware of the women involved with the father of your child.¡±


    She makes a valid point, but I find it unnecessary, or perhaps I simply don¡¯t want to delve into this matter. That¡¯s why I tend to avoid conversations with Ivan. Discussing things, especially his personal life, makes me ufortable.


    I sighed. Be casual, M. Be casual. Consider him as a friend.


    However, even in that context, he doesn¡¯t quite meet my standards. Despite that, for the sake of our child, I need to ensure proper treatment.


    At two-thirty in the afternoon, Ivan texted. They were at the nearby mall, enjoying snacks. I had just finished what I was doing, and it seemed like Ivan finished work early, possibly because Lucinda informed him about my expectedpletion time.


    ¡°Heather wants to y at the Kids¡¯ zone.¡±


    I followed them to the refreshment store they mentioned and halted at my steps when I spotted a bouquet of two-toned red roses elegantly arranged on a table. Heather let out a giggle upon seeing me.


    ¡°Daddy, give it to Mommy,¡± shemanded her father. Without hesitation, Ivan seized the bouquet, rose from his seat, and presented it to me. Though I arched an eyebrow, I didn¡¯t want to let my daughter down, so I mustered a smile and forced myself to convey gratitude.


    What does he think he¡¯s doing?


    I chose to remain silent, refraining from making eye contact with the man seated across from me. Though a strong urge to nudge his foot under the table surged within me, I restrained myself.


    After the meal, we took Heather to the children¡¯s y area, setting a thirty-minute limit as she was keen on exploring the three adjacent y structures. Her dad joined her, while Lucinda and I observed from outside, capturing moments through photos and videos.


    Heather thoroughly enjoyed herself, and I couldn¡¯t help but notice a distinct joy on Ivan¡¯s face as they yed together.


    If only you had chosen me wholeheartedly and without hesitation, our circumstances wouldn¡¯t be as they are now. We could have found happiness together with our child. Unfortunately, you let that opportunity slip away.


    I took a sip of water and mustered a smile.


    But it was fine. You¡¯re still Heather¡¯s dad, no matter which way the world turns. You can continue to y a role in her life even though we no longer share the same home.


    I won¡¯t cast a negative light on you in our child¡¯s perception. I¡¯ll help herprehend everything thoroughly. My aim is to ensure she doesn¡¯t harbor any anger or resentment towards you.


    ***


    ¡°Daddy, are we returning to this ce tomorrow?¡± The clock had already struck seven in the evening. Ivan had assured his parents that we would head home for a family dinner.


    ¡°Yes, baby¡­¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Daddy. I love you!¡±


    ¡°I love you too, baby¡­¡± he responded to our child, then cast a nce in my direction, prompting me to lower my gaze.


    Heather regaled her grandparents with numerous stories as we shared a meal. The elderly couple seemed thoroughly delighted.


    ¡°Come on, baby. It¡¯s time to tidy up before bedtime.¡± I rose from my seat and took Heather¡¯s hand.


    As I approached the stairs, a shout echoed from the door.


    ¡°I knew it!¡±


    Swiftly, I embraced Heather. Ivan hurriedly joined us, acting as a shield against Maureen, who was poised to confront us.


    ¡°That¡¯s why you haven¡¯t beening to see me!¡±


    I didn¡¯t turn to face her; instead, I kept my back turned while tightly holding onto Heather.


    ¡°Mommy, who is she?¡±


    ¡°Who is your woman?!¡± Maureen shouted. Heather broke free from my embrace.


    ¡°Heather!¡±


    I confronted Maureen.


    ¡°M¡­¡±


    She clenched her fists, her eyes narrowing as she nced at me and then at the child by my side.


    ¡°Who are you, and why are you mad at my mommy?¡± Heather inquired, her face reflecting both confusion and curiosity.


    ¡°Heather, baby¡­¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m your daddy¡¯s girlfriend!¡± Maureen dered with a grin, appearing proud.


    Girlfriend? Why a girlfriend?


    ¡°Girlfriend?¡± Heather appeared perplexed, her gaze shifting between Maureen and her father. ¡°But Daddy is already married to my mommy.¡±


    ¡°Yes, sweetheart. But unfortunately-¡±


    My inws approached, their faces reflecting anxiety.


    ¡°Maureen,¡± Ivan scolded the woman sternly, yanking her hand.


    ¡°Why are you hurting her, Daddy? I am talking to her.¡±


    Ivan reluctantly released Maureen¡¯s hand, his face disying fear, nervousness, and concern.


    The woman smiled, a hint of meaning behind it. ¡°Your mommy is your daddy¡¯s wife, but I am the one he truly loves-¡±


    ¡°Maureen!¡± Ivan scolded her. ¡°Please, just leave,¡± he said, rubbing his temples.


    ¡°Why can¡¯t you tell the truth to the child? Don¡¯t lie to her¡­ I am the one your daddy loves, not your mommy. Didn¡¯t they tell you that?¡±


    I embraced Heather. She didn¡¯t move, not even a blink.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± I whispered, holding her until her sobs became audible. She started sobbing.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go home, Mommy. Let¡¯s go home.¡±


    ¡°Okay, baby,¡± I said, embracing her. Lucinda approached, looking stunned.


    Wasn¡¯t she supposed to defend us against Maureen? She seemed dumbfounded.


    ¡°Heather¡­¡± Ivan tried to approach us, but Heather buried her face in my neck.


    ¡°M, Heather¡­¡±


    I proceeded toward the gate, but Ivan trailed behind.


    ¡°Please, don¡¯t leave. Let¡¯s talk this out first.¡±


    I preferred not to express my anger and frustration, especially not in the presence of my daughter.


    ¡°Heather, are you going to sleep here?¡± he asked.


    Heather couldn¡¯t bear it. ¡°No. I don¡¯t want to sleep here anymore! I don¡¯t want to be with you! You¡¯re bad, Daddy! You hurt my mommy! You¡¯re like Untie Rema¡¯s husband, a cheater!¡±


    She referred to the cook at the resort who abandoned his wife for another woman.


    Tears streamed down her face. ¡°I hate you, Daddy! You hurt my mommy! I don¡¯t want to be with you! I don¡¯t want to be in your house anymore!¡±

 Still married

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­¡± I turned away, but Ivan blocked my path. I could see the pain in his eyes, so I quickly avoided mine.


    ¡°We¡¯re heading home. What are you doing, Ivan?!¡± I was irritated, but I forced myself to stay calm because I was carrying Heather.


    Heather was crying loudly, and tears began to well up in my eyes. It¡¯s okay if I get hurt, but if my daughter gets hurt, that¡¯s apletely different situation.


    My intuition was correct; it wasn¡¯t a good idea for my daughter to meet Ivan because Heather was still too young.


    It was frustrating! I felt disoriented, but I hesitated to inquire, avoided listening, and refrained from re-entering his life. However, we share a child.


    ¡°Ivan, let her go. She left you before. We¡¯re doing fine, aren¡¯t we?¡±


    My teeth were clenched, but I disregarded Maureen.


    I was boiling with anger, yet I kept myposure to spare Heather from any more suffering. Stepping forward, Ivan enveloped both of us in an incredibly tight embrace.


    ¡°Please, don¡¯t go. Let¡¯s talk,¡± he pleaded. ¡°M, please¡­ Don¡¯t leave me again.¡±


    I pushed him away, clenched my jaw, and stared at him coldly.


    He attempted to hold and reach for my hand, but I sidestepped to avoid him.


    ¡°Ivan!¡± Maureen scolded her boyfriend.


    ¡°It appears M has moved on from you. Let her go. Focus on processing your annulment.¡±


    I stood there in shock for a few seconds. What? What the hell?! My gaze intensified, and confusion set in. I closed my eyes, shaking my head.


    ¡°We¡¯re still married,¡± Ivan weakly uttered, still trying to hold onto me. ¡°You¡¯re still my wife. I¡¯m still your husband.¡± His throat tightened.


    The revtion left me momentarily stunned, but after a few seconds of digesting his words, I was able to fix him with a cold re.


    Damn! Why haven¡¯t we separated yet? I believe he initiated the annulment process when I left. We had no contact for many years. I left so he could be free, assuming he would legally pursue a rtionship with Maureen, but now they¡¯re informing me that we¡¯re still married.


    Why?


    He can¡¯t use the excuse that I wasn¡¯t there. He could easily have arranged for the annulment without my presence, even if I didn¡¯t attend the hearing. He loved this woman and used to say he would leave me, and now he¡¯s iming he didn¡¯t annul our marriage?


    ¡°Did you hear me? We¡¯re still married.¡±


    ¡°What do you want me to say, Ivan? That I¡¯m content knowing that we¡¯re still bound to each other?!¡± My voice was as cold as ice.


    Heather cried even more, so I closed my eyes to calm myself. Ivan¡¯s parents and siblings also approached, but I was unwilling to hand Heather over to them.


    ¡°Let¡¯s discuss things properly. Or you can give us Heather for now,¡± my father-inw calmly suggested.


    ¡°Come on, baby¡­ Your mommy and daddy just need to talk,¡± his mom said.


    However, Heather refused to go with them.


    ¡°I don¡¯t like you! I¡¯ll only go with mommy! You hurt my mommy!¡±


    Lucinda approached, but I held my child even tighter.


    ¡°Come on, we can¡¯t leave until you talk to him. And yelling like this, the child can hear. It might traumatize her.¡±


    ¡°Come over here for a moment, baby. Mommy and Daddy need to talk.¡± It took a while before Heather joined Lucinda.


    ¡°Mommy¡­¡±


    I pressed my lips against hers and murmured just before Lucinda effortlessly scooped her up. They moved to the side of the gate and settled there as Heather adamantly resisted entering the mansion. The child was visibly upset, and though I wanted to take her home to soothe her, Ivan stood in the way.


    Ivan cried, but I averted my gaze. It wasn¡¯t out of pity. No, there was no sense of pity. The prevailing emotion within me was anger towards him.


    He attempted to hold my hand again, but I just red at him. I moved four feet away from him, and it hurt him even more. He sighed and tried to dry his tears with his palm.


    ¡°Why?¡± My voice was strained, attempting to suppress the tears, like a faucet on the brink of overflowing. I refused to shed tears in front of him once more. I am not the vulnerable woman who was once head over heels in love with him, and I am certainly no longer the understanding wife who endured so much pain.


    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you pursue an annulment for our marriage?!¡± I was intensely frustrated, my thoughts in turmoil. I was on the verge of unleashing physical aggression, fueled by sheer anger, wanting to hit and punch him.


    ¡°Do you think I would be pleased to discover that we¡¯re still married?! No! No, Ivan! We¡¯re not legally separated, and yet your rtionship with Maureen persists¡­ All these years!¡±


    My breathing hastened, apanied by the rapid thudding of my heart due to the overwhelming emotions I was experiencing. I wanted to unleash my emotions, wanting to break things.


    ¡°N-none¡­ We don¡¯t have a rtionship anymore. M, I chose you¡­¡±


    I grinned bitterly at that statement. ¡°You chose me? No, Ivan, you didn¡¯t choose me. If you had chosen me, you wouldn¡¯t have gone to Maureen the night we were leaving the country.¡±


    He was shocked. So, the driver didn¡¯t tell him what happened? Well, I know the Greco family¡¯s driver. I grew up here, so the old man respected me enough not to inform the Grecos about what happened.


    ¡°Y-You¡­ followed me that night?¡±


    ¡°Yes, and I witnessed it myself. My eyes bore witness to the truth that you would never choose me, even though we¡¯re married.¡±


    He shook his head. ¡°I chose you, M. You¡¯re my wife,¡± he insisted.


    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s what you force yourself to believe to choose me. That we¡¯re married. That I¡¯m your wife.¡±


    I held onto hope, though unspoken, as this conversation seemed pointless.


    I nodded. ¡°I understood you back then, even when we were newlyweds. You werepelled to obey your parents. I get it. I didn¡¯t want to marry you even though I truly liked you. I understood you even though it hurt so much. And when you had amnesia, I understood you even more because your attitude toward me changed. You love Maureen, but you respect our marriage. And now that your memories are returning, when I saw you together, kissing¡­¡±


    He let out a sigh and shook his head.


    ¡°I¡¯ve decided not to wait for you to remember anymore. Because undoubtedly, waiting for that day would only shatter me even more.¡±


    Shaking his head, tears continued to stream from his eyes.


    I rubbed my temples. ¡°Don¡¯t y with my mind, Ivan. I¡¯m leaving.¡±


    ¡°M¡­¡± he attempted to stop me.


    I angrily shrugged off his hand.


    ¡°You probably don¡¯t have amnesia anymore. I¡¯m setting you free. Let¡¯s proceed with our annulment.¡± He tightened his grip on my wrists.


    ¡°I thought you left because you had given up on me. But if you haven¡¯t left¡­ If you hadn¡¯t left and waited for me to remember, we wouldn¡¯t both be in this difficult situation.¡±


    I averted my eyes, choosing not to make eye contact with him.


    ¡°Before we were nning to go to the US, my memories returned. I recalled everything-how much I hate you. But I see how much you care for me, how much you love me. So, I considered giving our rtionship a chance. We¡¯ll work it out. When I decided that we should leave the country, I had already chosen you¡­¡±


    ¡°I made the right choice, Ivan. And do you know what¡¯s the best thing you could have done all these years?¡±


    He sighed.Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g


    ¡°To nullify our marriage and marry Maureen! To formalize your rtionship. In the eyes of society and the legal system, she¡¯s merely a mistress. I walked away. If she¡¯s the one you love, why haven¡¯t you sorted everything out?!¡±


    ¡°Why?!¡±


    I took a deep breath before making the final decision to leave. However, he yanked me back, and he would have embraced me if I hadn¡¯t pushed him away.


    ¡°M, I love you.¡±


    I was stunned for a brief moment, blinked my eyes, and then burst outughing.


    ¡°I thought you remembered everything? Or is this part of your drama to win my daughter¡¯s approval?¡±


    ¡°No. I believed all my memories had returned by then. But a few weeks after you left me, one memory resurfaced-the day I had an ident, the day I lost my memory. I rushed home that day, eager to see you. It was on that day that I realized how much I love you.¡±


    I found it hard to speak. Was he telling the truth? No. He¡¯s lying, my mind responded.


    I cleared my throat and raised my gaze to boldly meet his eyes.


    ¡°If you think I¡¯ll be delighted and rush back to you just because of what you said, you¡¯re mistaken¡­ How many years have passed, Ivan, and you expect me to believe that you love me? That you still love me after all these years of being apart? You im to love me, yet you never separated from Maureen?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s a fucking lie!¡±


    ¡°You taught me to be strong. You taught me to live without you, something I thought I couldn¡¯t do. You led me to a ce of numbness. You instructed me in the art of forgetting you.¡±


    ¡°M¡­¡±


    ¡°Go be with Maureen!¡±

 Inlove with you

    Fortunately, Lucinda managed to book a rental car. The driver had been waiting on the side since earlier, allowing us to leave promptly after I turned my back on Ivan, who remained frozen in ce.


    I held Heather close as we traveled. Though I truly wanted to cry, I couldn¡¯t afford to appear weak in front of her.


    ¡°Mommy, I¡¯m sorry¡­¡± Her voice trembled, and she began crying once more.


    ¡°You¡¯re not at fault, baby,¡± I responded gently while stroking her hair.


    ¡°If only I hadn¡¯t followed Daddy. If only I hadn¡¯t introduced myself to Grandpa. If only I hadn¡¯t said I¡¯m his child¡­ You wouldn¡¯t be crying, Mommy. I¡¯m sorry, Mommy.¡±


    It seemed as if a tender warmth lovingly embraced my heart in reaction to my daughter¡¯s words. I count myself exceedingly fortunate to be blessed with such a bright andpassionate child.


    ¡°You¡¯re destined to meet your dad. He loves you¡­¡± I felt the warmth of his happiness and love for our child, yet amidst it all, a persistent sense of disorder lingered.


    His words echoed in my mind once again. How many years? How many years have passed, and yet he hasn¡¯t left Maureen? How can I trust what he¡¯s saying?


    I sighed. Why am I even dwelling on that man? Tsss! He¡¯s just causing me a headache.


    Upon reaching the apartment, Heather and I showered together. She quickly drifted off to sleep when wey down on the bed. I embraced her while gazing vacantly at the ceiling, with Ivan¡¯s words reying in my mind like a broken record.


    I shut my eyes. Take care of us, God. Watch over Heather and me. Thy will be done, Oh Lord.


    The following morning, I rose early to prepare a special meal for Heather. She¡¯s upset and hurt, so I wanted her first meal to be something special. I nned to make pancakes, but I couldn¡¯t find any pancake mix in the cab.


    I went into the room to retrieve my wallet. There¡¯s a convenience store downstairs, so I¡¯ll just buy it there. I decided to put on a bra because I don¡¯t wear one at night.


    As I opened the door, a man sleeping beside it halted me. His head was bowed, and I could hear him snoring. I rolled my eyes and angrily walked past him. Who is he, a beggar? And what is he doing here? I wanted to kick him, but he might wake up if I did that.


    All I desired was a serene day, yet he, in his current state, was already shattering that tranquility.


    I was near the elevator when I heard Ivan¡¯s voice. He¡¯s awake.


    I repeatedly pressed the elevator button in an attempt to quickly distance myself from him, but it was toote; he had already caught up with me.


    ¡°M, wait! Where are you going?¡± The elevator opened exactly as he approached me.


    I didn¡¯t look at him. ¡°Are you buying breakfast? I can do it for you¡­¡±


    I remained silent. He sighed. I stood to the side, and he positioned himself in front of me, staring intently. He was about to speak when the elevator stopped and people entered. Ady and her daughter smiled at me, but their attention shifted to Ivan when they saw him-his handsomeness drawing their gaze.


    Ivan disregarded them, keeping his gaze unwaveringly focused on me.


    Reaching the ground floor, I hurriedly exited Tower Three. Turning right, the convenience store was there.


    ¡°What are you buying?¡± he asked insistently. ¡°What do you want for breakfast? I can just have it delivered.¡±


    I remained silent as a woman¡¯s voice called out, ¡°Ivan?¡±


    I didn¡¯t bother to look, instead opting to grab a basket and continue with my shopping. Pancake mix, eggs, chocte drink, bread, fresh milk, and a bit of ice cream found their way into the basket. Heather, it seemed, was upset, and I suspected she might spend the entire day in our unit.


    ¡°I knew it was you. What are you doing here?¡± Ivan had trailed behind me, prompting the woman conversing with him to do the same.


    ¡°Ah, yeah¡­¡±


    ¡°Did you get a unit here? Didn¡¯t you just get a new house?¡±


    Ivan chuckled softly, and in my peripheral vision, I noticed him scratching his head.


    ¡°Yeah, my wife and I rented a ce here.¡±


    ¡°Wife?¡± The woman sounded surprised. Not everyone who knew the Grecos and Ivan knew he was already married.


    ¡°You married Maureen?¡± The disgust in the woman¡¯s voice as she addressed the woman didn¡¯t escape me.


    It sparked my interest. However, despite my curiosity, I opted to disregard their exchange.


    Ivan let out a soft chuckle. ¡°No.¡±


    The womanughed happily. ¡°That¡¯s great! Who is the luckydy you married? Do you have kids?¡±


    I found myself wondering about her identity, and why she seemed so invested in Ivan¡¯s life. It was evident that she wasn¡¯t one of those women smitten with him.


    ¡°The woman you mentioned earlier, she¡¯s the one I married.¡±


    My eyebrows shot up.


    ¡°Oh my God! Really? Didn¡¯t I tell you that you two looked perfect together back then?¡±


    Ivan chuckled once more. ¡°Yeah. And I¡¯m grateful she became my wife.¡±


    I couldn¡¯t help but roll my eyes. Was this some rehearsed and scripted dialogue?


    ¡°Good for you, Ivan. It¡¯s a relief that you didn¡¯t let Maureen pressure you into the marriage.¡±


    But he let me pressure him into the marriage¡­ I sighed, stealing a nce at the basket I held. I had been collecting items randomly because I was eavesdropping on Ivan¡¯s conversation with the woman.


    Despite my desire to observe the woman, I refrained from showing Ivan any interest in their discussion. I didn¡¯t want him to assume I was pleased about still being married. I hadmunicated my wishes to himst night: to seek an annulment for our marriage.


    With my back turned, the woman couldn¡¯t identify me, and I wondered if she truly recognized who I was. Yet, it was apparent that I was the focus of their conversation.


    I shouldn¡¯t care about this guy. It¡¯s his problem anyway!


    I returned the napkin I had picked up. I also ced the liquid detergent soap back on the shelf.


