《Contract And Marriage》


 Chapter 1

    Sarina


    ¡°What the¡± said my boss, who couldn¡¯t continue what he was doing after I let go of the tray of food I was carrying and made a loud noise. I was shocked, and how could I not, when I found him naked, sitting in his wheelchair! ¡°Are you an idiot? How can you be so careless?¡± he asked angrily. He was surprised because of the sound of the sses breaking and a te full of his food.


    ¡°Why are you naked?¡± I also asked out of irritation. I¡¯ve been working for him for three months, and he¡¯s rude. That¡¯s why my tongue is sharp when talking back to him. I¡¯m not scared of him, except for firing me, which I think he wouldn¡¯t; he can¡¯t do anything else to me because, other than being in a wheelchair, he¡¯s also blind.


    ¡°Thest time I remember, this is my room, so I will do what I want to do. You should have knocked first.¡±


    ¡°I knocked.¡±


    ¡°You should have waited for me to let you in, not just go in.¡±


    ¡°You know that I will be back for your food. If you n to pleasure yourself, you should let me finish what I have to do to you before you do a burlesque show here,¡± I replied. ¡°Or tonight, when everyone is asleep,¡± I continued while cleaning the broken utensils. I refused to look at his masculinity because it looked so hard, and I was tempted to touch it. Although his legs cannot support him, his happiness and future are still active because of the continuous exercise he practices using his hands.


    ¡°Make sure you¡¯re not looking at me and fantasizing about me on your bed. Shouldn¡¯t you dress me up first instead of cleaning the floor?¡± I roll my eyes, what if that¡¯s the case? It¡¯s not as though I could rape him, hump! So selfish! I was just looking!


    ¡°You managed to remove your clothes by yourself; why don¡¯t you get dressed alone too?¡± I answered.


    ¡°Or maybe you want me to be naked so you can see my di-¡± I threw him his clothes that were lying on the bed to shut him up. I can¡¯t help but roll my eyes at this perverted boss of mine; oh my.


    ¡°That will cover you, so shut up first and let me finish cleaning this floor,¡± I said, causing him to keep quiet. I didn¡¯t look at him anymore and quickly continued cleaning. I concentrate on the floor in fear that I might just grab his dick and start singing, using it as my mic. Hey, erase! Erase! Erase! I quickly shook my head, and just as I stood up from kneeling, I looked at my boss, who I caught looking at me, too.


    I stared at him closer, and I had already blinked many times, but he didn¡¯t even blink once. For Pete¡¯s sake, he¡¯s blind, but why does he seem like he could see? Oh, I don¡¯t know, I shouldn¡¯t care about that because except for balling my fist in front of him, side eyes, and sticking out my tongue while he scolded me, I didn¡¯t do anything bad to him. Well, it¡¯s not good that I do those things, but that¡¯s it. I mean him, no harm at all.


    ¡°Shall I dress you up before I take out these broken things, or do you want me to get you your food again?¡± I asked,N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.


    ¡°I want to eat first,¡± he said, still looking at me without blinking. I shook my head again because of what was running in my head.


    ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll just get some food. But I¡¯ll get you your clothes first; I don¡¯t want to see you naked again.¡± Yeah, that¡¯s right. I should do that first; I think that¡¯s safer. He didn¡¯t say a word, so I got him another pair of clothes. The one I threw earlier to cover his little friend was used. ¡°Here it is, sir. You can get dressed yourself,¡± then I left his room again.


    Maximus Lardizabal is a well-known personality in the country not only because of his wealth but also because of his elegance and handsomeness. Add to that his great masculinity, and no matter what I do to avoid looking, I really can¡¯t help but look at and lust over him.


    He is known to be a yboy, a trait that is not my type. Maybe I¡¯m just like any other ordinary girl who gets carried away by his sexy and hot body, but of course, I don¡¯t want to be one of the girls he just sleeps with.


    I learned from the helpers that he had a girlfriend. But even if he was already in a rtionship, he was often seen with different women before his ident. Maybe that¡¯s why his girlfriend left him now that he needs her.


    I thought she should have cared for him for a while so she wouldn¡¯t look bad in people¡¯s eyes. Or, she should have left before the ident. Oh crap, it was all that perverted Maximus¡¯ fault; why would I care thinking about him and his girlfriend anyway? He should have stuck to whoever his girlfriend was and been faithful to her; instead, he used his head down south to everyone wearing skirts.


    ording to the maids who were talking about him at home, they say he loves the woman. And because she left him, he didn¡¯t want to get better no matter how many times his grandma told him to. He probably doesn¡¯t want to live anymore. He loves her, so why must he be with different women? Maximus is handsome, and many women still ogle at him even in his condition. Back in the hospital, I remember my co-nurses and the doctors always talking about him. Well, that¡¯s what he gets for being a womanizer.


    After I prepared what my good master would eat again, I returned to his bedroom. I even saw some maids talking but didn¡¯t pay much attention because I didn¡¯t want Maximus to scold me for being slow.


    I knocked before opening the door and ensured it was loud enough for him to hear. He was still in his wheelchair and had his back to me when I entered. I pulled the rolling table he uses when eating and put the tray on it before I walked over to him to help him sit on the bed.


    ¡°What is that, sir?¡± I eximed. He¡¯s wearing a t-shirt, but still, nothing on his bottom, and the shirt I used to cover him earlier is in his hands, wiping his manhood.


    ¡°Good, you¡¯re just in time, here,¡± he said, then raised his hand, holding a t-shirt he was handing me. I couldn¡¯t help but look at his face and then at his T-shirt. ¡°What are you doing? Why haven¡¯t you taken my T-shirt yet?¡± he asked, returning me to my trance.


    ¡°What are you doing, sir? Are you that sex deprived that you can¡¯t help but use your hand?¡± I eximed. ¡°Besides, what will I do with your t-shirt, anyway?¡± I asked, creasing my forehead.


    ¡°If you want, wear it,¡± he also said.


    ¡°Sir, there¡¯s your semen on it!¡± My eyes widened looking at him, and I couldn¡¯t stop rubbing my cheeks. I¡¯m sure my face looks red now.


    ¡°Then why are you still asking? If you want to wash it, then wash it. If you want to throw it, then throw it away. Where is your brain, Sarina?¡± I took his t-shirt to end the conversation, threw it in the trash, and washed my hands afterward. ¡°My shorts!¡± he shouted when I exited his bathroom. My eyes rolled as I went to the walk-in closet to get him something to wear. ¡°Never mind, just get me a robe, and I want to shower after eating.¡±


    So, I dressed him in a robe and then started feeding him. I noticed that every time I saw him staring at me, he looked like he could see me. He had just finished drinking water when he suddenly spoke.


    ¡°Sarina,¡± I was putting her food away to bring it down to the kitchen when he called me. I looked at him, and again, he looked at me as if he could see me as our eyes met. ¡°I want to fuck you,¡± he added.

 Chapter 2

    Sarina


    I don¡¯t know what I look like at this time, but the words he let out were not normally heard by anyone. My mouth was probably hanging open due to shock. ¡°Can you hear me, Sarina?¡± I was startled by the strength of his voice.


    ¡°Are you still not satisfied with your hands, Sir? Don¡¯t involve me in your nonsense,¡± I answered quickly, feeling all the blood in my body go up to my head. ¡°I¡¯m a nurse, Sir, and not some cheap woman. I epted the job here because of the sry and not because of the size of your dick.¡± I don¡¯t know why I added thest one, but I saw him grin.


    ¡°Say that again,¡± he said.


    ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°Thest thing you said, say it again.¡±


    ¡°Because the sry is high?¡±


    ¡°The next one,¡±


    ¡°Not because of the size of the di-¡± I couldn¡¯t finish because he suddenly spoke.


    ¡°Damn, you turned me on. Tell me dirty things. It¡¯s nice to listen to, and it makes me feel aroused.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re such a pervert, sir.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll pay you.¡±N?velDrama.Org exclusive content.


    ¡°You think of me as a prostitute now.¡±


    ¡°10 million. For a year of fucking you,¡± he said, making my mouth hang open again. 10 million?


    ¡°Do you think I won¡¯t earn that amount if¡±


    ¡°You really won¡¯t earn that in a year, Sarina. And before you get delusional, I can fuck any girl I want for free if I want to.¡±


    ¡°With how you are right now?¡± I immediately asked.


    ¡°Of course, I know not right now. But if I pay, I can fuck any woman as many times as I want to.¡±


    ¡°Then pay.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m already offering you, right?¡±


    ¡°I mean to others.¡±


    ¡°If it¡¯s okay with others, do you think I¡¯ll offer it to you? I can¡¯t even tell the difference between your chest and your back,¡± he said, so I suddenly looked down. How did he know? ¡°Don¡¯t be delusional. You helped me sit down and stand up from the wheelchair, and I feel you are t-chested,¡± he said immediately.


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you make an offer to someone else?¡±


    ¡°Because I also have shame. They will say that in my condition, I still have the urge to fulfill my needs. And I also don¡¯t want them to spread rumors about my situation.¡±


    ¡°Do you think I won¡¯t discuss your situation?¡±


    ¡°I will make you sign a contract.¡±


    ¡°Then sign with them too.¡±


    ¡°As in? Do you want me to sign a contract with every woman I get to fuck? Doesn¡¯t it seem like a hassle? If it¡¯s only you, I am only obligated to you and no one else. You are the only one I will investigate in case anyone leaks any news about me and my sex life.¡±


    ¡°Nevertheless, don¡¯t involve me in your stupidity,¡± I said, taking the tray and starting to walk towards the door.


    ¡°Think about it, Sarina. Ten million for a year of warming my bed,¡± he added. I quickly left his room and then went straight to the kitchen. Shocking, what did he eat? Are men who are used to casual sex like that? They can¡¯t control themselves? Besides, why is he willing to give me 10 million for sex? I shook my head since I can¡¯t fathom the brains of the rich and don¡¯t know how they think about things.


    Yes, I need money, and his offer is very timely. As good as my father was, he was addicted to gambling, and in thest call from Mom, I found out that he had mortgaged the title of our farm. Does Maximus know about that? No, maybe not because I was in the room talking to Mom. It was on a loudspeaker, but he couldn¡¯t hear because I was on the balcony of my room at that time. Also, an empty room is opposite my room, and then two more rooms are before his room.


    Hey! I don¡¯t know. I don¡¯t want to think, but maybe bad wind just entered my boss¡¯s brain cells when he was naked earlier. Maybe when he realizes it, he will think about his foolishness.


    The next time I entered his room for his medication, he didn¡¯t mention it anymore, so I breathed a sigh of relief. Until it was night and I was in my room, I forgot about his offer as if it never happened.


    That¡¯s it. Around nine o¡¯clock in the evening, I received a call from my mother again. After all, my sry as a nurse in a well-known hospital is okay. I just really want to build a good house for my family. That¡¯s why I epted the job of bing Maximus¡¯ private nurse.


    ¡°Mom,¡± I said.


    ¡°Dear, I¡¯m sorry, and I called again.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s okay, mom,¡± I said. Of course, I can¡¯t tell her it¡¯s not, can I? She struggled so much to let me finish my studies, as did my brother, who got married right after college and couldn¡¯t find a job to provide for his family.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to involve you in our problem here, but I don¡¯t know who to ask. Maybe you know someone we can borrow to pay off your father¡¯s debt. I will pay, don¡¯t worry. It¡¯s just, you know what life here in the province is like; people are also poor,¡± my mother said pitifully.


    ¡°How much is it, mom?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s about 4 million.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± I eximed. ¡°Where are you going to get money to repay it? Besides, it¡¯s not easy to borrow such arge amount,¡± I added. I heard her take a deep breath, so I felt really sorry for her.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, dear, I don¡¯t have anyone to ask for help. I don¡¯t want to tell you what¡¯s happening here, but I can¡¯t do anything.¡± I closed my eyes as I rubbed my temple. What should I do? Where am I going to get 4 million? My father is freaking me out; he doesn¡¯t have a job to help my mother, and then this. My mother was very unlucky in marriage. Even if it was my father, I can¡¯t help but think like that. It¡¯s really hard to find a responsible man today. If there is one, I¡¯m sure they were also looking for a man.


    ¡°Alright, Mom, I¡¯ll try to ask someone here.¡± I just said so she doesn¡¯t need to think about it much to lessen her burden for a bit. I can¡¯t imagine my mother, who is 55 years old, still facing this kind of problem.


    ¡°Thank you, dear.¡± I heard her say, sighing, before she continued, ¡°Always be careful there.¡±


    ¡°Alright, Mom, you too,¡± then the call ended.


    I suddenly thought of the offer of that great Maximus. Should I ept it? Is he going to judge me? ¡°Arghh¡­ Can I get myself fuck by someone who is not my husband?¡± I said out loud. Suddenly, I looked at my room door and saw it was locked. No one must have heard me. ¡°Oh, my father, I¡¯m telling you, this is thest time you¡¯ll give Mom a problem like this. Because if not, I will put you in jail myself,¡± I added. I can¡¯t do anything but talk like that because I have nothing else to vent my anger on.


    The next day, I felt nervous, waiting for Maximus to mention his offer again, but he didn¡¯t say anything until it was time for him to go to bed. The next day, it was the same; could it be gone? Did he realize that 10 million seems like a lot for something like that? Hey, he¡¯s not at a loss for me because I¡¯m still a virgin. Besides, because of his pervertedness, I might even be the one at a disadvantage because he might take me one after the other. Shit, what would happen to my precious jewel when the timees?


    Until a weekter, we were in his room again. I was feeding him and not taking my eyes off of him. After all, he won¡¯t know because he is blind. ¡°Sarina,¡± I was almost startled by him calling my name even though my attention was on him.


    ¡°What is it again?¡± I asked, pretending to be annoyed.


    ¡°Are you staring at me?¡± he asked. Seriously, is he really blind? I couldn¡¯t even stop waving my hand in front of his face, but to no effect, he still didn¡¯t blink.


    ¡°No, why would I stare at you?¡± was my honest answer.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know; I feel like someone is watching me. It was for a little while, and I was just hesitant to ask you because you might think I¡¯m crazy,¡± he said with a shrug. I took a deep breath before I braced myself.


    ¡°I ept it,¡± I said without hesitation. Crazy petunia! I hope this guy is still interested.

 Chapter 3

    Sarina


    ¡°What do you ept?¡± he asked like a fool.


    ¡°Shit, sir, you know what I¡¯m talking about.¡±


    ¡°Are you nuts?¡± he asked again.


    ¡°Not really, I¡¯m just saying.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°Sir!¡±


    ¡°Make it clear because I don¡¯t understand anything you¡¯re saying. What are you epting? What do you want to say?¡± I would have said he was just annoying me if it wasn¡¯t for his surprised face. But anyway, I¡¯m sure this guy is just giving me a hard time because he may know what I¡¯m talking about.


    ¡°Fine, it looks like your offer is closed,¡± I said, but he said nothing. ¡°Just allow me to take a leave-the one with pay, huh?¡±


    ¡°Why?¡± he asked more.


    ¡°I will find a rich man who was also willing to pay me 10 million for a year fuck.¡± I said.


    ¡°Ah, is that what you¡¯re epting? You should have made it clear.¡±


    ¡°So, will you give me a week¡¯s leave?¡± I asked.


    ¡°You think there is a man in his right mind who would agree to do that to you?¡±


    ¡°You even offered me. Why? Are you out of your mind?¡± I replied. Does he think I won¡¯t be able to find a man like that?


    ¡°I¡¯m blind and can¡¯t walk; you think I¡¯m normal? If I didn¡¯t have a disability, do you think I would offer you something like that? What makes you lucky?¡±


    ¡°You know, you¡¯re arrogant when all you have is money!¡± I said, annoyed.


    ¡°You¡¯re talking to me like I¡¯m not your boss. Remember that I pay you a lot.¡±


    ¡°Also, remember that you are very stubborn, and the fact that you always show your dick that is the size of a toothpick will put you in jail. If I was a little soft, you would have been sued.¡±


    ¡°How can you sue me when you want to see my nakedness? Besides, it looks like a toothpick!¡± he eximed, and I wanted tough out loud how big and round his eyes were, but I stopped myself, of course. ¡°Your pussy will be ruined when I stick this on you. Well, call Aries.¡±


    ¡°Why do I need to call your assistant?¡±


    ¡°So that I can prepare our contract. After all, you agree so I can prove that my dick is far from a toothpick; I¡¯m going to bury this deep inside you and break your walls.¡±


    ¡°You know, sir, you are rich and look like an educated person, but your mouth is very vulgar. You¡¯re like some unemployed men on the street. Maybe they are better at choosing the words to use,¡± I said.


    ¡°I don¡¯t care; the important thing is that I am more aroused when I use such words. That¡¯s why you got to have a dirty mouth when I¡¯m fucking you,¡± he replied. We were just talking, but I couldn¡¯t help but feel the wetness in my panties. Our conversation has be so dirty and far from how we talked in the past few days. ¡°And since you agree, I need to know if you¡¯re worth my 10 million.¡±


    ¡°How do you need to know?¡± I wondered.


    ¡°Come closer and let me touch you first, suck your nipples if it tastes good,¡± he said.


    ¡°You have no shame, Maximus! What do you think of me, food that you need a free taste?¡±


    ¡°Why? I just want to make sure. What if you¡¯re a virgin, but you taste nd?¡±


    ¡°nd?¡± I eximed. It¡¯s shocking. Does it taste like that? It¡¯s salty, as far as I know!


    ¡°Of course, what I like in pussy is the sweet one.¡±


    ¡°Hey, if your offer still stands, there will be no taste. I want to sign a contract, but forget about your free taste.¡±


    ¡°Then don¡¯t. I¡¯m not the one who needs money,¡± he said, making him earn a re from me.


    ¡°How did you know I needed money? Were you listening to my conversation with my mother?¡± I asked angrily.


    ¡°Are you crazy? Does one have to be smart just to know that? Well, you didn¡¯t agree at first, of course. Now that you do, you have a reason for it, and it¡¯s money that you¡¯re getting out of this agreement. And because the reason is money, you need a lot because if it¡¯s small and you can pay it in a certain time, you should have asked for an advance or taken a loan,¡± he said at length with a point. ¡°I¡¯m cripled and blind, Sarina, not stupid.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not saying you¡¯re stupid!¡± I shouted back. I really wanted him to finally have his eyesight back so he knew how I red at him.


    ¡°Get my cell phone,¡± he said, so I did. Then I saw him speed dial something before putting it to his ear. ¡°Aries, prepare my condo and the contract.¡± Then it¡¯s over. What¡¯s that? Aries already knows what he¡¯s going to do.


    Maximus handed me his cell phone, which I took and ced on his bedside table again. ¡°I¡¯m going to bring this tray downstairs,¡± I said.


    ¡°Wait,¡± he stopped me. ¡°Don¡¯t forget, I still need my free taste, soe back here immediately.¡± I rolled my eyes and was about to leave his room when he said something again. ¡°Pack your things, too. We will transfer to my condo and live there.¡± I didn¡¯t say anything, and he was waiting for my response. ¡°Sarina, can you hear me?¡±


    ¡°Yes!¡± I snorted at him as I walked to the door.


    ¡°After you pack,e right back here for my free taste!¡± he yelled until I got out of his room; I couldn¡¯t believe it. Our trading seemed very natural. Shameless, I traded my body.


    As he said, I packed all my things. I don¡¯t know what he thought when he decided to move to his condo. Wait, doesn¡¯t he intend to make the most of his 10 million? It sucks.


    When I entered his room, I asked, ¡°What will you take when we leave?¡± I was surprised because he was already dressed, so I couldn¡¯t stop looking at him. ¡°Miracle of miracles, what did you eat when you dressed yourself?¡±


    ¡°I can dress myself, Sarina,¡± he said as he rolled his wheelchair closer to me. ¡°Where are your things?¡±


    ¡°In my room,¡± I answered.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go get it and leave,¡± he said, so I started walking towards the door and, as he said, pushing his wheelchair. We first went to my room to get my suitcase and then to the elevator. Yes, there is an elevator, and it¡¯s for him, so anytime he wants to get down, he can get down. His grandmother did that before she left for Ennd for vacation. Still, I don¡¯t think she has any ns to return because it was only the first week I was working with Maximus when she left, but it¡¯s been over three months now, and she hasn¡¯t returned.


    I sigh in relief because he seems to have forgotten his free taste. It¡¯s not that I¡¯m hopeful about that part; it¡¯s quite different. I still can¡¯t quite get over agreeing to the setup he wanted, which I didn¡¯t even think about. But I can¡¯t do anything because of my family¡¯s situation. As the saying goes, when you¡¯re in trouble, hold on to Maximus¡¯ dick. Shit! I guess my saying is wrong.


    ¡°Here it is, sir,¡± Aries said with a smile before handing me the envelope he was holding, which I knew was the contract. We were at the condo, and Maximus and I found him there when we arrived.


    ¡°Okay, you can leave us now,¡± my pervert boss said.


    ¡°Okay, sir,¡± was his reply before leaving.


    ¡°Read them,¡± Maximus ordered as he leaned back on the couch, looking like he wasn¡¯t blind and tripled. I opened the envelope, took the documents, and started reading.


    ¡°Why is marriage necessary?¡± I eximed. I didn¡¯t miss it because it was written there that we had to get married.This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.

 Chapter 4

    Sarina


    ¡°What does this mean? Why do we need to get married?¡± I asked in surprise. I did ask myself whether I would let myself get touched by someone who is not my husband, but it never urred to me that he would include the word marriage in our agreement.


    ¡°You¡¯ve seen and read it already; why must you ask?¡±


    ¡°I still don¡¯t understand. We are talking about marriage, sir. It¡¯s a life-long rtionship and not some casual housemate thing,¡± I exined.


    ¡°That¡¯s for your own good. Don¡¯t you like it? We¡¯re not immoral,¡± he asked, and I couldn¡¯t believe that he really thought about it.


    ¡°I¡¯ll get that, but I¡¯m not ready to get married yet!¡±


    ¡°Well, get ready. Naturally, you have prepared yourself for someone to fuck you. Why don¡¯t you also prepare yourself to be Mrs. Maximus Lardizabal?¡±


    ¡°You think it¡¯s that easy?¡± I asked.


    ¡°I know it¡¯s not. Imagine me getting married and being tied to you?¡±


    ¡°Exactly!¡± I eximed. Maybe because this one is crazy, I must wake him up to the truth.


    ¡°What if you get pregnant?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m a nurse; I know how NOT TO GET MYSELF PREGNANT,¡± was my answer.


    ¡°What if you get pregnant?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s my problem.¡±


    ¡°How about my son?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s still yours.¡±


    ¡°You want to turn my son into a bastard?¡± he asked angrily.


    ¡°You  fuck different women before; didn¡¯t you think about that, and now, it suddenly entered your head?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t fuck women twice. And every time, I made sure they wouldn¡¯t get pregnant.¡±


    ¡°Then good for you. But what does our marriage have to do with that?¡±


    ¡°Imagine, I will live with you for a year? As in one year, there is no day that I will not pour my sperm inside your pussy. Do you honestly think that you won¡¯t be able to conceive my child?¡± he asked. I don¡¯t know why the seriousness of our conversation suddenly made my panties wet. I¡¯m sure it was because of his vulgar words, and I guess he was right about that.


    ¡°But what if I¡¯m on my period?¡±


    ¡°Do you think that will stop me from taking you?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re so exaggerated and gross! As in, even if I have my period, you still fuck me?¡±


    ¡°I have to make the most of the 10 million. Be thankful that I didn¡¯t ask for my free taste anymore; just make sure that you¡¯re sweet when I eat your pussy.¡±


    ¡°You idiot, it¡¯s not sweet!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s your problem how to make it sweeter,¡± he said as if it was nothing. I just shook my head and didn¡¯t argue anymore. I guess I will just have to agree on our marriage. That¡¯s better than being immoral, right? As for our separation, when the timees, as the saying goes, I¡¯ll just cross the bridge when I get there. ¡°Sign the contract and our marriage application because Aries will return to get it and process it. Let¡¯s talk about our grand wedding when I get you pregnant.¡±


    My eyes widened at what he said. When I agreed to the wedding, I didn¡¯t expect a grand celebration; I knew that we would only end up having sex. But I still can¡¯t stop thinking about that word as I sign the papers. Wedding. It was supposed to be for someone who loves each other, but why am I facing this with someone who is not even my type? Well, I fantasize about his body, but that¡¯s all.


    Not for being choosy, my boss is rich, including being handsome, with a good body and a huge dick. But being a yboy is a big NO for me. I can¡¯t do anything about my situation since I already clung to his balls, so I should just ept it.


    ¡°What is this ¡°Love¡±?¡± I asked as I continued reading the contract.


    ¡°You have to call me love, especially if we are having sex.¡±


    ¡°And why? Please exin.¡±


    ¡°To make me like it more. I¡¯ll be more aroused if you call me by endearment. I didn¡¯t want you to scream ¡°SIR¡± on my face when we both cum.¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t moan!¡± my fast defense.


    ¡°Continue reading so you¡¯ll know what you¡¯re getting into,¡± he repliedmandingly.


    ¡°What is this? I¡¯m required to moan. Seriously?¡±


    ¡°Well, of course. I would like it if you moan and see you like what I¡¯m doing to you and your body.¡±


    ¡°What if I don¡¯t enjoy it?¡± I asked, and then he didn¡¯t answer, but only momentarily.


    ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll enjoy it because all the girls I slept with asked for a second time; I just didn¡¯t give it because I didn¡¯t want to. But if you¡¯re frigid, I can¡¯t do anything about it; just act like you¡¯re enjoying it.¡±


    ¡°What frigid are you talking about? What if I just didn¡¯t like you since you¡¯re not my type? I mean, you¡¯re not my kind of man.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not your type? Why because I¡¯m blind and crippled?¡± he asked, apparently angry.


    ¡°What does being blind and crippled have to do with it? I wouldn¡¯t have a job if it wasn¡¯t for your condition.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s it?¡±


    ¡°Why is there anything else?¡±


    ¡°This is me, Maximus Lardizabal. The most sought-after bachelor in the country,¡± he said with a hint of bragging.


    ¡°And yboy. Don¡¯t forget that. That¡¯s why I don¡¯t understand why we must get married; you¡¯re probably the first to ruin our marriage.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Sarina. You don¡¯t know, maybe I¡¯m loyal,¡± he answered. I ignored him and continued reading the contract. I could say that everything was okay except for the part where I needed to call him Love and moan during our sexual intercourse. Silly, I know those feelingse naturally. Then he wanted to force me. I just shook my head and epted everything after all, even if it seemed very unreasonable; I needed his money.


    Well, I signed it, and after two hours, Aries returned and took the documents. ¡°I¡¯m leaving, Ma¡¯am, Sir,¡± he continued. Suddenly, I was embarrassed because he called me ma¡¯am when he knew this was just a contract.


    ¡°Why do we have to move here?¡± I wondered when we were alone again.


    ¡°I want to get checked up.¡± I raised my eyebrows when I heard him. As far as I know, he doesn¡¯t want it. His grandmother has forced him to have surgery several times, but he always refuses. Even though the old woman is in another country, she often calls to encourage him to get himself better. I know because they were talking on a loudspeaker. What did he eat and suddenly think of getting surgery? ¡°Why are you silent?¡± he asked curiously.


    ¡°Why not when I thought I heard a miracle? Whates to your mind that you suddenly want to see and walk?¡± I asked, full of curiosity.


    ¡°To make the fuck more enjoyable,¡± he answered.


    ¡°Sir!¡± I eximed with wide eyes. ¡°Don¡¯t you have anything in your mind other than sex?¡± I eximed.


    ¡°Yes. But let¡¯s see if I will still feel the same after I tasted you,¡± he replied casually. I don¡¯t think I will be able to talk to him seriously.


    ¡°I hope at least for once we can talk properly,¡± I said and got up from my seat.


    ¡°Where are you going?¡± he asked.


    ¡°I¡¯ll see what¡¯s in your fridge; I¡¯m hungry.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t cook and ask for a food delivery instead,¡± he said. ¡°We have a helper but she¡¯s stay-out. She¡¯ll be here in the morning to clean regrly. When the afternoones, it¡¯s just us, like now.¡± I nodded but still went straight to his kitchen.


    ¡°Are you hungry? What do you want?¡± I asked. It¡¯s past his snack time, and it¡¯s almost time for dinner, so I¡¯ll just give him a light snack.


    ¡°You,¡±


    ¡°What is it? I am not a soothsayer.¡±


    ¡°You are what I want to eat.¡± I turned to him, and I could see hisughing face as if there was no tomorrow. He¡¯s crazy and doesn¡¯t want to stop. He must have imagined my appearance because of what he said. He¡¯s really stupid. ¡°You¡¯re quiet again, that¡¯s just a joke.¡±This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Stop talking to me, sir.¡±


    ¡°Practice calling me Love; we¡¯re husband and wife and no longer in an employee-employer rtionship. It¡¯s very awkward if other people hear you call me sir.¡±


    It¡¯s true, but ¡°It¡¯s not that easy. I need to condition myself first,¡± I replied. That word should be an endearment for the person I love. I don¡¯t know why it is so important to him that we call each other that way. But I think he just wants to show off our fake rtionship. He is probably thinking about his ex, who left him and wants to show the girl that he has moved on. His ego and pride are his tough opponents.

 Chapter 5

    Sarina


    Maximus and I have been living together for a week, but he still hasn¡¯t touched me. I was a little surprised because even though we slept beside each other, he didn¡¯t even hug me. Our marriage is already in process, and I don¡¯t know if he is still in his right mind or what. Because of his stupidity, I find it hard to believe that he hasn¡¯t taken what he paid for and what we agreed.


    I also sent my mom the 4 million to pay Dad¡¯s debt after I asked my husband for the full payment we agreed to.


    We were in our bedroom, and I was dressing him up. We just showered together. I didn¡¯t want to, but he was naughty, so I just let it happen. I even thought he would want to fuck me already, but no. ¡°Love,¡± he said, making me look at him. ¡°Can you check if the driver is ready?¡±


    ¡°Why? Are we going somewhere?¡± He didn¡¯t tell me about us going somewhere, so I wondered why he asked for the driver. ¡°Do you want to change your clothes? You¡¯re only wearing a T-shirt and shorts.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s okay, I¡¯m just going to the hospital.¡±


    ¡°Huh? Why didn¡¯t you tell me right away? If you¡¯re okay with your clothes, let me change first so I cane with you,¡± I answered.


    ¡°There¡¯s no need for you toe. I¡¯ll have the driver with me, so I¡¯ll be fine.¡±


    ¡°What? No. I don¡¯t want people to say something about me. As your wife, I should apany you wherever you want, especially when you¡¯re like that. Wait here, I¡¯ll be quick.¡± And that¡¯s it; I changed into a pair of pants and a T-shirt, rather than what I was wearing earlier, just a camisole and short shorts.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± I said, and we set off.


    ¡°I told you that you don¡¯t have toe,¡± Maximus said when we arrived at the hospital, and Aries greeted us with a big smile. ¡°My assistant is here,¡± he added.


    ¡°It¡¯s fine, I¡¯m already here. You should have told me about it before we leave,¡± I answered, smiling at Aries.


    ¡°Just stay here,¡± Maximus said before asking his assistant to push his wheelchair instead.


    ¡°Why?¡± I asked, confused. I should be the one who shoulde with him and not Aries.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want you to hear what my doctor says.¡±


    ¡°What if I hear it?¡±


    ¡°You cane with me next time when I¡¯m sure the result will be good, and you¡¯ll be happy.¡±


    ¡°What does that have to do with my happiness?¡±


    ¡°Just stay here,¡± he said and asked Aries to continue pushing his wheelchair so I didn¡¯t argue anymore. But just for a moment, his assistant also came out.


    ¡°He doesn¡¯t want me inside either,¡± he said, to which I just nodded. It¡¯s up to him if he doesn¡¯t want to be with someone. That womanizer will call if he needs anything.


    Not long after, he came out with the doctor, who was smiling at me. ¡°How is he, doc?¡± I asked. He looked at Maximus first before answering with a hearty, sweet smile. What¡¯s that? Why does he look like he¡¯s teasing me?


    ¡°Mrs. Lardizabal, he¡¯s okay. I already know doctors who will take care of him and do the surgery,¡± he exined, ¡°But please just help him in his therapy. He should be able to walk now, which won¡¯t happen if he¡¯s just sitting in his wheelchair.¡±


    ¡°Ah, okay, I¡¯ll do that,¡± I replied. Then I felt Maximus hold my hand as I stood next to him. It was fine with me because I knew that he needed my support.


    ¡°Sir, I¡¯m returning to the office,¡± said Aries.


    ¡°Okay, don¡¯t forget to send all the documents I need to look into,¡± my husband said. Iughed internally because of what he said, but I just shook my head because this man¡¯s confidence was on a different level.


    Aries was still with us when we decided to go to the parking lot where the driver was waiting. The elevator we were riding stopped at the ground floor, and Maximus and I got out first while I pushed his wheelchair. Aries was following behind us. We were close to the exit door when I noticed a woman staring at my husband, making me crease my forehead.


    I wondered who she was, so I stopped and looked at her. She was still looking at Maximus like she knew him, and I didn¡¯t know how I felt. Do they know each other? ¡°Love, why did we stop?¡± I heard my husband ask. It was as if cold water had been poured on the woman, who seemed to have awakened from sleep because she was startled. Then she looked at me and then at Maximus again. ¡°Love,¡± my husband said again.


    ¡°Huh? Sorry, I thought I knew someone,¡± I said, and then the girl started walking away from us. Out of curiosity, I followed her with my gaze. ¡°Who is that, Love? Aren¡¯t we leaving yet?¡± Maximus asked again, which is why my attention returned to him. But before that, I noticed Aries also followed the woman with his gaze. And I wondered why his eyes widened when he saw me looking at him.


    ¡°You know her?¡± I asked.N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    ¡°Huh? No, ma¡¯am,¡± he said quickly.


    ¡°Who is that?¡± it was Maximus again.


    ¡°No, I don¡¯t know either. She was looking at us, so I thought I knew her.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re with me. Are you still looking at another man?¡± he asked, acting jealous.


    ¡°I¡¯m looking at a woman, not a man. I¡¯m not like you!¡± I said immediately, pushing his wheelchair again until we reached the parking lot.


    We went straight home, and one thing I admire about Maximus is that even though he¡¯s only wearing a t-shirt and simple walking shorts and in a wheelchair, women still stare at him. It¡¯s hard to leave him alone because there¡¯s sure to be a girl around him right away.


    ¡°Love, love, love!¡±


    ¡°What is it? Why do you keep repeating that word?¡± I asked annoyingly. We were sitting together on the sofa, yet he called me as if I was far from him. ¡°Why can¡¯t you just tell me what you need?¡±


    ¡°Maybe it¡¯s because you don¡¯t hear me,¡± he said, still smiling, so I ignored him.


    ¡°You know, I want you to recover quickly so you¡¯ll know how my eyes squint and re at you for pissing me off.¡±


    ¡°I would rather see you roll your eyes when I eat your pussy.¡±


    ¡°Sir!¡± I said in surprise.


    ¡°Love. When are you going to call me that? Do you think I didn¡¯t notice that you didn¡¯t call me by endearment, just as we agreed? Remember, we have a contract, and I have already given you my full payment, so you should be more willing to fulfill what we agreed upon.¡±


    Shit will he start iming what he paid for?


    ¡°Sir, Ma¡¯am, have a snack first,¡± said the maid as she ced juice and donuts on the center table.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Maximus said while I didn¡¯t say anything and got a donut.


    ¡°Don¡¯t forget about me, Love,¡± said the idiot.


    ¡°I will be leaving now ande back tomorrow morning,¡± said Lisa, the maid.


    ¡°Alright, thanks again for the snack,¡± Maximus and I said almost simultaneously. And that¡¯s it; we were the only ones left. I turned on the TV to watch while eating when I suddenly felt my husband pulling me.


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°When we are next to each other like this, I want you to be very close to me.¡±


    ¡°And why?¡±


    ¡°So that my hands can y,¡± then he put one of his hands inside my t-shirt and went all the way under my bra, making me feel the warmth of his palm, and it also felt nice to have his finger y with my nipple.


    ¡°Ohh..¡± shit, why did I moan?

 Chapter 6

    Sarina


    Woah! What is this I¡¯m feeling? I¡¯m not innocent, and I¡¯ve experienced being intimate with my ex-boyfriend, not all the way though. Still, the feeling that Maximus¡¯ hands give me is different. ¡°You were saying, love?¡± he asked. I had closed my eyes because of the sensation caused by his yful fingers, making me open my eyes abruptly.


    ¡°Ohh¡­ that¡­ I mean, the donut tastes good,¡± I answered, thinking how red my cheeks were and feeling thankful that he couldn¡¯t see me.


    ¡°The donut is delicious?¡± he asked teasingly, smiling and looking at me. Really shit, why does he seem to see me when he smiles? If I hadn¡¯t known from the beginning that he was blind and cripled, I would have thought he was just fooling me. It¡¯s just that even in the mansion, the servants already know what happened there.


    ¡°Yes, taste it,¡± I answered as I put a donut next to his mouth so he could take a bite. But I tried pping it in his mouth when I noticed he was grinning, which annoyed me because I thought he knew exactly what was happening to me.


    ¡°L-love!¡± he said as he withdrew his hand that must have lost the desire to y with my nipples. I got some juice, seeing how he was choking because of the donut I forced into his mouth. Of course, I still have a conscience.


    ¡°Okay, drink.¡± Then I brought the ss of juice closer to his mouth, and he quickly gulped down.


    ¡°Are you trying to kill me, love?¡± he asked with a frown. Then I saw his hand raised, and it was toote for me to get away from him as he already pulled me closer to him. ¡°Remember that I haven¡¯t taken what I paid for, and then you¡¯re still like that. Don¡¯t tell me you have no intention of fulfilling our contract?¡± he asked. It was annoying because his face was so close, and he could smell me, making me self-conscious.


    ¡°I-I¡¯m not stopping you. That¡¯s your decision, not mine.¡± I said and saw her smirk again. He looks like a sex maniac when he acts like that. But why doesn¡¯t he look disgusting and scary? He could even make me feel wet in the part between my legs.


    ¡°For now, I will only indulge myself in touching you. ¡®I¡¯ll take you when I can finally see how much you like what I¡¯m doing to you.¡±


    ¡°T-then eats first,¡± I said while taking another bite of the donut, which he bit into. Sheesh. It¡¯s like he kissed me because he bit into my food.


    Days passed, and Maximus¡¯ therapy began. I can see his determination to walk, so I¡¯m happy for him. And just like he said, he gets himself satisfied by touching and kissing me. Because he¡¯s handsome and looks hot, it was hard for me to resist him. Also, a contract binds us, so no matter what, I had to let him do what he wanted.


    Yes, I don¡¯t love him, but whether I admit it or not, I enjoy what he does to me. It made me wonder iffort women feel this way. The only difference between us is that only one man can taste and touch my alluring body. Shit, alluring! How can I call myself that when, just like what Maximus said, I¡¯m t-chested?


    We are at the hospital again for his check-up with his eye doctor and to schedule his surgery. It¡¯s different when you¡¯re rich; you immediately get what you want. After talking with his doctor, we went to his therapist.


    I don¡¯t know the therapist; maybe he¡¯s new. When I was working at that hospital, he wasn¡¯t there yet. I shrugged my shoulders and watched what they were doing. I often see them whispering; I can¡¯t hear what they are discussing, so I think they don¡¯t want me to hear their topic.


    ¡°Max, I¡¯ll leave first,¡± I said, making them both turn to look at me.


    ¡°Where are you going?¡± asked my husband, who seemed unwilling to agree.Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g


    ¡°Just buying something to eat. What do you want?¡± I asked so that he wouldn¡¯t think that I was very selfish.


    ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll have coffee,¡± he answered before I left them. I¡¯m sure they still need more time for his therapy, so I n to eat there. I¡¯ll grab a little bite because Maximus likes having a heavy dinner.


    I was about to go to the elevator when I saw the woman I saw looking at my husband the first time we came here for a check-up. And just like before, she was also looking at me, making me crease my forehead because she looked pissed or something. I don¡¯t know. Why? What did I do? I just shrugged my shoulders and entered the elevator that had just opened while I saw that the woman continued to walk. Who is she going to visit here?


    Because Maximus likes coffee, I went to the coffee shop. I decided to buy my snack there to avoid another line that I knew would take longer since my order had already taken too long, and then I went back to my husband.


    As soon as I entered the therapy room, I saw the woman I had met earlier and the shameless Maximus kissing. I didn¡¯t notice that I had dropped the things I was carrying, which startled them, and they looked my way.


    ¡°Love, did someonee in?¡± my idiot husband asked.


    ¡°Who do you call love, me or the one you kiss?¡± I asked. If looks could kill, I¡¯m sure they are both lying on the floor by now.


    ¡°Love, you just arrived?¡± he asked curiously. ¡°Who¡¯s with me here?¡± In my annoyance, I approached the woman and pped her. The one that hurts so she can¡¯t forget. Why did I do that? I also do not know, maybe because she took advantage of my husband¡¯s condition.


    ¡°How dare you!¡± the woman¡¯s angry scream.


    ¡°Wait, Midori, is that you?¡± Maximus asked again, confused. And he knows the woman¡¯s voice?


    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s me, babe,¡± said the Japanese-looking woman. ¡°You still remember my voice. I knew you still think of me,¡± she added as she tried to get closer to Maximus again, but I quickly blocked her.


    ¡°No matter how much he thinks of you, I don¡¯t care,¡± I boldly told her. ¡°For now, he¡¯s just a fantasy for you because he¡¯s my husband,¡± I added.


    ¡°What!¡± she eximed. As long as Maximus is my husband, I will not allow another woman to be near him. I¡¯m not stupid enough to be a martyr. I have self-respect, so mistresses won¡¯t work on me!

 Chapter 7

    Sarina


    That idiot! Here I am at an empty table in the coffee shop where I bought the coffee for Maximus and watching him and the bitch named Midori talk. I can see her wiping her eyes so hard that anyone would think she was being aggrieved when I couldn¡¯t see a single drop of her tears. She must have thought she could fool Maximus because he couldn¡¯t see her.


    It so happens that Midori is also the same woman who left him after he went back from the States blind and confined to his wheelchair. She¡¯s Maximus¡¯ ex-girlfriend, who quickly broke up when she discovered his condition. I guess she thought my husband would never be able to see or walk again, so she quickly ran away as fast as four o¡¯clock. Charot! I don¡¯t know their past, and I have no idea.


    Maybe she wasn¡¯t happy that Maximus couldn¡¯t satisfy her anymore, so she left the man. If only she had known how sex addict he was, even in his condition, she probably wouldn¡¯t have left.


    I couldn¡¯t stand it anymore, so I stood up and approached them. ¡°Aren¡¯t you done yet?¡± I asked, annoyed.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Love. It¡¯s okay; we¡¯re done talking,¡± said Maximus as he moved his wheelchair back. I quickly positioned myself behind it and started pushing.


    ¡°What? No, we¡¯re not done talking yet, babe.¡± Midoriu said, stopping us.


    ¡°Oh, then talk by yourself,¡± I told her. How dare she, so thick-skinned, keep calling him babe when Maximus has already called me Love?


    ¡°What did you say?¡± the bitch whined at me.


    ¡°If you didn¡¯t get it, that¡¯s all you. What is it, Max? Are you done talking, or will I just leave you here and let your assistant drive you home?¡± I asked my husband impatiently because I would leave him with this woman if he wanted to.


    ¡°Come on, babe. Let¡¯s talk; let¡¯s not end like this.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m married, Midori. There¡¯s nothing I can do about it.¡±


    ¡°You can, why don¡¯t you annul your marriage?¡± What the? Can I just p her about 20 times?


    ¡°My wife is here. Why are you saying things like that?¡± Maximus said angrily, which made me happy. At least, even though he¡¯s crazy, he still remembers who I am in his life.


    ¡°I thought you loved me?¡± Midori said pitifully that her tears ran down her cheeks.


    ¡°Yes,¡± said the idiot, making me turn my head at him and re. I suddenly feel like poking his eyes so he will never have a chance to see again. ¡°But I am married and intend to keep it,¡± he added.


    ¡°No, please. Don¡¯t let yourself suffer by continuously living with this bitch. She doesn¡¯t deserve you.¡±


    ¡°Excuse me? And who deserves him, you?¡± I eximed. You crazy bitch! ¡°Did you forget what you did after discovering his condition? You ran away!¡± I added. I am not letting myself be belittled by someone like her. ¡°And I am not a bitch, maybe you are!¡±


    Midori¡¯s eyes widened, the same with her nose. I guess she didn¡¯t think I knew what she did.


    ¡°I have my reasons, babe. I didn¡¯t want to leave you at that time. Why do you think I¡¯m here if I don¡¯t love you?¡±


    ¡°Because you saw him in the hospital and wondered why he was there. Then you found out that he¡¯s going to undergo surgery, so you¡¯re here, acting pitiful.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not true, babe. I identally saw you earlier, so I tried to talk to you,¡± Oh yeah? Is she thinking that I will believe that? Is she going to stand by her lie? Maximus is already blind, and she still wants him to look foolish. Does she think Aries didn¡¯t see her? I shook my head in annoyance.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go, Sarina,¡± said Maximus suddenly. Did he just call me Sarina now? Where? Where is his endearment, Love? ¡°We¡¯ll go ahead, Midori.¡±


    I pushed his wheelchair, but before I walkedpletely, I looked at Midori and stuck out my tongue. I quickly took Maximus out of the coffee shop before he changed his mind. Oh, ha, I¡¯m not a saint to let him cross the fence on my watch.


    Our marriage continued, as well as my husband¡¯s treatment, and the doctor saw an improvement in his therapy. Even I am happy with what I see because he can stand alone. The only thing I¡¯m not happy about is the constant presence of the bitch. It doesn¡¯t seem like she will stop, even though Maximus always says she can¡¯t stay.


    That¡¯s based on what I hear whenever I hear them talk. I don¡¯t know. Maybe it¡¯s because my crazy husband knows I¡¯m just around; that¡¯s why he says that, but when I¡¯m not there, maybe they are still working on doing some miracles.


    As the days went by, I could tell Maximus was amazing. Even though I know the reason for our agreement and the exchange of the money he gave me, he still does not force me to take what he should. Yes, we make out. But that¡¯s all. He only fingered me and nothing else.


    He is also very thoughtful, considerate, and sweet to me. Sometimes I can¡¯t believe that he is like that. And all those qualities that I began to see in him were being clouded by the bitch who keeps on appearing during his therapy, just like now.


    ¡°What are you doing here?¡± I asked. It¡¯s annoying because she always attends to Maximus first.


    ¡°I¡¯m taking care of my boyfriend,¡± she replied, unbothered. Thick-skinned, isn¡¯t she?


    ¡°Who happens to be my HUSBAND?¡± I said the same. I emphasized thest word to put her in her ce.


    ¡°He¡¯s my boyfriend, and we¡¯re engaged; you destroyed our rtionship.¡±


    ¡°Are you that crazy and foolish? Am I the one who gets in between you? Should I remind you how you left him when you discovered his condition!¡±


    ¡°Sarina, that¡¯s enough,¡± I suddenly looked at Maximus because he asked me to stop.


    ¡°You didn¡¯t inform me; you wanted her to be here; you should have told me so I wouldn¡¯t have wasted my time apanying you.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant. I¡¯m just saying that maybe people are looking at you; it¡¯s embarrassing.¡±


    ¡°Am I the one who should be ashamed? I¡¯m your wife while she keeps hanging around you, iming to be your girlfriend! And that¡¯s okay with you?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not what I meant, Sarina,¡±N?velDrama.Org exclusive content.


    ¡°Since I don¡¯t care about you, leaving you alone is better. I can make both of you happy,¡± I said, then left.


    It¡¯s annoying that I¡¯m the one he¡¯s reprimanding when that woman is disrespectful enough to shout in my face that they¡¯re in a rtionship. I already look stupid and ridiculous for keeping on telling the bitch that I am his wife!

 Chapter 8

    MATURE CONTENT!!


    Sarina


    ¡°Try to leave me like that again, Sarina; you¡¯re gonna get what you¡¯re looking for,¡± Maximus said angrily, but I ignored him and kept scrolling on my cell phone. ¡°Are you listening?¡± he asked, but I still didn¡¯t reply. Why should I care about someone who cares more about what others have to say other than my feelings?


    He had just arrived from the hospital with his assistant (who brought him home after I gave him a ring). As soon as Aries left after he pushed Maximus¡¯ wheelchair beside the couch that I was sitting on, he started nagging. Does he think his anger affects me? ¡°Sarina!¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t yell at me!¡± I shouted, too. Is he thinking I would let him do that to me because he had already paid me? ¡°I¡¯d do it again if I could see that bitch in the hospital next time. So tell me now if you¡¯ll let her flirt with you so I won¡¯t go with you anymore.¡±


    ¡°Are you jealous?¡± he asked. I wanted to burst outughing, but I held back.


    ¡°Am I jealous? Why would I get jealous? Who are you to me? You mean nothing,¡± I said, my eyes widened in anger. ¡°The reason why I was acting like this was because even though I sold my body to you, I still have respect for myself as a person and as a woman. I will not allow you to fool me right on my face.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not fooling you. Is it bad to stop you from doing something I knew would only hurt you in the end?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t make a fool out of me. Tell that woman not to show herself if you don¡¯t want me to talk.¡±


    ¡°How do you think I will do that? Do you see my situation? Even if I want to avoid her, I can¡¯t.¡±N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.


    ¡°That¡¯s why I decided to avoid her instead since being your wife makes me feel ashamed seeing you two flirting! Because no matter what happens, if I ever see your girlfriend around you, I will only nag at her repeatedly.¡±


    ¡°Ex girlfriend, Sarina. We broke up already,¡± he said, looking tired of our arguments. He slowly stood up from his wheelchair before gently tapping and supporting himself as he transferred to the couch to sit beside me. I was about to get up so that we wouldn¡¯t be sitting next to each other, but he pulled me closer very quickly, causing me to sit down again and this time on hisp.


    He held me by my face and stared at me as if he could see me. Of course, I also stared back, ¡°Kiss me, Sarina,¡± he said, which surprised me.


    ¡°What? Are you stupid?¡± I asked.


    ¡°I don¡¯t see anything wrong with what I said; remember, you¡¯re my wife.¡±


    ¡°You remember that now?¡±


    ¡°Love, can you initiate our intimacy? As you can see, I can¡¯t chase you yet.¡±


    ¡°Initiate yourself,¡± I said, ¡°and let me go.¡± I tried to stand up at the same time to get away from him, but he was holding me tightly, yet not enough to hurt me. He held me by my chin and forced me to face him while one of his hands wrapped around my waist.


    ¡°Alright, let me do the honor.¡± My eyes widened because he kissed me right in my mouth. In the past, he was still groping my mouth before he slowly brought his face closer. But now, his kissing was very fast, urate, and intense.


    He pulled his mouth away from me slightly after a while. I¡¯m not responding because I¡¯m still mad at him. ¡°Kiss me back. You have an obligation to me. Remember, we have an agreement,¡± he said. I could feel his hot breathing out of his mouth as he talked, as well as the slight touch of his lips every time he uttered a word.


    Because he reminded me of our contract, I did as he said. That¡¯s why when he kissed me again, I responded. To be honest, there was no problem kissing him back. He always made me feel wanton naturally because it felt good. Especially when he teases my lips with his as well as his tongue. But I¡¯m pissed right now.


    The hand that was holding my chin was now on my chest. He always tells me that I am t-chested, but he likes to touch and suck them. Because of what he was doing, I couldn¡¯t stop moaning.


    In fact, I¡¯m already in awe; this guy smells so good, the same as what he was doing to me. I prepared myself to lie down on the couch, which was sure to happen sooner orter; it always does whenever we¡¯re close like this.


    ¡°You have to tell me that you are enjoying this, Love,¡± he said as our mouths parted slightly to gasp for air. Suddenly, I opened my eyes and saw how he was looking at me. Shit, his eyes are so beautiful, they were tantalizing. He looked at me as if he was attracted to me and the long eyshes women were dying to have, making me think that he could actually see me. I was about to answer when I felt his hand that was busy on my chest earlier on my chin before kissing me again.


    I fight for dominance. Our tongues were fencing in my mouth at the same time. I couldn¡¯t stop moaning when his hand reached inside my skirt and quickly inserted it under my panties.


    ¡°Ohhh¡­¡± I moaned into his mouth.


    One of my hands was groping his polo shirt and gently caressing his chest while the other was on his cheek before I clung to his nape.


    Shit, it really tastes good because I can feel his finger slide into my womanhood, and I can already anticipate him fingering me. The sensation he makes me feel is crazy, and I can¡¯t stop imagining what he will do to me when he finally sees me and walks.


    I¡¯m too dizzy from the sensation, and my panties are wet. I couldn¡¯t wait for him to finally insert his finger inside me, and it¡¯s annoying because he¡¯s teasing me. ¡°Ahhh..¡± I moaned again because I felt one of his fingers on the cheek of my womanhood.


    ¡°Ma¡¯am, Sir!¡± Lisa said, which startled me and Maximus. Shit! I forgot she is still here!

 Chapter 9

    Sarina


    ¡°Love, I need to go to the office,¡± said Maximus. It¡¯s Monday morning, and we are currently having breakfast. I was the one who prepared because Lisa was not around. She said she had something important to attend to for her son. It¡¯s okay because I know how to do housework.


    ¡°Okay,¡± was my short reply as I continued eating.


    ¡°Are you still angry about what happened a week ago?¡±


    ¡°I have no right to be angry.¡±


    ¡°Love, I have already exined.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m just saying, since you paid me, you can do whatever you want. Our contract is over just after one year,¡± I replied before I ate thest spoonful of my rice. Then I drank water.


    I ate for a long time because I would feed my husband after I ate mine. There is no problem. I understand his situation and am not a bad person to just leave him alone. So even though I¡¯ve been annoyed with him for a week now and can¡¯t stand him, I can¡¯t let him do things by himself either.


    ¡°Don¡¯t remind me about our contract repeatedly. I didn¡¯t force you. After I made an offer to you and you rejected it, I didn¡¯t insist on it anymore.¡± I can feel the anger in his tone. Maybe I was wrong to show him that. I benefited another way because we did pay what my father owed, and there was still some left over.


    ¡°I¡¯m just saying,¡± I said. ¡°What time do we leave?¡±


    ¡°Just after lunch. I¡¯m meeting someone, and then we¡¯ll go straight to the hospital.¡± He said it well, so I shrugged my shoulders and continued feeding him. I don¡¯t know why he has the energy to eat now when we only have eggs. It¡¯s not like when Lisa prepares when there are really many options.


    Around 11 a. m., we left and ate outside. I was going to cook, but he stopped me and invited me to eat at a restaurant near hispany so that we could go straight there afterward. I don¡¯t have a problem with that; at least I don¡¯t have to cook, and I don¡¯t even know what I¡¯m going to cook, either.


    He can stand, but I still help him in his wheelchair, which is what his therapist instructed him to do so as not to stress his legs and knees. Just a little more, and he will be able to walk again.


    We are already at the restaurant and are sitting while waiting for our order. Maximus and I talk casually, and I enjoy it. He tells me things about him, which helps me because I still get to know him very well. We were sitting in a corner because Maximus didn¡¯t want people to see him; maybe he was ashamed of his condition, especially if sexy women saw him or the former women who passed through his hands.


    ¡°Love, what if we leave the country after my eye surgery?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t have a passport,¡± I answered quickly, as I didn¡¯t want him to expect anything from me. It¡¯s enough that we¡¯re like this. As much as possible, I don¡¯t want to know some things about him because I might just miss him when we break up. I avoided falling in love with him, knowing I would be the only one who would end up miserable. So I don¡¯t want to make any memories with him that will happen when we leave the country.


    ¡°It¡¯s still a long time; you can still get it. Above all, it¡¯s easy to get a passport,¡± he also said.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to leave the country.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m afraid of getting in the airnes.¡± I just made excuses rather than telling the truth.


    ¡°Have you ever been on a ne?¡±


    ¡°Not yet.¡±


    ¡°How did you get scared when you haven¡¯t experienced riding yet?¡±


    ¡°Do I have to die first before I get afraid to die?¡± I sounded like a jerk, but leave it at that. ¡°It¡¯s okay that we are like this, Maximus. Let¡¯s not leave or go somewhere like we were a normal couple.¡±


    ¡°While married, let¡¯s do what married couples normally do. Besides, when are you going to call me Love, too?¡±


    I took a deep breath because that endearment is what I don¡¯t want to hear the most. Yes, my ex also calls me that way. We call each other by that endearment. But what happened? We also broke up because of another woman.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want endearment Maximus. If you want to call me that, it¡¯s up to you. But please, don¡¯t force me.¡±


    He didn¡¯t say a word. I remembered he included that in our contract, and fortunately, he kept quiet. We started eating when our orders arrived. Just like this morning, he was also eating with gusto. What the hell is going on with this one?Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g


    As I ate and fed him, I couldn¡¯t help but frown. It¡¯s like there¡¯s something different about him, I don¡¯t know. He seemed happy, which I couldn¡¯t understand. ¡°Why do you seem happy?¡± I couldn¡¯t stop myself from asking.


    ¡°Huh? How happy?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know; you seem in a good mood. Did something happen?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m with you; I¡¯m imagining we¡¯re dating.¡±


    ¡°Date? We¡¯re just having lunch, Maximus.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s also a date. We¡¯re at a restaurant having lunch¡±


    ¡°Correction, I¡¯m the only one giving you a bite,¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry; after my surgery, I will be the one who will feed you.¡± I rolled my eyes because of what he said, but I thought it was crazy, so I just ignored it.


    ¡°Yeah, right¡­¡±


    ¡°You sounded like you don¡¯t believe me. Have you been deceived all your life by the people you met?¡± he asked, making me stare at him. I couldn¡¯t answer because it was as if he had sprinkled salt on my wound. I know he doesn¡¯t know anything about that. Still, because I remembered an incident that I would like to forget, I felt disgusted with it. ¡°You didn¡¯t answer, don¡¯t tell me¡±


    ¡°Just eat and don¡¯t mind me. Whatever happened in my past is mine alone.¡± He didn¡¯t say a word and just stared at me. I chuckle when I think of his appearance because the way he looks at me makes me think he could see me.


    ¡°Ah¡± he said, opening his mouth and waiting for me to feed him. I decided to let him eat to shut his mouth.


    The food is delicious, and I¡¯m d that one of the perks of bing Mrs. Lardizabal is that I can eat at any expensive restaurant, just like now. Maximus even gave me a supplementary credit card so that if I wanted to buy something, I could do so. I don¡¯t need that because he still pays me as his nurse.


    We were almost done and having dessert when his cell phone rang. I took it to answer before handing it to him. I didn¡¯t know, but I suddenly got nervous when I saw his grandmother¡¯s name.


    ¡°Grandma,¡± he said while looking at her.


    ¡°And what did she say?¡± he asked. ¡°I am already married; there is nothing you can do about it.¡± I could see his concern, and I¡¯m sure that the old woman¡¯s words were not good. I was suddenly nervous. My mother is still a fan of TV series, and I know very well how a rich man¡¯s mother or grandmother insults the poor female lead. Should I get ready for her? ¡°When are youing back?¡±


    I stopped eating the chocte cheesecake when I heard that because I was nervous, ¡°The day after tomorrow?¡± he asked. Shit!

 Chapter 10

    Sarina


    ¡°Grandma,¡± greeted Maximus. We were at the condo, and his grandmother had just arrived. I was lost and didn¡¯t know what to do because she was looking at me, his grandson, and our intertwined hands.


    ¡°Good morning,¡± I had to greet her as well so I wouldn¡¯t appear snobbish, or she¡¯d think I was disrespectful. She raised his eyebrows before facing Maximus.


    ¡°How are you, grandson?¡± she asked, settling herself on the couch next to Maximus¡¯ wheelchair. He was sitting there while I was on the other side, so we were like in a love triangle picture.


    ¡°As you can see, I¡¯m perfectly fine. My wife is taking care of me.¡±


    ¡°It must be because she gets paid for that!¡± Ouch! She didn¡¯t even honk her horn; I would have hit her if she wasn¡¯t so old.


    ¡°Grandma¡­¡±


    ¡°What? It¡¯s true! Why? Do you think she would work properly if she¡¯s not wellpensated? She had better do her job, or I will report her to the nurse¡¯s association.¡±


    ¡°Sarina is now my wife, grandma.¡±


    ¡°So?¡± the old woman asked, raising her brows. Maximus is so lucky that he couldn¡¯t see how his grandma looked. Since I was the one who was able to do that, I couldn¡¯t help but feel annoyed because I knew her anger was directed at me; I couldn¡¯t help but roll my eyes internally. Hmph!


    ¡°Calm down first, Madam, and you seem to be in a bad mood,¡± Lisa said, cing juice on the center table. ¡°And the weather here intensified it,¡± she added.


    ¡°Thank you so much, Lisa,¡± the old man said with a smile that raised my eyebrows, and Grandma saw that. ¡°And what makes you raise your eyebrows?¡± she asked again as Lisa left.


    ¡°It¡¯s because I notice you can be respectful, but why except me?¡± Of course, I also needed to answer.


    ¡°What! Is this the kind of woman you married?¡± Very angry and looking like she wants to hurt me, said Granny. That¡¯s all I can do; I don¡¯t want to talk back to her and appear disrespectful; she¡¯s still my husband¡¯s grandmother. Even I respect my father, who made me agree to the situation I¡¯m in now, even though I know this is how she¡¯ll react when she finds out that his grandson is married to a poor, starving nurse like me.


    ¡°With how you talk to her, anyone in her shoes would act the same.¡±


    ¡°Are you defending her? If Midori were the one you married, I wouldn¡¯t be doing this now. You know this woman only wants money from you.¡±


    ¡°Which didn¡¯t happen. Grandma, you know what Midori did after she saw my situation.¡±N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.


    ¡°Her father just influenced her. Your uncle Botan was scared for her. You know how parents are, especially since Midori is a girl; your uncle doesn¡¯t want his only princess to suffer.¡±


    What the! Botan, like a boner! He addresses him as Maximus¡¯ uncle, huh? If I know, it¡¯s just because he¡¯s rich. That¡¯s why she understands Midori¡¯s father¡¯s behavior.


    ¡°Grandma, I¡¯m already married, so we can do nothing. No matter what you insist on, I am not leaving my wife,¡± Maximus said, sounding and looking so sincere that I almost believed him. He is such a good actor.


    ¡°Maximus! I don¡¯t care about your marriage! The church didn¡¯t bless it.¡±


    ¡°Wow!¡± I eximed, causing the old woman to look at me.


    ¡°And what do you mean by that?¡± she asked angrily.


    ¡°No, I just didn¡¯t think you believed in God.¡± It doesn¡¯t appear to me that way, and of course, I didn¡¯t say that out loud. She¡¯s old and might get a heart attack if I continuously rant at her. I didn¡¯t want to be med if she died.


    ¡°Anyway, I¡¯m very happy that you thought about having surgery. If you had done that before, Midori wouldn¡¯t have had to stay away; you would have been so happy.¡±


    With that bitch¡¯s character? I doubt if my husband will be happy with her. She¡¯s a flirt! I want to shout at the old woman that Maximus is not suitable for that bitch.


    ¡°It was Sarina who encouraged me, grandma. So you should thank her,¡± said my husband, smiling. I don¡¯t remember encouraging him to have surgery or to undergo therapy. All we did was argue and fight with words because of his pervertedness.


    ¡°Hey, Maximus! No matter how much you build that woman up, I won¡¯t believe it and will never ept her. Naturally! She will try to do anything to get you. You¡¯re handsome and rich! What else would she be looking for?¡±


    ¡°Grandma, just because you think your grandson is God¡¯s gift to women doesn¡¯t mean every woman on earth will like him.¡±


    ¡°And you still want to appear clean and righteous. Isn¡¯t his money what attracts you to him?¡± she asked. I was about to answer, but Maximus stopped me.


    ¡°Grandma, don¡¯t say that. You didn¡¯t know how much effort I made to woo Sarina; I felt relieved that I made her fall for me.¡± Come on! Where did thate from? I looked at my husband, slowly getting up from his wheelchair and groping in the vacant space beside me and sitting.


    ¡°You can stand now?¡± the old woman asked in shock, happiness evident from her face. Maybe Maximus hadn¡¯t told her about the development of his therapy, which surprised her.


    ¡°Yes, grandma,¡± was my husband¡¯s reply, smiling.


    ¡°I¡¯m sure Midori will be happy to know about this!¡± What a shame! That woman knew that but didn¡¯t tell the old woman even though she had reported that Maximus and I were married. For what? So, may she appear in love with Maximus by epting him and his condition? Oh, she¡¯s fake!


    ¡°Grandma, please don¡¯t mention Midori before my wife.¡±


    ¡°And why not? And you know what? I invited her here as well¡­¡± This old woman gives me a high blood. Did she really invite that bitch here? Then we heard the doorbell ring, which Lisa quickly answered.


    ¡°Granny!!!¡± the bitch screamed excitedly.


    ¡°Oh, dear Midori..¡± The old woman smiled brightly, and it was obvious that she was happy to see the bitch. I can¡¯t help but make a face; it¡¯s annoying because she should be sweet to me. After all, I¡¯m his grandson¡¯s wife. Wealthy people are really like this. I felt Maximus holding my hand, so I turned and found him looking at me like he could actually see me.


    ¡°Are you okay, Love?¡±


    ¡°Of course! Why wouldn¡¯t I?¡± I also asked, trying to hide my annoyance for his grandmother. I don¡¯t know how long I can tolerate the old woman¡¯s behavior and treatment of me. Still, I will try not to talk back or make her angry because I¡¯m not used to doing that to people her age. I¡¯ve been disrespectful to my grandmother if I speak badly to her. Also, I don¡¯t want anyone to do that to my parents either.


    Right now, I have to be patient with her and the bitch, who looks like she¡¯s nning something bad based on the way she¡¯s grinning at me. I had a feeling that this was going to be a long day.

 Chapter 11

    Sarina


    ¡°Congrattions, Mr. Lardizabal!¡± his therapist said because he can finally walk normally. I¡¯m happy for Maximus because it¡¯s really hard just sitting in a wheelchair and not being able to do what you want. I also can¡¯t wait for his uing eye surgery. The surgeon who will handle him has arrived from another country, which, ording to my husband, his assistant, Aries, had a hard time finding.


    ¡°This is a call for a celebration!¡± said the old woman. ¡°Midori is sure to be very happy with this,¡± she added, and I showed her how I rolled my eyes at her.


    Yes, since Maximus¡¯ grandmother arrived, that bitch has always been present wherever we are. She visits freely, even in the condo, so I¡¯m even more upset with my husband. He doesn¡¯t forbid her froming, especially when the old woman isn¡¯t there.


    ¡°Hi!¡± the shrill scream of the speaking of the devil. I looked at her before I blocked my husband because I was sure, 100%, she would end up hugging Maximus. ¡°What do you think you¡¯re doing?¡± she asked with raised eyebrows.


    ¡°Exactly what you think I¡¯m doing.¡± is my straight answer.


    ¡°Sarina! Stay away from my grandson so his girlfriend can hug him.¡±


    ¡°Grandma, Sarina is my wife,¡± Maximus defended me. He should be if he wants our rtionship to be good.


    ¡°I do not care! Midori is the only woman who is right for you and no one else. Not that golddigger!¡±


    ¡°Even though I¡¯m poor, I don¡¯t have an attitude. Don¡¯t throw your money in my face because I don¡¯t need it. I can live with the little I have. I don¡¯t know about you. Can your money save you when the timees?¡± I said because I couldn¡¯t take her insults anymore. My parents didn¡¯t bring me up just to be trampled on by anyone.


    ¡°Sarina, she¡¯s my grandma,¡± Maximus said to me. I knew he would side with his grandmother because even though we were married, our contract was limited to bed and did not have a true meaning.


    ¡°I know that, Maximus. I haven¡¯t forgotten yet, but that doesn¡¯t mean I will let her say bad things to me either.¡±


    ¡°Did you hear that, woman?¡± his grandma said. The therapist, who just now seemed happy about my husband¡¯s condition, didn¡¯t know what to do, watching ufortably.


    ¡°You know what, if you can¡¯t respect grandma, you better leave.¡± said the bitch, making me re at her.


    ¡°Don¡¯t use that word against me when you don¡¯t know what it means,¡± I replied. This bitch is instigating misunderstandings between us.Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g


    ¡°Sarina, please stop now¡±. I looked at Maximus in disbelief when I saw how annoyed he was. He showed everyone that he¡¯d siding with them, not me, his wife.


    ¡°I see,¡± I said.


    ¡°Don¡¯t leave. I know what you are thinking, and I know you¡¯ll leave again because I¡¯m asking you to stop.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t leave. I¡¯m just going out so you can have a fun celebration with your loved ones.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not what I meant; when will you understand my reasons for this argument?¡± he said as if tired.


    ¡°Once you understand what I mean.¡±


    ¡°Let her, babe. I am here, and I will not leave you. I¡¯m always here for you; that¡¯s how much I love you.¡±


    ¡°Stop calling me that way, Midori.¡±


    ¡°Alright, get out. We will only call you when we need your services as my grandson¡¯s nurse!¡± said the old woman. I counted to ten to calm myself down because I didn¡¯t want to say something bad again, and then I went out.


    ¡°Sarina!¡± Maximus still calls me, and I know the two witches will only stop him from making mee back, so I continue walking out of the room.


    When I left his therapy room, I walked straight to the elevator and decided to get off the ground floor. Then I went to the coffee shop and sat at one of the tables while waiting for my order. I noticed that there were quite a lot of people. Maybe that¡¯s natural because the hospital beside it is also very popr.


    I don¡¯t know how long I¡¯ve been sitting there, and I didn¡¯t even realize that the coffee I ordered was gone. I thought too deeply about my situation now and finally realized how hard life is for poor people like me.


    Because of what happened, I couldn¡¯t stop thinking about my former and first love. We were childhood friends and sweethearts; honestly, I hoped we would be together until the end. They are rich, but unlike Maximus¡¯ grandmother, his parents ept me. I was always present on every asion in their mansion, and that¡¯s why everyone in our town thought we would stay together.


    Well, maybe that¡¯s how life is. Everything has an end because I saw him in another woman¡¯sp one day. That was why I left the province and lived here in Man, hoping to forget, which I gradually overcame, even if notpletely.


    After all, I¡¯m married to Maximus. I took a deep breath and got up from where I was sitting to return to my husband. We¡¯ve been together for a few months, so I must be patient. I had just exited the elevator on the floor where Ist left my husband when I was stopped from walking.


    It was as if I was nailed to where I was standing because the man who had just entered my mind was now standing in front of me and staring intently. ¡°Love,¡± he said. I was speechless; I didn¡¯t know what to do. But when I thought that I was already married, I walked away, but he stopped me and forced me to face him. ¡°Love, please, let¡¯s talk.¡±


    ¡°We don¡¯t have anything else to talk about, Jason.¡± I release his grip on my arm, fearing that someone will see us. I¡¯m known at the hospital because I worked here before Maximus hired me as his private nurse. Another thing is that maybeter, one of the two witches in my life will see me, tell my husband, and think bad things about me.


    ¡°Love, please; I¡¯ve been waiting for this opportunity for a long time. I tried to find out what happened before that hurt you because I want to face you and prove my innocence.¡±


    ¡°And?¡± I asked. Although the truth wouldn¡¯t matter since I am already married, if he didn¡¯t really cheat on me, I would not hate him anymore.


    ¡°If you let me, I can exin to you everything that happened,¡± he said with a smile. I missed him, so I couldn¡¯t help but hug him as tears cut down my cheeks.

 Chapter 12

    Sarina


    I went to Maximus¡¯ room after Jason and I talked and found out that the two witches were gone. Where did they go? ¡°You¡¯re done?¡± I asked my husband who was sitting in his wheelchair, holding his cell phone, looking like he was waiting for someone. I noticed that he was in a bad mood. Why? It wasn¡¯t because of what I said and did earlier, right?


    ¡°Where have you been?¡± he asked, and I couldn¡¯t figure out why he seemed different from me.


    ¡°Just outside. I said I won¡¯t go home, didn¡¯t I?¡± I answered before asking, ¡°Where are they?¡±


    ¡°If you¡¯re just outside, why don¡¯t you know where they are?¡±


    ¡°I wasn¡¯t informed I needed to look after them too.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re looking for them, aren¡¯t you? You said you were just outside; you shouldn¡¯t have known they had already left,¡± he replied angrily.


    ¡°Are you angry because of what happened earlier?¡± I asked but didn¡¯t receive a reply. Instead,


    ¡°Let¡¯s go home, Sarina,¡± he said before he got up. Now that he could actually walk, he looked different. His stance was very confident. If he weren¡¯t blind, he would probably be very intimidating.


    I used to push his wheelchair before. But now that he can walk by himself, he still needs me. He¡¯s still blind, so he still needs my support. And he might go somewhere else if I let him walk by himself. I was about to hold him back, but he beat me to it.


    He groped my arm, slid his hand down to mine, and intertwined our fingers before we started walking out of the room. The car was in the basement parking lot, so we went straight to the elevator.


    I also didn¡¯t expect Jason to be there; I was about to press the basement parking button when he stopped the elevator from closing. He got in, looking at us and then at our intertwined hands. ¡°You have eaten already, right?¡± my husband asked in a different tone. He sounded sweet while his thumb gently rubbed my hand he was holding.


    ¡°Y-yeah,¡± why am I nervous? I know Jason and told him I¡¯m already married, so we can¡¯t be together anymore. I even told him about my contract with Maximus, but I changed it slightly. I don¡¯t want him to know that for 10 million, I agreed to let Maximus use my body.


    ¡°What did you eat?¡± he asked. Why is it still asking? ¡°Ah, I¡¯ll just guess.¡± Then he suddenly brought me in front of him and touched my chin before kissing me. I was about to get away from him, but his grip was tight. Why did he suddenly kiss me? I identally looked at Jason and saw the surprise and pain in his eyes.


    I felt Maximus¡¯ tongue enter my mouth while sucking my tongue. I don¡¯t know how long it was until I felt him stop. ¡°Hmm.. You had coffee,¡± he said.


    The elevator rang, so I looked at the door and found out we were in the basement. I quickly guided Maximus out while I couldn¡¯t look at Jason, who was walking behind us. The driver greeted us and opened the car door, but he let me go first instead of going in like before.


    ¡°You go first,¡± I said. Then I looked at Jason, who was also getting into the red Pajero we both chose when he bought it. It wasn¡¯t there when we arrived, so I didn¡¯t expect our cars to be nearby.


    ¡°I know what I¡¯m doing, Sarina.¡± I was shocked by what Maximus said, so I followed him to prevent any more arguments. He didn¡¯t go in right away; he just stood for a few seconds before finally getting in. At the same time, I saw the Pajero leave. The driver turned to the driver¡¯s seat and started driving.


    While on the way, Jason was on my mind, including the words he said. He was willing to wait until the end of my contract, which I don¡¯t know if I¡¯ll be happy with or what. What am I going to do? Then I remember our conversation;N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    ¡°I¡¯m ready to wait, Love. You are the only woman I love. I¡¯m only happy when I¡¯m with you.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t understand; I left you because of another woman I saw with you. I¡¯m already married, so how can you ept me despite my current situation?¡±


    ¡°Because I love you, and it¡¯s my fault that we broke up. I was not careful and let Abigail do that to our rtionship, so I am not taking it against you. Please, Love, promise me that after your contract ends, you will return to me. I will wait for you, and I hope you don¡¯t stop me from seeing you at least.¡±


    I was confused because I didn¡¯t want to be a bad woman. And with what he said, I might turn out to be if I didn¡¯t stop him from waiting. I don¡¯t want to push him into something I¡¯m unsure about.


    ¡°What are you thinking?¡± I was startled by Maximus¡¯ sudden question, and at the same time, he tightened his grip on my hand.


    ¡°Nothing; besides, it hurts me. You¡¯re holding me so tight.¡± It was as if he had lost his temper and quickly let go of me.


    ¡°What are you thinking?¡±


    ¡°Nothing!¡± I said, feeling annoyed.


    ¡°You just feel like not talking and acting something you¡¯re not, and you¡¯re telling me it¡¯s nothing?¡±


    ¡°Well, no. It¡¯s because I was thinking that when we get home, your grandmother and that bitch will be there again.¡±


    ¡°You sounded like a jealous wife.¡±


    ¡°I am not jealous!¡± I eximed.


    ¡°Yeah, I know.¡± I looked at him suddenly, but he looked outside as if he could see. I just shook my head because I¡¯ve noticed how he seems to be used to being blind when he¡¯s been in the dark for seven months, I think.


    We got to the condo, and I was thankful the two witches weren¡¯t there. ¡°I want to go into our bedroom,¡± Maximus said. I brought him there and made him sit on his bed. I was just surprised when he suddenly pulled me, which caused me to lean against him.


    ¡°I¡¯m iming what I bought, now.¡± My eyes widened, and before I could get up from hisp, he was already kissing me. ¡°Respond, Sarina. We had a deal,¡± he said emphatically, so I just followed him and kissed him back, just like I always do whenever we make out. I could feel his wantonness mixed with anger every time he touched my small breasts. So, he wants to im me now, huh?

 Chapter 13

    MATURE CONTENT!!


    Sarina


    He lifted my clothes in a hurry, so I raised my hands to make it easier for him to take them offpletely; then, he touched my small breasts, and I moaned as his fingers started ying with my nipples. ¡°Ohh¡­¡±


    I felt him tilting his body sideways, making me end up lying on the bed with him on top. He was eager to im what he paid for, and I was excited, especially when he made me feel like this. So wanton.


    He kissed me roughly, making me feel like he was punishing me. Why does he seem angry? Was it really because I talked back to his grandmother and his ex-girlfriend? His lips slowly moved to my cheek down my neck until they reached my chest, then he sucked in one of my nipples, making me arch my body while tugging at his hair.


    The sensation caused by his hot breath and tongue ying on my nipples alternately is undeniably good. ¡°Do you like it, Sarina?¡± he asked,


    ¡°Yesss¡­ Love..¡± I mumbled again with my eyes closed. But suddenly, he stopped, so I opened my eyes and looked at him, only to find him staring back at me with a hint of anger. Why? What did I do?


    ¡°Stop calling me that..¡± It wasn¡¯t a request but amand.


    ¡°What?¡± I wondered.


    ¡°Don¡¯t call me endearment.¡± Even though I started to get crazy with the way he pleasured me, my ears tingled.


    ¡°You are the one who told me to call you that!¡± I eximed.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you don¡¯t want to call me that way too? Why did you change your mind? Did something happen that I don¡¯t know that made you decide to call me by that endearment now?¡± he asked, staring intently at me.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about. If you don¡¯t want to, I won¡¯t call you that!¡± I said and was about to get up, but he stopped me.


    ¡°I¡¯m not done yet; we¡¯re not done yet,¡± he said before sucking my nipple again. Shit, how did he manage to make me feel aroused in an instant? Plus, he¡¯s blind, and yet he could do this to me.


    ¡°This is mine,¡± he said before sucking the flesh around my breasts as if marking his property.


    Then he caressed my other breast while he let his hand y with the other one. What he was doing to me felt really good. What I liked the most was that I didn¡¯t feel disgusted and even enjoyed it.


    After he was done with my nipples, his mouth started to travel down, and I knew exactly where it was going. Because his hand was already ying with my clit causing my pussy to drench. ¡°Do you know what I like about you, Sarina?¡± he suddenly asked, making me open my eyes.


    He was looking up at me and met my gaze as though he could see me, ¡°You taste sweet,¡± my eyes widened because of that. He doesn¡¯t need to say those kind of words to me, as he has all the right to fuck me because he already paid for it.


    After he said that, he pulled down my shorts along with my panties, I saw them fly over my head after he threw them then I felt his tongue y on my clit again.


    ¡°Ahh. Shit! Maximus! It feels so good!¡± I couldn¡¯t stop screaming. We¡¯re the only ones at home, so it¡¯s okay. I don¡¯t know where Lisa is, but she probably won¡¯t bother us since she knows we are married.


    ¡°How much do you like it, Sarina?¡± he asked as he inserted one of his fingers inside.


    ¡°Very much, Maximus. Go on, please. Don¡¯t stop,¡± I answered. I didn¡¯t feel ashamed anymore because I really liked what he was doing to me and my body.


    ¡°Let¡¯s get dirty, Sarina..¡±


    ¡°Yes, let¡¯s get dirty..¡± I replied crazily.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to fuck you hard, you get that?¡±Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g


    ¡°Yes, fuck me all you want..¡± I said, and he got back on pleasuring me again. I have to admit that I had been intimate with Jason during our rtionship but not all the way, and I remained a virgin. But I didn¡¯t feel this crazy when every part of Maximus¡¯ body touched my skin, especially the most sensitive part.


    I¡¯m so wet, and I know I¡¯m about to cum, ¡°Maximus, I think I¡¯m about to cum..¡± I told him because it would be embarrassing if I got my release with his face on my pussy.


    ¡°Then cum,¡± he said. My eyes widened, and I didn¡¯t know what to do, and I was already feeling it. Since he told me to cum, I didn¡¯t hold back and let it go¡­ The feeling was really good, but even after my release, I still felt wanton¡­


    Maximus stood up after he licked my pussy, and then he started to take off his clothes until his whole body was exposed to me. I¡¯ve seen him like this before, but now it¡¯s different because his stance is as brave as his dick now that he¡¯s standing on his own feet. Gosh, howe he looks like a greek-god when he¡¯s blind?


    He joined me again and positioned himself on top of me before cing his dick on my entrance. ¡°Ouch! I said as he casually inserted his manhood. He paused for a moment before saying,


    ¡°Shit, this is more satisfying.¡± Then he pulled out his dick and slowly thrust in again and did it repeatedly. It was a bit ufortable at first, but as it slid freely inside, he thrust so deep that I thought it reached my ovary.


    ¡°Ahhh¡­¡± I moaned, causing him to pound me harder. I could see how happy he was while he fuck me, and I felt the same.


    ¡°Fuck Sarina, I¡¯m going to make the most of this..¡± he said as he continued to thrust his dick in and out of my pussy, faster and deeper, until he released all of his juices inside me. He didn¡¯t pull it out until he was sure that he released everything inside me.


    We didn¡¯t end there; he imed me a few more times while saying, ¡°I¡¯m going to fuck you endlessly. Your pussy is mine, as well as your breasts. Everything in your body is all mine, do you understand? Sarina, you are mine!!¡± He said those words repeatedly and sounded so possessive as he took me again and again and again.


    ¡°Yes, I¡¯m only yours, Maximus..¡± I replied every time. I don¡¯t know if it¡¯s because I¡¯m required to say that or because I also like what he¡¯s doing, and I only want him to fuck me like crazy as well.

 Chapter 14

    Sarina


    After that time, he took me, and Maximus became possessive. He always calls and wants me by his side, but I like it. The only annoying thing is that his grandmother is always around with the bitch Midori, who sometimes even deliberately stays in our condo for a long time. Just like today, it¡¯s Sunday, and Maximus and I are in the living room. His grandmother left and said she was just going to see a friend for a while, but she left behind the bitch who was a willing third wheel to me and my husband.


    ¡°Babe, I¡¯m thirsty,¡± said Midori, making me roll my eyes in annoyance. Is she thinking of asking me to get her something to drink? The nerve of this woman if that¡¯s the case. There¡¯s no way I will do that, even if Maximus asks me.


    ¡°You have your feet; walk to the kitchen and get your water,¡± I said while smiling.


    ¡°Why would I do that? I am Max¡¯s girlfriend; you¡¯re his nurse!¡± she eximed, which angered me. How dare she tell me that when she knew who I was?


    ¡°Well, I am Max¡¯s desirable wife, so get your ass up to get your water because I am not going to do it for you.¡± Her trick and overacting skills won¡¯t work on me! Excuse me!


    ¡°Get your water, Midori.¡± If Maximus hadn¡¯t said that, I would have punched him. So Midori got up from the couch and went to the kitchen. I was grinning for victory when my cell phone rang, so I quickly picked it up and answered it. ¡°Who¡¯s calling?¡± my husband quickly asked.


    ¡°My mother. Why? Do you want to talk to her?¡± I asked as well. The way he asked me made me feel like he was thinking that I was cheating on him and the caller was my lover.


    ¡°Give it to me,¡±


    ¡°Why do you want to talk to her, and what will you say?¡± I asked again.


    ¡°Is there something wrong with wanting to talk to my mother-inw?¡± he asked too.


    ¡°She doesn¡¯t know what you are saying, so shut up.¡± Then I stood up, but he stopped me, so I said, ¡°I¡¯m just going to talk to Mom.¡±


    ¡°Do it here,¡±


    ¡°What if you suddenly talk and my mother hears you? She might get suspicious of why I was with a man.¡±


    ¡°I am not going to talk.¡± He looked serious, and I had nothing to hide, so I stayed and answered the call.


    ¡°Mom,¡± I said.N?velDrama.Org exclusive content.


    ¡°Oh dear, finally you answered!¡± my dear mother said cheerfully.


    ¡°Why? Did something happen? Is it Dad again? Oh my gosh, he¡¯s going to get it from me!¡± I said continuously.


    ¡°Oh dear, not really. Your father is good now and feels sorry about what he did. He was even ashamed because he knew you shouldered everything,¡± she replied, making me sigh in relief. ¡°I called because I wanted to ask you toe home. You know the feast day will be this weekend, and we haven¡¯t seen you for a year.¡±


    ¡°You sounded like you miss me, Mom.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re weird; how can you say that? Of course, I missed you! Every mother would feel the same when they didn¡¯t see their children, especially their daughters, who were away and living alone.¡± I feel happy that she misses me. I¡¯m the kind of sweet daughter who would always want to be with my family. It¡¯s just that because of what happened to me and Jason, I decided to leave the province and work here in Man.


    ¡°I¡¯ll try, Mom. I¡¯ll ask permission from my boss first.¡± I can¡¯t say yes right away even though I want to go home because I know Maximus needs me. As I said that, Midori returned with a ss of water in her hand, smiling wickedly, so I made a face again. She¡¯s the reason why I¡¯m hesitant to leave my husband alone. What if she and Grandma came here while I was away?


    ¡°Okay, dear. We¡¯ll wait for you. Be careful there. Bye.¡± After saying goodbye, I ended the call and put my cell phone in my pocket. Midori is here, so I really have to be careful. What if she does things like the ones I¡¯ve seen in telenovs by female viins?


    ¡°What did she say?¡± asked Maximus. I looked at him before rolling my eyes because his ear was already on mine while I was talking to my mother. He was literally listening to my conversation with Mom, and yet he was still asking questions.


    ¡°Seriously, do you want me to repeat what you¡¯ve heard?¡± I asked, too.


    ¡°Yes, for sure.¡±


    ¡°Never!¡± I snorted at him before I got up and went to our bedroom. I don¡¯t care about him and his mongoloid ex-girlfriend, who has skin as thick as the bottom of my mom¡¯s pot in the province. And I don¡¯t care if they talk to each other or do whatever they want.


    ¡°Hey, stay here!¡± he shouted, but I didn¡¯t listen. It¡¯s up to him if he lets that bitch to take advantage of him.


    After I entered our bedroom, I thought about what had happened in the past few weeks. I have been happy even though Midori and Grandma are always present to ruin my day. It¡¯s because Maximus seemed different. He¡¯s still a pervert, but I could see his sweetness. I don¡¯t feel bad for his possessiveness. I mean, I don¡¯t feel like I¡¯m being suffocated or choking in our rtionship. It even makes me feel beautiful, so it¡¯s fine.


    His eye surgery is scheduled for next week, and I have to admit that I¡¯m excited and a little nervous. He¡¯s very handsome, and I was worried about him seeing me and finding out I¡¯m just ordinary. Argh! Why should I think about it? It¡¯s not like I was the one who forced him into this marriage. It¡¯s up to him; I just epted his offer.


    ¡°Sarina!¡± I was surprised as I sat on the bed when Maximus suddenly spoke, and at the same time, the door to our room burst open.


    ¡°You startled me!¡± I eximed, holding my chest. What is he doing here? Where is Midori?


    ¡°Why are you surprised? Did you do something bad?¡± he asked. Why does he always seem suspicious? He¡¯s making me feel guilty even though I know I¡¯m not doing anything.


    ¡°We¡¯re together all day. Did you ever feel that I did something?¡± I asked, getting up from the bed to help him get in so he wouldn¡¯t get hurt, me me for it, and eventually get mad at me, thinking I didn¡¯t care about him.


    What I like about him is that his condition didn¡¯t hinder him from walking around the condo. He was acting normally, which made me wonder whether he was really blind. But because of his scheduled surgery, I shake that thought off of my head. There¡¯s no reason for him to fake his condition or lie about it.


    ¡°Why were you surprised?¡± he asked as he sat on the bed.


    ¡°Because I was thinking.¡±


    ¡°Of what?¡±


    ¡°Whether I go home or not.¡±


    ¡°Why are you thinking about it so much?¡±


    ¡°When I leave, how about you?¡±


    ¡°What about me?¡±


    ¡°How about you when Lisa went home in the afternoon? There won¡¯t be anyone here to help you out.¡±


    ¡°Grandma would be here,¡± he said, making me suddenly look at him. Does that mean he¡¯s letting me visit my family? Wait, if his grandmother would be here, then that bitch is going to be here as well. What if she crawls on Maximus while he sleeps?


    ¡°As well as your ex-girlfriend?¡± I asked, raising a brow. At least he couldn¡¯t see on my face that I didn¡¯t like the idea.


    ¡°Don¡¯t get jealous because you are already my wife,¡± he said, grinning. I shook my head and didn¡¯t bother to deny it anymore. I knew that he would never believe it because he would only believe what he wanted to believe. Another thing is, I actually feel bothered about that bitch¡¯s presence. ¡°You can go, but make sure to be here on the day of my surgery. I want you to be the first person I see when the doctor tells me to open my eyes.¡±


    I couldn¡¯t believe what he said, but I felt happy and satisfied. Our marriage is not normal, and I didn¡¯t expect to be the first person he wanted to see when he regained his sight. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you answer, Sarina?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I will. Thank you very much,¡± I just said. I guess I need to see my family to motivate me. All my eyes were feasting with was, his dick, which only made me feel like I was a pervert as well.


    Thankfully, my husband let me visit my family. I admit I already feel satisfied with our marriage, and I hope we will be a good couple. I want to work things out with Maximus and be content with my married life. You¡¯ll never know; Maximus might not want to divorce me after our contract ends.


    Everything seemed pretty good, and I thought everything would be okay. However, I was not prepared for Jason¡¯s insistence on his feelings for me and our getting back together after my contract with Maximus ended.

 Chapter 15

    Sarina


    Three dayster, I went to my hometown on the ind of Catanduanes. If there¡¯s something that changed in my life after marrying Maximus, it¡¯s that I got on a ne to go home and be in the province within an hour. Bynd, it will take me about 18 hours and will take longer if the bus I booked is the old one.


    My mother was waiting for me in front of our little house with my brother and sister-inw and my two lovely and smart nieces.


    ¡°Sarina!¡± my mother eximed. She looked very happy when she saw me so I smiled and hugged her. ¡°I miss you so much, my dear daughter. Look, even our neighbors couldn¡¯t wait to see you either,¡± she bragged, making me feel uneasy.


    ¡°What are you talking about?¡± I replied, feeling ashamed. My mother has always been proud of me, so I didn¡¯t try to do things that might disappoint her. It¡¯s the only thing I can do for all the hardship she had to go through during my school days. It was also the reason why I studied so hard and finished college.


    ¡°Nothing to feel ashamed about, dear; you know they are just happy for you.¡± I know that, and I can only say one thing about our neighbors: even though life is difficult for them, they also made sure to help my mother whenever she tried to ask them for help. May it be financial, with the amount they can only afford, or simple condiments weck at home. I turned around and noticed our neighbor looking at me, smiling. So, I bowed a little and smiled at them before I told my family to get inside the house.


    ¡°¡®Dad,¡¯ I greeted my father when we came in, and he came out of their bedroom.


    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you call? We could have picked you up in the port,¡± he continued. ¡°God bless you,¡± he said after I kissed his hand. I nodded and then faced my big brother and his wife and children. I didn¡¯t want to bother them with things like picking me up somewhere or sending me to leave. We are a family of crybabies, and we tend to cry even at the slightest thing that concerns our family.


    ¡°How are you, brother?¡± I asked, smiling. There¡¯s a part of me that makes me feel annoyed with him, but he is still my big brother who loves me. So, whatever he does, there¡¯s nothing I can do but support him. He graduated college, and our parents, especially my mother, were hopeful that he would somehow help our family before he got married. But he got his girlfriend pregnant, so we had to marry them off.


    ¡°The same, still living with our parents because I don¡¯t have a job.¡± Since his marriage with my sister-inw and they had kids, jobs were hard to find for him. He can¡¯t get permanent, and something happens at home when he does. So, he decided to look for a job where he could still look after his family and our parents. But things weren¡¯t easy in our small town, and the jobs were not as good as in the capital, so he was at home, jobless most of the time, just like now.N?velDrama.Org exclusive content.


    I took a deep breath, feeling sorry for his wife, who suddenly turned her head and said, ¡°There¡¯s nothing to worry about living with them. Mom and Dad are old, and they also need someone to look after them. Just don¡¯t give them a headache, especially your wife. She¡¯s so beautiful, and she wasted that for you.¡±


    ¡°No, it¡¯s nothing like that,¡± said my sister-inw shyly.


    ¡°Don¡¯t defend him. If he doesn¡¯t have a job, let him help you care for your children.¡± My sister-inw smiled and nodded.


    ¡°How are my beloved and beautiful nieces?¡± Of course, my attention was on the little angels I¡¯m sure my parents were happy to be with before I pulled them to our small sofa. They looked healthy, so I thought they were not being neglected.


    ¡°We¡¯re good, beautiful aunt nurse!¡± They said at the same time.


    ¡°My nieces are so beautiful and smart, just like me,¡± was my happy response, which made everyoneugh.


    ¡°Okay, rest first, so you¡¯ll have the energy to stay upte tonight,¡± Mom said. Iughed because she knew I had no passion for dancing in the za. Even when I was young, I didn¡¯t waste time there.


    ¡°I¡¯m not sleepy, mom,¡± I said. That¡¯s true because I took a ne.


    I was awake the whole day talking to my mother and some of our neighbors, who are also distant rtives. In the province, almost everyone knows each other. Just mention thest name, and they will tell you their descendants.


    When night came, and it was time to sleep, I entered my small room after I freshened up. I met some friends nearby and was d they were still the same sweet and happy people. I was about to lie down when I heard the sound of my cell phone, and my eyes widened as I remembered Maximus instructing me to call him as soon as I arrived here. Shit! I¡¯m sure he¡¯s already furious since I had not held my cell phone since morning.


    I quickly grabbed my bag and took out my cell phone, which was ringing. ¡°Hello,¡± I said as I pressed the answer button.


    ¡°You finally answer!¡± Maximus said angrily, making me roll my eyes internally. Although I had already anticipated his reaction, I still couldn¡¯t help but feel annoyed whenever he acted like that.


    ¡°I¡¯ve been caught up with my family the whole day, and I¡¯m about to sleep now. If you have something to say, say it.¡± I¡¯m not angry, and I even feel guilty. It¡¯s just because of his tone that I can¡¯t help but talk that way. However, I understood his reaction because I knew I was at fault. Ah, maybe I¡¯m just not in the mood to understand him.


    ¡°Since you¡¯re away, do you have the guts to talk to me and dismiss me like that?¡± he asked, and I could already imagine what he looked like at that moment.


    ¡°I know I had to call you earlier, and I¡¯m sorry I forgot. I was just feeling overwhelmed seeing my family because I miss them so much.¡± I took a deep breath, hoping he would understand, too.


    ¡°You could just say that, and I would understand. Not the way you talked to me earlier, as if I were not your husband.¡± His voice was so soothing, and I couldn¡¯t help but smile, too. Maybe I was tired from the whole day of going around the town, too, so I immediately snorted at him.


    ¡°Thank you for your understanding, but if you want to talk, it¡¯s okay; I¡¯ll just go to bed. If I can¡¯t answer, it only means I fell asleep.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s okay, Sarina. Go to sleep. I was just worried because you didn¡¯t call. I thought maybe something bad happened to you.¡± I was touched by what he said and a little shocked. But I didn¡¯t want to make it obvious, so I just joked with him.


    ¡°Maybe you¡¯re just worried that you won¡¯t be able to fuck me anymore, that¡¯s why you¡¯re like that.¡± I heard himugh. I smirk, thinking I was right.


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing like that. Even though I¡¯m dead crazy about you, and I¡¯ll make sure you¡¯ll get fucked when you get home because of the fucking days that I won¡¯t be able to take you, I was even more worried when you didn¡¯t call or text earlier. Other than that, you¡¯re not answering my calls. I was already nning to go there with Aries if he had not told me the next flight there would be on Friday.¡±


    Is that how worried he was? Wow, I didn¡¯t know he could feel that way towards me. Yes, we fuck, and I am his wife, but I can¡¯t set aside the truth that we are in a contractual marriage. ¡°I¡¯m sorry again,¡± I apologize. ¡°I promise to make it up to you when Ie back. I will let you fuck me endlessly. Is that good enough?¡± Heughed again, and I couldn¡¯t stop smiling. Even though our conversation seems dirty, I don¡¯t feel disgusted. Maybe it¡¯s because he¡¯s my husband, and I shouldn¡¯t be shy in such a conversation if it¡¯s just the two of us.


    ¡°Alright, go to sleep; you¡¯ll be tired again the next day. I know how the people from the provinces celebrate the festival, so I understand you.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Maximus. Goodnight!¡± I said willingly.


    ¡°Goodnight,¡± he said, and I hadn¡¯t taken the cell phone off my ear because I was waiting for him to be the first to press the end button, so I heard a woman in the background saying,


    ¡°Babe, who are you talking to?¡± That bitch has no shame! Maximus, just try to touch her, and you¡¯ll find what you¡¯re looking for.

 Chapter 16

    Sarina


    The next day, I woke up early as usual. My family would not be shocked if I woke up even before the sun started peeking because I was used to that routine when I was still living here with them. My body clock didn¡¯t change much, especially since my duty as a nurse in Man is always early in the morning, and that didn¡¯t change even after I became Maximus¡¯ private nurse.


    They are already at the table having breakfast while my nieces and nephews are still asleep. That¡¯s okay because they are kids and still need more sleep. ¡°Good morning,¡± I greeted them. My brother quickly stood up and put a te on me. ¡°Don¡¯t do that for me, Brother. Your wife is the one you should be taking good care of so she won¡¯t have a hard time. Imagine if she hit her head and had her eyes open?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s so early, Sarina, and you¡¯re teasing me already,¡± he replied, and I¡¯m thankful he doesn¡¯t look offended. I already took care of her first, of course. And don¡¯t stop me from doing this to you because, in the meantime, this is what I can offer to you, Mom and Dad, who continue to support my family.¡±


    ¡°How is your work, dear?¡± asked Father, making me turn to him.


    ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡± They still don¡¯t know about my marriage, and I don¡¯t intend to let them know because it won¡¯tst long anyway. I also don¡¯t want to stress or worry them, which I knew would happen if they found out about my marriage¡¯s setup. They will only end up ming themselves, which I don¡¯t want to happen.N?velDrama.Org exclusive content.


    ¡°By the way, Sarina. Jason also came back yesterday. He went to Man, and we don¡¯t know why. But from what I heard, it appears he wants to follow you there,¡± said my brother.


    ¡°Sarina, did you two meet there?¡± Mom asked curiously. When I looked at the others, I found them looking the same.


    ¡°You know what? It¡¯s early in the morning, and you have already started to gossip. I didn¡¯t want to think about him anymore since he was also not the reason for my visit here. Let¡¯s not give anyone something to think about me and Jason getting back together.¡± They don¡¯t know about my marriage, so I understand if they are curious about my feelings for my ex-boyfriend. But I also didn¡¯t want to give them the idea that I wanted us to be together again.


    ¡°I¡¯m just asking,¡± said my brother, and I saw my sister-inw smiling, which made me roll my eyes because they didn¡¯t look like they believed me.


    ¡°Sarina,¡± said my father, ¡°if Jason wants to get back with you, will you still ept him?¡± I was speechless. Although my ex and I talked and said he would wait for me, I¡¯m still not hoping he would do that. I am no longer a clean woman and don¡¯t see myself worthy of him anymore since the purity that I want to offer to the man I love was already taken by Maximus. At the same time, he was only framed by Abigail.


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to answer your father now, dear,¡± mother said. I smiled at her before turning to my father.


    ¡°For now, my answer will be no. I¡¯mmitted to something and have a contract for now, so I don¡¯t want to think about that.¡±


    ¡°Whatever you decide, your mother and brother and I will support you. I know that I have done a great sin to our family, especially to your mother, and that you are suffering, but I promise that I will do everything to recover and help you.¡± Our conversation this morning was too emotional. I took a deep breath and said,


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about that. What¡¯s important right now is that we can breathe easily. We will eventually pay off the debt, and let¡¯s put aside my rtionship first; it will happen in time.¡± After that, we continued eating happily, and then I called Maximus around seven in the morning because I was sure he was awake. I had to go into my room to ensure no one could hear our conversation.


    ¡°You¡¯re early,¡± he said.


    ¡°As always.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re not busy?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not doing anything yet, butter I¡¯m going to Virac to buy some things because there are only a few options here in our town¡¯s market. Why did you ask?¡±


    ¡°Nothing; I just didn¡¯t want to bother you and your time with your family.¡± Should I believe him? If I know he was still with that bitch, or worse, they sleep together!


    ¡°Who are you with now?¡±


    ¡°Huh? No one.¡±


    ¡°No one?¡± I asked again. He sounded like he was hiding something.


    ¡°No one. If you consider Lisa to be with me, she is with me now. You know she¡¯s always here every morning.¡±


    ¡°Your Grandma isn¡¯t there yet?¡±


    ¡°She went to a friend; you know she likes to socialize with all her friends.¡± That old woman was annoying. She knew Maximus was in a difficult situation, yet she chose to go to her friends. What if something happened to him right after Lisa left the condo? ¡°Why did you ask? Do you think I have someone else here? Are you jealous that Midori might be here?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not jealous, and it¡¯s up to you if you want to be with your ex. If I know, she¡¯s already there. He and your grandmother will never miss the opportunity when they knew I was away.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s not here.¡±


    ¡°Are you sure? She didn¡¯t go there yesterday?¡±


    ¡°Well, she did.¡±


    ¡°And yet you said no.¡±


    ¡°But she¡¯s not here today, so I¡¯m not with her. There is no reason for you to be jealous.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not jealous. I would not have left you alone if I was feeling that way about you, knowing Midori and your grandmother are continuing to take you away from me.¡±


    ¡°Say no more if you¡¯re really not jealous,¡± he said angrily. Does he even have the right to get mad now though he was with that bitchst night?


    ¡°Okay then, bye; I still need to go to town.¡± I didn¡¯t wait for him to speak anymore and ended the call. As I hung up my phone, my mother entered my room, looking curious.


    ¡°Why do you sound like you have an enemy? Who are you talking to?¡±


    ¡°Nothing Mom. Ah, my brother and I are going to Virac to do some shopping.¡± Then, I led her out of my room.


    My brother and I went to Virac. It¡¯s amazing to see how drastically the town has changed. There are many shops and fast food chains. Grocery stores and other shops ept debit and credit cards. Maybe in a few more years, our ind will be more progressive.


    We got home by noon. We bought a lot, and there was no problem. Even though there was UV Express there, we still didn¡¯t have to mix in with the crowd because we had our tricycle.


    I totally forgot about Maximus and my annoyance at him because my friends visited me after lunch and stayed long. We talked about how they were and how I¡¯d been in Man. They even told me about Jason and Abigail.


    Abigail is also the daughter of a well-known politician but lives in another town. That¡¯s why almost everyone on the ind also knows their family; his father is often the vice governor of Jason¡¯s father, or should I say, of Jason¡¯s family because their family is the only one that always wins the governorship on the ind of Catanduanes. Our ind is a bastion of the Satudez because of their goodwill. They also have many businesses where the inders are given good jobs.


    It was almost dark when my friends decided to go home, so I went to my bedroom and took my phone to call Maximus again. I didn¡¯t want him to think anything, especially when I saw a lot of miscall notifications. It was ringing, and I was waiting for him to answer when my mother knocked and got in. ¡°Dear, someone is looking for you,¡± she said, making me crease my forehead because people here don¡¯t usually go out at this hour.


    ¡°Alright, Mom,¡± I said, following her to our small living room. I forgot about the cell phone in my hand, which I didn¡¯t notice was now on my side, so I didn¡¯t know that Maximus had already answered.


    ¡°Good evening, Sarina,¡± Jason greeted, smiling.


    ¡°Jason!¡± I said in shock. What is he doing here?

 Chapter 17

    Sarina


    ¡°Jason!¡± I was surprised. Then, my thoughts turned to Maximus and my phone, prompting me to abruptly end the call without checking if he had already answered. ¡°Just a moment,¡± I said, returning my cell phone to my room. I took a deep breath before I went back to the living room.


    ¡°For you, Love.¡± He said this while holding out a dozen red roses and some chocte, which I epted. I looked around and saw that my family was there, and my eyes widened.


    ¡°Ah, we¡¯re going outside first, dear.¡±


    ¡°Okay, mom.¡± One by one, they left, leaving Jason and me alone. ¡°Sit down,¡±


    ¡°Thank you.¡± He was smiling, making him look more appealing. His dimple is his most valuable asset, and it captivates me. He is aware of this and makes sure to use it whenever we disagree or he is attempting to woo me.


    ¡°You don¡¯t need to bring things like this,¡± I said as I ced his gifts on the table.


    ¡°You know it¡¯s my happiness to give you something like that since you don¡¯t want anything expensive.¡± It¡¯s true. In all the time we¡¯ve been dating, he has never given me an expensive gift, except for the first time he gave me a ne. But after epting it, I told him it was thest time. That¡¯s why he was content with flowers, choctes, and our frequent meals out.


    ¡°Jason, I¡¯ve said what I wanted to say when we met in Man,¡± he stopped me before I could finish my sentence.N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    ¡°Mom and Dad don¡¯t know about your marriage.¡± He said it in a soft and low voice; maybe he understood I didn¡¯t want my family to know about it. And yes, he refers to my parents as Mom and Dad. ¡°That¡¯s why I¡¯m even more determined to wait.¡±


    ¡°Please, Jason, don¡¯t make us suffer. I can¡¯tmit to you.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve told you my side, and I know you¡¯ve also learned from the people here about what really happened.¡± I am very thankful that I decided to go back here yesterday. Because almost everyone in town knows about our rtionship, the news that you¡¯re here reached me. Sarina, you are the only woman I love, and there is no one else.¡± He began to cry, and I couldn¡¯t help but feel overwhelmed. I stood up because I thought he was weird. I didn¡¯t want to cheat on Maximus, and I wanted to respect our marriage. But if Jason bes like this, I don¡¯t know if I can handle rejecting him.


    ¡°Love,¡± he calls to me. ¡°You know that I love you very much, so I hope you don¡¯t push me away or stop me from loving you. ¡°I will wait until your contract ends.¡±


    ¡°You do not understand me-¡±


    ¡°Look into my eyes and answer my question.¡± I suddenly got scared and tried to get out of his grip. We were standing together, and I could see the pleading in his eyes.


    ¡°Jason,¡± I said in a low, soft voice.


    ¡°Do you still love me?¡± I could neither answer nor remain silent. I was just looking at his eyes, which seemed hypnotizing. ¡°I love you, Sarina.¡±


    ¡°I still love you, Jason.¡± How did I say that? I do not know. Maybe it¡¯s because I still feel the same way about him. Then, a sweet smile appeared on his face before our lips met.


    His light and gentle kiss swept me away, making me respond to him as well. We were in that situation briefly until Maximus¡¯ face suddenly entered my mind. Shit! This is wrong! I quickly pushed Jason away, which surprised him.


    ¡°Love¡­¡± I could see the shock and worry on his face. And to be honest, I want to feel sorry for him because the hope that was in his eyes just now also disappeared quickly.


    ¡°Like I said, I¡¯m already married. I¡¯m sorry, Jason, but I feel like I¡¯m being sinful if I keep you waiting. If we are meant for each other, let fate give us a chance. For now, it is unlikely that we will be together again. I¡¯m sorry.¡± Then I turned my back on him and went into my room. I couldn¡¯t stop the tears from rolling down my eyes because of the pain and regret about our rtionship.


    I don¡¯t know how long I just sat on my bed. Even when Mom called me, I didn¡¯t pay attention until she stopped herself andpletely left me alone. They knew that I wanted to have time for myself during times like this.


    When I felt calm, I decided to freshen up and sleep, thinking everything would be okay when I woke up.


    I didn¡¯t eat dinner and went straight to bed afterward. When I felt my phone vibrate, I was lying down and staring at the ceiling. At first, I didn¡¯t pay attention to it, but when it continued to vibrate, I looked for it at my feet, where I had previously ced it.


    I took a deep breath when I saw Maximus¡¯ name. I don¡¯t want to talk to him; I just don¡¯t want him to think about anything. I spent a few more seconds before answering.


    ¡°Hello.¡± My voice doesn¡¯t sound good, but I can¡¯t force myself to sound cheerful. He needs to be patient with me.


    ¡°Ma¡¯am Sarina, this is Aries.¡± I frowned and looked at my phone screen to make sure Maximus¡¯ name was there, and I wasn¡¯t wrong.


    ¡°Aries?¡± I asked, wondering why it was him.


    ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am, I¡¯m in the hospital now with Sir Maximus. His surgery will be tomorrow morning, so pleasee back as early as possible if it¡¯s okay.¡±


    ¡°What? I thought it was not until next week?¡±


    ¡°Because the doctor had an emergency, he will have to do the surgery first before returning to the US.¡± I know times like this happen, but I never expected to experience it firsthand.


    ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll get ready to go back. Fortunately, tomorrow is Friday, and there is a flight.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve already booked a flight for you. I¡¯ll just send the details to your email,¡± he said, and after I agreed, we ended the call.


    The next day, my mom and dadined about my leaving. I exined to them that it was my patient who would undergo the surgery, so I should be there, and they couldn¡¯t do anything. My brother took me to the airport on our tricycle, and it was still dark when we left the house because my flight was at 7 a. m. We are quite far from the airport, so we need to be really early.


    When the nended, I quickly booked an Uber to the hospital because there was too much traffic. It didn¡¯t take me long to get from our province to Man, but it took forever from the airport to the hospital, so I arrived in the afternoon. I should have just agreed to Aries¡¯ suggestion that he pick me up. I declined because there would be no one to assist Maximus, and he might be alone.


    Pulling my suitcase, I went straight to the room that Maximus¡¯ assistant had told me to go to. I just hope I make it in time because my husband says my face is the first thing he wants to see when he opens his eyes.


    I didn¡¯t knock; I just opened the door and entered the room, only to find myself nailed to where I stood. How could I not? The woman was holding Maximus¡¯s face while they were kissing.


    They both looked at me, and I wanted to p the bitch for smirking at me. Maximus was also looking at me and then at the suitcase I was holding. ¡°Sarina?¡± he said, and I felt like punching him in the face. If only the gaze could kill, they both would have died.


    I know I kissed Jason, too, and I shouldn¡¯t be mad if he kisses someone else because I know we weren¡¯t married in the true sense of the word. But I couldn¡¯t help myself from feeling hurt somehow. Why is that?

 Chapter 18

    Sarina


    ¡°Why are you here? I thought you had already left?¡± Maximus¡¯s grandmother asked angrily. I tried to keep my temper and be patient as much as possible. But with the scene I walked into, it seemed unlikely unless she stopped.


    ¡°Grandma, Sarina is my wife.¡± I raised my eyebrows at his words and didn¡¯t hide it from her. Imagine, she scolded the olddy right away.


    ¡°I don¡¯t care!¡± His grandmother said angrily with her eyes ring at me.


    ¡°If only I had known that you were here and with that flirtatious woman, I wouldn¡¯t have bothereding home and would have continued enjoying my vacation.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re talking back,¡± and then she suddenly pped me. I didn¡¯t expect that, so I wasn¡¯t prepared. I forgot that this is how rich people are, except for the Satudez.


    ¡°Grandma!¡± Maximus eximed in surprise. Then he got up from his hospital bed and approached me. I held my cheek, and I wanted to cry, but I held back, so my teeth clenched.


    Maximus touched my cheek and lifted my face, but I cringed. ¡°Shit! Jason¡¯s family is also rich, but I¡¯ve never experienced this,¡± I softly said. At the same time, I continued to rub my cheek, which I¡¯m sure was turning very red, while I smirked.


    ¡°What did you say?¡± Maximus asked. I raised my face to look at him and realized what I had said toote. But because of the pain in my cheek and my situation, I raised my eyebrows before answering his question.


    ¡°I said Jason¡¯s family is also rich, but his mother or any of his family members has never pped me.¡± He must not have liked what I said because I could see him clenching his teeth. I wondered if he knew about Jason or my rtionship with him. However, I¡¯m certain that I had not told him anything about my past rtionship.


    ¡°And you¡¯re even boasting about your low-life man! Rich, you say? If he were rich, his family wouldn¡¯t tolerate you. Don¡¯t be delusional!¡± His grandmother interrupted, so I looked at her and the bitch Midori who was still grinning.


    ¡°Stop it, Grandma!¡± I was surprised when Maximus shouted. I also saw the surprise on the olddy¡¯s face, based on her eyes widening.


    ¡°Are you shouting at me because of that woman?¡± The olddy¡¯s eyes widened, and her anger was visible. It was probably the first time her grandson had raised his voice to her.


    ¡°Calm down, granny. Don¡¯t waste your breath on that gold digger. Your health is far more important than her,¡± the bitch chimed in again.


    ¡°Please leave now, Midori.¡± I looked at Maximus because of what he said. Did I hear him correctly? Did he just ask that bitch to leave?


    ¡°What? And you want to send Midori away? Why not send that flirtatious woman instead?¡± His grandmother interjected again, and it seemed like the bitch was about to cry. She made my blood boil, making me want to push her face hard on the floor.


    ¡°Grandma, please stop. You¡¯re speaking badly about my wife.¡± Maximus was also angry, and it was obvious that he was just holding back. But his grandmother didn¡¯t want to stop and faced me again.


    ¡°You, golddigger woman, stay away from my grandson. I will never allow our family to be contaminated by a low-life like you, including your starving parents.¡± That¡¯s it; she can say anything to me, but not to my parents and family.


    ¡°Sarina, please don¡¯t-¡± Maximus said, trying to stop me, but no. No one has the right to say anything bad about my parents because they don¡¯t know what my family has been through. And we¡¯ve never asked them for anything.N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.


    ¡°If you want, you can put your grandchild in your lungs. What does he have anyway? Nothing. Only money. Your family only has money and nothing else, so don¡¯t belittle the family I have. Because yours is nothingpared to mine.¡± I¡¯m angry, really angry. And I know that it¡¯s really obvious in my expression. ¡°And don¡¯t worry, you only need to wait a little more than six months, and that bitch could have your grandson.¡±


    ¡°Sarina, stop now,¡± Maximus said, but I didn¡¯t.


    ¡°Because our contract is almost over. After that, I¡¯m free from your family.¡± I turned away from them, but Maximus called me before I reached the door.


    ¡°Sarina, where are you going?¡±


    ¡°Let her leave, and no matter what contract you have with that gold digger, I don¡¯t care. Finish it so I won¡¯t have to see that woman¡¯s face, Maximus. Does she really think that there would be a decent family who would ept a low-life like her?¡± the old woman said, belittling me even more.


    I turned to them, saying, ¡°Not everyone has eyes like you, and if you think that no decent family will ept me, you are wrong.¡± I looked at Maximus before I finally turned and left the room. I could see the anger on his face, and I didn¡¯t know if the pain was true. But why would he feel that way? Why would he get hurt? Because I answered and talked back to his grandmother? Don¡¯t I have any right to defend myself when my husband didn¡¯t do it for me?


    From what I thought, I was certain that the anger I saw in his face was because of my response to his grandmother and the revtion of our contract. He didn¡¯t say we couldn¡¯t tell anyone, but of course, the contract should remain confidential between us. But I couldn¡¯t listen to his grandmother¡¯s words anymore. I hate talking back to elderly people, but I also hate receiving uncalled-for sidements from someone who doesn¡¯t even know me at all.


    I didn¡¯t force Maximus to marry me. He offered me to be his bedpanion for a year, and he would pay me 10 million. He was the one who included marriage in our contract, and even if I couldn¡¯t think of the reason why, he added that I didn¡¯t mind because of my situation, and yes, I needed the money.


    I grabbed my luggage and walked out of the hospital while my tears cut down my cheeks, so I wiped them repeatedly since they didn¡¯t want to stop. It felt so annoying! I shouldn¡¯t have been affected by that old woman like this, but why did I feel so bad knowing she didn¡¯t like me for Maximus?


    Then I thought of my husband, who couldn¡¯t do anything but scold his grandmother, and that bitch who always chimed in our conversation. I took a deep breath and wondered where I would go. I didn¡¯t want to go home, thinking the old woman would be there while Maximus was still in the hospital.


    I should have just stayed with my family. I should have known that two witches in my life would be with Maximus, and he wouldn¡¯t need me. Why did I ever believe he wanted my face the first thing he would see once he opened his eyes? Why did I get easily swayed by his sweet tongue? I must be crazy thinking about him right now.


    Having no choice, I took an Uber again and went to a hotel. Shit, I didn¡¯t want to spend money, but I had to. I thought about whether I should use the card my husband gave me, but I decided not to because that old woman might think I was going after her grandson¡¯s money.


    My ATM bnce would drop, but it¡¯s fine. At least I¡¯m wasting my money and not Maximus. I will just charge this to experience. I entered the hotel and suddenly started singing, thinking about how much I would pay when I checked out. ¡°For the first time in forever¡­ I¡¯m going to spend a lot¡­ It¡¯s crazy!¡±

 Chapter 19

    Maximus


    ¡°Hello,¡± I answered Aries¡¯ call.


    ¡°I saw Ma¡¯am Sarina,¡± he reported.


    ¡°Follow her, and don¡¯t let her out of your sight. I want to know where she¡¯s going,¡± I instructed.


    ¡°Okay, sir.¡± I ended the call and faced my grandmother and Midori. My blood was boiling out of anger, but they were still family, especially my grandmother.


    ¡°Midori, I don¡¯t want to see your face ever again. If you don¡¯t stop approaching, I won¡¯t let your family off the hook either. Remember that,¡± I warned.


    ¡°But babe,¡±


    ¡°And stop calling me your fucking babe because I¡¯m not!¡± I snapped, startling her with my outburst.


    ¡°Maximus,¡± my friend Jerold, a doctor, interrupted, trying to calm the situation. He had been standing there, watching the drama, and I didn¡¯t even think Sarina noticed him.


    ¡°Stay out of this, Jerold,¡± I looked at him, and he nodded in understanding.


    ¡°I¡¯ll leave you for now,¡± he excused himself, which I agreed to. I didn¡¯t want him to hear what I had to say to these women.


    ¡°You no longer respect me, Maximus!¡± my grandmother said angrily, which was evident.


    ¡°I will never forget what you did to my wife, Grandma,¡± I replied.


    ¡°She¡¯s not your wife, she said it. It¡¯s just a contract and about to end,¡± Midori said again.


    ¡°I will never let our contract end, Midori. Sarina will be my wife forever, and you will never have a chance to intrude on our lives. I never liked you, and you know that. So stop pretending that I do. I have been patient with you, but that ends here, after what you did earlier?¡±


    Midori and my grandmother were speechless. I seized the moment to confront my grandmother directly. ¡°And Grandma, never say anything against my wife. I won¡¯t let anyone harm her in any way. If Sarina and I ever part ways, I swear, I don¡¯t know what I will do.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you love her!¡± she eximed, and I never wanted to hide the truth from her or anyone else.


    ¡°I love her. To the point that I¡¯ve done more than most people would just to have her, so don¡¯t ruin it and make me regret having you as my grandmother.¡±


    My grandmother gasped at my words. I had always been patient and agreed to everything she wanted because I knew she was old and the only one who cared for her. Not just because I was her only remaining rtive but because I was the only one who understood her.


    Her behavior had estranged my uncle, aunt, and cousins from her. I couldn¡¯t me them because of what she did to Sarina earlier; she also did to the spouses of my father¡¯s siblings, whom she didn¡¯t approve of.


    ¡°Remember, I am your grandmother, Maximus.¡±


    ¡°And you have to remember that Sarina is my wife. If you think that by siding with you when you argue with her, I was actually on your side, you¡¯re mistaken. My wife is the most important person in my life; there¡¯s no one else after her.¡±


    ¡°Max, why are you talking that way to grandma? She¡¯s old and doesn¡¯t need to be spoken to like that,¡± Midori said, making me roll my eyes.


    ¡°If you don¡¯t leave now and stop sticking to me, especially when my wife is around, I will make sure your whole family suffers for generations,¡± I threatened.


    ¡°Maximus!¡± my grandma eximed, probably not expecting me to say something like that. But she should be used to it because she knew that when it came to business, I could do anything to bring down anyone who intended to harm mypany.


    ¡°I¡¯m not joking. And as I said, don¡¯t ever do what you did to my wife again. I can live without you but not without my wife.¡±


    ¡°She talks back to me just like that! She was disrespectful and you wanted me to ept her?¡¯


    ¡°It¡¯s because you talk ill of her and even include her family!¡± I angrily replied. She seemed to insist on what she wanted, so I ended our conversation thinking we wouldn¡¯t understand each other anyway. ¡°You know what, Grandma, just leave me here. We would only hurt each other with our words if we continued this conversation, and I didn¡¯t want that to happen. I¡¯ve already told you to leave my wife alone, and this is thest time I¡¯ll say it.¡± Iy on my bed so they would leave my room already.N?velDrama.Org exclusive content.


    More than an hourter, Aries called me again, ¡°Where is she? Did she go back to the condo?¡±


    ¡°No, sir, she went to a hotel.¡±


    ¡°Where?¡±


    ¡°At Luxuria.¡±


    ¡°Okay, you can return to work, and I¡¯ll discharge myself.¡± We then talked, and I called Jerold and asked for his help.


    ¡°You know what, buddy, I don¡¯t know why you must do all this for your wife. Do you love her that much?¡± He asked in disbelief.


    ¡°It¡¯s just different for me; I don¡¯t know why. I¡¯ve never felt this way with any woman.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re in love. Anyway, good luck with your courtship. Based on what I saw earlier, your wife has other admirers.¡± Because of what he said, I couldn¡¯t help but tense my muscles while clenching my fists in anger. ¡°And it looks like you know that. Good luck, buddy.¡±


    I nodded at him and said goodbye. I had to go to my wife, who I was sure was still fuming with anger because of my grandmother and Midori.


    When I arrived at the hotel, the employees didn¡¯t know what to do. It¡¯s because I was the new owner of Luxuria, so when I asked for Sarina¡¯s room number and a duplicate key, I got it without difficulty. I asked if she had ordered anything, especially food, and they said no. She had left Catanduanes this morning, and I was sure she hadn¡¯t eaten anything on her way to the hospital.


    ¡°Fuck!¡± I muttered when I realized that she had already passed mealtime. I quickly went to the 10th floor, where her room was located. It was just a regr room, but I understood why she chose it; the receptionist said Sarina had asked for the cheapest avable room.


    Upon entering, I immediately looked for her. It was the type of room without a bedroom, so the living room greeted me first with its expensive couch. On the right was the bed where my wife was lying, seemingly fast asleep. I noticed her suitcase still on the floor, open, and her cell phone ringing beside her.


    I picked it up, intending to cancel the call, but I saw the caller¡¯s name and answered, ¡°Love, you finally answered.¡± Even though I was furious, I managed to restrain myself from shouting and calmed down before speaking.


    ¡°I think you dialed the wrong number.¡± He should not test my patience as well because I don¡¯t care whose family he belonged to; as long as he wanted to take my wife away from me, I would make sure he would suffer.


    ¡°What, wait, who are you?¡± he asked. ¡°I can¡¯t be wrong; this number belongs to Sarina. Who are you?¡± he asked continuously. I wanted tough at him, but I stopped myself.


    ¡°Ah, Sarina, right? I¡¯m sorry, but my wife is asleep. Do you have something to tell her?¡± I asked instead. He¡¯s the one who should be furious and not me. I had to calm myself because I was married to the woman he wanted for himself.


    ¡°Wife?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Yes, she¡¯s married to me. Why? Is there a problem?¡± I want to repeatedly tell him who I am to Sarina so he would understand and eventually forget about his feelings for my wife.


    ¡°Don¡¯t dream whoever you are. You know your marriage has a limit. Her contract with you will end.¡± After he said that, I clenched my fist, thinking the contract that was supposed to be between me and Sarina had beenmon knowledge to everyone. I will never let my grandmother separate me and Sarina; what is this bastard thinking that he believed I would leave my wife?


    I looked at my sleeping wife, whom I was deeply in love with despite my anger. Whatever this man dreamed of would remain a dream because ¡°Listen to me carefully. Whatever happens, I will never leave my wife. Wait as long as you want, but I guarantee you one thing: I will never let my wife go, end our contract, or file for a divorce.¡±


    I ended the call and was about to throw the cell phone, but I remembered it wasn¡¯t mine, and I was afraid Sarina would get mad at me if it happened. I just put it down before pretending to sit beside her and watch her sleep as I used to do, along with asionally brushing her hair and cheek.

 Chapter 20

    Sarina


    It felt so good like I was being cradled. I didn¡¯t know if it was because of the air conditioner, but I felt incredibly light. I slowly opened my eyes and rubbed them to clear the sleepiness away, only to find someone sitting beside me, watching me.


    I rubbed my eyes again to clear the dried tears that had turned into eye boogers to ensure someone was beside me. ¡°Maximus?¡± I eximed in surprise, quickly sitting up, which made me a bit dizzy. He immediately pulled me closer before I could fall off the bed. I looked around to confirm where I was and noticed I was still in the hotel, just like before I fell asleep. ¡°What are you doing here? How did you get in?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t see any reason why I shouldn¡¯t be able to get in here,¡± he said as he leaned back against the headboard with his arms crossed. Why does he look so confident? The slight curve he made with the side of his lips in a smirk gives me the urge to tell him how handsome he is.


    ¡°What do you mean, you don¡¯t see any reason? This is my hotel room! You shouldn¡¯t be able to get in without my permission.¡± Just how the hell did he get in? Does the hotel staff give him my room key? Isn¡¯t it viting my privacy?


    ¡°I can go anywhere I want as long as I own it. I can even enter your pussy because it belongs to me, too.¡± What a pervert. He always manages to bring up my private parts in our conversations. As far as I know, he had been with different women before his ident, and I also think Midori satisfied him as well. So, why is he acting like he never fucked anyone before?


    ¡°What do you mean, you own it? And when did this hotel Luxuria be yours?¡± I asked, confused. He¡¯s my husband, and after being hired as his private nurse, I looked into him on the inte. Although he was starting to build his hotel chains, I knew that Luxuria was not his.


    ¡°Just recently. Remember when I took you to my office to meet someone important?¡± I remembered our lunch when his grandmother called to say she wasing home. So, it was the Luxuria hotel owner he had a meeting with? How can he be so good in business? He was blind and still in his wheelchair at that time, but he was able to close the deal sessfully.


    ¡°Even if this hotel is yours, what about my privacy? I¡¯ll sue this hotel for letting you in here!¡± I said angrily. How dare he take advantage of his power and get in their guest¡¯s room?


    ¡°Go ahead. Then I¡¯ll fire the employee who let me in here,¡± he said, making me roll my eyes. He was so arrogant! How dare he fire them when they couldn¡¯t do anything because he was their boss!


    ¡°Go ahead and fire them! Do you think I care about who that person is?¡± Of course, I was just saying that. But in reality, I wouldn¡¯t let that happen. Surely, he won¡¯t do what he just said, either, right? I mean, living with him for many months now, I never saw or heard him treating anyone working for him badly. He¡¯s the boss, but he shows respect to them as well.


    ¡°Okay,¡± he said, then took out his phone and called someone. ¡°Aries, fire the receptionist who gave me the spare key to Sarina¡¯s room. She wanted to sue the hotel because of that.¡±


    ¡°Are you crazy?¡± I eximed, making him look at me before smirking. He was sooooo irritating, especially when he smirked because it made him look like a pervert. A handsome pervert, to be exact, because he wasn¡¯t disgusting to look at. Quite the opposite; he sent shivers down my spine every time I saw lust in his eyes, and I couldn¡¯t help but feel like desiring him.


    Now that he could see, his eyes seemed even more lustful. ¡°You should know that I can see now, Sarina,¡± he suddenly said, making me cringe.


    ¡°So?¡± I asked in confusion.


    ¡°I can see how you look at me.¡± He then leaned forward, making him closer to me.


    ¡°And how do I look at you, huh?¡±


    ¡°Like you want me to y with your clit.¡± My eyes widened at what he said. Damn, how did he know what I was thinking?


    ¡°Don¡¯t be delusional, Maximus.¡± I tried to stand up from the bed, but he pulled me down onto him.


    ¡°I¡¯m not delusional, Sarina. I can see the desire in your eyes, so you can¡¯t deny it. Did you forget I¡¯ve been with many different women, and I know how they all look at me?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯tpare me to them,¡± I said.


    ¡°I won¡¯t because you¡¯re far different from them,¡± he replied, which made me frown. Well, I¡¯m paid and have a contract with him, while the women he¡¯s been with willingly gave themselves to him. Thinking about it made me sad. ¡°You¡¯re different from them because I was never theirs while I¡¯m yours alone.¡±


    I was surprised at what he said and was about to respond, but he covered my mouth with his. I felt him suck on my lips, something he seemed to enjoy doing because he never failed to do it.


    He held my face, preventing me from moving my head, but when I clung to his shoulder, he let go and began exploring my body. I responded to his kisses, something I learned from him. The only kissing I knew before was the simple ones Jason and I shared. But Maximus was different; he could make me do more than just kiss and want more.


    I was already lost in our kisses, so I quickly adjusted myself on hisp. I felt his hands on my waist while I stroked his chest as we continued kissing. I arched my back when he suddenly slipped his hands inside my crop top, making me moan into his mouth as his hands found my breasts, or rather, my nipples.


    ¡°I miss you, Sarina¡­¡± Our eyes met, and I could see the sincerity there. Did he miss me?


    ¡°That¡¯s why you kissed that bow-legged woman?¡± I asked with a frown, remembering what I saw earlier, and he smiled. Was he teasing me?


    ¡°I didn¡¯t kiss her. She wanted to check my eyes, grabbed my cheeks, and kissed me. You arrived just as it happened, but it was just a peck. If her saliva had touched my lips, I would have thrown her to Grandma.¡± I wanted tough at what he said but held back because I didn¡¯t want him to know my anger had already subsided.


    Was it really that simple? Yes, that¡¯s how easily my anger faded. I didn¡¯t know what kind of spell this man had on me because he could easily erase my anger and irritation. ¡°Does this still hurt?¡± His eyes were tender as he stroked the cheek that his grandmother had pped. ¡°She¡¯ll never do that again, I promise.¡±Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g


    ¡°Don¡¯t make promises, Maximus.¡± I stopped him. I didn¡¯t want to hope for something that might not happen.


    ¡°No, I want to. And if you know me, you know that I don¡¯t go back on my words.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re just saying that because you want sex.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not denying it; I want to have sex with you. But I¡¯m also telling the truth when I say I won¡¯t let anyone hurt you again. Not even my grandmother.¡± Our eyes met, and I searched for the truth and sincerity in his words. He didn¡¯t blink and seemed to show me he meant every word he said. I took a deep breath before nodding at him.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry if I disrespected your grandma earlier¡±


    ¡°You have nothing to apologize for. And believe it or not, I like your fighting spirit. It makes me feel relieved because I know you won¡¯t let anyone take advantage of you, especially when I¡¯m not around.¡± I smiled widely because of that, so I asked,


    ¡°Are we okay now? Can we have sex?¡± I don¡¯t know how I managed to say that, but I really want him now. He smiled broadly, ready to devour, suck, squeeze, and lick. I was about to kiss him when he said,


    ¡°No.¡± I frowned because my panties were already wet from our earlier kissing, and now he said no. ¡°You haven¡¯t eaten yet. Let¡¯s eat first.¡±


    With that, he carried me off the bed and ced me on the couch before calling to order food. I was left hanging, but I appreciated my husband more now because he was thoughtful, too.

 Chapter 21

    Sarina


    ¡°Why stay in this room when you can get better?¡± Maximus asked. We had just finished eating, and I must admit, I ate a lot, so I was thankful that my husband ordered a lot of food. I hadn¡¯t realized I was so hungry until we started eating.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t want to spend a lot,¡± I replied while he continued to caress my hand he was holding. We were on the couch, leaning at him with his arm wrapped around me.


    ¡°What about the card I gave you?¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t want to use it, even though I was tempted earlier. I thought about your grandma, who would be furious if she found out, so I stopped myself. I didn¡¯t want her to think that I am what she thinks I am, and that will never happen if I will spend your money.¡± It was long, but I hope he got my point.


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to think about her. I am your husband and responsible for providing everything you need and want. So next time, don¡¯t hesitate to spend my money.¡± I looked up at him with furrowed brows. He said it like we were actually normal couples who fall in love.


    ¡°No need, Maximus. I have my own money.¡± Even though what he said was nice, I didn¡¯t intend to waste his money. I also didn¡¯t want him to have anything to say when the time came for us to part ways. Although he didn¡¯t look stingy, I still didn¡¯t want to receive any harsh words regarding money.


    I felt him take a deep breath as if he wanted to say something but remained silent. I suddenly turned to him when I remembered his condition. ¡°Didn¡¯t you just have surgery? Why are you here already?¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡± he asked, looking confused, which caused me to frown. ¡°I asked Dr. Jerold, and he said it was okay,¡± he replied, looking away.


    ¡°Are you sure? You seem different. How could a patient who just had his eye surgery roam around?¡± I asked, confused. Some patients heal fast, but he¡¯s way faster.


    ¡°I wore eyesses on my way here to avoid eye irritation, if that¡¯s what you mean.¡±


    ¡°Alright, if you say so. I was just curious because you seemed to recover so quickly,¡± I replied, shrugging my shoulders. I¡¯m still worried about him, but if he said he¡¯s fine, then I guess that¡¯s the truth. No one knows his body better than him.


    ¡°It wasn¡¯t that serious, ording to the doctor. He even scolded me for not doing it sooner.¡± I said nothing else and stood up, but he stopped me. ¡°Where are you going?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m going to pack my suitcase so we can go home.¡±


    ¡°Huh? Not yet; let¡¯s make the most of our time here.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean ¡®make the most of it¡¯?¡± I asked, raising my eyebrows at him while he grinned at me.


    ¡°Since we¡¯re already here, let¡¯s enjoy it. Like a honeymoon,¡± he said, smiling broadly and wiggling his eyebrows.


    ¡°Rest, Maximus. Stop being so perverted.¡±


    ¡°You just asked earlier if we could have sex,¡± he said, pouting.


    ¡°I¡¯m not in the mood anymore. And I thought it would be better if you rested first, so let¡¯s go home and get rid of the dirty thoughts in your mind.¡± I started packing my suitcase, not wanting to waste time, especially money, even though he now owned the hotel.


    A week quickly passed, and I hadn¡¯t seen even a shadow of the old woman and the bow-legged bitch, so my days had been great. Maximus was working properly, but I had Aries send all his work to the condo to ensure that everything was okay with my husband. I didn¡¯t want him catching any bacteria if he wasn¡¯t fully recovered. And that might happen if he starts going to his office.


    I saw how Maximus took care of me, something I didn¡¯t expect from him because I thought he was only after sex with me. I admired him greatly when I told him there should be no sex until he was fully recovered, and he agreed. But he warned me that he would wear me out once he was able. I just agreed because despite what he said, based on our past sexual encounters, it seemed like he got tired first. Maybe it was because of his condition; I don¡¯t know now that he¡¯s healed.


    ¡°Wifey,¡± I heard Maximus say, so I looked at him. I was currently making the bed while he was getting dressed. It was Monday and his first day back at thepany to work. I frowned at him as he looked at me. ¡°Can you help me with this?¡± he asked, holding the tie around his neck.


    ¡°Who are you calling?¡± I asked.


    ¡°Do I have another wife besides you?¡± he asked back. He didn¡¯t call me by any endearment, but his possessiveness in calling me ¡®wifey¡¯ made up for it. I didn¡¯t answer and just took a deep breath before approaching him.


    ¡°You used to do this by yourself,¡± I said as I started to fix his tie.


    ¡°It feels good when my beautiful wife does it for me.¡± I looked at him because it seemed like he was joking. I just shook my head and didn¡¯t take his words seriously. ¡°It looks like you don¡¯t believe me.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t, and I¡¯m not easily ttered,¡± I said, pulling his tie to fix it. ¡°There, it¡¯s done-¡± I couldn¡¯t finish my sentence because he kissed me. He was good at kissing, so I responded willingly.


    ¡°Believe me, you¡¯re beautiful,¡± he said after our passionate kiss.


    ¡°I¡¯ve known that for a long time.¡± I pretended to be confident, but I was just an ordinary girl. I¡¯m not the kind of woman with exceptional beauty; I grew up in the province. The only thing I¡¯m thankful for is that I inherited my father¡¯s smooth skin.N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.


    ¡°Then why do you say you¡¯re not easily ttered?¡± he asked, frowning.


    ¡°Because it only makes you feel good that I fix your tie. If I didn¡¯t know better, I¡¯d think you just want to order me around.¡± He just shook his head, seemingly in disbelief.


    ¡°Let¡¯s just have breakfast. It¡¯s hard to talk to you because you think I¡¯m always joking.¡± He walked out of our room, and I didn¡¯t know if he was mad or what. Why would he be mad? I didn¡¯t say anything wrong.


    We were eating when he suddenly tried to feed me. ¡°What are you doing?¡± I asked.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t I say it would be my turn to feed you when I get better?¡± I couldn¡¯t speak; I wanted to respond but couldn¡¯t think of anything to say. I was speechless. ¡°Open wide, sweetheart.¡±


    I opened my mouth in surprise, and he fed me. It felt like I woke up from a dream and started chewing. Until we finished eating, I stared at him like a fool, epting each bite of food he fed me like a child.


    Even after he left, that scene at the dining table stayed in my mind. I couldn¡¯t believe it. If he had said it felt good when I fixed his tie earlier, I could have said it felt good when he fed me and, above all, his possessive way of calling me.


    I suddenly clutched my chest because of the strange flutter or heartbeat. I looked around and was thankful Lisa wasn¡¯t here yet; otherwise, I would look foolish. I just shook my head and returned to our room to continue tidying up when I heard my phone ringing. I quickly grabbed it and answered when I saw the name registered on the screen.


    ¡°Mom,¡± I said after I answered the call. I got worried. Did something happen to them? Did my father get involved in another gambling issue?


    ¡°Dear, we¡¯re already in Tabaco,¡± she replied. What is she doing there? I don¡¯t remember having a rtive there of some sort. She doesn¡¯t even have friends there, and neither do I. So why is she there?


    ¡°Oh, what are you doing there?¡± I wondered because my mom doesn¡¯t like to travel. ¡°And who are you with?¡± I added curiously.


    ¡°Your father, of course. We¡¯re going to Man to visit you and see how you¡¯re doing. What¡¯s your address again?¡± I feel like everything turns, making me not understand what she means by what she just said. Did I hear her wrong? She¡¯s in Tabaco now with my father, on their way to Man to visit me, and she¡¯s asking for my address.


    My eyes widened, and I thought about my situation with Maximus. They still don¡¯t know that I¡¯m married!

 Chapter 22

    Contains Mature


    Sarina


    ¡°I wish you had told me first before deciding toe here,¡± I said as I picked up my parents in Cubao. I just came from there, and you already missed me,¡± I added. Is this how parents are? Wait, did I do or say something that warranted their worry? I shook my head when I didn¡¯t recall anything. Maybe they were just really worried about me. And I understand that I left too early as well.


    ¡°Oh, dear, you know you would have stopped us from doing this. It¡¯s better to surprise you so you can¡¯t make any excuses. I¡¯ve wanted toe here for a long time to see what kind of life you have here in Man. Being alone is hard, especially for a young woman like you. I just want to make sure that you are safe where you are staying and that no harm will evere your way,¡± my mother replied. She¡¯s always like that. Thinking about things she shouldn¡¯t even have to worry about.


    ¡°Also, I want to personally thank your boss for lending us the money to pay off my debt,¡± my father added as I led them to the waiting vehicle. I wanted to tell them that they didn¡¯t need to thank him because I had already used my body for it. But of course, I couldn¡¯t say that, so I just shut my mouth before we got into the Uber car I had booked.


    ¡°Are we not going to stop being thankful? I¡¯ve already thanked him, and now you want to thank him, too,¡± I replied, rolling my eyes internally. I didn¡¯t want any of them to see it because it would only make them curious. Doing that is unusual when talking about someone they thought had helped us financially.


    ¡°You are really something; you know how big of a help he was to us,¡± said my mother. She was really grateful to that crazy pervert, Maximus. I wonder what she would say when she found out that he was ravishing her daughter to make the most of the 10 million he pays me?


    Maximus is at his office now, andst night, I didn¡¯t stop until I convinced him not to tell my parents about us. We¡¯ll just make it look like, after his sessful operation, he still chose to stay with him because he still needs to be monitored. He didn¡¯t want to because he didn¡¯t want me to sleep in another room. He didn¡¯t want to miss a day without fucking me, so I made a promise to do everything he wanted if he agreed.


    We didn¡¯t let Lisae in for now, and she was thankful because it was timely. She needed to stay with her daughter-inw, who had just given birth. Before talking to Maximus, I already put my things in the other room so my parents wouldn¡¯t think we slept in the same room.


    ¡°This house of your boss is beautiful, dear!¡± my mother eximed. ¡°Although it¡¯s not what I had expected, it didn¡¯t change the fact that it¡¯s beautiful.¡± I creased my forehead after hearing that. I didn¡¯t know that she had her expectations, and I wonder what that is.


    ¡°What were you expecting with his house, Mom?¡± I asked curiously.Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g


    ¡°Just like the ones in the TV dramas I watched on the television. You know, big garden, grand staircase, and living room,¡± she exined, making me shake my head.


    ¡°This is a condo, so you won¡¯t be able to see something like that. But Maximus does have a big house that you think he has.¡± It would be better if I told her that so she wouldn¡¯t think less of my husband.


    ¡°Oh, Rina, it¡¯s not like you¡¯ve never seen a beautiful house before,¡± my father scolded her. He¡¯s always strict. I don¡¯t know why he was like that when my mother was so nice and kind. I began to wonder how they ended up together.


    ¡°Of course, it¡¯s different here in Man. The Satudez¡¯s house is huge; it¡¯s a mansion, but it¡¯s very modern here,¡± my mother replied as she continued looking around. ¡°And it¡¯s high!¡± I couldn¡¯t help but smile at her innocence.


    ¡°Please sit down first, and I¡¯ll just put your things in your room,¡± I said as I carried their bag and brought it to the room I¡¯d be using while they were here. Do you want to rest first? It¡¯s a long and tiring trip; you might be sleepy and tired.¡±


    ¡°No, dear, you know your mother and I are used to it.¡± And it¡¯s true. They didn¡¯t feel dizzy even on the ferry.


    ¡°That¡¯s right, dear. By the way, where is your boss?¡± my mother asked.


    ¡°He¡¯s at the office, mom. It¡¯s not like he wouldn¡¯t go to work because of you.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s good that he trusts you to stay in his house. Don¡¯t break that trust, okay?¡± my beloved mother reminded me. I smiled at her and nodded so she would stop talking and not notice anything else.


    It was almost lunchtime when my mother volunteered to cook, so I let her. It¡¯s hard to stop her. I just taught her how to use the induction and rice cooker because we don¡¯t have those in the province, and she¡¯s used to lighting a fire on our wood stove.


    I watched and guided her in using the new appliances. I thought of buying her nice kitchen tools because she loves cooking. I smiled at the thought. Yes, that¡¯s right. So she would be more motivated to cook for my father and brother¡¯s family.


    We were setting the table when Maximus arrived. My parents quickly stood up as if they were soldiers. ¡°Good day, sir,¡± my father said, making Maximus frown before looking at me, and I gave him a pleading look to y along.


    ¡°Good day, sir, ma¡¯am,¡± Maximus said. My father and I were both stunned. ¡°Just call me Maximus since you¡¯re the parents of my wi-I mean, of Sarina.¡± I was so nervous, so I red at him. I¡¯m sure he intentionally slipped that in his dirty mouth.


    ¡°It¡¯s embarrassing,¡± my mother said.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be embarrassed. Your daughter cared for me when I couldn¡¯t walk or see.¡± My husband said kindly, smiling sweetly, so my father agreed to his request.


    ¡°Alright, Maximus, if that¡¯s what you want. You¡¯re just in time; I just finished cooking, so join us if you don¡¯t mind.¡±


    ¡°Sure, Mom, I¡¯m really hungry,¡± he said happily. I saw my father rxed, probably thinking Maximus was a good boss to me, which is true. He¡¯s kind and even invites Lisa to eat with us sometimes, though he doesn¡¯t insist if she declines.


    And so we ate, and I saw my husband enthusiasticallyplimenting my mother¡¯s cooking. But he almost choked when my parents mentioned the 4 million debt, which wasn¡¯t true.


    Maximus quickly looked at me, understood what I meant, and yed along. I was restless, fearing Maximus might say something revealing, so I kept talking to my parents.


    When we finished, my father washed the dishes while my mother and I were in the living room. Maximus was in our room, and I hoped he wouldn¡¯te out. ¡°Sarina, where did you put my purple polo that I wore for a meeting?¡± Speaking of the devil. Why would he ask me about that? Is he going somewhere?


    I looked at him, ¡°It¡¯s in the closet,¡± I said, even though I didn¡¯t know which purple polo he meant.


    ¡°I can¡¯t find it,¡± he said before returning to the room.


    ¡°Oh dear, you should get it; that¡¯s how rich people are,¡± my mother said. I looked at her. ¡°Go on, what are you waiting for?¡± she urged, so I stood up to go to Maximus.


    I knocked before opening the door, and my husband grabbed me as soon as I entered. ¡°What do you think you¡¯re doing?¡± I scolded him.


    ¡°I want a quickie.¡± Then he covered my mouth with his and started sucking my lips. I was only wearing a skirt, so he quickly reached inside my panties and started ying with my clit. Damn, this is going to be a real quickie since I feel myself starting to get wet.


    ¡°Hmm¡­ you smell good, wifey..¡± he murmured.


    He lifted me and pressed me against the door before pushing my panties aside and inserting his dick. ¡°Ahhh¡­¡± I moaned loudly, and Maximus quickly kissed me. He kisses me as he roughly thrusts into me so I won¡¯t make noise.


    ¡°Fuck, you¡¯re a screamer, my wife,¡± he whispered to me. ¡°I need to keep you quiet while I fuck you,¡± he added, kissing me again and pounding me until we both came. We were panting, and he hadn¡¯t pulled out yet. We looked at each other, and he smiled. ¡°I want your parents here, so you can¡¯t refuse.¡± I pped his chest, and heughed.

 Chapter 23

    Sarina


    I left his room after he wiped me down, which is something I like him doing for me. He wasn¡¯t the type of partner in bed who would leave you alone after he cummed. I felt well taken care of by him, and I couldn¡¯t help but admire him. I thought that might be one of the reasons too why many women were so into him and, as he said, asked for a second time.


    ¡°Did you find what your boss was looking for?¡± my mother asked. Right, I forgot. What am I going to answer to her? I keep thinking about my husband to the point that I sometimes forget what I was doing.


    ¡°No, Mom,¡± Maximus replied; how is he here already? I didn¡¯t notice he had followed me already. ¡°Maybe Lisa is the one who kept it away.¡±


    ¡°Lisa?¡± my father, who had juste from the kitchen, asked curiously.


    ¡°Yes, Dad. She¡¯s also staying here; she needs to attend to something and has requested a leave. Her daughter-inw gives birth and needs her.¡± Maximus exined, sitting next to me, cing hisptop on hisp, and opening it. I wondered why this pervert wanted to chat with my parents.


    ¡°It¡¯s good that you have someone with you here; you won¡¯t be bored when your boss is at work,¡± my mother said, smiling. Seeing howfortable she and Dad are, I think they feel at ease about me living away from them.


    ¡°I¡¯m really not bored, Mom,¡± I replied because it¡¯s true. Although there were times when I was thinking of going back to the hospital to work, I respect Maximus¡¯ decision. He doesn¡¯t want me to work since he said he still pays me monthly, so I do not need to do that, maybe after our contract ends.


    ¡°By the way, if you have a day off and nothing to do here, I told Jason to take you out if you agree.¡± My eyes widened, and I nced at Maximus, who had stopped typing. He¡¯s possessive, and I don¡¯t think he¡¯ll like the idea.


    ¡°Oh, Mom, you don¡¯t have to worry about me. I¡¯m fine.¡± I quickly said, worried my husband might think something else.


    ¡°Dear, I ran into the Governor. He was wondering why you didn¡¯t return to continue your medical studies. He said you shouldn¡¯t hesitate to ask for help, and whatever you discussed before is still valid because they know you¡¯re hardworking and smart. Don¡¯t you want to be a doctor anymore?¡±


    ¡°Dad, I don¡¯t want to think about that for now. I don¡¯t feel like studying again.¡± Yes, I admit. After Jason and I became more than friends, I became a doctor. It¡¯s because I thought we would end up together, and he¡¯s supposed to enter politics. In my mind, the way I could help him serve our province is to be a doctor who provides free check-ups and consultations to his people.N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.


    But that¡¯s not the case anymore since I decided to be a doctor to help people, especially those who can¡¯t afford to pay for their medical needs in a big hospital.


    ¡°Do you want to be a doctor, Sarina?¡± Maximus interrupted.


    ¡°Sir,¡± I emphasized the way I addressed him, hoping he would understand and not interfere in our conversation. ¡°That was before. It¡¯s not in my mind now.¡±


    ¡°Maximus, Sarina. How many times do I have to tell you to call me Maximus?¡± he corrected. ¡°And about my question, do you want to be a doctor?¡±


    ¡°Before, but not anymore,¡± I quickly replied.


    ¡°Dear, if Jason is-¡± my mother started, but I cut her off.