    I heard Ivan¡¯s softughter beside me, but I chose not to pay attention to him. The woman he had been talking to earlier had already left.


    ¡°She¡¯s a college friend¡­¡±


    ¡°Where?¡± I asked.


    ¡°Huh? She already left,¡± he replied.


    ¡°No, where is my concern?¡± I retorted sarcastically.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    I walked towards the cashier, with him following me.


    ¡°You¡¯re so grumpy. You¡¯ve changed, huh¡­¡± Heughed, sounding a bit crazy.


    Well, I wasn¡¯t ustomed to speaking like that. I just picked it up from Rachelle and my new friend, who lives on the nearby ind. Heather¡¯s friend¡¯s daughter, Myrrh, is her child.


    Twice or thrice a month, we regrly make a boat trip to the neighboring ind to visit Almira and her child, as well as the locals residing there. On asion, we also assist the indigenous people in that area.


    While the cashier scanned the barcodes of the items in my basket, I retrieved my card, but Ivan preemptively offered to pay. I shot him a threatening look, but he appeared unaffected by the disapproval I was directing at him.


    ¡°That¡¯s mine, Miss, so I¡¯ll cover the payment,¡± I asserted. The cashier looked perplexed, unsure of which card to ept.


    ¡°This is for our child, so allow me to take care of the payment. I¡¯m the father¡­¡±


    The cashier swiftly epted Ivan¡¯s card, causing me irritation and a frustrated sigh. Despite my embarrassment in the public setting, I couldn¡¯t conceal my annoyance at Ivan, who was genuinely irritating.


    Our disagreement extended to the eco-bag.


    ¡°Let me handle it,¡± he insisted.


    Due to the growing line behind us, I chose to step aside. However, upon leaving the convenience store, I seized the bag from Ivan. Attempting to reim it, he inadvertently caused me to stumble into his solid chest, resulting in an unexpected oue.


    My eyes widened, and I instinctively distanced myself from him. A sly smirk adorned his lips, which he attempted to conceal as soon as he caught my disapproving gaze. Ivan cleared his throat and winked at me.


    Blushing is strictly prohibited, M. Prohibited! I rolled my eyes at his yful remark.


    ¡°It¡¯s you again¡­¡± I shifted my gaze to the woman in front of us, the one Ivan had been talking to earlier. She looked familiar because she had frequented the mansion for group projects in the past.


    The woman smiled knowingly. ¡°No wonder he couldn¡¯t introduce you earlier; you two were having a lover¡¯s quarrel.¡± She giggled. ¡°Hi, I¡¯m Phil¡­ I¡¯ve been shipping you two since I first saw you at the Greco mansion.¡±


    She winked at me and teasingly scolded Ivan. I ufortably mustered a smile. ¡°I still can¡¯t believe you two ended up together. But it¡¯s a bit hurtful that you didn¡¯t even invite me to your wedding. Did you get married abroad?¡±


    I pursed my lips.


    ¡°Our annulment is in process,¡± I replied with a smile, eliciting a gasp of disbelief from the woman.


    ¡°That¡¯s not true. No one will separate,¡± Ivan replied irritably, sharing a nce with me.


    The woman scratched her head and let out a weak chuckle. ¡°Well, you two go ahead. When you¡¯ve sorted things out and decide to get married again, make sure to invite me, okay?¡±


    ¡°Of course, we¡¯ll make you one of the bridesmaids.¡±


    ¡°Wow! I¡¯d love that. Okay then, I have to go. My family is waiting for me. See you when I see you.¡±


    ¡°Take care. I¡¯ll message you when we set the wedding date,¡± the man bid her farewell with a cheerful tone.


    My expression twisted. This guy had some nerve.


    ¡°She used to mention you often, saying we¡¯d make a good match.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± I entered the building. How did he manage to get inside, and how did he figure out the unit I was staying in?


    ¡°M, I know you¡¯re upset with me because I¡¯ve disappointed you in various ways.¡±


    The couple we bumped into cast a nce our way.


    ¡°At first, I didn¡¯t want to marry you because-¡±


    ¡°Go ahead, remind me.¡±


    ¡°Sorry¡­ Sorry if I didn¡¯t treat you as a husband back then.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not angry about that, Ivan. What upsets me is why are we still married?¡±


    I cleared my throat andpsed into silence as the elevator doors opened, revealing six people who stared at me in surprise. Avoiding their gaze, I stepped into the elevator, and the two women were about to follow when Ivan intervened.


    ¡°Take the other elevator,dies. I need to talk with my wife.¡±


    This guy¡¯s attitude is terrible. Does he consider this building exclusively his?


    The women blushed initially, butter on, their expressions transformed into smiles that conveyed a sense of delight. I simply shook my head in response.


    When the elevator doors closed, Ivan faced me.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to forgive me?¡±


    ¡°I would if you initiate our annulment process.¡±


    His eyes darkened. He closed his eyes and let out a slow breath.


    ¡°Even if you despise me for a lifetime, M, it¡¯s okay. No annulment will happen.¡±


    My fist clenched.


    ¡°Even if I have to woo you for the rest of my life, that¡¯s fine. I¡¯d rather do that than get an annulment. I won¡¯t let another man have you and Heather. No! I won¡¯t allow it!¡±

 Leaving again

    I¡¯m uncertain about the time I drifted into sleep. The ache in my heart kept me awake, knowing what Heather was going through. I contemte leaving her on the ind to spare her the encounter with her father.


    I awoke at six. Leftover food was a lot from the previous night, so I opted to reheat them. I also fried the remaining rice. As I reflect on the events, I catch myself gazing into space, letting out sighs. In an attempt to shake off fatigue, I brewed some coffee, but it felt like my emotions were bing even weightier.


    After preparing the meal, I entered the room to take a shower. Heather is still in deep slumber. Even after dressing up, she remains asleep. With plenty of time to spare, I chose to linger in the living room for an hour before departing.


    While perusing my email, I take sce in sipping my coffee, trying to alleviate my stress. Lucinda¡¯s door squeaks open, and she greets me with a smile.


    ¡°Good morning, babe!¡±


    ¡°Good-¡±


    I released a sigh as the doorbell chimed. That man was back again!


    ¡°Heather is probably awake now; I¡¯ll go get her¡­¡± Lucinda hurriedly entered the room, leaving me to open the door for Ivan.


    I lethargically swung the door open. Ivan greeted me, freshly showered. I could detect the scent of his shower gel and his favorite cologne. Then he presented me with a bouquet.


    ¡°For you¡­¡±


    ¡°What are you doing here again?¡±


    He gestured towards the unit across. I raised an eyebrow. Who lives there? Did he spend the night there?


    ¡°I rented it,¡± he replied with a smile.


    ¡°You slept there?¡± I inquired. Although I didn¡¯t want to pry, I recalled Heather¡¯s words fromst night. It deeply hurt the child, thinking Ivan had left and gone to Maureen.


    ¡°Yes,¡± he smiled.


    I still hadn¡¯t epted the things he brought-a bouquet and my favorite cake.


    ¡°May I join you for a meal?¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    ¡°Can I have some dishes?¡±


    ¡°Are you now struggling with money?¡± He has the money to purchase flowers and a cake, but none for food. ¡°Whatever!¡± I gave him a skeptical look, remaining in the doorway without widening it.


    ¡°Who are you talking to, Mommy?¡±


    I nced at Heather. When she saw her daddy, her face seemed to brighten, but it quickly faded, reced by a sad expression.


    ¡°What are you having?¡± Ivan asked again, but I didn¡¯t answer as Heather engaged me in conversation, expressing that she wasn¡¯t in the mood to eat at the moment and would prefer to have her mealter.


    I diverted my focus from Ivan and held the door ajar, giving him the choice to decide whether to enter or not. I abstained from directly inviting him or proposing that he join us for a meal, allowing him the freedom to choose his course of action.


    ¡°Good morning, baby,¡± Ivan greeted his child.


    Heather nced at the items he brought. It appeared everything Ivan had was intended for me; there was nothing for his daughter. She cast a hopeful nce toward the door, perhaps anticipating that her father had something else with him, maybe a gift for her.


    ¡°I¡­¡± Ivan turned his gaze toward me. ¡°The toy store is still closed. I¡¯ll buy you some toyster,¡± he assured as if he could decipher his child¡¯s thoughts.


    I proceeded to the kitchen, with Ivan following closely behind, retrieving a te from the dish cab. He then took a seat at the dining table.


    ¡°After you finish eating, you can head out, and it would be preferable if you go back home. Don¡¯t you have work at the office?¡± I admonished him.


    Heather remained in the living room, captivated by the Barbie movie alongside Lucinda, allowing me tomunicate with Ivan without any disruptions. Temporarily, I decided to skip my meal.


    Ivan chuckled, ¡°Okay, mommy,¡± he said, apanied by a wink.


    I couldn¡¯t help but roll my eyes. While I was halfway through my meal, his te remainedrgely untouched as he continued to gaze at me.


    ¡°Come on, finish your food. You mentioned you¡¯d only ask for a dish,¡± I reminded him.


    ¡°Well, I do eat slowly,¡± he defended himself.


    Shaking my head, I left him in the kitchen as I had to go. He pursued me.C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.


    ¡°I¡¯ll send you.¡±


    ¡°No need,¡± I promptly declined. I went over to Heather, knelt in front of her, and gently touched her cheek.


    ¡°Are you okay, baby?¡±


    She nodded. I embraced her and whispered, ¡°Your dad stayed in the unit across from oursst night.¡±


    I smiled, observing her mood brightening. ¡°Don¡¯t be sad, okay?¡±


    ¡°Okay, mommy,¡± she said, offering a smile and nting a kiss on my cheek. After giving Lucinda some instructions, I noticed Ivan standing silently on the side.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go¡­¡±


    ¡°Head to your job and don¡¯t concern yourself with me,¡± I gently admonished him in a hushed tone to keep it from reaching Heather¡¯s ears.


    ¡°I¡¯ll just keep youpany all day.¡±


    I stopped in my tracks.


    ¡°You¡¯ll only be a distraction!¡±


    ¡°Come on, M. I just want to be with you and make amends as well.¡±


    ¡°If you¡¯re truly seeking to make amends, focus on your child. She criedst night, fearing you had returned to Maureen.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± He let out a sigh. ¡°Is that what you¡¯re thinking too?¡±


    I held my peace, recognizing that my thoughts held no significance at that moment.


    ¡°We don¡¯t have a rtionship. I¡¯ve made it clear to her that I can only offer friendship.¡±


    ¡°Friends with benefits?¡± I sarcastically asked.


    ¡°What? No!¡±


    ¡°Who are you fooling?! You can¡¯t be friends with your ex who is obsessed with you.¡±


    ¡°But that¡¯s true!¡± he insisted. ¡°She¡¯s sick, and her parents pleaded with me, so¡­¡±


    ¡°Okay, I get it. There¡¯s no need to exin.¡± I turned away, but he stopped me.


    ¡°I understand it¡¯s hard to trust what I¡¯m saying, but believe me, it¡¯s the truth. M, I love you so much! I know your heart is filled with doubt, but trust me, give me a chance. I¡¯ll make it up to you and Heather. Even if Maureen needs me, I won¡¯t go to her anymore. I won¡¯t repeat the same mistake.¡±


    I fell into silence, unsure of what to say. Fortunately, my phone rang, and I promptly answered. It was the person I was scheduled to meet with.


    ¡°M, I¡¯m on my way. I¡¯ll be at Shangri-La za in twenty minutes.¡±


    ¡°Okay. I¡¯m on my way too. See you.¡±


    I nced at Ivan.


    ¡°I have to go. If you¡¯re not going to work, don¡¯t bother me. We only have a few days left here in Man. Make the most of them to be with your daughter.¡±


    I hurriedly left. It would be embarrassing to bete for my meeting, especially when I was closer to our meeting ce.


    ***


    I¡¯ve received text messages from Ivan, and his yful tone never fails to bring a smile to my face. Unconsciously, I catch myself grinning. However, I haven¡¯t mustered the courage to respond to him yet.


    Instead, I turned my attention to Lucinda¡¯s messages. ording to her, Heather epted the toys and food that her dad bought for her. Ivan had a heartfelt conversation with Heather, exining that he and Maureen were no longer in a rtionship. Despite his apology, Heather remained silent.


    ¡°He said, ¡®Ib u & ur mom. I knw I hurt her datz why I¡¯m wlng 2 do evrytng so dat u wud 4giv me. I¡¯m sori 2 4 hurtng you. I don¡¯t wanna c u hurt bcoz of me. I don¡¯t wanna c u cry bcoz of me.''¡±


    I swiftly typed my response. ¡°Your text is hard to read,¡± Iined to Lucinda. The message Ivan conveyed could have been touching, but her texting style made it challenging to appreciate.


    She responded with numerousughing emojis. ¡°He mentioned more.¡±


    ¡°What else?¡±


    ¡°He sought Heather¡¯s assistance to win you over so you both could go on a honeymoon.¡±


    My cheeks flushed. ¡°You¡¯re insane!¡±


    I¡¯m sure she¡¯sughing hysterically at this point.


    ¡°Perhaps we should just leave you here with Heather. It seems like you¡¯d rather work with Ivan.¡±


    ¡°No way! I prefer the ind. There are plenty of attractive foreigners there.¡±


    I refrained from responding to her as my new meeting had begun.


    ***


    The entire day was tiring for me. I went straight home without doing any shopping. Lucinda mentioned that Ivan had gone grocery shopping, so there was a lot of food, and there was no need to cook for dinner.


    Heather¡¯s enthusiasm was evident as she weed me. I subtly nudged Ivan when he also tried to give me a kiss and a hug.


    ¡°Mommy, he said we would eat dinner at his unit.¡±


    ¡°Really? Do you want to see your dad¡¯s unit?¡±


    We exchanged whispers. Heather nodded.


    ¡°Do you want to make sure he slept therest night?¡±


    She didn¡¯t respond.


    It appears that my child has a knack for investigation. I can already envision her as a youngdy, with a boyfriend or husband. Those men better be on their toes. I just hope she doesn¡¯t end up with someone who will deceive her.


    Wow, I¡¯m getting ahead of myself. She¡¯s still a baby, and I don¡¯t want her to grow up too fast.


    ¡°What¡¯s on our dinner, Lucinda?¡± I pretended not to know that Ivan bought a lot of food.


    ¡°Your hubby bought four dishes.¡± It seems like this one received some kind of bribe.


    ¡°I¡¯ll just change my clothes.¡±


    After changing, we visited Ivan¡¯s unit. I couldn¡¯t help but find amusement in Heather as she thoroughly inspected the two rooms and the bathroom. Even the areas under the beds, cabs, and tables didn¡¯t escape her scrutiny.


    ¡°Did you find anything, police officer?¡± Ivan asked with augh, visibly pleased by his daughter¡¯s actions.


    ¡°Maybe you told her to leave in the meantime.¡±


    ¡°We can check the CCTV if you want,¡± Ivan suggested.


    Heather shook her head. She seemed convinced. I just hope her father won¡¯t let her down again.


    We had dinner, andter, we watched a movie. Heather and Lucinda were lying on the round memory foam that Ivan had set up on the floor. I was reclining on the sofa, while Ivan upied a nearby single sofa.


    ¡°It¡¯s morefortable if you use my thighs as a pillow.¡±


    I brushed off his attempts at flirting. He appeared to believe everything was fine between us, but that was a definite no. I couldn¡¯t see myself trusting him again. If he¡¯s patient, he might earn back my trust, but if not, that¡¯s okay. He has the option of another woman elsewhere, just not with Maureen. She isn¡¯t a suitable match for him.


    Before the movie concluded, Heather had already drifted off to sleep.


    ¡°Let¡¯s sleep here,¡± Lucinda suggested.


    I nced at Ivan, who was leaning on the single sofa.


    ¡°Yeah, you can sleep here. Our daughter isfortable. It¡¯s just me who isn¡¯t.¡± He stood up and approached me. Is he going to sleep beside me? I felt rmed.


    He pulled the bottom part. Oh, it¡¯s a sofa bed.


    But if he sleeps here, it would feel like we¡¯ll be sleeping side by side.


    ¡°You have a room, you know.¡±


    ¡°I want to stay here. We won¡¯t be too close. Just let me be next to you.¡±


    ¡°If she doesn¡¯t want it, we can be the ones next to each other,¡± Lucinda teased,ughing.


    I chuckled too.


    Ivan, with a smile on his face, looked at me. I pursed my lips and turned serious.


    ¡°Goodnight. I love you.¡±


    Lucinda made a sound while I quickly turned around, feeling even more awkward as Ivan stared at me.


    ***


    We enjoyed a peaceful night¡¯s sleep, and all woke up simultaneously for an early morning breakfast. Ivan is scheduled to go to work today.


    ¡°I¡¯ll be working only half a day today. I¡¯ll also being home in the afternoon. Is there anything you want Daddy to buy for you?¡± he asked his child affectionately.


    ¡°I want chocte.¡±


    Ivan grinned. ¡°I thought you didn¡¯t like chocte because it might ruin your teeth?¡±


    Heather couldn¡¯t meet his eyes, which made him chuckle before tousling his daughter¡¯s hair.


    ¡°I¡¯ll buy you a lot of chocte. Wait for Daddy.¡±


    ***


    I left the condo with a sense of contentment after exchanging texts with Ivan earlier. Our conversation solely revolved around Heather¡¯s interests.


    As the afternoon progressed, I got caught up in various tasks, neglecting to check my phone. Ivan and Heather might already be spending time together.


    Later in the afternoon, I got a text and missed calls from Lucinda. She said that Heather was crying because Ivan hadn¡¯t shown up. Ivan had sent me a text at two in the afternoon, exining that he had an emergency meeting.


    I opted to head home, as the ns I had for five in the afternoon didn¡¯t hold significant importance. Prioritizing my time with my child took precedence.


    Heather was in tears, feeling distressed. I took the time to exin to her the nature of her dad¡¯s job and how demanding it can be. I also provided insights into how a business operates. She listened, though I¡¯m uncertain if she fully grasped the details.


    By six in the afternoon, Ivan hadn¡¯t arrived, and there was still no text from him. It seemed he might be significantly dyed.


    We proceeded to finish our meal, and Heather continued to wait for him.


    ¡°Are you okay?¡± I asked, observing her frequent nces at my phone and toward the door.


    She shook her head slowly.


    ¡°Let¡¯s just watch a movie,¡± I suggested. Perhaps Ivan would arrive after we finish one.


    ¡°Lucinda¡­¡± I nced at Lucinda, who was engrossed in her phone. She quickly stood up to fetch the remote control, turning on the news. I furrowed my brow.


    ¡°News sh. The child of a business tycoon and the grandchild of the former mayor of Cavite is currently in the hospital after being involved in an ident.¡±


    We gazed intently at the TV. Maureen was the one mentioned in the news. ording to the report, the ident urred earlier in the afternoon.


    ¡°So that¡¯s why Ivan hasn¡¯te. It seems he¡¯s at the hospital.¡±


    I contemted confronting Lucinda, but I chose to let it pass. Heather needed to understand the reality that her daddy and I were not okay. Eventually, Ivan would marry someone else, and our daughter would have half-siblings.


    There¡¯s a pang in my chest because I had believed Ivan could uphold his promises. He failed once again. Nevertheless, I muste to terms with this. Maureen has always been more important.


    I empathize with Heather, but I believe that eventually, she¡¯ll reconcile with our situation. It¡¯s painful, but eventually, she¡¯ll ovee it.


    I embraced Heather and waited for her to speak.


    ¡°Mommy, let¡¯s go home¡­¡±


    ¡°Okay, baby. We¡¯ll head home tomorrow morning.¡±


    ¡°I want to go home now, mommy!¡±


    I pondered for a moment.


    ¡°Alright.¡±


    Lucinda and I shared a nce.


    ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll start packing then.¡± She promptly rose and entered our room to begin packing.

 Daddy is here

    ¡°Why did you head home so soon? Don¡¯t you still have two days left there?¡± I exchanged a meaningful nce with Rachelle. She parted her lips, as if deciphering my thoughts, and then signaled that we should talkter.


    ¡°Later. Heather and I need to rest first,¡± I replied while carrying my child, who was visibly exhausted from the long trip. I took her to our room. As Iid her down on the bed, she immediately hugged me.


    ¡°I¡¯m sad, mommy. Please, hug me.¡±


    I hugged her closely, aiming to provide sce through the embrace. Suppressing my tears, I demonstrated strength and resilience for the sake of my child.