    ¡°No one else is involved in my decision, Mom. I really don¡¯t want to.¡±


    My parents fell silent, respecting my decision. But when I looked at Maximus, he was still staring at me, making me feel worried that my parents might notice.


    ¡°Do you need anything, sir? I mean, Maximus?¡± He shook his head and continued typing. He could work in his room, so why did he have to do it before my parents? And why was he here if he still had work to do?


    My parents¡¯ stay went well. They mentioned Jason asionally, especially in front of Maximus. This made me nervous because they clearly liked my ex-boyfriend and tried to build him up with me again.


    On theirst day before returning to the province, we were having lunch with Maximus when my father suddenly spoke, ¡°Maximus,¡± I looked at him, unsure of what he was about to say. My husband nced between us, waiting for my father to continue.


    ¡°Please be patient with our daughter if she sometimes goes out to meet her childhood friend. Jason is kind and trustworthy, and we, as Sarina¡¯s parents, know he wouldn¡¯t let anything bad happen to her.¡±


    ¡°Dad, you don¡¯t need to ask for permission!¡± I said, surprised. It¡¯s not that I n on going out with Jason; I just didn¡¯t want them to continue this topic.


    ¡°Oh, Sarina, it¡¯s natural for Maximus to know since you live with him. He has the right to check on you to ensure your safety. We just want him to know we trust Jason.¡±


    ¡°Jason is Sarina¡¯s childhood friend?¡± Maximus asked, and my mother smiled at him before nodding.


    ¡°Yes, son. They¡¯ve been together since childhood until Sarina went to college, and they had a formal rtionship. Something unexpected happened, so they broke up recently. But we still trust Jason because he¡¯s a good person, just like his parents, who are government officials but never looked down on us or our daughter.¡±


    ¡°Mom, I can take care of myself.¡±


    ¡°Just make sure not to go anywhere without Jason,¡± my mother reminded me.


    ¡°He¡¯s in the province, remember?¡± I reminded them.


    ¡°He texted me yesterday, saying he got a house here in Man and will be staying here,¡± my father suddenly said, surprising me. I didn¡¯t know about his decision. Why? What made him decide to live here when he knew his father, Uncle Rodge, was grooming him to take over as governor?


    ¡°There¡¯s no problem, Mom, Dad. If Jason is trustworthy, it¡¯s fine with me. As long as Sarina knows her way back home.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Maximus. We¡¯re relieved you¡¯re our daughter¡¯s boss. We were worried she might end up with a snobbish rich person who would look down on her. She¡¯s quite outspoken and would surely answer back if that happened.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s really her nature,¡± my perverted husband agreed, and I red at him. But he seemed expressionless.


    That night, my parents went to bed early, as they were used to in the province. I couldn¡¯t sleep, troubled by what they had said to Maximus. They revealed so much about me that I had never told him.


    At midnight, I got up to drink water, unable to sleep. I quietly opened my bedroom door and went to the kitchen, heading straight for the fridge to get cold water. I had a water bottle there, so I drank directly from it.


    I didn¡¯t return the empty bottle but ced it in the sink. As I returned to my room, I bumped into a hard wall-a hard chest, rather. ¡°Maximus! You scared me.¡±


    ¡°Do you love him?¡± he asked. What is wrong with him when he suddenly asks that question?


    ¡°What? Who?¡±


    ¡°Jason.¡±


    ¡°Can we not talk about him?¡± I replied, sighing. I didn¡¯t want to talk about Jason anymore because I didn¡¯t want him to cause Maximus and me to argue. And this one seems like he was trying to start something we might fight with. I didn¡¯t want to tell anyone about my past, and that¡¯s why I am not asking him about his previous rtionship either. It¡¯s awkward and so corny.


    ¡°You do love him,¡± he said. I tried to pass him because I didn¡¯t feel like exining, but he stopped me. ¡°I¡¯d like to remind you that I¡¯m your husband,¡± he said, then kissed me.


    During my parents¡¯ stay, Maximus and I had several quickies, and I must admit, I enjoyed them. Even though they were quicker than our usual lovemaking, I still felt satisfied. I responded to his kiss, even though I felt anger in it. With this man, I lost control of my body and gave in easily.


    He was just in a robe, and I felt he wore nothing underneath, while I wore a thin night dress with no underwear either. He yed with my t chest and my private parts while our tongues wrestled in my mouth. I was so aroused that I couldn¡¯t help but moan. I felt my pussy getting wet and wanted him to take me.


    ¡°Max, I want you now,¡± I moaned. He quickly turned me around and grabbed my hips, wanting me to bend over, so I held onto the kitchen table in front of me. ¡°Ohhh¡­¡± I moaned, forgetting my parents were just in the room and could wake up anytime. I didn¡¯t care anymore, focusing only on Maximus and how he was taking me. ¡°So good, Max¡­ It feels so good when you¡¯re inside me..¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re mine, my wife, all mine¡­¡±


    ¡°Yes, Maximus, only yours,¡± I replied, and then I felt him grinding himself inside me. ¡°Ahhh¡­ Maximus¡­ Oh, like that, yes!¡±


    ¡°Fuckkkk wifey¡­ I can¡¯t get enough of you¡­ You¡¯re fucking mine; I¡¯m the only one who can ravish you like this. I¡¯ll fuck you, make love to you as much as I want, wifey¡­¡± he said, almost screaming.


    ¡°Fuck me, Maximus, fuck me hard and deep, oh! Ahh!¡± I murmured as he pounded into me faster and harder until we reached climax together. Then I felt him giving me a little bite on my right shoulder. It hurt, but it also made me feel aroused.


    He embraced me, and it felt so good. What was this feeling I had for him? Was it just lust or something deeper? I didn¡¯t want to consider it now, especially since our contract will end in a few months. ¡°I miss you, my wife; I want to sleep beside you already,¡± he whispered, making me smile. I was about to reply when I looked up and saw my¡­


    ¡°Mom!¡±

 Chapter 24

    Sarina


    Maximus and I quickly straightened up, and my cheeks must have been bright red. I didn¡¯t know what to do while my husband stayed silent, fixing his robe. ¡°Get dressed, Sarina, and we¡¯ll talk,¡± my mother said, anger evident on her face and in her voice.


    ¡°I¡¯ll exin, Mom,¡± I tried to say. I saw how disappointed she was. Although Maximus and I are married, and it was natural for us to do the scene she caught us with, I still didn¡¯t like the idea that I did something I didn¡¯t want to do to her the most. And that¡¯s to make her feel disappointed.


    ¡°I said, get dressed!¡± she yelled, making me nod. ¡°You too, Maximus, fix yourself up,¡± she told the man who was still quietly standing beside me.


    ¡°Yes, Mom,¡± Maximus replied. Seeing me done fixing my sleepwear, he took my hand and pulled me to our bedroom to get dressed properly.


    ¡°This is your fault!¡± I told him once we were inside. Maximus went straight to our closet, pulling out our clothes. ¡°We wouldn¡¯t have been caught if you had waited until they went back to our province. You¡¯re such a pervert.¡± I continued while he looked at me, creasing his forehead.


    ¡°Quiet, Sarina, and get dressed. They¡¯re waiting for us,¡± he said, handing me my clothes, which I quickly put on. He looks calm, and that pissed me off. What would I say to my parents? Even though I tried to exin earlier, I still didn¡¯t know what excuse I would use to lessen my mom¡¯s anger.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to be doing something you shouldn¡¯t, Sarina,¡± my father said, making me bow my head. Mom must have woken him up after we got into our bedroom and dressed. We were in the living room, and they were sitting together on the couch opposite mine and Maximus.


    ¡°Do you like Maximus?¡± my mother asked, widening my eyes. Why is she asking me that? Where did she get the idea?


    ¡°What? No!¡± I said, shocked. But realizing it sounded wrong, I quickly corrected myself. ¡°I mean-¡±


    ¡°Sarina and I are married. ¡± Maximus suddenly said, surprising me even more. I had told him I didn¡¯t want my parents to know about us, and here he is, casually telling them about us. I gave him a warning look when he looked at me after I pinch his hand to warn him not to say anything.


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± my father asked, staring at me and waiting for an answer, furrowing his brow. I don¡¯t know, but I don¡¯t feel like lying to them. I grew up telling them everything that happened to me, whether I was at school or with friends, so with my head down, I answered.


    ¡°Like he said, we¡¯re married,¡± I said. It¡¯s better this way because my parents would be angrier if they learned that Maximus and I were doing something intimate if we were in a rtionship. They¡¯re conservative, so I didn¡¯t let Jason take what he wanted from me, even though we¡¯d been together for a long time.


    My parents were speechless, just staring at Maximus and me. They probably couldn¡¯t believe I got married without telling them. ¡°I thought you loved Jason?¡± my father asked, confused. ¡°It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t like you, Maximus. But I¡¯ve seen how my daughter was with him.¡±


    ¡°No harm done, Dad,¡± Maximus politely replied. I started to feel guilty because he was talking to my parents with respect while I talked back to his grandmother. Well, his grandmother is nothing like my parents.


    ¡°Dad, please don¡¯t mention him. We¡¯re over, and I¡¯m married now.¡± I chimed in. I didn¡¯t want him and my mother to say more about my past rtionship with respect to Maximus.


    ¡°I don¡¯t understand you, Sarina. I didn¡¯t raise you like this. Do you like Maximus, or are you just using him because of what happened with you and Jason?¡± I saw the anger on my mother¡¯s face, and I couldn¡¯t me her for thinking that.


    ¡°Mom! My past rtionship has nothing to do with my marriage. Maximus knows that,¡± I said, looking at my husband, who was clenching his jaw. Is he thinking that way, too? He knew better that it wasn¡¯t the case.


    ¡°There¡¯s nothing like that, Mom,¡± he said, making me sigh in relief. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Sarina and I love each other,¡± he added with a smile. I might haveughed out loud if it weren¡¯t for my parents¡¯ presence. Not that I didn¡¯t take the situation seriously, but what Maximus said was really funny. When did we ever fall in love? The question is, when did he love me? Or when did I love him?


    ¡°Why did you hide your marriage from us?¡± my father asked. He often said he would walk me down the aisle when I married Jason. I was about to answer, but my husband beat me to it.


    ¡°Sarina wasn¡¯t ready yet, Dad,¡± Maximus said. ¡°Also, I had just finished my surgery and didn¡¯t want people to see someone like me tied to a wheelchair marrying my wife, which would only lead people to gossip about her.¡± Wow! He sounded so sincere. Even I would believe him if I didn¡¯t know better.


    ¡°Now that you¡¯re well, what¡¯s your n?¡± my mother asked.


    ¡°Of course, to give Sarina a proper wedding. But I had neglected ourpany while in a wheelchair, so I must focus on that first,¡± Maximus replied. He was only making an excuse, I know that. But I felt a little indifferent because I knew it would never happen since our contract would end soon.


    ¡°That¡¯s right, Mom. His work isn¡¯t easy, so he needs to give it his full attention for now,¡± I added, trying to sound convincing.


    ¡°Quiet, Sarina. I¡¯m not talking to you,¡± my mother snapped, still angry. So I shut up, held my head down, and pouted internally. I know her when she¡¯s acting like that.


    ¡°Mom, Dad, I promise to care for and love my wife. Once everything is settled at thepany, we¡¯ll discuss our wedding. For now, I ask for your understanding and trust,¡± Maximus said. My parents took a deep breath before looking at me. I knew they were still angry at me and didn¡¯t me them. But I hoped they wouldn¡¯t mention Jason anymore, especially in front of Maximus.


    ¡°There¡¯s nothing we can do now. The important thing is you¡¯re married and not living immorally. I don¡¯t want my children to live like some of today¡¯s youth. I¡¯m not judging them, but I¡¯ll be more at ease knowing my children are married to the person they love and willing topromise,¡± my father said at length.


    ¡°Forgive us for constantly mentioning your ex. We just thought you two would get back together, especially since Jason has been reaching out to us,¡± my mother added. ¡°And you, Sarina, make your situation clear to Jason. I don¡¯t want him to hope for nothing. You know how much he loves you and how good his parents are to you.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mom,¡± I said, even though I had already told Jason I was married. He wouldn¡¯t give up, but maybe it was my fault for telling him my marriage to Maximus was just a contract.


    ¡°Alright, go to bed. If you had told us from the start, I wouldn¡¯t have had to witness what I saw earlier. You young people!¡± my mother scolded, making me blush again.


    ¡°Goodnight, Mom and Dad. Sleep well,¡± Maximus said, standing up and taking my hand. I wanted to refuse, but my parents watched, so I followed him.


    The next day, we took my parents to Cubao. Maximus wanted them to take an airne, but they refused, saying they weren¡¯t used to it and might get lost at the airport.


    ¡°Maximus, take care of my daughter,¡± my father said. ¡°She can be stubborn, but she¡¯s kind. But if she gets too unruly, you can put her face down and spank her.¡±Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g


    ¡°Dad!¡± I protested. He didn¡¯t realize that with my husband¡¯s pervertedness, he¡¯d probably spank me in a way that would send me to heaven instead of hurting me as punishment.


    ¡°What are you thinking, Sarina?¡± my mother noticed, and I looked back and forth between the three of them. Seeing my husband¡¯s mischievous grin., he probably knew what I was thinking. Damn! I thought he was the pervert, but it looks like I¡¯ve caught his pervertedness, too.


    ¡°Alright, we will get on the bus. You two should leave; Maximus might need to get to his office,¡± my father said. We nodded and watched them get on the bus. Contrary to what they wanted, we didn¡¯t leave until their bus departed.


    ¡°My wife, do you want me to put your face down?¡± Maximus whispered to me as we walked to the car. I elbowed him, which made himugh. I couldn¡¯t help but smile internally, feeling excited and looking forward to it. It looks like I¡¯ve really changed.

 Chapter 25

    MaximusN?velDrama.Org exclusive content.


    It has been three days since Sarina¡¯s parents returned to the province, but I still can¡¯t get their approval and concern for Jason out of my mind. Knowing they are putting my wife in his hands while they¡¯re here is painful for me, even though I understand they don¡¯t know that Sarina and I are already married.


    I also can¡¯t forget how quickly Sarina denied having feelings for me when her father asked her. It hurts because I love her. But I can¡¯t admit that to her now, especially knowing she has no feelings for me. It¡¯s not about being a coward, but I do have my pride.


    I started to cherish our little teasing as a couple, and she looks beautiful whenever she blushes. I don¡¯t know why, until now, she wasn¡¯t used to me and my vulgar words even though we have been intimate every day. Her kisses are what make me breathe.


    Even if Sarina doesn¡¯t love me, one thing I am sure of is that she enjoys what I do to her. Every time we fuck and make love, apanied by her moans and sighs that sound like music to my ears, is what I treasure the most. I love how she screamed and clung to me and gave me a few scratches whenever she reached her climax.


    As a businessman known to be one of the wealthiest in the country, I know many women are infatuated with me and want my attention. I¡¯ve entertained some before, but it was just to fulfill my needs as a man, especially since I didn¡¯t like the woman my grandmother wanted for me, Midori Sato.


    I never had specific preferences for a woman because I didn¡¯t think I¡¯d seriously fall for someone since my attention was focused on business. But Sarina was different. The first time I saw her face in the hospital where I was admitted and where she worked, many nurses and doctors kept looking at me, with almost all wanting to assist me. Still, Sarina was the only one who didn¡¯t have the time to nce at me.


    How do I know this? Because I wasn¡¯t really blind and certainly not crippled. My hospitalization was just a facade to make Midori break up with me, which indeed happened. But I had to maintain my condition in case Midori changed her mind. Then, I used the situation to get close to Sarina.


    ¡°Sir, are you okay?¡± asked Aries. I trusted him and knew everything. He¡¯s not just an assistant but also a close friend. When we¡¯re in the office, he calls me Sir, but when it¡¯s just the two of us, he freely calls me by my name.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know what to do with Sarina. Our contract is nearing its end,¡± I said after a deep breath, leaning back on my office chair.


    ¡°You still have time to muster the courage to confess to her.¡± He believed my wife might have felt something for me as well. Nit is just as intense as I feel for her. Nevertheless, my assistant believes that she does. But I doubt it because of the way she reacted to her parents.


    ¡°I don¡¯t think I¡¯ll make it in time,¡± I told him, feeling hopeless. ¡°You know about Jason, and I heard him say he¡¯d wait for my wife.¡± Yes, I heard them talk, and it hurt when Sarina told her ex-boyfriend about our contract. It was proof that she really didn¡¯t care about me. I thought she would at least hide that, or if she truly didn¡¯t want to get back at him, she should have used our agreement to her advantage, but she didn¡¯t.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to lose hope so easily,¡± he said, which made me look at him. ¡°Your marriage is legal. If you don¡¯t file for separation, you¡¯ll remain married. And now that Ma¡¯am Sarina¡¯s parents know about you, they are unlikely to allow a separation because they¡¯re quite conservative based on what you said.¡±


    ¡°What if Sarina tells them about our contract?¡± I asked hesitantly. When ites to my wife, I lose my self-confidence.


    ¡°Do you think she¡¯ll tell her parents? Especially the reason why she agreed?¡± I thought about what he said, ¡°One reason I believe Ma¡¯am Sarina doesn¡¯t want her parents to know about your marriage is to avoid the difficulty of separating from you when your contract ends. So take this to your advantage, Sir. Suppose you need to go to Catanduanes to get close to her family. In that case, that¡¯s better, so the whole town knows she¡¯s married, and Jason loses hope of getting back with her, even after a year.¡± He looks confident, making me think about what he just said.


    ¡°You said a lot, but thanks, Aries. You¡¯re a true friend,¡± I said, grinning. I realized he had a point, and it¡¯s really up to me whether I agree to separate from my wife or not. Aries also suggested I marry Sarina if I truly loved her. I knew what I did was risky, but as I said, I really love that t-chested woman. I didn¡¯t want to be away from her and couldn¡¯t imagine anyone touching her either.


    I¡¯m also grateful for my friend Dr. Jerold, who conspired with me. None of this would have been possible without the people close to me, whom I consider family. They help me a lot in executing my n to get rid of Midori. And now to get close to my wife.


    ¡°By the way, are you okay with going abroad? You need to meet the international investors you want to partner with for the hotel and casino business you want to start,¡± Aries reminded me. My hotel chain n is on the move and has already started, and thank God, everything is going smoothly. That¡¯s why I decided to take a big leap. It¡¯s a long-time dream that will materialize soon.


    ¡°When is it?¡± I asked. Now, more than ever, I shouldn¡¯t neglect my businesses; I must grow them for my wife and future children. For now, I¡¯ve decided to show Sarina my sweet side, my thoughtfulness, and, most importantly, my love for her.


    ¡°You need to leave next week. I¡¯ll include Ma¡¯am Sarina in the booking, and you have to take this chance on your honeymoon.¡± He informed me, smiling. He¡¯s rooting for us, so I need to believe in myself. But,


    ¡°She doesn¡¯t have a passport,¡± I said weakly.


    ¡°No problem, Sir. I¡¯ve taken care of it. It¡¯s already being processed and will be delivered on time. I have already pulled some strings, so leave them to me.¡± I grinned at what he said, ¡°Don¡¯t forget my bonus, especially if something good happens between you two in Las Vegas,¡± he added.


    ¡°Noted,¡± I quickly replied, and he grinned as well. He was about to leave my office when my grandmother suddenly came in. It¡¯s been a while since west saw each other, and I admit I feel sorry for her, but I won¡¯t let her belittle my wife anymore. She had to know how important Sarina was to me, so she had to ept my wife, whether she liked it or not.


    ¡°How are you, grandma?¡± I asked, but she just rolled her eyes at me. I took a deep breath before getting up from my seat to approach her. She was sitting in my receiving area while Aries was leaving.


    ¡°Now you ask,¡± she said, still upset. She¡¯s always like that whenever she doesn¡¯t get anything she wants. My grandfather spoiled her a lot. I know because I saw how much he took care of and loved this old woman in front of me. He¡¯s also my role model for loving someone. I mean loving my wife, Sarina.


    ¡°Grandma, please, don¡¯t be mad. It¡¯s natural for me to defend Sarina because she¡¯s my wife, and I love her. I hope you understand because I don¡¯t want you to be angry with me.¡± I said in a low voice, asking for understanding. ¡°I want you to try and get to know her. She¡¯s not what you think she is.¡±


    ¡°I still can¡¯t see what you see in that girl, Maximus. No matter how hard I try to understand your decision, I still can¡¯t,¡± she replied, ring at me. I know that it was hard for her as well. I used to say yes to her request, whatever it was, but now I refuse because of a woman.


    ¡°Grandma, please give Sarina a chance to get close to you. I assure you, once you get to know her, you¡¯ll realize I didn¡¯t make a mistake in choosing her.¡± Maybe I¡¯m pushing my wife too much on her, but I have no choice but to do that so she understands that Sarina and I can¡¯t separate anymore.


    ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll get to know her,¡± she suddenly said, which surprised me. ¡°But you need to give Midori a job here so you can get to know her as well.¡± I knew there was a catch.


    I took a deep breath, about to answer, but she didn¡¯t give me a chance, ¡°Take it or leave it, Maximus.¡± Then she stood up to leave. I didn¡¯t chase after her because I was sure it would only give me a headache. Why did I even entertain her?

 Chapter 26

    Sarina


    ¡°I don¡¯t want toe, but why do you keep insisting?¡± I asked Maximus, who was pestering me about our trip to Las Vegas.


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you want to?¡± he asked.


    ¡°You¡¯re annoying. Didn¡¯t I already tell you I¡¯m scared of getting into airnes! How many times will you ask me that?¡± I answered, rolling my eyes at him. Why does he want me toe with him?


    ¡°I¡¯m with you; what are you afraid of? And didn¡¯t you fly when you went home to Catanduanes?¡± Oh yeah, I forgot about that.


    ¡°That was different; it was a short flight. It¡¯s a different story with an international flight.¡± I saw him exhale, probably thinking I was being unreasonable. But being in the air for a long time is really scary. ¡°What if the ne crashes? Of course, you¡¯ll save yourself first and then the beautiful women you see, especially the sexy flight attendants!¡±


    ¡°Seriously, Sarina? You¡¯re thinking about those things?¡± he asked, seeming to run out of patience. Why? Is it wrong to think that way? What I¡¯m saying is true. He would leave me for a beautiful and sexy woman.


    ¡°Who knows? You can¡¯t tell. I know how much of a pervert you are!¡±


    ¡°Have you ever thought that I¡¯m only like this because of you? That I only lust for you?¡± I didn¡¯t know what to say because he was probably just trying to sweet-talk me into agreeing.


    ¡°Wouldn¡¯t you like that? I¡¯m not there, so you can do whatever you want. Chase after other women or bring that bow-legged girl with you,¡± I replied.


    ¡°Don¡¯t push me to another woman, Sarina!¡± He was angry, and it was obvious. Only a fool wouldn¡¯t notice, and of course, I didn¡¯t want him to do that either. But I felt like if I didn¡¯t go, that¡¯s what would happen.


    ¡°I¡¯m not; I¡¯m just saying that¡¯s what you¡¯ll do because I¡¯m not going.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t you want others to see you with me? What¡¯s really wrong with me that you¡¯re ashamed of me?¡± Where did thate from? I am ordinary, and everyone would want to see them with him!


    ¡°What are you talking about? I just didn¡¯t want to go with you, and you¡¯re reacting like this.¡±


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you want to? I don¡¯t believe it¡¯s just because of the flight. Are you meeting up with Jason while I¡¯m away?¡±


    ¡°What?¡± I eximed. ¡°Where did you get that idea?¡± How could he say that when I had already given myself to him. There¡¯s no day that we didn¡¯t fuck, and my parents already knew about us, and he was still thinking about my past with Jason?


    ¡°He¡¯s the only reason you might refuse, isn¡¯t it? You love him, don¡¯t you?¡± I closed my eyes at his absurdity. Earlier, I thought he was meeting someone in Vegas; why does it backfire on me?


    ¡°You know what, fine. But don¡¯t me me if I suddenly scream and make the ne stop when we¡¯re already flying.¡± I had no choice but to agree to avoid further argument. It¡¯s hard to argue with him; he¡¯s very persistent. He had to deal with it if I yelled ¡°STOP¡± while we were in the air.


    He didn¡¯t say anything after that, so I also kept quiet. I didn¡¯t want to say something that might worsen the situation. What am I supposed to do there anyway? I don¡¯t even know how to y cards. Well, if he invites me to a shopping spree, it¡¯s better.


    Wednesday, I was just in the condo, naturally, looking for job vacancies when my husband called. What does he want now? ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°Can¡¯t you be more affectionate?¡± he asked, making me roll my eyes.


    ¡°Whaaat¨C isss¨C ittt?¡± I repeated, saying it as affectionately as I could. He¡¯s so demanding.


    ¡°Oh, my wife, it¡¯s hard to be sweet to you,¡± heins.


    ¡°I know, so tell me, what do you want?¡± I asked.


    ¡°Come to the office,¡±


    ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°Why are you asking too much? It¡¯s not like you came to visit me here often. It¡¯s your first time,¡± he quickly replied, sounding sulky.


    ¡°Okay, why?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re going out,¡±


    ¡°Where are we going?¡±


    ¡°Can¡¯t you juste without too many questions?¡±


    ¡°Can it be like that? What if you take me to some remote ce and bury me six feet under?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m your husband, Sarina. Why do you think that way about me?¡±


    ¡°Only in the contract, Maximus, so why should I trust you?¡±


    ¡°Can¡¯t we have a proper conversation like normal married couples? Why do you keep thinking the worst of me?¡± His voice was so soft, but I heard it clearly. Poor guy, maybe I am going overboard.


    ¡°Fine, what time should I go?¡± I asked so he would stop thinking I was not cooperating. Maybe it¡¯s better this way; at least we still have a chance of bing friends after we end our contract.


    ¡°Before lunch would be better. It¡¯s almost lunchtime, so we can have lunch together. It¡¯s been a while since we ate out, and I was still blind then,¡±


    Maximus had a point, so I agreed. After our conversation, I took a shower and didn¡¯t realize it would take me a while to choose what to wear. But since I like blouses and skirts, I get them. I¡¯m not really into clothes and not conscious about my appearance either. Still, I want to look presentable since my husband is not just anyone in thepany. He¡¯s the boss, so I need to look like ady boss, too.


    I took a Grab like I usually do since I don¡¯t have a car, and even if I did, I don¡¯t know how to drive. Even before, I never liked driving; I preferred being a passenger and got used to Jason driving me around. Oh, why did I suddenly think of my ex?


    It was around 11 a. m. when I arrived at Maximus¡¯pany and went straight to the elevator to his office. ¡°You know, I never thought Ma¡¯am Midori woulde here,¡± said one employee. The bow-legged woman is working at my husband¡¯spany now? He didn¡¯t mention that to me.


    ¡°Why? Didn¡¯t she just disappear suddenly? Rumor has it that it was because of Sir¡¯s women, and he wooed her back, so they got back together.¡±


    So there¡¯s that issue, and I know nothing about it? Then he had the nerve to say I was the one meeting with Jason when he was already working with that bow-legged woman? Wait, are they eating together?


    So, why did he have to call me here?


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t Sir have a wife?¡± said another.


    ¡°The woman he was with before? Wasn¡¯t she just his nurse? You saw her just pushing his wheelchair.¡± I would want to pull the woman¡¯s hair because of what she said, but I decided to calm myself. Maximus never properly introduced me to anyone as his wife; how much more in hispany?N?velDrama.Org exclusive content.


    ¡°But that¡¯s what Sir Aries said. You know how loyal Sir¡¯s assistant is and how close they are.¡±


    ¡°Maybe they¡¯re just making it look that way,¡± another replied.


    ¡°Are you on Ms. Midori¡¯s side?¡±


    ¡°Not just on her side, I¡¯m rooting for her. She¡¯s always smiling, right?¡±


    ¡°She rarelyes here. Maybe she¡¯s smiling now because she doesn¡¯t want us to tell Sir she¡¯s just sitting around and not working.¡±


    ¡°Even if she doesn¡¯t work here, it¡¯s okay because she¡¯s the owner¡¯s wife.¡± My face darkened, and my jaw clenched at what the woman said. If I could, I would have fired her. Or maybe I¡¯ll kick herter when she leaves the elevator? I couldn¡¯t think of what else to do to the brat when the elevator opened and found Maximus there standing. Is he waiting for me? No, he must have to wait for someone else. There¡¯s no way he¡¯d do that for me.


    ¡°Sir,¡± greeted everyone in the elevator.


    ¡°Wifey, perfect timing, you¡¯re here already. I was going to wait for you downstairs.¡± He didn¡¯t even acknowledge his employees¡¯ greetings, but I was already in a bad mood.


    I looked at the two people talking before walking out of the elevator. ¡°Is there a problem, my wife?¡± Maximus asked. He must have noticed I was not in a good mood and looked at the employees who were still inside the elevator and were now slightly bowing their heads. I didn¡¯t respond. I was about to walk to his office when he suddenly stopped and kissed me.


    My eyes widened because people were watching us, and it was embarrassing. ¡°Whatever it is that you heard, don¡¯t believe it. Whoever said something you didn¡¯t like, I¡¯ll fire them,¡± he said afterward.


    ¡°What are you talking about?¡± I replied before walking ahead to his office. But my day got worse because I ran into the bow-legged woman who was also giving me a nasty look. This is going to be a showdown, for sure.

 Chapter 27

    MATURE CONTENT


    Sarina


    ¡°Why the hell are you here?¡± asked the bow-legged woman, whom I shouldn¡¯t have cared about. However, I teased her because I overheard the conversation between Maximus¡¯s employees, especially the one who didn¡¯t believe I was Mrs. Lardizabal.


    ¡°Of course, I am visiting my husband in his office. Is there something wrong with that?¡± I raised my eyebrow, not letting her outshine me. After all, I am the legal wife with certain privileges, and ready to fight her.


    ¡°Sarina,¡± said Maximus beside me, prompting me to look at him with raised eyebrows.


    ¡°Oh, why? Are you going to stop me from speaking again?¡± I asked and didn¡¯t like the idea that he was favoring the bitch before me. He didn¡¯t even think that the possible reason why this bow-legged woman kept oning to him was because he was taking her side.


    ¡°Did I say that?¡± he replied, shaking his head. When will he get used to my character? He should know by now that I never back down to anyone. I thought he was okay with it since he felt reassured knowing I could defend myself? Did he just tell me that so I could forgive him?


    ¡°Sir, I¡¯ve already made the reservation,¡± Aries said before I could invite my husband into his office.


    ¡°Good, let¡¯s go, Sarina.¡± Maximus said.


    ¡°Sarina?¡± I repeated upon hearing him call me that; I raised my eyebrows even higher, if possible. What was that about? He calls me ¡°wifey or my wife¡± when it¡¯s just the two of us, but when that bow-legged woman is around, he calls me by my name?


    A mischievous smile spread across his face as he said, ¡°Of course, my wife. I was just testing if you¡¯d notice.¡± What the hell did he need to test me for? Does he think I¡¯m stupid?


    ¡°Let¡¯s go to your office. I don¡¯t want to see anything that ruins my day.¡± I started walking there and felt him following me.


    ¡°We¡¯re eating, right?¡± he asked, opening the door.


    ¡°Let¡¯s eat here instead; I don¡¯t want to go out,¡± I answered. I want everyone to know that I am Maximus¡¯ wife. After this incident, I think the news about meing here and eating together in his office while the bow-legged woman Midori is out and sulking will spread throughout thepany.


    ¡°Okay,¡± he said, then turned to Aries. ¡°Order us our lunch instead.¡±


    ¡°Okay, sir.¡± His assistant responded quickly, as if excited. I ignored it, thinking they were close, and entered my husband¡¯s office. I went straight to the chair I sat in the first time I came here. It was like a living room with luxurious sofas like those in the offices of CEOs or Chairmen in K-dramas.


    ¡°My wife,¡± he said after sitting next to me. But he didn¡¯t continue because the office door opened, and the bow-legged woman rushed in. She really wouldn¡¯t stop pestering my husband, huh?


    ¡°Babe, I¡¯m really sorry, but the other employees were talking bad about me because of that bitch.¡± I rolled my eyes at her words. ¡°You promised granny that you wouldn¡¯t let anyone bully me,¡± she continued.


    ¡°Midori, can you just go back to your work? People talk about you because you don¡¯t work properly. You just give orders when you should be the one who should be ordered around.¡± I chuckle after hearing what my husband told him, making her re at me before looking back at Maximus.


    ¡°Are you ming me? You know I don¡¯t know how to do lowly work!¡± she retorted angrily. How could she? Lowly work? Didn¡¯t she know how every employee works to give their employers the best output? How could she belittle those who were working diligently?


    ¡°If you don¡¯t want to end up in the utility, get out of my sight.¡± I red at her to show I was serious. I didn¡¯t want her to think I entertained her stupidity and flirting because I didn¡¯t care about my husband. Yes, I already told her that our marriage was only bound by a contract, but that didn¡¯t mean that I was going to let her ruin the remaining months of my marriage life.N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.


    ¡°You¡¯re not going to get away with this, bitch.¡± She spat angrily as if wanting to hit me. My husband just looked at me before she left and stood up to close the slightly open door.


    ¡°What are you looking at?¡± I asked when he returned to my side.


    ¡°Nothing!¡±


    ¡°Make sure it¡¯s nothing!¡± I replied, annoyed. ¡°So, you¡¯re here with your girlfriend, and I didn¡¯t know?¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s nothing between me and Midori, Sarina. How many times do I have to tell you that? Wasn¡¯t she the one who left me? And I didn¡¯t tell you about her working here because I forgot about it since I don¡¯t care about her. I only agreed to it because Granny wanted to get to know you.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re married, Maximus. And you know we¡¯ll fight about that bow-legged woman, but you didn¡¯t tell me you were together here. If I did that to you, wouldn¡¯t you be angry?¡±


    ¡°What, you¡¯ll go to that, Jason?¡± he asked angrily.


    ¡°See, you¡¯re already fuming. What if you experienced what I witnessed and heard in the elevator earlier?¡± I countered. ¡°We may not love each other, but while our contract is in effect, ensure you respect our rtionship. You wanted this marriage, not me. Our contract should have been limited in bed, but youplicated things.¡±


    ¡°So, is it my fault? I was just thinking about you when I made that offer,¡± he replied.


    ¡°You don¡¯t need to think about me because I wouldn¡¯t tell anyone about our sleeping arrangement if it were up to me.¡±


    ¡°But you spread the word about our marriage contract, especially Jason?¡± I was puzzled by his words. How did he know I mentioned it to my ex? Our conversation was heating up, and it seemed he was also losing his temper.


    ¡°It¡¯s better if I just go home because nothing wille out of this discussion.¡± I stood up, but he pulled me back, and Inded on hisp.


    ¡°So, you¡¯ll go to your Jason?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about, Maximus.¡±


    He suddenly grabbed my chin and kissed me hard. He started sucking on my upper and lower lips, which I realized was my weakness because when he did that, I couldn¡¯t resist. I wrapped my arms around his neck, sucking his lips too. ¡°Hmm..¡± That was his moan; I was sure of it.


    I turned to sit facing him, spreading my legs as his hands began to wander inside my blouse, straight to my small but perky breasts. ¡°Is it okay if we do it here in my office, my wife?¡± he asked when our lips temporarily parted.


    ¡°Why? Do you want to do it with that bow-legged woman-¡± I didn¡¯t finish my sentence because he captured my lips again.


    ¡°Don¡¯t mention anyone¡¯s name when I make love to you, my wife.¡± I was stunned by his words. Make love? Not just sex? ¡°Do you understand me, wifey?¡± he asked when I didn¡¯t respond. During our marriage, I realized he didn¡¯t want to be neglected. He wanted to receive a response whenever he asked questions, especially when it was me.


    ¡°Yes, my husband.¡± I felt like I wasn¡¯t myself when I said that, but I didn¡¯t expect the beautiful smile that appeared on Maximus¡¯s lips. It was as if I was hypnotized by his words. Then I felt his lips on mine again, and I closed my eyes, savoring every moment.


    I felt my panties getting wet after he removed my blouse and took one of my nipples into his mouth. I arched my back in pleasure but tried to stifle my moans, worried someone might hear us outside. ¡°My wife, scream for me. Moan for me loudly,¡± he said beforeying me down on the 5-seater couch we were sitting on.


    He lifted my skirt before pulling down my panties. Damn, I felt my wetness when it briefly touched my thigh. ¡°You¡¯re so wet, my wife. Is it because of me?¡±


    ¡°Yes, my husband. Only you can make me this wet.¡± My answer just confirmed my craziness. ¡°My husband¡­¡± I couldn¡¯t hold back anymore and shouted when I felt Maximus¡¯s tongue run along my slit. I grabbed his hair and lifted my hips to chase his tongue, rubbing my womanhood against his hardened tongue.


    ¡°You drive me crazy, my wife,¡± he said.


    ¡°Damn, what you¡¯re doing to me is crazier, my husband,¡± I replied. As usual, he let me reach my climax first before he positioned himself on top of me pound on me, hard and fast, the way I liked it. We didn¡¯t stop at just one round; we made love repeatedly, as he said, marking every corner of his office as if iming our territory as lovers.


    Lovers? It wouldn¡¯t be wrong to think that since we¡¯re married, right?

 Chapter 28

    Maximus


    I felt like the happiest man in the world when I heard her call me her husband. It might seem shallow to others, but it means a lot to me. I want to make sure she has some feelings for me before I fully confess. I also don¡¯t want to look like a fool in front of her while sheughs at me. I¡¯ve noticed she didn¡¯t like me before, but I can also feel that my kisses and the way I please her are starting to mean something to her. We can start from there; at least, there¡¯s one thing we agree on. What happened in my office is one of the most cherished memories of my life.


    I¡¯m not like other men who bring their women to work. I¡¯m not like that. If there¡¯s one thing I can be proud of myself and boast to my wife, it¡¯s that she¡¯s the only woman I¡¯ve had sex with in every corner of my office. Only our fluids are there, and no one else¡¯s. It only means that those women who came before her were a fling and cannot bepared to her.


    We were hungry afterward because I couldn¡¯t get enough of her. This must be what it¡¯s like when you¡¯re in love. Aries delivered our lunch afterward, and I wondered why it was still hot when we took our time making love before I called him for our lunch. I¡¯ll make sure he gets a big bonuster.Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g


    It was warm and cozy. We just ate and talked about little things, and not fighting with her was a big aplishment for the day. After having lunch with Sarina, we went straight to a well-known dress shop. I wanted to bring at least one dress for her to Las Vegas just in case she needed it. If necessary, we¡¯d just buy more there. My friends will surely invite me out, and I will bring her with me to introduce her to them.


    I¡¯m thankful she didn¡¯t ask about Midori anymore. I didn¡¯t think she¡¯d be angry, but maybe I was inconsiderate about that. Now, I¡¯ll make sure to tell her everything. I didn¡¯t want any woman to cause us misunderstandings, and I wanted her to know that she was the only woman for me. If I wanted her to be honest with me, I should do it first and show her that she could trust me. By telling her everything that happens to me means that I also respect her as my wife. And many people say that it is necessary for every rtionship.


    The day of our departure arrived. Aries will stay behind because he will have to represent me in all the transactions that require my presence while I¡¯m out of the country. But I brought my two secretaries to provide for my business needs. They will coordinate with Aries if needed.


    ¡°I told you, Maximus, I didn¡¯t want toe,¡± my wife said as we sat side by side on the ne. We¡¯d been in the air for an hour, but she still seemed uneasy. It was amusing because if she could hold onto me any tighter, she might as well sit on myp out of fear.


    I can¡¯t say she fears flying; I think she¡¯s just not used to it. Now that we¡¯re married, I¡¯ll often take her out of the country so she won¡¯t just know either Man or Catanduanes.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay, my wife. I¡¯m just here,¡± I said, kissing her forehead. ¡°Why don¡¯t you sleep?¡±


    ¡°Okay, just don¡¯t let go of me, okay?¡± she said, making her look so adorable. I smiled and nodded before she leaned her head on me, wrapping her arms around me. I was happy with our situation because she didn¡¯t usually do this to me at home. More often, I was the more affectionate one, and I didn¡¯t know if she even noticed.


    Sarina seemed weak when we got off the ne, so we went straight to the hotel. ¡°I really don¡¯t want to ride a ne anymore,¡± she said as soon as we entered our hotel room. She quickly walked to the living room andy down on the couch.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± I said to the hotel staff member who apanied us before giving him a tip. I then closed the door and approached Sarina, whose eyes were closed, and she seemed asleep. I carried her, making her slightly open her eyes.


    ¡°Where are you taking me? I want to rest,¡± sheined. I smiled, shook my head while walking to the bedroom, andid her down there. ¡°Ahh, it feels good¡­¡±


    It sounded like a moan to me, but seeing the exhaustion on her face, I restrained myself from taking her. Her body was already lyingfortably, so she must have felt relief. ¡°Just sleep, my wife,¡± I said before standing up to walk out, but she stopped me.


    ¡°Where are you going? Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re leaving me here alone.¡± Her tone was so affectionate that I felt it deeply. My heart fluttered, and I imagined how sweet she would be if she only loved me the way that I loved her.


    ¡°I need to meet someone.¡± That was the truth. My friends already contacted me and were expecting to meet me as soon as we arrived. I would have brought her along, but seeing her condition, I was unlikely to pull her to go out.


    ¡°Fine,¡± she saidzily, but she seemed sulking. I wondered if I should go, but my being as a husband prevailed, so I decided.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I need to be with my wife now; she¡¯s not feeling well,¡± I said when my friend An answered my call.


    ¡°Seriously, man?¡± he asked in disbelief. I had never refused their invitation even once. Even when I¡¯m in the Philippines and want a reunion, they call and ask me toe here.


    ¡°Yes, man, we can meet tomorrow.¡± I heard my crazy friendsughing in the background, and I knew it was because of me.


    ¡°Okay, man. We¡¯ll see you when you¡¯re ready.¡± Then, our call ended.


    I looked at my wife and decided to change clothes, and then I changed her clothes, too, to make her sleep morefortably. I really held myself back while doing that because her body was my weakness. She snuggled into me when Iy beside her, so I hugged her tightly. She was so clingy.


    I didn¡¯t realize I¡¯d fallen asleep so soundly, and it was already the next morning when I woke up. Sarina¡¯s beautiful face greeted me, making my day brighter. How can she look this pretty even when she¡¯s sleeping?


    ¡°Good morning, my wife,¡± I greeted her, kissing her before slowly getting up. I went straight to the living room to order breakfast and nned to wake Sarina when our food arrived. I took a shower and got dressed while waiting. I was just ready for the day when I heard the doorbell.


    ¡°Uhm¡­¡± my wife moaned, making me look at her before stepping out of the room. ¡°Have you been awake long?¡± she asked, still sleepy.


    ¡°Sort of, get up, and let¡¯s have breakfast.¡± She nodded and got up, so I stepped out and left the door open so Sarina would follow. I went straight to the main door and opened it. But I didn¡¯t expect the person I¡¯d see.


    ¡°Darling! I knew you¡¯d be here.¡± Then I felt her lips on mine while her arms wrapped around my neck. Damn it!

 Chapter 29

    Sarina


    ¡°Darling! I knew you¡¯d be here!¡± shouted the woman as I left the room. When I looked, her arms were wrapped around my husband¡¯s neck, their lips locked. What a scene, we just arrived, and this bitch already had her hands on my property! I looked at Maximus, raising a brow.


    ¡°What do you think you¡¯re doing?¡± my husband asked as he pushed the woman away, who still looked bewildered; then he turned to look at me, which made the woman follow where he was looking.


    ¡°Who is that bitch?¡± she asked, raising my eyebrow. I shot my husband a nasty look, which seemed to unsettle him, and waited for whatever response he would give to ¡°darling¡±.


    ¡°Shut up! She¡¯s my wife!¡± I breathed a sigh of relief at his words. I would have quickly flown back to the Philippines if he had said otherwise.


    ¡°Wife? When did you get married?¡± the bitch asked, confused and in disbelief. Don¡¯t I look like Maximus¡¯ wife?


    ¡°None of your business, so please leave.¡± Then he almost shoved her out the door.


    ¡°Wait, Max, stop.¡± And he shut the door in her face.


    ¡°My wife, I can exin. She kissed me, and I didn¡¯t respond. You saw that I even pushed her away.¡± He quickly exined as he approached me, but I ignored him.


    ¡°I¡¯m hungry,¡± I just said and started walking to the living room.


    ¡°I already ordered food. I was going to wake you when it arrived,¡± Maximus replied, making me look his way.


    ¡°Why? So I wouldn¡¯t catch you with your ¡®Darling¡¯?¡± I raised an eyebrow, of course. I want him to know that I didn¡¯t like what just happened.


    ¡°What? Of course not! I don¡¯t even know how she found out I was here.¡± I sat on the couch, and he followed me. I noticed he had showered, so I looked at myself and realized I was wearing different clothes.


    ¡°Did you¡­?¡±


    ¡°Yes, my wife. I changed your clothes so you could sleepfortably.¡± I nodded, feeling grateful and happy because he was very considerate. At least he knew some things I liked and didn¡¯t like. He was about to say something when the doorbell rang. He looked at me, and just like earlier, I raised my eyebrow at him as a warning. ¡°That might be our breakfast.¡±


    I stood up and walked towards the door because it might be ¡°Darling¡± again, but he stopped me just as I was about to turn the knob. ¡°You¡¯re not wearing a bra.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t have anything to put a bra on.¡± I fully opened the door, revealing the smiling face of the hotel staff pushing a cart. I widened the door so he could enter, but my husband turned me around, gently pushed me back to the couch, and faced the staff himself.


    ¡°It¡¯s fine. You can leave now, and I¡¯ll take care of this.¡± I couldn¡¯t help but smile, knowing he didn¡¯t want any other man to see me in this state. The hotel staff left, and I watched Maximus setting our food. I didn¡¯t help him; he could handle it on his own.


    ¡°My wife, everything¡¯s ready,¡± he said, turning to me. He caught me watching him and gave me a seductive smile, saying, ¡°I know I look good, but fill your stomach first before I satisfy your other needs.¡± I was taken aback by his words, and my cheeks turned red.


    I stood up, pouting, while hearing hisughter, which sounded sweet to my ears, even though it seemed teasing. Why am I feeling this way about him now? He¡¯s making my heart flutter. Day by day, as I got to know him better, I began to think about him in a different way. I felt sensual just by looking at him, especially when he was dressing up.


    He pulled a chair for me to sit on and ced food on my te. I admit, he¡¯s excellent at taking care of me. Not only is he good in bed, but also in other aspects. That¡¯s why I can¡¯t help but feelfortable with him. Perhaps his sweetness towards me is why I wholeheartedly agree with the things he wants to do. And, of course, the feeling of his tongue ying with my clit is on another level. Shit! Why did I think about it now?


    ¡°Are you feeling better? No more dizziness?¡± he asked as we started eating. One more thing I appreciated about him was how he fed me, which I dly epted. Why not when it felt good? I felt well taken care of. Many wives would want to be treated this way, that¡¯s for sure.N?velDrama.Org exclusive content.


    ¡°Yes, I¡¯m fine. That¡¯s why I don¡¯t like long trips; I always feel this way.¡± I replied while chewing the food he fed me.


    ¡°You¡¯re just not used to it. Don¡¯t worry; we¡¯ll travel more often so your body gets used to it.¡± I didn¡¯t respond anymore because I knew he would insist on what he wanted. Since it wouldn¡¯t kill me, I just let it be. What¡¯s important is that we both enjoy it.


    We continued eating, and he let me take a bath afterward. He mentioned meeting some friends and asked if I coulde along and meet them. I thought about it, not to be conceited, but why should I meet them if we¡¯ll part ways eventually, right? To avoidplications, I told him to leave me alone in our hotel room. He didn¡¯t insist, so here I am, staring nkly at the big television screen.


    Maximus left after lunch, and it had been four hours, but he still hadn¡¯t returned. I was hungry but didn¡¯t know where to eat, so I decided to go out. Where could that pervert be meeting his friends? I was in the hotel elevator when I thought that I had already reached the ground floor when it opened. My eyes widened when someone I didn¡¯t expect entered.


    ¡°Sarina?¡± he said, surprised, so I was sure he didn¡¯t know I was here.


    ¡°Jason, what are you doing here?¡± I asked as he stepped in and stood beside me. For me, it was nothing, and I think it was the same for him. We talked casually until the elevator opened again, and we walked out together.


    ¡°Where are you going?¡± he asked after telling me that Uncle Rodge had a friend who wanted to meet him, so his parents sent him here. I didn¡¯t hesitate to tell him why I came here since he already knew that I was married to Maximus.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know how to order food, and I¡¯m hungry. I was going to look for a convenience store outside the hotel,¡± I replied, making Jasonugh loudly before he replied.


    ¡°Do you have any money?¡± he asked, and I pped my forehead, realizing I didn¡¯t. I was used to always being with Maximus. Jason shook his head, took my hand, and said, ¡°Come on, I¡¯ll take care of it.¡± I followed him because I was really hungry, and I didn¡¯t see anything wrong with it since I had already made myself clear with him as well.


    We reached a convenience store not far from the hotel. We just walked, but what amused me was how familiar Jason seemed with the ce, even though I couldn¡¯t remember him evering here when we were still together. It would be impossible for me not to know because he used to tell me everything during our rtionship, or maybe not?


    ¡°Are you sure you want to eat here?¡± he asked, and I nodded. ¡°There¡¯s a ramen shop over there,¡± he said. I thought about it and knew he knew it was my favorite. He smiled and led me to wherever that ramen shop was.


    After two blocks, we turned a corner, and vo, we were in front of an Ichiraku Ramen-like shop from Boruto. There were many people, but there were also many empty seats, so we stayed there. Jason seated me and ordered our food.


    While eating, I knew we couldn¡¯t avoid discussing our past. ¡°Your mom mentioned that they know you¡¯re already married,¡± he began. I was about to take a bite, so I paused momentarily.


    ¡°Yes,¡± I replied.


    ¡°They seem to be okay with Maximus,¡± he said, meeting my eyes. Is there something wrong with him?


    ¡°You know my parents, as long as they think I¡¯m taken care of, they¡¯re okay with it.¡± I didn¡¯t want him to think badly of my parents, so I said that.


    ¡°I can¡¯t me them; I know how much they love you.¡± I nodded and smiled at him, grateful that he understood. ¡°Love,¡± he continued.


    ¡°Jason, I have a husband. It¡¯s not right for you to keep calling me that.¡± I stopped him.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± he said, looking down before continuing. ¡°About your separation,¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to think about that now. That¡¯s why I don¡¯t want to give you false hope. I want fate to find a way if we are truly meant to be. For now, we can¡¯t force it. I don¡¯t want tomit a sin.¡± I said, cutting his words off.


    ¡°Do you love him?¡± I paused and thought. Do I love Maximus? I couldn¡¯t give an answer to that question, but one thing I could say is that I was happy, at least in hispany.


    ¡°It¡¯s too early to say yes. We were together for a long time, and I¡¯ll admit, as I said at home, I still have feelings for you. It¡¯s not easy to forget our time together. You know me very well, and I know you just as much. But that doesn¡¯t mean I¡¯m giving you hope that we¡¯ll be together again after this. I¡¯m just saying I can¡¯t say if I love or have feelings for my husband.¡±


    I¡¯ve said too much, but if this will be the closure of our rtionship, then perhaps it¡¯s only right to say everything I want. We just stopped seeing each other after I caught him with another woman, and news of our separation spread around town, even though neither of us said anything.


    We chatted, losing track of time, and eventually returned to the hotel. He went to his room, and I went to mine and Maximus¡¯s. But when I entered, my husband¡¯s dark expression greeted me, which puzzled me.

 Chapter 30

    MATURE CONTENT


    Sarina


    ¡°Hi, have you been here long?¡± I asked with a smile as I approached him.


    ¡°Where have you been?¡± he asked, making me crease my forehead and stop from sitting beside him. Is he angry? Why?


    ¡°Just outside, I got hungry, so I went out,¡± I replied, which made him frown.


    ¡°Where did you eat?¡± he continued asking, making me sigh.


    ¡°I ate in a ramen shop nearby; why are you asking so many questions?¡±


    ¡°Do you have money?¡± Oh yeah, I didn¡¯t ask him for that, so he must have thought I got it from someone.


    ¡°Huh? No,¡± I said, but he pulled me before I could exin further. It was quite strong, making me fall hard onto hisp. ¡°Ouch!¡± I eximed, ring at him, but his expression remained the same, without a hint of a smile. I was sitting sideways on his thighs, and his frown deepened when I looked at him.


    ¡°Who were you with?¡± Our eyes met, and I didn¡¯t know if I should feel scared. I know he wouldn¡¯t do anything to harm me, but the way he looked at me was like someone who was seeing red.


    ¡°Jason!¡± I quickly replied. There¡¯s no reason to hide it from him because we didn¡¯t do anything wrong.


    ¡°And you¡¯re proud about it?¡± I wasn¡¯t proud; I was just stating a fact. Why did it sound like that to him?


    ¡°What are you talking about, Maximus? You asked who I was with, so I answered. And why are you so hot-headed? Did something bad happen while meeting your friends, and you want to take it out on me?¡± I asked continuously.


    ¡°Taking it out? Is that what you think?¡± he asked angrily. I couldn¡¯t understand if he was jealous because I was with Jason or what. But most likely not, because only someone in love gets jealous. He probably thought something had happened between me and my ex. He might think I was cheating on him.


    ¡°What is it? You were fine when you left our room and came back frowning like that?¡± I answered before feeling his grip tighten on my waist. ¡°And you¡¯re hurting me, what¡¯s wrong?¡± I tried to remove his hand, but I couldn¡¯t. It loosened a bit, but not enough for me to break free.Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org.


    ¡°You are fucking mine, Sarina. No one can take you away from me.¡± My eyes widened at his words, and whatever I wanted to say to him lost meaning after he held my chin with one hand and sealed my mouth with his. So, he did think something happened between Jason and me? Is that how he thinks of me?


    I struggled to break free from him since I was angry because I didn¡¯t like what he was doing. With all the times we¡¯ve been together, how could he think such a thing? His kiss was punishing, but I knew I hadn¡¯t done anything to make him angry. If it was because of Jason, I was sure we didn¡¯t do anything but eat. My conscience was clean, and I didn¡¯t deserve the way he was iming my lips and his rough caresses on my body. He was too brusque.


    I kept pushing him to get a chance to get away from him, but his hold was firm. His mouth and the way he was sucking on my lips were intense. I knew his name was Maximus, not Zilong, so I wondered how he made me feel if ¡°my whole body is a weak spot.¡± I realized that no matter how or what way this pervert imed me, my knees melted.


    I knew this was different with all the times we¡¯ve been together. There was a mix of anger, but why? My anger slowly disappeared, even with the way he was iming me. Was it because of the pleasure? Shit! Am I bing a pervert, too? No, it¡¯s not because I¡¯m a pervert; I don¡¯t feel this way with other men, only with him.


    Maximus lifted my crop top before cupping one of my breasts with one hand, making me arch my back. Fortunately, he still held my waist from behind, so I didn¡¯t fall.


    My hands, which were pushing him, were now wrapped around his neck while the other was pulling his hair, trying to bring his head closer so he wouldn¡¯t stop kissing my neck.


    He finally removed my top along with my bra, and his mouth and tongue feasted on my nipples, alternating between licking and sucking. Slowly, I felt one of his hands move down my abdomen to my legs, and then he pulled down my skirt. I used to love skirts, but now I love wearing them even more after that time that Lisa caught us in the condo¡¯s living room.


    I was soaking wet below, and I knew my husband knew that too. ¡°Does anyone else make you this wet, Sarina?¡± he asked while looking into my eyes and ying with my clit.


    I was sure my eyes were zed over with pleasure at this moment, but his gaze remained the same as when I arrived. The pervert was really angry at me. ¡°No one, only you, Maximus.¡± That was the truth; I didn¡¯t need to hide it from him. Besides, these conversations excite me more.


    I saw him smile, but it quickly disappeared before he continued fingering me. He was getting faster, and I felt like I was about toe, so I clung to his neck and caressed his cheek, something I usually did when I was in this state. My eyes rolled back, and, ¡°Ahh¡­ Maximus, I¡¯m about to cum..¡±


    Once more, he sucked on my lower lip, and I did the same to his upper lip, then I slipped my tongue into his mouth. I initiated it because he usually did it. Our lips parted to catch some air while his fingers continued doing their job. ¡°Oh¡­ Maximus, do it faster, please¡­¡± I pleaded. I never felt ashamed when it came to asking him for good sex. Anyway, even if I didn¡¯t ask, he would still give me it.


    Shit, I was about to cum, which made me feel even more aroused, and I felt his fingers moving faster inside me, so I spread my legs wider.


    As he continued thrusting his two fingers inside me rapidly, I arched my back, legs spread wide, clinging tightly to Maximus as I closed my eyes and moaned, ¡°Maximus¡­ I¡¯m cumming..¡± I opened my eyes and found him looking at my pussy. If I were my old self, I wouldn¡¯t want to know how I look now.


    ¡°Really?¡± he asked, stopping what he was doing, making me open my eyes and meet his gaze.


    ¡°What?¡± I asked, still not fully coherent, before heid me on the couch.


    ¡°I¡¯m hungry, I¡¯ll go eat outside,¡± he said, standing up. He looked at me before putting the fingers he used to pleasure me earlier into his mouth and sucking them. My eyes widened, but when I realized what he had done to me, I yelled,


    ¡°Maximus!! You bastard! You just left me hanging!!!¡± Then he walked towards our bedroom,ughing while I fumed in frustration and with an unfulfilled desire.

 Chapter 31

    SarinaBelonging ? N?velDram/a.Org.


    I¡¯m really pissed off at this shameless pervert Maximus! I quickly stood up and got dressed. It¡¯s so annoying; I¡¯m really frustrated. I never thought I¡¯d feel this angry just because he stopped pleasuring me. What¡¯s happening to me? Am I bing a pervert, too? The influence of that scoundrel is overwhelming! Of all the things he could teach me, why does it have to be about lust? He had better watch out because I¡¯d make sure he would pay for it.


    I suddenly stopped and sat down again after getting dressed. I looked and felt myself. Oh, gosh, I want him to continue. Is this all there is? Damn! Why can¡¯t I calm down? Frustrated, I lifted my skirt again and looked at my fingers. My nails weren¡¯t long because I wasn¡¯t used to growing them out. ¡°This is insane,¡± I told myself before closing my eyes after I leaned back.


    Slowly, I slipped my hand inside my panties and mimicked what Maximus did. I gently yed with my clit, and I have to admit, it felt okay. But something was missing; I couldn¡¯t feel the same pleasure and joy I felt when my husband did it. Frustrated, I quickly stopped fingering myself. ¡°Annoying!¡± I couldn¡¯t help but shout.


    I crossed my arms and sat while waiting for my shameless husband, who still hadn¡¯te out of the room. What was he doing? Did he really have no intention of continuing what he started? Several minutes passed before the door finally opened, and I greeted him with a re.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go out and eat dinner.¡± He said nonchntly.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to, I¡¯m full.¡± I stood up from my seat and headed to the room to bathe. He followed me with his eyes, and when I passed by him, he grabbed my arm to stop me.


    ¡°I said, let¡¯s eat.¡± It didn¡¯t sound like a request but amand.


    ¡°I said I¡¯m full.¡±


    ¡°Oh, you ate with your beloved, so you have no appetite to join me for dinner.¡± My eyes narrowed at what he said because he was implying something else.


    ¡°Oh, you finished with your darling, so you didn¡¯t continue what you were doing to me earlier,¡± I replied, taking back my arm from his grip.


    ¡°Are you mad because you were left hanging?¡± he asked, and I almost poked his eyes out because he had the nerve to ask.


    I smiled at him and said, ¡°Why would I be mad if you left me hanging when I didn¡¯t expect anything from you?¡± Then, I quickly walked away and went inside the room. I needed to bathe because my panties were wet, and it felt sticky. Besides, I wanted to sleep instead of facing my insensitive husband.


    ¡°Sarina!¡± he shouted as he entered the room. Gosh, he really followed me.


    ¡°Don¡¯t shout at me, Maximus!¡± I shouted back.


    ¡°What else am I not allowed to do to you?¡± he asked, but his tone was still with a wave of controble anger, so I knew he was holding back.


    ¡°Everything! Don¡¯t talk to me, don¡¯t touch me, don¡¯t notice me!¡±


    ¡°So, I don¡¯t have the right to be mad even though I know you were with that man?¡±


    ¡°Jason, his name is Jason. And what¡¯s wrong if we were together? We weren¡¯t doing anything wrong!¡±


    ¡°Do you think it¡¯s that simple? After I found out that you were together and he¡¯sing back to you, you expect me to just sit quietly and watch you looking happy with him?¡±


    ¡°What are you talking about,ing back?¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t he? Don¡¯t tell me he has no ns to get back with you.¡± I couldn¡¯t respond to that because it was true. But I already told Jason that what he wanted was unlikely to happen. ¡°Why can¡¯t you answer?¡±


    ¡°And what do you want me to say? Do you expect me to say yes, I hope we¡¯ll get back together? Is that what you think of me? I know what I got myself into, Maximus, and the importance of our agreement. And I especially know what you are to me.¡±


    ¡°And what am I to you? An employer?¡±


    ¡°A husband! Do you think it¡¯s easy to forget that I married you?¡± I angrily asked him. ¡°You make it seem like our contract means nothing to me. You may mean nothing to me, but not our marriage because it¡¯s something that is already marked in my name and my life. I can¡¯t take it back, but I decided to stand by what I got myself into.¡±


    He remained silent and just looked at me, probably assessing the truth and sincerity of what I said. ¡°There has been no other man in my life except Jason. How can you think I might cheat in our marriage when you are the one who has had many women in your life.¡±


    ¡°Many women, none of whom I took seriously. But you, I know you love him, and he loves you. What chance do I have against him, Sarina?¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t it enough for you to feel secure that we¡¯re married?¡± I asked.


    ¡°Do you love me?¡± he asked too. I couldn¡¯t answer because I didn¡¯t know what to say. Do I love him? ¡°We got married because of what you and I need. It was a marriage of convenience for both of us. Is that enough to ensure that no other man besides me wille into your life?¡±


    ¡°Am I enough for you? With how perverted you are? With the many women whoe to you, how sure are you that you won¡¯t entertain even one of them?¡± I asked back. Between the two of us, he thinks he¡¯s at a disadvantage? It¡¯s absurd if he thinks that way because no matter how I look at it, I¡¯m the one at a loss. ¡°When our contract ends, and you divorce me, do you think there will be a decent man who will want me when they find out I was divorced? Do you think there will be someone who will take me seriously and not just want sex because they think I already have a lot of experience simply because you¡¯ve been my husband?¡±


    His jaw clenched, and face dimmed. You know, the kind of look that you can¡¯t fathom what¡¯s on his mind and what he¡¯s nning. The distance between us disappeared because, in an instant, he was in front of me, holding my waist.


    ¡°There¡¯s one thing you need to know, Sarina.¡± His face was very serious, so I felt a bit nervous. ¡°Your Jason will wait for his eyes to turn white, but it will never happen that we separate. Only I will kiss you, touch you, suck your breasts, eat your pussy, fuck and ravage your body. Even if everything on your body sags, no one else can touch you but me. Remember, you are mine now, tomorrow, and for the rest of your life.¡±


    I was left gaping because of what he said. He walked out, and I didn¡¯t know where he went, but I was still in the room, standing where he left me. What did those words mean? Does he have no ns to end our contract? And why did he mention Jason waiting for our contract to end? Does he know something about that? That shameless man is making me think.

 Chapter 32

    Maximus


    Even with my friends, my mind was still on Sarina, which led to them constantly teasing me during our conversations. It was these idiots who brought a woman whose name I can¡¯t even remember to our hotel room. That¡¯s when they understood that I was truly serious about my wife when I scolded them. They thought I was still with Midori and had finally agreed with my grandmother¡¯s wishes. I never told them about my marriage and contract, so I understand that they decided to tease me when I didn¡¯t agree to meet themst night.


    I couldn¡¯t take it anymore, so, in the afternoon, I excused myself from them. My wife might be hungry, so I decided to go back to her to eat. But just as I turned towards the elevator, I saw hering out with Jason. What was he doing here? Did Sarina tell him we were here, so he followed? Are they continuously seeing each other?


    I clenched my fists in anger while watching them. I didn¡¯t know whether I should follow them or let them be. Was I ready to see something I didn¡¯t want to see? Was I ready to get hurt if that happened? I shook my head quickly because I knew I wasn¡¯t.


    I started to think things were improving between Sarina and me since she called me her husband. She wouldn¡¯t say that lightly since it wasn¡¯t in our contract either. So, the hope that had slowly been growing in my heart burst like a balloon and vanished.


    I didn¡¯t return to my friends because I didn¡¯t want them to tease me even more. I was excited to introduce Sarina to them so she would know I was serious about her. But when she refused, there was nothing I could do. Was Jason the reason she didn¡¯t want toe with me?


    I waited in our hotel room, feeling incredibly anxious. I was angry and needed to calm myself because I didn¡¯t want to hurt her. Damn it! I wouldn¡¯t care about her if she were any other woman. I didn¡¯t expect love to feel this way, and it was sad because I felt it for the wrong woman who couldn¡¯t reciprocate my feelings.


    I paced back and forth in our hotel room, waiting until she finally arrived. It seemed like nothing happened between her and that man, but I was still angry out of jealousy, so I confronted her. It was frustrating to know she didn¡¯t even try to deny it. Did she not care about my feelings at all? Yes, I would have been suspicious if she had denied it, but still, I didn¡¯t know what I was feeling at that moment, so I decided to punish her in the only way I knew how.


    I knew she was angry, and thest words I said before leaving her again in the hotel room were words I would stand by. Aries was right; she was my wife, we were married, and our marriage wouldn¡¯t be annulled unless I decided to annul it. So it was up to me whether we stayed together or not. So Jason Satudez, or any other man who ns to take my wife from me, you will never seed.


    I went to the bar downstairs after leaving Sarina. She didn¡¯t know how much I wanted her earlier. I punished her, but I also punished myself because I ended up pleasuring myself in the bathroom multiple times while thinking about how much she enjoyed it.


    ¡°Hi, handsome,¡± greeted a woman. This was usual for me no matter where I went. Many women approached me, especially when they saw that I had been drinking. I would have given her a sweet smile in the past, and we would head straight to one of the rooms upstairs. But now, only Sarina seemed to arouse me.


    ¡°What? You want a drink?¡± I asked, raising a brow.


    ¡°Yes,¡± she replied. And, of course, you,¡± she added. I looked at the bartender and signaled him to give the woman a drink too-not to score with her, but just to have someone to drink with because I knew if I sent her away, someone else would take her ce.


    And so, we drank together, and I didn¡¯t even bother to learn her name until I felt dizzy. I had no idea what time it was because I could only think about Sarina, and I had no intention of calling her to let her know where I was.


    I was slumped over at the bar, calling out my wife¡¯s name, when someone lifted my head. ¡°Handsome, don¡¯t sleep on me.¡± I wish I could see my wife¡¯s face, but it wasn¡¯t, so I pushed away the hand touching my face. But she was persistent and held onto me again before kissing me.


    Even though I was drunk, I knew what I was doing, and I knew she wasn¡¯t my wife, so I gently pushed her away. I couldn¡¯t me her because that¡¯s how women were here when they saw a handsome and wealthy man. Shaking my head, I was ready to turn away, but when I did, I saw my wife¡¯s angry face. Damn it! Now, she was the one angry, and I was the one at fault. I had to woo her now instead of the other way around. Life really is something.


    ¡°Are you too drunk to go back on your own, or do you want toe to her room instead?¡± she asked. I was surprised because shouldn¡¯t she yell at me like other wives? Did she really not care about me? Doesn¡¯t she care seeing me with another woman and kissing? She was mad when Midori kissed me back in the hospital, so why is she not angry now?


    She approached when I couldn¡¯t answer, and then she tapped the hand of the woman holding my arm.


    ¡°Hey, he¡¯s mine! I saw him first!¡± the woman eximed, ring at Sarina.


    ¡°He¡¯s my husband, he fuck me first, so back off!¡± she replied before helping me walk out of the bar. I was over the moon because of what she said. Is she proud that I was the one who took her? ¡°Wait, did you pay for your drinks?¡± she asked, looking at me. I just smiled at her and didn¡¯t answer. Would she pay for it? ¡°You idiot, I don¡¯t have money!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s okay; you can bring him to your room.¡± When I looked, I saw An¡¯s grinning face.


    ¡°Oh man, she¡¯s my wife, Sarina,¡± I said proudly, draping my arm over my wife¡¯s shoulder. At the same time, she supported me on my waist.


    ¡°I can see that, idiot.¡± Iughed at his reply but got annoyed when he looked at my wife again. He doesn¡¯t feel anything towards Sarina, right?


    ¡°Hey, your eyes here. I don¡¯t like anyone looking at her,¡± I said possessively. ¡°She¡¯s only mine and no one else¡¯s,¡± I added, hugging my wife tightly.


    ¡°Behave, Maximus, or you¡¯ll going to get something from meter when we get in our room.¡± I straightened up because of what she said. ¡°Please take care of his bill; I¡¯ll tell him to pay you tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°Yes, no problem, Sarina,¡± An replied, smiling.N?velDrama.Org exclusive content.


    ¡°Don¡¯t say her name, you idiot! I¡¯m the only one who can say my wife¡¯s name.¡± I threatened my friend, who couldn¡¯t help butugh.


    ¡°Alright, man, go and get spanked by your wife. Remember, she caught you kissing another woman,¡± he said, stillughing. The idiot must have been watching us with the woman for a while.


    I felt Sarina pulling me towards the elevator until we reached our room, and sheid me on the bed. I was dizzy and wanted to talk to her and exin about the woman, but I couldn¡¯t. I vaguely felt her removing my shoes, socks, necktie, and then my shirt and pants. I was sleepy and dizzy, so I couldn¡¯t reach for her hand when my wife got up from sitting beside me.


    I wanted her beside me; I didn¡¯t want her to leave, so I only managed to say, ¡°I love you, my wife, please stay¡­¡± before I fell asleep.

 Chapter 33

    Maximus


    I had a splitting headache and couldn¡¯t help but groan as I slowly opened my eyes. I began to think about why I felt this way and remembered what had happened the previous day. I took a deep breath before turning to my side and frowning when I saw that Sarina was gone. Is she awake already?


    I quickly got up and checked the bathroom, but there was no light, so she probably wasn¡¯t there either. I remembered that my wife undressed mest night, but I was now wearing a tank top and boxer shorts. I don¡¯t remember her dressing me up, though.


    I exited the bedroom and found Sarina¡¯s sleeping figure on the couch. I approached her slowly before sitting next to her. The couch was big enough for both of us, but this wasn¡¯t her ce. She should be in the bedroom with me. Yet she chose to sleep here. Is she still mad at me?


    I decided to let her be and started to take care of myself to start the day. While showering, I remembered how I relieved myself the previous day as punishment for my wife. Next time, I¡¯ll ensure I don¡¯t suffer when I punish her again. Damn, it was tough.


    After getting dressed, I grabbed myptop and sat beside my wife. Even when I¡¯m mad at her, I can¡¯t help but stay close to her. This t-chested woman is really lucky to have me. I felt at ease whenever she was where I could see her. I didn¡¯t want to get away from her.


    I decided to wait for Sarina to wake up before eating breakfast, so I started checking the emails I couldn¡¯t get to yesterday. I found all the necessary information about the businessmen I would meetter. I had nothing but praise for Aries; he¡¯s incredibly good. And my two secretaries apanying Sarina and I were surely prepared as well. I¡¯ve given them time to rx and be ready, so all their documents should be in order.


    That¡¯s why I treat my employees the same way when we go out of town or out of the country. They always have time to prepare and rx or enjoy the ce before and after meetings, and I don¡¯t bother them during those times. We can go separate ways after we sessfully close the deal.


    The information Aries sent to me was a bit long, so I didn¡¯t notice the time. When I looked at Sarina, she was already awake and looking at me. ¡°Good morning, my wife,¡± I greeted her, cing myptop on the center table. She sat up while looking at me but didn¡¯t return my greeting.


    ¡°What time is it?¡± She was about to stand, but I stopped her.


    ¡°Time for breakfast.¡± As I said that, I leaned in to kiss her, but she turned away.


    ¡°I just woke up, I have bad breath.¡± She covered her mouth with her hand, making me frown.


    ¡°So?¡± I asked.


    ¡°What do you mean ¡®so¡¯? I said I have bad breath.¡± Her eyes widened, and I wanted tough because of it. She seemed very self-conscious. But I didn¡¯t like that; she should befortable with me since we¡¯re married. She shouldn¡¯t be embarrassed anymore.


    ¡°Does anyone have fresh breath right after waking up, except for babies?¡± I asked her, but she ignored me.


    ¡°You can say that because you¡¯re not the one who just woke up,¡± she retorted. I got annoyed, so I pulled her onto myp and held her cheeks to keep her from moving before kissing her.


    But she was clever and kept her mouth shut. So I moved my face away from hers but still held her cheeks. When she thought I couldn¡¯t do anything more, I smirked before pinching her nose. Unable to breathe, she opened her mouth to gasp for air, which I took advantage of. My tongue dove inside, and I sucked on her lower lip, my favorite thing to do.


    I felt her arms wrap around me as she responded to my kiss. Soon, we both had to stop because we were out of breath.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, my wife.¡± She looked at me but didn¡¯t speak, so I didn¡¯t know what else to say to her. Then, I remembered myst words before falling asleep, so I wanted to rify things. ¡°About what I saidst night¡­¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re more concerned about that than the call from that bow-legged woman?¡± she said sulkily. ¡°After I undressed you, she kept calling to talk to you, so I went out here to avoid waking you up while talking to her.¡±


    What? So, does that mean she didn¡¯t hear what I saidst night? Damn, it was hard enough to muster the courage to say that. I didn¡¯t expect to say it, but thanks to the alcohol, I did. But she didn¡¯t hear it?


    ¡°So what if she called? You should have been possessive and told her I¡¯m yours.¡±


    ¡°Did you forget? I told your grandmother and her that our marriage is just a contract,¡± she answered. I wanted to roll my eyes at her because she was to me, but I knew better than to do that if I didn¡¯t want her to get mad at me.


    ¡°So what?¡± I asked, raising a brow.


    ¡°So she kept pestering me to ensure I leave you when our contract ends,¡± she replied. Midori was never going to stop, especially when she knew about our contract. Should I rip that paper in front of her so she would stop?


    ¡°And you agreed?¡± She didn¡¯t answer while I waited. ¡°Sarina! Don¡¯t tell me you agreed!¡± I eximed. If she did, it would only mean one thing: She didn¡¯t feel anything to me.


    ¡°Do you think I¡¯m stupid? I told her what you told me about Jason.¡± I creased my forehead, trying to remember what I told her.


    ¡°What about Jason?¡± I asked, confused.


    ¡°I told her she¡¯d be waiting forever because my husband won¡¯t leave me. He wants to be the only one to kiss me, touch me, suck me, eat me, fuck me, and wear me out. Even if everything sags on my body, no one can touch me except him. Remember, I¡¯m his now, tomorrow, and for the rest of my life. That¡¯s how obsessed he is with me.¡±Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g


    I wanted tough. Midori, even my grandmother, would be fuming because they hoped we¡¯d separate. Sorry to disappoint them, but as my wife said, I¡¯m obsessed with her.


    ¡°Good,¡± was all I said.


    ¡°Good?¡±


    ¡°Very good! I like your answer.¡± I changed my response, even giving a thumbs-up. She shook her head and was about to stand from myp, but I stopped her again.


    ¡°What now?¡±


    ¡°Is it bad to stay like this?¡±


    ¡°And then what?¡±


    ¡°You know, kiss, touch, caress, lick, y with you¡­¡±


    ¡°And then leave me hanging again?¡± she interrupted. She stared at me, clearly annoyed.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry about that; it won¡¯t happen again.¡±


    ¡°You better not! I¡¯ll make sure I¡¯m not left hanging because I¡¯m going to buy a vibrator. If you get moody again, I¡¯ll have something to use. Maybe that will satisfy me.¡±


    ¡°No! Why do you need a vibrator? I promise it won¡¯t happen again. I got really jealous because-¡±


    ¡°Because what?¡± she asked, confused, and I realized where my words were headed.

 Chapter 34

    Sarina


    ¡°Please, my wife,e with me,¡± Maximus insisted. I really didn¡¯t want to go; I had no interest in business talks. Besides, I¡¯d just end up staring nkly there, so I preferred waiting for him in our hotel room and doing something instead.


    ¡°I¡¯ll just stay here, Maximus. You have your two secretaries with you, so that should be fine,¡± I replied, taking my phone from the center table.


    ¡°What will you do here?¡± he asked.


    ¡°What would I do there?¡± I asked, too.


    ¡°Listen to our conversation.¡± I rolled my eyes at him. I didn¡¯t want to listen to any kind of business dealings or hear someone flutter a prospective business partner just to get his or her support.


    ¡°Do you know why I chose nursing as my course?¡±


    ¡°So you could be with Jason?¡± I squinted my eyes at him because he still couldn¡¯t stop jealousy. Yes, he said he got jealous when he saw us together, thinking I was happy being with my ex. He even thought I told my ex about our schedule ofing here to Vegas, which is why he¡¯s also in the country. I need to exin why I was with Jason and why he was here. I thought it was settled, but he looks jealous again here.


    ¡°Think whatever you want, I don¡¯t want to exin myself further.¡±


    ¡°See, you didn¡¯t even deny it!¡± I turned to him again and said with eyes zing.


    ¡°If you don¡¯t stop, you can leaveter and face your friends alone!¡± He said he wanted to introduce me to his mischievous friends, soter, we were supposed to go to a famous casino in Las Vegas.


    ¡°Fine! Don¡¯t get mad; I was just being affectionate.¡±


    ¡°As far as I know, we women should be the ones doing that kind of affection, not you men. Straighten up, Maximus, it doesn¡¯t suit you to act like that.¡±


    ¡°Is there a specific way to be affectionate?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Yes! Look at you, you¡¯re so big, and that¡¯s how you show affection.¡±


    ¡°How should I do it then?¡± he asked, and my mischievous side kicked in.


    ¡°When you show affection, you should take me to the expensive shops here and take me shopping. That¡¯s how rich, handsome, hot, and sexy men like you should show affection.¡±


    ¡°Really, I¡¯m sexy?¡± I rolled my eyes again because out of all the adjectives I used, he liked the word ¡®sexy.¡¯ I just shook my head before pushing him to leave.


    ¡°Go ahead, Maximus, or you¡¯ll bete for your meeting. Make sure to close that deal since it was the primary reason we¡¯re here.¡±


    ¡°Consider it done, my wife. I¡¯ll close this deal because I¡¯ll be affectionate to you tomorrow; we¡¯ll go shopping.¡± I wanted tough at what he said; it was supposed to be a joke from me, but he took it seriously. But to make him leave, I agreed. Anyway, even if he fulfills it, he¡¯s rich.


    And so, he left after showering me with kisses. Honestly, if ites to showing affection, I prefer it when he does it in a naughty way. I shook my head as I sat back on the couch, thinking. I¡¯m really influenced by his pervertedness. I decided to focus my attention on my phone while waiting for Maximus to return.


    I was ying a game when suddenly, a video call popped up. I didn¡¯t know how to make my phone work here in another country. It was my first time, but Maximus, who was used to everything, set it up, and it wasn¡¯tplicated; I was just clueless.


    ¡°Jason,¡± I said after answering the video call.


    ¡°Where are you?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Hotel room.¡± Then I showed him my surroundings.


    ¡°Alone?¡± he asked, creasing his forehead. He must have thought that Maximus was not taking care of me properly.


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Is Maximus busy?¡±


    ¡°A bit, why?¡± I didn¡¯t want to exin further since he had nothing to do with it.


    ¡°Can we go out?¡± I paused, knowing my husband would get jealous. Out of respect for him, I shouldn¡¯t go out with my ex again. I also didn¡¯t want Jason to think there was a chance we¡¯d get back together now that I was tied to Maximus. He was hopeful that we would get back together after my contract with my husband ended, and if I agreed to him now, he might get his hopes up. And I know it will not be good for him.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry. He¡¯ll be back soon, and we¡¯re going out to meet his friends.¡± I was telling the truth, so I didn¡¯t just make an excuse. That¡¯s really what Maximus said. He would try to speed up the meeting to get back quickly.


    ¡°Is that so? I wanted you to meet my friends here.¡± He didn¡¯t have to do that, but of course, I didn¡¯t tell him that to avoid hurting his feelings.


    ¡°I¡¯m really sorry, Jason, but I can¡¯t,¡± I replied apologetically.


    ¡°Okay, I guess I¡¯ll just see you around.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, bye.¡± I took a deep breath after ending the call. Then, memories of the times when we were still together came flooding back. I couldn¡¯t say anything bad about him. I knew and felt his love for me; we never had misunderstandings because he understood me. Maybe because we knew each other so well. If we fought, it was over trivial things, but he would always go out of his way to make up, so he was the only man I deeply loved.


    But all of that is in the past. We¡¯re no longer together, and now I have a husband I need to respect and give my time and attention to. I shouldn¡¯t look at others or regret the end of my rtionship with Jason. Besides, Maximus is a good person, just a bit perverted. But at least he¡¯s only perverted with me, and I hope that¡¯s true. I would leave him if I found out he still had other women, like when he was with Midori.


    I didn¡¯t realize the time and was surprised when my husband arrived with food. ¡°Eat first, my wife,¡± he said after kissing me. I smiled at him and took the food he brought, which looked like it came from the hotel¡¯s restaurant. We ate first before I prepared myself for our meetup with his friends.


    ¡°How was your meeting?¡± I asked while in front of the dresser, fixing my hair. I couldn¡¯t decide whether to tie it up or leave it down. I didn¡¯t hear a response from him, so I looked at him in the mirror and saw him just staring at me. ¡°Maximus! I asked how your meeting went.¡±


    ¡°Didn¡¯t I say consider it done?¡± he replied, not leaving my gaze.


    ¡°Are you sure?¡± I asked while twisting my hair until I finally tied it up. It¡¯s better this way, so nothing gets in my face.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you trust me?¡± he asked, and still, I looked at him in the mirror. Now he was standing and started walking towards me.


    ¡°I know you can do it. I just wanted to hear it from you; at least we have something to talk about,¡± I replied while putting on the earrings he had given me before I showered. Don¡¯t you think this looks heavy?¡± I asked while turning my head to make the earrings dangle. He was behind me now, also looking at me in the mirror.


    ¡°Those aren¡¯t heavy; they just look like it.¡± Then he held my ears, making every hair on my body stand on end. His hands slid down to my earrings, then my neck, and now they were on my shoulders.


    Our eyes never left each other in the mirror, and I don¡¯t know, I felt hypnotized by how he looked at me. His hands continued to travel down my body until they reached my waist. He lowered his head and let his lipsnd on my exposed shoulder, giving it a very light kiss.


    ¡°Ohh..¡± I couldn¡¯t help a moan slip from my lips, feeling aroused.


    ¡°You smell so good, wifey¡­¡± he muttered, making me feel even more sensual, especially when he started to run his tongue on my bare shoulders.


    I felt him gradually lifting my bodycon dress, which was only knee-length, as my womanhood started to get wet from what he was doing, licking my shoulder. ¡°We¡¯re going out, Maximus,¡± I reminded him, our eyes still locked in the mirror before me.


    He didn¡¯t say anything but smiled at me before his eyes widened. How could they not when he was now cupping my very wet sex.N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    ¡°Shit, my wife! You¡¯re not wearing panties!¡±

 Chapter 35

    MATURE CONTENT


    Sarina


    ¡°Shit, my wife! You¡¯re not wearing panties!¡± His eyes widened as he spoke, his eyes on me in the mirror.


    ¡°Well, my panty was visible through my dress, and I didn¡¯t have a seamless one, so I just took it off,¡± I replied. Honestly, I was having issues with the dress we bought in the Philippines. Initially, I didn¡¯t think about it because I only checked what it looked like on me in front when I tried it on and didn¡¯t notice the back. Who would have thought that it wouldn¡¯t look good on my behind?


    When I wore it earlier, my panty line was visible, and I didn¡¯t know what to do because it looked bad. So, before Maximus entered the room, I quickly took it off and liked what I saw.


    ¡°Shit,¡± he said, but he inserted a finger into my womanhood, making me close my eyes and lean against his muscr chest. Oh, this man really knows how to melt my knees.


    ¡°What are you doing, Maximus? We still need to leave, right?¡± I reminded him, but it sounded more like a moan. While fixing my hair earlier, I stood up because I felt ufortable sitting. So, I ended up using the chair as a footrest when Maximus lifted one of my legs and ced it there while his finger yed my clit.


    ¡°My wife, I¡¯m so turned on by you. I can¡¯t control myself whenever I see you,¡± he said before licking my shoulder, up to my neck and cheek, stopping at my lips as I slightly turned my head to face him.


    Our saliva mixed again as we kissed, and our tongues danced together. My hand rose to hold his neck while the other caressed his, hugging me by my waist.


    ¡°Tell me what you want me to do to you, my wife,¡± he said between our kisses. Shit! I was so turned on that I didn¡¯t hesitate.


    ¡°Fuck me, my husband,¡± I said wantonly.


    ¡°Shit, my wife, that sounds so good. Say it again,¡± hemanded.Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org.


    ¡°Fuck me, my husband.¡± Of course, I was obedient and would repeat it because I didn¡¯t want to be left hanging again. I used to think that only ack of money could make someone lose their temper, but being left hanging in sex can also make you lose your temper and get high blood pressure.


    ¡°Yes, my wife, I really want to fuck you. Since we arrived here, my dick hasn¡¯t been inside your pussy,¡± he said vulgarly.


    ¡°My husband, your mouth.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t you like it?¡± he asked, creasing his forehead. We¡¯re talking and keeping our gaze intact in front of the mirror.


    ¡°No, it just makes me hornier, and you¡¯re taking too long to fuck me.¡± I didn¡¯t care about modesty; I just said what I wanted to say. ¡°Don¡¯t leave me hanging now, I¡¯m telling you.¡± I threatened him because what he was doing now might just be a prank.


    ¡°There¡¯s no way I¡¯m going to do that. How many times do I need to tell you that? And can¡¯t you feel this?¡± he asked before pressing his hard member against my back. It was really hard, and I couldn¡¯t wait to feel it inside me. ¡°I¡¯m going to bend you over,¡± he announced, and I nodded, saying,


    ¡°Take me however you want, my husband.¡± That¡¯s all he needed, and he quickly bent me over. I braced my elbows on the dresser and was surprised when he suddenly spoke,


    ¡°Wait, my wife.¡± I stood up straight as he quickly left to go to bed and returned with a pillow. ¡°I don¡¯t want your elbows to get scraped and look like scrotum skin.¡± The rascal grinned, and I couldn¡¯t help butugh. But I still did as he said, using the pillow to rest my elbows as I bent over again.


    He lifted my dress to my waist, luckily not wrinkling the fabric, and I heard him undoing his belt and unzipping his pants. ¡°My wife, I really had a hard on because of you.¡±


    ¡°Put it in, my husband!¡± I ordered, anticipating his rough thrust. ¡°Ahh! It feels so good!¡± I couldn¡¯t hold back my lustful moans. What this pervert said was true; women really do moan when they pass through his hands.


    ¡°You¡¯re still so tight, my wife,¡± he said with a groan as he continued to thrust his manhood into my womanhood.


    At first, he held my hips, then one hand moved to my shoulder while he continued to thrust deeply inside me. He was going all the way, and I was loving it.


    ¡°Maximus, keep going please¡­ faster¡­ ahh¡­¡± I repeatedly moaned because I felt like I was going crazy with what he was doing to me. I could feel the build-up of pleasure between my thighs, and I sensed he felt the same inside me.


    I tightened my grip on the pillow while he pounded me from behind. Then I remembered, ¡°Maximus, make sure not to release inside me, okay?¡±


    He suddenly stopped and asked, ¡°Why?¡± He soundedining, which made meugh at him, but he looked serious, so I didn¡¯t.


    ¡°Shit! Why did you stop?¡± I asked, and he quickly moved again and asked,


    ¡°Why can¡¯t I cum inside?¡±


    ¡°Are you crazy? I¡¯m not wearing panties, and you know your cum will just keep dripping out of me.¡±


    ¡°But I don¡¯t want to pull out,¡± heined.


    ¡°Come on, it¡¯s too messy when it keeps dripping,¡± I said, ¡°and can you continue pounding me?¡±


    ¡°I want to cum inside you, my wife.¡±


    ¡°When we get back to the hotelter, my husband.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m notpletely happy when I pull out,¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve pulled out with others before, so bear with it now.¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re different, my wife. I want you to catch all my cum.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll catch it, but it will still drip. If you release all your seeds inside me, I won¡¯t go with you when you leave to meet your friends because I don¡¯t want to keep wiping my thighs every now and then.¡± I threatened him. I want him to release everything inside me as well, but it would be messy if he did.


    ¡°My wife, please¡­¡± heined, but I red at him in the mirror, so he had no choice but to agree.


    Our conversation didn¡¯t ruin our mood because I could still feel his rock-hard member inside me. Maybe he held back earlier from cumming while we talked, so I felt it twitch slightly.


    I was soaking wet and so wanton, and it showed in my face, which Maximus noticed because his thrusts became faster and harder. I didn¡¯t know what I looked like when I was in pleasure and reached my climax until now. His thrusts quickened, so I reached for the tissue box on my right to give it to him when the time came, and we both screamed each other¡¯s names before he finally pulled out his dick from my womanhood.


    He caught all his cum with the tissue while I copsed onto the pillow, breathing heavily. I looked back at him over my shoulder and saw he was still jerking off, squeezing his manhood until nothing more came out.


    ¡°Hubby, why does it always feel so good when we fuck?¡± I asked, unknowingly. I felt him on my back and his lips on my shoulder, so I looked at him in the mirror while he nted light kisses.


    ¡°You feel so good, too, my wife, but be readyter because I¡¯m still unsatisfied. I want all my cum inside you. What if the future president of the Philippines is in this tissue, and you just threw it away?¡± he replied as he threw the tissue in the trash bin on our left side.


    Iughed at that, amused that he even thought of such a thing. ¡°Let me clean you up,¡± he said, and I stayed in ce while he cleaned my pussy and thighs. Honestly, it felt good. He¡¯s so good at taking care of me. He¡¯s vulgar, and just as I said, it made me turn on and want him more. He had let me experience something I never thought I would. Oh, I like this man.

 Chapter 36

    Maximus


    ¡°Hey man, I couldn¡¯t believe you didn¡¯t get married!¡± said my friend Luke, grinning and eyeing my wife. Something I didn¡¯t like because I knew how much of adies¡¯ man he was. Compared to me, he was worse because he was willing to go as far as betraying a friend. Although his rtionships with women weren¡¯t serious, it still wasn¡¯t right for him to pursue someone if he knew a friend was involved with her.


    ¡°Yes, she¡¯s my wife, so behave yourself.¡± I looked at him threateningly, hoping he got my point. Because I would never allow him to lust after the only woman I love. I can easily forget who he is when ites to my wife, and I will not hesitate to drag him to hell if necessary to make him see my point.


    ¡°Hey, hey, enough of that. Luke knows his limits, right, buddy?¡± An chimed in before looking at me and Sarina. I just nodded and squeezed my wife¡¯s hand to make sure she didn¡¯t feel awkward. I might have made a mistake in what I had her wear because her curve was still evident even though she was t-chested. So I quickly took off my coat to put it on her.


    ¡°You¡¯re so protective, man,¡± Luke noticed.


    ¡°That¡¯s just how it is, buddy,¡± said Andrei, and I knew Luke would listen to him because he was well-respected among us and everywhere. ¡°When you get married, you¡¯ll understand why Max is acting like that,¡± he added.


    ¡°Are you okay, my wife?¡± I whispered to Sarina.


    ¡°Of course,¡± she replied, smiling. I knew Luke wouldn¡¯t stand a chance with my wife because she wasn¡¯t the type of woman to allow herself to be disrespected like that. So my friend had to behave if he didn¡¯t want trouble.


    After a few moments, nothing awkward happened, and we continued our conversation happily. And, of course, my friends didn¡¯t miss a chance to tease me, even Luke.


    ¡°So, Max, make sure to keep your eyes on your wife because once she realizes how good she is for you, she¡¯ll definitely leave you,¡± said Andrei.


    ¡°Seeing how he guards his wife, I don¡¯t think he¡¯ll let her go,¡± added Luke, and everyone agreed. Thank goodness, it seemed like he got the hint.


    ¡°Why don¡¯t we y?¡± An suggested.


    ¡°Sure, why not?¡± And we all stood up to head to the casino near the restaurant where we ate.


    ¡°Are you going to gamble?¡± Sarina asked, noticing we were heading to the casino.


    ¡°Yeah, why?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t like gambling.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, it¡¯s just us friends ying. So even if we lose to each other, it¡¯s okay. Plus, we know our limits when ites to gambling. None of us were addicted to it.¡±


    ¡°Okay then, it¡¯s up to you,¡± she responded. I smiled at her while gently squeezing her hand and continued walking until we reached the casino.


    We had a good time, and every time I looked at Sarina, I could see she was enjoying herself, even if she was just watching us. After a while, some women arrived, who I was sure were contacted by my friends. I was the only one with a partner, so they probably got jealous.


    ¡°Hi, darling,¡± one of the women greeted me with a grin. When I looked at my wife, I smiled despite her furrowed eyebrows.


    ¡°What are you doing here, Shirley?¡± Luke asked angrily. He¡¯s really a friend. I guess knowing we¡¯re married made the difference. Anyway, he¡¯s not really fond of that woman, either.


    ¡°Why? I alwayse here whenever you¡¯re together,¡± she replied, smirking before looking back at me and then at Sarina. I always got nervous whenever a woman arrived, and my wife was with me. It felt like any moment could be the reason for our breakup because I knew how much she hated womanizers.


    Maximus


    ¡°We already told you that you¡¯re no longer needed here,¡± An, who had his hand on the woman beside him, chimed in.


    ¡°Hey, Max is not the only man here,¡± said the woman, and I could see Sarina roll her eyes. It was clear to everyone that we all had our partners but she keeps on insisting herself.


    ¡°Then go to someone with no one to apany him,¡± Andrei added.


    ¡°Hey bitch, get out of here,¡± said Shirley to the woman beside Luke.


    ¡°What?¡± the woman asked in surprise.


    ¡°Shut the fuck up, Shirley!¡± my friend shouted. Thest thing he wanted was anyone messing with things or people he considered his possession.


    ¡°What, you¡¯re choosing her over me?¡± the woman replied flirtatiously. Is she thinking that Luke would want her over the woman beside him? If there¡¯s one thing I like about this guy, it is the fact that he never abandons a woman over a neer. He would stick to whomever he was with unless she was acting like a bitch, which is exactly what Shirley is doing now.


    ¡°I will never choose you, bitch,¡± Luke answered. Honestly, my friend¡¯s words were never kind. He would say whatever he wanted to whoever he was talking to, regardless of gender and age.


    ¡°Staring at the bitch?¡± my wife asked me softly. ¡°You want her to sit with you?¡± She was raising a brow usingly.N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    ¡°What? No!¡± I quickly replied, making her raise her other brow.


    ¡°Defensive,¡±


    ¡°Stop it, my wife. No matter what happens, no other woman will ever arouse me except you,¡± I said with a wink, but she rolled her eyes at me, and I knew I won.


    ¡°Leave now, Shirley. No one wants you here,¡± Andrei said. Sarina and I both looked at him, seeing the annoyance in his eyes, which left the woman with no choice but to leave. We continued our game while the women chatted. I was happy to see my wife no longer feeling awkward and freely joining the conversation.


    My friends are the type of men who repeatedly return to the same woman wherever we go. Yes, women wait for us wherever wend unless they have a boyfriend or are married. Among us, I¡¯m the one who changes women frequently, so they think I¡¯m the biggest womanizer.


    But the real reason is I don¡¯t want these women to have false hopes that we could ever be something more. For me, they are just a pastime. It¡¯s better that way than for them to fall in love and get hurt when I can¡¯t reciprocate their feelings, right?


    ¡°I¡¯m just going to the restroom,¡± Sarina said, making me turn to her.


    ¡°Okay, I¡¯lle with you,¡± I said, but she quickly shook her head.


    ¡°I can manage. I¡¯m not a child anymore. Besides, the restroom is just there,¡± she said, pointing to where the restroom sign was visible. I didn¡¯t want her out of sight even for a moment, so I nned to apany her wherever she went. I flipped my cards before standing up, but she stopped me, ¡°I¡¯ll be really quick, Maximus. Come on, they¡¯re waiting for you.¡±


    I had no choice but to agree. My friends were grinning like dogs, teasing me, but I didn¡¯t care as long as Sarina was with me. ¡°Just be quick, or I¡¯lle in after you, okay?¡±


    My wife nodded, and I adjusted the coat I had put on her to cover her curves, especially since she wasn¡¯t wearing panties before she walked toward the restroom.


    ¡°Take it easy, Max. You don¡¯t have to worry since you know who the owner of this Casino is,¡± Andrei noted, making themugh. I shook my head because they clearly didn¡¯t understand my feelings for Sarina.


    ¡°Just let him be; he¡¯ll go crazy if his wife ever leaves him. That¡¯s how much he loves Sarina,¡± Anmented, making everyoneugh, including their women. I shook my head and took my cards.


    ¡°Oh, I don¡¯t want to fall in love,¡± Luke said, shaking his head before turning to the woman beside him and kissing her deeply.


    We continued ying, but I kept ncing towards the direction Sarina went. ¡°What¡¯s taking her so long?¡± I couldn¡¯t help but say.


    ¡°You know how women are, Max. Maybe she was only retouching her make-up,¡± Andrei said. I looked at my wristwatch and stood up because she had been gone for 20 minutes, and it only took less than 5 minutes to walk to the restroom. My wife never retouched her make-up, confident as she was.


    ¡°I¡¯ll go and look,¡± I said, then walked to find Sarina despite my friends¡¯ attempts to stop me. My wife is the only thing that matters to me, and thankfully, I only felt this at this time and not when I was young and still looking for fun. I might not have valued her if she hade to me at the wrong time.


    I continued walking and turned down the hallway toward the women¡¯s restroom. Then I saw Sarina pulling her hand away from a man¡¯s grasp. I¡¯m possessive and jealous when ites to my wife, something I know and ept about myself. I didn¡¯t like what I saw, especially when I recognized the man she held hands with, making my blood boil.

 Chapter 37

    Sarina


    I no longer know how I feel about Maximus; I¡¯vepletely fallen for him. I never thought I woulde to like him this much because of the passionate moments we shared. I know there¡¯s nothing wrong with falling for him since he is already my husband. Naturally, he should be the only one I desire and no one else. But I can¡¯t understand that this started when we began living together as husband and wife.


    Shouldn¡¯t it have been from the first moment I met him? Wait, am I thinking about love at first sight? Ugh! I didn¡¯t even feel that way with Jason. My love for my ex came naturally. I have known him since childhood; he became a friend before I loved him intimately.


    Now there¡¯s Maximus. I knew I shouldn¡¯t pour all my emotions into him because our time together was limited; rather, our marriage was only temporary. But because of my happiness now, especially since he introduced me to his friends, I can¡¯t help but let my hopes up.


    The arrival of ¡°darling¡± or Shirley didn¡¯t ruin my mood. I noticed Maximus¡¯s friends didn¡¯t like her either, and I felt relieved that they respected our married life. They must have been friends for a long time and have known each other deeply.


    I became morefortable and started chatting with everyone. Even with the women at the table with my husband¡¯s friends, I happily conversed with them. Maximus¡¯s hand frequently rested on my waist throughout the evening. I couldn¡¯t help but feel thrilled, but I had to keep it a secret from him. I didn¡¯t want to inte his ego.


    ¡°I¡¯m just going to the restroom,¡± I said as I stood up. But he was insistent and wanted toe with me, even though it was so close. I had to assure him I could handle it since I wasn¡¯t a child and coax him into agreeing. Of course, it would be embarrassing if I took him along while he was ying with his friends. They might think I was being overly dramatic. Besides, I wouldn¡¯t get lost.


    ¡°Just hurry back, or I¡¯ll reallye into the restroom, okay?¡± he threatened. Before I left, he adjusted the coat he put on me and slightly squeezed my buttocks, which I felt since I wasn¡¯t wearing any underwear. Such a pervert.


    I easily found the restroom because there were signs. Only an idiot wouldn¡¯t see them. When I entered, it was empty, so I quickly went into one of the cubicles, fearing I might peep on myself.


    The restroom was nice, clean, and fragrant. It also had a bidet and tissue, so my private area felt clean and fresh afterward. If only every establishment in the Philippines had restrooms like this, I wouldn¡¯t need to hold myself up just because I don¡¯t feel like using their toilets. Am I patronizing the casino¡¯s restroom too much? I chuckled, thinking about it. One thing I know for sure is that big hotels, resorts, and casinos in my country have this kind of restroom as well.


    Of course, I didn¡¯t forget to wash my hands and look in the mirror, fixing my hair a bit. I might not be beautiful, but at least I could look presentable. My husband is a well-known businessman, so I should match his reputation.


    After fixing myself, I took a selfie and posted it on the new social media ount I created after marrying Maximus. I have no friends on it, and it¡¯s private, so it¡¯s just for personal use. I want to document our marriage, hoping that if we ever separate, we¡¯ll part as friends. If that happens, I¡¯ll have beautiful memories to look back on.


    It took some time, but at least I ensured that I looked good. Char! As I exited, I encountered a group of men who seemed to be having fun. They were probably heading to the restroom, too, so I stepped aside to let them pass.


    One of them stopped just as I was about to walk back to Maximus¡¯s table. ¡°Hello, babe,¡± the man greeted with a grin. I¡¯m not used to such greetings, so I ignored him but slightly bowed to avoid them thinking I was being rude before I started walking.


    I was shocked when the man suddenly grabbed my arm, and I quickly turned to look at him, eyes wide with panic as I struggled to break free. ¡°Let me go!¡± I eximed, feeling scared.


    The man gave a sly smile as they began to surround me. Fear consumed me, and I was about to scream when the man behind me covered my mouth.


    I felt the man in front of me slightly touch my waist down to my thigh, causing me to struggle. Especially when he suddenlyughed out loud. ¡°She doesn¡¯t have her underwear!¡± The menughed, and everything happened quickly because they all wanted to touch me. So, I kept struggling and even managed to p the man who touched me first.


    He must have been hurt because his eyes were zing when he faced me before he pped me back with all his might. My face turned, and it hurt more than the p I received from Maximus¡¯ grandmother. It stung so much that I wanted to cry, and I¡¯m sure my cheek was reddish now.


    ¡°No one hurts me, bitch!¡± said the man while holding my jaw. It was so tight that his fingers almost dug into my skin, and I couldn¡¯t stop myself from crying. Two men were holding each of my hands, another was behind me, and a man looked like a demon in front of me.


    ¡°Ouch!¡± I screamed because another man was pulling at the coat my husband had put on me, and I was terrified while my tears kept falling. The man was about to rip off my clothespletely when suddenly someone spoke. I started to tremble in fear and wanted to see Maximus rescue me. He said he¡¯d follow if I take long, but where is he?


    ¡°What¡¯s going on here?¡± We all turned, and I didn¡¯t know whether to be happy or scared because I saw another group of men.


    ¡°You have no business here; get out!¡± yelled the man before me. The neer looks a lot older than the men surrounding me.


    ¡°Are you alright?¡± asked the new man, who looked intimidating because of his voice, and the three men behind him, who looked like his bodyguards or something.


    ¡°P-Please, h-help me¡­¡± I said, stuttering, hoping he would give me a hand and take me away from these bastards. My legs were already shaking, and I didn¡¯t think I could stand on my own.


    Without a word, I was shocked when the new man suddenly punched the man in front of me as he approached us. The two men holding my hands let go, and a brawl ensued. I wanted to intervene or punch someone, but I was too scared, so I just stood on the side. I was still afraid, so I leaned against the wall behind me.


    The neers seemed more experienced in fighting, and the men trying to harm me quickly ran away. ¡°Are you alright now?¡± the man asked again, handing me my purse, which I hadn¡¯t noticed had fallen.


    ¡°Y-yes, thank you,¡± I replied briefly.


    ¡°Are you alone? Don¡¯t you have someone with you?¡± he asked, concerned.


    ¡°I¡¯m with my husband,¡± I said.


    ¡°Husband?¡± he asked, and I nodded. ¡°Doesn¡¯t he know how dangerous this ce is for a woman like you?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t think he knows that, but he insisted oning with me, and I was too stubborn since I was just going to the restroom,¡± I replied. ¡°Anyway, thank you very much for helping me.¡± My voice was very weak because I still felt faint. I thought of calling Maximus toe for me because I felt I couldn¡¯t walk alone. I couldn¡¯t even move away from the wall I was leaning on.


    ¡°I¡¯m Roskov,¡± the man said, extending his hand for a handshake. Even though I was weak, I couldn¡¯t refuse because of his help, so despite my trembling, I shook his hand and introduced myself.


    ¡°Sarina.¡±


    ¡°Nice name,¡± he said with a smile, and I smiled back a little. Just as we let go of each other¡¯s hands, Maximus arrived. He really followed me. I just wished he hade a little earlier. I shook my head. I thought I should me myself because I was so stubborn. I wouldn¡¯t have experienced what I did if I had listened to him earlier.


    ¡°Are you okay, my wife?¡± he asked as he approached and put his arm around me. It feltforting, and even though I still felt weak, I felt relieved because he was here.


    ¡°You should bring her home. I don¡¯t think she¡¯s well,¡± said Roskov before turning to follow his threepanions who chased after the men who ran away.


    ¡°My wife, are you alright?¡± Maximus asked worriedly when we were left alone.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go back to the hotel,¡± I said weakly.


    ¡°Did something happen?¡± he asked again, but I didn¡¯t have the strength to even talk and tell him what happened. All I want is for us to go home and rest.


    ¡°Let¡¯s just go,¡± I pleaded, and he nodded before holding my hand and starting to walk. But I couldn¡¯t follow him because my legs were still shaking with fear, so Maximus looked back at me.N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    ¡°My wife,¡± he called, and I started crying again. Maximus embraced me before carrying me and walking out of the casino. But before we left, he spoke to his friends we passed, who looked puzzled.


    ¡°Please check the CCTV,¡± Maximus said, and we left. After hearing what he said, I knew he wouldn¡¯t let this incident slide. I just hope that everything is going to be okay.

 Chapter 38

    Maximus


    ¡°Hey, my wife, please talk to me,¡± I said afterying her on the bed when we arrived in our hotel room. I noticed she seemed scared, which was unusual for her. So I instructed my friends, knowing they would know what to do seeing what Sarina looked like. Especially An. Among those three, I trusted him to be suspicious, and Andrei would do the thinking.


    ¡°Let¡¯s just rest,¡± she said softly, making me more worried.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want you like this, my wife. I want you to be loud and angry, always talking back to me, and easy to tease. Please, wifey, talk to me. Did that man do something to you?¡± I asked worriedly.


    ¡°Huh? No, did nothing to harm me. He actually saved me.¡±


    ¡°Saved you? From what? From whom?¡± I asked, puzzled. Before she could answer, my cell phone rang. I quickly grabbed it and answered, keeping my eyes on her as she looked weak in bed.


    ¡°Man, Roskov saved your wife from being harassed,¡± An said. ¡°I already informed Mariano about it,¡± he added.


    ¡°Thank you, man,¡± I replied.


    ¡°I¡¯ll send you the footage.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡± Then, we ended the call before I received the footage he mentioned. I looked at my wife and noticed she had her eyes closed. ¡°My wife,¡± I called, making her open her eyes and looked at me.


    ¡°I¡¯ll be in the living room for a moment to talk to someone on the phone,¡± I said, asking for her permission. I wanted to make sure she would be fine being left alone for a moment.


    ¡°Okay, pleasee back quickly.¡± A trace of fear in her voice made me even more curious about the footage. I nodded at her before leaving the bedroom and sitting on the couch in the living room.


    I didn¡¯t know what to do as I watched what happened to my wife. I felt so much anger like I wanted to kill someone. No wonder my wife was so scared; it was because of the disgusting and shameless actions of those men. Because of what I saw, I quickly called someone close to me. I knew An had already informed him, but I wanted to speak to him.


    ¡°Max,¡±


    ¡°Mar,¡± I greeted back.


    ¡°An told me everything.¡± He spoke before I could.


    ¡°I know,¡±


    ¡°And why are you still calling me?¡±


    ¡°I want to meet those bastards.¡±


    ¡°Stop it, Max. You don¡¯t need to involve yourself in this.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s my wife, Mariano!¡±


    ¡°I know, and you also know who she is to me. Whoever is important to you is important to me, too! So don¡¯t try to show up before me and stay with your wife instead!¡± he angrily said before ending the call. I took a deep breath before putting my cell phone on the center table. I needed to calm myself because I didn¡¯t want Sarina to see me in a bad mood. Mariano was right; I needed to be with her.


    I returned to the bedroom, approached the bed, and sat down again while looking at Sarina. I shook my head, remembering she wasn¡¯t wearing any panties, and I should be making her happy with my hugs and kisses right now. But because of those disgusting men, I was sure my wife was still scared. She opened her eyes and smiled slightly at me before patting the space beside her.


    ¡°How are you feeling, my wife?¡± I asked after lying down facing her and caressing her beautiful, smooth face, still bearing marks from being pped. I gritted my teeth when I noticed her slight flinch.


    ¡°Better because you¡¯re here.¡± I smiled and pulled her closer, lifting her head to rest on my arm.


    ¡°I will never leave you alone again, no matter what. Even if you get mad at me for being too protective, I don¡¯t care as long as I am with you and can ensure your safety.¡± I felt her nod.


    She looked up at me, and I met her gaze. ¡°Thank you, Maximus, my husband,¡± she said with a smile. Hearing those words from her felt wonderful. I wanted to take her, but I restrained myself, thinking she might be traumatized by the incident. So, I contented myself with holding her tightly, making her feel the warmth of my embrace to calm her.N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    I didn¡¯t notice that I fell asleep, and when I woke up, Sarina was still in her slumber. We had not changed our clothes. I¡¯m worried she might feel itchyter, but she was holding me so tightst night that I could not get up to change her.


    I went straight to the bathroom to shower. Knowing my wife would wake upte, as she had before, I ordered breakfast so it would be ready when she woke up. I was already dressed and had called room service, so I went to wake Sarina.


    ¡°Have you been up long?¡± she asked, still sleepy.


    ¡°Not really.¡± I wanted to kiss her, but I wasn¡¯t sure if it was okay. Not because she hadn¡¯t brushed her teeth yet, as she hadined about before, but because of what she had gone throughst night. ¡°Does it still hurt?¡± I asked as I sat beside her on the bed, gently touching her slightly bruised cheek. My jaw hardened, thinking how painful it was. How dare that bastard do that to my wife?


    ¡°Not really,¡± she replied softly, but I could hear her clearly. ¡°It doesn¡¯t really hurt much anymore.¡± She probably noticed my clenched fist and the anger shing across my face.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go and see a doctor,¡± I said, to which her eyes widened.


    ¡°No,¡± she abruptly refused.


    ¡°We must get that checked to press charges against those bastards.¡±


    ¡°No, please, Maximus.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to be afraid. I promised you, didn¡¯t I? I will never leave your side.¡±


    ¡°Please, let it go, my husband.¡± She said it so sweetly, and that¡¯s one of my weaknesses when ites to her. Her moans when I please her and her screams of pleasure when she¡¯s on the verge of climax are the times she can ask for anything, and I¡¯d give it to her withoutint. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to spoil me? Aren¡¯t you going to take me shopping today?¡±


    ¡°You should know we will still do that, even if we press charges.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t want any more trouble, my love. What if wee back here another time, and they show up again and do something worse because they want revenge?¡±


    ¡°That will never happen, wifey,¡± I insisted.


    ¡°Please, just let them be. For my sake, okay?¡± I took a deep breath before nodding so she wouldn¡¯t worry anymore. ¡°Ahm, Maximus¡­¡± she called me shyly.


    ¡°Yes, my wife?¡± She looked at me, and our eyes met. ¡°You can say anything to me,¡± I added, sensing her hesitation.


    ¡°Can you- c-can you kiss me?¡± I was stunned for a moment, wondering whether it was a good thing or not because of what had happened to her. But since she was asking, of course, I wanted to.


    ¡°Are you sure?¡± I asked, and she nodded. So, I kissed her because I really wanted to. I felt her respond slightly before we stopped.


    ¡°That man, he touched me.¡± She began talking, but I also didn¡¯t want her to think about it. I¡¯m worried she might take it against her, and I didn¡¯t want that. She¡¯s not at fault.


    ¡°Shh.. it¡¯s okay now. He didn¡¯t do anything to you, okay?¡± She nodded before saying,


    ¡°Thank goodness Roskov came. If he hadn¡¯t, I don¡¯t know what would have happened to me.¡± I remembered that man again, and I couldn¡¯t help but feel anxious. Roskov was an enemy of Mariano¡¯s organization; he knew me and my connection to them. Now that he knew Sarina was my wife, I couldn¡¯t help but worry about her safety. ¡°Did you thank him?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Ah, no. He left quickly, didn¡¯t he? We didn¡¯t have time to talk because I wanted to focus on you rather than him.¡± I made an excuse so she wouldn¡¯t know the truth. ¡°I¡¯m sure my friends have already thanked him on our behalf.¡±


    ¡°It would be better if I thanked him personally.¡±


    ¡°You already did thatst night, didn¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°But-¡± I didn¡¯t want her to be acquainted with him.


    ¡°That¡¯s enough, my wife. It seems like your gratitudest night was enough for him,¡± I cut her off because I didn¡¯t want us to talk about him anymore.


    The doorbell rang, giving me a reason to end the conversation. ¡°That must be our food. Let¡¯s eat first before you freshen up. We didn¡¯t eat wellst night, and I¡¯m sure you¡¯re hungry.¡± She nodded, making me smile after I heaved a sigh of relief.


    I stood up and held my hand to help her, and then we walked out of the room. ¡°My husband,¡± she said, stopping, so I stopped, too. ¡°Thank you so much foring to get me when I didn¡¯t return immediately.¡±


    I turned to herpletely and cupped her cheeks. ¡°I¡¯ll do everything for you, my wife. That¡¯s how much I love you.¡± There, I said it.

 Chapter 39

    Sarina


    Three days have passed since I woke up feeling incredibly unattractive, and then Maximus suddenly confessed his love for me. Honestly, I couldn¡¯t believe it. I was still dazed then and didn¡¯t expect such words from him. It was insane because I hadn¡¯t even brushed my teeth or cleaned up from the previous night and felt so terrible. That jerk couldn¡¯t even pick a better time or wait until I was prepared.


    ¡°What are you thinking about, my wife?¡± Maximus¡¯s voice interrupted my thoughts. We were heading to a shopping center in Las Vegas in the car because he wanted to be affectionate today.


    ¡°Nothing, don¡¯t mind me.¡± I can¡¯t tell him about my thoughts, right?


    ¡°My wife, can¡¯t you answer my questions properly?¡± he pouted, looking so handsome that I couldn¡¯t help but notice.


    ¡°There¡¯s really nothing,¡± I insisted. He was persistent and wouldn¡¯t believe me.


    ¡°Are you sure?¡± he asked, still not convinced. I smiled and nodded at him. He smiled back, pulled me closer, and wrapped one arm around me while holding my left hand resting on hisp. He gently stroked my hand, which felt soothing. If I knew I could feel this calm in his arms, I would have tried harder to make our rtionship work.


    The driver dropped us off right in front of the mall. Maximus got out first and then assisted me before we walked inside hand in hand. I was amazed at how beautiful their mall was. It was nothing like the malls in the Philippines; I felt so wealthy, even though I was just window shopping.


    ¡°My wife, don¡¯t you like anything?¡± Maximus asked, sounding impatient.


    ¡°We¡¯ve just started walking around, and you¡¯re already bored,¡± I said, looking at him intently.


    ¡°I¡¯m not bored.¡±


    ¡°Then what?¡±


    ¡°Because we¡¯re just walking around, and you¡¯re not buying anything.¡± Iughed at what he said.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you like that? At least you won¡¯t have to spend money.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t like that either!¡± he eximed. ¡°We¡¯re here to shop, not to window shop. I was meant to pamper you and shower you with everything I can give that can make you happy.¡±N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    ¡°Alright, if I see something I like, I¡¯ll ask you to buy it right away,¡± I said to avoid further discussion. He had so much to say; others wouldn¡¯t want a spendthrift spouse. He¡¯s rich, so he probably doesn¡¯t care if we spend a lot.


    We continued walking around, and I noticed him frowning asionally because I still hadn¡¯t found anything I liked. I¡¯m not really into buying stuff because I wasn¡¯t raised that way.


    ¡°My wife, wait a moment.¡± He stopped walking, and since we were holding hands, I had to stop, too. I looked at him, puzzled. ¡°If you still can¡¯t find anything, let¡¯s just eat. Surely, your stomach must be feeling hungry.¡±


    ¡°Alright, alright, you¡¯re so whiny.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not about whining; you don¡¯t seem to take this seriously.¡±


    ¡°If I can¡¯t find anything I like, what do you expect me to do? Force me to like something I don¡¯t?¡± I stopped talking when I saw him just looking at me. He said nothing and took my hand again, starting to walk.


    ¡°Let¡¯s eat; I¡¯m hungry.¡± I nodded after he said that. It seemed like his mood suddenly changed.


    He took me to an expensive restaurant with Western cuisine, which was fine with me. My stomach is used to any kind of food. I will try it as long as it¡¯s edible, especially when it doesn¡¯t look disgusting. I¡¯m a nurse and have often seen things that could make me puke. Though I don¡¯t do that since I¡¯m used to it already, I still didn¡¯t want to see something to eat that would remind me of the patients I¡¯ve seen in the hospital.


    ¡°Are you mad?¡± I asked him after the waiter served our order. He just looked at me and didn¡¯t answer, then started cutting the steak before him. ¡°Hey, talk to me,¡± I insisted. ¡°If you don¡¯t talk-¡±


    I couldn¡¯t finish my sentence because he reced my steak with his, which he had already cut. I felt like the leadingdy in a Korean drama, and Hyun Bin was before me. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll buy a bag.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to force yourself into something you don¡¯t want; I get it now.¡± I stared at him because of what he said. Wow, what happened to him? Is he for real? How can a man as big as him act that way, right? Well, I admit he looks cute. But that was because he¡¯s my husband and he¡¯s really handsome. In addition to that, I knew how good he was at pleasuring me.


    We continued eating, and I enjoyed myself, especially when I noticed he was starting to talk, even though he still seemed slightly sulky. I shrugged because he wouldn¡¯t tell me why he was sulking anyway.


    We were almost finished when someone approached us, saying, ¡°Hi, Sarina. It¡¯s fancy meeting you here.¡± I was surprised to see Roskov, but I quickly smiled and greeted him.


    ¡°Hi, Roskov.¡± I stood up, looked at Maximus, and pointed to him, saying, ¡°He¡¯s Maximus, my husband.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I met him that night as well.¡± I nodded, smiling, and didn¡¯t mind at all. Remembering how he saved me that night, I couldn¡¯t help but thank him again.


    ¡°Anyway, thank you again for helping me out. If it weren¡¯t for you, I don¡¯t know what¡± I couldn¡¯t finish my sentence because Maximus stood up and said,


    ¡°Sit down, my wife. You don¡¯t need to stand.¡± Then he looked at Roskov. I wondered why my husband seemed to have a negative impression of the man, even though he looked friendly and approachable. ¡°Mr. Roskov, right? Thank you for what you did for my wife.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing. But seeing her beauty, you should not take your eyes off her.¡± I saw Maximus¡¯s eyebrow slightly twitch, something he does when he doesn¡¯t like the words that whoever he is talking to is saying.


    ¡°Ahm, why don¡¯t you join us?¡± I asked, which quickly made Maximus look at me. ¡°A simple thank you for what you did,¡± I added, looking at Roskov. I ignored my husband for a moment. ¡°I¡¯m sorry; as you can see, we¡¯re almost done, but we will wait for you.¡±


    ¡°Sure, why not?¡± the man replied quickly, sping his hands and sat down to my left. Our table was like those four-seater ones I often see in movies. Maximus returned to his seat and called the waiter. The man ordered, and the three of us were left alone again.


    ¡°Thank you, Maximus, right?¡± Roskov said, and my husband nodded. I smiled because I thought he wouldn¡¯t acknowledge him, as he tends to be a bit aloof. ¡°So, are you here for vacation?¡±


    He asked me, but my husband quickly answered, ¡°We¡¯re here for our honeymoon.¡± I didn¡¯t react because that¡¯s pretty much how it should be. Besides, maybe Maximus didn¡¯t want to reveal his business ns in the Philippines yet, so that¡¯s what he said.


    ¡°You just got married?¡± the man asked, seemingly surprised.


    ¡°Ahm, no, but we only have time to travel now,¡± I answered because my husband seemed unwilling to.


    ¡°No children yet?¡±


    ¡°Yeah.¡±


    ¡°I want to spend more time with my wife. We will have a lot in the future.¡± Maximus spoke, and I was surprised by his ¡°a lot¡±ment. There was no problem since he had already told me he loved me, so I was okay. Even though I hadn¡¯t said I loved him back when he confessed, it didn¡¯t mean I would end our contract. Now, I¡¯m sure there will be no separation.


    ¡°You should; you never know what might happen in the future.¡± I looked at Roskov because of what he said. I didn¡¯t know why, but I felt anxious.


    ¡°And what do you mean by that?¡± Maximus asked, seemingly angry. He was triggered, and so was I. Who would say that to a married couple?


    ¡°Nothing serious, just usual stuff when the couple¡¯s friends tease them,¡± Roskov said casually. Maximus was about to reply but couldn¡¯t because our additional order had arrived, and we started eating again.


    The man didn¡¯t mention anything anxiety-inducing again, which I was grateful for because, even if Maximus didn¡¯t speak, his anger was evident on his face. He red at Roskov, who seemed unfazed.


    ¡°Thank you very much again, Roskov,¡± I said, smiling. Maximus had just finished paying, and we were about to leave.


    ¡°No worries, Sarina. I¡¯m sure whoever saw you then would do the same thing.¡± Then he turned around and left the restaurant ahead of us.


    I felt that Maximus became uneasy when Roskov left us. He didn¡¯t say it, but I felt they knew each other before the man saved me. We continued exploring, and to avoid upsetting my spendthrift husband, I bought a bag and some luxury items that I usually see used by famous and wealthy personalities in the country. I wanted to worry about possibly draining my husband¡¯s wallet.


    We returned to the hotel, and I felt extremely tired. I wanted to rest, so I told Maximus, ¡°I¡¯ll take a bath first, Maximus.¡±


    ¡°Go ahead, I¡¯ll stay here for now.¡± Then he took his cell phone from his pocket and sat on the couch. He didn¡¯t look at me, so I left him in the living room. But before I fully entered the bedroom, I heard him say,


    ¡°Mar.¡± Who could that Mar be?

 Chapter 40

    MaximusUpstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g


    Sarina and I will be staying in Las Vegas for two weeks. She doesn¡¯t know that because she didn¡¯t ask. I want our stay to feel like a honeymoon and create memories as a married couple. She might consider this when our contract ends, and she might decide to stay with me and continue the married life we started, which I began to love.


    However, I¡¯m starting to regret bringing her here because of what happened to her and Roskov. I didn¡¯t like his words during our meal or how he looked at my wife. As a man, I clearly saw his intention for my wife, and I could tell he was eyeing Sarina. His presence in the restaurant is not a coincidence. As far as I know, he never went to ces such as that to prevent people from seeing him since he had been trying to conceal his true financial status. I need to talk to Mariano.


    Luckily, when we arrived in our hotel room, my wife wanted to freshen up first, allowing me to talk to my brother. I need his help, something I don¡¯t usually do. But this is the second time I¡¯ve called him since we arrived in Las Vegas. And it¡¯s for my wife-I¡¯m willing to do even the weirdest things for her.


    I took a deep breath and looked at the closed door Sarina had entered earlier. I couldn¡¯t help but feel anxious. Is this how it¡¯s supposed to be? If that Roskov dares to touch my wife, even just a fingertip, he¡¯ll get what he¡¯s asking for. It worried me when I recalled my conversation with Mariano earlier.


    ¡°Max, can you calm down?¡± he asked as soon as I started talking non-stop when he answered my call.


    ¡°How can I? You don¡¯t know how worried I was for my wife!¡± I replied, a mix of irritation in my voice. He knew Sarina was my wife, so why couldn¡¯t he understand my feelings?


    ¡°Look, we can¡¯t just barge into Roskov¡¯s mansion and tell him to stop thinking about your wife! And no, before you react violently, let me finish first,¡± he said, knowing I was about toment on his statement. ¡°But I want you to be cautious. If he told you something like that, I¡¯m sure he meant nothing but trouble. That¡¯s what I know about him; he wouldn¡¯t say something he couldn¡¯t or wouldn¡¯t do.¡±


    ¡°Precautions are not enough for that bastard. He knows me and our rtionship but still threatens me with taking my wife away from me.¡± I wasn¡¯t exaggerating, and I knew Mariano knew that because he knew Roskov too well.


    ¡°As I said, we can¡¯t just go to his mansion. For now, be careful at all times while you¡¯re here. I already asked someone to look after you and your wife, so you can enjoy your stay and ensure that I will have my niece or nephew before you return to the Philippines.¡± He gave me some reminders before ending our conversation.


    Mariano is my half-brother. He was already my mom¡¯s son before she met my dad. He is the son of an illegal organization leader. I don¡¯t condone my brother because he took over from his father, but he¡¯s different. He still has a sense of decency, unlike Roskov, who will do anything to get what he wants without caring if he tramples or kills anyone in the process. And I don¡¯t want him to take an interest in my wife, which seems unlikely judging by his words earlier.


    Sarina is a very simple woman with simple beauty, far from the women I¡¯ve encountered and been with. Even though her body¡¯s shape is quite ordinary, any man will surely have a second look when she passes by. But something about her caught my attention and etched her face in my heart and mind.


    I took a deep breath and calmed myself in the living room while letting my wife finish cleaning up. In our time together, I¡¯ve learned how long she takes with her routines, especially for herself, and I am not taking it against her. I mean, every woman had to feel beautiful and appreciated to maintain their confidence, even if they were staying at home most of the time. Especially those full-time housewives and mothers.


    Yes, she takes her time in the bathroom, but when needed, I¡¯m surprised at how quickly she can move, just like on our first day at the condo. One thing I liked about her is herck of pretense. She always showed me who she really was and didn¡¯t bother to act like someone she wasn¡¯t just to please me or anyone.


    I wanted to take her since we had been here for a week and I¡¯dhad only one chance to be with her. I could have had more that day if I hadn¡¯t punished and teased her. Shit! Am I regretting it now? At least now I know I shouldn¡¯t tease her anymore because I¡¯ll suffer, too.


    After a while, I got up from the couch and walked to our bedroom. She exited the bathroom with a towel wrapped around her as I entered. We looked at each other, and she smiled and said, ¡°It¡¯s your turn.¡± Shit! Yes, I¡¯m turned on.


    I nodded and continued to enter the room. I started to unbutton my polo shirt without taking my eyes off my wife, who was now heading to the vanity mirror. She wasn¡¯t fair-skinned, but she wasn¡¯t dark either, and her skin was very smooth despite growing up in the province.


    ¡°Bring your towel,¡± she said without looking at me as she reached for the hair blower hanging on the side of the mirror. I grabbed the towel folded on the table near her.


    ¡°Do you want to eat, my wife?¡± I asked. She might be hungry because we had been out shopping before returning to the hotel.


    ¡°Not now, maybeter.¡±


    ¡°Okay, just tell me if you get hungry, okay?¡±


    ¡°Okay, my husband.¡± She looked at me and smiled, which puzzled me. Well, who wouldn¡¯t when I¡¯m not used to her actions? I was even more attracted to her because she looked even more beautiful when she smiled. ¡°Go ahead, clean yourself up so we can rest.¡± I didn¡¯t respond because she wouldn¡¯t have heard me since she had already turned on the blower.


    I turned my back on her, still with a hard-on, and I knew I needed to calm my junior down because she said we were going to rest. It looked like I wouldn¡¯t score tonight. But that¡¯s okay; we have plenty of chances for that. I don¡¯t want to force her because she might get upset and angry. I¡¯ll just wait for the right moment and then make her really happy.


    Thinking about that, I started to shower. I soaped and cleaned everything that needed to be cleaned, even though I knew there was no chance of making love with my wife because that¡¯s how I am. I love to linger under the shower, especially when I need to calm my arousal, just like now.


    Somehow, my worries about Sarina eased, and I managed to calm my junior. I dried myself up and looked in the mirror, but as I was about to leave the bathroom, my gaze fell on a bottle. I picked it up and realized it was empty when I shook it. I read thebel and found out it was a birth control pills bottle.


    It was the first time I saw that bottle, and I thought maybe Sarina had taken thest piece. I felt a pang of disappointment because it seemed like she didn¡¯t really want me; she didn¡¯t want to have a child with me. Although she had said from the start that she knew how not to get herself pregnant, I had already told her that I loved her. Wasn¡¯t that enough for her to want to have a child with me?


    Another thing that bothered me was when I told her I loved her, she didn¡¯t respond and seemed to be in a daze. So I called her name, and all she said was, ¡°Okay.¡± Earlier, when we were eating, she said she couldn¡¯t force herself to do something she didn¡¯t want to. Was that also why she couldn¡¯t say she loved me back?


    I ced the bottle back where I got it from, and with slumped shoulders, I left the bathroom and went straight to the closet to get my clothes and change; I didn¡¯t bother looking at her. But when I turned around, I saw my wife on the bed, lying on her side with her left hand on her hip while her other hand was bent and propped on her elbow, as her head resting on her palm.


    She was looking at me seductively, so I wouldn¡¯t be surprised if I suddenly felt my dick twitch inside my pajamas. She looked me up and down slowly, then stopped at my now rock-hard junior.


    ¡°You¡¯re so hard, my husband.¡± Shit! Was she seducing me? I shook my head because even if she just stood in front of me, I would already be aroused. That¡¯s how perverted I am when ites to her. Her hand on her hip suddenly lifted, and she seductively motioned for me toe closer with her index finger.


    ¡°You want me toe closer?¡± I asked, making me think that I looked like a stupid teenage boy in front of her now.


    ¡°Do I really need to say it?¡± she asked, raising an eyebrow and slightly lifting one side of her lips.


    ¡°Don¡¯t seduce me like that, my wife. Even if you do nothing, my dick gets hard for you, and you¡¯ll be wrecked by me.¡± Her face reddens as always when I tell her something like that.


    ¡°Can¡¯t wait,¡± she replied, smiling flirtatiously. I didn¡¯t expect her to know how to do that. I mean, she never tried to seduce me even once, and what she was doing now was really driving me crazy. Was she really okay now? Had she gotten over the trauma given by those crazy men? ¡°Am I not attractive enough to make youe closer with just one word?¡±


    I smirked after she said, ¡°Didn¡¯t you hear what I said, my wife? Even if you do nothing, I¡¯m already very attracted to you.¡± She suddenly sat up, and I got scared because she might suddenly change her mind. ¡°Stay there,¡± I said, walking towards her while she remained in bed. I stopped in front of her so she had to look up at me before her gaze slowly traveled down to my very aroused manhood.


    ¡°Why is your dick so big and hard, Maximus?¡± she asked, not taking her eyes off my weapon, ready to conquer her. ¡°Can I have a taste of it?¡±


    ¡°Fuck, Sarina!¡± I eximed. All my disappointment towards her from the empty pill bottle disappeared because of what she said.

 Chapter 41

    MATURE CONTENT


    Sarina


    I know and feel that he is anxious; whoever that Mar is is probably someone close to him. I have never heard him call anyone except Aries, and that was only if he had something Maximus wanted him to do. But I knew he was tense and worried because of Roskov and his words. I even felt scared, thinking something might happen that could separate us. Maybe it was why he called that man he was talking to over the phone.


    When I entered the bedroom, I quickly undressed to shower, cleaning my entire body to ensure I smelled good. It¡¯s probably time for me to make my husband happy, and there¡¯s nothing wrong with that. My gazended on the top of thevatory before moving to an open cab. I saw the pills that I ced there recently and quickly took them, opened them, and threw out the contents before cing them somewhere Maximus could easily see. Hopefully, he gets why, right?


    I can now get pregnant for real because he already told me he loves me, so I¡¯m sure he won¡¯t leave me even after our contract ends. My child won¡¯t be unfortunate if it happens. And there I was, happily starting to shower, thinking about how I would seduce and make him happy.


    Just as I stepped out of the bathroom, he entered. I made him shower, too, to gather more courage. It¡¯s nerve-wracking. Even though we¡¯re married, I still feel shy, especially knowing I desire Maximus Lardizabal. I don¡¯t know if others feel the same way I do now, worrying if he¡¯ll like it or if I¡¯ll satisfy him.N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    I positioned myself lying on the bed and practiced how to look seductive. He came out of the bathroom but didn¡¯t look at me right away, making me uncertain if he still wanted me or not, until he finally nced.


    He was only in his pajamas, and I could clearly see the beauty of his body. Broad shoulders and a handsome chest that exudes masculinity. Just right and very pleasing to my eyes, not disgusting to look at. I don¡¯t like overly muscr men because it seems scary like I might get crushed in one hug. But Maximus is just right for me, and looking at his manhood, wow, it¡¯s drool-worthy and truly panty-dropping. ¡°You¡¯re so hard, my husband.¡± I didn¡¯t know where I got the courage to say that. Then I beckoned him with my finger like the seductive women do in movies. I just hope it works on Maximus.


    He even asked! It was so annoying! What I was doing was already hard enough, and it seemed like he was ying hard to get. Until he spoke with his dirty mouth, making me feel a tingling sensation in between my thighs. Just his words, but they were enough to make me feel wet down there. I wasn¡¯t even wearing panties. I was about to go to him, but he stopped me, so I remained seated on the bed while he approached me. Right in front of my face was his very hard manhood, and I couldn¡¯t help but ask because I felt like I wanted to eat. ¡°Can I have a taste?¡±


    ¡°Fuck, Sarina!¡± he eximed. But I ignored him because my attention was already on his cock, which I was already stroking. ¡°Ohh¡­¡± he moaned, making me smile because he seemed to be enjoying it just from my touch, as if the fabric didn¡¯t do anything to stop him from feeling my desire.


    I quickly pulled down his pajama pants, and I could clearly see his cock, standing at attention like a soldier giving me a salute. What else was I to do? I quickly stuck out my tongue and ran the tip from the base of his manhood to its tip. ¡°Shit! Fuck! My wife that feels so good!¡± he said, grabbing my hair. I was surprised at how he held my hair, but it wasn¡¯t painful. So I repeated what I did, and he seemed to go crazy, repeatedly moaning my name and how good it felt, so I quickly took his cock into my mouth, from the head down to as far as I could. However, I couldn¡¯t take it all in.


    ¡°Ahhh!!! Fuuuuuck! My wife, I¡¯m going crazy from the pleasure!!¡± I looked up at him to see him tilting his head back and closing his eyes before looking down, our gazes meeting. Oh, I love this man too!


    I quickly moved his penis in and out of my mouth while one of my hands stroked the part that I couldn¡¯t fit in my mouth. My other hand clutched his waist to guide his movements as he slowly thrust in. It would be hard to choke. But it seemed like he was controlling himself because when I let him move his penis in and out of my mouth, he didn¡¯t push it all the way in. I never thought I would let anyone have sex with my mouth.


    ¡°Ohh.. Sarina, it feels so good¡­ I¡¯m going to cum, my wife,¡± he said, trying to stop me and starting to pull out his penis, but I didn¡¯t let him. ¡°My wife?¡± he said, confused. Our eyes met, and I gestured for him to continue, so he did, slowly at first, then faster until I felt his semen shoot into my mouth, and I swallowed all of it. I got my first vitamin S.


    He knelt in front of me after finally removing his pajama bottoms that I had only pulled down to his thighs. He then cupped my face with both hands, gently caressing my cheeks. ¡°You¡¯re more beautiful, my wife.¡± Then he took my mouth with his. He must have tasted his semen as he sucked on my tongue, as he always did.


    His hands slowly slid down to my breasts, and even though I was still wearing my sleepwear, I could feel my body burning whenever his hands touched me. He began to y with my nipples, making my hands wrap around him.


    His kisses trailed down to my neck and chest as he untied the straps of my nightgown, fully exposing my breasts. I had no breasts, just nipples. I grabbed his hair, not caring if it hurt him, as he suddenly took one nipple into his mouth, sucking on it. At the same time, he untied the other strap, exposing my other nipple, which he quickly yed with his fingers.


    ¡°Maximus¡­¡± I moaned, looking at him, and he looked back at me. ¡°It feels so good, Maximus; your mouth is warm.¡± He smiled slightly, and I felt his hand move inside my nightgown to my vagina, so I spread my legs for him to y with my clitoris without any hindrance.


    ¡°I love it when you don¡¯t wear your panties, my wife.¡± He stopped briefly and, after saying that, took my other nipple into his mouth whileying me down on the bed, lifting my nightgown until I felt his tongue ying with my clitoris. At the same time, his fingers continued to y with my nipples.


    I felt so much pleasure and was about toe. The sensation was overwhelming, and I didn¡¯t know where to turn my head until I finally cum, and Maximus caught all my juices. I was panting, feeling like I was utterly exhausted. This is what he always makes me feel after I reach my climax. While I couldn¡¯t help but get used to it and want more, I couldn¡¯t get enough of him.


    ¡°I¡¯m not done yet, my wife. Let¡¯s continue.¡± I smiled and nodded. He stood up from kneeling and helped me getfortable on the bed since my legs were hanging off. He sat down with me on hisp, and I straddled him. We started kissing again, and like him earlier, I could taste and smell myself in his mouth, but it was okay; it was mine, and I knew he loved it.


    We fondled and caressed each other. Now more than ever, I wanted him to feel the warmth of my love because I¡¯m not vocal about it. I prefer to show it because I believe actions speak louder than words. I wanted to tell him how I reciprocate his feelings the way I knew how.


    Feeling his hardness, I tried to take him in, and he helped me do it. He continued massaging my breast while I swivel my hips. ¡°Aahh..¡± we both moaned in pleasure.


    ¡°Fuck, my wife, please, continue moving..¡± he muttered, to which I dly obliged.


    ¡°Yes, my husband,¡± I replied while swaying my hips. At the same time, I arched my body, making him go deeper inside me.


    ¡°Aahhh¡­ so good¡­¡± he screamed in pleasure, and I loved the sound of his hoarse voice. Then I felt his tongue run through my stomach, going up in between my breasts and then on my neck, and ending up on my lips, then sucked them.


    I pushed him, making himy down, and I rode him. I continuously swivel my hips before I go up and down with him inside me while Iy my palm t on his chest for support. His hands were on my hips, caressing them before he pped both my buttcheeks, and gosh, I felt more aroused.


    ¡°Fuck, my wife, I¡¯m going to ravish you,¡± Maximus said before he switched our position without pulling out his cock after he sat up. I was ready for him, but I still felt a bit surprised when he pulled out his hardness and entered me again roughly and moved slowly at first, then faster and faster. A few momentster, I felt another wave of crazy sensation from my abdomen down to my vagina, along with the flow of liquid from my satisfaction. I screamed his name as he said,


    ¡°I love you, Sarina. I love you so much, my wife.¡± I smiled despite being exhausted, gently caressing his sweaty cheek as a sign of my love.

 Chapter 42

    Maximus


    I couldn¡¯t contain my happiness because of what happened between Sarina and me. We almost didn¡¯t sleep because I couldn¡¯t stop myself. I was so excited for her, and I couldn¡¯t control myself when she agreed. I had wanted to take her the moment we arrived here in Vegas, and I thought we would return to the Philippines without making the most of our trip.


    I loved her even more because of what she did for me. I didn¡¯t expect her to do it because she said she wouldn¡¯t moan when I asked her to sign a contract with me. That was just the moaning; what more, her giving me a blowjob? But now, I know 100% that she enjoys everything I do to her whenever we make love. And that¡¯s more than enough to make me feel like I¡¯m in heaven.


    Making love to her in every way I can is my way of showing her my love. It¡¯s my way of making her feel how crazy I am about her and showing her that she is the only woman I deeply desire. If the so-called lovenguage is true, then that¡¯s probably mine.


    ¡°Umm..¡± I looked at my still-sleeping wife, who wrapped her arm around me with her head resting on mine. What did this woman feed me that made me crazily in love with her? I kissed her head while gently stroking her arm. Her skin was so smooth, you¡¯d think she frequented going to spas or whatever women call those ces where a doctor takes care of their skin. ¡°My husband¡­¡± she said before lifting her face, making our gazes meet as I lowered my head.


    ¡°Yes, my wife?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m hungry..¡± I chuckled after hearing that. I looked at my wristwatch and saw that it was almost noon.


    ¡°What do you want to eat?¡± I asked sweetly, kissing her forehead.


    ¡°You¡±¡­ My eyes widened because of her boldness. Since when did she be so skilled at seducing?


    ¡°Me?¡± I asked to make sure. She smiled and nodded, then said,


    ¡°You decide; whatever you want to eat, I¡¯ll have the same.¡± I scratched my head because what she was thinking differed from what I had in mind. My pervertedness really knows no bounds.


    ¡°Okay, my wife. Why don¡¯t you freshen up first while I order our food?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m toozy to get up; you order first, and I¡¯ll take a little nap, okay?¡± She snuggled closer to me, pressing the lower part of her body against my side while her leg draped over me. I could feel her womanhood rubbing against my skin. ¡°My love, I¡¯m still tired. Calm down, your junior; it¡¯s getting hard again.¡±


    ¡°My wife, it¡¯s because you keep rubbing your pussy against me.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t you like it? I have no one else to rub it against; maybe a pillow?¡± she asked, looking at me as if she were innocent.


    ¡°Shit, my love, don¡¯t talk like that, or I might forget you¡¯re still tired if I don¡¯t calm my cock because of what you¡¯re saying.¡±


    ¡°Just order already,¡± she said with a grin. This woman was driving me crazy, so I shook my head and got up before I made love to her again.


    ¡°Don¡¯t rub your pussy against the pillow, okay?¡± I reminded her before going to the bathroom to clean up, but I heard herugh. I decided to take a bath faster than usual, thinking about how hungry she was as I remembered that the meal we had in the restaurant was thest time we ate. We walked nonstop after she bought her things.


    She was sleeping soundly again when I came out, so I carefully went to the closet to get some clothes so as not to wake her, then left the room to call room service. I felt incredibly happy because it seemed like we were so close. I hope she can finally say the three words I¡¯ve been waiting for her to say: ¡°I love you.¡±


    ¡°It tastes good,¡± Sarina said with a nod while chewing. I ordered lunch, which was just right since we woke upte. I had to carry my wife to the dining table because she still seemed toozy to get up. Iughed at her sleepy expression, but she looked cute. Shit! If I had known that being in love felt this good, I would have married her sooner. ¡°What are you thinking about? You look like an idiot, staring and grinning.¡±


    ¡°Nothing, is that bad?¡± I replied, asking. Let¡¯s see what she thinks about it. I love having a casual conversation with her. You know, talking about nonsensical things, and yet we¡¯re still happy.


    ¡°It¡¯s bad if you¡¯re thinking of nothing because that means you¡¯re going crazy,¡± she said, taking another bite of her food with gusto.


    ¡°Let me just feed you so you¡¯ll be quiet.¡± I took the spoon she held, and though she didn¡¯t want to, she still let me. Sarina was only wearing a robe, and I told her she¡¯d be in trouble if I caught a glimpse of any part of her body covered by it. I put a lot of love bites on her, especially around her are. Since she said her body still ached, she dered a ¡®time freeze¡¯ on our lovemaking.


    ¡°Time freeze?¡± I recalled asking her earlier when I heard it, as it sounded new to me.


    ¡°Yes, time freeze. It¡¯s like when you¡¯re ying, and someone calls you, or you suddenly remember something, you just say, ¡®Time freeze.¡¯ You¡¯re safe or excused for a moment,¡± she grinned.


    ¡°So, you¡¯re asking for a time-out?¡±


    ¡°Something like that,¡± she replied, nodding and shaking her head.Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org.


    ***


    ¡°There you go, you¡¯re smiling again!¡± she eximed, pointing at me.


    ¡°Nothing, I just remembered your time freeze!¡± It seemed she wouldn¡¯t stop until I confessed. ¡°Okay, open up your mouth and eat. Not too big, or I might stick my dick in there instead of your food.¡±


    Her eyes widened, and I burst intoughter. ¡°You¡¯re so annoying, reminding me of that,¡± she said, hitting me lightly before opening her mouth to eat the spoonful I offered her.


    ¡°It feels great. If I could, I want a repeat.¡± I replied. ¡°Don¡¯t you want to taste it again?¡± I asked, teasing.


    ¡°Maximus!¡± The food in her mouth flew out, and Iughed hard even though most of itnded on my face. Her cheeks turned bright red as she coughed, likely choking. I handed her some water and said,


    ¡°You choke on rice but not on my dick?¡± And there it was, the water she drank sshed onto my face.


    ¡°You¡¯re so gross, Maximus! We¡¯re eating, and you¡¯re saying those things. Look at you; everything I ate is now on your face.¡± She stood up and wiped my face with her robe. ¡°You¡¯re like a child, so naughty.¡±


    It feels really good doing this to me. I held my wife¡¯s waist as she wiped my face with her robe, giving me a clear view of her t chest, which I couldn¡¯t resist licking as it was right in front of my face.


    ¡°Maximus, behave!¡± she scolded me, trying to pull away, but I pulled her closer. ¡°I told you I¡¯m still tired. You only let me sleep properly this morning.¡±


    ¡°I was just licking,¡± I said, pretending to pout.


    ¡°It always ends up with sex; I¡¯m sure you¡¯d bend me over this table and take me from behind.¡± I looked up at her, seeing her smiling.


    ¡°You seem to be teasing me more often, my wife. Do you want to getid?¡±


    ¡°As you said, it felt good,¡± she said, making me stand up as sheughed. ¡°Let¡¯s eat. Get rid of those naughty thoughts first.¡± She sat down, still looking at me. ¡°Come on, my husband, I¡¯m really hungry.¡±


    I couldn¡¯t argue, and we continued eating, sneaking in a few yful touches. Because of what we were doing, I felt we were getting closer. I was happy she was no longer shy around me and could express herself, especially with dirty talk. We¡¯re married, so this is how it should be-no awkwardness, no shame. We just converse yfully.


    After eating, we stayed in the living room. Sarina was full and wanted to rest, and I felt the same way. Finishing all the food we had ordered was very satisfying.


    It waste afternoon when I felt a stomach ache. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Sarina asked, concerned, when she saw me clutching my stomach. ¡°Does it hurt?¡± I nodded before she lightly tapped my stomach. ¡°You¡¯re just bloated, hahaha.¡±


    ¡°Is that funny, my wife?¡± I asked, frowning.


    ¡°What? Are you upset?¡± I rolled my eyes at her, but she keptughing before standing up.


    ¡°Where are you going?¡± I asked, stop grabbing her by her wrist to stop her.


    ¡°To the room and get changed so I can buy you some medicine.¡±


    ¡°What? You¡¯re going out alone? No, you can¡¯t, don¡¯t buy it.¡± I refused.


    ¡°What are you talking about? Your stomach won¡¯t feel better if you¡¯re bloated,¡± she insisted.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want you going out alone,¡± I said, still holding my stomach. ¡°And it¡¯s just a simple pain; it¡¯s not serious.¡± Sheughed after I said that.


    ¡°It¡¯s not serious, but your stomach hurts.¡±


    ¡°Whatever, my wife, I¡¯m fine. It¡¯ll go away soon.¡±


    ¡°What are you saying? What¡¯s the big deal if I go out? Besides, I need to buy something too.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°Vitamins.¡±


    ¡°What kind of vitamins?¡±


    ¡°Just Vitamins. So stay here, I¡¯ll be back in a moment.¡± I didn¡¯t want her to go out alone because I was worried. I felt Roskov¡¯s group was nearby, and I was afraid they might suddenly grab her and take her away from me.


    I couldn¡¯t tell her that because I didn¡¯t want her to feel scared. I wanted her to enjoy our stay here in Las Vegas, and that wouldn¡¯t happen if she thought people were plotting something bad to harm her. Although it was just my hunch, and I wasn¡¯t sure if Roskov had ns for her, it was better to be safe.


    Since she insisted on going out, I decided to go with her to avoid making her suspicious. ¡°What are you talking about? Your stomach hurts, and yet you want toe with me.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t want you to go out alone. Besides, it¡¯s bearable. Go on and change.¡± Although I didn¡¯t want to go to the pharmacy because she might buy her birth control pills again, I had no choice. It would be fine with me if we don¡¯t have a child right now; the important thing is that we get along first.

 Chapter 43

    Maximus


    ¡°Where are we going, Maximus?¡± Sarina asked. It¡¯s ourst two days here in Las Vegas, so I wanted to introduce her to Mariano in person before we return to the Philippines. She¡¯s been asking me about him, but I didn¡¯t want to tell her immediately because I wanted to surprise her. Not everyone knows about my brother. It¡¯s a well-kept family secret, and if it were up to my grandmother, she¡¯d want to bury it forever because my mother had a child out of wedlock before she and my father got together. Something my grandmother despises about my mother.


    ¡°My wife, can¡¯t you just wait? We¡¯re almost there, and your questions will be answered,¡± I replied with a hint ofint. Why is she so impatient? Shouldn¡¯t she be more patient since she¡¯s a nurse? What if she had a stubborn and troublesome patient? How would she handle that? If I didn¡¯t want her to get mad at me or think I was questioning her profession, I shouldn¡¯t ask her that, right?


    ¡°I¡¯m just asking, and is the ce we¡¯re going to a top secret? If I know, you¡¯ve already brought several women there, and you¡¯re just acting mysterious.¡± She even rolled her eyes at me. I just shook my head and clicked my tongue at what she said.


    Ever since she started working for me, she¡¯s been like this. She never pretended or acted demure. And if she didn¡¯t like something I said or did, she¡¯d threaten to punch me or stick out her tongue while rolling her eyes. Because I was pretending to be blind during those times, I had to exert a lot of self-control not to suck on her tongue, which I was eager to do, so I often imagined at night when she thought I was already asleep and ended up pleasuring myself with my hands. Damn! I never thought I¡¯d go through something like that just because of her. I nevercked women in bed, but for her, I went months without an active sex life.