    After thirty minutes, she finally drifted off to sleep. However, with various concerns on my mind, sleep remained elusive. I rose and draped a nket over my child to shield her from the brisk air conditioning. Purposefully, I adjusted the temperature to ensure she slept soundly.


    Before starting work, I got dressed and packed myptop. I couldn¡¯t afford to be idle; I had to keep going. My determination was driven by dreams and ns for our family, and I couldn¡¯t let someone like Ivan distract me.


    I¡¯ve long moved on from him. His influence shouldn¡¯t disrupt my peace. I wish him happiness. May he be engulfed in joy!


    ***


    Upon waking up in the morning, Heather still felt a lingering sense of dread. Lucinda took her to the shore to engage with some of the staff¡¯s children, but their return urred in less than an hour. Heather appeared disinterested in ying.


    Observing Heather in the living room, Rachelle suggested, ¡°If I were you, I¡¯d confront Ivan. He gave the kid false hope!¡±


    With a heavy sigh, I focused on the ss of juice in my hand and replied weakly, ¡°Let it go. He¡¯ll regret it when he¡¯s older.¡±


    Facing him seemed pointless; I might seem silly in the end. If Maureen¡¯s sway was stronger than its effect on his child, I couldn¡¯t do much. He stuck to his powerful beliefs, and I couldn¡¯t change that.


    Heather maintained her silence until we concluded dinner. In an attempt to lift her spirits, I retrieved some ice cream from the freezer.


    ¡°Do you want some ice cream?¡± I offered.


    She nced at me with a mncholic expression and then shook her head. I went up to her and gave her a soft hug.


    ¡°How about visiting Myrrh tomorrow?¡± I suggested.


    A faint smile graced her rosy lips. ¡°Really, mommy?¡±


    Her smile broadened as I nodded in approval.


    ¡°Yes, baby. We¡¯ll go there at eight in the morning,¡± I confirmed.


    ¡°Yes! I¡¯m going to sleep now.¡± She rose from her seat and motioned for me to follow her upstairs. ¡°I¡¯ll set the rm for five.¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t that too early, baby?¡± She wasn¡¯t ustomed to waking up that early.


    ¡°Okay, make it six then.¡± She adjusted the settings on my cellphone.


    ¡°We didn¡¯t purchase anything for her, Mommy. We should have bought something for her while we were still in Man.¡±


    ¡°We bought some toys that you haven¡¯t opened yet, right? And I also bought some clothes. Some have the same design but different colors.¡± She happily nodded in agreement.


    We brought a few of them back when we returned because the clothes and toys her father bought for her were left in his unit. Before we left, we ced everything Ivan gave her in his unit. It was Heather¡¯s idea; that¡¯s how hurt she felt about her father.


    After putting the things we nned to take tomorrow into eco-friendly bags, Heather rested on the bed. After she fell asleep, I went downstairs with the intention of working outside for the night.


    Rachelle was on the balcony, absorbed in herptop, but her eyes were focused on the round, shining moon. I tapped her, interrupting her deep thoughts, and she turned to look at me.


    ¡°Are you okay?¡± I inquired.


    She initially nodded but then shook her head. I offered her a subdued smile, refraining from prying into details as she wasn¡¯t inclined to share. Recently, she often appeared lost in thought. I couldn¡¯t determine whether it was rted to business, her husband frequently being out of the country, or perhaps something else.


    ¡°What¡¯s your n?¡± she asked, still gazing at the sky.


    ¡°No ns. Just go with the flow?¡± I wasn¡¯t certain if it pertained to Ivan, but ideally, I wished their paths wouldn¡¯t intersect with Heather¡¯s again for the time being. Perhapster, when she¡¯s of the right age and more cognizant of reality.


    ¡°What if he didn¡¯t go to Maureen?¡± she inquired.


    ¡°Chelle, how can you say that? And where could he be?¡±


    ¡°Perhaps he¡¯s truly upied with work at thepany, you know? He¡¯s not just a regr employee with a standard eight-to-five or nine-to-six schedule.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure, Rachelle. I¡¯d rather not dwell on it. I don¡¯t want to think about him anymore.¡±


    ¡°Okay. If a miracle happens, that will be the time I¡¯ll give you advice.¡± She smiled and gave a reassuring tap on my shoulder.C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.


    I stayed up working until 2 a. m., then got three hours of sleep before waking up at 5 a. m. to get everything ready for our trip to the nearby ind.


    After delivering our monthly supply assistance, I thought of bringing soup ingredients this time, as they were well-stocked in the pantry. Since there are many native chickens on the ind, I nned to buy some to enhance the soup.


    ***


    At six in the morning, the eager child was already awake, and I was delighted to see she was no longer lethargic. Although it wasn¡¯t yet eight in the morning, we set off for the other ind.


    As the people there saw our boat approaching, they gathered on the shore. When they saw us, they were happy and greeted us warmly. Myrrh and Heather hugged, and I gave Mira, who was busy making vibrant bracelets from painted shells, a kiss on her cheeks.


    ¡°I thought you¡¯d be visiting next week¡­¡± she remarked while arranging a small table beside her, transforming it into a makeshift workstation.


    ¡°Heather was feeling down, so I thought of bringing her here,¡± I exined.


    She looked at Heather and asked, ¡°Has something happened?¡±


    I sadly smiled.


    ¡°Indeed, something did happen. So, how was your encounter with your cheating ex?¡± she inquired, shaking her head.


    I began recounting the events. As I narrated, Mira winced and clenched her fists in frustration.


    ¡°That¡¯s audacious! Guys like that should have their dicks cut off! If it were me, I might have crushed his balls!¡± I simply smiled. It took a while before we continued.


    ¡°If he pursues and woos you, make it difficult for him,¡± she advised after a few minutes. She sighed and massaged her temples, shaking her head as if vividly reying something in her mind.


    ¡°If the dayes when you meet your ex, discover you have a child, and he tries to win you back, would you ept?¡± I curiously asked.


    Her eyes turned cold. ¡°No. Twice was enough,¡± she sighed. ¡°And I¡¯d ensure we never meet again. I¡¯ll grow old and die here. I¡¯ll make sure he will never meet our child.¡±


    I acknowledged with a nod, recognizing that it wasn¡¯t my ce to deliver a lecture. I grasped the intricacies of her situation and honored her decision as a mother.


    Together, we crafted a nourishing soup, extending the warmth of our meal to the locals. Heather, immersed in joy, engaged in yful moments with Myrrh and the indigenous children.


    The children were also thrilled with the new toys they received. We left out the clothes as we were two sets short. We only have six sets, while there are eight little girls here.


    We bid our farewells at half-past four in the afternoon. We had to head home because I needed to send an email on myptop by six.


    ¡°We¡¯ll visit them, mommy, okay?¡± Myrrh insisted to her mother. The mother and daughter had visited there several times before. However, now that more people are aware of Rachelle¡¯s ind, they have discontinued their visits.


    She steered clear of crowds, anxious that someone might identify her, and her ex-husband might trace her.


    We exchanged nces and waved as the boat started its journey, gradually drifting away.


    ***


    Heather, fatigued from the day¡¯s activities, promptly retired to bed upon reaching home. I, too, indulged in a short nap. Yet, with pending work demanding attention, I roused myself at ten in the evening. Descending to the kitchen for a cup of coffee, I discovered Rachelle diligently working on the sofa, and I joined her.


    ¡°Lucinda?¡± I inquired, realizing I hadn¡¯t seen her yet. Earlier, she had left a im that a lone foreigner hadnded on the ind. I allowed her to explore, worried she might me me if she couldn¡¯t find a partner within a reasonable time.


    ¡°Speaking of the woman,¡± Rachelle whispered as Lucinda stepped into the house, still trying to catch her breath.


    ¡°Why the heavy breathing? Did you snag a big catch, girl? Looks like you¡¯ve been fooling around on the beach, huh?¡± I chuckled at Rachelle¡¯sment.


    ¡°Pure wishful thinking,¡± Lucinda replied, taking a deep breath before turning to me with a serious gaze.


    ¡°What I wanted to say is Ivan!¡±


    My eyes widened, and Rachelle raised an eyebrow. Even before Lucinda could finish speaking, it appeared Rachelle had already grasped her message.


    Before Lucinda could utter a word, Ivan entered. A staff member apanied him.


    ¡°Ma¡¯am, Sir is looking for you.¡±


    There was a trace of anger in Ivan¡¯s eyes as he nced at me. I was momentarily stunned, but as I regained myposure, I calmly met his gaze.


    ¡°I thought you still had a few days in Man. Why did you suddenly leave without informing me?¡±


    I maintained a stoic silence, stubborn and with no intention of responding. However, Rachelle and Lucinda couldn¡¯t resist chiming in.


    ¡°Why are you even asking?¡±


    ¡°Acting innocent, huh?¡±


    His jaw clenched. ¡°Did I do something?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t know? Suffering from amnesia again? Got hit on the head?¡±


    Ivan red at Rachelle in irritation, but my friend didn¡¯t back down.


    ¡°Tell me¡­ I was taken aback when the receptionist informed me you had left. Why? Is it because you no longer want me?¡± His voice trembled.


    ¡°Ivan, ying the innocent card once more?¡± Rachellemented, irritated.


    ¡°You¡¯ve hurt your family once more, especially Heather. We were expecting you, along with Heather, but you didn¡¯t appear. Later, we learned from the news that you went to the hospital because Maureen had an ident,¡± Lucinda recounted.


    I refrained from interjecting into their conversation with Chelle. It was bing tiresome to exin things to someone who was feigning ignorance continually. Just like at this moment, he¡¯s pretending as if he¡¯spletely unaware.


    ¡°What now? Are you going to deny that you didn¡¯t visit Maureen?¡± Chelle demanded.


    Ivan sighed and shook his head.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t visit her. I was in a meeting. Didn¡¯t I text you? Didn¡¯t you receive it?¡± He took out his phone and showed me his message.


    ¡°I have ample evidence that I was in a meeting until three in the morning.¡±


    ¡°Three in the morning? Impressive dedication!¡± Lucinda and Chelle sarcastically apuded.


    ¡°Please, please, can you allow my wife and me to have a proper conversation¡­¡± He appealed to the two women.


    ¡°Okay.¡± Lucinda stood up.


    ¡°We¡¯ll be in the kitchen,¡± Chelle said.


    After they withdrew, Ivan cautiously came toward me. He knelt at my feet, his eyes red, clearly suppressing tears. The edges of his eyes glistened.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t visit her. I promised you. I refrained from going to her even when she called and pleaded, and even when her parents begged¡­ To assure you, I¡¯ll request CCTV footage, including the route the car took before I returned to the rented apartment. I didn¡¯t see her yesterday either. I swear!¡±


    I took a deep breath. ¡°Exin things to Heather. You¡¯ve hurt her once again.¡±


    He nodded, reaching for my hands and bringing them to his lips.


    ¡°You made me worry. Thankfully, I managed to persuade Lucinda.¡±


    ¡°Do you twomunicate?¡± I asked with wide eyes.


    He smiled subtly and shrugged. That woman, pretending as if nothing happened! She¡¯s in trouble with me.


    ¡°Don¡¯t scold her. She just wants us to be happy and have aplete family.¡±


    Was it only Lucinda who desired that?


    ¡°I really want us to be okay,¡± he whispered, his tone filled with tenderness and longing.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, Ivan.¡±


    He nodded understandingly. ¡°I can wait. I¡¯m ready to make amends. I took a leave from thepany. One month.¡±


    ¡°What about your job?¡±


    ¡°For the time being, my dad and brother will handle it. They like having me around and hope we can make up. They really miss Heather and mentioned they miss you, too.¡±


    I miss them too. They became my second family when I lost my parents. They treated me like their own child, and Ivan¡¯s siblings regarded me as their younger sister. Except for Ivan, who made it clear he didn¡¯t like me from the beginning. I felt ashamed in front of his parents, fearing they might think I no longer value them because I moved away because I took their grandchild away.


    ¡°Mommy? Mommy!¡±


    We looked upstairs upon hearing Heather¡¯s voice. She woke up and was taken aback to find her daddy there.


    Ivan stood up and swiftly climbed the stairs. Heather remained unmoved. It was evident that she refrained from embracing her father, and her lingering resentment was palpable.


    In hushed tones, Ivan shared something with her, tears flowing down his cheeks. After a brief pause, our daughter too started weeping.


    Ivan gave her a warm hug and whispered. He was exining and saying sorry to our upset child.

 Trust me

    Heather remained motionless.


    ¡°Heather, baby?¡± Her father gently caressed her cheek, nting a kiss on her head before lifting her. Despite herck of resistance, Heather remained silent. Observing her joy upon her father¡¯s arrival, I detected it in the way she looked at him while they descended the stairs. Tears welled up in her eyes, and I felt a deep sympathy for our child, who was deeply affected by our situation.


    Letting out a sigh, I tried to shake off the bitterness that surrounded me.


    Ivan and I exchanged nces. A faint smile adorned his lips. I simply looked at him, concealing the bitterness within. I refused to reveal any vulnerability.


    ¡°Are you still upset with Daddy?¡± he gently inquired, his fingers tracing the contours of our daughter¡¯s cheek. Heather pouted, her nose and cheeks still red from crying.


    Ivan exined, ¡± I didn¡¯t visit that woman because Daddy was working overtime. I won¡¯t meet her again, as I don¡¯t want to break my promise or hurt Heather¡¯s heart. Daddy also doesn¡¯t want to hurt Mommy again; he loves you and your mommy. ¡±


    Heather¡¯s delicate lips trembled, holding back words. In silence, tears gathered beneath her eyes, slowly amassing until they gracefully cascaded down.


    ¡± Daddy loves you and Mommy dearly. I desperately want you back in my life. Please don¡¯t be mad at Daddy. I promise not to make Mommy or Heather cry again.¡±


    Heather responded, ¡°I saw it on the news. Your girlfriend was in the hospital.¡±


    Ivan let out a groan. It was clear our daughter was displeased with the words spoken and was mulling it over. Well, it¡¯s his fault, and should be the one to rify things to our child.


    ¡°She¡¯s not my girlfriend, baby. Well, she used to¡­¡± He looked at me as if seeking help in exining and making our child understand. I snorted.


    ¡°Your mommy is the one I love. She¡¯s the one I married.¡±


    Oh,e on!C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.


    He brushed away our daughter¡¯s tears.


    Our baby daughter stayed upset even after he exined what happened because she had been eagerly waiting for her father to return until that night. Having seen the news, I assumed that his presence there was the reason he hadn¡¯t returned that night.


    But I¡¯m d that he came all the way here to exin. To prove that he kept his promise-that this time he is true to his words.


    Ivan whispered in our child¡¯s ear. Heather was also quietly listening.


    ¡°I love you, baby.¡±


    She pouted her lips. I believe she¡¯s okay now. Seeing Heather happy brings joy to me as well. Who wouldn¡¯t want their child to be happy? Even if that joy might be my downfall because Ivan¡¯s presence serves as a reminder of the pains I am determined never to endure again.


    Yes, I am not ready to ept him yet. I¡¯ve moved on, I¡¯ve forgotten, but the pain I endured with him nted fear in my heart.


    What if¡­ he hurts me again? What if¡­


    ¡°Mommy, Daddy is here!¡±


    I snapped back to reality when Heather took hold of my hands, gently shaking them to get my attention.


    Yes, sweetheart. I saw. Your daddy is indeed here.


    I smiled and embraced her. She briefly looked at me and returned the smile.


    ¡°Are you okay?¡± Ivan inquired by my side. I nodded slightly.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you believe what I said?¡±


    I maintained my silence. I trust him, but lingering doubts persist. Perhaps I haven¡¯t fully healed yet, which is why I can¡¯t wholeheartedly embrace him.


    After all, we only recently reconnected. It¡¯s been just a few days since he confessed his love for me. He dered I am the one he loves, choosing me without actively seeking me. His love existed even before the ident, though he didn¡¯t overtly express it, valuing his first love more at the time.


    It¡¯s only been a few days. Ugh! I want to avoid over-analyzing. My thoughts are bing entangled once more.


    ***


    Ivan was checked in on one of the vis on the ind. He noted that his belongings, as well as the items he had bought for both me and Heather, were there. He expressed his dissatisfaction because we had left even the jewelry he had given me at the rented apartment.


    He gazed at me, anticipating my words, yet my lips stayed closed. He feigned a smile and then reached out to touch my hand.


    ¡°I know it¡¯s hard, but you are willing to give it a try, right?¡± There¡¯s hesitation and concern in his eyes.


    I still can¡¯t speak. I know my silence frustrates him, but I can¡¯t force myself to say yes. He nodded and sighed.


    ***


    It was already 10 in the evening, and we were still in the living room. Heather was wide awake, seated on her father¡¯sp, engrossed in ying with her favorite doll.


    ¡°It¡¯s ten now. Heather needs to rest,¡± I said. However, the challenge is how to detach her from her father at this moment.


    ¡°Would you sleep in our room, Daddy?¡± Ivan stifled augh while shooting me a nce.


    ¡°Daddy will stay in the vi, baby,¡± I interjected. Her father can¡¯t sleep in our room. Heather frowns. ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°Because he checked in there,¡± I exined.


    ¡°But why, mommy? Why did Daddy check in there? The bed upstairs is big enough.¡±


    Here¡¯s what I anticipated as I looked meaningfully at Ivan. I want him to exin and convince his daughter that he needs to go back to the vi.


    ¡°Umm¡­¡± Ivan scratched his head. It¡¯s clear he doesn¡¯t like what I wanted. He wanted to sleep next to us.


    ¡°Daddy¡¯s things are in the vi?¡± he whispered to his daughter.


    ¡°Let¡¯s get them. Let¡¯s ask Uncle Dagul to get them,¡± Heather suggested, referring to the resort staff.


    ¡°Mommy¡­¡±


    ¡°Uncle Dagul was busy,¡± I reasoned.


    Heather took a moment to ponder. She even shifted her position to face me.


    ¡°Mommy, let¡¯s sleep in Daddy¡¯s vi instead.¡±


    This is exactly what I¡¯ve been talking about. Exining things to her that might lead to an argument would be difficult, which is why I remained silent.


    ¡°Okay, if you want to go there¡­¡±


    Ivan smiled.


    ¡°You and Daddy can sleep there.¡± I returned the smile.


    ¡°How about you?¡± Ivan¡¯s smile faded, and disappointment was clearly visible on his face.


    ¡°Why just us?¡± Heather inquired. They both asked simultaneously.


    ¡°I¡¯ll stay here¡­ I still have a lot of work to do.¡±


    Ivan frowned, and Heather mirrored his expression. Wow! He already has an ally.


    ¡°It¡¯ste; make a decision,¡± Rachelle interjected as she took another sip of coffee.


    ¡°Let¡¯s sleep there, Mommy.¡±


    ¡°Just bring your work there, Mommy.¡±


    What else could I do?


    ¡°Fine. Let¡¯s go, so you can sleep right away.¡±


    I carried two-weekend bags while Ivan carried his child. We headed to his vi.


    ¡°Did you like the ce we¡¯re staying, Daddy?¡±


    ¡°Uh-huh¡­¡±


    ¡°The ind is beautiful, isn¡¯t it, Daddy?¡±


    ¡°Yes, baby. It¡¯s really beautiful, and it became even more beautiful because of your mommy.¡±


    I expressed my exasperation with a roll of my eyes.


    Due to theteness of the hour, Heather promptly fell asleep upon our arrival at the vi.


    Seated at the table, I typed while Ivan held his phone. ncing at him, he adjusted his sitting position and momentarily set aside his phone when he noticed my gaze. He approached me, surprising me by cing his phone beside myptop.


    ¡°Why?¡± I wondered, looking at him.


    ¡°You are free to check my phone.¡±


    ¡°Why bother? I¡¯m not interested, and I don¡¯t want to do it either.¡±


    ¡°I want to rebuild your trust.¡±


    I¡¯m sure he has already deleted messages and other things on his phone, so I don¡¯t need to delve into it further. I return my gaze to theptop.


    ¡°Go to sleep,¡± I say calmly. ¡°Lie down next to your daughter.¡±


    ¡°Okay. Don¡¯t stay up toote. I¡¯ll leave a space for you on the other side of the bed. Goodnight, love¡­¡±


    I gently nibbled on my lower lip, momentarily captivated by his words. Warmth gathered in the corners of my eyes. Maintaining my seated position, I remained still for a few moments. Only when I was certain he had drifted into sleep did I shift my gaze toward the bed.


    He cradled his child, and Heather¡¯s feet dangled over his legs. A smile yed on my lips. I yearned for things to always be like this, shielding my child from any suffering he might cause.