    Soon, we arrived at a house in a famousmunity in Las Vegas. It was quite far from our hotel, so the beauty of the ce was very evident. It was quiet and peaceful, and it felt so good as we got out of the car. ¡°Where are we, and whose house is this?¡± my wife asked as she kept looking around.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go my wife, before you break your neck twisting and turning,¡± I invited her as I took her hand and led her inside the house. I hope she doesn¡¯t feel scared of the men walking around. They were my brother¡¯s trusted men, working for him.


    When we reached the living room, one of the maids greeted us, ¡°Good morning, Sir Max.¡± I nodded at her before guiding Sarina to the couch to sit. ¡°Sir ising down,¡± the maid said before leaving us.


    Sarina then turned to me and stared, ¡°What?¡± I asked her.


    ¡°You really won¡¯t answer my questions, will you?¡± She was ring at me, looking so damn beautiful.


    ¡°We¡¯re already here. Can¡¯t you wait a little longer? Didn¡¯t the maid say that ¡°Sir¡± ising down?¡±


    ¡°Hmp! You¡¯re annoying; don¡¯t sleep next to meter.¡±


    ¡°Sarina! Threaten me with anything, but not about not sleeping next to you. I¡¯ll die!¡± I eximed, making herugh, which made my eyebrows furrow.


    ¡°You¡¯re so overacting, Maximus.¡± Then she keptughing. I couldn¡¯t help but get annoyed because she wouldn¡¯t stopughing, as if she was deliberately teasing me. I didn¡¯t say anything and just gave her a sour look. ¡°So short-tempered!¡± she said with a sweet smile on her lips.


    I rolled my eyes at her but was surprised when she forcibly turned my face to her and kissed me sweetly. ¡°Are you still feeling short-tempered?¡± she asked afterward, and I was annoyed with myself because I was too shocked to respond to the kiss.


    ¡°Are you going to do that every time I feel short-tempered then?¡± I asked. Our eyes were locked, and she was still smiling before she nced at my lips.


    ¡°Why are your lips so kissable and inviting, my husband?¡± Damn, I didn¡¯t know she was a temptress when she flirts. It¡¯s like, I¡¯m left speechless.


    Maximus


    ¡°We¡¯re not at home, my wife, so stop seducing me. You don¡¯t know how much I wanted to make love to you now,¡± I told her, my eyes fixed on her mouth.


    ¡°Shit, Maximus, I feel like my panties are already wet just from looking at your lips. I can already imagine your tongue ying with my-¡± I cut her off because my dick was already hard twitching inside my pants, so I kissed her passionately and pulled her onto myp, unbothered about where we were.


    We continued kissing, and I was about to slip my hand inside her blouse when someone spoke. ¡°Just so you know, you are in my living room, and many people might see you.¡±


    Sarina suddenly jumped off me and sat back on the couch. Iughed at her because her cheeks were bright red from embarrassment. ¡°What? Suddenly, you¡¯re shy?¡± I asked, and she pouted at me before shyly looking at the man who spoke, who was none other than Mariano. She hooked her arms around mine while keeping her eyes on my brother as he walked to the couch across from us and sat down.


    ¡°How are you, Mariano?¡± I asked.


    ¡°Fine as usual.¡± His reply is always curt. He looked at Sarina, who was still staring at him.


    ¡°He¡¯s so handsome,¡± my wife suddenly said, causing me to frown.


    ¡°I¡¯m the only one who should be handsome in your eyes, my wife.¡± I heard Mariano¡¯s softugh, so I looked at him. ¡°Happy that she thinks you¡¯re handsome?¡± I asked him.


    He shrugged his shoulders before replying, ¡°I already know that. She¡¯s not the first who said that to me.¡± He couldn¡¯t speak fluent Tagalog but understood it. He had learned from our frequent conversations over the phone or whenever we see each other like this.


    ¡°My wife, this is Mariano, my brother. Mar, this is Sarina, my wife,¡± I introduced them.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t know you had a brother; I thought you were an only child?¡± she asked, puzzled.


    ¡°We¡¯re siblings on my mother¡¯s side,¡± I answered, and she nodded before looking back at Mariano.


    ¡°Nice to meet you,¡±


    ¡°Nice to meet you too, Sarina.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re really handsome.¡± She really wouldn¡¯t stop.


    ¡°Sarina!¡± I said to her, my eyes wide. ¡°I said I should be the only handsome one in your eyes!¡±


    ¡°Can¡¯t you just be delicious?¡± she asked me, trying to be cute. ¡°Delicious¡± could be a fitting adjective, but I wanted her to think I was handsome too. Herment made me smile.


    ¡°Come on, lovebirds, stop that already. Aren¡¯t you ashamed that you¡¯re showing off in front of someone who is single and loveless?¡± My wife and I both looked at him and started catching up and chatting.


    I wanted to ask him about the men who harassed Sarina, but I couldn¡¯t because I didn¡¯t want my wife to hear and remember that bad experience. I also didn¡¯t tell her what kind of person my brother was because I didn¡¯t want her to be scared of him. Mariano is a good person; even though I know he can kill, I also know he wouldn¡¯t do it without a reason.


    Sarina enjoyed chatting with him, which made me happy because she becamefortable around Mariano. I couldn¡¯t ask for more except for my grandmother to like her because, as much as possible, I wanted us to be a happy family. I hope my grandmother changes her view of her because I know that¡¯s also what my wife wants.N?velDrama.Org exclusive content.


    ¡°Do you want to know a secret, Sarina?¡± Mariano suddenly asked, which puzzled me. What was he going to say? We were talking about other things, especially our younger years and how hardheaded and naughty we were, giving his father headaches.


    ¡°Yeah, sure,¡± my wife quickly replied.


    ¡°I am telling you this because the way I see the two of you, I can tell that you already love each other,¡± Sarina said nothing but smiled. Did she just agree to what my brother told her? That we look like we love each other? As in, we and not just me. I made a mental note to ask herter as she seemingly awaited what Mariano would say next. ¡°Maximus was never blind and crippled.¡±


    ¡°What? What do you mean?¡± Sarina asked before looking at me, puzzled. I quickly held her hand so if she thought of leaving, she couldn¡¯t.


    ¡°Mariano, stop it.¡± I tried to stop my brother from talking, but he didn¡¯t listen-well, he never listened.


    ¡°He just pretended to be blind and crippled so Midori would break up with him. He didn¡¯t want to get married to her, and he didn¡¯t want to hurt his grandmother as well,¡± Mariano exined. I looked at Sarina and saw that she seemed stunned.


    ¡°My wife, I can exin¡­¡± I said, but she suddenly looked at me with no reaction. Oh please, don¡¯t let her get mad at me.

 Chapter 44

    Sarina


    I was just staring at Maximus, and he couldn¡¯t bring himself to look back at me. We had returned to our hotel room, and from the moment we left his brother¡¯s house until now, he remained silent until now, when we were getting ready for bed. In contrast, we both sat on opposite sides of the bed. What could he be thinking? I should be the one who feels awkward since I think he is blind and I am doing something he couldn¡¯t see when I am still working for him. But I should also be angry at him for making me look foolish.


    My eyes suddenly narrowed as I thought about it while staring at him, and it just so happened that he looked at me, causing his eyes to widen before looking away. I couldn¡¯t take it anymore, so I called out to him. ¡°Maximus!¡± I said loudly to make sure he couldn¡¯t pretend he didn¡¯t hear me.


    He jolted in surprise before speaking. ¡°I can exin, my wife. I didn¡¯t mean to deceive you. As Mariano said, I did it because I wanted Midori to leave me alone. I couldn¡¯t tell Grandma that I didn¡¯t want to marry the woman she wanted for me because I knew she would just insist on her choice.¡± I gaped at how quickly he spoke as if he didn¡¯t know how to exin.


    ¡°You were stripping in front of me, Maximus!¡± I snapped at him, and he scratched his head, grinning like a child.


    ¡°I wanted to seduce you.¡± I froze at his words. And why did he want to seduce me? ¡°The first time I saw you in the hospital, I was struck here.¡± He pointed at his heart, facing me fully. I was touched by that, but then I saw his finger slowly sliding down, and I followed its path until it reached his manhood.


    My eyes widened, and I shouted, ¡°You¡¯re such a pervert!¡± Then I threw the pillow I could reach at him. It was frustrating because he caught and hugged it while grinning at me. Suddenly, I wondered, had he been lusting after me all this time? What kind of thoughts did Maximus have? Did I look seductive when I was working as his nurse? I should feel disgusted, but his confession made me feel beautiful and sexy.


    If it was another man, I would have called the police or sued him for harassment. But this man is so damn sexy as he slides his hand down to his dick earlier. Oh shit! This is insane. I¡¯m really so into him now!


    ¡°You were wearing your scrub suit then, talking to another nurse andughing because of what she was telling you while standing at the nurse¡¯s station on the 5th floor of the hospital. Your mouth was wide open inughter, not caring that a handsome man like me was around and watching you. My dick suddenly hardened, and I wondered what it would feel like in your mouth-¡±


    ¡°Ahhh!!!!!!!!!¡± I screamed, covering my ears as heughed. ¡°You¡¯re really a pervert, Maximus!!!¡± I thought he would say super sweet things about falling in love at first sight!


    ¡°But of course, I don¡¯t think about that now,¡± he said, so I lowered my hands from my ears.


    With one eyebrow raised, I asked him, ¡°Are you sure?¡±


    He nodded and smiled mischievously, causing my brows to knit together again. ¡°Because I already know how good it feels when it¡¯s in your mouth-¡± He didn¡¯t finish his sentence because I threw the pillow at him again, this time hitting his face. ¡°Ouch, my wife!¡± heined.


    ¡°That¡¯s what you deserve because you¡¯re such a pervert. I don¡¯t know what to do with you, Maximus!¡± I said, ring at him. I asked for the pillows from him, and he handed them to me. I arranged them on the bed and leaned against the headboard.


    He did the same and sat beside me before pulling me close and wrapping his arm around me, gently stroking my arm. I didn¡¯t y hard to get and rested my head on his broad chest. ¡°I didn¡¯t intend to deceive you but to end Grandma¡¯s obsession with my marriage with Midori. Honestly, it was hard for me to pretend to be blind and crippled.¡±


    I took a deep breath before responding, ¡°Why did you let your rtionship with that bowlegged woman drag on?¡± I heard him chuckle before answering.


    ¡°I always let her catch me with other women, hoping she¡¯d break up with me willingly. But what can I do? She wanted to have a taste of me?¡± he answered arrogantly. Well, he¡¯s handsome, muscr, and rich. He has all the right to do so.


    I looked at him and said, ¡°And you wanted her to!¡±


    ¡°No! Believe it or not, nothing happened between us while we were together. I always told her I respected her because Grandma approved of her. But the truth is, I purposely didn¡¯t touch her because I was afraid she might try to get pregnant on purpose, and I wouldn¡¯t be able to get rid of her.¡±


    I lifted myself from resting against him and faced him, ¡°So you¡¯re saying your first kiss was during that fake therapy session when I caught you two?¡± I asked him. ¡°You weren¡¯t blind, and you knew that bowlegged woman was kissing you then.¡±


    ¡°It didn¡¯t evennd, promise. You just thought it did because of the angle. But it didn¡¯t really happen. I was so nervous then because I had to keep pretending in front of her alone in the room. So I was very thankful that you suddenly arrived!¡± he replied quickly. I looked into his eyes to see if he was telling the truth, and I could see he was sincere.


    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me immediately so I wouldn¡¯t look like a fool? I could have helped you keep the truth hidden, and it wouldn¡¯t have been so hard for me. Imagine all the things I did for you! Especially when I helped lift you from your wheelchair!¡±


    ¡°I thought it would be better if fewer people knew. You were so feisty; how could I think of telling you and conspiring with you? Besides, how could I seduce you if you knew everything?¡±


    ¡°No wonder I felt like you could see me whenever you looked at me. It turns out you really could see me!¡±N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    ¡°And I could see when you were threatening to punch me and sticking your tongue out. You don¡¯t know how much self-control it took to keep myself from grabbing you and kissing you and sucking that tongue of yours. Didn¡¯t you notice I always did that to you?¡± he said, and I was shocked. Of course, I noticed.


    He didn¡¯t take his eyes off mine, and neither did I. His gaze was so alluring and intense; it was as if he was pulling me under some spell he was using. He pulled me closer, causing me to fall onto his chest, but our eyes remained locked.


    ¡°Only with you, my wife, only with you, do I feel such intense desire. My dick won¡¯t even get hard if it¡¯s not you.¡± I knew his words were vulgar. But I couldn¡¯t feel that because of the seriousness on his face. I was so captivated by his words, and I must admit, my clit was tingling with excitement because of them.


    Slowly, I raised my hand and caressed his cheek. ¡°I love you so much, my wife,¡± he said sincerely before holding my hand on his cheek and pressing it against his face as he closed his eyes. ¡°I really, really love you so much, Mrs. Sarina Marcelo Lardizabal. And I want you to be mine alone, no matter what happens, even after our contract ends; I will never allow you to leave me,¡± he said, opening his eyes.


    Is this what they call heart-wrenching but in a good way? I feel like my heart will explode out of happiness cause of his love confessions, which I thought he never felt for me. I thought he was just a perverted man who wanted nothing but sex. But hearing him say those words is like melodies to my favorite music that only he could y.


    I saw him lift himself from leaning against the headboard before releasing my hand from his cheek and pulling me by the nape before we dived into a deep kiss. I closed my eyes slowly, savoring every moment as he deepened the kiss.


    As the kiss grew deeper and deeper, I found myself on top of him, still kissing passionately. My hands alternated between caressing his cheeks, neck, and shoulders while his hands roamed my body.


    He pulled up my one-piece nightwear, and I raised my hands to let himpletely remove it. We paused the kiss briefly, and then I resumed swirling my tongue inside his mouth after slipping it in first.


    I intentionally rubbed my t chest against his bare body; it¡¯s my way of enticing him, which under different circumstances will make me think it would be ineffective. Now, I wished I had fuller breasts to drive this man even crazier for me.


    ¡°Fuck, my wife. I really like how t-chested you are. I could y and suck in your nipples right away,¡± he said after we kissed, his fingers ying with my nipples. Shit! I take back my wish; it¡¯s okay not to have full breasts as long as I have nipples.


    ¡°What are you waiting for, my husband? Suck them now.¡± He smiled before devouring my chest. I literally pulled his hair when I felt the heat of his mouth envelop one of my nipples. I could feel his hardness against me as I kept rubbing my womanhood on him, making me even hotter.


    I arched my back, holding onto his shoulders as he sucked, yed with my other nipple with his thumb and pinky, and inserted a finger into my womanhood. Damn, he reached it? His hand supporting my back moved to my butt, and from there, his finger reached my opening. My husband really knows how to do things differently.


    It felt like the dizzying sensation from what my husband was doing to me was bing a part of my body. He ensured I would enjoy everything he did to me, so I also tried to pleasure him in the way I knew.


    I was soaking wet, and I knew he was rock hard. He wanted to enter me, so I pushed him down before sliding down and pulling his pajama pants off, tossing them aside. I stared at his throbbing manhood, unable to stop myself from wetting my lips with my tongue, salivating over it.


    ¡°Fuck, my wife, what are you thinking?¡± he asked, making me look at him.


    ¡°Whatever you¡¯re thinking.¡± And without another word, I positioned myself on top of him again, facing his eagerly waiting member with my back to him. ¡°We¡¯ll go 69, my husband,¡± I added, looking over my shoulder.


    ¡°Fuck! Shit!¡± he said before I leaned over his dick and moved my lower body forward until it reached his face before taking his penis into my mouth.


    ¡°Ahh¡­¡± I moaned while his cock was still in my mouth when he suddenly licked the little cut in my cunt. Shit! How did Ie up with this? How can I do what I want if I keep moaning because of what he¡¯s doing to me?


    I couldn¡¯t give him a proper blowjob because of the pleasure he was giving me. ¡°Ahh, shit, my husband, I don¡¯t know what to do,¡± I said because he kept eating me out. It¡¯s hard to do a 69. I thought it was that simple. How could my ssmates back in college talk about this as if it was an easy, pissy thing to do?


    ¡°You can stop what you are doing now, my wife, and let me do it my way.¡± Then I felt his tongue on my womanhood again, along with his finger entering my opening. Now I was literally bent over him, but I asionally licked his penis, begging to be sucked again.


    ¡°My husband, please fuck me now¡­¡± I couldn¡¯t hold it in any longer and said it. Then I felt him move as if he was about to sit up, so I lifted my body slightly to let him do what he wanted. He didn¡¯t change my position until he finally knelt behind me and roughly thrust his manhood. ¡°Ohh, Maximus, that feels so good!¡±


    ¡°Do you like it this way, my wife?¡± he asked, and I quickly nodded. ¡°Just tell me what you want, and I¡¯ll do everything for you, my wife.¡± He kept thrusting deeply, faster and faster, until we both reached the peak of our pleasure.


    Exhausted, panting, and catching our breath. That¡¯s how Maximus and I felt as wey down. Our bodies hade together repeatedly, and I was sure we¡¯d be at it until morning if we didn¡¯t stop.


    I hugged him, and he hugged me back. We stayed like that for a few minutes before he attempted to stand. ¡°Where are you going?¡± I asked.


    ¡°I¡¯ll just get a cloth to clean you up.¡± I shook my head and tightened my embrace around him.


    ¡°No need, stay here,¡± I replied, pulling him closer. I didn¡¯t want him to get up and leave me even for a second. I wanted to feel his skin against mine.


    ¡°You¡¯ll feel sticky,¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s okay. It¡¯s because of you, and I love the feeling.¡± I didn¡¯t hear anything from him. He always cleans me up after we make love, yes, it feels gross, but that¡¯s only because I can feel our juices leaking out of my vagina. But I also love that it felt sticky because we made love.


    I felt his embrace tighten as if he didn¡¯t want to lose me, making me think that he wanted another round, but I felt sore already. ¡°I¡¯m tired, my husband. Let¡¯s rest.¡±


    ¡°Okay, my wife.¡± I smiled after that, feeling my eyes getting heavier. I was really sleepy.


    ¡°I love you, Sarina¡­¡± I heard him say.


    ¡°Umm¡­¡± I moaned in response but felt his deep sigh. I think I need to tell him about how I feel about him, too, right? So, ¡°My husband?¡± I softly called him.


    ¡°Yes, my wife?¡± he calmly replied.


    ¡°I love you, my husband. I love you too, Maximus Lardizabal¡­¡± and then nothing.

 Chapter 45

    MaximusN?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    I only asked for three words, but she gave me two sentences. I can¡¯t sit still because my joy knows no bounds. She loves me. Sarina Marcelo Lardizabal loves me, and that¡¯s all I wanted.


    She fell asleep after uttering those words, and here I am, staring like a fool at my peacefully sleeping wife. I shook my head, like a teenage boy who just saw his crush pass by in the school corridor. Shit! I¡¯m a grown man and shouldn¡¯t act like this. I should know how to handle situations like this, especially my feelings for Sarina. What else can I do? I¡¯m over the clouds, and knowing how my wife feels towards me made me the happiest and luckiest man on earth.


    I took a deep breath and kissed my wife¡¯s forehead before deciding to sleep. Since it was almost morning, I needed to rest so we could go outter and enjoy ourst day in Las Vegas before returning to the Philippines tomorrow. I can¡¯t wait to tell Aries how our trip went well.


    I needed energy forter so I would have strength for our tour and, of course, for the night again. I wouldn¡¯t let the day pass without anything happening again. Then sleep finally took over me.


    It felt great because I slept soundly until I was awakened. I slowly opened my eyes and looked at my right arm, where Ist remembered my wife resting her head. Her smiling face greeted me.


    ¡°Tell me, am I in heaven?¡± I asked her. She frowned, probably not understanding why I asked that. ¡°Why do I see an angel?¡± I added, expecting her to smile broadly, but it didn¡¯t happen.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t know you liked angels,¡± she said. ¡°What are you going to do now that I¡¯m Magdalena?¡± she asked, getting on top of me. That¡¯s when I felt the stiffness of my erection, probably the reason I woke up, which she was likely ying with earlier.


    ¡°It¡¯s so early, my wife,¡± I told her, but my eyes never left her chest. ¡°Do all Magdalenas have no chest?¡± I asked, raising my hands and cing them under my head as a pillow.


    ¡°No, I¡¯m unique, so take it or leave it,¡± she replied, following my actions with her eyes. Then she traced her finger on my chest. ¡°Did you know I always looked at your body when you were still in the wheelchair?¡±


    ¡°I knew it, my wife,¡± I answered, and sheughed softly.


    ¡°Then you were so stingy sometimes and didn¡¯t want me to look at you,¡± she replied, pouting.


    ¡°I only said that when I couldn¡¯t control myself anymore,¡± I replied, which made her raise an eyebrow. ¡°That¡¯s the point when I wanted to pull you, sit you on myp, and taste you,¡± I added.


    Her smile was so wide, making her look so beautiful, and I couldn¡¯t hold myself back, so I sat up. ¡°And I want to taste you now, my wife.¡± With that, I kissed her. We were still naked, so it was easy for me to do what I wanted to do to her. That¡¯s the beginning of our morning filled with our bodies¡¯ passionate and heated union.


    I don¡¯t doubt she¡¯d be pregnant before we returned home. The thought made me pause. ¡°My wife, can you stop taking your pills already? I want a lot of kids,¡± I told her, still on top of her with my hard dick inside her. Even though we had finished a few minutes ago, I didn¡¯t want to pull it out because I still wanted to feel the warmth of her core.


    ¡°Are you an idiot, Maximus?¡± she asked. I felt a bit hurt because it seemed she didn¡¯t want to have kids with me.


    ¡°You said you love me, so I thought we wouldn¡¯t separate even after our contract ends, so I figured it would be okay with you to have kids,¡± I replied in a low voice, hiding the pain in my heart.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you see the empty pill bottle? I showed it to you, and you¡¯re still asking?¡± she said, annoyed.


    ¡°What did you buy at the pharmacy when we got my stomach medicine?¡± I asked, confused, and told her that I was thinking she bought another bottle of birth control pills.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t I say vitamins?¡±


    ¡°Just vitamins?¡±


    ¡°What else? Didn¡¯t you see?¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t check, thinking it was¨C¡± She took a deep breath and shook her head, and I had an idea.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t think that you¡¯re so slow when ites to that, my husband. You¡¯re a well-known businessman, and many people look up to you. Who blew up the bubble of your self-esteem?¡±


    ¡°When ites to you, I always feel unsure. I always wonder whether you¡¯ll like this or that. I always think if you¡¯re going to be happy if I do this or that.¡±


    She smiled, capped my face with both her hands, and said, ¡°You can always do what you want to do because I know that everything you do is magic.¡±


    I was speechless as her words made my heart flutter, and then I remembered something. ¡°My wife,¡± I said.


    ¡°What?¡± she asked, still seemingly angry.


    ¡°Can you repeat what you saidst night?¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°Please?¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°Come on, my wife.¡± I showed my sulking face, hoping she¡¯d give in.


    ¡°I already said it, I don¡¯t want to repeat it.¡±


    ¡°Okay, as long as you don¡¯t take it back, it¡¯s fine. I love you so much.¡±


    ¡°I love you too, Maximus.¡± And my smile widened. It was like I drank Viagra because my erection inside her suddenly hardened again, and I intensified my thrusts until we reached our climax again, calling out each other¡¯s names.


    Yesterday, we didn¡¯t go out the whole day. Sarina preferred to stay in our hotel room and take advantage of the time. ¡°I just want us to have sex here. Didn¡¯t you say you want lots of kids?¡± I remembered her saying. ¡°What did you feed me? Or maybe you infected me with your pervertedness, and that¡¯s why I¡¯ve be like this.¡±


    I shook my head as I sat in the airport lounge, watching my wife scroll through her phone, and recalled that conversation from yesterday. She nowfortably uttered the vulgar words she once hesitated to say in front of me. I want to do things with her, dirty things. I can already imagineing home from work and making love to her for a job well done at home.


    ¡°My husband, do you think my parents will like our gifts?¡± she asked, making me chuckle.


    ¡°Why do you need to ask that? And shouldn¡¯t you know better since you know them more than I do?¡± I asked, my fingers yed with the tip of her hair.


    ¡°That¡¯s true,¡± she replied. ¡°They¡¯re simple people. They¡¯d ept anything you give them with all their hearts,¡± she added. She was still thinking about various things while she bought most of our gifts here at the airport, mostly just T-shirts. We didn¡¯t go shopping since we didn¡¯t go out yesterday. She only remembered the giftsst night, so we went to the airport early to buy at least something. Considering my wealth, giving only T-shirts to my inws is embarrassing. I¡¯ll make it up to them on our next trip abroad with Sarina.


    ¡°Are you hungry?¡± I asked her. Our flight was dyed because the pilot of our ne didn¡¯t show up, and they were waiting for a recement. If it had been in the past, I would have been furious because I hate dys. But since I¡¯m with my wife, I¡¯m probably the calmest and most understanding person on the. Yes, that¡¯s what Sarina did to me. He changed me for the better. She¡¯s the only reason I¡¯m reasonable and only see the beauty of everything.


    ¡°Not really, I¡¯m fine.¡± After answering, she moved closer and rested her head on me.


    ¡°Are you sleepy?¡± I asked, worried.


    ¡°No, I just want to be close to you like this. Is that bad?¡± She was creasing her forehead. ¡°Tell me if you didn¡¯t like me being so clingy.¡±


    ¡°Not at all, don¡¯t think that way. You can even sit on myp if you want. I just thought you might be sleepy, and you could take a nap. I¡¯ll wake you up when our flight is called.¡±


    ¡°No, I don¡¯t want to sleep. Another woman might take advantage and molest you. It would be difficult to protect a perverted man from equally perverted women.¡± I smiled because she was obviously jealous.


    ¡°Did you forget already? I only act like a pervert when I¡¯m with you.¡± When is she going to believe that I only get a hard-on with her around?


    ¡°Hmp!¡± she replied, pouting. Maybe in disbelief, making me chuckle and shake my head.


    We stayed seated until an airline staff member arrived to give us snacks because the other passengers were agitated. I didn¡¯t want to join them in getting angry because I felt sorry for the employees who had to bear the brunt of their customers¡¯ anger.


    I let my wife eat the snack even though she said she wasn¡¯t hungry. She finished it all and even started eating the sandwich meant for me. I just shook my head as I brushed her hair with my fingers while she chewed. ¡°Um,¡± she said, holding the sandwich to my mouth, so I took a bite.


    ¡°It¡¯s good, isn¡¯t it?¡± she asked, and I nodded. She finished the sandwich and drank some water. ¡°I need to go to the restroom.¡± She stood up, so I did, too.


    ¡°I¡¯ll go to the restroom as well,¡± I said when she looked at me. ¡°And didn¡¯t I already promise I wouldn¡¯t let you go anywhere alone?¡± I reminded her because I didn¡¯t want a repeat of what those crazy guys did to her, which Iter found out was orchestrated by Shirley, ording to Mariano.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t say anything,¡± she replied, and I grabbed our luggage before telling her to hold onto my arm, which she did. She was so obedient, and I loved her even more for it.


    We reached the restroom, and I let her enter thedies¡¯ room before I went to the men¡¯s room. I hurried because I didn¡¯t want her waiting for me. Then I came out and stood outside the restroom to wait for Sarina. There was no other way out because the men¡¯s room was before the women¡¯s.


    A utility worker pushing a cart with cleaning supplies and trash bins exited the women¡¯s restroom. Two women entered as I continued waiting for my wife.


    Then I heard the announcement for our flight. I quickly looked towards the women¡¯s restroom, frowning. Several passengers had gone in and out, but why hadn¡¯t my wifee out yet? I took out my phone and called her, but there was no answer until thest group of women came out, one carrying what I recognized as Sarina¡¯s handbag. Shit!

 Chapter 46

    Maximus


    ¡°Find her!¡± I shouted at the airport security after realizing my wife was missing. I was restless, not knowing what to do. I had been waiting for four hours for any news about Sarina, and yet there was still nothing. I had never felt this scared in my life, and I never wanted to feel this way again.


    I paced back and forth inside the security control room. At the same time, they continued to sweep all possible exits that anyone might have used to take her. ¡°Hey, man!¡± Andrei said, entering with An right behind him. ¡°What happened?¡± I had called him because I knew he had connections at the airport and with the authorities here in Las Vegas.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. She just went to the restroom, and I was outside waiting for her, but she never came out,¡± I said, my words tumbling out in a rush.


    ¡°Okay, breathe, man, breathe,¡± Andrei said, patting my back. How could I do that when Sarina was the only reason I could breathe? Fuck! Just when everything was okay between us. This happened when she knew I loved her, and she loved me back. Just when I had no more secrets from her and I had finally experienced her love, she was taken from me.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know how I will do that if she¡¯s not here, man,¡± I said, feeling like a candle burning out.


    My friend took a deep breath and looked at the security personnel inside, seemingly asking for a report. ¡°We¡¯ve searched everywhere, even the utility personnel. We followed all her activities from the moment she left thedies¡¯ room until she disposed of all the garbage in the dumping area,¡± the head of security quickly exined.


    ¡°Can¡¯t we get any lead?¡± Andrei asked.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, sir. But, as Mr. Lardizabal¡¯s request, we¡¯ve already contacted everyone rted to the incident, but none of them found anything unusual.¡±


    ¡°How about the cleaningdy?¡±


    ¡°She said she didn¡¯t see anyone there as well.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t you have CCTV outside the restroom?¡± An asked.


    ¡°It was broken the night before, and maintenance was busy fixing the areas that needed it most,¡± the security head exined.


    ¡°And do you think the restrooms are not as important?¡± I asked angrily, stepping closer to him. An quickly restrained me while Andrei stepped in between us.


    ¡°No, sir. It¡¯s because there¡¯s a working CCTV after you leave the hall outside the restroom, which is already a dead end. So the camera will capture anyone whoes in and out of there.¡± I understood his point, and I would think the same. But Sarina, my beloved wife, was missing.


    ¡°We¡¯re going to find her, Max. I already called Mariano and informed him about this.¡± I rubbed my neck, trying to think of who or what could have done this. My wife couldn¡¯t just disappear like that. Someone took her, and I was sure it was nned because there wasn¡¯t a single trace of Sarina being taken.


    ¡°Andrei, I don¡¯t know, but I feel that Roskov is somehow connected to this.¡± I had been thinking about it for a while but tried to push it out because I didn¡¯t want to imagine such a terrible scenario. I couldn¡¯t bear the thought of my wife falling into his hands.


    ¡°Don¡¯t think that way, Max. Let¡¯s just hope that she¡¯s fine.,¡± he replied in a low voice. He must have thought the possibility but didn¡¯t want to frighten me.


    But what could I do now? I feel so helpless and powerless. Being one of the wealthiest, I never thought I would be able to feel his way. It feels like I can do nothing, but I wouldn¡¯t leave here without Sarina. I wouldn¡¯t go back to the Philippines without my wife.


    The entire airport security team continued the search for Sarina. Mariano¡¯s men were also quietly investigating, and a week had already passed-a week of not knowing what had happened to my wife. But I refused to lose hope; I wanted to see her again and feel her love. But what could I do? Everything felt lifeless without her.


    ¡°Maximus! Get yourself ready! Is that the face you will show your wife when we find her?¡± Mariano asked angrily. I was in one of his mansion¡¯s rooms because he wanted me to stay with him while I was still in Las Vegas, looking for Sarina.


    ¡°I am always ready, Mar¡­¡± I responded listlessly as I sat on the bed.


    ¡°Get up and let¡¯s go.¡±


    ¡°Where?¡± I asked.


    ¡°You¡¯ll know when we get there.¡± I didn¡¯t ask further because, in the past few days, we always ended up at the police station. I got up as he wanted, then went to the bathroom and showered.


    It was quick because I disliked my usual routine. I followed Mariano downstairs, and he stood up from the couch when he saw me and started walking out to his car.


    We drove to wherever we were going, but I still felt listless. I wanted to see my wife, but with the way the police investigation was going, I couldn¡¯t help but feel discouraged. They never showed me a concrete report of my wife¡¯s whereabouts, a clue, or any lead that might tell me where Sarina is now.


    I didn¡¯t know if it was better that her body hadn¡¯t been found, if something terrible had happened to her, or if I should just wait and hope to see her again. This situation was painful for me. She was with me in our hotel room not long ago, sharing passionate moments. I could still hear her every moan, and the words she rarely spoke were like music to my ears.


    Is this the price of the extreme happiness I felt? I wish she hadn¡¯t said she loved me if this would happen. It would have been fine even if I thought I was the only one who loved her. Or she didn¡¯t reciprocate my feelings.


    I wish I hadn¡¯t felt her desire if it meant I wouldn¡¯t see her again.


    I wish things could go back to the way they were. When I thought she wanted our contract to end and to leave me.


    I wish things could return to where I thought she didn¡¯t want us to have children.


    I wish things could go back to when I was the only one who loved her.


    I have many wishes, but I know I can¡¯t turn back time.Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org.


    ¡°Maximus, you¡¯re zoning out. Be ready; we will meet someone,¡± he said, making me turn my gaze on him sitting beside me. I knew he was concerned and wanted to help as much as possible. I also knew he had other matters to attend to, but he spent his time helping me search for my wife.


    ¡°If it¡¯s not rted to my wife, then it holds no importance to me,¡± I replied, sounding sulking. And I don¡¯t care if he thinks that way. Sarina is the only important person or thing in my life, whatever he calls her. To me, she¡¯s the only one that matters, so if it¡¯s not about her, other things are just trash.


    ¡°And you think I didn¡¯t know that?¡± he asked, making me frown. ¡°Yes, we found something, so you better prepare for the worst.¡± It sounded like a threat, making me extremely anxious. No, nothing happened to my wife, right? I don¡¯t think I would be able to take it.


    I fell silent and looked out the window again, holding back my tears. I wasn¡¯t a crybaby, and I had never cried in front of anyone. But with the fear I felt now, I didn¡¯t care if my brother saw tears streaming down my cheeks.


    The car stopped in front of a two-story house. Mariano got out, and I followed. As we walked, I noticed the houses were far apart. If anyone needed help, the neighbors would be quite a distance away. The property was also surrounded by a high fence.


    We walked towards the house just as the main door opened, revealing a man I assumed was one of my brother¡¯s men based on his respectful nod.


    ¡°Where is he?¡± Mariano asked.


    ¡°Inside,¡± the man replied shortly before guiding us inside and straight to the basement.


    ¡°I told you I knew nothing!¡± a man¡¯s voice shouted. I looked at Mariano because I knew what kind of person he was. He was kind but not someone you could fight with. He was far from his father, both in kindness and as an enemy. Why did he bring me here?


    A man with his head covered with a cloth was tied to a wooden chair. ¡°What happened?¡± my brother asked another man we found there. ¡°Take off his cover,¡± he ordered, and his man quicklyplied.


    ¡°Who are you? Why did you bring me here?¡± the man asked. I just stared at him, trying to remember where I had seen him. Wait, is he one of those men in the casino?


    ¡°Who is he?¡± I couldn¡¯t help but ask my brother, who was now holding a swiss knife he took from a table lined with deadly tools.


    ¡°We found his fingerprint on the bottle in the airport dumping area,¡± my brother replied. ¡°And I believe they managed to get Sarina out of the restroom easily because she had lost consciousness.¡±


    ¡°Lost consciousness?¡± I asked, looking at him, and he looked back at me. ¡°The bottle that you found-¡±


    ¡°At least you caught on to that,¡± he cut me off, then looked at the man. My jaw clenched, and my vision blurry; all I could see was red. I think this is the time when I would kill someone.

 Chapter 47

    Maximus


    It¡¯s all pointless! All our efforts have been in vain because we haven¡¯t found Sarina. I have no idea where she is or who took her. The man whose fingerprint was found on the bottle of sleeping pills that Mariano¡¯s group retrieved knew nothing. But one thing is certain, it was used on my wife.


    I nearly beat the man to death when I found out why Mariano had taken him. I might have done it if it weren¡¯t for my brother and his two men holding me back. I felt like a candle burning out when they finally restrained me until I fell to my knees and let my tears flow down my cheeks. I didn¡¯t care about the looks they gave me or what they might think of me. All I could think about was where Sarina was and if she was okay. I couldn¡¯t bear the thought that someone was hurting her or that she was suffering from pain or anything that may cause her pain.


    Weeks passed, and I still hadn¡¯t returned to the Philippines. I didn¡¯t want my wife to suddenly appear, only to find me gone. I wanted to be here when she returned in case someone else saw her first. I wanted to be the first to know her whereabouts and that she was fine. I wanted to be here when she looked for me. There¡¯s a lot that I wanted to happen, and only Sarina is still missing.


    ¡°Sir, you¡¯re needed at thepany,¡± Aries said. He called me, which had been our way ofmunication. It was the fifteenth week of Sarina¡¯s disappearance, and I was still at Mariano¡¯s house. I felt embarrassed staying here, especially since it was already ten at night in the Philippines. Yet, he was still talking to me to report everything happening at thepany.


    ¡°Just send me all the documents I need to review, and I already sent my notarized letter for you to act on my behalf.¡± I heard him sigh, knowing he wanted to say something about Sarina¡¯s disappearance, but he decided not to, which was the right decision since it wouldn¡¯t help anyway.


    ¡°Okay, sir. I¡¯ll gather everything that needs your attention and send it to your emailter,¡± he said instead. I just hope he will continue to understand me.


    ¡°Thank you, Aries.¡± That is all I can say. I am grateful for his loyalty and thankful that he¡¯s staying.


    ¡°No problem, sir. Take care there.¡± Then, our call ended. I put my cell phone in my pants pocket and looked outside through the floor-to-ceiling ss wall of my bedroom.


    The police had stopped searching, but I hadn¡¯t. Mariano had given me some of his men to help with the search and investigation. I knew he was doing the same while managing his organization¡¯s activities. He had done more than a brother should to help me.


    I also hired private investigators who were quietly investigating, just in case whoever took Sarina was nearby and watching our every move. I walked to the door and left my room to join Mariano for breakfast, knowing he was waiting for me. He wanted me to take care of myself while I was under his roof. At first, I was angry at him. He hadn¡¯t felt the intense pain I was feeling, which was why he said such things. But he opened my eyes, reminding me I needed strength to find my wife.


    ¡°Max,¡± Mariano called as we started eating. I looked up and met his gaze. ¡°When do you n to return to the Philippines?¡± he asked. I sigh because I haven¡¯t thought about it.


    ¡°Are you throwing me out of your house?¡± I asked, causing his brows to furrow.


    ¡°You know that¡¯s not what I mean,¡± he quickly replied.


    ¡°If not, then let me stay here,¡± I replied shamelessly.


    ¡°You have business to attend to, Max. People rely on you and yourpany. You can¡¯t just abandon them,¡± he said.


    ¡°I have no obligation to them, but I have a lot with my wife.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not telling you to stop the search. You can do so withoutpromising thepany your parents worked hard for,¡± he said, not taking his eyes off me. I knew he felt sorry for me but didn¡¯t want to show it.


    ¡°I¡¯m already doing it, Mariano. You don¡¯t need to worry about that.¡± I knew how hard my parents worked for ourpany, so I let Aries take care of everything while I was away. I am not some irresponsible person who was selfish enough not to know the gravity of my actions, even though I miss my wife so much and feel like dying slowly.


    ¡°It¡¯s different when you¡¯re there. I promise not to stop searching for Sarina unless you tell me to, and I will update you regrly.¡± I stopped eating when he said that, feeling a mix of frustration.


    ¡°Just tell me if you don¡¯t want me here, Mariano.¡±


    ¡°Maximus!¡± I saw the anger on his face when I looked at him, and I should have been scared, but I was more afraid of never seeing my wife again, so I didn¡¯t want to give up searching for her. My brother took a deep breath before he continued. ¡°I know you¡¯re in so much pain that you would rather die than not see Sarina. But you have to continue living while waiting and searching. I am not telling you to abandon your wife; I just want you to get up and be the Maximus I know who is in love.¡±


    I couldn¡¯t speak because I saw the sincerity in his eyes. I knew Mariano well; he wanted us to be together as much as possible. He had repeatedly asked me to live in Las Vegas, but I kept refusing because of the business left by my parents. He understood that, so ourmunication became frequent.


    A few days passed, and I carefully considered what my brother said. The same was true with Aries, who I knew was also struggling with a workload that should have been mine.


    ***


    Three months. After that period, I will return to the Philippines with or without Sarina. But that doesn¡¯t mean I¡¯m giving up on her if she¡¯s not with me. I will still ask Mariano to continue the search and not stop until she¡¯s found.


    ¡°Okay,¡± Mariano said when I told him my n. We were heading to the Los Angeles police, and he hadn¡¯t told me why. He just invited me and asked if I could apany him.


    ¡°Promise me that if I still haven¡¯t found her by then, you¡¯ll continue the search and update me.¡± We looked at each other, and then he nodded. I took a deep breath and prepared myself. I love Sarina, and no other woman will ever take her ce in my heart. For me, she¡¯s the only woman who can give my life back.


    No matter what fate has in store for me and Sarina, I am ready to face it. I know she loves me; wherever she is, she will return to me. The words she said to me are what I hold onto, giving me strength now. Yes, Sarina loves me, and she wille back.


    ¡°Mariano, I feel like dying. But my wife needs me, so I know I must be strong. Do everything you can to find her.¡±N?velDrama.Org exclusive content.


    ¡°Promise, Maximus. We will get your wife back no matter how long it takes.¡± I nodded to him, leaned back, and waited for us to reach wherever my brother took me. I believed in him, which is why I entrusted this to him. I know and feel that Sarina is alive and will return to me. I closed my eyes, and like in the past months, we met in my memories. Where I could freely embrace, kiss, possess, and love her.

 Chapter 48

    Maximus


    ¡°What kind of work is this?¡± I asked harshly before throwing out the architecture team¡¯s rmended designs. They all looked terrified before they had their heads down, unable to look me in my eyes. I don¡¯t care about their feelings and couldn¡¯t stop myself from getting angry either.


    ¡°Sir, they¡¯ve been working nonstop for two weeks on those designs,¡± Aries interjected, drawing my ire. Of my employees, he was the only one who was strong enough to say something or to talk back to me.


    ¡°And what are you implying? That it¡¯s my fault their designs are useless?¡± I snapped at him, and he quickly shook his head.


    ¡°Why don¡¯t we stop first and take a break?¡± he suggested, making me look at him, trying to understand what he wanted to aplish by saying that. I took a deep breath and nodded before he turned to the architecture team. He was the only one I couldn¡¯t scold too harshly, but sometimes I couldn¡¯t help myself. Thankfully, he always understood. ¡°You go ahead and take a break.¡± They stood and left the meeting room one by one after Aries spoke to them. I looked away and decided to pay attention outside the window.


    Then, I leaned back in my chair, closed my eyes, and gently massaged my temples. I could still feel Aries¡¯ gaze, so I opened my eyes. ¡°If you¡¯re tired, sir, you can take a few days off. The other projects are fine; it¡¯s just this township project that needs your attention.¡±


    ¡°And yet you want me to take a break.¡± He smiled before answering.


    ¡°You need it, and so does the team. Our architecture teamprises talented and capable architects and designers, and I know you know that. I just don¡¯t want you to say something harsh to them out of exhaustion.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Aries,¡± I said softly. ¡°But I don¡¯t need a break, though. I want to go home first.¡± I stood up from my seat, and he stepped aside to let me pass before I finally left the meeting room.


    I was in the parking lot, sitting in my car. After starting the engine and turning on the air conditioning, I stayed there for a few minutes. Then, I remembered when Mariano took me to Los Angeles after I told him about my n to return to the Philippines.


    ***


    ¡°Mr. Mariano?¡± the police officer asked hesitantly. I saw my brother nod before smiling slightly, and the officer continued, ¡°This way, please,¡± and we followed him. I don¡¯t know why I was here; I just thought that my brother wanted me to get out of his mansion.


    ¡°What did you find out?¡± my brother asked as soon as we entered what looked like an interrogation room.


    ¡°We discovered an ident somewhere on E. Shoreline Dr.¡± I frowned when I heard that. Was there a new incident my brother was dealing with from one of his transactions? ¡°One of your men contacted me, and I was having difficulty with the case I was following.¡±


    ¡°I remember him telling me about a match to the samples he sent you,¡± my brother replied.


    ¡°Yes, Mr. Mariano. And if you are somehow rted to her, I¡¯m sorry to say that she might not be alive anymore,¡± the police said in a low voice. I didn¡¯t know who they were talking about. Still, from what I heard, it seemed like the police were handling a case where my brother knew either the victim or the suspect, who unfortunately might be dead.


    I noticed my brother looking at me, deepening my frown before he spoke again. ¡°Did you find the body?¡±N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    ¡°Unfortunately, no,¡± the officer said sadly. ¡°But we don¡¯t think she¡¯s alive either because when we followed the blood trail, it ended at the shore.¡±


    ¡°She?¡± I couldn¡¯t help but ask, especially since they were talking about a woman. I felt an inexplicable fear and suddenly thought of Sarina.


    Mariano just looked at me and didn¡¯t answer. Even the police officer said nothing and just handed over an envelope. What¡¯s inside? Why is my brother being so secretive now? Was I thinking right? Does it have to do with my wife?


    ¡°That¡¯s a copy of all the results,¡± said the police officer.


    ¡°Can you continue your investigation until you find out what happened?¡± Mariano insisted.


    ¡°Can you answer me? Who is she? Who is the woman you¡¯re talking about?¡± My anxiety turned into fear and worry. What if they really talking about Sarina? It just dawned on me that Mariano wouldn¡¯t need me here if this were rted to his group¡¯s transaction. It¡¯s clear this involves me, so I can¡¯t help but be annoyed at him for staying silent.


    ¡°Shut up, Maximus. I am trying to negotiate here,¡± my brother replied before turning back to the police officer, whose face was full of confusion. Maybe he was wondering why I was acting like this. ¡°Please, officer. Don¡¯t stop the investigation unless you find the body. Don¡¯t just conclude based on a particr lead. There are many reasons why you might find some blood near that area, but it doesn¡¯t mean she died there.¡±


    ¡°We found skid marks on the road, so we deduce she was hit by a vehicle. But the problem is, the CCTV in that area wasn¡¯t working properly for over a week before the ident, so we¡¯re having a hard time moving forward with our investigations since we need to check every car captured by the CCTV in other areas that might have taken that route. So, I can¡¯t promise you this will be easy. You know how many cars pass by that road,¡± the officer said before looking at me, and then they said their goodbyes. We returned to the car afterward, but Mariano still didn¡¯t speak except instructing the driver to head straight to E. Shoreline Dr.


    I followed my brother out of the car when we reached our destination. He walked somewhere until he stopped near the Los Angeles River. There was a bench where he sat, and I sat beside him.


    ¡°Here,¡± he said, handing me the envelope the police officer had given. I took it with trembling hands and opened it, pulling out the contents. I didn¡¯t want to look, but I wanted to know how this rted to me. Fear gripped me as I finally took out the documents and looked at them.


    The first thing I saw was the report about the DNA matching, and I was shocked to see Sarina¡¯s name. ¡°No, this is not true,¡± I said in disbelief. How could I ept this? There¡¯s no way that I¡¯d ept this.


    ¡°You heard the police; they are still investigating. It will just take some time,¡± Mariano said, trying to calm me before I broke down.


    ¡°He said the victim is probably de-¡± I couldn¡¯t continue, knowing I was referring to my wife.


    ¡°Listen to me; just like I told him, many things might have happened. Look, Sarina went missing at the airport in Las Vegas. Why would she be dead here?¡± he asked, but I didn¡¯t know how to answer. My mind wasn¡¯t working because of what I¡¯d read. ¡°Think, Maximus!¡± he yelled at me because I still wasn¡¯t responding, but my tears kept flowing.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know what I will do if I find out she¡¯s gone forever, Mariano.¡± My tears began falling, and I lost count of the times that I cried over a woman. This never happened to me. Even after my parents died, I never shed a tear for them. Not because I don¡¯t love them. I just thought that I should be strong since it was only me and my grandmother who was left in this world. I should take care of my old woman since my uncles and aunties were not fond of her, and vice versa.


    ¡°Shit, Maximus! You have to think rationally!¡± Mariano eximed, looking at me like he never knew me. He had seen me at my worst, and I am not afraid of letting him see that side of me. He¡¯s my brother, and at this time, he was the only one I could count on. But¨C


    ¡°How do you expect me to do that!!¡± I shouted back at him. It was as if he thought epting all this was easy.


    ¡°Sarina went missing in Las Vegas, Maximus. Don¡¯t you get it? How did she end up here? Didn¡¯t it ur to you that she managed to escape from her kidnappers?¡±


    Because of what he said, I looked at him. Could that really be the case? But what about the blood the police found here? It still didn¡¯t make any sense. ¡°If Sarina managed to escape her kidnappers, it only means she¡¯s a strong woman and will try her best to get through whatever she¡¯s going through. Believe in her, Maximus. You, more than anyone, should know her better. The police are still investigating, and so am I. So, don¡¯t lose hope, and be strong for your wife.¡±


    Could it be possible that she¡¯s still alive? I would trade everything I have just to have her back. There¡¯s nothing more I could wish for than to see her again.

 Chapter 49

    Maximus


    Three months after reading those files, I returned to the Philippines, and the police investigation still hasn¡¯t yielded any results, even after a year and a half. I should have lost all my hopes, but the loneliness made me not to. I didn¡¯t want to feel empty forever, and I thought that would always be how I felt if I didn¡¯t hold on to the hope that my wife would return.Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g


    It¡¯s been two years since Ist saw my wife, and the pain is still fresh. My older brother and friends call me frequently, probably to cheer me up, but it doesn¡¯t help. Six months ago, Mariano visited me, and we spent an entire day together. He talked to me seriously and said it was unlikely that Sarina would be found. I was furious because I knew he had a point.


    Then, the hope I had been holding onto to stay strong hadpletely vanished. My brother stayed with me, and I saw the worry on my grandmother¡¯s face. I even saw her cry out of fear for my condition because I had attempted to take my own life. I couldn¡¯t even face my inws because I didn¡¯t know how to ease their hearts when I couldn¡¯t even do it for myself, especially knowing how much they loved my wife.


    Yes, two years have passed, and I still can¡¯t forget her. I opened my eyes and remembered I was in the parking lot, about to go home. I started driving even though I knew I wouldn¡¯t find anyone to wee me at home.


    I felt cold when I entered the condo, probably because Lisa had just left. I no longer let her stay long. Once she finished cleaning and doing theundry, she could go home. Before, I wanted her to stay until the afternoon so Sarina would havepany. But now that my wife is gone, there¡¯s no reason for her to overstay once she¡¯s done with her tasks.


    My eyes wandered to the living room, where we often used the couch, especially when we shared our desirable moments. I wanted to throw it away and rece it, but I couldn¡¯t. It was one of the things that reminded me of my wife. I also no longer used our bedroom because I couldn¡¯t sleep well there. Her belongings were still in our closet, which I often sniffed and hugged, even her panties and bras, whenever loneliness overwhelmed me.


    I¡¯ve been sleeping in the guest room because I often stay upte if I rest in our bedroom. Every part of it is filled with our memories, making me even more restless.


    I walked to the guest room I was using. It was clean, unlike when I first started using it. Once Lisa found out I was staying there, she prioritized tidying it up. At the same time, I locked the master¡¯s bedroom, having it cleaned once a week to maintain it.


    I copsed onto the bed and closed my eyes again. In moments like this, I would smile because I could see my wife¡¯s face. Shit! I didn¡¯t realize that loving someone could be like this. It¡¯s like sadness has been slowly taking my life away.


    Even so, I know the kind of joy it brings me. I was so happy just to see Sarina¡¯s smiling face. When she looked at me, especially in ourst days together, I felt an overwhelming happiness that nothing else could match and that money couldn¡¯t buy. I became sentimental after meeting my wife, and now, I was nothing but a body that had no soul and spirit. Living a lifeless life. I despise the life I have now because I had to continue living without my life. So, I had no choice but to vent it to someone or anyone.


    I didn¡¯t realize I had fallen asleep as I closed my eyes,, but I was awakened by the ringing phone in my pants pocket. I took it out and checked who was calling.


    ¡°What is it, Mariano?¡± I asked. We had just talked recently, so I wondered what he wanted now.


    ¡°Where are you?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Condo,¡± I answered, annoyed. I didn¡¯t want to be disturbed, and here he was.


    ¡°Roskov is dead.¡± I immediately sat up upon hearing those words.


    ¡°What did you say?¡± I asked again, thinking I misheard him.


    ¡°You heard me right, Max,¡± he replied, sighing.


    ¡°And? What about Sarina? Did you find her? Is she in his house? Did he take her?¡± It seemed my questions would never run out, so he had to answer. He should have given me an answer that I wanted to hear.


    ¡°Nothing, Max.¡± From the very beginning, Mariano had been helping me find my wife. Our prime suspect was Roskov, so he never stopped tracking his activities. And now my brother tells me he¡¯s gone? That he¡¯s dead, and there¡¯s no more information we can get to find out where or how my wife is? I was just thinking about her earlier and how miserable my life is, and then this?


    ¡°No, how can you say that?¡± I asked angrily. I couldn¡¯t ept his reply. There has to be something that might lead us to my wife. We never found her body, so he had to be alive somewhere. That bastard Roskov was only hiding her.


    ¡°We can¡¯t do anything about it, Max,¡± he said. What, am I just supposed to ept this? No, Sarina loves me, so she¡¯lle back to me. Based on the police files, it seemed she escaped from her kidnapper. Her blood wouldn¡¯t have been found in L. A. unless she escaped and was dragged. No, that¡¯s not possible. My wife doesn¡¯t deserve to be treated that way.


    ¡°Don¡¯t stop trying, Mar, or I¡¯ll fly there and do it myself.¡± I threatened him. How can I ept something I don¡¯t want to?


    ¡°I¡¯m going to send you a link. It¡¯s theplete footage of how the police raided his mansion,¡± he said before ending our conversation. Then, I received an email from him.


    I opened it and started watching. I was losing interest because the video was long, and I believed it had nothing to do with my wife. I was about to stop watching when a woman lifted a dress and some men¡¯s clothes that had fallen from the closet as they searched.


    I paused, and my eyes widened. I could never forget that dress because Sarina and I bought it together, and it was the one she wore the day she disappeared at the airport. It¡¯s a baby blue sleeveless dress with a white baby cor and baby blue lining. She looked so lovely and refreshing in that dress, paired with the purse she used that day, which I retrieved from the passengers who found it.


    Why was it in Roskov¡¯s mansion? Was he really the one who took my wife? I quickly screenshot the dress and sent it to Mariano before calling him again.


    ¡°Where is that dress now?¡± I asked as soon as he answered.


    ¡°Police custody, of course.¡±


    ¡°Find out who owns that dress,¡± I ordered him.


    ¡°I already did, and you just have to wait. Although I don¡¯t know if it belongs to your wife, I still wonder why there are women¡¯s clothes in Roskov¡¯s closet when he isn¡¯t in an intimate rtionship with anyone.¡±


    Mariano said more, but I couldn¡¯t understand it because my mind was on Sarina. As he said, our conversation ended, and I waited for the results. While waiting, I continued working. I had things to do in thepany, so I poured all my attention into work to momentarily forget Sarina.


    I shouldn¡¯t be moping like this, given how long it¡¯s been, but I can¡¯t forget because I don¡¯t know what really happened to my wife. Anyone in my situation would understand that.


    I attended meetings and various gatherings, which I never used to do. But to keep my mind upied, I buried myself in work.


    ¡°Maximus, grandson, you need to rest too.¡± I was in my office, and as usual, Grandma visited me.


    I took a deep breath before responding, ¡°Grandma, I¡¯m busy. I have a lot to finish and work that needs my attention.¡±


    ¡°Get a life, Maximus!¡± she said angrily, making me look at her.


    ¡°Grandma, I want to work in peace. Please leave if you can¡¯t give me that.¡±


    ¡°Is it because of that woman that you¡¯re like this? You don¡¯t want to live anymore?¡±


    My eyes narrowed at her words, ¡°Shut up, Grandma!¡± I shouted, standing from my chair. She was sitting in front of me, looking up with wide eyes and tears welling up. ¡°I already said I want to work in peace. So please, leave me alone.¡± I added calmly. Grandma stood and walked out of my office with slumped shoulders.


    I went to my office pantry and took a ss and a bottle of rum. I needed it to calm myself. I felt guilty shouting at my grandmother, whom I knew only wanted the best for me. But I didn¡¯t want to hear her say things, especially bad things about my wife. She should respect Sarina and my feelings for her.


    After pouring the liquor into my ss, I drank it in one gulp before I poured another. I did the same multiple times before I returned to my seat, and an email notification popped on myptop. I immediately opened it, knowing it was from Mariano.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, bro,¡± said the message. My hands trembled as I opened the attachment and read it. I couldn¡¯t stop myself from sobbing as tears streamed down my face. I was so broken and felt dead inside as the report¡¯s contents sank into my mind.

 Chapter 50

    Maximus


    ¡°Find me apetent secretary, Aries!¡± I shouted at my assistant. The previous ones had resigned one by one, and any recements neversted long. They couldn¡¯t handle my temperament despite my assistant¡¯s efforts to keep them. The two secretaries with me in Las Vegas had also left, as they often bore the brunt of my anger. I didn¡¯t intend to, but I always couldn¡¯t help shouting and yelling whenever I felt frustrated.


    It¡¯s been a year since the Las Vegas police confirmed Sarina¡¯s death. For several months, I locked myself in my own world again, refusing to talk to anyone. Until one day, I suddenly woke up and started working. But that was it; I just continued doing what I used to do. Sometimes, I tried to find happiness with other women but felt nothing. I couldn¡¯t find sce in them, and even if Midori had frequently visited me, I still couldn¡¯t let myself take her. There¡¯s a part of me that stops me from getting closer to her.


    ¡°The HR has already started posting the hiring notice, sir. There are already some scheduled for interviews.¡± I nodded and told him that I would be the one to interview the applicants, and it would be held in my office. I think it¡¯s time to tell them beforehand what I expect from them and what they will experience working under me. I should give them a heads-up on what they will hear from me constantly or when they fail to do what I want.


    ¡°There are three applicants for interviewster at three,¡± Aries said, making me smile. He¡¯s really reliable, and I felt relieved that he chose to stay working with me.


    ¡°Okay,¡± I answered and dismissed him. He might have left me, too, if it weren¡¯t for our friendship.


    When Aries closed my office door, it suddenly swung open and my grandma came in, smiling. ¡°Hello, grandson.¡± I smiled, stood up from my seat, and greeted her.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine. Have you eaten?¡± I replied. She has been worried about me, so I try not to get mad at her even if she always insists Midori on me.


    ¡°Not yet. I hoped to have a meal with you if that¡¯s okay.¡± Recently, my grandmother often asked me to have lunch or dinner gatherings with her friends. I didn¡¯t want to join because I knew she would just set me up with the children or grandchildren of her friends. But I thought I needed to go out to have a little bit of life.


    ¡°I haven¡¯t had lunch yet, so it¡¯s okay,¡± I replied, making Grandma smile and nod. I arranged my things on the table before we finally left my office.


    We went to her favorite restaurant, which served Filipino dishes. Even though my grandmother was somewhat snobbish, she didn¡¯t like Western foods or any kind of exotic cuisine. ¡°Order anything you want, grandson.¡±


    ¡°No, grandma. Order what you want. This is on me.¡±


    ¡°Thank you.¡± Then, she chose the food she wanted. She told the waitress what she wanted to eat and ordered for me. What puzzled me was why she ordered food for four people.


    ¡°Are you expecting anyone else, grandma?¡± I asked with a frown. She smiled at me hesitantly before answering reluctantly.


    ¡°I¡¯m really sorry about this, Maximus; I just want you to live outside your office.¡±


    ¡°Haven¡¯t you seen that it¡¯s slowly happening?¡±


    ¡°But not the Maximus I know. All I see is my grandson buried in work like before, but lifeless. If you want to be with other women, go ahead.¡±


    ¡°What are you talking about, Grandma? You probably know how old I am. So I hope you understand that I¡¯m done counting the women whoe into my life and bring to bed.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not like that, grandson; your eyes are lifeless. My gullible and mischievous grandson is gone. I want to see that kind of Maximus again before I die.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t ever say that again. You¡¯re too young to leave me.¡± I emphasized my words because I didn¡¯t like what she said. I haven¡¯t fully recovered from the loss of my wife, and she wanted to add to my sadness.


    She took a deep breath before looking behind me and smiling. I looked at what she was looking at and couldn¡¯t help but feel annoyed when I saw the two approaching.


    ¡°Hi, granny,¡± Midori greeted L with a wide smile before turning to me. ¡°Hi, babe¡­¡± She still hasn¡¯t changed. I¡¯ve told her several times not to call me that, but she still does.


    ¡°How are you, Dona Sol?¡± Midori¡¯s father greeted my grandmother.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine, Botan, take a seat,¡± L invited him.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± then the father and daughter sat down before turning to me. ¡°How are you, Maximus?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m fine, uncle.¡± I didn¡¯t smile and made myself formal so they would know I had no intention of agreeing to whatever they wanted to discuss with my grandmother.


    ¡°That¡¯s good to know.¡± The conversation continued until our orders arrived. I ate quietly, not participating in their discussion except when asked a question that needed answering.


    ¡°Grandson, I invited them here to discuss you and Midori.¡± After hearing what Grandma said, the tter of my spoon and fork made a noise. ¡°Botan and I agreed that you two should get married.¡±


    ¡°I already told you I am not ready for another rtionship.¡± I was angry, and I made sure it showed on my face.


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry, Maximus. Midori is very understanding, and I¡¯m sure she would be a big help to you,¡± Uncle Botan interjected, making me look at him and meet our eyes.


    ¡°Does Midori know how to cook?¡± I asked, wiping the smile off the woman¡¯s and her father¡¯s face.


    ¡°Ahm, no, but you can hire a maid. Come on, Maximus. You need a wife, not a maid.¡± This man actually responded.N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights.


    ¡°Can she clean the house? Do theundry? Wash the dishes? Clean the toilet?¡± I continued to ask, ignoring Uncle¡¯s sudden, displeased look.


    ¡°Grandson,¡± L gently tried to stop me.


    ¡°My wife knows how to do those things. Even if she¡¯s not a doctor, she can cure my pain. She massages me whenever I am tired because of work, and most of all, she hates shopping and traveling. Can Midori do that?¡± I asked Grandma and Uncle Botan before turning to Midori and asking her directly. ¡°Can you do that?¡±


    ¡°Maximus, we are going to be husband and wife. I will stay beside and care for you, but not as a maid.¡± How the hell did she manage to say that? Is she even thinking? What I asked her were the basic qualities of a wife.


    ¡°How will you care for me if it¡¯s not for those things?¡± I asked, controlling my anger. What the hell does she think about marriage?


    ¡°I can be yourpanion¡±


    ¡°In short, you can only offer your body and nothing else? I can pay someone to do that for me. I can even get women for free; why would I tie myself to you?¡± I asked. I am not trying to mock her, but what she said insulted me, thinking I only care about sex. She disrespects herself for being clueless about the world and how life goes.


    ¡°Maximus!¡± Uncle said angrily but in a controlled voice.


    ¡°Grandma,¡± I turned to my old woman. ¡°I know you¡¯re worried about me, but I want you to know that my married life will be even worse if I¡¯m tied to her.¡±


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you try it out first? If you think you really can¡¯t learn to like her, then go, do whatever you want, and I am not going to pair you with anyone anymore.¡± I knew it was pointless to refuse now, so I let her be. But before that, I rified to them that Midori and I had no rtionship, and she couldn¡¯t call me ¡°babe¡± or any term of endearment other than my name. She also couldn¡¯t spread any news about us being together or that our getting-to-know-each-other stage would be over.


    Grandma and the rest left after we ate, and what should have been a simple lunch took longer because of their ns. So, when I returned to the office, I started working on some tasks because Aries reminded me about the three applicants for the interview.


    ¡°Tell me something about yourself that is not in your resume,¡± I told the female applicant seated on a chair. She was the third one, and I didn¡¯t like the first two. I wasn¡¯t expecting to like thisst one either, so I didn¡¯t bother to look at her. Not to be disrespectful, but I had seen and read their resumes earlier. I didn¡¯t like the first two with excellent credentials, so why would I like this one with an empty resume?


    ¡°I am a single mother of a special child, but I know how to manage my time. Sir Aries asked me if I was patient. It seems that my work requires me to be like that, and I am confident enough to say that no matter how stressful the work is or the people I work with, I will not give up unless my boss fires me.¡±


    From the first word she spoke, I stopped what I was doing. Why? Because that voice is one I will never forget.

 Chapter 51

    Maximus


    ¡°Sir, your coffee,¡± said a voice as a cup of coffee was ced on my table. I had just arrived at my office and had barely sat down when she knocked and entered. The moment I hired her, I always looked forward to seeing and hearing her voice.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± I said without looking up. Hearing her voice was enough to remind me of Sarina.


    Thest applicant I interviewed a week ago had a voice like my wife¡¯s. I was disappointed when I saw her face, which wasn¡¯t Sarina¡¯s, but I still hired her to lessen the loneliness I felt in my heart.


    ¡°Do you need anything else, sir?¡± she asked.


    ¡°No, thank you.¡± I felt her turn and walk towards the door when I remembered I needed Aries to prepare for the meeting with the marketing team. ¡°Ah, Be,¡± I called out, lifting my head just as she turned to look at me. For some reason, I saw Sarina¡¯s smiling face, making me shake my head.


    ¡°Sir?¡± she called out, returning my attention to her. ¡°Are you okay? Maybe you should rest for a while.¡±


    ¡°Huh? Why?¡± Suddenly, a feeling of happiness overwhelmed me. She just told me to rest, and it¡¯s no big deal. But why did she sound like she cared? Grandma and even Midori always remind me not to overwork. But I never felt this way.


    ¡°You always seem out of yourself,¡± she replied worriedly, looking at me furrowing her brows.


    ¡°I just thought of something,¡± I said. ¡°Anyway, tell Aries to prepare the marketing team for our meetingter. And make sure you¡¯ve prepared the important points they need to know.¡±


    ¡°Yes, sir.¡± She turned and left while I watched until she closed the door.


    I leaned back in my chair and closed my eyes. Talking to her for a week made me feel lighter, even though I missed my wife whenever I heard her voice. But it¡¯s okay; I still feel lively whenever we talk, even if it is only because of her job.


    Aries sent me my lunch, and I ate alone in my office and went back to the documents I was studying. Around two in the afternoon, she knocked on my office door again, poking her head in and smiling. ¡°Sir, it¡¯s time.¡± she reminded me.


    ¡°Okay,¡± I said, standing up and heading out to the meeting room with Be following me. But after a few steps, I saw someone who could ruin my day.


    ¡°Hi, babe!¡± Midori greeted me. When will she stop calling me that? ¡°I just talked to Granny, and she told me to visit you here.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m busy, Midori,¡± I said tly, turning to Be, who had also stopped walking. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±


    ¡°Yes, sir.¡±


    ¡°Wait, who are you?¡± Midori asked arrogantly, holding Be¡¯s arm.


    ¡°Excuse me?¡± Be replied, raising an eyebrow, clearly not pleased with Midori¡¯s reaction.


    ¡°You bitch, stay away from my fiance!¡± Midori yelled, making Be¡¯s eyes widen.


    ¡°I think you¡¯re barking up the wrong tree,¡± Be said sharply. ¡°Bitch!¡± she added, which made me look at her, seeing Sarina¡¯s angry face ring at Midori. The way she talked to Midori was exactly like my wife. Is this just in coincidence?


    ¡°How dare you-¡± I turned to Midori, hearing her speak, but it was toote to stop her hand from pping Be. However, my secretary quickly blocked it.


    ¡°You have no right to hurt me in any way. You don¡¯t know me, and I don¡¯t even know you.¡± I was amazed at how Be handled Midori. I¡¯m pretty sure she was only holding herself up and wanted to p her as well.


    ¡°Have we met before? Why do you sound familiar?¡± Midori asked Be, examining her closely as if trying to figure out who she was. Does she hear Sarina¡¯s voice in my secretary, just like I do?


    ***


    Be


    ¡°My wife,¡± a man¡¯s voice said. I didn¡¯t know who he was; I couldn¡¯t see him and only heard his voice.


    ¡°Hmm?¡±


    ¡°My wife,¡±


    ¡°Hmm?¡±


    ¡°My wife!¡±


    I jolted awake, drenched in sweat, and felt an inexplicable thrill.


    My wife.


    Whose voice was that? Why do I often hear him in my sleep? Why do I always respond to his call?


    I¡¯ve been working as Mr. Maximus Lardizabal¡¯s secretary for a week. Since then, I¡¯ve been experiencing this kind of dream. I see nothing but darkness, no objects or people, just that voice saying those words.


    My wife. Who is this voice calling out to?N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights.


    Me?


    I shook my head before looking at my child, still sleeping peacefully. I kissed his forehead before getting up and leaving our room to drink some cold water.


    As I passed through the living room, I nced at the wall clock and saw it was already half past four in the morning. I wouldn¡¯t be able to go back to sleep now, and with my work schedule, I might bete and get fired by my boss if I did. So, I decided to start the day.


    I¡¯m Be Mcire. I came from Los Angeles and ended up here in Man after escaping my abusive husband. I couldn¡¯t defend myself because I had no memory of my past; I just woke up one day, saw his face, and found myself pregnant with my only child.


    At first, he treated me well. We were both excited for the baby¡¯s arrival. But gradually, things changed. He didn¡¯t hurt me yet, but I could feel his temper rising, especially towards our child when he turned one year old.


    He started taking it out on the child, too, and as a mother, I couldn¡¯t bear to see my son get hurt or spoken to in ways that he shouldn¡¯t be hearing from adults.


    I would have thought he wasn¡¯t my husband if I hadn¡¯t seen the photo of us together on our wedding day. How did I marry someone like him? But even people who knew us testified that we were indeed married. We havemon friends who visit us asionally until he forbids them from doing so.


    I was so grateful when a police officer helped me escape his control and suggested I live here in the Philippines with her nanny¡¯s Filipino friend.


    So now, my son Chase and I are staying with Aunt Marga, her only daughter, Eunice, and her old maid sister, Aunt Amor, who takes care of my son while I¡¯m at work.


    I took a deep breath and started taking out food for breakfast from the refrigerator. My beloved son peeked out by half-past five while I was setting the table.


    ¡°Good morning, my dear,¡± I greeted him with a smile before opening my arms. He ran to me, and I enveloped him in a hug. I kissed him on both his cheeks and tickled him a little for our morning routine.


    ¡°M-Mmmom,¡± he stuttered. I pulled him back slightly but kept holding him by the shoulders. I looked closely at his face and was so happy to see that his aura had changed.


    ¡°Are you happy, my son?¡± I asked, though it was obvious. He nodded quickly, so I lifted him to sit in his high chair to feed him.


    Chase always wakes up early. Even though he is a special child, he¡¯s not hard to care for. I am the luckiest mother in the world because even though he isn¡¯t like other children and requires more care, he doesn¡¯t give me a hard time or trouble, which makes Aunt Amor adore him as well.


    I started feeding him and eating with him since I had work. Soon, Aunt Marga and the others would wake up, and I¡¯d have to prepare to leave.


    I¡¯m fortunate to have ended up with such a kind family. They¡¯ve covered all our expenses since we arrived two months ago.


    Eunice told me about the job opening at the Lardizabal Group. She warned me that my boss was strict and that almost all his secretaries resigned despite the high sry because of his attitude. But I tried anyway and was relieved when Sir Aries told me I got the job.


    Sir Maximus is okay; sometimes he seems lost, but he hasn¡¯t yelled at me. That surprised me because it¡¯s well-known how short-tempered he is in thepany.


    I was initially nervous and scared, but my first day went smoothly. Except yesterday, when that bowlegged woman showed up. Hmph! She acted like I would steal her fiance. I think she¡¯s just feeling insecure because if she weren¡¯t rich, I¡¯d surely be prettier than her.


    ¡°Good morning, Be.¡±


    ¡°Good morning, Tita Amor,¡± I greeted the smiling elder.


    ¡°Go ahead; I¡¯ll take care of our handsome boy here; get ready for work.¡±


    I nodded, stood up, and went to get ready. I showered, dressed, and put on a bit of makeup. As a secretary, I couldn¡¯t look unpresentable at the office. I represent not just thepany but especially my boss. So, I had to look respectable at all times.


    I kissed my son goodbye and bid farewell to Aunt Marga and Eunice, who were already awake. I left the house and got on the Angkas rider I had booked.


    Our office is in BGC, and we live in Pasig. I don¡¯t understand why people keep saying Man when we¡¯re in a different city. Well, I guess because of its proximity.


    Since it was still early, I got off a bit farther from the office building to walk a little. That was my way of exercising. I paid the rider and started walking on the sidewalk, which residents often use for jogging.


    I was in deep thought and didn¡¯t notice a man jogging and identally bumping into him.


    ¡°Oh, sorry!¡± I said, looking at the man.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± the man said, frowning, raising his eyebrows, and staring at me. I was about to leave when he stopped me and said, ¡°Wait.¡±


    ¡°Yes?¡± I asked, turning back.


    ¡°Have we met before?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t think so,¡± I replied. Why do so many people ask me that?


    ¡°You seem¡± he said but didn¡¯t continue. He smiled and introduced himself, ¡°Anyway, I¡¯m Jason.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s Be. It¡¯s nice to meet you, but I have work, so I must go.¡± I smiled and turned away.


    I was close to thepany building when I suddenly stopped and looked back. Why did I give my name to that man so quickly? Do I know him? Why does he feel familiar?

 Chapter 52

    Be


    My job as Mr. Lardizabal¡¯s secretary is exhausting andpletely drains my energy. I¡¯m the only one handling everything in his office, handling tasks that Mr. Aries can no longer manage. It¡¯s fine because the pay is really good, but I¡¯ve spent two weeks consistently working overtime in my month working for him.


    I¡¯ve been losing time with my son, who needs my attention as well, and I¡¯m so thankful that Aunt Amor and the others love him so much. I¡¯ve also been going to bedte and waking up early because of unexpected dreams that leave my mind in chaos. Who is that ¡°my wife,¡± the voice of a man in my dreams referring to? As time passes, the man¡¯s voice bes more familiar. What¡¯s even more frustrating is that sometimes the voice sounds so sensual, as if he¡¯s moaning while saying ¡°my wife.¡± I often feel a strange wetness between my legs that I can¡¯t exin.


    I shook my head, trying to push those thoughts away while working. The office tasks are crucial because my boss has considered another business venture. For someone already so wealthy, he still isn¡¯t content with what he has.


    I had just finished making Mr. Lardizabal¡¯s coffee, which he always asks for at three in the afternoon, and was on my way to his office. As usual, I knocked before opening the door, but my eyes widened at the scene I walked in on, causing me to drop the cup of coffee I was carrying.


    ¡°Ouch!¡± I yelled, catching the attention of the two people who seemed to have lost all sense of reality.


    ¡°Are you stupid?¡± yelled Midori, a Japanese woman whom I secretly refer to as ¡°the bow-legged woman¡± in my mind. She stood up from where she had been kneeling before my boss.