    I found it challenging to focus on my task, and sleep continued to evade me. My attention wandered to his phone, which was lying nearby. I instinctively pressed it, my eyes widening in disbelief as my picture from my college days appeared on the screen.


    Why did he choose this image as his lock screen? And there¡¯s a password! He provided it, but it turned out to be locked. I pressed it, contemting numericalbinations for his password.


    I attempted his birthday, but it didn¡¯t unlock. His anniversary with Maureen was the next attempt, yet it wasn¡¯t the password either. I then tried the woman¡¯s birthday. Heather¡¯s birthday? Still no luck. Hesitant to enter my own birthday, thinking it might not be his password, I was proven right.


    Ugh! Whatever. He made it challenging. He¡¯s just causing me a headache.


    On my final attempt, I entered our wedding anniversary. To my surprise, I gasped. That was his password! My hands trembled as I gripped his phone. The wallpaper disyed a picture of Heather.


    I navigated to his gallery, filled with images and videos of Heather, captured back when we were in Man. There were also pictures of me, seemingly taken from my old social media ount from college, which I can no longer ess.


    I visited his social media ount, and I was met with a barrage of messages from women attempting to connect with him. The conversation with Maureen hasn¡¯t been erased, but I opted not to open it to shield myself from potential pain.


    Nevertheless, my curiosity got the better of me, and I delved into the text messages. Among them were numerous texts from women, some identifying themselves as the daughters of businessmen and politicians.


    Surprisingly! I couldn¡¯t fault them, especially considering the liberated nature of some affluent individuals around him. Ivan remains unresponsive to their messages, even those dating back three to four years, which he hasn¡¯t deleted.


    I also checked Maureen¡¯s text messages. There was no response from him to the woman. As I scrolled to the end, I found that he had replied to her only once, and that was four years ago. He mentioned being busy during that time. It¡¯s possible he acquired this phone four years ago.


    I set his phone aside. Should I also check his emails? My eyes were already sore. I didn¡¯t want to painstakingly read through Maureen¡¯s melodramatic messages, reminiscent of a soap opera.


    A bitter smile yed on my lips as I observed him peacefully sleeping. Iy down on the side and drifted off to sleep.


    ***


    I had a peaceful night¡¯s sleep, and when I woke up, it was already nine o¡¯clock. If not for the disturbance caused by two people fooling around beside me, I might not have been stirred from my slumber.


    ¡°Mommy, it¡¯s already nine!¡±


    ¡°Good morning¡­¡±


    ¡°Morning,¡± Ivan greeted with a smile. It appeared as though they had just awakened as well.


    ¡°I¡¯ve already ordered our breakfast.¡±


    I stretched and rose from the bed.


    ¡°Mommy, I told Daddy that we should take a stroll on the ind!¡±


    Heather surprised me. On the ind? To Mira¡¯s ce?


    ¡°No, that¡¯s not possible, dear!¡±


    They were both taken aback by my shout. I, too, was surprised by my own voice.


    ¡°We¡¯ll go thereter,¡± I corrected in a softer voice.


    ¡°Why? Daddy also wants to go there,¡± Heather stated.


    Ivan raised an eyebrow, seemingly doubting me.


    ¡°Do you have a suitor on that ind?¡±


    ¡°What?¡± And I¡¯m the one being doubted. ¡°Of course not!¡±


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you want us to go there?¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s no reason! Let¡¯s just go there some other time.¡±


    I took my phone from the side and searched for Mira¡¯s number. Ivan looked at me suspiciously, and I gave him a defiant look in return.

 Danger

    He was even more determined to visit the ind due to my behavior. Perhaps he genuinely believed I had a suitor or a boyfriend there. He had persistently questioned me about my suitor from that ind, and even this early in the morning, he was getting on my nerves.


    ¡°Can¡¯t you hear yourself? And please, stop talking nonsense in front of my child.¡±


    ¡°Nonsense? And she¡¯s my child too.¡±


    I sighed heavily and closed my eyes, thoroughly irritated and annoyed.


    ¡°Who are you hiding there? I know when you are lying, M.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s none! Tsk!¡± I got off the bed and went to the bathroom to pee and brush my teeth, but he followed right away.


    ¡°Ivan!¡±


    He grinned, crossing his arms over his chest as he leaned against the door. ncing at Heather, who was seated on the carpet, engrossed in the toys and gifts her daddy had given her, she appeared to be in her own world, oblivious to our conversation.


    ¡°I need to use the bathroom,¡± I announced, shooting him a re. He simply turned around but didn¡¯t budge from the door.


    Afterpleting my bathroom routine, which included washing my face and brushing my teeth, I noticed that Ivan¡¯s food order had arrived. He was busy setting the table, and Heather joined in, expressing her hunger with enthusiasm.


    ¡°I apologize; your mommy woke upte,¡± I muttered.


    Heather smiled. ¡°It¡¯s okay, mommy.¡±


    We started eating, and since Ivan had ordered a substantial amount of food, and I was also famished, I didn¡¯t hold back. After finishing, Ivan efficiently arranged our dining things, cing them back on the tray by the door, and then called for the staff to clean up.


    Heather and I decided to bathe first, and after we were done, it was Ivan¡¯s time. While I was styling our daughter¡¯s hair, he appeared in board shorts, bare-chested.


    ¡°Wow! Look at Daddy, Mommy! He¡¯s got abs!¡± Heather¡¯spliment was adorable as if she greatly admired her father. There was excitement in her voice and face as she looked at his abs.


    Ivan chuckled, seemingly pleased with his daughter¡¯s praise. After regaining hisposure, he smirked.


    ¡°You¡¯re so handsome, Daddy!¡±


    Ivanughed.


    ¡°Of course, baby. That¡¯s why your mommy fell for me,¡± he grinned.


    I cleared my throat and raised an eyebrow.


    ¡°You¡¯re quite the macho man too,¡± she added.


    I couldn¡¯t help but roll my eyes at Heather¡¯s incessant praise for her father, who seemed thoroughly pleased with himself.


    ¡°That¡¯s why your mommy is head over heels for me,¡± he said, grinning and redirecting his gaze toward me. Sensing my irritation, he continued, ¡°Back then.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡± Heather looked at me innocently. ¡°Why back then?¡±


    ¡°Come on, baby. Let¡¯s step outside for a bit,¡± he suggested, attempting to shift the conversation.


    ¡°I want to go swimming, Daddy.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s still hot, baby. Let¡¯s do it in the afternoon.¡±


    ¡°Can we build a castle? I want to construct the prince¡¯s castle from the Cindere movie.¡±


    ¡°Okay,¡± he agreed, ncing out the window, searching for a spot that could still be shielded from the sun where they could set up.


    ¡°Are you not joining us?¡± he inquired, ncing at my phone on the side. I frowned in confusion, but as I understood his motives, I gave him a displeased nce.


    Why does it seem as if everything has been flipped on its head? Why does it appear that he¡¯s unexpectedly wary of me?


    I got up from the bed, wearing a racerback tank top and shorts, choosing not to change outfits. Instead of using my own sunscreen, I decided to borrow some from him. I first applied it to Heather¡¯s skin and then to mine.


    ¡°Daddy too, Mommy! Daddy, you need to use sunscreen to protect your skin from the sun¡¯s rays.¡±


    ¡°Oh, okay¡­¡± he grinned.


    ¡°Mommy, put some on Daddy too.¡±


    A frown crept across my face. Was my daughter giving me orders now? Had her anger towards him dissipated?


    Ivan came closer, seemingly expecting me to follow through with our child¡¯s request. I passed him the sunscreen, and he reacted with a pout like a child. Eventually, a smile spread across his face, and he gently squeezed my arm.


    ¡°What?¡± I looked at him in annoyance. He shook his head and smiled. Perhaps he¡¯s going a bit crazy!


    ***


    ¡°Why did you need to bring your phone?¡±


    Is there a restriction against it?


    He sighed, irritation clearly etched on his face.


    ¡°Why are you keeping tabs on my actions?¡± I inquired, a hint of annoyance in my tone that I struggled to contain.


    ¡°Alright, but can you set it aside for now? We won¡¯t be outdoors for long.¡±


    ¡°I just wanted to capture some moments with Heather. Is that a problem?¡±


    ¡°Oh¡­¡± He nodded. What was he thinking?


    I collected seashells while they, father and daughter, constructed a sandcastle. My daughter had given me explicit instructions to pick shells. While their ongoing argument, Heather¡¯s voice carried even to where I stood.


    ¡°Not like that, Daddy! The castle in the movie has a big door!¡±


    ¡°Okay, sorry¡­¡± Ivan conceded, sitting down as he became the subject of our child¡¯s critiques, prompting a shake of my head.


    I came back to help them finish constructing the castle amidst the blistering sun. The urge to seek shelter in the vi was palpable. Our goal was simply toplete the task, enticing Heather toe inside.


    As we applied the final touches to the sandcastle, I captured multiple shots with my camera.


    ¡°Ready to go?¡± I invited my daughter, who was captivated by the castle.


    ¡°Mommy, let¡¯s write something in the sand. Beside our castle.¡±


    ¡°Hmm¡­ What are we going to write?¡±


    ¡°I love my family!¡± she eximed. Ivan and I exchanged nces.


    ¡°Daddy, write in the sand!¡±


    ¡°Okay. I. Love. My. Family.¡±


    ¡°I love my family too,¡± Ivan murmured. ¡°I love you and your mom.¡±


    His gaze softened as it met mine. I bit my lip as if a warm hand had gently touched my heart. The corners of my eyes warmed, prompting me to look away.


    I resumed taking more pictures, including solo shots that Heather captured. There are also photos of me with her daddy since she desired images to adorn our wall.


    ***


    We showered and had lunch before Heather settled in for her afternoon nap. I sat on the sofa, myptop beside me, and Ivan joined me.


    ¡°Are you not going to take a nap?¡± I inquired. He shook his head.


    ¡°I can¡¯t sleep because I¡¯m so happy.¡±


    ¡°Oh¡­ I thought you couldn¡¯t sleep because you were thinking about¡­¡± I paused, deciding not to finish my sentence. It seemed too bitter.


    ¡°You have no reason to be jealous, M. Whatever existed between Maureen and me was long over.¡±


    ¡°What happened?¡± I inquired, peering into his eyes. ¡°I thought you were going to break up with me, as you mentioned earlier.¡±


    He shook his head. ¡°I thought you wanted to break up with me so I could marry her back then.¡±


    ¡°Two days before the incident, my mind was preupied. Throughout the workday, thoughts of you consumed me. At first, I resisted acknowledging it, convincing myself it was mere confusion. Despite my mistreatment of you, you remained kind to me. ¡±


    His eyes welled with tears. ¡°I¡¯ve harbored feelings for you for quite some time. My emotions were overshadowed by my anger, and¡­¡±


    ¡°Due to your love for Maureen at that time?¡±


    He gasped.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t seek you out. Even though it pained me when you left, I refrained from searching for you. Since your parents¡¯ passing, you¡¯ve been confined in our world. In our family. I want you to pursue your desires, to explore the world-whether it¡¯s without us or away from us. But had I only known that you were carrying my child, I would have crossed the sea just to be with you.¡±


    We bothpsed into silence, gazing at our peacefully sleeping child.


    ¡°That night¡­ I wasn¡¯t the one who kissed Maureen.¡±


    ¡°But you allowed her¡­¡± I asked with a weakened voice.


    ¡°I wanted to understand something. But all I felt was disgust and guilt. Guilt because I let another woman¡¯s lips touch mine instead of my wife¡¯s. I¡¯m sorry for kissing her.¡±


    I managed to put on a gentle smile. ¡°For that¡­ I forgive you.¡±


    ¡°Does that mean you can¡¯t forgive my other mistake?¡± he inquired, a touch of sadness in his tone.


    I shook my head, struggling to contain a smile. ¡°You had a phone s(e)x with her?¡±


    I no longer dwell on that. I refuse to be superficial. During that time, Maureen was the one he loved. I was just a woman who seemed to take away his freedom. He didn¡¯t love me, and there was nothing between us back then.


    ¡°I-I¡¯m s-sorry,¡± he stammered with a broken voice, guilt evident in his tone.


    I smiled. ¡°I¡¯ve forgiven you for that.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡±


    ¡°Yes. I had forgiven you even before we met.¡±


    ¡°But why does it seem like you¡¯re still very angry with me?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve forgiven you, but I haven¡¯t forgotten, Ivan. And who wouldn¡¯t be angry? You didn¡¯t annul our marriage!¡±


    ¡°I love you. Why would I consider annulling our marriage?¡±


    ¡°What was it, we¡¯re separated and yet still connected to each other?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll look for you. I intended to search for you ande to you.¡±


    We shared a few moments of silence. I reclined, nearly drifting into sleep when Ivan ced his hand on top of my thigh.


    ¡°I love you so much, M.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, Ivan. I¡¯m not even sure when I¡¯ll fully ept you, but okay, I¡¯ll give you a chance because it seems I have no other option. ¡±


    He chuckled.


    ¡°File a restraining order against Maureen. I don¡¯t want hering near you anymore,¡± I instructed.


    ¡°Okay. I¡¯ll file it. She can¡¯t go near my family¡­ to our family ever again.¡±


    ***


    In the afternoon, the three of us went swimming. Heather grew tired and fell asleep early in the evening without having dinner. Ivan, unable to resist his drowsiness, joined her on the bed. I worked for two hours before deciding to go to the house to retrieve some items.


    As I strolled along the shore, the sea¡¯s calm and peaceful demeanor helped soothe my emotions. However, this tranquility was disrupted by the arrival of a small vessel, presumably carrying guests for the resort.


    Approaching the end where Rachelle¡¯s house was situated, another vessel arrived. Initially nning to ignore it, I heard footsteps behind me, prompting me to turn around. It was then that I noticed the upants of the first vessel were not tourists but men. With no security in this area, I had no one to turn to for help. I attempted to run, but they caught up with me.


    ¡°Aaa-Hmmmmm!¡± My mouth was swiftly covered. After a few moments of struggling, I began to sense the darkness enveloping my surroundings.


    ***


    In a room with a lone window, I woke up to the disconcerting realization that my hands and feet were tightly bound. Confined to an office chair, I couldn¡¯t move. Several men upied seats beside me.


    ¡°Mmmm!¡± My mouth was sealed with tape. As the surroundings shifted, the realization dawned on me ¨C we weren¡¯t on solid ground. We were at sea! Questions flooded my mind. Who are they? Where are they taking me? What do they want from me?


    Attempting to free my hands proved futile, resulting only in pain. The distant hum of a machine reached my ears but eventually subsided. One of the men fetched an additional chair and positioned it before me.


    Ten minutester, the door creaked open, and my gaze instinctively shifted in that direction. Recognition struck me as a woman entered.


    Maureen!


    Now the reason for my captivity became clear. She appeared desperate. Grinning, she uttered, ¡°Don¡¯t be sad. Someone came here to see you.¡±


    Ivan walked in, a gun aimed at him, and visible bruises on his face. ¡°M!¡±


    Maureen rolled her eyes. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I didn¡¯t hurt her.¡±


    They seated Ivan on the chair opposite me. They secured his feet, and his hands were tied behind his back.


    ¡°Ah!¡± I hissed as Maureen removed the tape from my mouth.


    ¡°Maureen, what is this again?!¡± My chest heaved as I shouted at her.


    She chuckled. ¡°Because you¡¯re once again stirring up trouble in my life with Ivan, I want to silence you for good. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ve pledged to be a good mother to your child. Also, I will take care of Ivan, my soon-to-be husband.¡±


    I gave her a piercing re. In response, she swiftly pped me on both sides, delivering more ps and even pulling my hair.


    Ivan had been shouting in anger, but he was helpless due to being tied up.


    ¡°Stop it, Maureen! Please, stop it!¡±Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    Maureen was panting. She wiped her hand, which had a slight bloodstain. My lips were split, my cheeks stung, and I felt blood on them too.


    ¡°Hmmm. I have a great idea!¡±


    She grinned, casting a nce at Ivan before shifting her focus back to me.


    ¡°Before I could finally kill you, I¡¯ll give you a little entertainment first.¡±


    I didn¡¯t know what she had nned, but I felt uneasy. Despite being tightly bound, Ivan struggled in vain.


    Maureen directed the two men to hold Ivan by the shoulders. I couldn¡¯t fathom what the woman had in mind, but I was certain I wouldn¡¯t like it.


    ¡°Sit back, rx, and enjoy!¡± Sheughed loudly. As she shifted to a more serious demeanor, her focus became fixed on Ivan¡¯s body.


    Simultaneously, my husband and I widened our eyes.


    ¡°Maureen!¡± Ivan sternly protested, trying to shift away from Maureen, who knelt in front of him. However, Ivan was held by the two men while his feet were tied, as he struggled.


    Maureen unbuttoned the khaki shorts Ivan was wearing, and my tears began to flow. I couldn¡¯t bear to watch this. I¡¯d rather be killed than endure it.


    Ivan continued cursing incessantly. His body attempted to evade, but he was helpless, his zipper down.


    He cried, ¡°M, I love you. I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    ¡°How dare you?!¡± Maureen shouted. When Ivan resisted, she ordered her men to punch him in the face.


    They forced my husband to stand so Maureen could pull down his shorts and briefspletely.


    I screamed, cried, and struggled, but I couldn¡¯t do anything. I felt embarrassed, pleading, and seemingly anxious as Ivan looked at me.


    Maureen grasped his manhood, kneading it, moving it up and down.


    ¡°Your husband can¡¯t resist me. He said that I¡¯m really, really good in bed.¡±


    ¡°Stop it, Maureen!¡± Ivan shouted in frustration. I could sense his exasperation with the woman, but Maureen seemed unfazed by it.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be mad. I¡¯ll make it good.¡±


    ¡°Damn it!¡± Ivan red at her in disgust as the woman persisted in toying with his hardness.


    I was panting heavily, my chest throbbing with pain, tears streaming down my face. I couldn¡¯t bring myself to watch.


    God, please, send us assistance. Rachelle, help us.

 Setting you free

    I lost consciousness, and the duration eluded me. Upon regaining awareness, an unusual noise enveloped me-the resonant hum of a formidable engine. Unsure if it originated from the vessel, a more morous sound ensued. My eyes remained shut, shrouding me in uncertainty about my surroundings. Amidst the chaos, echoes of screams, gunfire, and an urgent call of my name reached my ears. Then, all plunged into darkness once again.


    Upon waking, a white ceiling and bright light greeted me.


    ¡°I-Ivan?!¡±


    The man I addressed approached with concern, and tears welled up in his eyes as he saw me.


    ¡°I had a bad dream,¡± I murmured. He enveloped me in a tight hug.


    ¡°Yes, love. It¡¯s just a bad dream.¡±


    We are presently at the hospital. Ivan is in good condition, while there¡¯s a bag of intravenous cellulose water hanging, connected to my arm. I lost consciousness and had to undergo stitching for the wound on my cheek. The doctor mentioned that it was a deep and rtivelyrge cut, necessitating stitches.


    Ivan was seated on the bed, holding me tightly. I remain silent, attempting to set aside the events that transpired, but numerous questions linger.


    ¡°What happened? How did we manage to escape from there?¡±


    ¡°Somebody came to help us.¡±


    ¡°Who?¡±


    ¡°Do you remember Candy?¡±


    ¡°Hmmm? Candy saved us? How?¡±


    ¡°No. They were Morgan¡¯s men.¡±


    ¡°Really? How did they know we were there?¡±


    ¡°Before I came to you, I contacted them. I went ahead because I was afraid they might hurt you,¡± Ivan sighed. I held his hand, and my chest tightened.


    ¡°Are you o-okay?¡± I asked, my voice shaky.


    ¡°Yes. How about you?¡±


    I affirmed with a nod.


    ¡°I¡¯m d that someone came to help.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t dwell on that, okay? I want you to forget it. Forget it, please?¡±


    With tears welling in my eyes, I nodded, seeking to dispel the memory.


    ¡°She¡¯s dead,¡± he muttered, referring to Maureen.


    ¡°D-Did Morgan¡¯s men kill her?¡± I asked in surprise.


    ¡°Yes.¡± I couldn¡¯t perceive any sadness in his expression, or maybe I just found it challenging to understand people¡¯s emotions.


    I refrained from asking further questions. What mattered most was our safety and the assurance of returning home with our daughter alive.


    Ivan exined, ¡°I arranged for Heather to be picked up by Dad and Mom. Fortunately, Rachelle agreed to do it. Lucinda apanied them to Man.¡±


    It appeared that our daughter should be there for the time being.


    I wasn¡¯t discharged immediately because the next day, we had an appointment with a therapist. Ivan rmended it. He wanted to ensure that the incident didn¡¯t cause severe trauma. Of course, it did! But yes, therapy can help us ovee trauma.


    I must stay strong for Heather. Both of us need to maintain mental stability for our daughter and emotional well-being for our family.


    Ivan looked after me attentively. Even after we finished our meal, I found it challenging to sleep, so I watched his every action.


    ¡°Why?¡± He paused and looked at me with surprise. He approached me, and I shook my head firmly, avoiding eye contact.


    He took a seat at the bedside, adjusting my nket.


    ¡°Rest now,¡± he instructed. I closed my eyes, not particrly tired, but aware of his presence. His sigh seemed heavy with the burden of his troubles.


    Maureen had passed away. Naturally, he was contemting that.


    ***


    We¡¯re on our way home to the Greco mansion now, and I¡¯m eagerly anticipating the moment I reunite with my daughter. Unaware of the recent events, she only knew that her daddy and I had embarked on a business trip.


    As we arrived, the maids warmly greeted us at the entrance, informing us that Heather was in the garden. Ivan and I strolled around until we reached the garden. A smile spread across my face when I spotted the two elders swaying on the swings with Heather. They had set up three swings, a slide, and a sizable dollhouse on the side.


    ¡°Heather!¡± I called out to my child, who appeared to be quietly swaying on the swing. I could sense her sadness; she must miss me, undoubtedly.


    She lifted her face. ¡°Mommy?!¡±


    Swiftly, she descended from the swing, dashed towards me, and enveloped me in a tight embrace.


    ¡°Mommy, I miss you so much!¡±


    I held her closely. God, thank you! Thank you for preserving my life for my daughter. Thank you for keeping us alive.


    Heather had numerous questions. She inquired about where her daddy and I had gone on a date.


    ¡°Do I have a sibling?¡±


    Both her father and I were wide-eyed at her question. When my gaze fell upon Lucinda, it seemed like I already knew who had taught her that.


    Lucinda approached me, and even before she uttered a word, I fixed her with a stern gaze, concerned that she might reveal the truth. Heather should remain unaware of it, as I am concerned about the potential emotional impact it could have on her. The revtion might wound her deeply, and she might need days toe to terms with the reality.


    Heather inquired about the bruises on our faces, mine and her father¡¯s. We exined that we had an ident on our way home but assured her that we were okay now. Despite her numerous inquiries, her father and I continually reassured her that everything was under control.


    Before heading upstairs, we enjoyed some snacks. Nestled on the bed, we indulged in a movie. While Ivan and I rxed, Heather was engrossed in the adventure unfolding on the screen, munching on chips with wide-eyed fascination.


    I shut my eyes, feeling exhaustion settling in. Both my body and mind craved rest.


    ¡°Are you okay?¡± I reopened my eyes, meeting Ivan¡¯s concerned gaze. I offered a faint smile and nodded.


    ¡°Just a bit sleepy.¡±


    ¡°Go ahead and take a nap.¡± I shifted my position, attempting to hug Heather, but she resisted. I simply wished to hold her, yet I chose not to insist, aware that she preferred uninterrupted movie enjoyment.


    A longing for someone to embrace lingered within me. I desired to hug Ivan but hesitated, sensing he was lost in thought.


    I gently tapped his arm. ¡°You should get some sleep,¡± I suggested, as it seemed like that¡¯s what he needed at the moment-some rest.


    ***


    The sun was about to set when I woke up. I was alone on the bed, finding Ivan seated on the sofa, engrossed in hisptop. Meanwhile, Heather was likely downstairs, enjoying ytime with her grandparents.


    I observed Ivan¡¯s behavior, noticing the seriousness etched on his face with furrowed brows. Deciding not to disturb him at the moment, I went to the bathroom for a swift face wash and gargle. Upon returning, I was surprised to find Ivan waiting just outside the bathroom door.


    ¡°How are you feeling?¡± he inquired. I averted my gaze, feeling an unexpected uneasiness.


    ¡°I¡¯m okay. How about you?¡± I couldn¡¯t meet his eyes. Only a few moments earlier, I had a dream, and upon waking, it felt like something inside me had changed.


    He simply nodded. Was that his response to my question? Turning away, he returned to the sofa, leaving me perplexed. What was going on with this guy?


    ¡°I¡¯ll finish this before we head down for dinner,¡± he mentioned.


    Seated on the bed, I asionally nced at him. It felt as though something had indeed changed in him.


    ***


    We descended to the dining area together for our meal. Ivan and I maintained a quiet behavior while Mom, Dad, and Heather engaged in lively conversation. Yeah, I reverted to calling them Mom and Dad once again. They expressed that it stung when I addressed them as Aunt and Uncle. Even before Ivan and I tied the knot, they already considered themselves my parents.


    After our meal, we rxed in the garden. My mother-inw sipped on some tea, and the guys enjoyed a ss of whiskey each. Lucinda, my sister-inw, and I opted for red wine.


    ¡°Any alcohol for kids?¡± We chuckled at Heather, who held a ss of milk.


    ¡°No, just milk for the little one,¡± my mother-inw responded. Heather pouted, casting a nce at the sses we were holding.


    ¡°When can I have wine?¡± Ivan and I shared a nce. I smiled, while his expression remained serious.


    As the three of us reclined on the bed, I pondered about her-Maureen. Was Ivan grappling with Maureen¡¯s death to this extent?


    My inws avoided addressing that issue. I know their disapproval of Maureen, likely intensified now by her deeds.


    ***


    In the early morning, as I had breakfast, Ivan¡¯s parents cast fleeting nces in my direction.


    ¡°Why?¡± I sensed that they had something to tell me, but they struggled to articte it.


    Until Ivan¡¯s friends arrived, carrying bottles of alcohol. What was this about? Did they visit their friend to offer condolences for Maureen¡¯s death?


    ¡°You haven¡¯t been answering calls, so we decided toe here ourselves,¡± they exined.


    Ivan briefly nced at me, but I avoided meeting his gaze. Although he was speaking to me, I felt a casualness in his behavior. My chest tightened, and my emotions weighed heavily¡­ I just couldn¡¯t exin.


    ¡°When are you leaving?¡± inquired one of his friends.


    ¡°Early in the morning,¡± my husband replied nonchntly. Is he leaving? Early in the morning? Why? And where is he going?


    ¡°I will be heading to the US next month; let¡¯s arrange to meet there.¡±


    In the US? Next month? Is he nning to stay there until next month? Why does it feel like it¡¯s taking so long? And what is he going to do there?


    My heart felt heavy; I was so upset. I wanted to leave, but we were sitting at the dining table.


    After the meal, I went upstairs. Heather yed with her cousins, and fortunately, Lucinda is here to look after her.


    I tried not to cry out of frustration.


    I can only concentrate on one thing at the moment-Ivan is grieving. Desiring to escape, he ns to go to America. As far as I understand, he will be supervising a branch of theirpany there.


    He¡¯s the only one heading there. He¡¯s not taking Heather and me. Damn it! I thought he loved me. Did his feelings for me change because of what happened and Maureen¡¯s passing?


    The door opened, but I didn¡¯t look. My eyes remained fixed on the television, even though I didn¡¯t like the movie.


    Ivan went into the bathroom. I shot him a hostile look from behind.


    When he emerged from the bathroom, I pretended not to care. I thought he was going to leave, but he approached me.


    ¡°Are you okay?¡± he inquired.


    I sighed, wanting to express my feelings but choosing to restrain myself.


    ¡°So, you¡¯re leaving,¡± I stated matter-of-factly.


    ¡°Yeah¡­¡± He sighed and took a seat beside me. A slight distance lingered between us.


    I contemted asking if he nned to take us with him or how long he¡¯d be gone, but I hesitated to pursue him once more. Shouldn¡¯t he be the one to initiate reconciliation this time? To take decisive action? I didn¡¯t want to impose myself on his life if we were already growing apart.


    ¡°M¡­¡±


    I sat up straight.


    ¡°Yes?¡± I avoided looking at him. The corners of my eyes began to burn.


    ¡°I-I¡¯m setting you free¡­¡±


    My mind went nk. For a few seconds, I processed his words. My eyes widened as I fully absorbed the meaning. I thought he was just leaving, but what is this?


    Does he want to exit my life as well? Is that what he desires?This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°W-What? What do you mean?¡± My voice broke.


    He averted his gaze.


    ¡°I will initiate the annulment process,¡± he dered, his voice chillingly indifferent. His face remained unreadable as he turned away from me.


    ¡°Why?¡± I faltered. My lips trembled, but no words escaped.


    ¡°I feel like I no longer deserve you. Even in the past, I was unworthy of you.¡±

 This is the end

    A few minutes of heavy silence lingered. With hesitation, I parted my lips. ¡°O-Okay,¡± I nodded.


    He sighed, affirming his decision, and gradually retreated from me until he left the room. I lost track of time as I stared at nowhere. When I finally blinked, the dampness on my cheeks revealed the silent tears.


    Swiftly, I wiped them away. What should I do? I contemted for a few moments, then reached for my phone.


    Anxiety tightened its grip on me, prompting the need to find someone to talk to instead of surrendering to a breakdown. I refused to let weakness take over. Given the challenges I¡¯ve faced, heartbreak felt like nothing more than a fleeting mosquito bite.


    ¡°Hello? How are you? Are you okay?¡± Rachelle bombarded me with questions.


    I hadn¡¯t spoken to her since the incident. My life was a whirlwind of events. Kidnapped, and now Ivan was informing me about the impending annulment.


    I cleared my throat, gazing up at the expansive sky before uttering, ¡°Ivan is ending things with me.¡±


    A brief silence enveloped Rachelle. I nced to confirm if she remained on the line. Just before she spoke, she drew in a sharp breath.


    ¡°That damn jerk! Is your husbandpletely out of his mind?! Damn it! Your life had finally been quiet for years; you and your daughter were at peace. And then, he appeared and forced himself into your world, but now, he¡¯s choosing this moment to disrupt your lives?¡±


    Her fury was palpable. I struggled to catch the rest of her words. Our daughter¡¯s birthday was looming, yet he opted to depart and part ways with me.


    I couldn¡¯t suppress the tears any longer.


    ¡°Stop it. Just stop,¡± Rachelle uttered, while I wiped away my tears.


    I shouldn¡¯t be crying over what transpired. Shedding tears for that man felt unjustified. After all, for the past few years, I believed we were already separated. It shouldn¡¯t have such a profound impact on me, right?


    The situation had calmed down, but he chose to upset everything once more. Did he not feel any remorse? Ivan, you¡¯re so heartless. What did I do to deserve this, and why must you keep hurting me repeatedly?


    Rachelle vented out her frustration on the other end of the line.


    ¡°Go home with Heather! If you¡¯re worried about what happened, stay with Almira in the meantime. We¡¯ll increase security here!¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡±


    ¡°Leave immediately! It¡¯s infuriating!¡±


    She had a multitude of instructions, but it felt like they were merely passing through my ears. I wasn¡¯t myself as I gazed into the vast sky, my thoughts consumed by my daughter. I knew she would be hurt again, hurt because of her father.


    Seeking someone to confide in and shield myself from breaking down, I reached out to Almira. I preferred not to expose the depth of my earlier distress to others. Simr to Chelle, Almira harbored intense anger.


    ¡°You should have punched that jerk in the nose!¡± Almira eximed with intense irritation from the other end of the line. ¡°If that were me, he¡¯d end up with a ck eye. Leave. You can stay here for now with Heather. Before you go, punch him on the nose bridge! Don¡¯t even think of shedding tears in front of him. You and your daughter need to leave first! I¡¯m so furious at that jerk!¡±


    Iughed while clearing tears from my eyes.


    ¡°Don¡¯t bother bringing any belongings! Do you have money there?¡±


    I had gone through my belongings earlier, and my wallet was nowhere to be found. Perhaps Lucinda didn¡¯t ce it there. Lucinda, too, should I just leave her behind?


    Almira had given me advice on many matters. She suggested I go to her brother¡¯spany, and Heather and I could take a chopper from there. I just need to mention that I¡¯m a friend of Almira.This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    Since there are numerous guests at Chelle¡¯s resort, their chopper is currently unavable. Initially, I had contemted staying at the rented apartment with my daughter, but Almira¡¯s suggestion seemed more sensible. Rather than dwelling here in Man, I should return to the ind where my friends are.


    I changed into jogger pants and a shirt. Upon stepping out of the closet, the room door creaked open. Initially, I thought it was Ivan, but I was relieved to find Lucinda. I¡¯m uncertain about confronting or interacting with Ivan right now. It might be beneficial for both of us to take a break frommunication. If he wishes to discuss matters or receive updates about the child, Lucinda can serve as the intermediary.


    I shrugged. I didn¡¯t care about him anymore and then massaged my temples.


    ¡°When are we leaving?¡± Lucinda asked with a tinge of sadness.


    I couldn¡¯t find any words.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t we going to leave? Are you going to stay?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re leaving.¡±


    She squeezed my arm. ¡°I¡¯m here for you and Heather.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Lucinda.¡±


    We settled onto the sofa, gazing into space for a few minutes.


    ¡°Should I just talk to him?¡± I mumbled. That way, I could leave without too much lingering on my mind.


    ¡°It¡¯s up to you.¡±


    As adults, we should converse like mature individuals; after all, we¡¯re married. This wasn¡¯t a simple break-up.


    It was already noon, prompting me to seek out Ivan downstairs. I instructed Lucinda to bring Heather.


    ¡°Baby, apany Auntie Lucinda for now,¡± I directed Heather, who was ying with her cousins in the garden.


    At a nearby table, Ivan and the others were engaged in conversation and drinking. The contents of his ss remained untouched, so I was confident he was still in a suitable state for conversation.


    Mom and Dad rose from their seats. My sister-inw gestured for the nannies and nieces to head inside.


    I¡¯m not sure about the reason behind their actions, but given the duration of my stay with them, I believe they already understand me quite well.


    As the children and their maids entered the house, that was the moment I moved closer to Ivan. He had been stealing nces at me, but as he realized I was approaching, his eyes widened slightly.


    His friends shifted in their seats, directing their full attention towards me.


    ¡°Ivan¡­¡±


    ¡°Y-Yes?¡±


    He attempted to maintain a cold behavior, but confusion and nervousness were evident on his face. Why was he so on edge?


    ¡°When will you initiate the process for our annulment?¡±


    His parents gasped, and even his sister, eager to interject, was held back by my father-inw.


    Ivan couldn¡¯t find his voice. His lips were slightly parted. I gave him a few more seconds to respond, but as silence persisted, I spoke again.


    ¡°One week, Ivan. I¡¯ll wait for you on the ind for that duration. If you don¡¯te, I¡¯d assume you¡¯ve finalized our annulment. I¡¯d also peacefully move on.¡± I cleared my throat, my voice trembling.


    ¡°After one week, I¡¯ll do my best to forget youpletely. There won¡¯t be another chance. I won¡¯t ept you again if you change your mind.¡±


    I bit my lip and looked up.


    ¡°Regarding your visitation rights with Heather, I¡¯ll discuss it with mywyer. Don¡¯t call me. If you want to talk to your daughter, contact Lucinda. If you have questions about Heather, ask Lucinda; you know her number.¡±


    I forced a smile. ¡°We¡¯re leaving. It¡¯s better if we¡¯re the first to go.¡±


    I gave his mom and dad a gesture of respect. They were already crying. His sister couldn¡¯t look at me. She was teary-eyed, but I could see the anger on her face.


    I told them, ¡°Thank you. You can video call Lucinda to talk to Heather. Sorry for the hurt I¡¯ve caused you.¡±


    I walked straight into the house. Lucinda and Heather were sitting on the sofa. My daughter was quiet. She looked sad, but when she saw me, she forced a smile.


    ¡°We¡¯re going home, Mommy?¡±


    ¡°Yes, baby. We¡¯re going home. Is that okay with you?¡±


    She nodded.


    I knelt before her and embraced her tightly.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­ I¡¯m sorry.¡± I apologize because Mommy couldn¡¯t provide you with aplete family.


    As your parents, we regret the pain we¡¯ve caused you. I tried my best and did everything to make things right since we reunited after several years, but it just didn¡¯t work out. Maybe we¡¯re not truly meant for each other.


    We hailed a taxi, and fortunately, Lucinda had money. We directed the taxi to the Montenegropany. Almira¡¯s brother was gracious, but she had many questions about her sister. Unfortunately, I couldn¡¯t provide satisfactory answers because I wasn¡¯t sure if they were aware of Myrrh.


    In under ten minutes, the helicopter showed up. Getting on it, a feeling of sadness surrounded me. Heather stayed quiet, and Lucinda tried to console us like a family friend. As the chopper ascended, I gazed down at the Greco tower.


    Goodbye, Ivan. Take care always. If you find a new woman to love and marry, I hope you choose someone with a good heart who can ept Heather.


    God, assist me in forgetting him. Strengthen me for the sake of my child.


    As she will be a full-grown woman one day, I hope this situation with her father does not inflict trauma upon her.


    We are not providing a good example for her.

 He鈥檚 here again

    I attempted to force a smile despite the pity evident in Almira and Rachelle as they awaited our arrival. They hugged me, encouraging me not to cry, but my tears flowed uncontrobly. I felt exceptionally exposed when it came to him.


    Heather promptly joined Myrrh to engage in a y.


    ¡°Please stay in the room, alright?¡± Almira instructed. She didn¡¯t want her child to go outside and be around other people. Mira, too, preferred not to interact with or be observed by others. They were in hiding, which is why their presence caught me off guard.


    I wouldn¡¯t have cried if they hadn¡¯t insisted on going over the events again. I was frustrated with the repetitive nature of the story, including the details of how we became a couple. Theyughed when I expressed my annoyance. I knew they did it deliberately, but I¡¯m not sure for what reason.


    I scowled, crossing my arms. ¡°Let¡¯s not discuss him! It¡¯s getting on my nerves!¡±


    They burst intoughter. ¡°That¡¯s one of the steps to move on-refusing to talk about him because it bothers you.¡±


    I rolled my eyes. Now, I¡¯m thoroughly irritated.


    ¡°Oh, where are you off to?¡± they inquired as I rose from my seat.


    ¡°Upstairs!¡±


    ¡°Tsk! Hang around for a bit. It¡¯s a shame for Mira to make the journey all the way here if you¡¯re just going to leave us.¡±


    I settled back into my seat. The three of us sat cross-legged, and wepsed into silence for a few minutes.


    ¡°Let¡¯s grab a drink!¡± suggested Rachelle.


    ¡°Absolutely!¡± concurred Mira.


    ¡°Huh? What about our kids? It would be fine if we didn¡¯t have kids. Besides, it¡¯s been a while since Ist drank; I¡¯m sure I can¡¯t handle alcohol well anymore.¡±


    ¡°Somebody will look after them. Come on,¡± Rachelle insisted. Almira nodded. Why does it feel like they¡¯re the ones dealing with an issue or brooding over something, not me?


    ¡°And it¡¯s healthier to embrace the pain than to force yourself to avoid it and distract yourself with other things to forget. It doesn¡¯t work that way. It¡¯s better to let yourself cry about it.¡±


    How am I supposed to cry? I¡¯m annoyed and irritated about the topic of Ivan. I¡¯m fine; I can handle this. Can¡¯t I?


    ¡°What?¡± the two insisted.


    ¡°Never mind. But I won¡¯t drink. Heather might say somethingter about her mom being a drunkard.¡±


    They summoned Heather and Myrrh. Mira said her goodbyes to her child.


    ¡°You need to eat and sleep alone, okay?¡±


    I massaged my temples and shook my head.


    ¡°Okay, mommy! I¡¯ll sleep beside Heather and Aunt Lucy!¡±


    ¡°Okay! That¡¯s my girl!¡±


    Heather was then addressed.


    ¡°Heather, your aunt and your mom will just have a girl¡¯s night¡­ Oh, an adult girls¡¯ night, okay?¡±


    My child smiled. ¡°Okay, if that will make Mommy happy.¡±


    I really have the sweetest angel. So proud of my baby.


    We provided Lucinda and another maid with directions and arranged for hotel food delivery for them. We n to enjoy drinks in one of the cottages, and if we get too intoxicated, we might even spend the night there.


    We gathered alcohol, ice, and fruits, and took some easy-to-cook food from the fridge. Before going to the cottage, we made sure to check on the kids in the room.


    Initially, we maintained silence, but after a few shots, Rachelle began expressing herself with poetic lines. Almira and I exchanged nces, recognizing that our issues were apparent, yet it seemed that Chelle¡¯s emotions ran even deeper.This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Drink whatever it is!¡± I handed her a drink because her sentiments were bing bothersome. I couldn¡¯t find my moment. I couldn¡¯t delve into my profound thoughts because she had already imed them all.