    ¡°I¡¯m not! But I think you are!¡± I yelled back at her, my eyes wide. My foot was already hurting from the hot coffee, and now she was yelling at me on top of that.


    ¡°And you dare talk back to me?¡± she asked. ¡°You should have knocked first.¡±


    ¡°I did! You¡¯re the reckless one, not locking the door before giving my boss¡¯s tender, juicy hotdog a blessing!¡± I shouted back at her. Gosh, I wasn¡¯t going to let her yell at me just because they got caught in their lustful behavior.


    ¡°Maximus, fire her!¡± the bow-legged woman shouted again, now looking at my boss, who hadn¡¯t taken his eyes off me while adjusting his clothes. He might be even more abnormal than my child because he didn¡¯t even turn around.


    ¡°Get out,¡± he said. I red at her and was about to turn away when he spoke again, making me look back at him. ¡°Not you, Be.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean, Maximus?¡± Of course, if it wasn¡¯t me being asked to leave, it must be her, so I saw the irritation on her face.


    ¡°You¡¯ve already seen it. You can¡¯t make me feel aroused,¡± my boss said. What was that? Were they ying some game? ¡°Make my dick hard¡± game? They¡¯re unbelievable!


    ¡°Maximus!¡± the bow-legged woman yelled again.


    ¡°Get. Out.¡± Mr. Maximus said firmly, rifying that the bow-legged woman had no choice but to leave.


    And as I counted to ten, she stormed out of the office, mming the door behind her. I shook my head because she even deliberately bumped into me as she passed by, giving me a sharp re that, if looks could kill, would have knocked me down.


    ¡°Come here, Be,¡± my boss¡¯s sudden voice startled me after the bow-legged woman had mmed the door shut. I approached him and stood in front of his desk. ¡°Sit down there,¡± he said, pointing to the receiving area of his office. Of course, I followed him because he¡¯s my boss. Maybe we were going to discuss work.


    I watched as he went into his restroom on the left. When he came out, he was carrying a first aid kit. He sat down next to me, which surprised me. ¡°Give me your foot.¡±


    I was speechless because I didn¡¯t know what to do. I was wearing a skirt-how could I raise my foot? ¡°Can you hear me, Be?¡± he asked, snapping me out of my thoughts.


    ¡°I can do it myself, Sir,¡± I said, reaching for his first aid kit. But he avoided my hand.


    ¡°Give me your foot.¡± He looked into my eyes, which irritated me because I met his gaze and, almost unconsciously, lifted my foot.


    ¡°Ohh¡­¡± I couldn¡¯t stop the sound from escaping my lips when he touched my foot, which widened my eyes as I looked at him. Oh no! Did I just moan?


    ¡°Oh¡­ it stings, sir; you touched the part that hurts,¡± I quickly replied; I didn¡¯t want him to think that I was thinking about different things as our skin touched. Shit! Honestly, it¡¯s been so long since Ist felt like a woman because of how my husband has been treating me. Yet now, I realize that the sensation his touch gave me was differentpared to my husband¡¯s. I know I shouldn¡¯tpare them, but I couldn¡¯t help it either.


    My boss stared at me without saying a word, which made me a bit nervous. I thought he might fire me because of it, but his eyes spoke to me differently. ¡°Here, do it yourself.¡± He ced the first aid kit in front of me before standing up and heading to his desk.


    ¡°Ah, sir, I can do it at my desk-¡±


    ¡°Do it here. I want to make sure you cane to work tomorrow.¡± That¡¯s it? He¡¯s just worried that I might not be able toe to work? ¡°If you hadn¡¯t been so harsh on your previous secretaries, many people would be taking care of you,¡± I said internally.


    Of course, I said nothing else and started applying ointment to my burnt skin. It wasn¡¯t that serious, and I think I cane to work tomorrow just as he wants. I was almost done when I heard my phone ring. I took it out of the pocket of my zer.


    ¡°Hello, Aunt Amor,¡± I said as soon as I saw the caller. I suddenly became worried about my child.


    ¡°Be, I¡¯m sorry for calling. Chase kept calling for ¡®Mom,¡¯ so I thought he might want to hear your voice.¡±


    ¡°Okay, Aunt, please let me talk to him.¡±


    ¡°M-Mom,¡± I heard my child¡¯s voice, which made me smile.


    ¡°Yes, anak ko?¡± I responded sweetly before hearing his softughter. He loves hearing the words ¡°anak ko,¡± which I¡¯ve been calling him even when we were still in L. A. It¡¯s also one of the reasons my husband gets so angry, as that phrase in Tagalog means ¡°my son.¡±


    ¡°A-I l-l-love y-y-you,¡± I couldn¡¯t help but tear up while smiling.Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org.


    ¡°I love you too, my son. Please behave while Mommy is not around, okay? Don¡¯t give Granny a headache.¡±


    ¡°Y-y-yes,¡± It means a lot that he can speak even a little now. Compared to when we were with his dad, he wouldn¡¯t say anything and would just cry all the time. That¡¯s why I¡¯m happy I escaped his father¡¯s control.


    I said goodbye to my child because I didn¡¯t want my boss to get angry. After all, I was still in his office. Because of that thought, I suddenly looked at him and saw that he was also looking at me before he stood up, walked toward me, and sat down beside me again. ¡°Say it again.¡±


    ¡°What, sir?¡±


    ¡°Say it again, the way you call your child.¡±


    ¡°Anak ko,¡± I didn¡¯t know why, but I saw something in his eyes. What was that? Sadness? Why?


    As far as I know, Sir Maximus is married. But his wife was no longer with him when he returned after more than six months of vacation. He became more irritable, and justst year, it worsened, with rumors spreading that his wife might have died.


    I also found out that his ex-girlfriend was the woman with bow legs, but he married his wife instead because she took care of him after an ident and was left by that bow-legged woman.


    ¡°What do you call your spouse? ¡°Asawa ko?¡± meaning, ¡°my husband.¡± I couldn¡¯t answer and just stared at him because of the way he said that. Why does he sound like the man I hear in my dreams? ¡°Be,¡±


    ¡°Asawa ko,¡± I absentmindedly said before I felt Sir Maximus¡¯ hand on my cheek, making me close my eyes. Why do I feel this way? Why does it feel like I missed his touch even though we¡¯ve just met? Why am I feeling like this?


    This wasn¡¯t right, so I quickly opened my eyes, intending to move away, but it was toote because I suddenly felt his lips iming mine.

 Chapter 53

    Maximus


    ¡°My husband.¡± The way she said it was so sensual. Exactly the same as when my Sarina was aroused. When she moaned earlier, I tried to resist kissing her. I knew it wasn¡¯t right because we were at work first, and I was her boss. Second, I knew she had a husband and child.


    But when I heard that word, I couldn¡¯t hold back anymore. I missed my wife so much, especially when our eyes met. It felt like I was being drawn in by her eyes, just like when Sarina was looking at me. That¡¯s why I did what I shouldn¡¯t have done-I imed her mouth with so much want, feeling hungry for her kisses.


    She was initially surprised, but when she finally returned to her senses, she pushed me away. But it wasn¡¯t enough to stop me, and I sensed she didn¡¯t want me to either. Until I felt her respond to my kisses, just as Sarina did. She sucked on my lips, so I did the same, even though that was supposed to be an act I want to do only for my wife.


    I waspletely taken in, so I quickly lifted her from the couch and sat her on myp. I felt her hands quickly cling to my neck while my hands roamed her body. She moaned when I capped one of her breasts with my hand. The feeling and the way her body reacted to my touch, I felt like I was with Sarina, so I couldn¡¯t stop myself from moaning, ¡°My wife¡­¡±


    Be suddenly pushed me, causing me to fall back on the couch, and that¡¯s when I realized what I had done. ¡°I- I¡¯m sorry, I didn¡¯t mean to-¡± I stammered, unsure what to do. She looked at me with a mix of anger and embarrassment. ¡°I mean, I am not sorry that I kissed you. I like it. I like the feeling. I¨C¡± I didn¡¯t finish my sentence because he cut off my words.


    ¡°No, I¡¯m the one who should be sorry, Sir, I shouldn¡¯t have responded.¡± Then she stood up from myp, straightened herself, and left my office. I couldn¡¯t move from where I sat, closing my eyes as I realized what I had done.


    I thought of Sarina-I had wronged her. Midori had arrived, insisting we get married, but I felt nothing for her. I told her she could do nothing for me if she couldn¡¯t handle household chores. I only said that because if it were my wife, I¡¯d rather be the one serving her.


    But Midori insisted she could make me happy, so I let her, and that¡¯s what Be walked in on earlier. But sad to say, no matter what Midori did while on her knees, nothing happened-only Sarina can make my manhood hard. I stopped at that thought and looked down at myself. I didn¡¯t really need to look because I could feel the sudden surge of need as a man during the kiss Be and I shared.


    I never thought that besides Sarina, there would be another woman who could awaken my desire. I¡¯ve tried several times to touch and be touched by others, but like with Midori earlier, it had no effect on me. I thought my lust was truly dead, but my secretary effortlessly revived it.


    Another thing that troubled my mind and reminded me even more of my wife was how Be responded to Midori, just like Sarina would. I know I shouldn¡¯tpare them because they¡¯re different, but I can¡¯t exin my feelings for my secretary.


    The first time I saw Sarina in the hospital, I fell in love with her. The first time I heard Be¡¯s voice, I was captivated because I thought she sounded like my wife.


    I took a deep breath before standing up and returning to my desk to work. It¡¯s better to do that than to give myself a headache thinking about my secretary, who¡¯s probably mad at me. I wouldn¡¯t be surprised if she resigned, which I hope she wouldn¡¯t do. I needed her not just in my office but also in my life. Fuck! What am I even thinking?


    Shit! Out of all the secretaries I¡¯ve had since the others left, she¡¯s the only one I haven¡¯t yelled at. And now I¡¯ve done this.


    Days passed, and I decided to avoid Be. I didn¡¯t want her to resign because she was good at her job. Besides, just hearing her voice made it feel like I was talking to my wife. She never mentioned what happened, and our conversations seemed normal whenever she needed to give or report something to me.


    ¡°Sir, here is Be¡¯s record, which I got from H. R.¡± Aries ced a folder on my table. I asked him to find out something about my secretary because I couldn¡¯t stop thinking about her after that incident.


    I took it and began reading. Although I had already read her resume when she applied to thepany, we still collected additional information to help the department heads and me better understand each employee.


    As she mentioned during the interview, she has a son with special needs. I felt guilty because I knew her child needed her, yet I often did her work overtime. Maybe I should reduce that.


    ¡°How about her husband?¡± I asked with a frown, looking at Aries.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know anything either, sir. But if you want, I can look into it.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡± I asked, curious about his suggestion.


    ¡°What do you mean, why, sir?¡±


    ¡°Why do you need to investigate that?¡±Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g


    ¡°Don¡¯t you want me to, sir?¡± he asked, which made me take a deep breath. Am I too obvious? ¡°I¡¯m also curious, sir. I don¡¯t know, but it feels like I know her, but I can¡¯t figure out how.¡±


    I looked at him, trying to understand what he was implying. After a few moments, I nodded. I wanted to know more about Be, who had been on my mind for over a month.


    ¡°Anyway, sir, Mariano arrived and wanted to see you.¡±


    ¡°Where is he?¡± I asked. Why didn¡¯t he inform me he wasing? And why so early? I had just arrived at the office.


    ¡°He¡¯s at Lardizabal Luxuria now.¡±


    ¡°Why didn¡¯t he call me himself? Why did he contact you instead?¡±


    ¡°He said he¡¯d been trying to call you, but you didn¡¯t answer.¡± I frowned and reached for my phone but couldn¡¯t find it.


    ¡°I think I left it in the condo. Please call him and tell him I¡¯m on my way, and we can meet in his hotel room.¡±


    ¡°Okay, sir.¡±


    I stood up and started walking towards the door when it suddenly opened, revealing Be carrying a cup of coffee. ¡°You can drink it,¡± I saw the confusion on her face, but I turned to Aries and instructed, ¡°My table¡­¡±


    ¡°Yes, sir,¡± he replied, picking up the folder containing the information about Be before I looked at her again. I didn¡¯t want her to know that I was trying to know more about her. It might scare her away and resign. No, I can¡¯t let that happen.


    ¡°I need to go somewhere.¡± I didn¡¯t need to tell her, but I didn¡¯t want her to think I disregarded her effort to make my coffee. When I saw her nod, I continued on my way out and headed straight to Lardizabal Luxuria.


    It took me over an hour to reach the hotel. After asking the receptionist for Mariano¡¯s room, I went straight there. ording to Aries, he was already expecting me.


    ¡°What happened?¡± I asked as soon as I entered and saw him casually sitting on one of the couches in the living room.


    ¡°Is that how you greet your brother?¡± he asked. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you say hello to me first and ask how I was?¡±


    ¡°I know you¡¯re fine, so there¡¯s no need to ask,¡± I responded, which made him chuckle and shrug. ¡°So, why are you really here?¡±


    ¡°Nothing, I just want to breathe.¡±


    ¡°And you decided to do that here?¡±


    ¡°Why not? I mean, it¡¯s good here,¡± he replied, but I was still in disbelief.


    ¡°Of all ces, you want to breathe in a busy ce like the Philippines?¡±


    ¡°Every country is busy, Max. But you¡¯re here, so I decided toe here.¡± Am I really the reason for his visit?


    ¡°You¡¯re not the type to travel unless it¡¯s important.¡±


    ¡°Is that how you know me?¡± he asked with a frown. ¡°I already ordered my breakfast. Eat with me.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re sick and dying; I won¡¯t believe that.¡± His eyes widened at what I said.


    ¡°What made you think that? Do you want to see me dead now!¡± he asked with wide eyes.


    ¡°You suddenly want to eat with me!¡± I eximed.


    ¡°So? Is it so bad to ask you to join me for breakfast?¡±


    ¡°Fine.¡± I had no choice but to agree. Besides, he might still be worried about me, which is why he¡¯s here, but he doesn¡¯t want to admit it because he knows I¡¯ll just get mad. He often checks on me to make sure I¡¯m okay.


    His order arrived, and we started having breakfast. We were in the middle of eating when he suddenly spoke.


    ¡°I was following someone here. He¡¯s wanted in L. A. now for murder.¡± I frowned as I looked at him.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t know you were already a police investigator.¡± He chuckled at myment before shrugging his shoulders. Wait, did I miss something?

 Chapter 54

    Be


    What is it about my boss that makes me so affected by his nces? I can¡¯t understand myself-why do I miss him every time I don¡¯t see him? After what happened between us in his office, I tried to act casual around him and noticed that he did the same. However, I could see that he was uneasy in a way I couldn¡¯t pinpoint. I can¡¯t resign because I need this job for my child, who requires special medication, and hepensates me more than the otherpany.


    In the days that followed, we acted as if we didn¡¯t know each other. I noticed his desire to start conversations that had nothing to do with work. He¡¯s just very good at holding back, and I don¡¯t know how he does it. Meanwhile, I¡¯m struggling, too. I¡¯m not sure if he notices it. I want to feel his arms and touch me again.


    I want to ask him things, but I can¡¯t find the courage to do so because I don¡¯t want him to think I¡¯m interested in him. What if his true feelings are different from what I assume? I¡¯m so confused, especially since I can¡¯t get him out of my mind. It¡¯s only been over a month since I started working for him, but here I am, with my thoughts and feelings in turmoil.


    This morning was like the past few days. He had just arrived, so I made him coffee and brought it to his office, but I ran into him just as I opened the door, looking like he was in a hurry.


    He mentioned that he had to go somewhere, so I understood he wouldn¡¯t be drinking the coffee I made and let him leave. Even as I worked, my mind kept drifting back to him. It was as if he bid me farewell or informed me of his departure, which brought me a little happiness.


    I just focused on organizing all his schedules for the uing weeks because Sir Aries had made some changes. One of his American business partners canceled his meeting with them at the Hotel, Resorts, and Casino for personal reasons.


    When I finally focused on my work, the bow-legged woman arrived with Sir Maximus¡¯s grandmother. ¡°Ah, Ma¡¯am, Sir isn¡¯t here,¡± I said when I noticed them heading into Sir¡¯s office. The elderly woman looked at me angrily, but I ignored it and waited for her to speak.


    ¡°Where did he go?¡±


    ¡°He didn¡¯t mention, ma¡¯am.¡± I had to be polite because she was my boss¡¯s grandmother, and Sir Maximus didn¡¯t want to get scolded if he found out I was rude to her like I had been to the bow-legged woman.


    ¡°You better stay away from my grandson.¡± I frowned at her words and nced at the bow-legged woman beside her, seeing the smirk on her face.


    ¡°I don¡¯t understand what you mean, ma¡¯am. Is that what Midori told you?¡± I asked, causing the bow-legged woman¡¯s eyes to widen. Did she really think I¡¯d still call her ¡°Ma¡¯am¡± after witnessing the scene in my boss¡¯s office and hearing her insults?


    ¡°You should address her as ¡®Ma¡¯am¡¯ because she¡¯s your boss¡¯s fiancee!¡± the elderly woman said angrily, even ordering me around.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Ma¡¯am, but Sir Maximus said that I don¡¯t need to address Midori as such since he has nothing to do with her.¡± My boss never said that, but I lied out of annoyance with this bow-legged woman. I don¡¯t care if my boss gets mad at me if he finds out about this.


    ¡°Did you hear her, granny? She¡¯s talking back because she thinks Maximus will take her side.¡±


    ¡°You!¡± the elderly woman said, pointing a finger at me, but before she could say more, Sir Aries arrived.


    ¡°Ma¡¯am,¡± he greeted the elderly woman, causing her to turn her attention to Sir Maximus¡¯s assistant.


    ¡°Where is your boss?¡± the elderly woman asked calmly. Why does she speak to Sir Aries that way when we¡¯re both justpany employees?


    ¡°Sir Mariano arrived, and they¡¯re together now.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s that bastard doing here again? Don¡¯t tell me he has news about Maximus¡¯s dead wife?¡± the elderly woman said angrily. Has Sir Maximus still not lost hope about his wife? I couldn¡¯t help but feel sad after hearing that.


    ¡°Please don¡¯t talk like that about Ma¡¯am Sarina; Sir will surely be angry if he hears you,¡± Sir Aries reminded her, but I saw the fury cross her face.


    ¡°You know what, granny? I¡¯m sure it was Mariano who gave Maximus hope for his dead and bitch wife.¡± This bow-legged woman is unbelievable. No wonder she¡¯s clinging so hard to my boss, but it seems ineffective since when I caught them, he was the one who sent her away instead of continuing their interrupted romance.


    It¡¯s clear that Sir Maximus doesn¡¯t like Midori, and because of that, I felt a bit of happiness. But knowing that my boss still hopes for the return of his deceased wife also brought me sadness. What if he only sees his dead wife in me while I started to feel differently?


    ¡°I don¡¯t care about that, and don¡¯t you dare lecture me because you¡¯re just an employee here!¡± the old woman said angrily to Sir Aries, snapping me back to the situation in front of me. ¡°And you, woman, stay away from my grandson because you¡¯re not good enough for him. Only Midori is fit to be my grandson¡¯s wife, no one else.¡±


    I raised an eyebrow before ncing at Sir Aries, who looked uncertainly between me and the old woman. Should I answer back so she can see what she¡¯s looking for? But of course, I couldn¡¯t do that-it¡¯s not worth losing my job, so I just shrugged off what my boss¡¯s grandmother said.


    ¡°You hear my granny, so you better stay away from Maximus,¡± Midori repeated, which annoyed me.


    ¡°Even if I stay away from my boss, he won¡¯t like you. You didn¡¯t win him over before, and you never will because I¡¯ve heard around thepany that he only loves one woman, and that¡¯s his wife-no one else.¡±


    ¡°You crazy bitch!¡± the bow-legged woman snapped and tried to p me, but I quickly blocked her hand.


    ¡°You have no right to hurt me. I won¡¯t let a bitch hurt me just because I told her the truth.¡± I let go of her hand, and I could see her seething. The anger was evident on her face, but she also knew I wouldn¡¯t back down.


    ¡°I will tell Maximus about this. You flirt, trying to seduce my grandson.¡±


    ¡°Go ahead, Ma¡¯am. I¡¯m not afraid because I know I didn¡¯t do anything wrong. And I also know my boss is sensible and won¡¯t easily believe rumors, especially if theye from that bow-legged woman.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve got a sharp tongue, just like that tramp Sarina.¡±Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g


    ¡°Ma¡¯am,¡± Sir Aries tried to intervene, but the old woman got even angrier.


    ¡°Don¡¯t try to stop me from saying what I want!¡± she yelled. ¡°My grandson never knew how to choose women. I was so happy when I found out that tramp Sarina was gone, and now he¡¯s nning to rece her with another lowlife!¡± Then the two left, leaving Sir Aries and me watching them go.


    ¡°Just be patient with the olddy, Be,¡± Sir Aries said. I smiled at him and nodded. There was nothing between Sir Maximus and me, so I didn¡¯t understand why they reacted that way. We hadn¡¯t shown anything publicly that could cause rumors of any rtionship.


    I returned to work after Sir Aries left to return to his desk. I shrugged off the incident and tried to push it out of my mind. I didn¡¯t need more things to worry about-my child¡¯s condition and the asional thoughts of Sir Maximus were enough.


    Around four in the afternoon, Sir Aries approached me. ¡°Uh, Be.¡± I looked at him and waited for what he would say next. ¡°Can you do me a favor?¡±


    ¡°Sure, Sir,¡± I replied.


    ¡°Could you please deliver this to Sir Maximus¡¯s condo? He must bring it to his brother tomorrow, but I can¡¯t stop by because I have something important to attend to.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡± I asked, a bit confused.


    ¡°You can go straight home afterward.¡±


    I couldn¡¯t refuse, and it would be rude to say no. I saw how much work he had, plus the extra tasks Sir Maximus gave him. After he gave me the address, I took the folder and started to pack up my desk. I booked a Grab, and since traffic wasn¡¯t too bad yet, I quickly arrived at the condo close to thepany.


    When I got to the door, I rang the doorbell, but after several presses, no one answered or opened the door. I looked at the doorknob and noticed it required a password. Suddenly, a number popped into my head, and I slowly raised my hand to enter it.


    My eyes widened when the door opened. In a daze, I slowly pushed it open and stepped inside. I was still confused as I closed the door and walked further into the living room. Why did this ce feel familiar?


    I looked around and noticed the rooms. Slowly, I walked toward a closed door and stopped in front of it. I was about to reach for the doorknob when someone spoke behind me.


    ¡°How did you get in?¡± I turned around and saw Sir Maximus, wearing only a towel, with water dripping from his hair down to his neck, shoulders, and body. I couldn¡¯t help but swallow.


    ¡°Can I have a taste¨C¡°

 Chapter 55

    Maximus


    My eyes widened at what she said, and I forgot my curiosity about how she got inside my condo. ¡°Say that again.¡±


    ¡°What exactly, sir?¡± she asked in confusion before her eyes suddenly widened, and she quickly covered her face with both hands. ¡°What I meant to say was- I-¡± she stammered. I suddenly remembered Sarina because she said the same thing when we were in Las Vegas, experiencing her way of pleasing me.


    ¡°You were saying, Be?¡± I asked.


    ¡°Maybe I can have a taste or experience living here in your condo; it¡¯s so big and beautiful¡­¡± she finally managed to say. But her gaze kept sweeping from my chest down to the bulge of my manhood, which was only covered by a towel.


    ¡°Are you sure it¡¯s just the experience of living in my condo that you want and not to experience me tasting you?¡± I asked.


    Her cheeks turned red, and she looked at me before her eyes darted around, not knowing where to look. ¡°Gosh, sir, what do you mean by that? You¡¯re so rich and educated, but you talk like you grew up on the streets!¡± she burst out. She was about to walk to the living room, but I stopped her.


    ¡°Who are you really, Be?¡± I asked. Why does everything she says remind me of my wife?


    ¡°Sir?¡± she asked in confusion. ¡°I don¡¯t understand you.¡± I stared at her, and she met my gaze. I could see her swallowing hard asionally, just as I did when I recalled what happened in my office.


    ¡°Who are you, Be? Why do I keep thinking of my wife whenever you open your mouth?¡±


    ¡°Huh? How would I know, sir! Maybe you¡¯re just being perverted, sir. Don¡¯t drag me into it.¡± I clicked my tongue after she said that.


    ¡°Every day, you don¡¯t know the torment I feel when I talk to you.¡± There¡¯s no point hiding my feelings since I already knew she was feeling the same.


    ¡°Sir, please. I need my job. Don¡¯t make me resign,¡± she said, sounding worried, maybe thinking about her son¡¯s special needs.


    ¡°That¡¯s the problem; I can¡¯t bring myself to fire you because, in your voice, I hear my wife. You made me feel like I¡¯m with her, even for a moment.¡± I didn¡¯t need to hide it from her anymore because I was struggling, too. She should know now what I feel whenever we¡¯re close.


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t seem like it, sir; I even caught you with that bow-legged woman-¡± she suddenly covered her mouth after saying that.


    ¡°Be,¡± I called her name, making her look at me. ¡°I can feel that you want us to kiss too, and I know that you¡¯re married-¡±


    ¡°Ah, sir, this is the document Sir Aries sent that you need to review.¡± She cut me off, handing over the folder she was holding. ¡°I¡¯ll leave now because-¡±


    She didn¡¯t finish her sentence or attempt to walk away because I grabbed her hand and pulled her close to me. Our eyes locked, and neither of us wanted to look away.


    ¡°Tell me you didn¡¯t feel anything when I kissed you in my office.¡± She couldn¡¯t answer, her lips slightly parted. I was dying to kiss and taste her lips again, but I held back. I didn¡¯t want to get ahead of myself.


    What if I was wrong? What if I misunderstood her? I was bing too sinful because even though I knew she was married, I was still here, tempting her. ¡°Ahem,¡± she cleared her throat before speaking. ¡°Sir, let¡¯s not talk about what happened. It won¡¯t do us any good if we don¡¯t forget it. So let¡¯s just go back to how things were before.¡±


    ¡°You still haven¡¯t done what I asked.¡± If she was confused, so was I. I felt like I was going crazy thinking about it, and I wouldn¡¯t be at peace until she did what I wanted her to do.


    She stared at me, her lips slightly parted as if she wanted to say something but couldn¡¯t. After a few moments, I didn¡¯t wait for her to speak anymore and pulled her in for a kiss. Whatever happens, happens.


    I didn¡¯t feel her resist, proving she wanted it too. I deepened our kiss just like how I would kiss my wife. I didn¡¯t want to think about it because it wasn¡¯t fair to Be, but I couldn¡¯t help it. For me, my secretary screams Sarina to me.


    I heard something fall to the floor, but I ignored it, especially when her hands moved to my shoulders and wrapped around my neck. My body was aching for her, so I quickly removed her zer and long-sleeved polo. It wasn¡¯t hard because she let me do it freely.


    She was only left in her bra, so I unsped it from behind and let it fall to the floor along with her other clothes. I then unzipped her pencil-cut skirt and let it slide down after I unhooked it.


    I finally removed the towel wrapped around my waist before lifting her up, intending to carry her to the guest room, but she pointed to my bedroom instead. I don¡¯t know why I didn¡¯t think twice about doing it. I only wanted Sarina, the only woman I bring into my room, but as I already said, Be is different.


    Iid her on the bed and didn¡¯t close the door since it was just us. I quickly took one of her nipples into my mouth and sucked on it, making her gasp and tug at my hair. I slowly slid down her remaining clothing-her panties.


    ¡°Ohh.. Maximus¡­¡± she moaned. I was pleased because she didn¡¯t say ¡°sir.¡± I was like a baby eager for its mother¡¯s milk as I sucked on her two crowns, which had quickly be my favorites. ¡°Please, keep going¡­ it feels so good¡­¡± she moaned.


    I was even more encouraged andpletely forgot who she was. I intensified what I was doing, something I thought I had forgotten how to do because it had been so long since Ist pleasured my wife.


    Because of that thought, I suddenly looked at Be, and it looked like I saw my wife¡¯s pleasured face. Couldn¡¯t she just be my wife? That everything was just a bad dream, and now I¡¯m awake with her? I shook my head and continued. Their faces were different, and I knew it. But I can¡¯t stop now; I want this woman in front of me who had made me restless the moment I heard her voice.


    ¡°Shit, Maximus, eat my pussy,¡± she suddenly said. ¡°Oh my gosh!¡± I looked at her in surprise when I heard that before she spoke again. ¡°Why did I say those words?¡± then she covered her face with her hands again. I smiled and pulled her arms down.


    ¡°Don¡¯t cover your face; tell me what you want me to do.¡± She just looked at me, seemingly embarrassed, before nodding, and I continued what I was doing.


    I resumed pleasuring her, and as I did, a different kind of joy filled my heart. Just as she wanted, I yed with her clit with my tongue, aided by my fingers, and every moan she made was like music that brought me happiness.


    I kept going until I yed with her nipples with my fingers while she reached her orgasm. ¡°Ohh, Maximus, why does this feel so good?¡± she asked, looking confused but with a face full of bliss.


    ¡°How do you feel about it?¡± I asked her.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know why it feels so good even though I know it¡¯s wrong.¡±


    ¡°Me too..¡± I replied. ¡°But I¡¯m not done yet,¡± I positioned on top of her. I gently teased the entrance of her womanhood with the tip of my manhood to entice her, and I was delighted with the sight of her lips parted, eagerly waiting for me.N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights.


    ¡°Maximus¡­ You¡¯re driving me crazy in a good, good way¡­¡± Our eyes met, and I didn¡¯t want to look away because I wanted her to see that she was with me, not her husband. After teasing her and making her crave it, I finally thrust my hard and eager manhood inside her.


    ¡°Ahh! It feels so good!!¡± we both eximed. I saw her smile, and I couldn¡¯t help but smile too. Forgive me, Be, but my wife¡¯s beautiful face suddenly appeared. Damn! This is unfair to her. I know I¡¯m not using her to satisfy my longing for Sarina because I feel she¡¯s important to me, too. Whatever this feeling, I¡¯ll ensure I don¡¯t hurt this woman.


    And I sped up, thrusting deeper into her. As deep as I could go. ¡°It feels so good¡­¡± Damn! She¡¯s a screamer! I kept thrusting, not knowing what happened, but she suddenly froze as if confused.


    ¡°Is there anything wrong?¡± I asked, stopping what I was doing.


    ¡°Huh? No, it¡¯s just that- never mind. Why did you stop?¡± I smiled again. This must be the kind of woman I¡¯m really into. And because she wanted it, I continued with each thrust. I could feel she was close, so I went faster, harder, over and over until we both felt the surge of ecstasy from deep within, spilling out between our thighs.


    ¡°Damn! My wife¡­..¡±


    ¡°My husband,¡± we shouted in unison.

 Chapter 56

    Be


    Maximus and I were both lying down-I mean, Sir and I. Damn it, I don¡¯t even know what to call him now. Maybe I¡¯ll just call him Maximus. I don¡¯t know why I called him my husband. It just slipped out of my mouth, so I couldn¡¯t confront him when he also called me his wife. What was that about? Am I the only one allowed to say someone else¡¯s name while he isn¡¯t?


    Although that wasn¡¯t really a name, it was just that we both have our own spouses, except that mine is still alive while he¡¯s mourning and can¡¯t move on from his deceased wife. I shook my head and closed my eyes, unable to think properly.


    ¡°What are you thinking?¡± he suddenly asked, making me turn my gaze to him, only to be met by his eyes. There was something different about how he looked at me-happiness, confusion, and hope all mixed together.Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g


    ¡°Nothing.¡±


    ¡°Why did you scream like that?¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡± I didn¡¯t take my eyes off him, and he didn¡¯t take him off me either, so I probably looked like a fool to him. He turned to his side, fully facing me, and pulled me to face him too. Now we were lying down, face to face.


    ¡°Please, tell me the truth, Be.¡± His voice sounded pleading, making me feel a little uneasy. A part of me didn¡¯t want him to sound or do that. My heart ached knowing he was in pain.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know either, Maximus. Earlier, when you were pounding on me, the voice I always hear in my dream suddenly had a face,¡± I said when I remembered his face shed in my head earlier when we were about to reach our climax.


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± he asked in confusion.


    ¡°After my interview with you, I also started having that dream. I hear a man¡¯s voice saying ¡®my wife¡¯ over and over. I don¡¯t know who that voice is calling, and since I was the one who was hearing it, it made me think that it was me who was called out; sometimes, it sounds tender and almost sensual.¡±


    ¡°Sensual?¡± he asked, and I nodded.


    ¡°Like the way we screamed earlier,¡± I replied, feeling shy.


    ¡°Then why did you say ¡®my husband¡¯?¡± he asked, more confused.


    ¡°I really don¡¯t know, it just came out. I¡¯ve never called my husband that way, and he never called me that because he¡¯s not Filipino.¡± I quickly exined. ¡°Besides, as I said, your face suddenly appeared in my mind earlier as the owner of the voice I only hear in my dream.¡±


    ¡°And?¡± Does he really need to ask that?


    ¡°And your face was sweaty as if you were-¡±


    ¡°As if I was what?¡±


    ¡°As if you were, you know¡­¡± His brow furrowed, not getting what I meant.


    ¡°Can you be clearer?¡± This idiot¡­


    ¡°As if you were also having sex!¡± I shouted at him in frustration. ¡°Did you really need to make me say it? Didn¡¯t you get it?¡±


    He suddenlyughed, annoyed me, so I rolled my eyes at him. I was about to get up, but he grabbed my hand and said, ¡°My wife.¡±


    ¡°What now?¡± I replied in annoyance, but I quickly covered my mouth. Why was I responding to him whenever he called me that? I didn¡¯t even notice him holding me, nor did I realize I was still naked, and I abruptly stood up, staring at him.


    ¡°My wife, it¡¯s really you, isn¡¯t it? Tell me it¡¯s really you,¡± he pleaded as he sat in bed. We were facing each other, and I could see the torment in his eyes that was starting to water, and sadness overwhelmed his face.


    I quickly held my head as it suddenly started to ache, and tears began to fall from my eyes, though I didn¡¯t know why. ¡°No, why am I here? My child, my child needs me¡­¡± I said, looking around to find my clothes, but I couldn¡¯t see them. I frantically spun in front of him before feeling his arms wrap around me from behind.


    ¡°Shhh¡­ rx, my wife.¡± I tried to break free from him, but I couldn¡¯t. I liked the feeling of him holding me, but¡­


    ¡°Don¡¯t call me that¡­¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t like it? Don¡¯t you feel anything strange? I do; it feels like my heart is telling me you¡¯re my wife.¡±


    ¡°No, your wife is dead. Don¡¯t use me to ease the sadness you feel.¡± My tears kept flowing as my chest tightened. I was in pain, and I didn¡¯t understand why.


    He buried his face between my neck and shoulder, and I feltforted as if it was natural for us to be like this. I felt the moisture on my skin where his face was pressed. Was he crying?


    ¡°I waited so long for you to return, my wife¡­¡±


    ¡°No, please, sir¡­ Don¡¯t do this to me,¡± I said, my voice hoarse, as it was hard to say those words. ¡°I¡¯m not your wife.¡±


    He tightened his embrace as if he didn¡¯t want to let me go, but I kept trying to break free because I didn¡¯t want him to use me, even though I loved the feeling of our bodies being together. It hurt me to think that he was acting like this because of his wife.


    ¡°Let¡¯s stay like this for a while.¡± I took a deep breath and just followed his wishes. No matter how much I wanted to get away, I didn¡¯t push it because it felt good to feel the warmth of his embrace.


    ¡°Are you feeling okay now?¡± I asked after a while when I felt his breathing calm down. I should be the one he¡¯sforting because of my confusion, but here I am, asking if he¡¯s okay.


    ¡°Yes,¡± he answered, lifting his face before turning me to face him. ¡°Let¡¯s talk, I want to know more about you. That¡¯s the only way I¡¯ll have peace; otherwise, I¡¯ll keep thinking you are my wife.¡±

 Chapter 56b

    Be


    Maximus left me for a moment and stepped out of the room while I picked up my panties lying at the head of the bed. When he returned, he brought the clothes he had removed from me individually and handed them to me. I quickly dressed as soon as I received them because I felt embarrassed. How could I not be when he was watching me while he was also getting dressed?


    It felt like we were really a married couple. ¡°Let¡¯s go and talk,¡± he said after getting dressed.


    ¡°Outside,¡± I quickly replied before walking towards the room¡¯s open door, which he didn¡¯t even close when he brought me inside his bedroom.


    I felt Maximus following me until I sat down on the couch. I looked at him quickly when he sat beside me.


    ¡°What?¡± he asked, creasing his forehead.


    ¡°Sit over there,¡± I said, pointing to the couch opposite mine.


    ¡°Something already happened between us, and you¡¯re still shy?¡± he asked again, making me feel embarrassed when he reminded me of what we just did.


    ¡°I feel awkward. What if you suddenly start calling me your wife again?¡± I admitted.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you feelfortable when I¡¯m close to you?¡± Does that even need to be asked? Naturally! What sensible woman would feel at ease talking to a man right after having sex?


    ¡°You¡¯d be pretty dense not to know that.¡± I scooted slightly away from him because my heart was pounding so hard. I didn¡¯t know if it was because I felt awkward about what happened between us or because I wanted something to happen between us again.


    ¡°I want to sit next to you,¡± he said, scooting closer to me.


    ¡°And why? Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re lusting after me?¡± Heughed, which puzzled me. Was there something funny in what I said? ¡°Are you crazy?¡±


    ¡°Do you know what¡¯s surprising?¡± I looked at her and saw the seriousness on his face. There was no hint of a smile, and it seemed like he was waiting for my response.


    ¡°That you¡¯re lusting after me?¡± I bravely asked, hoping he would say yes.


    ¡°I only lust after one woman-¡±


    ¡°And that¡¯s your wife?¡± I interrupted. He nodded before speaking again.


    ¡°The lust I felt for her before is just as intense as what I feel for you now.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not enough reason to think I¡¯m your wife. Remember, she already died. Don¡¯t bring her back into my identity.¡±


    ¡°Where¡¯s your husband?¡±


    ¡°In L. A.¡±


    ¡°Why are you here?¡±


    ¡°I escaped from him. He physically hurt me and my son.¡±


    ¡°Your son? Isn¡¯t it supposed to be ¡°our¡± son and not yours alone?¡±


    ¡°He never treated Chase as his son. He always hurt him. No father would hurt their child the way he did to mine.¡±


    ¡°And no husband would hurt their wife the way he did to you.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s different.¡±


    ¡°Maybe so.¡±


    ¡°Was your wife pregnant when she died? I mean, when she disappeared?¡± I asked, curious.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, but even if we went to Vegas for a business trip, we enjoyed our stay there as if it was our honeymoon.¡±


    ¡°I live in L. A.¡±N?velDrama.Org is the owner.


    ¡°Where her blood wasst found scattered, but nobody was ever recovered.¡± I was speechless because I didn¡¯t know what to say.


    ¡°What if I¡¯m not really your wife?¡±


    ¡°Then tell me who you really are.¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t remember anything about myself.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± she asked in shock, his forehead furrowed. ¡°How can you not remember?¡±


    ¡°I just woke up one day, and that man¡¯s face was the first thing I saw, and he said he was my husband. I noticed I was pregnant, so I believed him.¡±


    ¡°When was that?¡±


    ¡°My son will be turning three in months, so probably it was three years ago. I was five months pregnant when I woke up from thea.¡±


    ¡°Fuck!¡± she said angrily.


    ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°How about your friends?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t remember them either, but they said my husband and I were indeed married.¡±


    ¡°Why did you need to escape from your husband to the point of going to another country?¡±


    ¡°I asked him for a divorce, but he refused. He said I wanted to leave him because I would go with another man, so I wanted to separate. But I don¡¯t remember anything, so I don¡¯t know if I really had another man.¡±


    I looked into his eyes to see if he was turned off or disappointed by what I said about another man. But no, I didn¡¯t see that. Instead, he seemed to be deep in thought.


    ¡°So you left L. A. without him knowing where you were going?¡±


    ¡°If he¡¯s my husband, he would think I went to a rtive, right?¡± I asked.


    ¡°How about your parents?¡±


    ¡°They said I¡¯m an only child and that they¡¯ve already passed away.¡±


    ¡°Why were you in aa?¡±


    ¡°They said it was an ident. A car ident.¡± My heart pounded harder as I kept my eyes on him. I didn¡¯t want to get close to any man because I was afraid he might follow me and my son here and think I really had another man and hurt us again.


    But after what happened between me and Maximus, I wasn¡¯t sure if I could avoid this, even though I knew that he might be thinking of his deceased wife every time we were together. As he mentioned earlier, he couldn¡¯t dismiss me because when we talked, it felt like he was talking to histe wife since our voices were the same.


    ¡°Until now, you still don¡¯t remember anything from your past? What your life was like before the ident?¡±


    ¡°None, but-¡±


    ¡°But what?¡± he asked before taking my hands and ying with the hem of my skirt.


    ¡°When I arrived here in the Philippines, I started seeing faces I didn¡¯t recognize in my mind.¡±


    ¡°How long have you been here?¡±


    ¡°Over three months.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re not taking any medicine?¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°Your husband didn¡¯t give you any?¡±


    ¡°No. Why are you asking?¡±


    ¡°Maybe that¡¯s the reason you don¡¯t remember anything.¡±


    ¡°If he gave me any medicine, I would have known what it was for,¡± I confidently said to her.


    ¡°Why?¡± he asked.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡±


    ¡°Because you¡¯re a nurse.¡±


    We both spoke at the same time. ¡°Me? A nurse? But I¡¯m the one being taken care of by my husband. He even handles my food-¡± I suddenly stopped. Could it be?


    I looked into Maximus¡¯ eyes, and it seemed he already knew why I stopped.

 Chapter 57

    Be


    Maximus insisted on taking me home, even though I felt embarrassed about where I lived. It¡¯s not actually the house I lived in that I was ashamed of; it¡¯s the ce because I knew that his car would be surrounded by curious kids and people, and the road was so narrow that I didn¡¯t think he would be able to run his car swiftly. I let him because I didn¡¯t want any more arguments. I knew and felt that he was just worried about me, so I couldn¡¯t me him for being so protective. I decided not to introduce him to Aunt Marga and the others at home. After all, things between us weren¡¯t clear.


    After our conversation, I still couldn¡¯t believe I was histe wife. But I felt an unusual happiness in my heart. Is it wrong to want to be loved by someone, even though I know they love someone else, who I believe is dead-and there¡¯s a possibility that person could be me?


    Yes, I have a husband, but is it wrong to wish for a partner I know and feel truly loves and cares for me? I endured so much hardship at his hands, as did my son, Chase, who did nothing wrong. At least Maximus wanted to meet him right away.


    It¡¯s not that I trust himpletely, even though we¡¯ve just met; it¡¯s just that I feel something different for him, and I can¡¯t help but feel at ease around him.


    I went to work early the next day because I wanted to see him immediately, but he wasn¡¯t there. Why? Do I already miss him? What¡¯s wrong with me? I lightly tapped my cheeks, thinking my mind was wandering. Maybe I¡¯m getting carried away just because something happened between us.


    I started working to distract myself, temporarily pushing him out of my mind so I wouldn¡¯t get too ahead of myself. Fortunately, Sir Aries gave me tasks to keep me busy, so I buried myself in work.


    After lunch, I returned to my desk after washing my lunchbox when Midori arrived, giving me a death re. This woman with bow legs is really annoying. She marched straight to Maximus¡¯s office, and since I knew he wasn¡¯t there, I let her be. Let her go wild, or wait until her eyes turn white.


    I returned to work, but my thoughts were still on my boss. Will he show up? After more than an hour had passed, I nced at his closed office door and remembered that the bowlegged woman was still inside. Suddenly, the door opened, and Midori stormed out and walked toward me with ring nostrils. Yeah, I could see the invisible smokeing out of her nose.


    ¡°When is he reallying here?¡± she asked angrily. Her eyes were zing as if she wanted to tear my hair out in frustration. Who wouldn¡¯t be pissed after waiting for more than an hour?


    ¡°I have no idea. He had no obligation to tell me when he woulde here to do his job. I¡¯m just his secretary, Midori,¡± I replied calmly, looking up at her. She seemed to like my answer because a smile suddenly appeared on her lips. This bowlegged woman must be crazy.


    ¡°Yeah, why would he tell you that? You¡¯re nobody,¡± she said arrogantly. If only she knew how the man she¡¯s obsessed with devoured me yesterday-I doubt she wouldn¡¯t lose her mind with jealousy.


    I was about to respond when Sir Aries arrived. ¡°Ms. Midori, you¡¯re here,¡± he greeted the bowlegged woman.


    ¡°Where¡¯s your boss?¡± she asked arrogantly, unfazed by the assistant¡¯s polite demeanor.


    ¡°With his brother,¡± Sir Aries replied curtly, and then she turned her back on us after giving me another re. ¡°Prepare to leave; Sir ising to pick you up because you have somewhere to go.¡±


    I looked at Sir Aries in surprise. Was that true? Maximus hadn¡¯t told me about us going anywhere.


    ¡°What did you just say?¡± Sir Aries and I turned at the same time to the source of the voice; the bowlegged woman was still there. She hadn¡¯t gone far and overheard what Sir had said to me. ¡°Why would Maximus pick her up, and where are they going?¡±


    ¡°I have no idea, Ms. Midori.¡± Sir Aries smiled, but it was clear he was irritated by the bowlegged woman. Seriously, why do we have to put up with entertaining this woman? And most of all, what did Maximus¡¯s grandmother see in her? Money?


    The bowlegged woman turned her gaze to me, and it seemed like she was ready tosh out at me again. Anyway, she now had a reason to be furious with me, which was because something had happened between Maximus and me.


    ¡°You slut! I knew it; you¡¯re seducing Maximus! I am not going to let you have him. He¡¯s only mine, and I¡¯ll make sure you¡¯ll have the same fate as his first wife!¡± she screamed at me in anger. I covered my mouth, suddenly thinking she might have had something to do with what happened to Maximus¡¯s wife.


    ¡°What did you just say?¡± Maximus asked angrily, suddenly appearing without us noticing.


    The three of us froze, staring at Maximus, who had now approached. ¡°Say that again, Midori!¡± the bow-legged woman and I both jumped as he yelled. His face was filled with rage, his jaw clenched tightly as if he were holding back his anger.


    He suddenly grabbed Midori by the arm, and she now looked terrified. ¡°Did you have anything to do with my wife¡¯s disappearance?¡± Maximus demanded again. ¡°Answer me!!¡± He was furious. Did he love his wife that much?


    His face was red, and his body was trembling as I watched him hurt the bow-legged woman. She deserved it, but her appearance was now pitiful, and I feared my boos might break her bones.


    ¡°Sir,¡± Aries intervened, trying to hold our boss¡¯s hand. But it had no effect. Maximus red at Midori, refusing to let go until she answered his question.


    ¡°Answer me, Midori. Did you have anything to do with Sarina¡¯s disappearance?¡± Maximus asked again.


    ¡°No, I had nothing to do with it. Remember, I was here; how could I harm her?¡± the terrified woman replied, grimacing. Why did she have to tell me such things if she had nothing to do with it? Even I began to think she might have been involved in whatever happened to Maximus¡¯ wife.Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org.


    I couldn¡¯t hold back any longer, so I helped Sir Aries free Midori from our boss¡¯s grip, fearing he might do something terrible to her. ¡°Sir, you¡¯re hurting Midori,¡± I said. He looked at me, and his eyes softened. ¡°Please let go, Sir,¡± I added, and he slowly released the bow-legged woman¡¯s arm.


    ¡°How dare you hurt me, Maximus?¡± Midori asked, crying, ncing back and forth between him and me. ¡°Is that how much you love your wife? She¡¯s gone, and yet you can¡¯t seem to forget her.¡± She held her reddened wrist.


    ¡°Sarina will always be in my heart, remember that. No matter what you do, you will never have me, nor will I ever like you. Make sure you really had nothing to do with what happened to my wife because if you did, I swear I¡¯ll do everything to make you pay for all the years I¡¯ve suffered without her in my life.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll tell this to granny,¡± Midori threatened. ¡°I¡¯ll tell her that you¡¯ve started to like that bitch as well!¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re really not going to stop, are you?¡± Maximus¡¯ eyes narrowed, still filled with anger. ¡°Aries,¡±


    ¡°Yes, Sir.¡±


    ¡°Make sure her father¡¯s business copses and leave them nothing to live on.¡± My eyes widened at what he said. Is he really going to do that?


    ¡°Yes, sir,¡± Aries replied helplessly.


    ¡°You¡¯re acting like this because of your father¡¯s wealth. My grandmother favors you because she thinks you¡¯re the only one who deserves me since youe from a wealthy family. All you care about is money. Now, I will take away the most important thing in your life so you can¡¯t be arrogant and proud anymore.¡±


    ¡°No, you can¡¯t do that. We¡¯re one of the wealthiest, and you can never bring us down,¡± Midori responded arrogantly. Instead of humbling herself and fearing Maximus¡¯ threat, she sneered at him.


    ¡°Let¡¯s see about that. I think you don¡¯t know what your father has been doing for the past five years,¡± Maximus replied to the bow-legged woman.


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± the woman asked in confusion, but Maximus ignored her and turned to face me.


    ¡°And you, take your things, and let¡¯s go,¡± he said, averting his gaze at me.


    ¡°Huh? Where are we going?¡± I asked. Sir Aries had mentioned earlier that he would pick me up, but he didn¡¯t say where we were headed.


    ¡°No questions. Juste with me,¡± he said before turning to Aries. ¡± If she doesn¡¯t leave now, Call security and throw her out of my building.¡±


    Then, Maximus grabbed my hand and pointed to my bag, which I quickly picked up before he dragged me toward the elevator. Midori was left standing there, gaping, confused, and probably still furious.


    ¡°Where exactly are we going?¡± I asked as I struggled to free myself from Maximus¡¯ grip when we reached the basement parking where his car was parked.


    ¡°To the hospital,¡± he replied, still not letting go of me, so he stopped walking when I suddenly halted. ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°What are we going to do at the hospital?¡±


    ¡°To prove to you that you¡¯re really my wife.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re still not going to stop thinking like that? Do you love her so much that you¡¯re forcing yourself to believe she and I are the same person?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not forcing myself to believe it. I know you¡¯re my wife. You don¡¯t remember anything, so I¡¯ll do whatever it takes to help you remember and realize that everything I¡¯m saying is true.¡±


    ¡°You know what, if I really were your wife, I¡¯d remember it on my own.¡±


    ¡°But I don¡¯t want to wait for you to remember before you ept me. That bastard drugged you, and now you don¡¯t even know your own name. We don¡¯t know how severe the effects of that drug have been on your brain after three years of taking it,¡± he replied quickly. ¡°Besides, you don¡¯t know how grouchy you are. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll be angry with me if I just let it be and didn¡¯t do anything to help you regain your memory.¡±


    ¡°Me? Grouchy? Hey, Maximus¡±


    ¡°See? You¡¯re already starting to show it. So please, just let me do this for your own peace of mind. So you won¡¯t feel guilty for being with me,¡± he pleaded, and I finally nodded. He had a point, and it would be faster if I could see a doctor, especially since I suspected that my husband had indeed given me drugs when we were in L. A. and living together. I couldn¡¯t help but pray that I was his wife, Sarina.

 Chapter 58

    Be


    ¡°Good morning, Sir,¡± I greeted Maximus as he arrived.


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


    I stood up from my seat and followed him. What could this man want this time? As I entered, he suddenly closed the door behind me, pinned me there after he lifted me, and kissed me. I was so shocked that I didn¡¯t know how to react until I finally responded to his kiss.


    My mouth seemed to have a mind of its own, knowing exactly what to do, and quickly sucked on Maximus¡¯ lower lip. Damn! I didn¡¯t realize I was this lustful. I wrapped my arms around his neck and deepened the kiss, which only stopped because we were both running out of breath.


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


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


    ¡°I¡¯m never wrong when ites to you, my wife.¡± Why is he so confident about that? ¡°Whether you believe it or not, my heart will always remember you, no matter what form or shape you change into.¡±


    I couldn¡¯t speak, but I felt immense joy. Honestly, it felt good, and I wanted to be his wife. ¡°Fine, have it your way.¡± He smiled, so I added, ¡°You can probably put me down now.¡±


    He finally set me down before I directed him to his table. We can¡¯t just fool around in the office because we wouldn¡¯t get any work done, and poor Sir Aries would be swamped with tasks.


    ¡°You have a meeting with the finance department about the budget adjustment.¡±


    ¡°Wait, why are you the one reporting that to me?¡± he asked, puzzled.


    ¡°With all the work you¡¯ve given to Sir Aries, I volunteered to do this since I¡¯m also organizing your schedule. He had something to attend to beforeing in, so he might be a bitte.¡±


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


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°What do you mean, ¡®what¡¯?¡±


    ¡°Where are we going now?¡±


    ¡°As if we go out often-this is the first time in a while.¡±


    ¡°Where are we going?¡± I asked, annoyed. Why does he have to do this during work hours? ¡°You shouldn¡¯t be dragging me around because your employees might start thinking things.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t care what others say or think about me or you; being with you and our child is more important.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t know what you¡¯re saying, Maximus.¡±


    ¡°The oue will be the same whether the child is mine or not. I¡¯ll admit, I¡¯d be happy if we had a child. But that doesn¡¯t mean I wouldn¡¯t ept your child, no matter who the real father is.¡±


    ¡°So don¡¯t be too exaggerated.¡±


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


    ¡°Maximus, we¡¯re not even sure-¡±


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


    ¡°As for your son, I hope you¡¯ll give me a chance to help raise him. I ept himpletely and want to get to know him, too, if you let me.¡±


    ¡°If you¡¯re using my child-¡±


    ¡°Is that how you think of me?¡± he asked. I could feel his emotions for me, but it¡¯s different when it involves my child. No matter how much I want him, it¡¯s pointless if he can¡¯t understand or love my child the way a father should. Because I would never trade my child for him. ¡°I already said I am going to treat him like my own,¡± he finished.


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


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


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


    I thought he would rush the meeting, but that didn¡¯t happen. He listened to everything, so itsted longer, and we ended up having lunch in the meeting room, which I also ordered.


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


    ¡°Where are we going? My son is-¡±


    ¡°A special child. You already told me about it. We¡¯re taking him to our doctor because we¡¯re also getting the results of yourbs and your DNA test.¡±


    I couldn¡¯t respond to what he said. ¡°Look, I know everything is happening so fast between us, and I understand if you¡¯re a bit surprised or confused. But I don¡¯t want to waste any more time. I want to be with you and our child, so please let me.¡±


    ¡°My DNA? Who did you match it with?¡±


    ¡°With your parents, who else?¡±


    ¡°My parents?¡± I was stunned because I didn¡¯t think I had any parents left, at least Sarina. I felt overwhelming happiness and excitement. ¡°How did you-¡±


    ¡°The envelope Aries asked you to bring to my condo contained documents about you and the hair samples we requested from your parents forparison.¡±


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


    ¡°Shh¡­ don¡¯t cry, my wife.¡± But even with hisforting words, I continued to cry out of joy, anxiety, and fear. I didn¡¯t want to be disappointed, so I didn¡¯t want to hope too much. And then Maximus added the words ¡°my parents.¡±


    ¡°Maximus, I won¡¯t be able to handle it if all of this isn¡¯t true.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve already told you, I know what I feel, and I¡¯m telling you that I only ever felt this way with my wife.¡±


    ¡°What if you just feel strongly about me?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s possible, but it shouldn¡¯t be like this. How could my feelings for my wife and for you be the same? I don¡¯t believe in coincidences, especially when your personalities and voices are identical. You can even ask Aries.¡±


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


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


    If I look at Maximus, I don¡¯t think he¡¯s romantic. Maybe that¡¯s how much he loves his wife, that he can show her his most hidden self. ¡°Thank you, Maximus. And I hope I am the wife you¡¯ve been searching for.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sure of it,¡± he replied confidently.


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


    Even though I was a bit nervous, I gathered my courage to face the results of mybs, especially the DNA test that I didn¡¯t even know Maximus had arranged. He said it wouldn¡¯t be necessary if it were up to him, but he wanted me to feel at ease, so he did it anyway.


    Before this, he had already thought of doing it, ording to Sir Aries. His assistant worried I wouldn¡¯t believe him if he told me outright that I was his long-lost wife.


    Sir Aries also arranged to talk to my parents. But they didn¡¯t give them any false hope because they were concerned it might harm the elderly couple if they got their hopes up. They just gave an excuse to confirm something, and my parents didn¡¯t ask any more questions.


    We passed the house, and Eunice and the others were surprised when they saw Maximus with me. They didn¡¯t expect me to be with my boss, and I didn¡¯t tell them about us yet. I just said my boss knew a good doctor who could help my son.


    They were even more surprised when Maximus hugged Chase as if he had missed him so much. I felt like crying but held back because I didn¡¯t want them to notice or get suspicious. It was better if they knew nothing about what was happening. I didn¡¯t want to worry them either.


    Afterward, we went straight to the hospital. We first saw the pediatrician, who was introduced to Maximus by his doctor friend, who would be the one to check on Chase. The doctor was very pleasant, so my son wasn¡¯t afraid and delighted listening to what she said.


    Then, the doctor talked to me while Maximus yed with my son nearby. ¡°Mr. Lardizabal said to do all the tests that can be done on him, so we¡¯ll start withb tests because Mr. Lardizabal mentioned that you had been drugged before, so that might be rted to Chase¡¯s condition now.¡±


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


    ¡°Do whatever is necessary,¡± I replied. After a few more reminders, I approached Maximus and couldn¡¯t help but hug my son tightly.


    ¡°M-Mommm, w-what¡¯s w-wrong?¡± he asked innocently.


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


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

 Chapter 59

    Be


    I couldn¡¯t take my eyes off the envelope Dr. Jerold handed Maximus while Chase sat on myp. I was feeling nervous and excited at the same time. I was so intrigued by the truth that I silently prayed to God to give me back to the right person-someone who would care for me and my son.


    Maximus looked at me, indirectly asking me if he should open it, and I nodded at him in agreement. I felt a mix of nervousness, fear, and excitement, and my prayer intensified that I was indeed Maximus¡¯ missing wife.


    Dr. Jerold remained there, his face stoic, though I felt he already knew the result. I hugged Chase tightly and closed my eyes, bowing my headpletely as Maximus began reading the documents. I could hear the rustling of the paper every time he turned a page until there was silence, which made me slowly open my eyes and look up.


    Maximus and I locked eyes and waited for him to tell me the result. We sat beside each other, so he quickly embraced me, and I felt his deep sigh. What did that mean? Was he wrong?


    Slowly, sadness engulfed me as I had hoped that I was indeed his missing wife. Tears began to fall, born from disappointment. ¡°D-Daddy.¡±


    I was about to look at Chase, who I was still holding, but Maximus stopped me, and it seemed he didn¡¯t want to let go of us. ¡°I told you, I could never be wrong about you-my wife.¡±


    My eyes widened, and I looked up at him, meeting his gaze. He smiled sweetly at me, even though his eyes were still teary. I gave him a questioning look, and he nodded. The tears I had been holding back finally flowed freely.


    ¡°My wife¡­¡± Maximus said. ¡°Finally, you¡¯vee back.¡±


    My boss, now confirmed to be my true husband, kissed me, and I felt his embrace tighten around me and Chase.


    ¡°Thank God you found her, Maximus,¡± Dr. Jerold said, drawing our attention to him. He was smiling now, clearly happy for us. ¡°And surely, that handsome boy is your son, too?¡±


    Maximus nodded, grinning widely. ¡°Grandma will be surprised when she sees my son.¡± He then took Chase from myp, pulling me closer possessively with one arm while holding the boy in the other.N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights.


    ¡°Won¡¯t she be more upset that I already have a child?¡±


    ¡°Even if Grandma doesn¡¯t ept you right now, I assure you that her heart will soften for our son,¡± he answered, making me crease my forehead. I don¡¯t know why he said that when his grandma was so angry when Midori told her about me having a child and went hysterical.


    ¡°Does she like children?¡± I asked, puzzled.


    ¡°He looks exactly like Uncle Mauricio,¡± Dr. Jerold interjected, causing me to frown as I looked at him. ¡°He¡¯s Maximus¡¯s father.¡±


    My son looks like Maximus¡¯s father? Is that why he hugged Chase so tightly when we picked him up? ¡°Sadly, I need to do another DNA test just to ease my wife¡¯s mind.¡±


    ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we skip that?¡± I asked him. ¡°I¡¯ve been away for three years or so, and all that time, I thought I was married to-¡± damn, I didn¡¯t even want to mention that wretched man¡¯s name. ¡°I thought I was married to that man, and after I opened my eyes and he told me about us being married, things happened between us and¡± I couldn¡¯t finish my sentence as Maximus stopped me.


    ¡°Shhh¡­ you don¡¯t need to think about that anymore. It¡¯s not important to me. What¡¯s important is that you¡¯re here, we¡¯re together again, and we have our son.¡±


    Why do I feel so lucky to have him? ¡°Maybe I really loved you so much before. I mean, you¡¯re so caring and very understanding.¡± Dr. Jeroldughed as soon as I said that, causing me to look at him. ¡°Why?¡± I asked, curious. Did I say something wrong?


    ¡°He has loved you deeply for a long time, but you towards him?¡± the doctor replied, shaking his head and grinning.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t love you?¡± I asked Maximus, wide-eyed.


    ¡°But you love me now, right? You can feel it, can¡¯t you?¡± he answered with a grin. ¡°And I haven¡¯t hidden anything from you; you know everything now,¡± he quickly added.


    ¡°You better be sure, Maximus, or else¡­ After making me so happy, I swear-¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s your fault- you shouldn¡¯t have said that because my wife and I are okay now,¡± he scolded the doctor, who just chuckled.


    ¡°But Sarina- wait, I can call you that now, right?¡± he asked, and I looked at Maximus before nodding at the doctor, who smiled as well. ¡°All I can say is that Maximus did everything to get your attention. So I know and am certain that he loves you very much.¡±


    ¡°Thank you for reassuring me, Dr. Jerold,¡± I told him sincerely.


    ¡°Now that everything¡¯s clear, let¡¯s discuss the next topic.¡± I looked at Maximus before turning back to the doctor.


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± I asked, curious.


    ¡°You are still suffering from memory loss, and I think it¡¯s serious.¡± That¡¯s what I thought so. How could I not remember anything from my past? Myself, my family, and everything between Maximus and me. Aside from those dreams or hearing voices after my job interview with this man beside me, I had nothing.


    ¡°Yes, about that. What should we do? She doesn¡¯t remember anything except after waking up from thea.¡± The concern was evident on Maximus¡¯s face as he asked that.


    ¡°The results of all her tests are out, and it looks like it will take some time before some of her memories return, if at all. She was regrly taking her medication, and we¡¯re just lucky that it didn¡¯t damage her body. I¡¯m also certain she was taking the medication while pregnant with Chase.¡±


    I felt an overwhelming anger towards that man. If Chase and I had stayed with him longer, we might not be here now. I was so grateful that a kind police officer found us when we had a chance to escape. Thank God for bringing us back to my husband.

 Chapter 60

    Sarina


    After we talked to Dr. Jerold, we took care of Chase¡¯sboratory tests. It¡¯s okay that no DNA will happen because I trust my husbandpletely. ¡°No, I want to brag about being sure I love you and our family.¡±


    I smiled at Maximus and nodded. After taking blood and whatever else was needed to check Chase¡¯s condition, we left the hospital. I thought we were going home, but not yet.


    ¡°It¡¯s almost dinner time, so let¡¯s eat first,¡± he said as we got into the car. ¡°What do you want to eat?¡± he asked me before turning to Chase, ¡°How about you, my boy? What do you want to have for dinner?¡±


    Even though my son is a special child, he can still talk to anyone; it¡¯s just that he can¡¯t make eye contact directly with anyone he talks to.


    ¡°A-any-thing m-momm l-likes,¡± he replied, smiling. Maximus was carrying him, and I¡¯m sure that the feeling was new to him, but I¡¯m d that he didn¡¯t see his abusive father as the man holding him.


    ¡°Wow! My son and I still love mommy very much,¡± Maximus said proudly before ruffling his hair. My husband turned to the driver, and he told him the restaurant¡¯s name.


    Arriving at the restaurant, the waitress guided us to our table. She left us for a moment to get Chase a high chair, which my son liked, and Maximus quickly sat him there.


    I sat on my husband¡¯s right side because Chase was on his left. I want to be with him, just the two of us, but the happiness I feel now that we are a whole family is beyond measure.


    I never thought I would experience so much joy and that my son would experience being loved by his father. My gratitude to the Lord is eternal because he did not let my Chase suffer so much at the hands of that animal man.


    Another thing I am thankful for is that he is not my real husband. Yes, I feel something strange in my body when I think of him touching me and the many times that something has happened to us. That¡¯s why I never feel like doing it with me on top of him. It doesn¡¯t feel good, except that I think it was my obligation to give that to him as his wife.Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org.


    I looked at Maximus and how he cared for Chase; I couldn¡¯t help but smile because they looked so good. If he is the real father of my child, that means I was pregnant when we were apart. I am proud of my son because he is strong enough to ovee everything he went through while I was carrying him in my womb.


    Maximus turned to look at me and waved his hand in front of my face. ¡°I know my son and I are handsome, so I can understand if you¡¯re dumbfounded, but I hope you eat because if you don¡¯t, I¡¯ll be the one who will feed you like I always did.¡±


    My face turned red because of what he said. Is that true? Does he pamper me so much? Is he feeding me like a child? Maybe he is feeding me with something else; he looks like a sex maniac to me with the way he looks at me. ¡°Yes, my wife, I¡¯ll even thrust my dick if you will not shut your mouth and don¡¯t fix your face like you really want me to do that to you,¡± he added as if reading my thoughts.


    I sat up because of what he said and picked up the spoon and fork to eat while Maximus continuedughing, to which I proved to be sly and maniac. Well, it¡¯s not that I don¡¯t want to, as long as he ensures he¡¯s only mine and no one else.


    ¡°My son is so good, and he eats well; I¡¯m sure he will make many happy women when he grows up,¡± my maniac husband said while feeding his gaping son.


    ¡°Maximus!¡± I eximed. ¡°Are you crazy? What eats well, and many women will be happy, are you saying? What are you talking about there?¡±


    ¡°You see, he¡¯s about to run out of food, so he eats well. Besides, many girls will be happy because he is very handsome, especially when he grows up. After all, we look alike. What are you thinking?¡± It¡¯s shameless, and I¡¯m still the one whoes out dirty and dirty-minded.


    I just shook my head and continued eating. At the same time, Maximus looked at me as if teasing me and continued doing it until we finished our meal. He even looked happy, seeing how embarrassed I was.


    ¡°Look at your Mom, son. Isn¡¯t she pretty?¡±


    ¡°M-Moommm, p-pretty.¡± I smiled at my son¡¯s approval, to which he even apuded. My husband is very happy. I feel overwhelmed, and I¡¯m sure anyone who sees us will think we are a happy family.


    The three of us left the restaurant while Maximus and I were holding hands, and he was carrying Chase on the other side. My happiness is boundless, and I hope it will never end. I like how I feel; it makes me feel satisfied with my life.


    We were almost in the car when Midori suddenly appeared in front of us. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± It was a strange question. ¡°I knew it; I was right! You¡¯re really seducing my fiance!!¡± she shouted angrily and tried to attack me. Still, Maximus quickly pulled her away from me.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you darey a finger on my wife, or else..¡± Maximus threatened, causing the woman to look at us from side to side before looking at Chase curiously.


    ¡°Wife? You get yourself a wife with baggage? And look at him, he¡¯s abnormal!¡± Midori shouted, making me angry. But Maximus shouted back at her before I could say anything to her.


    ¡°Midori! Don¡¯t you dare say anything like that to my son!¡±


    ¡°What? Wife and now a son? Is he your son? What really is wrong with you, Maximus? Have you gone crazy? Is that what that bitch Sarina did to you after she died?¡±


    The bowlegged woman still didn¡¯t want to stop, and I knew Maximus was very angry because of what she said. So before he could do something bad, I pulled him away from Midori, who was still screaming as we entered the car, and that¡¯s when my ears seemed to rx.

 Chapter 61

    Sarina


    I still can¡¯t believe what¡¯s happening. After leaving the restaurant, we went home to pick up some of Chase¡¯s and my things from Aunt Marga¡¯s house. She cried when she found out we were leaving to live with Maximus. Aunt Amor hugged my son, who had grown very dear to her. Unaware of everything, my son smiled at her and hugged her as if he didn¡¯t want to leave her.


    Now, we¡¯re at Maximus¡¯ condo. We immediately rested and fell asleep together. The next morning, his maid, Lisa, arrived, clearly surprised by our presence. She wanted to ask questions, and Maximus exined everything to her.


    ¡°Really?¡± the old woman said, her voice trembling, but she smiled at me and Chase.


    ¡°Yes, Lisa,¡± Maximus replied happily. His smile was wide and filled with joy and happiness. It was genuine because I had never seen someone smile like he did now.


    ¡°Oh dear, I never thought I would be able to see you again. I began to lose hope that Sir Maximus would return to himself-you know, the way he was when you were still here,¡± Lisa said emotionally. It was clear that she was concerned about me and her boss.


    ¡°Thank you for not giving up on him, Lisa.¡± I replied sincerely.


    We had breakfast and let Lisa y with Chase while Maximus and I took our things to our bedroom, which we had left in the living room the night before. I noticed there were women¡¯s clothes in the closet. ¡°Those are all yours; I never took them out.¡± I looked at him in disbelief. Did he really love me that much? ¡°I never had anyone else, my wife.¡±


    My forehead furrowed as I remembered seeing hime out of the other room freshly showered, so I couldn¡¯t help but ask him about it. ¡°I always remember you when I sleep in this room. That¡¯s why I decided to use the other room.¡±


    ¡°Aww¡­ my poor husband. No wonder you were willing to give Midori a chance in your office,¡± I teased him, recalling the scene I witnessed with the bowlegged woman.


    ¡°I already told you, my wife, I didn¡¯t even get aroused. And I wanted her to know that no matter what she does, she can¡¯t reignite my desire. I tried doing it, but I couldn¡¯t. I kept thinking of you.¡±


    ¡°Aha! So you tried with another woman too¡­¡±


    ¡°My wife, please¡­ don¡¯t be mad. I felt so miserable at that time, and I thought it would ease the pain and sadness of losing you. But then I realized it didn¡¯t. No matter what happens or what I do, I still can¡¯t forget you.¡±


    ¡°So, it wasn¡¯t just Midori you messed around with in your office?¡±


    ¡°No, my wife. Nothing happened between Midori and me, and that was the only time. I made love with only one woman in my office, and that¡¯s you.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re full of excuses¡­¡± I teased him again, but in truth, I was thrilled. I was happy to know how much he loved me. Even when everyone thought I was dead, he never lost hope. ¡°Ah!¡± I gasped when he suddenly lifted me and pressed me against the closet door.


    ¡°Believe me, my wife, there was no one else.¡± Then he kissed me, and I kissed him back. I would believe everything he said. After all that happened to us, even during our separation, I think it strengthened our bond and made me love him even more.


    ¡°Thank you, Maximus, for not giving up on me. Even though I can¡¯t remember our past, you are somehow important to me.¡±


    ¡°Even if you don¡¯t remember, you¡¯re still the same,¡± he said, which puzzled me.


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°You still can¡¯t say ¡®I love you¡¯.¡± He didn¡¯t seem upset; maybe he had already epted that about me.


    ¡°I never said that to you?¡±


    ¡°I had to force you,¡± he said, sounding sulky. I smiled before cupping his face with both hands.


    ¡°Even though I don¡¯t remember, I feel something for you.¡±


    ¡°Do you feel that you love me?¡± he asked.


    ¡°I feel that you¡¯re good at making love.¡± He frowned, so Iughed before kissing him. ¡°I love you, my husband. I love you, Maximus Lardizabal.¡± I sincerely said after our long and passionate kiss.


    He put me down, and we continued organizing my things. Then Chase was in the other room while Lisa continued caring for him. Our son woulde in asionally, so we left the door open.Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org.


    Maximus didn¡¯t go to the office that day and just instructed Sir Aries on what to do and prioritize. He said, ¡°It¡¯s okay if they¡¯re still willing and don¡¯t have jobs yet.¡± I asked him who he referred to, and he said his former secretaries. I smiled and nodded. Based on what his assistant and thepany gossip said when I started working for him, they were excellent and capable. Still, they just got tired of understanding my husband, who was always angry because of my disappearance.


    Maximus told me he wouldn¡¯t go to work until Friday, so we could spend time as a family over the weekend. He also hired a nanny for Chase, which I objected to since I would be staying at home anyway. But he insisted because he wanted us to sleep together at night and didn¡¯t want Chase sleeping alone in his room, so he said we needed a nanny.


    I didn¡¯t argue anymore because it seemed he wouldn¡¯t back down, either. Maybe it¡¯s a good idea; at least we¡¯ll have someone with us during the day while he¡¯s busy with work.


    I finished putting Chase¡¯sst piece of clothing in the closet when Maximus suddenly spoke from behind me. ¡°My wife, do you want to meet your parents?¡±


    I turned to look at him, not knowing what to say. Even though, ording to him, my family misses me, I still feel nervous. I look different now. What if they don¡¯t believe that I am their child? I wouldn¡¯t have any answers if they asked me about my past. Fear and anxiety started to overwhelm me.

 Chapter 62

    SarinaBelonging ? N?velDram/a.Org.


    Lisa had just left around 4 p. m., and Maximus and I were having a snack while watching our son y with his Legos. It was the first toy I bought for him with my first paycheck as my husband¡¯s secretary. Aunt Amor didn¡¯t forget to give it to him before we leftst night because she said it was Chase¡¯s favorite toy.


    ¡°Maybe our son will grow up to be an engineer. Or perhaps he¡¯ll own a construction business and have a big family,¡± Maximus said, smiling as he looked at Chase. I nced at him after he said those words.


    ¡°Why do you say that?¡± I asked curiously, also looking at our son.


    ¡°Look at him, he¡¯s really good at building.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re such a silly man, always thinking about perverted things.¡±


    He justughed while I yfully pped him. ¡°Why is it wrong to dream of a big family for our son? You and your brother grew up together, but I didn¡¯t have that.¡±


    He stood up from the couch and offered me his hand, which I epted. He invited me to join Chase on the floor, and we yed with him. Our son was delighted to see Maximus and I building something with him.


    ¡°M-Mommy, s-sleepy,¡± Chase said a little whileter. Maximus and I exchanged nces before I stood up, and my husband did the same, carrying our son to our bedroom.


    ¡°You can sleep, my son.¡± I smiled at what Maximus said as heid Chase down. I sat on the bed to lie beside him. It was an odd time to sleep, but I knew he¡¯d only get crankier if I didn¡¯t let him.


    ¡°I¡¯ll just clean up his toys in the living room,¡± my husband said, and I nodded before gently patting Chase.


    Maximus left, but he left the door slightly ajar. I didn¡¯t mind since it was just the three of us here.


    I felt my son hug me, so I adjusted myself to lie down and fully snuggled up next to him. I wanted to join Maximus in the living room, but my son needed me more.


    Maximus and I needed to discuss many things because I wanted to know many things about myself and our past. I wanted him to tell me about what we used to do, hoping that it might bring back some of the memories that had been erased from my mind.