    By eight in the evening, we were all a bit tipsy. We also engaged in some karaoke, but we avoided sad songs as Rachelle was in tears.


    ¡°Hey, are you alright? We¡¯re getting curious about your behavior,¡± I teased her.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine! Just leave me alone; I¡¯m just too affected by what you two are going through,¡± she replied.


    I eyed her suspiciously.


    ¡°Nothing, seriously!¡±


    She grabbed the mic. I couldn¡¯t sing anymore as her behavior distracted me. She sang ¡®Born This Way¡¯ and danced.


    ¡°You seem to be into clubbing, huh? Why not give your club a try tonight?¡±


    I shot Almira a disapproving look. I was already feeling guilty after drinking here, and now she was suggesting going to a bar? Besides, the club was crowded, and this girl was undeniably drunk.


    ¡°Yeah!¡± Chelle quickly dropped the mic.


    ¡°Come on, I have some sexy clothes in my room.¡±


    Her husband wasn¡¯t around, giving her the confidence to extend such an invitation. He was overseas again, as usual. Most of their businesses were there, so he rarely stayed in the country, and the same applied to this ind.


    Their rtionship appeared to be in good shape. They had decided to postpone having children for the time being. The man was affectionate, and whenever he visited the ind, they would either seclude themselves in their room or spend quality time in the kitchen, cooking and sharing meals together.


    I¡¯m curious about what might be bothering them. Is there another woman involved? But could he manage an additional rtionship given his hectic schedule?


    I hope that if Rachelle is facing any issues, she¡¯ll confide in me rather than deal with them alone.


    I decided to wear a red silk, backless mini dress, while Mira chose a ck silk ensemble that left almost her entire front exposed. Chelle, on the other hand, sported a crop top and a leather mini skirt.


    We situated ourselves at a side table since it was the only avable spot. The hotel and vis were nearly fully booked, so it came as no surprise that the bar was bustling with people.


    We ced our drink orders. Due to the amount of alcohol I had consumed, drowsiness was setting in, and if it weren¡¯t for the two of them giggling andughing, I might have drifted off right there in my seat.


    ¡°Come on, let¡¯s hit the dance floor!¡± Rachelle encouraged us, drawing us into the vibrant ambiance. She danced with great enthusiasm, her mind swirling with lively ideas fueled by intoxication.


    She even took it a step further by climbing up on the stage. Noticing that Almira and I were still on the floor, she descended to coax us up and join her in the spotlight.


    Grabbing the microphone from the DJ, she addressed the crowd, ¡°Hey, everyone! I just want you to meet my friend, M! She¡¯s currently in the process of getting an annulment from her ex-husband, so we¡¯re here to celebrate. To all the single guys out there, she¡¯s open to being courted!¡±


    The men in the club were shouting, and I simplyughed. I couldn¡¯t reprimand Chelle since I was quite drunk myself. Some individuals retrieved their smartphones and aimed them at us on stage. Despite covering my face in embarrassment, I was aware that they had already snapped pictures of us.


    We descended from the stage, the three of us, and returned to the dance floor, initiating a dance session.


    We resembled three individuals who had just escaped captivity.


    Iughed and moved to the music, executing the perfect steps-one to the right and the other to the left.


    ¡°I¡¯m exhausted; let¡¯s head back to our seats,¡± I suggested.


    Chelle didn¡¯t immediately join us, so Almira and I pulled her along. We ordered drinks again, but this time with lower alcohol content, as I was concerned about being able to rise the next day. I still had a child to look after.


    We ced a few more orders as the two weren¡¯t ready to leave yet. The drinks weren¡¯t too strong, so I decided to join them in drinking.


    ¡°Why?¡± I tapped Almira, who had been scanning the surroundings since earlier.


    ¡°I think I just saw someone I know.¡±


    ¡°Where?¡± I asked, looking around.


    ¡°I might be drunk.¡±


    ¡°This is the final round; let¡¯s head home,¡± I dered to them.


    Chelle became silent as well. It appeared she was contemting something deeply. She ceased makingments and refrained from expressing her thoughts.


    I picked up the ss of alcohol that she had ordered because it seemed like she had no intention of drinking it, so I decided to take it for myself. It wasn¡¯t too strong, and it would be a waste if left untouched.


    My eyes widened when someone snatched the ss from my hand. My jaw literally dropped when I recognized the guy standing beside me.


    He¡¯s not alone. He¡¯s with his friends-Angus, Caius, Huxley, and Fourth.


    What the hell is he doing here? Why are they here?

 I鈥檓 tired of you

    Almira quickly recovered from her surprise. She returned a serious look to the man she was hiding from. Chelle, on the other hand, seemed as though she had seen a ghost while looking at Ivan¡¯s friend. I didn¡¯t know whether it was Angus, Caius, or Huxley.


    Ivan grabbed my attention, and I blinked in response.


    ¡°What are you doing here?!¡± I eximed at him. What was his deal, suddenly showing up here?


    I wanted to p some sense into him, but I refrained from revealing my bitterness, despite feeling a strong urge to vent in those moments.


    ¡°You¡¯re drunk; go home,¡± he replied calmly. His voice was gentle as if he were a patient spouseforting an upset wife.


    I scowled. I didn¡¯t budge from my seat. Who was he to tell me what to do? The nerve of him!


    ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± he invited, but I remained stubborn. I looked in another direction, arms crossed.


    He patiently looked at me. Why did he seem angry with me? What did I do wrong? And what was he doing here? He sighed. His face softened again, and his now gentle eyes were fixed on me, observing me.


    ¡°What brings you here?¡± I asked, frowning, clearly expressing my annoyance.


    ¡°What do you think?¡±


    I rolled my eyes at his response. ¡°Do I look like a mind reader? Just stay away from me!¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s go, M.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to. Leave me alone. What are you even doing here?!¡±


    ¡°To stop you from partying and attracting some men.¡± His jaw clenched.


    ¡°What?¡± I blinked while he raised an eyebrow.


    ¡°So what? We¡¯re already separated, right?¡± What right does he have over me? After what he did? After he hurt me again, here he was, giving me orders.


    ¡°Let¡¯s talk outside.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to! There¡¯s nothing left for us to talk about!¡±


    Observing Chelle¡¯s seat, I noticed the girl was no longer there. Huxley and Caius were also absent. Almira and Fourth exchanged puzzled nces. In contrast, Angus nonchntly lounged on the side.


    I wanted to go home, but I was afraid Ivan might think I was obeying hismands. I remained seated and motionless, even though I could feel the dizziness returning. It¡¯s as if I could sense the world spinning. If I stood up, I was certain I would copse.


    Ivan sighed, and I was taken aback when he suddenly lifted me. I screamed, but he abruptly kissed my lips.


    ¡°What are you doing?!¡±


    He didn¡¯t answer. I punched him, but he didn¡¯t resist.


    ¡°Who told you that you could kiss me?!¡±


    I punched his cheek again.


    ¡°You have some nerve! You¡¯re so shameless!¡±


    He didn¡¯t move. He simply epted my punches.


    ¡°That¡¯s where you excel, ying with my emotions, in my life. I hate you, Ivan! I hate you!¡± Feeling weak, I stopped hurting him.


    Hemenced walking until we exited the bar.


    ¡°Put me down!¡±


    He agreed.


    ¡°Why did youe here? Why did you follow? Are you in such a hurry to process the annulment that you couldn¡¯t wait for one week?¡±


    He remained silent, fixing his gaze on me intently.


    He grasped my hand, guiding me as I walked, but I persistently shrugged him off.


    ¡°Ivan!¡± I pped his back in frustration when he lifted me onto his shoulders again. He continued walking with me perched on him, heading towards the vi. Oh, right, he was supposed to stay here for one month.


    Recalling the events, I started crying once more. We were on the verge of parting ways.


    I clung to his shoulder tightly.


    ¡°Why did youe here?¡± I prodded his chest with my index finger.


    ¡°Are you here for a break-up sex?¡±


    ¡°What?!¡± He appeared irritated. I couldn¡¯t help butugh. I cried andughed, feeling like I might be losing my mind.This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°I¡¯m okay with a breakup; leave me with a child. I want two children. I won¡¯t get married again. I¡¯ll just dedicate all my time and love to them. Loving a man is exhausting. I¡¯ve only loved one man.¡±


    ¡°Are you regretting it?¡± he asked solemnly.


    ¡°Yes. But if it weren¡¯t for you, Heather wouldn¡¯t exist,¡± I admitted, tears welling up. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with me, Ivan? What am Icking?¡±


    He shook his head.


    ¡± I believed you loved me more. I thought your feelings for Maureen had faded, but due to the events surrounding her death, you¡¯re contemting leaving me. I thought I had be the one you loved now.¡±


    A tear rolled down Ivan¡¯s cheek. He retrieved the key to his vi.


    ¡°Let me down,¡± Imanded, but he just tightened his grip on me.


    He gently ced me on his bed.


    ¡°Go to sleep,¡± he ordered.


    ¡°Why did you bring me here if you¡¯re just going to put me to sleep?¡±


    Though irritated, a faint smile appeared on his lips.


    ¡°You¡¯re persistent in getting drunk,¡± heined. He grabbed a bottle of water and filled a ss, handing it to me.


    ¡°We¡¯ll talk tomorrow when you¡¯re not drunk.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not even drunk. And I¡¯m not sleepy yet,¡± I insisted, though the truth was my vision was already spinning. He adjusted my pillow, moving closer and wrapping his arms around me, despite my resistance.


    ¡°Did youe here to bid farewell to our daughter?¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°Did youe to see her before you leave the country?¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°Did youe to say goodbye to me?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    I pped him on his chest.


    ¡°Why do you keep hurting me over and over, Ivan?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry. Let¡¯s talk tomorrow when you¡¯re not drunk.¡±


    I pushed him away and struggled to get up. I left the vi and then started running when he chased after me.


    We ran along the shore until I stopped upon seeing a white tent adorned with flowers and LED lights. What¡¯s this?


    I was about to walk past when I noticed my name on the side. It was crafted there using stones and LED lights. I turned to look at Ivan, who was shedding tears while smiling at me.


    ¡°I am saying goodbye to the past so I could marry you again.¡±


    ¡°Do you really have to hurt me before proposing?¡±


    I looked at him, feeling a bit drunk but still maintaining some rity, just a bit dizzy.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Ivan. The ongoing pain has be overwhelming. I am declining because I feel drained and exhausted from our experiences.¡±

 I鈥檓 numb

    I left Ivan, and he made no effort to stop or chase after me. There was nothing he could do to change my decision.


    Given his past actions, did he truly believe I would entertain his proposal? It felt like I was permitting him to inflict more pain on me. He needed to understand that I was no longer the delicate wife who could empathize with him, even during moments of distress. I am no longer that person.


    I showered before joining Heather in bed, but despite a bit of alcohol, sleep eluded me. Frustrated, I rose to engage in some work.


    Reflecting on the situation, I shook my head in disbelief. Damn you, Ivan! All you ever did was y with my emotions. It would have been okay if there weren¡¯t a child involved. Even Heather, you¡¯re messing with her mind.This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    ***


    I woke up to the realization that Heather was no longer beside me. Despite the throbbing pain in my head, Ipelled myself to rise and tend to my child; it was already eight in the morning, and she might be hungry. After freshening up and tying my hair up, I descended the stairs.


    Rachelle and I locked eyes; she arched an eyebrow at me. I harbored numerous questions, but I decided they could wait.


    ¡°Heather is in the kitchen with your husband,¡± she muttered.


    Husband? Oh, right, I have a husband-a husband who did nothing but hurt me.


    I peered into the kitchen. Ivan was feeding our daughter.


    ¡°You should eat too, Daddy.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll eatter, baby. Your mommy and I will eat together.¡±


    ¡°Do you love Mommy?¡±


    ¡°Yes, baby.¡±


    ¡°Are you not leaving anymore?¡±


    He shook his head.


    ¡°Would you live here on the ind too?¡±


    ¡°If I have to, I would.¡±


    The child pouted, then allowed Ivan to feed her. I returned to the living room where Chelle was lounging, staring off into space.


    ¡°Are you okay?¡± I asked.


    ¡°Yup.¡± She took a sip of her coffee and resumed her vacant gaze.


    ¡°Do you know Angus and Huxley?¡± I inquired.


    She sighed, ¡°Yeah,¡± and then shrugged.


    ¡°How?¡±


    ¡°Long story, don¡¯t bother asking.¡± She instead asked, ¡°What¡¯s going on with your husband? I was the one getting tired of your on-and-off rtionship. He¡¯d leave, thene back-leave, thene back. It¡¯s exhausting.¡±


    ¡°He proposed,¡± she said with a bitter chuckle.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t ept it,¡± I said with a sad smile. It felt like I was bing just an option for him. He imed to love me, but why did it feel otherwise?


    ¡°Because his mind was messed up. You¡¯re not his main priority; he sees you as someone he can easily set aside and return to whenever it suits him. Tsk!¡±


    Chelle was right.


    ¡°Challenge him. Let him earn your affection and dispel any doubts in your heart. Although it was early in the morning, it felt excessively dramatic.¡±


    We shared augh.


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll go upstairs and take a shower,¡± she said.


    I remained seated, gazing outside.


    ¡°Mommy, you¡¯re awake!¡±


    I turned around with a smile to see my daughter. Her daddy was carrying her.


    ¡°Good morning, baby.¡±


    ¡°Good morning, Mommy. I¡¯ve already finished breakfast. Daddy fed me.¡±


    ¡°Did you eat a lot?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mommy. I¡¯m full. Look.¡± She pointed to her round belly.


    ¡°My baby¡¯s belly is big.¡±


    She grinned,ying down on my thigh, and Ivan sat beside me.


    ¡°Good morning, love.¡±


    I didn¡¯t react.


    ¡°Mommy, he said good morning. Say good morning, love, too.¡±


    And she even instructed me on how to reply to her father.


    ¡°Good morning, love,¡± I said without much emotion.


    ¡°Do you love daddy too, Mommy?¡±


    ¡°Yes, loved,¡± I replied, emphasizing thest word to convey the sentiment to her father. Heather giggled, still seemingly thrilled. My sweet, innocent baby.


    ¡°Heather wants to go swimming now,¡± Ivan said.


    ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll just change her clothes, and then you can go.¡±


    ¡°You and Daddy, go ahead and eat first, Mommy. He¡¯s hungry.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not hungry yet,¡± I protested, but suddenly my stomach grumbled. I suppressed the blush on my cheeks with squinted eyes.


    ¡°Let¡¯s eat first,¡± Ivan kindly invited me.


    Just then, Lucinda appeared. The girl had just woken up, yawning. Her hair was messy, and it seemed like she hadn¡¯t freshened up yet.


    ¡°Lucinda, join us for breakfast.¡±


    ¡°Sure babe.¡± She went ahead into the kitchen and set the table, with Ivan and me following.


    ¡°Oh, Ivan, what brings you here?¡±


    Ivan forced a smile. Lucinda shook her head, walked to the sink, and rinsed her face.


    ¡°Are you both okay?¡± she asked me. She wasn¡¯t smiling. Like Chelle, she seemed annoyed with what was happening.


    ¡°That¡¯s great! You should be making it challenging for him. He¡¯s exhausting us by constantly leaving him.¡± She couldn¡¯t help but roll her eyes.


    I responded with a faint smile.


    Wepsed into silence once more as we ate. After finishing, I took the initiative to wash the dishes. I instructed her to get Heather ready as they were heading for a swim. If I took on that task, Heather would undoubtedly persistently ask me to join them.


    I couldn¡¯t help but feel irritated with her father. The child might pick up on it. Even though I harbored some anger towards him, I didn¡¯t want Heather to witness or sense it. I desired for her to foster a positive rtionship with her father. Despite the uncertainty in my rtionship with Ivan, I hoped their bond would stay strong.


    As I wiped the table, Ivan appeared. ¡°We¡¯re going. You really won¡¯te?¡±


    I shook my head. ¡°You go ahead. Keep a close eye on her. Did you bring some sunscreen?¡±


    ¡°Yeah.¡±


    I continued with my task.


    After they left, I promptly headed to my room. I took a shower and changed into fresh clothes. Carrying myptop downstairs, I settled into work while anticipating Ivan and Heather¡¯s return.


    Lucinda and Chelle had returned to the living room. My friend maintained her silence, while Lucinda had been observing her for quite some time.


    ¡°Why does it seem like you¡¯re lost in thought, sis?¡± The gossip in me couldn¡¯t resist.


    ¡°I was contemting a new project,¡± Chelle responded, but I knew her well, something was bothering her.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine, don¡¯t worry about me.¡± She raised an eyebrow at us.


    ¡°By the way, what about Almira?¡±


    ¡°She left, evading her husband¡¯s discovery of the secret she concealed. Almira has a husband in pursuit of her¡­ M, having pushed hers away, now finds herself pursued by her husband too. Soon, she will be chased once more.¡±


    I rolled my eyes at thatment.


    Lucinda turned her attention to Chelle. ¡°How about you, sis? Do you have an ex chasing after you?¡±


    ¡°You know, you¡¯d make a good writer,¡± Chelle teased her. ¡°Just follow Ivan and Heather over there.¡±


    ¡°Sure. So I can stroll around too. I feel confined at the moment. Yourpany is rather unexciting,¡± Lucinda replied.


    We worked quietly. Strangely, I¡¯m not sad now. I¡¯m not happy either, and I¡¯m certainly not thrilled that Ivan was here, attempting to win me over again. The annoyance outweighs anything else, but even so, I managed to work well.


    The sun beat down fiercely as the father and daughter, apanied by Lucinda, arrived. Heather wore a furrowed expression that left me perplexed.


    ¡°I¡¯ll just help Heather freshen up,¡± Lucinda remarked. I arched an eyebrow, sensing an air of gossip.


    ¡°Heather?¡± I inquired as Lucinda descended by herself.


    ¡°Her dad is coaxing her.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°Some tourists appeared to be Ivan¡¯s high school batchmates, particrly girls. One of them is Ivan¡¯s ex. When they spotted Heather, they assumed she was Ivan and Maureen¡¯s daughter.¡±


    I winced; Heather was likely deeply upset.


    ¡°Then the kid walked out. Your daughter recalled the chaos in the mansion when Maureen suddenly arrived.¡±


    Poor Heather.


    Despite my concern, I allowed Ivan to take charge of calming his daughter. After an hour, Ivan descended.


    He sat beside me. Those two women apanying me hastily made their escape.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, M. Promise, this time I¡¯ll behave.¡± His voice broke. ¡°I can¡¯t live without the two of you.¡±


    He received no reaction from me.


    ¡°I know you can live without me. You can raise Heather on your own, but the thought of growing old without you hurts. I¡¯m sorry; it¡¯s not my intention to hurt you. After what Maureen did, my conscience bothered me. I think I need therapy because of what happened. I won¡¯t leave. I won¡¯t abandon you. I won¡¯t push you away.¡±


    Unable to bear it any longer, he hugged me, crying on my shoulder.


    ¡°Sorry. Sorry. I promised to be a better spouse for you. I will be the husband and lover that you deserve. Sorry, M. Sorry, love.¡±


    I remained still and untouched, unable to cry, feeling numb. Ivan¡¯s words and tears appeared to have no impact on me.


    And I know he could feel it, which is why he cried even more. He caressed my back, holding my hand.


    He knelt in front of me, looking up at me, and I responded with cold eyes.


    ¡°M. Sorry. Sorry.¡±


    I remained still as he knelt in front of me. His kneeling failed to affect me.


    He sobbed continuously. I acknowledge his pain, but it doesn¡¯t change anything. He¡¯s responsible for all of this. If only he had made wiser decisions, we wouldn¡¯t be in this situation. His recklessness led us to where we are now.


    I¡¯m tired. If he wanted to win me back, he should pray for a miracle.

 Making things right

    Ivan was still around. He had been here for several days, looking after Heather all day while I was at work. He took on the roles of both preparing breakfast and handling our dishwashing duties.


    ¡°Mommy, your flowers are here!¡± Heather shouted excitedly from outside the house, eagerly awaiting the helicopter¡¯snding.


    ¡°Mommy!¡±


    I nced out the window to see my daughter, a big smile lighting up her face. Ivan was by her side, both of them looking up at me.


    She dashed toward the helicopter as itnded. The bouquet was toorge for her to manage. Ivan¡¯s assistant handed her a paper bag, likely containing a new toy or clothing item.


    Ivan carried the flowers and a couple of other paper bags. They were about to enter the house, heading up here to present me with the flowers.


    ¡°Mommy!¡±


    I mustered a smile.


    ¡°Your flowers have arrived!¡± For three consecutive days, a helicopter has been dropping off bouquets for me. Ivan was wasting money on this.


    ¡°The flowers are beautiful, Mommy!¡±


    I smiled and reached for them.


    ¡°Daddy, kiss mommy!¡± Heather, our baby, remained unaware. She wasn¡¯t aware that her daddy and I were not okay, and there was no need for her to know.


    Ivan kissed my cheek. Despite my frustration, even after expressing my exhaustion andck of desire in our rtionship, he could still approach and kiss me because of his daughter.


    ¡°I also ordered your favorite dish. Let¡¯s eat first; you¡¯ve been in front of yourptop since earlier.¡±


    ¡°The food is delicious, Mommy. I want to eat now!¡±


    I ced the flowers on the table and went out first.


    Lucinda and Chelle weren¡¯t here; they were at the hotel, attending to the VVIP business partners of my friend¡¯s husband at the hotel.


    I savored the food, and so did Heather.


    ¡°Take a nap first,¡± I told her to temporarily lead her father away. Ivan always followed her, even when Heather was simply ying in this room. He never departed, causing difort while I worked.


    ¡°Mommy, can you share the story of how you and Daddy fell in love?¡±


    Ivan and I exchanged nces. Was our journey truly a love story?


    ¡°Like Cindere and Sleeping Beauty, Mommy. Just like that!¡±


    I let out a sigh.


    Ivan carefully lifted our daughter and set her down on the bed.


    ¡°Once upon a time, there was a young princess who found herself in a kingdom. Her parents had passed away, so she had to live with the friends of her mommy and daddy.¡±


    I nced at Ivan but quickly returned my eyes to myptop.


    ¡°Was the Prince Charming live there?¡±


    Ivan chuckled. ¡°Yes, but he was no Prince Charming. He¡¯s a grumpy and moody prince.¡±


    ¡°Did he fall in love with the princess?¡±


    ¡°Not immediately, but he discovered the young princess¡¯s beauty over time.¡±


    Liar!


    I rolled my eyes while Ivan grinned.


    ¡± Mom, did Daddy not tell the story correctly?¡±


    I cringed. Why did I even react? It was just a story, not reality. The true story was that the grumpy prince was already in love with a witch before the young princess arrived. But I couldn¡¯t say that. Heather would surely be upset.


    ¡°How did the prince fall in love with the young princess?¡±


    ¡°The young princess possessed a pure heart, opting to exhibit kindness even toward the misguided prince.¡±


    ¡°Why did the prince act poorly?¡±


    ¡°Because the prince was confused.¡±C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    ¡°One day, the prince got lost, and the young princess found him. He was badly hurt. Even though he had been very unkind to the young princess, she still took care of him. The young prince realized that he had loved the young princess for a long time. He was just in denial.¡±


    ¡°Did they live happily ever after?¡±


    ¡°I was hoping they would soon have their happily ever after, baby.¡±


    ¡°Huh? Why? Cindere and Barbie had a happy ever after with their prince charming.¡±


    ¡°The story wasn¡¯t finished yet, baby. Let¡¯s pray that the young princess¡¯s heart softens.¡±


    ¡°Was her heart tough? Like stone?¡±


    Ivan chuckled. ¡°Yes, and the princess deserves it.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    ¡°Go to sleep. Someday, we will finish the story of the young princess and the grumpy prince.¡±


    ¡°Okay, Daddy. I love you. I love you, Mommy.¡±


    ¡°Love you, Heather. Go to sleep so you can grow up.¡±


    ¡°Yes. I want to be a big sister, Mommy!¡±


    I managed to smile.


    The two of them drifted off to sleep and I gently let Ivan recline on the bed, mindful of the weariness that had embraced him. For several days, he had devoted himself to caring for Heather and preparing our meals.


    When they woke up, they headed downstairs to prepare snacks.


    ¡°Have a snack first; you might be hungry.¡± Ivan headed upstairs to bring me a mango sticky rice. Lucinda knew I was craving it, so she was probably the one who informed Ivan.


    The food exuded a smoky but delightful aroma. I sighed as I realized that Ivan was attempting to win me over with flowers and food.


    I couldn¡¯t easily soften just because of food and flowers; I could buy those for myself.


    Our dinner was barbecue. Ivan and Lucinda did the grilling outside the house.


    ¡°Your husband¡¯s efforts were impressive, huh? From a rich businessman to an all-around guy really quick.¡±


    ¡°He had just been here for a couple of days.¡±


    ¡°It had been ten days already! But I couldn¡¯t me you; what he did was really painful.¡±


    Shooting her a stern look, I took a momentary pause, wary that Heather might have caught wind of our conversation.


    Lucinda grabbed our attention with herment. ¡°Ivan, were your friends still single?¡±


    ¡°Which ones?¡±


    ¡°Huxley?¡±


    ¡°I thought he was in a serious rtionship already.¡±


    I cast a nce at Chelle, seeking to gauge her reaction, yet she remained fixated on the sea, seemingly unbothered.


    ¡°Ah, got it. What about the other guy-the one with the tattoo on his chest?¡±


    Who was Lucinda referring to? I noticed Chelle blinked.


    ¡°Angus?¡± Ivanughed. He also sneakily nced at Chelle.


    ¡°Oh my God! Angus? So, was I correct in assuming that Chelle was involved with one of Ivan¡¯s friends?¡±


    Ivan cleared his throat.


    ¡°He was already taken and about to tie the knot soon.¡±


    helle stood up, pouring juice into her empty ss.


    I considered gossiping with Ivan but thought better of it. He might have assumed everything was okay between us.


    Heather dozed off after our meal. I remained outside with Chelle and Ivan, quietly sipping on drinks and nibbling on snacks.


    ¡°I¡¯m feeling sleepy, so I¡¯ll excuse myself for a moment,¡± Chelle said, standing up from her seat and sensing something.


    Ivan looked at me. ¡°Were you still upset?¡±


    I wasn¡¯t in the mood to talk. I had already expressed everything I needed to say to him.


    However, my anger towards him had diminished slightly, though not enough for me to retract my earlier statements.


    It felt like we were navigating a semnce of a healthy co-parenting arrangement.


    ¡°If only I hadn¡¯t experienced that ident back then, things wouldn¡¯t have turned so chaotic. I regretted not expressing my love to you back then.¡±


    ¡°Even if that incident hadn¡¯t urred, Ivan, you still wouldn¡¯t have been able to fullymit to me. Maureen would still have held arger ce in your heart. It was as if, when she informed you that she was feeling sad and crying, you¡¯d hastily go to her, leaving me behind-your wife, the one to whom you professed your love.¡±


    He sighed.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t want to dwell on the past any longer. It was done. Everything had unfolded, and it was irreversible.¡±


    ¡°Yeah. All I could do now was make amends and prove myself to you.¡±


    ¡°We had enough drink, I headed to bed. You should have returned to your vi too.¡±


    ¡°You go ahead. I¡¯ll take care of these,¡± he said.


    Despite my desire to assist him, sleepiness overwhelmed me. Before lying down on the bed, I nced at him through the window. He was busy tidying up, asionally sipping his drink and wiping his cheeks. Tears streamed down his face.


    Several bustling days swept by. Ivan remained on the ind, tending to his child, and overseeing both cooking and the overall household. Each day, their choppernded here, delivering flowers and an array of gifts for Heather and me.


    At times, his parents would call to inquire about him. They didn¡¯t explicitly ask about the status of our rtionship. It had been quite a while since his official leave from thepany; he was supposed to return to work. I haven¡¯t asked about his ns or how long he intends to stay here.


    My father-inw got older, and out of all his children, only Ivan was genuinelymitted to managing thepany.


    ¡°When did you n on returning to Man?¡± I queried one afternoon. He had been here for more than a month.


    He remained silent, busy rinsing the rice and preparing to cook.


    ¡°You were needed at thepany.¡±


    He didn¡¯t respond.


    ¡°Were you even paying attention?¡±


    He sighed.


    ¡°I will remain on the ind, and I won¡¯t leave. I won¡¯t abandon you or Heather.¡±


    ¡°But yourpany needed you,¡± I reiterated.


    ¡°My dad could manage that. I¡¯d stay there. Wherever you and Heather were, that¡¯s where I should be.¡± His eyes met mine with gentleness.


    ¡°I¡¯m happy being here. This is where I truly belong, M¡­ I love you so much, and I¡¯m missing my wife tremendously. I hoped you could find it in your heart to forgive me and ept me once more.¡± His voice quivered, and tears welled up in his eyes.


    I turned away as I sensed the warmth in the corners of my own eyes.

 The prince and the princess

    The following morning, I awoke alone in bed, unsure whether Heather had spent the night here. The neatly arranged side of my bed hinted that she might have chosen her daddy¡¯s vi instead.


    This is currently a concern for me. She has grown ustomed to constantly being with her father. What if Ivan needs to return to Man for his job? My child would undoubtedly be saddened. Despite Ivan assuring that he¡¯ll stay here, I believe there will be a day when he must return for theirpany.


    ¡°Good morning, how are you?¡± Lucinda inquired, having noticed my tears the previous night as she prepared breakfast.


    I responded with a subdued smile. ¡°Ivan set up a tentst night. He and Heather slept in it,¡± she informed me. That exins why my daughter didn¡¯te upst night.


    I approached them at the back, theughter of my husband and daughter filling the air as Ivan yfully tickled our child.


    Upon noticing my presence, they promptly got up, and Heather eximed, ¡°Mommy!¡±


    ¡°Hello, baby. Good morning!¡± I embraced my child.


    ¡°Daddy and I slept in this tent. Too bad you couldn¡¯t join,¡± she pouted.


    ¡°Yeah, indeed. Mommy had to workst night.¡±


    ¡°Good morning,¡± Ivan greeted beside me.


    ¡°How are you?¡± He stared at me intensely. A small smile yed on his reddish lips, and I returned it with a slight one.


    ¡°Mommy¡¯s flower is here!¡± Heather squealed upon hearing the chopper. It¡¯s been over a month, but her reaction remains the same every time the chopper arrives. Ivan¡¯s flowers have indeed leveled up, now apanied by a love letter. It felt like I¡¯d returned to childhood.


    ¡°Wow, mommy! I love your flowers!¡±


    ¡°Mommy loves them too.¡± Ivan¡¯s smile grew wider.


    ¡°And daddy loves mommy; that¡¯s why he showers her with plenty of flowers,¡± Heather reflected.


    Ivan and I just exchanged nces.


    ¡°Let¡¯s have breakfast first,¡± I invited them.


    ¡°Mommy, I want to go to the sandbar now.¡±


    ¡°Okay, sure.¡±


    ¡°Will youe, Mommy?¡±


    ¡°Sure, I don¡¯t have work today.¡±


    ¡°Yes!¡±


    Only the three of us went to the sandbar. Despite my insistence, Chelle and Lucinda didn¡¯t join. I sat on the side, watching Ivan and my daughter swim, and took some pictures of them.


    When the sun became too hot, we sought shelter under the trees near the shore. Iid out a pic nket and prepared our lunch, including fruits, chicken, and spaghetti, fulfilling Heather¡¯s request.


    After eating, Heather suggested building a sandcastle.C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you tired, baby?¡± Ivan asked.


    ¡°No, I¡¯m not because I¡¯m happy!¡± She grinned, and I smiled.


    Heather has been experiencing immense joy because of her father¡¯s presence. Ivan tenderly caressed her head.


    ¡°I love you, Heather,¡± he dered.


    Heather responded with a gleeful giggle.


    ¡°I love you too, Daddy!¡± She plunged her hands into the sand, announcing her next venture. ¡°I¡¯m going to build the grumpy prince¡¯s castle.¡±


    As she worked on her sandy creation, a question popped into her mind. ¡°Daddy, what happened to the young princess and the grumpy prince?¡±


    Ivan¡¯s smile held a hint of nostalgia as he replied, ¡°The grumpy prince did everything he could to win back the princess. He¡¯s still pursuing her.¡±


    Heather expressed her anticipation. ¡°No happily ever after just yet?¡± she inquired with a slight pout.


    Ivan chuckled. ¡°Patience is a virtue, baby.¡± Together, they continued to construct the castle in the sand.


    ¡°This is where the young princess and the grumpy prince live. They will have three babies,¡± Heather dered with certainty.


    Ivanughed at his daughter¡¯s imaginative storytelling.


    Three babies, really? So, I have to get pregnant twice more? A sudden realization struck me as I observed Ivan. He was entirely absorbed in their creative endeavor.


    ¡°The young princess and the grumpy prince will live happily ever after with their three babies here,¡± Heather continued, weaving her narrative.


    ¡°Soon, baby,¡± Ivan whispered, his attention still on the castle taking shape under their hands.


    ¡°The young princess thinks that the grumpy prince really loves her,¡± I interjected with a smile, catching Ivan off guard.


    He looked at me in surprise, curiosity evident in his eyes.


    ¡°The young princess was afraid to try again, but¡­¡±


    ¡°The grumpy prince will prove to the princess how much he loves her,¡± Ivan added, his eyes turning red.


    I swallowed and wiped the corners of my eyes as we gazed at each other for a few minutes.


    ¡°The young princess epted the grumpy prince again,¡± I said almost in a whisper.


    Ivan¡¯s eyes widened, but eventually, he let out a sob. This only made me cry even more.


    ¡°Mommy, Daddy, why are you crying? The story of the young princess and the grumpy prince isn¡¯t supposed to be sad.¡±


    Weughed. ¡°We¡¯re just happy.¡±


    Ivan approached me and held my hands. ¡°M, did you really mean it? Can we make up?¡±


    I nodded. ¡°Thank you! Thank you.¡± He hugged me tightly, almost making it hard for me to breathe.


    ¡°I love you, M.¡±


    ¡°I love you too, Ivan. I love you too.¡±


    ¡°I want a hug too!¡± Heather joined in. In the afternoon, we returned home with happiness evident on our faces.


    ¡°It looks like things have been settled,¡± Lucindamented when I found her and Chelle in the living room.


    ¡°That¡¯s good,¡± Chelle sighed. ¡°I¡¯m the one getting tired of your drama.¡±


    I believe Ivan has learned from his past actions and won¡¯t jeopardize my trust, our rtionship, or our family again. Unfortunately, we didn¡¯t have a chance to discuss matters further after dinner, as we were both exhausted and fell asleep.


    The following morning, I was roused from sleep by the continuous sound of a helicopter. Despite my grogginess, I forced myself to investigate. Descending the stairs, I discovered that my family was missing, prompting me to search outside.


    There, I found Chelle in pajamas, obviously struggling to wake up, while Lucinda and Heather were equally disoriented due to the helicopter¡¯s noise. In contrast, Ivan appearedposed and well-prepared.


    My attention was drawn to the hovering chopper directly in front of us. Suddenly, it began showering us with what initially seemed like confetti, but turned out to be flowers when theynded. Lucinda and Heather joyfully screamed, but I remained bewildered.


    What was happening?


    ¡°M¡­¡± When I turned to Ivan, he was already kneeling, holding a ring adorned with a pink stone, gazing up at me.


    ¡°Will you marry me?¡±


    ¡°Say yes, Mommy!¡±


    I chuckled, nodding as I reached for Ivan¡¯s hand.


    ¡°Yes, Ivan. I will marry you.¡±


    The ring on my finger sparkled beautifully as Ivan embraced me.


    ¡°Thank you. I¡¯ll be good from now on.¡±


    I chuckled. ¡°You¡¯d better be!¡±


    ¡°You didn¡¯t even inform me about this; I couldn¡¯t even prepare. I could have at least gotten a manicure.¡±


    ¡°Was that necessary? You always look beautiful.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re just teasing me. Okay, fine. I¡¯ll just take a quick shower.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve already showered; we could have done it together,¡± I joked before leaving them. However, I was surprised when he followed me.


    ¡°Where are you going?¡± I asked,ughing, as we quickly climbed the stairs.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to go shower, together with you.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re crazy! Our child might think something else.¡±


    ¡°No, they won¡¯t. Come on. I¡¯ve missed you so much.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re just going to shower, right?¡± Iughed as he suddenly pulled me in for a hug.


    ¡°Thank you, M. I love you. I miss you.¡±


    He reached a point of unbearable desire. Initiating the removal of my clothes, his lips persistently sucked my neck and shoulders.


    I gazed upwards, stifling my moans, mindful of the room¡¯sck of sound instion. He embraced me, effortlessly lifting me, and in response, I clung to him, encircling my legs around his hips. Our eyes locked, aze with mutual longing and burning desire.


    He shed a smile before pulling me into another passionate kiss. The intensity became irresistible.


    Sumbing to the moment, I reciprocated the kiss, my hands firmly grasping his shoulders. We shared a lingering embrace of desire until we found ourselves in the bathroom.


    He pressed me against the cold tiled bathroom wall as our lips entwined in a passionate dance. A fiery sensation enveloped my body. Oh, goodness!


    The gentle cascade of the shower water began. I ache for him deeply. I miss him so much.


    His tender kisses traversed a path downward, lingering on my chest. Delicately, he began to fondle and explore them.


    ¡°Your boobs got bigger.¡±


    ¡°Suck it,¡± I ordered hoarsely, and he immediately did.


    ¡°Oh, Ivan!¡± It¡¯s been ages since I¡¯ve yearned so intensely for sex. Damn! I think I¡¯m close to an orgasm.


    ¡°It felt good, Ivan. Suck it more¡­¡±


    I nearly enfolded him in the embrace of my chest as his touch delicately grazed my womanhood.


    The intensity of my arousal made me so sensually responsive that his exploring finger glided effortlessly, rhythmically, traversing the contours of my essence.


    ¡°Oh, love. Oh, babe!¡±


    After my first orgasm, he reced his manhood with his finger that had just been plunging in and out of my pussy.


    ¡°Ivan!¡± It feels as though I might instantly pass out to the overwhelming goodness coursing through me.


    ¡°Fuck! I miss you, M. Damn! It feels so good.¡±


    He started moaning while one of my nipples sucked by him. It¡¯s absolutely exquisite!


    ¡°Ivan! Oh, yes! Deeper please!¡±


    His hardness hasn¡¯t been inside me for long, yet I sense another wave of ecstasy approaching.


    Fueled by the anticipation and the longing for each other that had built up during our moments of restraint, we both sumbed to pleasure¡­ we came simultaneously!


    And we¡¯re not done yet. Ivan was taking me from behind while massaging my chest.


    ¡°So tight! Oh! Fuck!¡±


    He imed me tirelessly, and our intimate connection unfolded for an entire hour in the bathroom. Thankfully, Heather remained downstairs.


    I only pray that the sounds of our shared pleasure didn¡¯t reach their ears.

 Ivan鈥檚 POV

    ¡°You and your girlfriend always seem to be having disagreements.¡±


    I nced at my older sister, who had suddenly appeared behind me. I stood on the balcony, trying to regainposure after yet another argument with Maureen. It¡¯s always like this. It feels like just a week ago when west fought.


    A sigh escaped me as I redirected my attention to the garden. I lifted the beer bottle in my hand to take a sip, deciding to remain silent. No words came to mind. What my sister said was true. It¡¯s always like this. Maureen¡¯s immaturity remains consistent; it feels as if she hasn¡¯t experienced any personal growth since we entered into a rtionship years ago.


    Whenever we argue, I choose to ignore her because I don¡¯t want to say anything hurtful. Besides, the next day, she¡¯ll apologize to me.


    We¡¯re already adults, but it feels like she¡¯s still in high school, not maturing at all. But despite that, I love her. Everyone has ws.


    ¡°Think about it while it¡¯s early. She¡¯s not the marrying type, Ivan.¡±


    I grinned and shook my head.


    ¡°What?!¡± my sister pped my arm in annoyance. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re thinking of marrying her!¡±


    Not yet. But if we¡¯re still together in two years, why not marry her?


    ¡°You¡¯re going to regret it, Ivan. Your life will just be ruined!¡±


    I didn¡¯t pay much attention to what my sister was saying. My intentions with Maureen are serious; I am not in this rtionship to fool around.


    ¡°If you¡¯re thinking about marriage, M would be a better choice.¡±


    ¡°Are you bluffing?¡± Iughed. ¡°M is just a kid.¡±


    She¡¯s referring to the daughter of our parents¡¯ friends. Her parents died in a ne crash, and since she had no rtives, my mom and dad took her in. I chuckled at my sister because M was still so young.