    It would be nice to remember our yful moments, knowing how perverted my husband is. I¡¯m sure he was always taking advantage of me, and I¡¯m also sure I liked it.


    My cheeks flushed as I remembered how he made love to me. I recalled how he devoured me a few days ago, leading us to stay in his condo.


    The pleasure he gave me was so intense that I¡¯m sure I never turned him down. I might even have been the one to initiate it sometimes. Well, we are married, so there¡¯s no shame in that. And wow, I¡¯m such a screamer. It¡¯s a good thing Maximus didn¡¯t scold me for that.


    When I nced at my son, he was already asleep. My thoughts turned to the shameless man who pretended to be my husband. I felt angry because he was why my son was like this now. I kissed Chase on the forehead and whispered, ¡°I promise, my son, Mommy, and Daddy will do everything to make you feel better.¡±


    I was about to get up when I heard the doorbell ring, but since Maximus was there, I knew he¡¯d answer it, so I didn¡¯t rush. Besides, I didn¡¯t want to risk waking my son, which might cause him to act up. That¡¯s what happens when his sleep is interrupted. He cries and cries, and it¡¯s heartbreaking to see him doing that.


    ¡°How dare you, Maximus!¡± I heard the angry voice of my husband¡¯s grandmother. I suddenly massaged my temple because I knew she would start her endless nagging again.


    ¡°Keep your voice down, Grandma,¡± Maximus said softly. Should I go out or not? If she sees me, she might make even more noise. But it seems disrespectful if I don¡¯t face her.


    ¡°Don¡¯t shush me, Maximus. I¡¯m your grandmother and have the right to scold you if I know you¡¯re doing something wrong!¡± The olddy was still angry, but I continued listening. ¡°Now, tell me, is it true what Midori said, that you were with your employeest night and called her your wife?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Maximus answered without hesitation.


    ¡°What?¡± his grandmother eximed. ¡°So, it¡¯s also true that the woman has a child, and he¡¯s abnormal?¡±


    ¡°Stop calling my son abnormal, Grandma.¡± I could hear the restraint in my husband¡¯s voice, and I felt sorry for him because he had to defend us to his grandmother, whom I know he also loves.


    ¡°Stop it, Maximus. That child isn¡¯t yours. He¡¯s the child of your flirtatious secretary who seduced you.¡±


    ¡°She didn¡¯t seduce me, Grandma, so don¡¯t say that. How often do I have to tell you that I chased after my wife, not vice versa? I was the one who made a way for her to marry me. She keeps pushing me away, but I don¡¯t want that because I can¡¯t live without her!¡± My husband spoke rapidly, and I was touched by his words as he took all of his grandmother¡¯s anger for my sake.


    ¡°Maximus, please open your eyes. She¡¯s not good for you. It¡¯s fine that Sarina is out of your life. You should focus on Midori. Why do you have to look elsewhere?¡±


    ¡°Grandma, you don¡¯t understand. The woman you¡¯re speaking ill of is my wife, Sarina. And you¡¯re dragging our son into this. Have you seen him? If you saw Chase right now, you wouldn¡¯t say those things about him.¡±


    ¡°Sarina? What do you mean, Sarina?¡±


    ¡°My secretary is none other than Sarina. Someone took her away from me, and she escaped, so she returned to me.¡±


    ¡°And that¡¯s what she told you, and you believed it?¡±


    ¡°No, Grandma. That¡¯s what I told her, and she didn¡¯t want to believe it, so I had to get a DNA test just to prove it to her.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re crazy, Maximus. That woman has really poisoned your mind.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m the one poisoning my wife¡¯s mind now just so he can ept the truth that we¡¯re married. So please, let me be happy.¡±


    Maximus¡¯ voice was so sorrowful that I decided toe out. Never mind if his grandmother gets angrier, but I couldn¡¯t stand hearing my husband¡¯s suffering because of me and our son. I was about to walk towards the door when my cell phone, which was in my pocket, rang. I took it out and saw that Eunice was calling, so I quickly answered it.


    ¡°Hello?¡±


    ¡°Hello, Be. A man came to the house looking for you. I didn¡¯t like the look of him, but I told him you don¡¯t live here anymore.¡± Who could that be?

 Chapter 63

    Maximus


    ¡°Grandma, please don¡¯t judge my wife because shees from a poor background. I don¡¯t want to argue with you about this anymore. Don¡¯t you want me to be happy with the person I love, who also loves me?¡± I know Sarina can hear us, and I¡¯m worried about what she might think because of what my grandmother says about her.


    ¡°If that woman truly loves you, she should know what¡¯s best for you,¡± my grandmother insisted.


    ¡°My wife can¡¯t remember anything right now. She doesn¡¯t know what happened to us before, and she especially doesn¡¯t know about her real family. We were just starting to live our family life together, and you don¡¯t know how happy I am.¡±


    ¡°You really won¡¯t listen to me, no matter what I say, will you?¡± she asked, sounding hurt. I took a deep breath before answering.


    ¡°I¡¯m already married. I hope you understand that. I¡¯m sorry if I¡¯ve disappointed you, but you saw how I was when I thought my wife was gone. And I hope you can also see how happy I am now that she¡¯s back with our child.¡±


    I wanted to continue talking, but I felt Sarina gently holding my hand. I looked at her and breathed a sigh of relief when I saw her smiling face before she turned to my grandmother.


    ¡°I know you¡¯re only considering Maximus¡¯s well-being, Mrs. Lardizabal. Believe it or not, I understand you because I only want what¡¯s best for my son. But please allow us to be happy so I can prove that I am the right person to be your grandson¡¯s wife. I promise I will take care of him and love him more than I love myself.¡±


    ¡°My wife,¡± I said, overwhelmed with happiness. I, too, am ready to do everything for her. I looked at my grandmother and noticed she was staring at Sarina as if weighing the sincerity in her words.N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights.


    ¡°You can be angry with me, and I won¡¯t stop you from saying anything against me. But please, don¡¯t involve my innocent child. He didn¡¯t ask to be born into this world, let alone be mine and Maximus¡¯s son.¡±


    ¡°I must admit, you¡¯re brave to face me like this. But remember this, I will never ept you for my grandson.¡± I felt disheartened by what my grandmother said, but I could do nothing about it either. I couldn¡¯t force her to like the woman I love, and I certainly couldn¡¯t leave Sarina and our child just to make her happy.


    ¡°And you, Maximus,¡± she turned to me. ¡°I have no choice but to let you handle thepany your father left behind. I know that even if I took everything from you, you would rise again, especially since you know you have a Mariano who¡¯s ready to help you in addition to your business management skills. But that¡¯s where it ends. Even if my timees, the only connection we¡¯ll have left will be through thepany.¡±


    My grandmother turned her back after saying those words. Is there really no chance we can be a happy family with her? I felt Sarina gently squeeze my hand, so I looked at her.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry it had toe to this,¡± she said sadly. But I shook my head and gave her a bitter smile.


    ¡°It¡¯s not your fault, certainly not your fault, so you don¡¯t need to apologize to me or my grandmother.¡± I didn¡¯t want her to carry the burden of the words my grandmother left with me. If that happened, she would only feel guilty and constantly me herself.


    ¡°Thank you, Maximus.¡±


    ¡°For what?¡± I asked her, puzzled. She embraced me, and of course, I hugged her back. She looked up while I bent down so our eyes could meet.


    ¡°Thank you for standing up for me and Chase. I feel so lucky to have someone like you as my husband. I couldn¡¯t ask for anything more, but now I must keep praying that your grandmother will ept Chase and me.¡±


    ¡°My grandmother will change her mind. Don¡¯t take her words too much to heart. I know her, and I know how much she loves me. I love her so much because she only wants what¡¯s best for me.¡±


    ¡°And I promise I¡¯ll never be angry with her, even if she doesn¡¯t like me. That¡¯s because I know how much she loves you.¡±


    I kissed her deeply because of what she said, and she responded just as sweetly. I know there may be many more challenges we¡¯ll face as a married couple. But because of our love for each other, I know we¡¯ll ovee them.


    The days passed, and as I had told her, we were just together as a family. Her, me, and Chase. I took them to a house I started building before we went to Las Vegas. Fortunately, Aries didn¡¯t neglect it, so it¡¯s in good condition now, even though construction got dyed because of what happened to my wife.


    We¡¯re about to move in, and I also told Lisa that she could stay in and bring her husband, whom I¡¯ve hired as my wife and son¡¯s driver, in case I¡¯m too busy to apany them.


    It was a Saturday, and we were resting at the condo, waiting for the time because we needed to go to the hospital for Chase¡¯s check-up, when I received a call from Mariano. ¡°Hello,¡±


    ¡°Are you busy?¡± he asked. I hadn¡¯t told him about Sarina yet, and I knew he¡¯d be surprised.


    ¡°Yes, why?¡±


    ¡°I need to talk to you.¡±


    ¡°About what?¡±


    ¡°About my reason foring here.¡± Oh right. He mentioned he was following a man who killed his own wife. But why does he want to talk to me about that?


    ¡°Is it that important?¡± I asked. Maybe he¡¯d ask me toe to the hotel, but I didn¡¯t want to leave my wife and son.


    ¡°Very important, so let¡¯s meet.¡± I knew it. I looked at Sarina, who was now ying with our son.


    ¡°Okay, I will meet youter.¡±


    ¡°Okay, see you.¡± Our conversation ended, and my wife looked at me.


    ¡°Are you going somewhere?¡± Sarina asked.


    ¡°Yes. Mariano wants to meet me.¡±


    ¡°Your brother?¡± I nodded at her before she continued. ¡°Is it far from the hospital? You can just drop us off and then go straight to him.¡±


    ¡°Are you okay with that?¡± I asked worriedly.


    ¡°Yes, of course. If you¡¯re not around, Chase and I will just go to the check-up anyway since that¡¯s already part of my n, especially now that I¡¯m earning a good sry as your secretary.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, my wife.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re wee, my husband.¡±


    ¡°But wait for me there because I¡¯ll pick you up, okay? You can stay in Dr. Jerold¡¯s office, and I¡¯ll leave a word with him to look after you and Chase.¡±


    ¡°Okidoki,¡± she replied cheerfully. I don¡¯t think there will be any problems since I feel such happiness. I just hope my conversation with Mariano goes quickly.

 Chapter 64

    Maximus


    ¡°Bye, my wife. Remember, I¡¯lle back for you and Chase hereter, okay?¡± I said to my wife.


    ¡°Yes, yes, you¡¯re so persistent,¡± sheughed. We were standing in front of Dr. Jerold¡¯s office. I looked at our son before picking him up and speaking to him.


    ¡°My son, Daddy will just go and see your uncle. I will be back soon, okay?¡±


    ¡°D-Daddy g-go. S-See y-you.¡± I smiled at his response. Even though I feel sorry for his condition, I can¡¯t help but admire him because he¡¯s not like other kids who are very restless. It¡¯s as if he really understands what we¡¯re saying to him.


    I left them and headed to the Luxuria Hotel, where Mariano was. I¡¯d also like to take this opportunity to tell him that I¡¯ve found Sarina. I¡¯m sure he¡¯ll be incredibly happy.


    I saw how much he worried about me in the past few years. He didn¡¯t even take care of himself because of my requests. He kept promising, so I also promised myself that no matter what happens, I¡¯ll help and support him as much as I can.


    The traffic was a bit heavy, so I thought of calling my wife and son while I couldn¡¯t move forward. I guess I really love them this much because, as much as possible, I don¡¯t want to be far from them. ¡°Hi, my wife.¡±


    ¡°Oh, where are you?¡± she asked curiously.


    ¡°The traffic is bad, but I¡¯m almost at the hotel.¡±


    ¡°Okay. Chase and I are still here in Dr. Jerold¡¯s office. There are two more patients, so the pediatrician said we could stay here, and they¡¯lle get us when it¡¯s our son¡¯s turn.¡±


    ¡°How¡¯s my little man?¡± I asked, and Sarina put the camera on Chase. He smiled when he saw me, which made me very happy.


    ¡°D-Daddy¡­¡±


    ¡°Yes, son, it¡¯s me, your daddy.¡± After I said that, the traffic started moving again, but I didn¡¯t end the call. While I¡¯m not yet at the hotel, I want to see and talk to them, especially since they¡¯re not doing anything.


    We kept chatting, and I was extremely happy. Is this how husbands and fathers feel when they talk to their families? A few momentster, I reached the hotel and said goodbye to my wife and son after getting out of the car.


    ¡°Okay, my husband. Take care,¡± Sarina reminded me.


    ¡°I love you, my wife.¡±


    ¡°I love you too, Maximus Lardizabal.¡± She smiled at me, and her words melted my heart. She ended the call, so I walked towards the elevator and went straight to Mariano¡¯s hotel room.


    When I reached the door, I rang the doorbell, and it didn¡¯t take long for it to open, revealing Mariano¡¯s face. ¡°Finally!¡± he eximed, which made meugh, causing his forehead to wrinkle.


    ¡°What?¡± I asked curiously as I walked in and closed the door. I walked ahead of him towards the living room, and I could feel him following me. I sat on one of the couches and casually crossed my legs.


    Mariano¡¯s face still looked puzzled as he stared at me, and I knew he was curious to know why I was in such high spirits. I didn¡¯t say a word and just stared back at him. I¡¯ll let him get confused thinking about what was happening to me.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to tell me what¡¯s going on?¡± he asked, sitting heavily on the couch before me.


    ¡°You¡¯re the one who invited me here and has something to tell me, right?¡± I replied, raising my eyebrows yfully.


    ¡°Come on, Maximus. I know something is going on.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about. Why don¡¯t you tell me why I¡¯m here instead?¡± He took a deep breath, but he looked at me as if he didn¡¯t believe I had no idea what he was talking about.


    ¡°Anyway, let¡¯s get serious.¡± The sudden seriousness of his face made me nervous. I don¡¯t know why, but it seemed like he was bringing bad news because of the change in his expression.


    ¡°Tell me already,¡± I said impatiently.


    ¡°I still couldn¡¯t find the man I¡¯m looking for.¡± He started, but I still couldn¡¯t see the connection to me. I wanted him to get straight to the point, so I said,


    ¡°So?¡±


    ¡°I received a report from one of my men and found out that he had been living with his wife and son for the past three years.¡±


    ¡°Wait, wait, wait, wait,¡± I said, stopping him. ¡°As far as I can remember, you told me that he was wanted for murdering his wife.¡± He nodded, so I continued. ¡°Then, what¡¯s with the report?¡±


    ¡°Exactly. So, let me finish,¡± he replied, and I calmed myself so he would continue. ¡°As I was saying, his friends and his wife¡¯s friends said that it was impossible that his wife was already dead because they still saw them together.¡±


    I still couldn¡¯t understand, but I felt more nervous. ¡°Please don¡¯t tell me that it has something to do with me,¡± I said, but that wasn¡¯t what he said.


    ¡°The police conducted a search in his house and gathered some evidence. In one of the reports, a fingerprint matches Sarina¡¯s.¡±


    ¡°No, that can¡¯t be true.¡± I shook my head in disbelief.


    ¡°I double-checked it, and it¡¯s true. You know that I haven¡¯t stopped searching for your wife, right? I promised you, so I came here to look for that man.¡±N?velDrama.Org is the owner.


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± I asked, confused.


    ¡°The wife their friends may be referring to was your wife, Sarina. That crazy man is a surgeon, so it was easy for him to change her face.¡±


    ¡°Mariano, my wife is back,¡± I told him, leaving him stunned. He was momentarily speechless, trying to process what I had just said.


    ¡°Is that why you looked so happy earlier?¡± he asked once he regained hisposure, to which I nodded.


    ¡°But that happiness has started fading because of what you said. Sarina came back with a different face and with memory loss.¡±


    ¡°How sure are you that she¡¯s really her?¡±


    ¡°I felt it, and I conducted a DNA test because she didn¡¯t want to believe me either.¡±


    ¡°Maximus,¡± he called me as he took his phone from his pocket and scrolled before showing me a photo. ¡°Does Sarina look like this now?¡± he asked, and my eyes widened. From his reaction, I didn¡¯t need to answer his question. ¡°Let me remind you that I came here because that bastard is here, and I still haven¡¯t found him.¡±


    When he said that, everything suddenly sank in. Are my wife and son in danger? I won¡¯t be able to ept it if something bad happens to them.


    ¡°Maximus!¡± Mariano called me again, so I looked at him. ¡°Where is Sarina now?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Shit! Sarina and our son!¡± I eximed when I understood what he meant.

 Chapter 65

    Sarina


    ¡°Hello, my wife!¡± Why does his tone sound like that?


    ¡°My husband, did something happen? Why do you seem so anxious and scared?¡± I asked curiously.


    ¡°Where are you?¡± he asked instead of answering.


    ¡°I¡¯m still at the hospital, in Dr. Jerold¡¯s office. Why?¡±


    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you answer my calls?¡± He sounded worried and fearful, so I couldn¡¯t help but feel the same.


    ¡°After we talked earlier, a nurse suddenly arrived to take Chase for his check-up. I didn¡¯t notice that I left my phone on the chair, so I missed your calls. I called you right away when I saw the notification.¡±


    I heard him take a deep breath, which made me a little nervous. I feared that something bad might have happened to him. ¡°You haven¡¯t answered my question. Did something happen?¡±


    ¡°Nothing, I was just scared because you weren¡¯t answering my calls.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m fine, and so is Chase. Like you said, we¡¯re here in Dr. Jerold¡¯s office waiting, so just calm down, okay?¡± I reassured him.


    ¡°I¡¯m almost there, my wife; just wait for me.¡±


    ¡°Alright, my husband, we¡¯re just right here.¡± The call ended, and Chase and I waited in the doctor¡¯s office. Honestly, I couldn¡¯t help but feel nervous because it seemed like Maximus was worried about something. I suddenly remembered what Eunice told me the other day-that a man was looking for me. Should I tell my husband about that? But what if he starts worrying too much, and it turns out there¡¯s nothing to worry about?


    I couldn¡¯t help but think. I hugged my child tightly, fearing he might get caught up in any danger waiting for me. I can let anything happen to me, just not to my Chase.


    A few minutes passed, and suddenly, the door to Dr. Jerold¡¯s office opened, revealing Maximus. ¡°My wife,¡± he said, his voice full of concern. I knew then that he had a reason for being so worried, so I hugged him along with our child.


    ¡°Are you okay? Did something happen?¡± I asked after we separated, and I noticed the man standing behind him.


    ¡°Nothing, my wife. I was worried because I thought something bad had happened to you since you weren¡¯t answering my calls,¡± he answered the same. Does that mean I have nothing to worry about?


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry if I made you worry. Next time, I¡¯ll make sure to check my things first.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s fine, my wife. The important thing is that you and Chase are okay,¡± he replied. ¡°By the way, I introduced him to you in Vegas. Since you don¡¯t remember, let me introduce you to my brother, Mariano.¡±


    I looked at the man, and he smiled back before speaking, ¡°How are you, Sarina?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± He then looked at Chase, who was now in Maximus¡¯s arms.


    ¡°Son, meet Uncle Mariano,¡± my husband introduced.


    ¡°U-Uncle M-Mar, h-hi¡­¡±


    ¡°He looks familiar.¡± Mariano seemed amazed as he looked at our child. ¡°Yeah, he looks like your father!¡± he eximed, pointing at Maximus, who was nowughing.


    ¡°Yes, Dr. Jerold thinks so, too,¡± Maximus replied. ¡°Wait, where is he?¡± he asked me.


    ¡°He had a patient to attend to, so he left us here.¡± Maximus just nodded and suggested we go home.


    We left Dr. Jerold¡¯s office and walked towards the parking lot when I noticed a man acting strangely. I couldn¡¯t see his face clearly because he wore a hat and a jacket with a hood.


    I watched him carefully, but Maximus suddenly held my hand, so I walked with them until we reached the parking lot. Maximus drove, Mariano sat in the passenger seat, and Chase and I were in the back seat. My husband also texted Dr. Jerold to let him know that we left so he wouldn¡¯t worry if he returned and didn¡¯t find us there.


    Mariano stayed with us until we got to the condo, and based on my observation, it seemed like they wanted to talk about something or tell me something that I couldn¡¯t quite figure out. We were greeted by Lisa, who had temporarily be Chase¡¯s nanny and had not been going hometely. When we move to the new house that Maximus built, she and her husband will also live with us, per my husband¡¯s wishes.


    ¡°Come here, dear, and change your clothes,¡± said Lisa as she took Chase from me. My child understands Tagalog because that¡¯s how I speak to him when that despicable Ralph, who isn¡¯t really my husband or his father, isn¡¯t around.N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights.


    I then went straight to our room to change intofortable clothes before joining them again. They were both sitting on the couch facing each other and of course, I sat beside my husband. ¡°Were you talking about something important?¡± I asked, keeping my eyes on Maximus. I didn¡¯t want him to keep secrets from me, especially if it involved me and our child.


    ¡°We need to tell her, Max,¡± said Mariano, causing my husband to roll his eyes.


    ¡°Come on, my husband. Don¡¯t leave me in the dark.¡±


    ¡°I just didn¡¯t want you to worry.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m going to worry even more now. At least I¡¯ll be prepared for whatever may happen.¡± I insisted because I didn¡¯t want him to worry about me, which he surely would if I wasn¡¯t careful, especially when he returned to work in his office.


    ¡°It¡¯s about the man who imed you as his wife.¡± I froze because I didn¡¯t expect he would still be a problem.


    ¡°What about Ralph?¡± I asked.


    ¡°He¡¯s here in the Philippines,¡± Mariano replied.


    ¡°What?¡± I eximed.


    ¡°But don¡¯t worry, my wife. I¡¯m not going to let anything bad happen to you or Chase,¡± Maximus reassured me.


    ¡°I¡¯m also here to make sure that he won¡¯t be able to do anything to you and your family,¡± Mariano added.


    ¡°That¡¯s reassuring. But Ralph is¡­ I don¡¯t know how to say this. But he¡¯s crazy!¡± I said, my eyes wide. ¡°And if he¡¯s really here, then maybe he was the man Eunice was talking about.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean? Did something happen to them?¡± Maximus asked, concerned. I then told him what Eunice had told me when her grandmother visited the condo.


    ¡°Then she¡¯s not safe. We need to have someone look after her and your son.¡±


    ¡°I agree with you, Mariano.¡± Then Maximus looked at me, ¡°You should have told me about it. What if I had left you and Chase at the hospital, and he was there? If he followed you to Aunt Marga¡¯s ce, he could still follow you wherever you go, and I¡¯m sure he knows your true identity by now.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, my husband. I just forgot about it, and I only remembered it earlier,¡± I replied, lowering my head, then widening my eyes as I looked at Maximus again. ¡°Earlier at the hospital, I saw a man who seemed to be watching us. I didn¡¯t recognize him, but his build looked like Ralph¡¯s.¡±


    ¡°Shit!¡± Maximus cursed. The brothers looked at each other, and fear gripped me even more.

 Chapter 66

    Maximus


    I¡¯m relieved that Mariano is here. I¡¯m starting to feel nervous and scared for my wife and child. I immediately called Aries to let him know that I couldn¡¯t go to the office for a while. If I need to do anything, I¡¯ll just have him bring it to the condo. I don¡¯t want to leave my wife and child alone, especially with just Manang Lisa around. They wouldn¡¯t be able to do anything if something were to happen. I had Aries check out the man she mentioned, but he said the hospital¡¯s CCTV couldn¡¯t track him after he left his position.


    As Mariano wanted, we informed Sarina about everything regarding Ralph Mcire, whom she thought was her husband. She was utterly shocked and terrified when Kuya showed her the photos of the real wife of that criminal, whose body had been found.


    The real Be Mcire¡¯s body was found in their yard in L. A. Because Mariano never stopped searching and investigating Sarina¡¯s disappearance, he was always on the lookout for cases involving the death of a woman. He initially thought to ignore it, but his staff discovered an unidentified fingerprint at the crime scene, which led him to suspect something and investigate the case further.


    ¡°Thanks to Aries, he managed to send me information about Sarina,¡± Mariano said.


    ¡°Thank you for not giving up on me, Mariano,¡± my wife said sincerely.


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing. I promised my little brother I¡¯d find you, and I don¡¯t want to break that promise.¡± I smiled at his words, and so did my wife.


    That day ended with my brother returning to his hotel while we stayed at the condo. I contacted a few friends who knew of a good security agency and asked for help to find Ralph Mcire.


    No matter what happened, I didn¡¯t leave my wife and child¡¯s side, and it¡¯s probably for the best that Sarina knows everything now. At least she¡¯s cautious and vignt, especially when we go out.


    We¡¯re on our way to the house we¡¯ll be moving into, and I can see the excitement on Chase¡¯s face during the drive. He¡¯s now taking his medicine for his condition, along with regr check-ups and therapy. I¡¯m very grateful because he seems so brave, and of course, Sarina is incredibly strong as well.


    The house is in a private subdivision and is much bigger than my grandma¡¯s mansion, where I stayed while pretending to be blind and crippled. I want the best for my family, so I¡¯ll provide everything that can make their lives easier. Besides, the security here is very tight, which I like, so I boughtnd here and built a house.


    ¡°Wow, this is huge, hubby.¡± I looked at Sarina, and it was clear on her face how amazed she was. I was carrying Chase, who seemed equally thrilled. We were greeted by Lisa, her husband, and Mariano and Aries. I would have beenpletely happy if Grandma were here, but I pushed her out of my mind because we had more important things to focus on.


    ¡°I think your family is safer here,¡± Mariano said as we were inside the house, sharing the meal prepared by Lisa. Aside from her husband, their married child and grandchild were also with us. It¡¯s better this way, so Chase has someone to y with. But they¡¯ll arrive in a day because their child still has to care for something at the store they¡¯ve already closed to serve our family.


    ¡°I hope so,¡± I replied.


    ¡°Sir,¡± Aries said, catching our attention. ¡°I¡¯ve already sorted out your workload, and we should be grateful that your old secretaries have returned.¡±


    ¡°So, don¡¯t be too grumpy anymore, dear husband,¡± Sarina said, making everyoneugh.


    ¡°Now that you¡¯re here, I don¡¯t think I would feel that way ever again since I get to see the beautiful face of my beloved wife every day. And there¡¯s also the bonus of our handsome Chase.¡±


    Everyoneughed at what I said, but it was the truth in my heart. As long as I¡¯m with my wife, I have no reason to be angry at the world. The only thing that unsettles me is the impending danger to my wife and child.


    Our moving in went smoothly, and Lisa¡¯s son, Carlito, with his son Jerome and his wife, Rocel, are now with us. Jerome is over a year older than Chase, so my son is delighted to have a ymate. Sarina also seems happy with our current situation, even though I know she¡¯s worried not just for herself but also for our child. But no matter what happens, I won¡¯t let anything bad happen to them, and I¡¯ll always protect them.


    The search for Ralph continued, as did the monitoring of my wife and child. A week passed, and I was relieved that they were safe. Even so, I wasn¡¯tcent and didn¡¯t go to the office to work. Aries would always deliver what I needed to do, or one of Mariano¡¯s staff would bring my work to the mansion.


    The detective hired by the security agency I contracted with found a lead, and people were ready to track that despicable Ralph once he was spotted. Honestly, I¡¯m frustrated with how slow the investigation is going, considering so many people are searching for that bastard. That¡¯s why I agreed with Mariano that someone might be helping him hide. The only question is, who?


    It¡¯s another check-up day for my son. After several speech therapy sessions, we have already noticed a lot of improvements. And not just any improvement-he¡¯s not stuttering as much when he speaks.


    I had just finished talking to his pediatrician while Sarina went to the restroom. We agreed to meet in front of Dr. Jerold¡¯s office, where I was headed. Mariano¡¯s men were watching her, so I was confident.Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org.


    Chase and I were near Dr. Jerold¡¯s office when I saw Sarina talking to a man. I quickly approached her, and to my surprise, I recognized him. ¡°Oh, my husband, this is Jason. Jason, this is my husband, Maximus, and our son, Chase,¡± she introduced us.

 Chapter 67

    Sarina


    I had juste from the restroom, leaving my husband and son with Chase¡¯s pediatrician and allowing Maximus to listen to what the good doctor had to say about our son¡¯s development. Yes, I¡¯m 100% sure Maximus is indeed the father of my child. I don¡¯t think even the most skilled painter could capture his happiness when Aries handed him the results and the paperwork he needed toplete.


    Just as I arrived at the door of Dr. Jerold¡¯s office, where I was supposed to meet up with my husband and son, a man suddenly approached me. ¡°Hi, Be, right?¡± I frowned, trying to remember if I knew him. ¡°Oh, you don¡¯t remember me? Well, I have a pretty ordinary face, so I can¡¯t me you,¡± he said, scratching his head. ¡°We bumped into each other while I was jogging, and I think you were on your way to work.¡±


    ¡°Oh! Yes, I remember now. What¡¯s your name again?¡± I asked, embarrassed that I hadn¡¯t remembered his name while he had remembered mine. Although truth be told, Be isn¡¯t even my real name.


    ¡°Jason. My name is Jason Satudez,¡± he answered. ¡°What brought you here?¡± he asked.


    ¡°My son¡¯s check-up.¡± He looked shocked, making me wonder why when he had nothing to do with me. Unless he knows me.


    ¡°Your son?¡± he asked, and I nodded. ¡°Where is he?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s with his father,¡± I replied briefly before noticing Maximus approaching with Chase in his arms.


    ¡°Oh, husband, this is Jason. Jason, this is my husband, Maximus, and our son, Chase.¡±


    ¡°Your husband and son?¡± I couldn¡¯t understand why he seemed so surprised. What could be the problem?


    In an instant, Jason¡¯s gentle face turned to one filled with anger. ¡°You already have a child together, but you still married Sarina?¡± he angrily asked Maximus.


    ¡°Wait, you know me?¡± I asked, confused. He knew my real name, so it only meant that he was close to me. Especially the kind of face he was wearing now as if my husband had done something wrong.


    ¡°My wife, there¡¯s no need to exin to him,¡± Maximus said, looking at me, clenching his jaw. Jason knows me as Sarina and that I¡¯m married to Maximus, but why does he seem to be angry with him?


    ¡°Wait, husband?¡± Jason asked in confusion.


    ¡°I¡¯m Sarina.¡± I saw the shock and bewilderment on his face.


    ¡°You¡¯re Sarina, my love?¡± he said as if in a daze. Now I was confused-why was he calling me ¡°my love¡±?


    ¡°Let¡¯s go, my wife,¡± Maximus said, taking my hand and walking away. I couldn¡¯t help but nce back at Jason, who was still watching us. I had feltfortable around him, even during our first meeting, so I didn¡¯t understand why Maximus seemed so angry with him.


    When we got home, Maximus¡¯s expression was still dark, so I couldn¡¯t help but ask him, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Why do you look like that? Are you and Jason enemies?¡±


    ¡°Can you just not ask?¡± he replied.


    ¡°I don¡¯t understand. Is it because he called me ¡®my love¡¯ that you¡¯re acting like this?¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about,¡± he responded, shaking his head before walking. Rocel had already taken Chase to change his clothes because he wanted to y with Jerome, so I followed my husband to our room and kept pestering him about Jason.


    ¡°Come on, Maximus!¡± I said, which made him stop on the way to the walk-in closet and look at me.


    ¡°What did you just call me?¡± I thought for a moment-what did I call him? Maximus, right?


    ¡°What now?¡± I asked in confusion.Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org.


    ¡°Did you just call me by my name?¡±


    ¡°And what¡¯s wrong with that?¡±


    ¡°You saw that Jason guy, and now the endearment ¡°my husband¡± you used to call me is gone?¡±


    ¡°Are you jealous? It¡¯s not like Jason is my first love, so why are you acting like this?¡± I looked up at him and saw his expression change. He nced around as if he wanted to say something but couldn¡¯t. ¡°Wait, was he my first love?¡± I eximed, which made his expression darken even more. ¡°How-¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t ask, wifey.¡± Iughed at his expression-he looked really annoyed. He turned his back on me, but I kept teasing him. He looked so cute and lovable.


    ¡°Maximus,¡± I called him, making him turn back to me with annoyance.


    ¡°One more time, if you call me by my name-¡±


    ¡°What? What will you do?¡± I asked, sliding my hand across his chest, trying to be seductive, but he grabbed my hand and stopped it from moving down. I looked at him questioningly.


    ¡°Or I am going to sleep outside.¡± I didn¡¯t know why, but it felt like this had happened before. I paused, remembering if we had ever had this kind of conversation. I bowed my head and closed my eyes, holding my head. Then I heard Maximus¡¯s voice say,


    ¡°Sarina! Scare me with anything but that-I couldn¡¯t bear it!¡± he said, and then I heard my ownughter.


    ¡°My wife, are you in pain?¡± he asked worriedly. I looked up, meeting his furrowed brows.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you couldn¡¯t bear not sleeping next to me? So, are you okay with sleeping outside because you no longer love me?¡±


    I saw the shock in his eyes. ¡°You don¡¯t love me anymore, so it¡¯s okay for you to sleep outside?¡± I asked again.


    ¡°My wife, no, it¡¯s not like that.¡± He reached out to hold me again, but I moved away, brushed past him, and walked towards the closet. I closed and locked the door, leaning against it.


    What is this feeling? Maximus was probably joking, but why does it hurt to think he might not love me as much as he used to? Wait, how much did he love me back then? Who loves who more, me or him?


    ¡°Wifey, please open the door¡­¡± I heard him calling me out, followed by a soft knock. I quickly changed my clothes before opening the door, where his worried face greeted me.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, wife. I won¡¯t say it again¡­¡±


    ¡°Okay,¡± I said with a nod and a smile.


    ¡°Please, my wife, I promise I won¡¯t ever say that again,¡± he said, pulling me close and embracing me.


    ¡°I already said okay.¡±


    ¡°No, you¡¯re still mad.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not. It¡¯s really okay.¡± It was okay with me, but I felt a little sad-just a tiny bit. So he wouldn¡¯t worry anymore, I smiled at and kissed him, which he reciprocated.


    ¡°I¡¯ll just go and check on Chase,¡± I said with a smile, turning and leaving our room.

 Chapter 68

    Maximus


    I can¡¯t sit still. I¡¯m happy that Sarina remembers something about us, but why must the timing be so bad? Every time she teases me, she always wins. I know she doesn¡¯t remember anything about that man. Still, I can¡¯t help feeling jealous because even if she doesn¡¯t remember Jason, the fact that he was her first love hasn¡¯t changed or disappeared.


    When she left our room earlier, I wanted to follow her. I could feel that something wasn¡¯t right, even though she kissed me willingly. After that, our conversation seemed to change. No, I can¡¯t let this go on. I want the cheerful and teasing Sarina, even if she always gets under my skin.


    She¡¯s in the bathroom, taking a shower. I made sure to get in bed first because she might just fall asleep, and we wouldn¡¯t have the chance to talk. I don¡¯t want the night or day to pass with her feeling upset with me or even holding a simple grudge.


    I didn¡¯t take my eyes off the bathroom door as if it might disappear. I was waiting for her toe out, and when she finally did, wearing a bathrobe, I took a deep breath because she usuallyes out wrapped only in a towel.


    She nced at me briefly before heading to the walk-in closet. I waited for her to finish dressing because I didn¡¯t want her to think I was being a pervert again.


    ¡°My wife,¡± I called out as she finallyy beside me on the bed.


    ¡°Hmm?¡± she responded. What kind of reply is that? She¡¯s definitely mad.


    ¡°Why are you wearing pajamas?¡± I asked. She usually wears something sexy to bed, but tonight, she¡¯s fully covered.


    ¡°It¡¯s cold tonight,¡± she replied, making me furrow my brows.


    ¡°Are you cold? Do you want me to turn down the air conditioning?¡± I asked, concerned again.


    ¡°No, the air conditioning is fine. It¡¯s cold because you¡¯re sleeping outside, right?¡±


    ¡°Come on, my wife¡­¡± I said, pouting, which made her raise an eyebrow.


    ¡°But you said¡±


    ¡°That was just a joke, my wife. I was just practicing being upset.¡±


    ¡°Well, why don¡¯t you practice it fully? You can start by sleeping on the couch.¡± Then she pulled the nket over herself andy down.


    Of course, I wouldn¡¯t agree to that, so I quickly wrapped my arms around her. I held her so tight that no matter how much she struggled, she couldn¡¯t get away.


    ¡°I¡¯m really sorry, my wife. I promise I won¡¯t say that again.¡± I felt her arms wrap around me as we locked eyes. I pinned her legs between mine, but I made sure not to hurt her.


    ¡°You better make sure, Maximus. I swear, I¡¯ll make you sleep outside. And take note, I mean literally outside, not just outside our room.¡±


    ¡°I promise, my wife.¡± Of course, I had no choice but to agree. ¡°But don¡¯t forget to call me ¡®your husband.¡¯ I don¡¯t want to hear Maximus, even if that¡¯s my real name. I don¡¯t care if my friends, rtives, acquaintances, Mariano, or Grandma call me Maximus or anything they want. But you, I want you to call me ¡®your husband.¡¯ It sounds possessive.¡±


    ¡°Of course, sometimes, I¡¯ll just use your name when there are other people.¡± She quipped, but I firmly refused.


    ¡°Especially when there are other people. I want them to know I¡¯m yours, and you¡¯re mine.¡± I insisted and hugged her even tighter.N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights.


    ¡°You¡¯re so possessive, loosen your grip; I can¡¯t breathe. And move back a bit, I¡¯m getting hot.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s your fault. Why did you wear pajamas when you know I can¡¯t sleep without holding you? I don¡¯t sleep well if I¡¯m not cuddling you.¡±


    ¡°You start it; why are you ming me?¡± She pouted as she said that, so I couldn¡¯t resist kissing her.


    I felt we were okay again and was grateful she couldn¡¯t stay mad at me for long. ¡°Fuck, my wife. Do you know how crazy I am about you?¡±


    After that, I kissed her, and she returned the kiss with just as much passion. I thought I wouldn¡¯t be able to touch her tonight, but my hands quickly roamed over her body. Her t chest withrge nipples is something I¡¯ve always been obsessed with. I yed with them as we continued to kiss.


    I started to get on top of her without breaking our kiss. ¡°My husband!¡± she eximed as I tore off her top. It was a long-sleeved pajama set with buttons that popped off.


    ¡°Why did you even bother wearing that?¡± I asked her with a grin.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know!¡± she snapped, making meugh. Since her top buttons were already broken, her delicious nipples were fully exposed. She wasn¡¯t wearing a bra, and I was sure she wasn¡¯t wearing panties either. But just to be sure, I quickly slid my hand into her pajama pants to touch her womanhood. ¡°You¡¯re impossible!¡±


    ¡°Just making sure, my wife, you¡¯re already wet.¡±


    ¡°Just being close to you makes me imagine everything you¡¯re going to do to me and my body.¡± She looked embarrassed saying that, but it made her even more beautiful to me, with her cheeks flushing red. Sometimes, she¡¯s not shy around me, but of course, there are times when her shyness takes over, like now.


    I leaned down and sucked one of her nipples, hearing her gasp, ¡°That feels so good¡­¡± It really does. Even I enjoy it.


    I yed with her other nipple with my fingers. In contrast, my other hand finally began to explore her now-soaking-wet womanhood. She would lift her lower body every time I moved my finger away from her clit, just to tease her.


    But the pleasure on her face gave me so much satisfaction. I wasn¡¯t content with just touching and sucking. I needed to taste her, which I knew she wanted me to.


    I slid down to her stomach after feasting on her breasts. My tongue journeyed across her body, leaving my mark as I went until I finally reached the base of her incredibly clean womanhood. How does she do it? Even the first time I touched and tasted her, I noticed how beautiful and clean her pussy was.


    I would understand if she were rich, but shees from an ordinary family. That¡¯s one of the things I love about her, how clean she keeps herself. That¡¯s why I always enjoy eating her pussy, which has be one of my favorite things to do to her.


    As always, I let her reach her peak first before I started pounding her until we both screamed together,


    ¡°My wife¡­¡±


    ¡°My husband¡­¡±

 Chapter 69

    Sarina


    I couldn¡¯t help butugh at Maximus. So that¡¯s why he was so irritated when he saw Jason and me-because Jason is my ex-boyfriend, first love, and childhood sweetheart. On top of that, I also found out that his family is wealthy, but his parents supported me, just as mine were of him.


    I remember asking my husband if my parents didn¡¯t like him, and he said it didn¡¯t seem that way. He mentioned that my family loves me very much and always supports whatever makes me happy.


    Maximus had to leave the next day, so Chase and I were just at home. I was d he had someone to y with-Rocel¡¯s son, who also significantly helps with his development.


    I was by the poolside, reading while watching Chase and Jerome y. Lisa asked her daughter-inw, Rocel, for help, so I offered to watch over the kids for a while.N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights.


    We had already hired a nanny for Chase, who was supposed to arriveter, ording to Aries. Maximus was heading to his office with Mariano, but I knew they would also discuss Ralph. I hope all of this ends soon. I hate the constant fear that Ralph might suddenly appear before me. He terrifies me. If it weren¡¯t for Chase, I might havepletely given up because of everything I endured at his hands.


    Maximus doesn¡¯t know what I went through when Ralph and I were together. I don¡¯t even know if I can tell him everything. I¡¯m afraid of how he might feel or what he might do to that monster if he ever finds him. I opened my eyes again, looking at my son, who happily yed with Jerome. He was so different from how he was back in L. A. As I thought about this, I couldn¡¯t help but recall my tumultuous life as Be Mcire.


    ***


    I opened my eyes but quickly closed them again because the surroundings seemed too bright. When I slowly opened them, I realized I was lying down, looking at a ceiling light.


    ¡°Hey, babe¡­¡± said the man who leaned over me. He was smiling, but my brow quickly furrowed because I didn¡¯t recognize him. From how he smiled, it seemed we were close, but I felt uneasy under his gaze. ¡°How are you feeling?¡± he asked, but I remained silent, staring at him.


    I looked around and noticed that I was in a room. It was a clean and tidy bedroom in a house, but there were machines around that made it look like a hospital. I looked back at the man, who was still smiling, but I couldn¡¯t understand why I felt so ufortable.


    ¡°Babe, are you feeling hurt somewhere?¡± he asked again.


    ¡°Babe?¡± I asked in confusion.


    ¡°Yes, babe. Why?¡±


    ¡°Why are you calling me babe?¡±


    ¡°Because you¡¯re my wife.¡± What? His wife? Why don¡¯t I feel it, and why don¡¯t I recognize him?


    ¡°I don¡¯t think I get you. Who are you again?¡± His smile suddenly disappeared, reced by a look of sadness. I felt a twinge of guilt because it seemed like I had hurt his feelings.


    ¡°You don¡¯t remember me?¡± he asked, and I shook my head.


    ¡°Actually, I don¡¯t know who I am either.¡± Realizing this, my eyes widened. Why can¡¯t I remember anything? I tried to think about our marriage, but nothing came to mind. I waspletely confused, and it must have shown on my face because he quickly held my shoulders as I tried to sit up.


    ¡°Babe, babe, rx¡­ Don¡¯t push yourself too hard. You¡¯ll get your memories back soon.¡± For a moment, I thought of what he said. Was this memory loss I¡¯m experiencing only momentary?


    ¡°What happened to me? Why can¡¯t I remember anything? I can¡¯t even remember you?¡± I asked, still confused.


    ¡°You had an ident and had been unconscious for days. The doctor said you could be treated at home, so you¡¯re at our house, in our bedroom.¡± Huh? Was it that simple?


    ¡°What kind of ident? I can¡¯t even remember my name or anything about myself!¡± I was almost hysterical as I spoke, and then I suddenly noticed my stomach. ¡°Why does my stomach look like this?¡± I quickly looked at the man and asked.


    ¡°Yes, babe, you¡¯re pregnant.¡± I was shocked. He had just told me I¡¯d been in an ident and unconscious for several days, yet here I was with a big belly because I was pregnant?


    ¡°How?¡± I asked, bewildered.


    ¡°Calm down, babe. I know this is a lot to process, but you must be careful for yourself and our baby.¡± He was clearly worried about me, and I also became afraid for my baby, so I tried to calm myself down.


    I couldn¡¯t believe what had happened in my life for several days. Anyone would be confused because everything was happening quickly, even though I couldn¡¯t remember anything. That was one reason why I felt even more uneasy.


    But the baby inside me was something I couldn¡¯t ignore. He needed me, especially now. I touched my belly, feeling a strange joy. Even if I couldn¡¯t remember anything, I couldn¡¯t deny that I would be a mother. And for my child, I needed to be strong and resilient.


    ¡°Hi, babe! How¡¯s your day?¡± Ralph, my husband, greeted me cheerfully before giving me a light kiss on the lips. I didn¡¯t like it, but I had to show him I was okay with our physical interactions.


    ¡°Fine, how about you?¡±


    ¡°Well, everything¡¯s okay at the clinic. I talked with a psychologist and asked him about your condition.¡± I looked at him carefully, and it seemed he noticed. ¡°I just didn¡¯t want to see you confused all the time. I know you have many questions since you don¡¯t remember anything, and I thought consulting a doctor would be good for you and our baby.¡±


    What he said reassured me a bit. I didn¡¯t agree with his suggestion about the psychologist, and I just tried to get along with him based on our rtionship. Since I was pregnant and we were married, I decided to live as Be Mcire, ording to what I had learned from my husband, Ralph Mcire.

 Chapter 70

    Sarina


    Our rtionship has been good, and I feel at ease with him. I¡¯m also happy, especially as the time for me to give birth to our child approaches. Ralph is very attentive to me, not letting me do anything around the house. Everything would be fine for me, and I wouldn¡¯t have anything to worry about if not for one thing that troubles my mind.


    ording to my credentials, I was born in L. A. and even studied there. But why do I know how to speak Tagalog? I¡¯m not exceptionally smart or gifted because I think my brain is just average. So there¡¯s still a part of me that doubts. I can¡¯t ask Ralph about it because I¡¯m worried he might get upset, so I keep it to myself.


    I¡¯m very happy, and so is my husband. I feel his care for me, but I also feel his possessiveness. He doesn¡¯t want me to go out alone; I always have to be with him. I don¡¯t mind, but he gets upset even if I¡¯m in the yard and a neighbor passes by to talk to me.


    He doesn¡¯t confront me, but I can see how he looks at any man who talks to me. Because of that, I¡¯ve avoided hanging out outside if he¡¯s not around. I don¡¯t want to give Ralph any reason to get angry or think ill of me.


    Ralph always smiles when he talks to me. It feels too good to be true, this kindness. You know, I thought, are there still men like this? The kind who doesn¡¯t let me do anything, even though he has work to attend to.


    Every morning, he cooks our breakfast. When I wake up, the food is ready; all I have to do is eat. He even washes the dishes, no matter how much I insist. ¡°Do it at lunchtime. I¡¯m not here, so I won¡¯t be able to do that for you,¡± he often says, and it¡¯s true.


    ¡°You do all the household chores and didn¡¯t want me to help you. I am not that fragile.¡±


    ¡°I promised your parents I would take care of you, babe. What if they rise from their graves and yell at me?¡± Iughed at what he said and his expression, and since then, I have forgotten about any doubts I had until I becamepletelyfortable with him.


    Our life together continued, and sometimes, he would invite some of my friends, who were very happy for me. Some of his friends did the same, which proved how much Ralph loved me.


    The day of my delivery came, and I was extremely excited. I noticed Ralph was the same, and I could see it in his face. He was so excited that we shopped for our baby¡¯s things early, and he arranged them in the nursery during his off days from the clinic.


    ¡°Our baby is so cute,¡± Ralph said happily, and I agreed. I smiled while looking at our child. I never thought seeing and holding my own child would feel like this. I used to think that moms were overly emotional, crying like they had won the lottery.


    ¡°Hello, little Chase¡­¡± I said as I gently stroked his smooth, soft cheek. Since he¡¯s still a baby, it¡¯s unclear who he resembles more, Ralph or me. But because I often see myself in the mirror, I know we¡¯ll unlikely look alike.


    ¡°Thank you, babe,¡± Ralph said tearfully.


    ¡°For what?¡±


    ¡°For giving him the name that I like.¡±


    ¡°What are you talking about? I like the name as well.¡± He kissed me gently, and then we looked at Chase, whom I held while my husband sat beside me. We stayed in the hospital for a few more days before finally going home, with the thought that Ralph would love me even more because of our child¡¯s arrival.Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g


    But that¡¯s not what happened. A few months after I gave birth, I noticed a change in Ralph¡¯s behavior. He became short-tempered, often shouting for reasons I couldn¡¯t understand.


    He also started forbidding my friends froming over, driving them away if he found them at the house. I was confused and sometimes scared because I would catch him looking at me with what seemed like malice. Even little Chase, who was only a few months old, was being stared at in a way that made me ufortable.


    I thought it would stop there, but when Chase turned nine months old, Ralph came home one day, furious. I had no idea why, since he had juste from the clinic that morning.


    ¡°Tell me, did you meet that man?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know what you are talking about!¡± I replied. I was about to say more, but he didn¡¯t let me, grabbing my arm. I was holding Chase, so I quickly secured my grip on him, even as Ralph¡¯s nails dug into my skin.


    ¡°Please, Ralph, you¡¯re hurting me¡­¡± I begged. But he didn¡¯t listen, and his eyes only grew more intense.


    ¡°You¡¯re hurting? What about you and what you did to me? Do you think I didn¡¯t feel hurt at all?¡±


    ¡°I really don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about. Please tell me so I can understand.¡±


    ¡°Tell me, who¡¯s the father of your child?¡± My eyes widened at his words. I couldn¡¯t imagine myself with another man. How could he even think such a thing?


    ¡°Of course, you!¡± I quickly replied, which only made him p me repeatedly. I cried and begged him to stop, but he grabbed my hair and forced me to face him.


    ¡°I am not that bastard¡¯s father! You slept with another man, so tell me who it is!¡± he shouted at me. I didn¡¯t know what he was talking about. I couldn¡¯t remember anything-how could I defend myself?


    ¡°What? You can¡¯t say a thing? You didn¡¯t know that I would find out?¡± After he said that, he kicked me, hitting my leg so hard that I copsed to the floor from the pain. I thought about my child, whom I was still holding tightly. I needed to get him away from Ralph because he might take his anger out on him.


    But I couldn¡¯t walk anymore; I was weak, and I felt like I was losing my breath. Not knowing what else to do, I ced Chase on the floor as he began to cry uncontrobly. I shielded him with my body so Ralph wouldn¡¯t hurt him. But I could already feel my breath shortening along with the pain in my body, especially in my leg. I lost hope, thinking that this might be the end for me.

 Chapter 71

    Sarina


    I cried uncontrobly, my sweat, snot, and tears mixing together as I continued to shield Chase with my body, who was also crying non-stop. I felt Ralph kneel before me, so I curled up more tightly to protect our child.


    I felt his hand on my head, and I braced myself for him to hurt me again. But I was shocked when he gently stroked my head instead and, with tears in his eyes, said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯m really sorry, babe¡­¡± I looked up at him, and our eyes met.


    Regret, sadness, and pity were all there, likely for me and our child. ¡°I¡¯m really sorry; I don¡¯t know what came over me,¡± he continued as he gently lifted my head. I thought he might just be pretending and would suddenly let go of me or m my head onto the floor. The thought frightened me, and he noticed my fear. ¡°Please, babe, don¡¯t be scared. I¡¯m really sorry. This is not going to happen again.¡±


    He helped me sit up, and we both turned to look at Chase when he suddenly started crying again. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, my son, if I scared you.¡± Then, he picked up our child from the floor. After that, he helped me stand up, almost carrying me as we walked to our bedroom.


    He ced Chase in the crib, carried me to our bed, andid me down. ¡°I promise this is not going to happen again. I¡¯m not going to hurt you like this. Oh God, what have I done?¡± he said, crying as he gently caressed my cheeks, which had borne the brunt of his ps.


    Tears flowed from my eyes again, a mix of pain and pity for him and for myself. He looked like a demon when he was hurting me, but now he seemed so pitiful. He pressed our foreheads together and then kissed me on the lips. It was gentle, so tender that it seemed he knew it would hurt me if he pressed harder. It was so light; I couldn¡¯t believe he was the same person who had caused me so much pain.


    ¡°Please tell me what happened, Ralph. I really had no idea what was going on¡­¡± I said in between crying.


    ¡°I really don¡¯t know what came over me, babe. I suddenly felt jealous. I know, I know, you were always at home, taking care of our son. But I- I don¡¯t know. I really don¡¯t know,¡± he said softly, sounding confused. I felt a mix of pity and fear for him. What if he was like this now, butter, he suddenly became violent again?


    He hugged me and begged for forgiveness. Who was I not to forgive him? He had been good to me from the moment I opened my eyes. Maybe something just possessed him, or someone provoked him to do what he did earlier.


    I hugged him and said, ¡°Please, don¡¯t hurt me again¡­ I rely too much on you, so please, stay with me¡­¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m really sorry, babe.¡±


    After that incident, even though I didn¡¯t want to, I began to feel fear towards him. But I tried not to show it. I forced myself to act naturally as if nothing had happened between us. Things were okay, but only for a few days.


    One night, he came home drunk. I had never seen him drunk before nor knew that he drank. There was no alcohol in our house, so it never crossed my mind that he woulde home stumbling.


    Like the first time he hurt me, he was furious at me, looking at me as if he wanted to kill me. Once again, I felt intense fear. Chase was in his room, already asleep, so I was incredibly grateful that he didn¡¯t see the child. Who knows what he might have done.N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights.


    ¡°Why do you look scared?¡± he asked.


    ¡°No, I- I¡¯m not,¡± I stammered, which made him grin. A grin full of anger and the desire to hurt.


    ¡°You¡¯re scared because you did something bad, right?¡±


    ¡°No, I didn¡¯t do anything. I stayed at home the whole day and never went out,¡± I replied fearfully, feeling that no matter what I said, he would still think I had gone somewhere or done something he believed I had done.


    ¡°Don¡¯t fool me!¡± he shouted, causing me to startle and fail to avoid his hand that grabbed my hair, forcing me to look up at him. He¡¯s 5¡¯9, and I¡¯m only 5¡¯4, so he was towering over me. I started to cry because of the pain from his grip, which felt like it was tearing my scalp off.


    ¡°Please, Ralph, I swear I didn¡¯t do anything,¡± I kept saying as my tears flowed, holding onto his hand and pulling my hair. The pain was unbearable. But it wasn¡¯t over yet because after I said that, his other hand flew towards my face, pping me hard.


    If he hadn¡¯t been holding my hair, my face would have surely turned to the left, but it only made the pain worse because of the impact. His palmnded squarely on my cheek, and I was sure it would leave a mark.


    ¡°Please, Ralph¡­¡± I cried, but he didn¡¯t listen and continued to hurt me. He seemed to tire of pping me, so he started punching me in the stomach. He kept hitting me repeatedly like I was a punching bag. He even punched my arms and other parts of my body.


    I felt like I was going to die. I thought of my child; how would Chase manage without me? Who would take care of him? I even noticed that he seemed different, which made me think it was the reason for Ralph¡¯s behavior. He thought the child wasn¡¯t his.


    ¡°Remember this, don¡¯t ever try to get away from me. If you do, your son will suffer. I am going to kill him in front of you! Do you get that?¡± I quickly nodded while continuing to cry. I was already copsed on the floor, unable to stand.


    This kind of scene became normal in our house. It didn¡¯t feel like a home anymore; it felt like hell. He turned my life, our life, into hell. Even Chase wasn¡¯t spared, as he would shout hurtful words at him, even though the child didn¡¯t understand them yet. He also hurt him, but I would always shield my child with my body. He could hurt me all he wanted, just not my son.


    I was deeply grateful to our neighbor, who often heard him beating me. Thest time he hurt me, our neighbor finally called the police and reported him. He couldn¡¯t even react when the police forced their way into our house and found Chase and me lying on the floor, injured and crying.


    The police took us to their home, where I met their Filipino maid, who had a friend named Aunt Marga. She apanied me back to the Philippines.

 Chapter 72

    Sarina


    Thest I heard about Ralph was that he was in police custody. But now Mariano is here because he suspects that my life as Be is in danger, and my fake husband might be involved in my disappearance as Sarina. After reminiscing about the moment I regained consciousness, I looked at my son, Chase, who was happily ying with Jerome. I smiled because he had changed so much since we arrived in the Philippines.


    I am thankful that Maximus, not that beast Ralph, is his real father. It has also been confirmed that the medication I unknowingly took affected Chase¡¯s brain development, but there¡¯s a high possibility that he¡¯ll be fine as long as the treatment and therapy continue.


    I can¡¯t ask for anything more than for all the chaos in our family to end. For Ralph to be caught so that the threat to my life and Chase¡¯s will finally disappear, and most importantly, for Maximus and his grandmother to be okay, so that my husband, can finally be happy.Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org.


    I asked Maximus how I had disappeared, and he said it was his fault. I don¡¯t believe that because I know how much he loves me. But he doesn¡¯t want to tell me more, maybe because he¡¯s not ready yet and still mes himself. I just hope that the timees when my lost memories return because only then will I be able to understand what really happened to me.


    ¡°Ma¡¯am Sarina, have a snack first.¡± That was Lisa, bringing a tray of pancakes and juice. It was 9:30 a. m., and we had breakfast at 6:30 a. m. We wake up early here, so even the children do the same.


    ¡°Thank you.¡± The elderly woman smiled at me before I turned to look at the two ying nearby. ¡°Chase, Jerome,e eat first.¡±


    The two looked at me and happily ran over. I am truly grateful for Lisa¡¯s grandson, who acted as my son¡¯s big brother.


    We started eating, and I called Lisa¡¯s family to join us for a snack. We were happily chatting when the doorbell rang. Carlito offered to check, knowing full well that he couldn¡¯t let anyone in, even though we all knew the subdivision¡¯s security was tight. We still didn¡¯t want to take any chances because a bad person like Ralph could find many ways to execute his evil ns.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to the bathroom, ¡®Mom,¡± said Jerome.


    ¡°CR too¡­¡± Chase echoed, making usugh. I was about to stand up to apany them when Rocel spoke and stopped me.


    ¡°I¡¯ll take care of it, Ma¡¯am Sarina. You go ahead and eat.¡± I nodded at her and continued eating while she led the two children to the nearby bathroom designated for pool users so they wouldn¡¯t have to go inside the house if they needed to use the restroom.


    We were waiting for Rocel and the kids to return when Carlito returned with an unexpected visitor. ¡°Dona Sol,¡± said Lisa, rising from her seat. I turned around and saw Maximus¡¯s grandmother.


    Out of respect, I stood up as well. I didn¡¯t want to argue, and even though Maximus and I own this house, as he said, the elderly woman before me is still his grandmother.


    ¡°You¡¯re living like a queen while my grandson suffers at work.¡± Her tone wasn¡¯t angry, but it was clearly sarcastic. It¡¯s not like I need to work since my husband is wealthy, right? I wanted to respond that way, but I held back.


    ¡°Good morning, Grandma.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t call me Grandma!¡± I flinched at her sudden outburst. Since she was speaking calmly earlier, I thought it would continue that way.


    ¡°I¡¯m just being respectful,¡± I reasoned. I couldn¡¯t just let her have her way.


    ¡°What are you all looking at? Leave me alone with this woman.¡±


    Lisa¡¯s family looked at me before I smiled and nodded at them. Aside from speaking harshly, I knew she wouldn¡¯t physically harm me.


    ¡°Please have a seat.¡± She sneered at me before taking a seat opposite where I was sitting.


    ¡°You really won¡¯t leave my grandson, will you?¡± I was about to sit down when she spoke, so I looked at her before pulling the stic chair closer and facing her.


    ¡°Maximus and I are married; most importantly, we have a child.¡±


    ¡°Maximus loves that Sarina, so don¡¯t be so sure he won¡¯t leave you if that woman returns.¡±


    ¡°If you didn¡¯t understand what Maximus saidst time, let me rify.¡± I took a deep breath and looked at her seriously to show I wasn¡¯t lying. ¡°Sarina and I are the same person. My disappearance had a reason that we are still trying to solve. I don¡¯t remember anything from my past except waking up in the arms of another man who is now trying to harm me and my son.¡±


    ¡°What nonsense are you talking about?¡±


    ¡°Please let me finish speaking,¡± I said just to get it over with. ¡°You can be angry with me; I won¡¯t stop you. But please, in front of Maximus and my son, control yourself. I don¡¯t want him to think his grandmother doesn¡¯t ept him. I don¡¯t want him to be hurt, especially after what he went through in the hands of the man he thought was his father.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t care about your life or your son. My only concern here is my grandson. Now, tell me how much you want.¡± I chuckled when I heard her say that. Is this a movie? ¡°How much must you leave Maximus and let him be with Midori?¡±


    I¡¯m no longer amused by this old woman. I don¡¯t know how I treated her before, but I hope I don¡¯t lose my patience with her now. I must consider her age and that she¡¯s the grandmother of the man I love.


    ¡°Mommy-¡± My eyes lifted when I heard Chase¡¯s voice. He was standing with Rocel and Jerome, not far behind Grandma.


    ¡°You go inside, I have to talk to-¡± I didn¡¯t get to finish what I was saying because the old woman suddenly stood up and shouted,


    ¡°Mauricio!¡± She was staring intently at Chase as if in disbelief. She looked like she was about to cry, as if they had known each other for a long time and were only now meeting again.

 Chapter 73

    Sarina


    ¡°Why is my grandson so handsome?¡± Grandma Sol asked Chase. She sat beside my son on the couch, happily chatting with him. I watched them together, and even though the old woman was still mad at me, I was happy to see how fond she was of my son.


    I didn¡¯t expect her to ept our child with Maximus like this, even though Dr. Jerold and my husband assured me she would love him. So even though Grandma Sol¡¯s anger toward me still lingered, I couldn¡¯t stay mad at her. I guess now I¡¯ll just have to understand her better, especially since I know she¡¯s one more person who loves my son.


    I had texted Maximus about his grandmother¡¯s arrival. He called me, but I canceled it because I didn¡¯t want the old woman to think I was tattling. So, my husband and I ended up texting each other.


    ¡°Daddy, handsome.¡± I heard Chase respond, which made Grandma Sol even happier. Her smile was so wide it looked like her face might split.


    The old woman stayed for lunch at our house and happily fed Chase. Lisa nced at me because she knew how Grandma Sol usually treated me, but I just shrugged. What mattered was that Chase was starting to warm up to her.


    To summarize, Grandma Sol and Chase had a great time together, even though she was still furious with me. She didn¡¯t acknowledge me, talk to me, or even nce in my direction until she decided to leave when it was Chase¡¯s nap time.


    She didn¡¯t wait for Maximus toe home and instructed Lisa to bring her great-grandson to her mansion on the weekends. I heard her say this because we were facing each other, but she didn¡¯t want to talk to me. After that, she turned her back on me and left. Carlito said that she had a driver with her and that they gave him something to eat because Grandma Sol had apparently forgotten about him in her excitement over seeing Chase.


    After the old woman left, I went to our room to rest. Lately, I¡¯ve been engrossed in reading medical books. Maybe it¡¯s because my husband told me I was a nurse, and my parents had nned for me to be a doctor.


    When I entered the room, I immediately grabbed a book from the floor-to-ceiling bookshelf in the corner that Maximus had built. He also often used the office table since he preferred working from home. He had a mini office on the first floor but liked working in our bedroom and seeing me.


    I settled on the bed, leaned against the headboard, and began reading. I wanted to refresh my mind with my knowledge as a nurse. It¡¯s important not to forget those things because of my son¡¯s condition. Even if I can¡¯t return to work, I can still use what I know for our family.


    I was so engrossed that I lost track of time until I felt my phone vibrate beside me. I picked it up to see who was calling, and I was surprised to find an unregistered number. I ignored it and put the phone back down, continuing to read. But the caller wouldn¡¯t stop, so I finally answered.


    ¡°Hello.¡±


    ¡°You finally answered, babe¡­¡± My hair stood on end when I heard his voice. How did he get my number? ¡°Babe, why aren¡¯t you answering? I miss you so much.¡±


    I still didn¡¯t respond out of sheer fear. His voice sounded strange as if I were talking to a demon, even though his words seemed sweet.


    ¡°You¡¯re hurting my feelings, babe¡­ I¡¯ll get mad if you still won¡¯t speak,¡± he warned, but I knew it was more of a threat.


    ¡°Who are you?¡± I asked after calming myself down. I needed to pretend I didn¡¯t know him. ¡°I think you got the wrong number.¡±


    ¡°I could never be wrong, Be, babe. I already warned you, didn¡¯t I? If you ever leave me, I¡¯m going to kill you-¡± I didn¡¯t let him finish because I was so scared, so I quickly ended the call and tossed my phone away. My whole body trembled as I stared at the device, unwilling to hear that voice again.


    I curled up, hugging my knees, my eyes never leaving the phone. What should I do? What if he¡¯s already found us? What if he¡¯s lurking nearby, waiting?


    I didn¡¯t know what to do or think because of the overwhelming fear when the door to our room suddenly opened, and Maximus rushed in. My eyes widened, and I jumped off the bed, running toward him.


    ¡°Hey, what¡¯s wrong? Did Grandma hurt you?¡± he asked, worried, while I kept shaking my head, my face buried in his chest.N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights.


    I couldn¡¯t hold back anymore, and I started crying. I was terrified that Maximus might get dragged into this, too. ¡°I think he¡¯s found me,¡± I said, clutching him tightly.


    I felt him hug me even tighter before he started asking questions. ¡°What? Who? What happened?¡±


    ¡°It was his voice. I¡¯m sure it was him, and he was threatening me.¡±


    ¡°My love, look at me,¡± he said, pulling back slightly and holding my shoulders, looking intently at me with furrowed brows. ¡°Calm down, my love. You have to tell me what¡¯s wrong so I can understand. Don¡¯t be scared; I¡¯m here and won¡¯t let anything bad happen to you, okay?¡±


    I nodded, trying to stop crying while he wiped my tears. I was still huping, almost like I was sobbing. I hadn¡¯t realized how hard I¡¯d been crying. I looked at my husband, who was waiting for me to exin why I was like this.


    ¡°It¡¯s Ralph.¡± That was all I needed to say, and I saw his face darken, his jaw clenching. ¡°He called me. He knows my phone number, so I¡¯m sure he knows where I live, too. What should I do? What if he suddenly breaks in here and takes my son? He already threatened to kill Chase in front of me if I tried to leave him¡­¡±


    Maximus suddenly hugged me tightly, and I buried myself in his arms. I cried even harder after finally telling him what I needed to say, and my chest felt tight. I was struggling to breathe, my body shaking with all the scenarios running through my mind.


    I felt Maximus gently rubbing my back and softly kissing the top of my head. ¡°Shh¡­ He can¡¯t do that. He can¡¯t hurt our son, and he can¡¯t hurt you because I won¡¯t let that happen. Not on my watch.¡±


    But that didn¡¯t calm my heart. Everything he did to Chase and me came flooding back because of fear. I couldn¡¯t calm myself down, and I became hysterical. ¡°My love, please calm down.¡±


    I couldn¡¯t hear what Maximus was saying anymore, just seeing his lips move while hearing Ralph¡¯s voice instead, along with his threats against me and my son. The events kept reying in my mind until everything suddenly went dark.

 Chapter 74

    Maximus


    Mariano and I were in my office when I received a text from Sarina saying that my grandmother had arrived. I was extremely worried, afraid of what she might do to my wife. Even though I knew she would adore Chase, I couldn¡¯t help but worry for our child, so I excused myself from my brother, who was still talking and called my wife.


    But she canceled the call and texted me not to call again, fearing that my grandmother might get angry. So, we ended up texting each other instead.


    ¡°Hey, we¡¯re talking about something important here,¡± Marianoined, frowning.


    ¡°I know. Grandma is at home, and I¡¯m worried about Sarina,¡± I said, which made him shake his head.


    ¡°She still doesn¡¯t want to ept her as your wife?¡± he asked, and I nodded. ¡°When is she going to respect your feelings?¡±


    ¡°Grandma loves me, Mariano.¡±


    ¡°Not enough to see you happy with the woman you love.¡±


    ¡°She only wants the best for me.¡±


    ¡°And she thinks your wife isn¡¯t the best for you.¡± Mariano had a rebuttal for everything I said, so I fell silent. When Sarina texted that she was okay and that my grandmother was genuinely happy to be with Chase, I felt relieved and turned my attention back to Mariano.


    Finally, they had a lead on Ralph¡¯s whereabouts, and they informed the police, thanks to Aries, who happened to know a high-ranking official. His brother worked as a secretary for a billionaire with an uncle who was a general in the PNP (Philippine National Police).


    ¡°I hope we catch that bastard as soon as possible.¡± Mariano looked furious.


    ¡°I¡¯m really thankful you¡¯re here with me,¡± I said emotionally. Mariano was about to respond when Aries knocked and entered my office.


    ¡°The necessary people have been informed, sir. After the nning and stakeout, they¡¯ll proceed with the arrest once it¡¯s confirmed that Mr. Ralph Mcire is indeed in that location.¡±


    ¡°Finally. I just really want to end that bastard. I don¡¯t understand how he escaped from the L. A prison. I thought security in every jail there was stricter than here. I mean, isn¡¯t their security system more advanced than ours?¡±


    Mariano looked at me before answering. ¡°He nned it very well and had people who helped him.¡±


    ¡°Then he¡¯s not simple if he manages to get help. There might also be people here who are helping him hide,¡± I said to Mariano, and he nodded.


    ¡°But the problem is, we don¡¯t know it yet.¡±


    ¡°Sir,¡± Aries chimed in. ¡°We know that the subdivision where he was spotted is private, and most of the residents are either politicians or businessmen.¡±


    ¡°Ralph is a stic surgeon by profession. Do you think he helped someone wealthy enough to provide him a hiding ce, which would likely be suspicious since, as Aries said, the ce is expensive and exclusive?¡± Mariano asked.


    ¡°That¡¯s possible,¡± I agreed immediately. ¡°And whoever helped him must have also done something bad or is a criminal too.¡±


    We exchanged nces and discussed the situation further, including the possibilities we might face in capturing Ralph. We were almost done, and I was eager to go home to see Sarina and Chase when Mariano suddenly received an email from his right-hand man, who was left in Las Vegas.Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org.


    ¡°What is it about?¡± I asked Mariano.


    ¡°They found out that the real Be Mcire had an affair with another man; that¡¯s why Ralph killed her,¡± he answered.


    ¡°Instantly?¡± I asked curiously.


    ¡°No. He pretended he didn¡¯t know anything and started physically abusing her. Here are the photos.¡± He then showed me the pictures of the real Be Mcire. It was hard to recognize her, even when I zoomed in on his phone.


    ¡°Why didn¡¯t she sue him?¡±


    ¡°She did, but she withdrew it because Ralph threatened her, saying he would counter her with her infidelity, and they agreed to continue living together,¡± Mariano exined after a deep sigh.


    ¡°Do you think Sarina suffered the same while with him?¡± I asked while handing back Mariano¡¯s phone. Neither he nor Aries could answer. I couldn¡¯t imagine my wife in the hands of that monster. Not to mention our child, who might have borne the brunt of his anger.


    Everything became clear to us. He put Sarina to sleep before changing her appearance to look like his wife. Since he had already killed her, he needed to find someone to rece Be, and Sarina was the one he found.


    ¡°And Maximus,¡± Mariano said, making me look at him. ¡°Take a look at this,¡± he added, showing more pictures on the phone I had just returned to him.


    ¡°How could he do this to his wife?¡± I eximed in shock. Be¡¯s face was purple, and her body was covered in bruises.


    ¡°That happened a few months ago.¡± I looked at Mariano.


    ¡°I don¡¯t get it. You said his wife died almost four years ago, then how is this from-¡± I stopped mid-sentence when I realized something. ¡°That bastard!¡± I shouted in anger. It was Sarina in the picture. I was filled with so much anger and couldn¡¯t help but cry.


    Mariano and Aries tried to calm me down. I didn¡¯t want to talk anymore; I just wanted to go home and hug my wife, but we still needed to discuss a few things.


    When our meeting finally ended, I hurried home. While driving, I couldn¡¯t stop thinking about what my wife had gone through at the hands of that demon Ralph.


    When I arrived home, Lisa greeted me. She said nothing bad had happened and that my grandmother truly loved Chase. She said my son was in the room with Jerome and Rocel, while Sarina mentioned she would go to our room to read, so I headed there.


    And there she was, hysterical with fear after telling me she had spoken to that demon Ralph, and I didn¡¯t know what to do because she wouldn¡¯t calm down no matter what I said. So, I chose to embrace her, and she did the same. But it didn¡¯t work. I could see the overwhelming fear on her face, which only made me angrier at the demon who caused all this.


    I tried to calm her down, but it didn¡¯t work until she eventually passed out.

 Chapter 75

    Maximus


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry if I made you worry,¡± Sarina said. It had been two days since she had a hysterical episode, and only now was she beginning to recover from the fear she felt when that demon Ralph called her.


    ¡°You have nothing to be sorry about because you did nothing wrong. That animal is the one who should apologize, not you.¡±


    ¡°I want him caught so I can finally have peace. I¡¯m scared for our child, and you might get dragged into this too.¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t let anything happen to you or Chase. I won¡¯t let you be taken away from me again because I don¡¯t want to experience life without you.¡± I embraced her after that, and I felt her hug me tightly in return before letting out a sigh.


    I will do anything for my family-whatever it takes-just to ensure their safety. With everything that¡¯s happened in our lives, we¡¯ve agreed that she won¡¯t go anywhere without me, including our child. If that evil Ralph seeded in taking her before, I won¡¯t let it happen again.


    ¡°I will be strong from now on; I won¡¯t have another breakdown like I did the other day. I promise I am going to be strong.¡± I smiled at her and nodded, feeling a sense of relief. I thought it would take longer for her to recover from her fear.


    ¡°And I¡¯m here to support you.¡±


    Three more days passed, and Mariano received a call from his detective, who had been coordinating with the police for us. ¡°It¡¯s confirmed, Ralph is in that house.¡±


    We were at home, and he had been staying with us. At first, he was hesitant because he felt embarrassed and didn¡¯t want my grandmother to say anything. But I managed to convince him of Sarina and Chase¡¯s safety.


    ¡°So what¡¯s the n?¡± I asked. Thank God, it seemed like the fear haunting my family would finally end.


    ¡°You don¡¯t need to do anything. They¡¯re going to raid the house this afternoon.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°For your and your family¡¯s safety, the police don¡¯t want you involved. And I think that¡¯s a good idea. Just stay here and wait for the news.¡±


    ¡°How about you?¡± I asked again. I knew he was worried about us, but I wanted to see Ralph get caught with my own eyes.


    ¡°Of course, I have to be there. Don¡¯t worry; I¡¯ll update you every now and then. So please, stay with your family.¡± I took a deep breath because he made a valid point. But if I didn¡¯t go with him, it would feel like I was bing too reliant on my brother. ¡°Don¡¯t overthink it, Maximus. I promise you that I¡¯m going to help you, alright?¡± I nodded before he continued. ¡°And I want to see this through to the end. That¡¯s the only way I¡¯ll feel at ease when I return to Las Vegas.¡±


    I remember him telling me he promised our mom he wouldn¡¯t abandon me and would always support me. He¡¯s doing his job as an older brother, and I¡¯m proud that we share our mother¡¯s blood. When Chase grows up and has the many siblings I want, I¡¯ll teach them to love and support each other, especially when Sarina and I are no longer with them.