    ¡°I¡¯m not a pedophile, Sis.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean, pedophile? M is neen. And she¡¯s much kinder and more sensible than Maureen, who does nothing but pick fights with you! Have some pity on yourself. The least she could give you is stress because you¡¯re handling a bigpany.¡±


    ¡°Let it be, Sis. That¡¯s just how Maureen is, but she really loves me.¡±


    My sister let out a frustrated groan.


    ¡°Hence, I never envisioned M as my wife. She¡¯s too young,¡± I chuckled, shaking my head.


    It wasn¡¯t only my sister who suggested that M and I were a good match; numerous others were too. Even my college ssmates used toment on ourpatibility. People had taken notice of her even before she moved into our house. Our families used to gather frequently when their parents were still alive.


    She¡¯s beautiful, but I didn¡¯t perceive her as a woman; I saw her as a child.


    ¡°What do you mean, ¡®young¡¯? She¡¯s already an adult. And even Mom and Dad like M for you. The girl obviously likes you.¡±


    I bristled at thatment. Did M purposefully tell my parents about this so that they would help her convince me about her?


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to talk about it, Sis. I have a girlfriend, and I love her.¡±


    The next day, Maureen came to my office. As usual, she was trying to make amends.


    ¡°Sorry,¡± she said, attempting to be affectionate. She brought a lot of food cooked by her mom.


    ¡°I told you I¡¯m busy, didn¡¯t I?¡±


    ¡°Fine. I can¡¯t resist you either.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll think about whether I¡¯ll ept your apology.¡±


    Maureen initially frowned, but soon a yful smile graced her lips. Rising from her seat, she perched herself on myp.


    ¡°Allow me to help you ponder,¡± she chuckled, initiating a sensual connection. After a disagreement, makeup sex was the best.


    ***


    ¡°I¡¯m weary of constantly fighting with her.¡±


    I¡¯m at the bar with my friends. Maureen and I had another argument. I¡¯m worn out by her attitude.


    ¡°But you love her,¡± my friendsmented. How many times have they consoled me when Maureen and I shed? Numerous times.


    ¡°Just a piece of advice, man. Reflect on it. Maureen might not be the best fit for you. Imagineing home after a tough day at work-do you really want to deal with a nagging and moody wife? Maybe being single is a better option than having a partner like that, don¡¯t you think?¡±


    I chose to stay quiet and signaled for another set of drinks as my ss approached emptiness.


    If we don¡¯t reconcile soon and if Maureen doesn¡¯t change, I¡¯ll take these signs as indications that she¡¯s not meant for me.


    My friends dropped me off at our house. I couldn¡¯t drive anymore due to excessive drinking.


    I tripped as I entered the house, struggling to make out my surroundings in the dim light.


    ¡°Are you okay?¡± asked a gentle voice. Due to my drunkenness, I didn¡¯t even recognize her.


    She tried to help me and supported me even though my body was heavy.


    Do we have a new helper? Who is this?


    ¡°Alright, take it slow; we might trip.¡±


    Who is she? I attempted to gaze at the woman¡¯s face, but my eyelids were growing heavy.


    ¡°We¡¯re almost in your room.¡±


    She shrieked as I tumbled onto the bed, pulling her along with me.


    Her aroma was enchanting, and I adored the fragrance she exuded. My awareness of my actions was faint, and I couldn¡¯t determine who initiated the kiss, but that detail no longer held any significance.


    But who is this person I¡¯m kissing? Did I bring a girl from the club?


    I was about to rouse the woman lying next to me when the full realization of my actions struck me.


    Shit! It¡¯s M! M is here in bed with me. She¡¯s naked. We¡¯re both naked!


    I tried to wake her up to guide her out of my room when the door suddenly opened, and my mom entered. Witnessing the scene, she let out a scream and quickly called my dad. In no time, they both reached the consensus that I should marry M.


    M was crying, repeatedly apologizing to my parents. Although she offered multiple apologies to me, I responded with a stern gaze instead.


    She orchestrated this; I¡¯m sure of it!


    She had the audacity because she was aware of my family¡¯s affection for her. M and I tied the knot right away. I couldn¡¯t protest because my parents paid no heed to my objections.


    Shit! Maureen. What am I going to do?


    ¡°It¡¯s your fault too, buddy,¡± Angus said.


    ¡°I was so drunk! Tsk! You shouldn¡¯t have brought me home.¡±


    They chuckled. ¡°M is genuinely kind. She¡¯s wife material.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t love her.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ll eventually learn to love her.¡±


    I doubt it.


    ¡°Come on, you don¡¯t truly love Maureen that much.¡± I stayed silent regarding Caius¡¯s remarks.


    ¡°You¡¯re not thatmitted to her. You¡¯ve just grown ustomed to her because of the long time you¡¯ve been together, but you don¡¯t love her that deeply.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re justmenting the years you¡¯ve shared.¡±


    I do love Maureen. But Iprehend why they¡¯re saying this.


    During the numerous times, Maureen and I had heated arguments, there were asions when I drank excessively. There were times I woke up next to another woman. Yeah, there were moments when I soughtfort in someone else. And I didn¡¯t even feel guilty about it.


    ***


    Maureen was seething with anger upon learning about the situation. I had headaches due to all that was unfolding. M was attempting to fulfill her wifely duties, while Maureen had confronted the issue of multiple times. She was extremely upset and cried non-stop. But what else could I do?


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    ¡°Sorry?!¡±


    I genuinely want to console her, but what other options do I have? I¡¯m already married. Moreover, my parents warned me of dire consequences if I were to mistreat M.


    ***


    ¡°Maureen, what are you doing here?¡± Once again, she came to my office, but this time, a smile graced her face, recing the anger and tears she disyed in the preceding days.


    ¡°Were you nning to annul your marriage with M someday?¡±


    Maybe. Once thepany was transferred to my name or when my parents saw that M and I were not meant for each other.


    Maureen and I made a deal. I told her to go abroad because if my family discovered that she kepting to my office, I would lose thepany. It took a lot of effort and a lengthy courtship before I convinced her.


    I also promised her I would file for an annulment so that I could marry herter on.


    ***


    Every night, I returned homete to find M patiently waiting for me in the living room, already asleep.


    Whenever she woke up, a smile adorned her face as she inquired about my meal. There was never a trace ofints regarding myte arrivals, and she never nagged me.


    Despite her efforts, I remained indifferent. Our sleeping arrangements were separate-she slept on the sofa, and I imed the bed as my own. Early each morning, she would rise to prepare my meals, only for me to disregard them. She also took the time to organize my suits and asionally sent my lunch to the office, leaving it with my secretary since she wasn¡¯t allowed to enter.


    Upon my return home, she would inquire with sweetness, ¡°Did you finish the food I prepared for you?¡±


    She wore a genuine smile, wearing a nice dress.


    Regrettably, my response was consistent. ¡°No. My secretary ate it.¡±


    She nodded sadly.


    ¡°Tss! Didn¡¯t I tell you not to bother cooking for me? Don¡¯t you have anything else to do?!¡± Tears welled up in the corners of her eyes.


    ¡°I-I¡¯m sorry, Ivan. I just thought you might be busy with work and could have forgotten to eat, so I sent it to you. Besides, it¡¯s our monthsary today¡­¡±


    ¡°Monthsary?¡± I chuckled. ¡°That¡¯s for couples, M. It¡¯s not applicable to us because I don¡¯t have feelings for you. We¡¯re not a couple. You¡¯re just a woman desperate to y a role as my wife.¡±


    ***


    In the morning, M was nowhere to be seen, but my clothes wereid out and ready. As I left the house, there was no M waiting to remind me to eat breakfast before heading to work.


    I didn¡¯t bother searching for her; instead, I went straight inside.


    Perhaps she had finally reconsidered things. I hoped she would also approach my parents about annulling our marriage. I believed my parents would be open to hearing her out.


    My day was hectic. If Fourth and Huxley hadn¡¯t shown up at five-thirty in the afternoon, I would have continued working without a break. As was our routine, we indulged in some drinks before heading home. There was no urgency to return early, a circumstance that might have been different if M and I had a child waiting for me.


    What? What the hell?! What am I thinking?


    We opted for a newly opened bar and restaurant, avoiding a club to prevent my sister from fetching me.


    Upon reaching the venue, I turned off my phone; Maureen¡¯s repetitive and tiresome calls had be too much.


    ¡°Is that M?¡± Fourth inquired.


    I ncedzily in the direction of his gaze. Indeed, it was M, apanied by another woman.


    ¡°Hmmm. Looks like someone¡¯s wife knows how to party, huh?¡±Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    I observed M. Her hair looked wlessly styled as though she had just left the salon specifically for this event and was dressed in a stunning red bodycon dress.


    Engaged in conversation with another woman, I couldn¡¯t discern the topic of discussion. I didn¡¯t recognize the woman either. M had only a few friends from college, some of whom I knew.


    Soon, two men approached. M and herpanion rose to exchange greetings with them.


    Was she here for work?


    She wore a smile while conversing, and so did the two men.


    Had it not been for my friends¡¯ughter, I might not have realized that I fixed myplete attention on M.


    ¡°Are you jealous?¡±


    I furrowed my brow. ¡°She¡¯s free to do whatever she wants. It¡¯s good that she goes out. It helps her see that I¡¯m not the only man in the world.¡±


    M and herpanion left the restaurant earlier. After thirty minutes, my friends also decided to head home.


    ¡°Let¡¯s just go home. We have someone here who really wanted to check if his wife was already home.¡±


    I refrained frommenting. I also can¡¯tprehend why I hurried to get home. Upon arriving, I rushed upstairs to the room, but she wasn¡¯t there. Theundry basket was empty. Hasn¡¯t she returned home yet?


    Damn! I descended and fetched a beer from the kitchen. Maybe I shouldn¡¯t havee home so soon. I¡¯m irritated.


    As I made my way back to the room, a noise caught my attention,ing from theundry room.


    Has shee back?


    I peeked inside and spotted the woman I had been searching for. She had changed into different clothes, sitting by the washing machine, sipping on a beer, and singing a mncholic tune.


    ¡°You are free now, you can do everything you want,¡± she sang.


    She wiped away her tears, took a sip from her bottle, and let out a sigh. Not wanting her to notice me, I left immediately.


    The following morning, there was no breakfast prepared for me, but my clothes were neatlyid out. She wasn¡¯t home at that time; perhaps she had important matters to attend to, exining her early leave. I remained clueless about her activities, uncertain about her employment status, and curious about the work she was engaged in.


    She didn¡¯t work at mypany, even though my parents had suggested it. Despite their rmendation, she declined.

 Epilogue

    I waszily sitting in the office when my friends arrived.Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g


    ¡°If you want to know what she¡¯s up to, ask her, or better yet, investigate.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not interested.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t deny it, Ivan. You can¡¯t hide anything from us. We can see that you¡¯re starting to care about your wife.¡±


    ¡°Your cellphone was also turned off. Was it because you¡¯re avoiding Maureen?¡±


    ¡°Well, good job!¡±


    ***


    I got home at six in the evening, but M hadn¡¯t returned yet. Seated on the sofa, I silently surveyed the entire house. The pervasive quietness left me with a sense of solitude. Could this be the reason she doesn¡¯t stay here for long? She left early and was still away at this hour.


    I stood up, intending to go upstairs when the door opened. She was surprised to see me and mustered a forced smile.


    ¡°Good evening.¡± Without asking if I had eaten, she ascended the stairs.


    Tsk!


    Feeling hungry, I decided to have dinner somewhere else. The next day, she arrived home eventer.


    ¡°What time is it?¡± I asked irritably. It was already ten thirty at night. She was taken aback by the sound of my voice.


    I intended to inquire why she returned home sote, but unfortunately, hurtful words escaped my lips; I uttered some hurtful remarks. She wept, and her cries were audible even from the bathroom. It weighed on my conscience. Throughout my workday, thoughts of her lingered in my mind.


    The next day, she came home early and cooked a meal, but didn¡¯t invite me to join.


    Despite her distress, she still went out of her way to cook for me. Once again, she sent a packed lunch my way, but I refrained from consuming it.


    ¡°Sir, aren¡¯t you going to eat this?¡± my secretary inquired.


    ¡°Just go ahead and eat it,¡± I replied casually.


    She scratched her head and stared at me for a long moment.


    ¡°What is it?¡± I askedzily.


    ¡°I feel guilty about eating your wife¡¯s dishes, Sir.¡±


    And why should I feel guilty about it?


    She approached me and ced a paper bag on my desk. ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    ¡°Sir, Ms. M has been preparing meals for you before your annulment, so please enjoy this.¡±


    ¡°What are you talking about?¡±


    She took out the food containers.


    ¡°I said I won¡¯t eat that.¡±


    My eyes focused on the sticky note attached to the food container. It had ¡°Day twenty-four¡± written on it. My secretary pulled out a few pieces of sticky notes from her pocket.


    ¡°These are the first ones,¡± she said, handing me one sticky note.


    ¡°I understand that living with a wife you never wanted has been incredibly challenging. After a month, you can initiate the annulment process. I¡¯ll talk to your parents about it, but it can¡¯t be hurried. Their anniversary is on the 28th. By the way, allow me to cook for you for a month-M.¡±


    My secretary sighed heavily.


    ¡°I can¡¯t stomach Ms. M¡¯s cooking anymore, Sir.¡±


    Tsk! She waited twenty-four days before confiding in me.


    A weight settled in my chest as I looked at the food in front of me. I, too, didn¡¯t know why.


    I headed home early. M was already there, cooking and softly singing.


    A heaviness lingered as I observed her. Why was I feeling this way? Shouldn¡¯t I be relieved that we¡¯re parting?


    That night, I couldn¡¯t sleep. I gazed at my wife, sound asleep on the floor, seeminglyfortable. After my parents¡¯ anniversary, that¡¯s what she said, and my emotions became more perplexing, knowing that M and I would soon go our separate ways.


    ¡°I¡¯ve made your favorite dish. I¡¯m heading out to meet friends tonight and should be back soon, probably before midnight.¡±


    And where is she going? She didn¡¯t specify. And who are these friends she¡¯s going out with? What if they are men?


    I¡¯ve been pondering this for days, unsure if I¡¯m just out of my mind. Still, there¡¯s no harm in giving it a shot. I want to mend things with M and avoid regrets in the end.


    I like her. I might be falling for my wife, perhaps a while back, but I wasn¡¯t ready to admit it.


    I rushed home but didn¡¯t make it.


    When I woke up, my memories were fuzzy, especially of the woman who imed to be my wife. I can¡¯t seem to remember her, no matter how hard I try. What does stick in my mind is having a girlfriend whom I deeply love.


    I¡¯m in a state of confusion, yet I opt to uphold mymitment to my marriage. Even when there are moments when my mind argues that Maureen should be by my side, I choose to remain with mypassionate wife. She possesses both inner and outer beauty. It wouldn¡¯t be surprising if she¡¯s the one I married.


    I chose her despite my heart and mind not supporting my decision, even as Maureen continued to upy my thoughts. I want to be a good husband to M, striving not to disappoint her and ensuring I harbor no resentment.


    However, one day, she left me. She professed her love, yet she left. Why? Did she grow weary of me? I¡¯m striving to make amends even though I couldn¡¯t recall anything. I picked her even though I was aware that Maureen was the one I loved. Was my effort falling short?


    If she¡¯s the one who gave up, perhaps we truly aren¡¯t meant for each other. Moreover, Maureen also relies on me. She was the one I genuinely loved. My family was furious with me because of M¡¯s leaving. My head frequently throbs with pain. In the second week after M left, I lost consciousness due to an intense headache.


    Upon regaining consciousness, the forgotten portion of my memory came back. God! I love my wife! Shit! I feel a profound regret. If only I had sped her hands, she wouldn¡¯t have left me. Expressing my love could have prevented her from leaving me.


    ¡°Search for her! When are you going to search for her? When she has already found someone else? When she¡¯s already married?¡±


    M cannot marry because we are still married, and I know she won¡¯t dedicate her time to such matters.


    ***


    I revisited the house I constructed, the embodiment of M¡¯s dream home. After she moved out, I collected the things she left behind. That¡¯s when I found the blueprint for her ideal house.


    Once it isplete, I n to seek her out and reconcile. However, my intentions were disrupted by an unexpected call from my mom.


    ¡°Son, your dad found a child at the mall and brought her home.¡±


    A furrow formed on my brow. Why did my father bring a child home? What if he could be used of kidnapping?


    ¡°She¡¯s an adorable girl, and she knows you.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± My mind raced toprehend the situation. I had engaged in some hookups while with Maureen, but I always prioritized protection. Even during my time with Maureen, I consistently used condoms. Since M¡¯s departure, I hadn¡¯t been involved with any other woman.


    ¡°Mom!¡±


    ¡°Her name is Heather, and her mom¡¯s name is M.¡±


    What?


    A chill ran down my spine, rendering me momentarily deaf to the ensuing conversation.


    ¡°Ivan, go home first.¡±


    ¡°O-Okay, Mom.¡±


    I couldn¡¯t fathom what my mom had shared. I initially thought it was a prank, as she earnestly desired a grandchild from both M and me. However, upon returning home, the truth still eluded me. I began to believe that the little girl my father was holding was, indeed, my own child.


    The resemnce between the little girl and me was remarkable.


    ¡°Daddy!¡± She swiftly approached me, wrapping her arms around my legs.


    Picking her up, I inquired, ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡±


    ¡°My name is Heather Costa!¡±


    My mom presented the identification card she was carrying when they saw her.


    Her name is Heather Costa, and her mother¡¯s name¡­ Oh my! I have a daughter! M and I were her parents.


    I dialed the contact number presented on her ID and confirmed that it was M. She was avoiding me, and only now did I discover the reason for her leaving.


    I exined myself to her. Despite the pain she endured because of me, I knew she wouldn¡¯t easily ept me. Even if she makes it challenging, I understand it¡¯s all worth it if the oue is a lifetime of love and unity for both of us.


    ¡°My dearest, M.¡± My eyes warmed as I gazed at the incredibly beautiful bride before me.¡±


    ¡°Thank you for everything that you have done for me. For the love and patience that you exerted. Without your immeasurable love, we wouldn¡¯t havee this far, and I wouldn¡¯t be as happy. I wouldn¡¯t have recognized that you¡¯re the one revealing the signs I¡¯ve been seeking. I¡¯m not a perfect man, and in the past, I¡¯ve made many mistakes that Iter regretted. But please know, I never regretted marrying you years ago. I promise to do my best to be a good and responsible husband. Thank you for taking me back and granting me the privilege of being your husband. In both good times and bad, you¡¯ll find me by your side. Together, we¡¯ll create a home filled with love. I love you till eternity and beyond.¡±


    M wiped away the tears streaming down both of my cheeks. She smiled, although her eyes and nose were visibly red.


    I promise, all your tears from now on will be a result of overwhelming happiness.


    ¡°My Ivan¡­ No words can express how much I¡¯m feeling right now. I cherish your love, and the love you share with me and Heather is the most precious gift I¡¯ve ever received. For years, I prayed for you. It took time, but I believe everything unfolds for a reason. The obstacles and challenges that nearly pulled us apart only strengthened us, made us wiser, and deepened our love. All the sacrifices and the pain were worth it. You and Heather are my treasures-your beautiful faces are a sight I will never grow tired of waking up to. I love you, my husband.¡±


    ¡°Cheers to the newlyweds!¡± eximed our loved ones as I sealed mymitment with a kiss on my wife¡¯s sweet lips.


    Our wedding was a simple beach ceremony on the ind M acquired. Our guests were carefully selected-only close rtives and friends who genuinely love and rejoice in our happiness.


    I am overjoyed that, after many years, destiny brought us back together after a brief separation. I prayed for this. While I may not be religious, M has taught me that faith and abundant prayers nurture a rtionship, allowing it to grow and thrive.


    ¡°Are you okay?¡± I asked M because she had been quiet and seemed a bit down. We took some photos before eating. The preparations were early, so she was probably famished by now.


    ¡°Yes, just a little famished.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll be eating shortly.¡±


    The photographer instructed all the guests to join the photo session.


    ¡°Okay, 1, 2, 3, smile!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m pregnant!¡±


    I stared at M. ¡°What did she say?¡±


    Mom and my sister erupted in joyful screams. Our friends joined the celebration, but I stood there in shock.


    ¡°You¡¯re¡­ You¡¯re pregnant?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I¡¯m five weeks pregnant!¡±


    I punched the air. ¡°Yes!¡±


    I lifted her and nted her numerous kisses.


    ¡°We¡¯re going to be a family of four. Thank you, love. I love you.¡±


    ¡°I love you too, Ivan Nicholo Greco.¡±


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!