    ¡°Thank you, Mariano. And I hope this ends now.¡±


    ¡°I hope so, too. And you¡¯re my little brother, so I have to be by your side no matter what. If I were in your situation, you¡¯d do the same,¡± he replied. After our conversation, he started preparing to leave. The detective awaited him at the police station before heading together to BreenRich Exclusive Vige in Pasig.


    My family and I stayed at home as Mariano wanted. He thought Ralph might try to slip into the mansion if the house they visited was just a decoy or diversion. My brother also left a few policemen to keep an eye on us.


    ¡°My love, I hope they catch him,¡± Sarina said. We were in the living room, watching the two children y. We decided to wait together for Mariano¡¯s call, no matter what happened.


    ¡°I hope so too, my love. I want you to be able to breathe easily and no longer worry, especially about Chase¡¯s safety.¡±


    Before dinner, my phone suddenly rang. Sarina looked at me, hopeful that it was Mariano with good news. But when I checked, it was an unregistered number. I suddenly felt nervous but still smiled at my wife, who clearly felt anxious.


    ¡°Hello,¡± I said.


    ¡°Do you honestly think you can take my family just like that?¡± My jaw clenched because I knew who it was, but I tried not to let my wife notice. The fact that he could call me meant that Mariano¡¯s team hadn¡¯t seeded in capturing him.


    I hugged Sarina and kissed her on the head before smiling at her. Then, I pointed to the phone, indicating I needed to take the call. She smiled back at me, and I breathed a sigh of relief because it seemed she hadn¡¯t noticed anything. So, I stood up and moved a bit farther away. I didn¡¯t want her to hear anything I had to say to that beast Ralph.N?velDrama.Org is the owner.


    ¡°You don¡¯t have a family, bastard!¡± I snarled at him, but he justughed. He must be insane because of everything that¡¯s happened in his life. ¡°Sarina and Chase are mine. You don¡¯t have a family!¡± I added angrily, which seemed to infuriate him.


    ¡°I am going to take my family back, asshole!¡±


    ¡°Yeah, if you can. I am going to do everything to protect my family. Nothing and no one can harm them while I¡¯m around. You will nevery a finger on them, and you will rot in hell once I catch you.¡±


    ¡°Hahaha!!!! You can never tell. You don¡¯t know how much she moaned when we made love.¡±


    ¡°She never made love with you. She had no idea who you were, so she had no memory of you. Don¡¯t fool yourself,¡± I replied calmly. I had to be rational. Mariano¡¯s team hadn¡¯t captured him, allowing him to call me. But something was bothering me. How did he get this number when it¡¯s only for those close to me?


    ¡°Be is always mine, and I will take her back, along with our son. I can¡¯t live without her, and she¡¯s my wife, not yours.¡± His voice sounded pitiful, and I almost felt sorry for him if he hadn¡¯t startedughing, sending chills down my spine. ¡°Once I get her back, I am going to make her feel like she¡¯s in hell for leaving me anding to another man. Her bastard will suffer even more while that bitch watches me grill him alive.¡±


    ¡°You are not to touch my family. Over my dead body! I will find you, and when I do, I will do to you everything you said to me, you bastard!¡±


    I can¡¯t take it anymore. I need to find him, or my family will never be safe.

 Chapter 76

    Maximus


    I returned to Sarina after calming myself down. I didn¡¯t want her to know what I discussed with that despicable man. I wouldn¡¯t allow her fears to grow any further, which would only lead her to an emotional breakdown.


    ¡°Who called?¡± she asked curiously.


    ¡°It was Aries. There was a problem at the Sarina Hotel and Casino.¡± Her brow furrowed when she heard that, and I remembered she wasn¡¯t aware of that business. I never took her there when she was still my secretary.


    ¡°It was thest business I decided to put up before we went to Las Vegas to meet my business partners. And I named it Sarina Hotel and Casino because I missed you so much.¡± I exined, which was unintentional, but I managed to tell her how much I love her.


    ¡°Well, how¡¯s it doing? Can he handle it, or do you need to go there?¡± she asked, concern evident in her voice.


    ¡°No need. He can handle it; he just called to confirm what he should do,¡± I replied, then sat beside her again, continuing to watch our son and Jerome ying happily.


    Honestly, I¡¯m nervous and scared for my wife and child. That demon isn¡¯t in his right mind anymore, and I believe he¡¯s more than capable of carrying out his threats. I need to closely monitor my family if I don¡¯t want that shameless Ralph to seed.


    I wanted to call Mariano to check on their operation, but I hesitated, thinking it might ruin everything. They don¡¯t need any distractions and must concentrate. So, I extended my patience and stayed with my wife and son.


    After dinner, I finally received a text from Mariano. Sarina was in Chase¡¯s room, so I read it freely. I breathed a sigh of relief when I learned Ralph had been caught. But Mariano warned me not to becent yet, as they still have no idea who¡¯s helping Ralph. The police are still investigating because it¡¯s highly likely that this person has alsomitted crimes.


    I knew Sarina would take some time in our son¡¯s room, so I called Mariano for more details.


    ¡°He¡¯s in jail now,¡± my brother said.


    ¡°What¡¯s going to happen to him?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯ll be deported back to L. A. We found out that he killed the policewoman who helped Sarina and Chase leave the country. The maid, who was a friend of Marga-the maid who took your wife and son in-just got out of critical condition and reported to the police that Ralph was the one who attacked her.¡±


    ¡°What about Marga? Do you think her life is also in danger?¡± I asked worriedly. There were only three women in that house, none of whom could defend themselves.


    ¡°I¡¯m on my way there now.¡± I breathed a slight sigh of relief. I also wanted to ensure they were okay because I owed them a lot for taking in my wife and son. I¡¯m worried about how Sarina will react when she finds out about the police officer and maid in L. A. I don¡¯t want to, but I¡¯ll have to tell her because she¡¯ll be furious if I keep it from her.


    After my brother and I exchanged a few more reminders, we ended our conversation. Just in time, my wife entered my office with a smile.


    ¡°Hi.¡±


    ¡°Done with our little man?¡± I asked before opening my arms to embrace her, and I wasn¡¯t disappointed as she sat on myp.


    ¡°You know how sweet our son is,¡± she responded with a smile. ¡°Is there a problem?¡± she asked, her brow furrowing again. Did she notice my uneasiness?


    ¡°There¡¯s something I need to tell you.¡±


    ¡°Did Ralph escape? Did their operation fail?¡± she asked fearfully.


    ¡°No, no. They caught him,¡± I quickly said, slightly shaking my head and tightening my embrace. ¡°He¡¯s in jail now and will be deported.¡±N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    ¡°Then what¡¯s the problem? Why don¡¯t you seem happy?¡±


    ¡°He has an aplice who hasn¡¯t been caught yet. The police are worried that even if he¡¯s deported, that scoundrel might still find someone to harm you.¡±


    ¡°Oh my gosh! Can¡¯t he stop?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s an evil man, my love. Besides, it seems like he¡¯s lost his sanity-maybe because of how his real wife deceived him.¡±


    ¡°But I am not his wife!¡± she eximed, her eyes wide. I gently stroked her cheek, now wet with tears, and wiped them away.


    ¡°But he doesn¡¯t know that anymore. He sees you as Be Mcire, his wife who betrayed him, and he believes Chase is the result.¡±


    ¡°How¡¯s Mariano? Is heing back here?¡± she asked suddenly, so I didn¡¯t hide from her what my brother was doing and what had happened in L. A. She cried even more when she learned what had happened to the police officer.


    ¡°Shh¡­ it¡¯s okay, my love. All of this will be over soon. It won¡¯t be long before we can live a normal life, especially you and Chase.¡±


    ¡°What about Aunt Marga? What if Ralph had already harmed them, especially since Eunice called to say someone was looking for me?¡±


    ¡°My brother is on his way to them now, so let¡¯s pray they¡¯ll be okay. I also told him to bring them here temporarily to ensure their safety.¡±


    ¡°Thank you so much, Maximus. I wouldn¡¯t know what to do if something bad happened to them. They helped me, yet their lives are in danger now.¡±


    I held her tightly tofort her. I didn¡¯t want to see her ming herself for the terrible things happening to those who helped our family. I couldn¡¯t me her because I was worried about Aunt Marga, too.


    I told Sarina to sleep first while I waited for my brother to return. She didn¡¯t want to at first, wanting to know immediately if anything happened, but I didn¡¯t let her win. I knew she needed to rest.


    Just as I said to Sarina, I waited for Mariano. I needed to ensure Aunt Marga¡¯s family was safe so my wife¡¯s mind could be at ease.


    It waste at night when my brother arrived. He looked exhausted, and I couldn¡¯t help but feel sorry for him. I¡¯ve troubled him too much with my family¡¯s problems. ¡°What happened?¡± I asked in surprise when I saw bloodstains on his arm.


    ¡°We came in time and managed to save Marga¡¯s family.¡± He continued telling the story, and my eyes widened at what he said. I couldn¡¯t believe serious events were happening around me without my knowledge. How could that bastard try to harm those people? He¡¯s really sick!

 Chapter 77

    Sarina


    Two full weeks passed, and Ralph returned to L. A. yesterday. I couldn¡¯t bring myself to talk to or see him, so I didn¡¯t apany Maximus when he went to visit him in prison. I suspect I was just too scared, and I wanted to give him a chance not to silence me because of the words he might utter, just in case.


    I remembered my husband¡¯s appearance when he came home from talking to him. He seemed really angry, more than I could understand. He didn¡¯t tell me about their conversation, and I didn¡¯t ask either. What¡¯s the point of not going with him if I¡¯m just going to ask him anyway?


    ¡°Is everything over, Maximus?¡± I asked hesitantly. I didn¡¯t want to burden my husband, but I couldn¡¯t stop worrying excessively. I was holding onto him while lying on our bed after our passionate lovemaking.


    I felt his gentle kiss on my head before he spoke. ¡°For now, I can say yes. Mariano has assigned some people to watch that bastard and ensure he can¡¯t escape or even leave the prison.¡±


    I tightened my embrace when he said that, then took a deep breath. All I wanted now was to live quietly and peacefully with my family. ¡°I¡¯m so grateful to Mariano. If it weren¡¯t for his help, we might still be searching for Ralph.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right, my love. If only he could stay here in the Philippines, he¡¯d be close to us. But I know he wouldn¡¯t agree to that.¡±


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t he want to change his way of life?¡± I asked, tilting my head to see him. He slightly raised his chin and met my gaze. ¡°I¡¯m not here to judge his actions, so please don¡¯t take it wrong. After everything he¡¯s done for me and our family, I don¡¯t care about any of that anymore, and I¡¯m proud that Chase has an uncle like him. I just want him to be happy too, like us.¡±


    ¡°To make that happen, my love, he first needs to find a Sarina in his life just as I found you,¡± Maximus said with a smile. ¡°I want him to be happy and live without doubt or fear for the person he loves. With the way he lives, I know he hesitates to love because he knows it would only put her in danger.¡± I agreed with him and prayed that everything would be fine with Mariano.


    The Next Day¡­


    ¡°Let¡¯s go to the police station.¡± Maximus and I exchanged nces after Mariano said that.


    ¡°What for? Did something happen to Ralph?¡±


    ¡°No. The police found the one supporting him.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± we both asked simultaneously. ¡°Are you sure about that?¡± Maximus was the one who questioned.


    ¡°Do I look like I¡¯m not?¡± Mariano raised an eyebrow in response.


    ¡°I¡¯m just asking,¡± my husband replied, shrugging his shoulders.


    ¡°Who is he?¡± I asked curiously.


    ¡°If you want, you cane.¡±


    ¡°Do I know him?¡± I asked again.


    ¡°She¡¯s a she, not a he. And to answer your question, sort of.¡±


    I was curious about his response, and so was Maximus. I didn¡¯t want to leave Chase, and I also didn¡¯t want to take him to the police station. But out of curiosity and because Mariano said it was okay to leave the child with Lisa and his family, I agreed.


    ¡°What are you doing here?¡± I asked in surprise as the police let Midori into the visiting area where we were waiting for Ralph¡¯s aplice. But the woman didn¡¯t pay attention to me and went straight to Maximus.Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org.


    ¡°Babe, please, don¡¯t believe them. I don¡¯t know who that man is. I have nothing to do with everything they¡¯re using me of.¡± My eyes widened at what I heard. Was she the one Mariano was referring to as Ralph¡¯s aplice?


    Maximus looked at Mariano as if seeking confirmation, and his brother nodded before saying, ¡°The men who attacked Marga¡¯s family the night I went to their house identified her as the one who hired them.¡±


    ¡°No! That¡¯s not true! I don¡¯t know them!¡± Midori insisted. I couldn¡¯t keep quiet because I still couldn¡¯t believe it. I mean, how did they even know Ralph? ¡°You!¡± the woman shouted at me, pointing aggressively. Maximus quickly blocked me. ¡°It¡¯s her fault! Why do I have to suffer like this because of that bitch! She already stole you from me and is now doing this!¡±


    ¡°Be careful with your words, Midori. My wife has nothing to do with you being here. You connived with that evil man and chose this for yourself.¡±


    ¡°No, Maximus. You have to believe me. I never harmed anyone. You know how good and kind I was.¡± This stubborn woman was really pushing it. Instead of feeling sorry for her, I felt annoyed even though I still couldn¡¯t believe she did what she did. She even involved Aunt Marga and her family.


    ¡°No, Midori. You tell me. Why did you do that?¡± Maximus asked her. The woman got frustrated, unable to believe what my husband said.


    ¡°You¡¯re really not going to believe me?¡± Midori red at my husband with questioning eyes. ¡°That bitch has brainwashed you. She¡¯s not your wife! She¡¯s someone else¡¯s wife, for Pete¡¯s sake!¡±


    ¡°You just confirmed you knew that bastard,¡± Mariano interjected. I just watched them.


    ¡°He approached me and asked me for help. He said he wanted to take back his wife and son, whom Maximus imed to be his. I never hired anyone to harm anyone. I only want to get my man back!¡±


    ¡°I was never yours, Midori. And you know that. Instead of clinging to me, you should have focused on something or someone else. I only love my wife and my family. Besides them, nothing else matters.¡±


    ¡°They are not your family! She¡¯s fooling you!¡± Luckily, Maximus quickly grabbed Midori¡¯s hand because she tried to hurt me after she said that.


    ¡°I¡¯ll make sure you rot in jail, Midori. I will never forgive anyone who tries to harm my family.¡± After my husband said that, he looked at Mariano and invited us to leave. At the same time, the police restrained Midori, who was struggling to escape and chasing after Maximus.


    I suddenly started to think. Is this what excessive love for someone looks like? Can¡¯t they just be happy for the person they love even if that person feels the same way for someone else?


    We left the police station feeling light and peaceful because finally, the fear in my heart was gone, and I knew that no one would try to harm me or my child. I still didn¡¯t know how the two of them met, but it was enough for me to know that they were in the ce they belonged. Now, I¡¯m looking forward to a bright future for my family-for Maximus and me.

 Chapter 78

    Sarina


    I discovered that Ralph was obsessed with his wife. He loved her deeply, but she betrayed him. He couldn¡¯t ept it, so even though he knew he was being cheated on, they continued to live together. The constant drinking eventually poisoned his mind, and he ended up killing his wife.


    I feel sorry for him, but that doesn¡¯t justify him changing my face and inflicting the same abuse on me that he did to his previous wife. I can never forgive Ralph for taking me away, which caused Maximus and me to be separated and led to my memory loss.


    My past no longer matters to me. I can always ask my husband if there¡¯s something I want to know. I don¡¯t want to stress him out by making him worry about my condition; instead, I want him to enjoy spending time with me and our child, creating new memories we can treasure.


    Mariano had already returned to Las Vegas, and I saw the sadness on my husband¡¯s face when he said goodbye. I can¡¯t me him because I felt the same way. I also prayed that my brother-inw would be okay in another country, and just as Maximus promised his brother, we would visit him more often.


    It¡¯s Friday, and I¡¯m happily chatting with Lisa in the kitchen while preparing for our lunchter. Maximus has already left for hispany and feels more at ease leaving us now. At first, he didn¡¯t want to leave; he even wanted us toe to the office, which wasn¡¯t always possible.


    ¡°Try this, Sarina,¡± Lisa said, handing me a spoonful of the dressing she made for the vegetable sd. I took it and tasted it.


    ¡°Hmm.. It¡¯s delicious. It¡¯s perfect for the sd,¡± I said with a smile.


    ¡°We also have some samgyup in the fridge. I¡¯ll take it out now to soften it for lunchter. The seasoning must have soaked in well since I marinated it yesterday.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll probably end up eating a lot again.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s okay, so you can gain weight because I think you¡¯ll look even more beautiful.¡± I felt a little shy from herpliment, so I just smiled.


    ¡°Oh, it¡¯s nothing¡­¡± I said with augh. Then we continued preparing the food in the kitchen while Rocel watched over the kids with Chase¡¯s nanny.


    Lisa¡¯s family has be like caretakers for our family, and I¡¯m happy they¡¯re with us. It¡¯s not just because Chase gets along with Jerome but because I genuinely feel at ease with them. It reminded me of what Maximus told me-that my parents greatly loved me. I wondered if I could ask my husband if we could visit them.


    ¡°Hello, my love.¡± Speaking of the devil, he suddenly called.


    ¡°Hi, I¡¯m on my way home,¡± he said. I was surprised because it was only about lunchtime.


    ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll get the table ready.¡± After exchanging a few more ¡°I love yous,¡± our conversation ended.


    Everything was ready, and we were just waiting for Maximus. Chase and I were already waiting on the porch to greet him. I like this-every time my husbandes home, we¡¯ll wait for him so that, somehow, it eases his fatigue from a day¡¯s work to provide for our family.


    It wasn¡¯t long before we saw Maximus¡¯ car entering the gate, which wasn¡¯t far away. My son and I smiled at each other and eagerly waited for the car to be parked.


    ¡°Dad!!¡± Chase shouted when he saw his father get out of the car. Maximus smiled at us, and to my surprise, the car¡¯s passenger seat and backseat doors suddenly opened. He hadpanions.


    An elderly man and woman got out of the car. I furrowed my brow when I noticed they seemed to be on the verge of tears upon seeing us. I didn¡¯t know how to feel at that moment as if my chest was tightening for an inexplicable reason.


    Because of the overwhelming emotion that enveloped me, I decided to just approach Maximus and greet him with a hug and a kiss. I was sure he would introduce me to hispanions. ¡°Let¡¯s go inside, Mom, Dad,¡± my husband said to the two after our quick wee kiss.


    The elderly couple seemed surprised, then said, ¡°What? Oh, sure, hijo.¡±


    I went inside and was about to take Chase with me, but Maximus had already picked him up. I went to the kitchen to tell Lisa to set more tes because my husband had guests. After that, I went back out to face them.


    ¡°You¡¯re home early, my love?¡± I asked Maximus before sitting beside him on the couch, facing the two elderly people who couldn¡¯t take their eyes off me.


    ¡°We should have been home earlier. I just had a meeting that couldn¡¯t be canceled, so we¡¯re only just arriving now.¡±


    ¡°Ah, who are they?¡± I asked, puzzled. I couldn¡¯t help but ask because they were on the verge of tears, and I felt something strange towards them. ¡°Do I know them?¡±


    Maximus smiled at me, still holding our child. On the other hand, Chase seemed very happy in his father¡¯s arms.N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights.


    ¡°Sarina,¡± the elderly woman said.


    ¡°Yes?¡± I replied.


    ¡°Is that really you?¡± she asked again, and just as I was about to answer, she spoke again. ¡°My child?¡±


    I froze because I didn¡¯t expect her to call me that. I looked at Maximus and saw tears in his eyes as he nodded slowly. She called me her child.


    ¡°Is that really you, Sarina, my child?¡± the elderly man asked. Suddenly, tears streamed down my face. I couldn¡¯t stop them, so I stood up from my seat beside Maximus and went straight to my parents, who also stood up. We cried together as we embraced each other.


    My chest tightened with overwhelming joy. There was no limit to the happiness brought by knowing that I still had parents, and they were right in front of me now. Because of what Ralph had told me, I had thought I was alone in the world. But here they were, in my arms, as I was enveloped in their embrace.


    We stayed like that for a while, and if Chase hadn¡¯t suddenly said, ¡°Grandpa and Grandma,¡± we might not have separated from our embrace. My parents were overjoyed, especially when they finally held their grandchild. And now, I couldn¡¯t ask for anything more.

 Chapter 79

    Sarina


    My parents couldn¡¯t believe what had happened to me. Maximus had already told them everything, but they chose to thank God instead, saying they were grateful they still had the chance to see me. It turns out that they had been in Maximus¡¯ office for quite some time. Aries had picked them up from the airport. Although they were eager toe here, my husband didn¡¯t allow them because he wanted to witness our reunion.


    I was deeply touched, and all my doubts about Maximus vanished. After all, who would have thought? I¡¯m married, and then he ims to be my husband out of nowhere? So, I decided to believe only what he had told me from then on.


    I also discovered that I have an older brother with a family. Maximus said they couldn¡¯te along because the kids had school. Still, he promised that he would bring them here again during the vacation, or we could go on vacation in Catanduanes. I was extremely grateful to my husband for the happiness his actions brought me.


    ¡°What are you thinking, my wife?¡± I turned towards the voice and saw that Maximus had juste out of the bathroom, wearing only a towel. I swallowed hard, unable to help but admire his perfectly sculpted body. ¡°I¡¯m asking you what you¡¯re thinking and why there¡¯s suddenly a hint of desire in your eyes?¡±


    I smiled at his remark as he walked closer to our bed. As usual, I was leaning against the headboard, waiting for him. ¡°Is it wrong to desire my hot and yummy husband?¡± I asked, which made his smile widen.


    He sat on the bed without taking his eyes off me. ¡°Even though you can¡¯t remember anything, you still describe me as ¡°delicious¡±?


    ¡°Really? Did I always think of you that way?¡± He nodded before answering.


    ¡°Yes, back when we were at Mariano¡¯s house in Las Vegas.¡±


    ¡°So Mariano was handsome even back then?¡± He suddenly burst intoughter. ¡°What¡¯s so funny?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s just that you still think he¡¯s handsome. Anyway, no matter how handsome you think he is, I want to be more handsome and desirable to you.¡± He waggled his eyebrows suggestively.


    ¡°What¡¯s with that eyebrow action?¡± I asked, pointing at him, which made himugh even more.


    ¡°Why, is it wrong to raise my eyebrows?¡± I rolled my eyes at him, causing him tough even harder.


    ¡°Come on, my wife. Don¡¯t I deserve to be rewarded?¡± I raised an eyebrow at him before crossing my arms.


    ¡°Are you asking for something in return for what you¡¯ve done for me?¡± I asked, still keeping one eyebrow raised. He smirked like a mischievous schoolboy, and damn, he looked so handsome. He even scratched the back of his neck like it was his first time about to have sex.


    ¡°It¡¯s not like that, my wife. It feels good to know that my hard work is paying off.¡±


    ¡°Is that so?¡± I asked, and he nodded. ¡°How do you want to be rewarded for your hard work?¡±


    I saw his hand move, resting on my foot, and his fingers started walking up my leg, clearly aiming for a specific destination. It tickled me, but I tried to hold back, even though it was difficult.


    Maximus didn¡¯t take his eyes off me. Honestly, when he looked at me like that, I couldn¡¯t help but desire him, too, especially with his manhood visibly bulging under the towel.


    ¡°Your eyes, my wife,¡± he said.


    ¡°It¡¯s hard to ignore that cock of yours. Why don¡¯t you take off your towel so it can breathe?¡±


    ¡°Shit, my wife.¡±


    ¡°Besides, it prefers being confined either inside my pussy or mouth.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re really going to drive me crazy, my wife. You¡¯re making me even more aroused.¡±


    ¡°Do I need to expose my nipples just to get you to pounce on me?¡± As soon as I said that, he quickly pulled me close and kissed me passionately. ¡°My husband, you always leave me craving for you¡­¡± I said after our heated kiss.


    ¡°You¡¯re the one who always leaves me craving, my wife. You have no idea how much I want toe home whenever we talk on the phone just to have you,¡± he responded, our foreheads touching. ¡°You don¡¯t know how much your voice turns me on.¡±


    I kissed him willingly and straddled him, cupping his face. I wasn¡¯t shy anymore, to be honest. For me, the sensuality in our rtionship would never fade. I won¡¯t allow our passion and desire for each other to diminish, even as we grow old. If I have to seduce him, I¡¯ll do it.


    ¡°I want to ride you, my husband.¡±


    ¡°Just do whatever you want, my wife.¡± I smiled at his words, and he finally removed the thin nightie I was wearing. There was no underwear, as he would have removed it anyway.


    The feeling he gives me whenever we do this is unlike anything else. I never feel like it¡¯s just out of obligation because I¡¯m his wife. In fact, I think I enjoy it more-he might even think so too. But I doubt it. I can see the happiness on his face every time he thrusts into me with all his might, along with the joy of our bodies bing one.


    And I will never forget how he looks when we reach our climax together. He says I¡¯m the most beautiful woman in the world when I orgasm. But it¡¯s the same for him-he¡¯s the most handsome man in my eyes whenever he releases all his cum inside me.N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights.


    ¡°Aahhh.. My wife, you¡¯re mine alone¡­.¡±


    ¡°Yes, my husband, I¡¯m yours alone.¡± He kept sucking on my nipple while his fingers continued to work their magic on me. I was already arching my back, gripping his shoulders tightly while his other hand supported my back.


    He had already removed the towel, and I could feel his hardness against me. ¡°I want to ride you now, my husband.¡± After I said that, he stopped fingering me and helped me kneel on the bed, guiding his rock-hard manhood into my entrance while holding my hips.


    Because of his hardness, it was unnecessary to guide it, as it was already standing tall. And when I felt the tip of his cock at the entrance of my womanhood, I eagerly sat down on it. ¡°Aah! It feels so good, my husband!¡±


    I pushed him down onto his back and nted my hands on his chest while he watched me ride him. He held onto my hips while his feet were firmly nted on the floor.


    ¡°My husband, I want toe while riding you.¡±


    ¡°Yes, my wife, do whatever you want.¡± With that, I quickened my pace, determined to reach our peak together. We made love repeatedly, and if all goes well, we might soon have a sibling for Chase. Our lovemaking is intense. Whenever there¡¯s an opportunity, he ims me. I love this man so much. My husband, Maximus Lardizabal.

 Chapter 80

    Sarina


    My parents have returned to the province, and I couldn¡¯t be happier with the five days they spent here with us. They said they weren¡¯t used to my face at first, but once they noticed and saw my behavior and how I acted the way the Sarina they knew was, they didn¡¯t hesitate to ept that I really was their daughter. They also said they¡¯d exin everything to my older brother about what happened to me. They hoped that Maximus and I would get a chance to take a vacation there, and we, as a couple, quickly agreed.


    Today is Saturday. Grandma Sol, who still didn¡¯t want to ept me as Maximus¡¯ wife, requested that I take Chase to her mansion. I didn¡¯t mind since my son already has a driver-bodyguard rmended by the police, who helped Mariano and my husband track down Ralph.


    ¡°My husband,¡± I said as soon as Maximus answered my call. ¡°I¡¯d like to go out if that¡¯s okay.¡±


    ¡°My wife, I want to go with you wherever you go.¡± I know he¡¯s just worried about me. He doesn¡¯t want what happened at the airport restroom to happen again.


    ¡°I¡¯ll be with my bodyguard anyway.¡± I heard him take a deep breath. He was supposed to have no work today since it¡¯s Saturday. Still, Aries scheduled a meeting they couldn¡¯t cancel, so he¡¯s at thepany now.


    ¡°My wife, please¡­¡±


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll just wait for you,¡± I cut him off. I suppose the fear of losing me will never go away after what happened. Who am I to be upset about that now that I know how much he loves me?


    ¡°Are you mad?¡± he asked, concerned. I smiled and decided to tease him.


    ¡°Yes, so you better be readyter because I¡¯ll take out all my anger on your dick.¡±


    ¡°Shit! My wife! I¡¯m in a meeting!¡± he eximed, which made meugh. ¡°I might just leave this meeting ande home.¡±


    ¡°Wait, you¡¯re still in a meeting?¡± I asked, surprised.


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Why did you answer my call?¡±


    ¡°Because I wanted to. I excused myself and called for a break, so they¡¯re busy too.¡± Even though he couldn¡¯t see me, I couldn¡¯t help but feel giddy. It feels like we¡¯re newly in love and just starting our rtionship because of the love he¡¯s showing me.


    ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll just wait for you, or we can go out tomorrow to pick up Chase at Grandma Sol¡¯s. Go back to your meeting now.¡±


    ¡°Okay, my wife, I love you!¡±


    ¡°I love you too, Maximus Lardizabal,¡± I replied. I even heard him blowing a kiss, so I imitated him before we ended the call. I had to do it because he gets sulky very easily.


    I didn¡¯t push it and just stayed at the mansion. I helped with the gardening with Carlito and his father, which entertained me. In addition to Lisa¡¯s family, my husband thoroughly vetted three other helpers to ensure our safety.


    I have a bodyguard, and Chase does too. I didn¡¯t argue with my husband anymore because I didn¡¯t want him to worry about us when he was at work. ¡°I¡¯m working to provide for you and our son¡¯s needs and to keep you safe. What¡¯s the point of my earnings if I don¡¯t spend them on you, my family?¡± he told me when I objected to his n to hire bodyguards.


    We also have six security guards who rotate every eight hours. Even though I don¡¯t remember much, I still feel overwhelmed by all our expenses. I can¡¯t help but wonder if my husband will ever run out of money. Although he¡¯s providing jobs for many people, I still can¡¯t fully grasp if our spending is justified.


    Time passed, and I didn¡¯t get bored. I also had the chance to read and learn to cook from Lisa. When Maximus arrived, I was busy even though he kept calling after his meeting ended, even when he was driving home, and I scolded him for doing that because it was unsafe.


    And when evening came, I made sure to make him happy. He didn¡¯t allow me to not be imed by him as punishment for teasing him earlier.


    I was extremely exhausted afterward because of the various positions he made me do, so I quickly fell asleep. ¡°I love you so much, my wife,¡± I heard Maximus whisper, which brought a smile to my lips. But I can¡¯t remember if I responded because sleep overtook me.


    *** Sarina Dreaming ***N?velDrama.Org is the owner.


    ¡°You¡¯re mine, I will never give you back to that man¡­¡±


    ¡°No, don¡¯t say that. Let me go!!!¡± I angrily said to the faceless man. I was scared because I felt like I couldn¡¯t breathe because of his weight on top of me.


    ¡°I said you¡¯re mine!!¡± he shouted angrily before pping me.


    ¡°Ahhh!!¡± I screamed as I felt the pain, and he grabbed both of my wrists, raising my hands above my head. I could see him on top of me, and I felt myself struggling. But I couldn¡¯t do anything; he was just too strong. ¡°Let me go!!! Let me go!!!¡± I continued to cry out.


    ¡°No! You can¡¯t belong to anyone else because you¡¯re mine. No one else can have you but me. I¡¯m the one who deserves you and no one else!¡± he said angrily before finally stripping me.


    I don¡¯t know where I am, but I can feel the movement of my ce as if I¡¯m in a moving vehicle. But I¡¯m lying down, and I feel dizzy.


    ¡°You¡¯re mine, you¡¯re only mine¡­¡± the man continued to say as he thrust his manhood into me. I struggled even more. I didn¡¯t want this; I was disgusted¡­


    ¡°For the love of God, please stop¡­¡± I continued to cry as I felt like the man possessing me was a demon.


    ¡°You can¡¯t belong to anyone else, Sarina. You were mine before and now, and you will be mine forever¡­¡±


    ¡°Noooo¡­. Maximussss¡­..¡± I screamed as I suddenly opened my eyes to see the worried face of my husband, who was holding my shoulders. I hadn¡¯t realized I was already crying. I quickly clung to him, who embraced me to calm me down.


    ¡°Shh¡­ My wife, it¡¯s okay, I¡¯m here..¡± heforted me.


    ¡°Who was that, Maximus? Who was that man?¡± I asked as I continued to cry, and he gently rubbed my back to soothe me.

 Chapter 81

    MaximusN?velDrama.Org is the owner.


    I was startled by Sarina¡¯s sudden scream and quickly jumped out of bed. When I looked at her, she was crying in her sleep. I tried to wake her because of the fear so evident on her face.


    ¡°My wife¡­¡± I called to her softly while gently tapping her to wake up, but she didn¡¯t respond.


    ¡°Noooo¡­ Maximusss¡­¡± she cried long and loud before her eyes opened, and she sat up. When she saw me, she quickly embraced me, and I did the same. I didn¡¯t stopforting her until her breathing became even.


    ¡°My wife,¡± I called her, but she didn¡¯t respond. ¡°My wife,¡± I repeated, but there was still no reply. I looked at her and saw that she had fallen asleep again. I took a deep breath before gentlyying her back on the bed. With my fingers, I wiped away the remaining tears still trailing down her cheeks.


    I couldn¡¯t sleep after that and just watched her. She was so happy before we went to bedst night, and now this? Was it just a dream? Or was it something rted to what happened between her and Ralph? Is the trauma from that incident really that deep?


    Based on the pictures from Mariano¡¯s investigation, I know she went through a lot, but I saw how happy she was now. Is there something I¡¯m still not aware of? I gently pulled her closer to me and hugged her tight. Even in her sleep, I wanted her to feel my love and the security I could provide.


    The next morning, I noticed that she seemed distant, lost in deep thought. ¡°My wife,¡± I called, and she flinched, which made me frown. She was sitting on the bed, waiting for me to leave the bathroom. That¡¯s how she always is, and I¡¯ve gotten used to seeing her smiling face after I shower in the morning. But today was different because of her nightmarest night.


    ¡°Are you saying something?¡± she asked. I smiled at her so she wouldn¡¯t notice my concern. I know she doesn¡¯t like it when I¡¯m worried.


    ¡°Are you thinking about something? Is there something wrong?¡± She just stared at me as if she was deciding whether or not to tell me. I approached her and sat beside her. She followed my movements with her eyes, and I gave her a light kiss on her lips. ¡°You can tell me anything, my wife. If something is bothering you, it¡¯s better if you tell me so we can solve it together.¡±


    ¡°Maximus¡­¡±


    ¡°Go on, my wife.¡± I needed to encourage her so she wouldn¡¯t hesitate anymore.


    ¡°I want to remember everything. All that happened to me. But I¡¯m scared because of the dream I hadst night. It felt so real that it wasn¡¯t just a dream because my fear was overwhelming.¡±


    ¡°Alright, we¡¯ll consult a doctor. I¡¯ll ask Dr. Jerold if he knows a specialist who can help us.¡±


    ¡°What if it wasn¡¯t just a dream, my husband? What if it was something that actually happened in my life? That man raped me, over and over again¡­¡± she began to cry again and clung to me. ¡°I don¡¯t want to remember because I feel disgusted with myself. Because I let another man-¡±


    ¡°Shh¡­ You didn¡¯t let it happen, my wife. They forced you; you were helpless against whoever that was,¡± I told her. ¡°Besides, that animal Ralph is already behind bars. He can¡¯t hurt you anymore.¡±


    ¡°No, you don¡¯t understand. The man in my dreamst night wasn¡¯t Ralph. He was different; he called me Sarina and said I was his and that he¡¯d never return me to you.¡± I was stunned by what she said.


    ¡°What did he look like?¡± I asked.


    ¡°I can¡¯t remember, he had no face. I don¡¯t know why he had no face. But I know it wasn¡¯t Ralph because he never called me Sarina¡­¡±


    ¡°Alright, we will go and see a doctor.¡± Confusion was evident on her face, and as much as I hated to think about it, it was possible that besides Ralph, there was someone else who hurt and abused my wife. I wanted to get angry, to rage and scream because of what I thought she had gone through at the hands of that man. But I needed to be strong and control myself, especially with Sarina. I can¡¯t show her my anger if I don¡¯t want her to feel more burdened by what she¡¯s been through.


    As much as I don¡¯t want her to remember because of the traumatic experience, I know it¡¯s the only way to catch whoever that man was who vited her. And more than ever, she needs me now. Now that I know the weight of her burden.


    ¡°Grandma,¡± I said when she answered my call. ¡°I¡¯m going to leave Chase with you for now, if that¡¯s okay.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s fine with me, but why? So you and your wife can have some alone time?¡± Her tone wasn¡¯t angry, but I could sense some hostility.


    ¡°I know you know what Midori did, but I also know you have no idea what my wife went through when she was missing, so I understand if you¡¯re still like that towards her. But please, don¡¯t say anything bad about her, especially if I¡¯m around or if you¡¯re talking to me.¡±


    ¡°If you have nothing else to say, I¡¯ll take care of my grandchild for now.¡±


    ¡°His nanny and bodyguard are still there. Thank you, Grandma.¡± Then she ended the call. I nodded and prayed to God that she would fully ept my wife.


    After our conversation, I called Mariano. I needed his help. ¡°I don¡¯t think Ralph is the one who took Sarina from the airport.¡±


    ¡°What? How can you say that?¡± he asked, curious, so I told him about my wife¡¯s nightmare. ¡°What do you want me to do?¡±


    ¡°Can you investigate again? The one who took her might be rxed by now, thinking he already had a scapegoat through Ralph.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, you may be right,¡± he replied. ¡°And I¡¯m sorry to hear that again about your wife.¡±


    ¡°Thank you for helping me, and I¡¯m sorry if I had to trouble you with this again.¡±


    ¡°Anytime, you¡¯re my little brother, don¡¯t forget that.¡± Our conversation ended, and I believe he will do everything to find out who really took my wife.


    And now, I need to face Sarina¡¯s condition. I¡¯m afraid her mental health might be affected by the return of her memories, but I still believe that she is strong and resilient, and she can get through all of this. Besides, I¡¯m always here by her side to be with her through any hardship. I¡¯ll always support and care for her, and above all, I¡¯ll always show and make her feel my love.

 Chapter 82

    Maximus


    ¡°Are you ready, my wife?¡± I asked Sarina. She looked at me and gave a slight smile. Today was the day of her scheduled consultation with a psychologist rmended by Dr. Jerold.


    At first, she was hesitant because she didn¡¯t want to remember what had happened to her. She said she feared she wouldn¡¯t be able to handle it, especially since she was already terrified just from the nightmares. But after giving it some thought, she decided to face it to hold whoever harmed her ountable.


    ¡°Hi, I¡¯m Dr. Miraez.¡±


    ¡°Good morning, doc,¡± I greeted, then nced at Sarina, who gave a hesitant smile. ¡°She¡¯s my wife, Sarina.¡±


    ¡°Hello, Ma¡¯am Sarina.¡± My wife just nodded as she tightened her grip on my arm. ¡°Please, have a seat.¡± And so we did.


    At first, the doctor asked Sarina gentle questions, ones that wouldn¡¯t trigger her trauma. I noticed my wife gradually bing morefortable, and the doctor handed her a form to fill out. ¡°I believe Mrs. Lardizabal will be able to handle everything. Based on her answers, she¡¯s a very strong-willed woman. She may be affected once her memories return, but that¡¯s only natural,¡± the doctor said, ncing and smiling at Sarina.


    I breathed a sigh of relief at that confirmation. My wife just needed to undergo several therapy sessions and continue taking her medication. She had been off her meds for quite some time, which only drugged her and wasn¡¯t good for her, so the doctor mentioned it might take a while for her memory to fully return.


    For me, that was fine. But knowing that the person who had taken my wife might still be out there, I couldn¡¯t help but feel nervous and afraid that they might try to take her again away from me. We needed to find out who that person was. Sarina slowly revealed that the man spoke Tagalog, so she was sure he was Filipino because he was fluent in ournguage.


    After the check-up, Sarina decided we should pick up our son from my grandmother¡¯s house. I was hesitant, but she made a good point. ¡°Lisa and her family, especially Jerome, are there, and you know how much he enjoys ying with him,¡± she said, so I agreed.


    After we picked up our son, we headed home. I pondered whether to go to work or stay with my wife and bring my work home instead. But all my doubts were put to rest when she said, ¡°If you¡¯re thinking about skipping work again, I¡¯m telling you to stop. I¡¯m fine here at home and have plenty of people around.¡±


    ¡°But, my wife,¡± I said as I sat in my office chair. We had both gone to my mini office when we got home because Jerome had immediately greeted Chase. Our son was overjoyed because he had only been with my grandmother at the mansion and hadn¡¯t had anyone to y with except the elderly woman.


    ¡°No buts. I don¡¯t want your work to be affected and suffer because of me.¡± She then sat on myp and ced her hands on my shoulders. I quickly wrapped one arm around her waist while the other rested on her thigh.


    ¡°How often do I have to tell you that you and our son are the most important things to me?¡± I asked. We both worry for each other; I guess that¡¯s because we love each other.


    ¡°Even so. That won¡¯t change if you still go to your office. Some people rely on you, and you might not realize it.¡± I knew she was just reminding me. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, like Dr. Miraez said, I¡¯m strong. I won¡¯t let anything bad happen to me, especially since there¡¯s a possibility our son might witness it.¡±


    ¡°But promise me,¡± I started to say, but she cut me off.


    ¡°Promise, I won¡¯t go anywhere without you.¡± She smiled at me, and I could only sigh.


    The next day, I followed her wishes. I went to work, leaving her and our son at home with the house helpers, security guards, bodyguards, and Lisa¡¯s family. I believed they were safe there, but my only concern was that if she fell asleep and had another bad dream, I wouldn¡¯t be there by her side.


    ¡°Sir, I¡¯ve arranged your schedule so you can go home earlier. I¡¯ve also informed your secretaries, so they¡¯ll schedule all iing appointmentster in the day.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Aries.¡± I didn¡¯t know what I would do without this man. Surely, I owed him a lot, so I made a mental note topensate him when everything was okay.


    ¡°Sir Mariano also called and asked if Ma¡¯am Sarina had any intimate rtionships besides you.¡±Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org.


    ¡°And?¡±


    ¡°She only had one boyfriend, Mr. Jason Satudez.¡± As soon as he mentioned the man¡¯s name, I paused and remembered that he had also been in Las Vegas during that time. ¡°Sir, sir!¡±


    ¡°Ah, sorry. I just remembered something,¡± I said, which caused him to furrow his brow.


    ¡°Jason Satudez was in Vegas as well.¡± My assistant asked me with curiosity after I said that. ¡°He didn¡¯t see me, and I don¡¯t know if Sarina spoke with him again after they met there. But I¡¯m sure they didn¡¯t meet again in person because I was with my wife, and I never left her alone.¡±


    ¡°Would you like me to check when he returned to the country then?¡± Aries asked. I looked at him and nodded. I didn¡¯t want to think about it because, ording to Sarina¡¯s parents, Jason was a very kind man. I didn¡¯t believe he could have hurt the woman he loved for so long, even if they didn¡¯t end up together.


    However, I felt a strange unease when Aries mentioned his name. I just hope he had nothing to do with the terrible things that happened to my wife because I¡¯m sure that if Sarina¡¯s memory returns and she remembers that Jason was the cause of our separation, she will be devastated.


    I know Sarina loved Jason deeply, so I hope my instincts are wrong.

 Chapter 83

    Maximus


    ¡°Has there any update on the result I asked you for?¡± I asked Aries. It¡¯s been a week since he suggested checking the date of Jason¡¯s return to the country, which was more than three years ago. I understand he needed to pull some strings to get it, but I think it¡¯s getting longer.


    ¡°It¡¯s difficult to obtain, Sir, because he¡¯s the son of a politician. But ording to the investigator, he returned with friends, just like when he left,¡± he replied, making me shake my head in frustration.


    ¡°So, it¡¯s unlikely he was responsible for everything that happened to Sarina?¡± I asked, started to lose hope.


    ¡°It¡¯s possible, Sir. But I¡¯m still continuing the investigation. We also can¡¯t ignore the fact that he was present when you were there. Also, Sir Mariano is looking into what Mr. Satudez was doing during that period.¡± I nodded at what he said. My suspicion towards Jason is fading, but my assistant does have a point.N?velDrama.Org is the owner.


    ¡°Alright, just continue gathering information. And whatever my brother needs for this case, just give it to him or provide him with any support he requires.¡± I just hope they can get a lead.


    ¡°Copy, Sir.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, you may go.¡± Aries left my office. I leaned back in my chair, deep in thought. Could Jason really have done that to my wife? But ording to my inws, he loved Sarina so much. They witness how much he cared for her when they were together.


    I remembered the first time I saw him, back when I was still pretending to be blind and crippled. Sarina had left me at the hospital to stay with Grandma and Midori. When they left, I snuck out to find her and saw how she froze upon seeing him the moment she stepped out of the elevator. She didn¡¯t notice me, so I followed them and overheard their conversation.


    That¡¯s when I learned she loved that Jason. Sarina mentioned our contract, which hurt me deeply, especially when they hugged. I was so jealous back then, but I had to control myself. They called each other ¡°love,¡± so I told her not to call me that the first time I imed her. I was annoyed because ¡°love¡± was exactly what I wanted us to call each other back then. But now, I¡¯m much happier with the words ¡°my wife¡±-it sounds more possessive.


    Now, is it possible that Jason took her from the airport? How did Sarina¡¯s clothes end up at Roskov¡¯s mansion? I felt a headache from all the thinking, so I massaged my temples.


    I thought that when I found Sarina, everything would be okay. But then, there was Ralph, who attempted to take her again. Now that the animal is finally behind bars, a new and more difficult mystery has emerged-the person truly responsible for my wife¡¯s disappearance.


    The one I pity the most is Sarina, my beloved wife. She has suffered so much, and it would be better if she never remembered those painful memories. But here they are, hunting her in her nightmares. I just hope she can ovee them. I¡¯m willing to do everything to ensure my wife finds peace.


    I took a deep breath and returned to my work. I needed to finish everything today so I wouldn¡¯t fall behind. As nned, I left early to spend time with my family. I also had to apany Sarina to her sessions.


    The day ended, and I headed home. I was excited to see my wife and son, but when I arrived on the porch, I was surprised-my wife and child weren¡¯t there to greet me. Did something happen?


    I quickly entered the house and immediately looked into the living room, where I knew my wife and son always stayed. I smiled when I saw Chase ying with Jerome. I approached them, and the two kids greeted me, which I returned before picking up my son and kissing him.


    ¡°Where¡¯s Mommy?¡± I asked. Chase suddenly looked sad and said,


    ¡°Mom sick.¡± I frowned just as Rocel arrived. Before I could ask, she spoke first.


    ¡°Ma¡¯am Sarina is in your room. She said she wasn¡¯t feeling well and wanted to rest.¡± I got worried. I think everything she has been through is getting a toll on her, and everything that happens now weighs on her body.


    ¡°How is she feeling unwell? Did something happen while I was gone?¡±


    ¡°Nothing much. She just said she felt dizzy and wanted to lie down. She had a lot to eat during lunch and had a good appetite.¡± I sighed in relief; maybe I was only overthinking.


    ¡°Thank you. Please take care of Chase while I check on my wife.¡±


    ¡°Of course, Sir,¡± she replied with a smile. That¡¯s when I remembered to ask about our nanny. I asked Rocel where she was. ¡°She¡¯s in your room, bringing the hot water Ma¡¯am Sarina asked for.¡±


    ¡°Okay, thanks.¡± After saying that, I quickly headed upstairs to our bedroom. On the way, I met Chase¡¯s nanny, Rowena.


    ¡°Good thing you¡¯re here, Sir. I¡¯ve been telling Ma¡¯am that we should take her to the hospital because her stomach pain isn¡¯t going away.¡±


    ¡°All right, Rowena. Thank you for your concern.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re wee, Sir.¡± I continued walking to our room.


    ¡°My husband,¡± Sarina greeted me when she saw me. She sat on the bed, cing a ss on the side table. I quickly walked over to do it for her. She smiled at me and said, ¡°Thank you.¡±


    I gently kissed her on the lips before helping her lie down again. ¡°Is your stomach hurting badly?¡±


    ¡°Ites and goes. I think I might have a UTI.¡±


    ¡°How do you know that? I think we should see a doctor.¡±


    ¡°They¡¯ve told me that earlier, but of course, I wanted to wait for you toe with me.¡± I smiled at what she said.


    ¡°You love me that much?¡± I teased.


    ¡°I don¡¯t have any money to pay the hospital bills, so I need you to cover the expenses.¡± I frowned at her joke, but she justughed. ¡°Just kidding, my husband. Although that might be one reason, the main reason is I don¡¯t want to go without you.¡±


    ¡°Are you feeling better now? You¡¯re joking around. Rocel and Rowena told me you were feeling sick, and your stomach hurts.¡±


    ¡°That was earlier, but now that you¡¯re here, it feels like the pain is gone. You must be the medicine of my life.¡±


    ¡°Is that true, or are you joking again?¡±


    ¡°Of course, it¡¯s true.¡±


    ¡°I love you so much, my wife.¡±


    ¡°And I love you more, Maximus Lardizabal.¡± I love how she said that and expressed her love for me, and I admit I¡¯m getting used to it. I feel so happy whenever she says those words, especially since it doesn¡¯t happen often, so I know she really means it. I¡¯m not saying it¡¯s not true when I say ¡®I love you¡¯ to her because I say it frequently. It¡¯s just that I feel it more when she says it to me.


    ¡°Have you taken a bath yet?¡± I asked, and she nodded. ¡°So we can head to the hospital to get you checked. I don¡¯t want you feeling any pain, my wife. I can¡¯t help but worry.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll just change clothes.¡± She got up from the bed, and I helped her. Then we left for the hospital. I hope her condition isn¡¯t serious, although I noticed she winced asionally in pain as we made our way to the hospital.

 Chapter 84

    Sarina


    I couldn¡¯t figure out why I was feeling strange. I¡¯ve felt this way since I woke up, but I haven¡¯t told Maximus because I¡¯m worried he might skip work again. He¡¯s been neglecting thepany because of me and our child. So, as long as I could bear it, I tried my best to hide my feelings from my husband.


    But I felt dizzy the whole morning. Thankfully, it got a little better around noon, so I could eat a lot. The problem was, after that, I started feeling severe stomach pains as if something was stabbing me. Rocel had already told me to see a doctor, but I wanted my husband to be with me.


    Seeing my husband¡¯s face when he entered our bedroom made me feel a little less pain. I knew he was worried again, and I started to feel guilty. As soon as he found me, I felt I had been a burden to him. I had never given himplete happiness.


    And now, here we are, sitting in front of the doctor, who¡¯s asking when Ist had my monthly period. I paused and looked at Maximus. ¡°I can¡¯t remember,¡± I replied. My urine test results had juste out, and they showed that I had a UTI.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to refer you to an OB. Please visit after this. I won¡¯t give you any pain relievers for now, just to be sure.¡± Maximus and I exchanged looks, and already, I could see the joy on his face. It had been months since the first time we were intimate, and it had happened again and again since.


    Even I couldn¡¯t help but feel excited at the thought that Chase might soon have a sibling. I¡¯m certain what kind of father Maximus is, so I wouldn¡¯t hesitate to have even a dozen children with him.


    We then went to the OB, where I had moreboratory tests done. We waited for the results since they wouldn¡¯t take long. Eventually, we returned to the doctor for the official diagnosis.


    ¡°Congrattions! Mrs. Lardizabal is five weeks pregnant,¡± joyfully announced Dr. Cruz, my OB. Maximus and I looked at each other; if I was happy, he was even more so. He hugged me tightly and kissed both my cheeks with tears in his eyes.


    ¡°Mrs. Lardizabal needs toe back for monthly check-ups to ensure her health and the baby¡¯s. You¡¯re in the first trimester, so you need plenty of rest. Please stop taking any medication, as it could harm the baby. And most importantly, stay stress-free.¡±


    ¡°My wife will never be stressed with me because I love her. I won¡¯t even let her worry about anything,¡± Maximus proudly dered, and it was true.


    ¡°Doctor,¡± I said, causing them to look at me. I then mentioned my therapy sessions for the dreams I¡¯ve been having and my desire for my memories to return.


    ¡°It all depends on you. As Dr. Miraez said, there shouldn¡¯t be any issues as long as you can handle it, especially since Mr. Lardizabal is very supportive. But I suggest you prepare for the worst when your memories return.¡±


    I took a deep breath and nodded as Maximus gently held my hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze. I knew deep down that I would face whateveres for the sake of my family, especially now that it¡¯s about to grow.


    I smiled at my husband as our eyes met. ¡°I¡¯m always here for you, my wife. No matter what happens, I won¡¯t let us be separated again, and I¡¯ll protect you and our children from harm.¡±


    I held on to those words from Maximus and felt more at peace and lighter inside.


    After we learned about my pregnancy, my husband became sweeter and more attentive. Even at work, he never forgot to call or text me about himself or whatever he was doing. What mattered most to him was that wemunicated.


    I was content with my life. My sessions with Dr. Miraez continued, and little by little, I started to feel more rxed, even as I discovered new things about what had happened in my past.


    On Thursday, I decided to visit Maximus at his office. I wanted to surprise him. I knew he wouldn¡¯t like that I went out, but I had my bodyguard with me. Besides, I would only leave the car once we arrived at thepany building.


    I brought lunch for the two of us. I wanted us to create new memories that we could talk about. The car stopped right in front of thepany. My driver-bodyguard opened the door for me, and after thanking him, I turned away. He said he knew where to park and would only leave when Maximus called for him.


    Our household staff were just as meticulous, so I feltpletely safe. I hadn¡¯t called Maximus yet, wanting to surprise him by just showing up at his office.


    As I entered the building, a few employees looked at me. The guards greeted me, and I did the same. I didn¡¯t want them to think I was snobbish, although I wasn¡¯t sure they knew I was their boss¡¯s wife. I headed straight to the elevator, not expecting to see Jason when it opened.


    ¡°Sarina?¡± I was surprised but felt something different when he said my name. It wasn¡¯t like before when I didn¡¯t feel much, but now my chest felt lighter. Perhaps it changed because Maximus told me Jason was my first love and childhood sweetheart.


    ¡°Jason, what are you doing here?¡± I asked, confused. Who was he here to see at my husband¡¯spany?


    ¡°Huh? Oh, I just had to ask Mr. Lardizabal something.¡± I became even more puzzled. ording to Maximus, they weren¡¯t on speaking terms. They hadn¡¯t even met, except at the hospital outside Dr. Jerold¡¯s office. ¡°Can we talk?¡±


    ¡°But Maximus is waiting for me,¡± I told him. I didn¡¯t know why, but I wasn¡¯tfortable talking to him alone. My answer seemed to change his expression. He looked angry, though only for a moment.


    ¡°Did you forget? I just came from Mr. Lardizabal¡¯s office, and I didn¡¯t think he knew you wereing here.¡±


    I smiled, although I was starting to feel nervous. It was like there was a hint of anger in his words. ¡°Maximus gets jealous and won¡¯t stop bothering me if I don¡¯t tell him everything we discussed.¡±


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to tell him?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll tell him we talked, but I¡¯m not one to go into details. I don¡¯t want him to get upset with me.¡±


    ¡°Do you love him that much?¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t that how it should be? I mean, he loves me, so I should love him too. Besides, we¡¯re married, so I owe him respect. If I know something will make him jealous, I should avoid it.¡±


    I saw a bitter smile cross Jason¡¯s face before he looked down. ¡°You were like that with me before, too. You didn¡¯t want me to get upset. Even when people were angry with you for not giving in to what they wanted, you didn¡¯t care. All that mattered to you was that I wasn¡¯t upset or angry.¡±


    ¡°Jason,¡± I called his name. He quickly lifted his head and looked at me. Still, I didn¡¯t get to say anything because the elevator opened, and Maximus stepped out.


    ¡°My wife,¡± he greeted me with a smile, but I saw his jaw tighten when he looked at Jason.


    ¡°Stay away from my wife.¡± There was a warning in Maximus¡¯s voice, and I found myself ncing between them. Why was Maximus acting hostile toward Jason when Jason had just said they¡¯d spoken? Didn¡¯t they understand each other?


    ¡°Sarina,¡± Jason called my name again, and when I looked at him, I saw the anger in his face, no longer hidden.


    ¡°Leave, Mr. Satudez, or I will call security and have you thrown out of my building.¡± As Maximus said this, he quickly wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me closer to him.


    ¡°You were mine first, Sarina. Was it that easy to forget everything we went through? Our love?¡±Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org.


    ¡°She doesn¡¯t remember, Mr. Satudez,¡± Maximus warned again.


    ¡°Did you forget you told me you loved me and would never leave?¡±


    ¡°Stop it, Mr. Satudez!¡± Maximus shouted, and as the argument escted, shes of memories of Jason and me together filled my mind. Happy memories.


    ¡°Love, remember how we were together, please¡­¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s it,¡± Maximus said, pulling out his phone and calling someone. ¡°Tell security toe here¡­¡± I didn¡¯t understand the rest of what he said because my eyes were fixed on Jason.


    ¡°Love¡­¡± Jason repeated.


    ¡°Love¡­¡± I echoed.


    ¡°No, she¡¯s my wife. She doesn¡¯t love you anymore,¡± Maximus suddenly turned to me.


    ¡°Huh?¡± Right, what did I just say? ¡°I¡¯m sorry, my husband¡±


    ¡°Your heart still remembers me, love. Please,e back to me.¡± Now, I am confused. What was the truth? Memories of Jason and I together kept flooding back-times when he gave me flowers, and we ate burgers and street food. What was real?


    ¡°Stop it, Jason!¡± Maximus shouted again, and I quickly looked at him. ¡°Sarina is my wife now, and we have a child. She may have loved you before, but it¡¯s different now. She loves me now. I hope you understand she¡¯ll never return to you because she¡¯s mine.¡±


    ¡°No!¡± Jason shouted. But the security had arrived, and they escorted him out of the building. Even as they did, he kept shouting, and people started staring.


    ¡°You¡¯re mine! You¡¯ll always be mine, Sarina!¡± His screams left me frozen, gripped by fear that I couldn¡¯t exin.

 Chapter 85

    Maximus


    ¡°Sir, Mr. Jason Satudez is here and wants to talk to you.¡± I frowned when I heard Aries say that. I looked at him to make sure I heard correctly. ¡°He¡¯s outside and waiting.¡±


    I nced at my wristwatch to check the time. I wanted to go home by lunchtime with my wife and son. But I agreed since it was still early, and I felt talking was important. Aries left after I nodded, and a few momentster, he returned with Jason.


    ¡°Sit down, Mr. Satudez.¡± He didn¡¯t speak but sat in the empty chair across my office table. ¡°What can I do for you?¡±N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    ¡°You know why I¡¯m here, Mr. Lardizabal.¡± He spoke calmly, not looking for a fight.


    ¡°I have no idea, Mr. Satudez. And please, make it quick. I want to go home for lunch,¡± I replied. Although I knew it was because of Sarina, I didn¡¯t want him to think I was open to any conversation regarding my wife.


    ¡°It¡¯s about Sarina.¡±


    ¡°What about my wife?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll pay you whatever amount you gave her, and after that, you leave her.¡± He said it without hesitation as if we were just talking about a toy bought from a market. How dare he say that to me?


    ¡°My wife isn¡¯t something simple, Mr. Satudez. I¡¯m sorry, but that will never happen.¡±


    ¡°She loves me.¡± I chuckled after he said that.


    ¡°That was before, but now it¡¯s different.¡±


    ¡°What makes you say that?¡±


    ¡°Because she told me she loves me, and I believe everything she says and will say,¡± I told him, looking straight in his eyes with a firm voice.


    ¡°Mr. Lardizabal, I know she¡¯s only staying with you because of the money you gave her. Admit it or not, the reason she married you was because of money, not love.¡± I wanted to punch him when he said that. He was smirking, hitting right where it hurt.


    ¡°I know it was because of the money and her needs, Mr. Satudez. I won¡¯t deny that. But what can I do if her need led her to love me?¡±


    ¡°She doesn¡¯t love you, Mr. Lardizabal. She¡¯s just grateful that you fulfilled her family¡¯s needs.¡±


    ¡°Something you couldn¡¯t do.¡±


    ¡°Because she didn¡¯t want me to.¡±


    ¡°Because she didn¡¯t want you, or you were already done?¡±


    ¡°We didn¡¯t have a formal breakup; we just stopped seeing each other,¡± he quickly replied.


    ¡°Because you¡¯re guilty!¡± I used him outright.


    ¡°I never cheated on her. She¡¯s the only woman in my heart, and I¡¯d do anything for her. And if you knew her, you¡¯d know that even when we were together, she wouldn¡¯te to me if she needed money.¡±


    ¡°Because she was ashamed to. Because what she felt for you wasn¡¯t enough to let you in on her family problems.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not true!¡± he shouted. I grinned because I finally got under his skin. Earlier, he seemed so calm, like he couldn¡¯t hurt a fly, but not until I told him something that angered him.


    ¡°Sarina loves me, so she can tell me anything. She hides nothing from me, not even something as simple as passing gas. We¡¯re happy now, Mr. Satudez. Let her be happy if you truly love her, even if she¡¯s with someone else.¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t ept that and let all the time I spent loving her will be wasted.¡±


    ¡°Then you shouldn¡¯t have let someone elsee between you.¡±


    ¡°You know nothing about what happened to us,¡± he said, still angry. I could see his jaw clenching. But no matter how angry he was, it didn¡¯t matter anymore because I knew my wife loved me now.


    ***


    ¡°Even if I don¡¯t know, Mr. Satudez. I don¡¯t care anymore about that. I¡¯m even thankful that you two didn¡¯t talk after your misunderstanding. That is if you can even call it a misunderstanding. Your loss, my gain,¡± I teased him.


    ¡°I never talked to her because I wanted to solve the issue first. I wanted to face her, knowing I wasn¡¯t guilty of anything against her or our rtionship. She would havee to me when we met again if you hadn¡¯t given her that ridiculous offer.¡±


    ¡°You may have solved it, but it¡¯s toote. She¡¯s already my wife.¡±


    ¡°You know you two just have a contract. And you said she loves you? She wouldn¡¯t have told me about your arrangement if she loved you. She wouldn¡¯t have told me that it was just for money that she married you.¡± What he said was true. That was the number one reason why I was so jealous of him back then. Because it was so easy for Sarina to tell anyone about our contract.


    But I know things are different now. They have been different since we were in Las Vegas when she told me she loved me. I know she was talking about me because she said my name.


    ¡°Do you think that now, even though Sarina doesn¡¯t remember anything, she still feels the same?¡± he said with a grin.


    ¡°I¡¯m sure about my wife¡¯s feelings, Mr. Satudez. Even if she doesn¡¯t remember or doesn¡¯t remember me, her heart still chooses me. You don¡¯t know how she returned to me after so many years apart.¡±


    I noticed him reaching into his pocket and pulling out his cell phone. He scrolled through it as if looking for something, and when he was done, suddenly someone spoke:


    ¡°Look into my eyes and answer my question.¡± It was Jason¡¯s voice.


    ¡°Jason,¡± I heard Sarina respond.


    ¡°Do you still love me?¡± Jason asked, but Sarina didn¡¯t reply. ¡°I love you, Sarina.¡±


    ¡°I still love you, Jason.¡± My heart felt crushed because of that. I didn¡¯t know when they talked or how that man recorded it, but it was clear that it happened when we were already married.


    ¡°You didn¡¯t know that we met in Las Vegas?¡± Jason asked, looking confident, probably because of my reaction after hearing that recording. But he was wrong; I knew they were together, and in that same ce, my wife told me she loved me.


    ¡°I love my wife, and I know that recording is from the past, so it means nothing to me,¡± I replied bravely.


    ¡°You let her slip away from you, and now you¡¯re saying you love her? Where¡¯s the love you¡¯re talking about?¡± His tone was mocking, and I must admit that what he said was true. Sarina and I were together, but she was easily taken away by whoever that animal was.


    ¡°That¡¯s why I promised myself that it would never happen again. I¡¯ll do everything to protect her and our child. So don¡¯t expect you¡¯ll ever get my wife from me because even if she wants to return to you, I¡¯ll never let her go. I¡¯ll even give her a bunch of kids just to give her a reason to stay with me.¡±


    I don¡¯t care about him anymore as long as I rify that what he wants will never happen. Even if he tripled or increased ten times the money I gave my wife, which I worked hard for and dared to offer her just so she would be mine.


    ¡°I will take her back from you, Maximus Lardizabal. Do everything you want to keep her with you, but I will ensure I won¡¯t stop until she¡¯s mine again.¡±

 Chapter 86

    Maximus


    The nerve of this man was unbelievable, and it took everything in me to stop myself from hitting him. He would never take my wife from me, and from now on, I wouldn¡¯t let him out of my sight. I needed to find out if he had anything to do with what happened to Sarina in Las Vegas because, looking at him now, I couldn¡¯t see the man my wife once loved.


    He looked and sounded different from how my inws knew him. All the good things they say about him now contradict his actions. I love my wife and she¡¯s the best thing that happens to me, so there¡¯s no way that I am going to let that bastard take her away from me.


    Thest three years were hell for me. I was living but I don¡¯t feel alive at all. And I didn¡¯t want to experience that ever again.Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org.


    ¡°If you have nothing good to say, you can leave now, Mr. Satudez.¡± We stared each other down, and I could see his jaw clench before he quickly hid his anger, as if he was holding himself back just like I was. It made me think that there was more to him than met the eye.


    He left my office with anger, but I didn¡¯t care anymore. I was more worried about my wife, who surely saw him differently now that she knew he was her first love. I was scared when I told her about him, thinking Sarina would feel the love she once had for that man.


    I stayed in my seat for a while, thinking about protecting my family, especially Sarina, who was now pregnant. I was so happy now, and I didn¡¯t want to believe that this happiness would once againe at the cost of losing the woman I loved. So I called Aries again.


    ¡°Sir.¡±


    ¡°Make sure someone keeps an eye on Mr. Satudez.¡±


    ¡°Are you sure, Sir?¡± he asked, confirming. I nodded and replied,


    ¡°He looks different. I know Sarina loved him, but he seems different from the man my wife thinks he is.¡±


    ¡°Why don¡¯t we ask Ma¡¯am¡¯s bodyguard? I¡¯m sure he can rmend someone.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s a good idea, thanks.¡± Aries left my office, and I called my wife¡¯s bodyguard. He was surprised that Sarina hadn¡¯te to my office yet, so I quickly stood up, thinking she might have met with Jason.


    I was right. I saw them together as soon as the elevator doors opened on the ground floor. Jason was trying to make Sarina remember their past, which only confused her, which wasn¡¯t good for her.


    The doctor had warned me to let her memories return naturally, especially since the good memories would return first. That was good because it would prepare her for the tragic or traumatic experiences she had been through.


    But Jason wasn¡¯t helping. I called security, and Jason got even more furious as they dragged him out, shouting, ¡°You¡¯re mine! You¡¯re only mine, Sarina!¡±


    I felt Sarina grab me tightly, and when I looked at her, her eyes were wide with fear. I hugged her tightly, pressing her face to my chest. Her body trembled, ¡°My wife,¡± I called to her, feeling fear of my own. ¡°My wife, please answer me.¡±


    I looked at her, trying to see her face, to understand what was happening to her, but her eyes were closed.


    ¡°Sir,¡± it was Aries, and a few employees were watching us, which my assistant noticed, too. You can get back to your work.¡± With that, Sarina and I stood by the elevator as my assistant picked up the lunchbox my wife had brought.


    ¡°No¡­ no¡­ no¡­¡± my wife suddenly said.


    Sarina suddenly became hysterical, so I quickly took her to my office. Once inside, I sat her on the couch and faced her, trying to calm her down. ¡°My wife, please talk to me¡­¡± I said as I gently tried to make her look at me. Her doctor had told me that I needed to calm her down, and one way to do that was by letting her see the people she loved.


    ¡°No, no, no¡­¡± She pushed away my hands, which were gently wiping the tears from her cheeks.


    ¡°Shh.. shh. It¡¯s me, my wife. I¡¯m Maximus Lardizabal.¡±


    ¡°Maximus?¡± She paused, looking at me for a moment before she hugged me. I breathed a sigh of relief because she still knew who I was. She knew she was safe with me. After a few moments, I felt her calm down.


    ¡°Are you feeling a little better now?¡± I asked as I gently pulled her back but still held her shoulders. She nodded and smiled hesitantly. ¡°Tell me what happened. Did Jason do something to you?¡±


    ¡°No, nothing.¡±


    ¡°Then why do you seem so scared?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know why I felt that way. I just suddenly felt it when¡± I looked at her intently, waiting for her to continue. But she just shook her head and gave me a sweet smile. Is she hiding something from me?


    ¡°You know you can tell me anything, right? Whatever it is, we will face it together.¡± I assured her. I wanted her to know I was her husband and was by her side no matter what.


    ¡°Nothing, really. I just suddenly felt that way. I remembered a dream, and maybe that¡¯s why I got so scared.¡±


    I just nodded before gently pulling her in for a hug and rubbing her back to calm her down further. She snuggled into me, and I breathed a sigh of relief.


    I exhaled slowly to stop pushing her to tell me more because I knew it wouldn¡¯t be good for her. It would be harder if my questions triggered her trauma. So, I¡¯ll let her be until she¡¯s ready to talk to me. Maybe what she saw in her dream isn¡¯t clear yet, so she wants to keep it to herself. And since she needs me now, I¡¯ll ensure she feels my support in every way.


    We ate the lunch she brought, and her fear faded, making her rx again. Before she left the house, she happily told me about what had happened earlier in the morning.


    I remembered to call her bodyguard, who was waiting for me, to inform him of her ns. Of course, my wife and I would go hometer because she said I should work first since she was with me.


    I followed her suggestion, and she even helped me. ¡°Do you want to go back to work?¡± I asked.


    ¡°Is that okay with you?¡± she asked in return.


    ¡°I can provide for us, but if you¡¯re notpletely happy being at home and want to work without sacrificing quality time with me and Chase, why not?¡± I said, and I truly meant it.


    ¡°Thank you so much, my husband. But I prefer staying with our child, especially now that another one ising. I¡¯m okay with visiting you here at your office asionally during working hours; at least you won¡¯t miss me too much.¡±


    ¡°I prefer that too, my wife,¡± I admitted. I didn¡¯t hide from her that I preferred her to stay at home because I didn¡¯t want her to feel guilty either. We continued working, and even though she wanted me to keep working, I stopped around three in the afternoon.


    ¡°Why?¡± she asked curiously when I suddenly stood up from my seat and tidied up my desk.


    ¡°I want us to go shopping.¡±


    ¡°Shopping? What for? Chase and I already have so many things.¡±


    ¡°For our baby.¡± She stared at me in disbelief. ¡°What? Don¡¯t you want to?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m only in my first trimester, my husband.¡±


    ¡°So? We don¡¯t know the baby¡¯s gender yet. What if what we buy ends up being a waste?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t care, my love. What¡¯s important is that we shop. Besides, I¡¯ve already thought about how to set up the nursery at home, and I also need to buy things to renovate it.¡±


    She couldn¡¯t do anything but agree and let me have my way. We shopped, and it was already evening by the time we got home, where our eldest, Chase, was happily waiting for us. This is the life I want, having a family. I¡¯m just happy, so no matter what problemse to me or us, I know we¡¯ll ovee them together.

 Chapter 87

    Sarina


    ¡°You¡¯re mine! You¡¯re only mine, Sarina!¡± I couldn¡¯t get those words out of my head. I felt so scared when I heard Jason say that. But why? Why was I so afraid? Maximus said he was my first love and childhood sweetheart, so he¡¯s jealous of my ex. But why do I feel different about him now? Why does he seem like a stranger to me?


    I tried to ignore my feelings because I saw how worried my husband was in his voice and face. I didn¡¯t want to add to his worries when he already seemed so burdened by just me, and now we have a child, too. I felt like I wasn¡¯t contributing enough to our rtionship. So when he asked me if I wanted to return to work, I said no.


    It¡¯s important to me to take care of my family, and knowing how responsible and hardworking my husband is, I wanted to be the reason he rxed when he went home after a day¡¯s work.


    We had fun shopping, and even though I was afraid, I still enjoyed every moment with my husband. He didn¡¯t let me think about anything else but what we were doing then. He kept asking me about the things we were buying and always asked for my opinion on things for our future baby. I couldn¡¯t help but remember our conversation while shopping at the department store.


    ¡°Thank you. I¡¯m really happy, my wife.¡± I frowned as I looked at him. Why does he always have to thank me when I should be thanking him for everything he¡¯s done for me?


    ¡°What are you thanking me for this time?¡± I asked.


    ¡°For giving me a chance to do the things I couldn¡¯t do when you were pregnant with Chase.¡± I almost cried at his words. He looked serious, and I could see how much he meant it.


    ¡°Don¡¯t thank me. If anyone should be thankful, it¡¯s me. You¡¯ve done and given everything, not just to me but also to my child.¡±


    ¡°Our child, my love. It wasn¡¯t just you who made Chase. You don¡¯t know how much effort I put in just to make sure all my sperm made it inside you.¡± I pped his chest, and he justughed loudly. Some shoppers and saledies looked in our direction because of that.


    ¡°You¡¯re so naughty and don¡¯t even care where we are!¡± I whispered to him, but he just keptughing. He took my hand, kissed it, and said,Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org.


    ¡°What can I do? It¡¯s the truth.¡± My cheeks turned red, and I looked around. I felt relieved when I saw that everyone had returned to minding their business.


    ¡°Come on,¡± my husband said as he led me somewhere. ¡°I think this will look good on you.¡± We were standing in front of a mannequin wearing a maternity dress.


    ¡°It¡¯s too big for me, my husband,¡± I said, looking at the maternity dress. But it looks beautiful, and I can imagine myself in it.


    ¡°So what? You never know; maybe our baby will grow fast in your belly, and you¡¯ll be ready. You won¡¯t have to worry about finding something to wear.¡±


    Knowing I couldn¡¯t stop him, I just let him be. Besides, he wouldn¡¯t get poor if he bought it for me. Plus, I¡¯d make sure to save it after I give birth in case I get pregnant again, which seems likely if I go by how yful my husband is.


    We went home so happy, but I remembered Jason again and the fear that crept up on me once we got there. I just hope he doesn¡¯t ruin Maximus and my happiness.


    ¡°Ma¡¯am, Dona Sol is here,¡± said nanny Rowena. I was putting away the things Maximus, and I bought the other day in my room. I hadn¡¯t had the chance to organize them because we were so tired when we arrived, and more than that, my husband wouldn¡¯t let me because he said he missed me too much and wanted to be with me.


    I wondered why is the old woman was here. I nodded at Chase¡¯s nanny, dropped the clothes I was holding, and started walking out of our room.


    In the living room, I saw the old woman ying with my son, Chase, who sensed my presence because he looked at me and ran toward me. ¡°Beautiful grandma, here.¡± I smiled at my son, nodded, and then turned to grandma Sol, who looked at me as if studying my appearance.


    ¡°Rowena, take care of my grandchild. Sarina and I have something to talk about,¡± the old woman ordered my son¡¯s nanny, standing beside me. Rowena nodded, then took Chase from my arms before heading to the poolside on the right side of our house.


    I walked toward Grandma Sol and sat on the couch across from her. ¡°Good morning, grandma,¡± I greeted politely, but as I expected, she just frowned at me, and I chose to ignore it. I knew it would take a long time for me to win her over, especially since, for years in her eyes, only Midori was good enough and deserving to be her grandson¡¯s wife.


    ¡°I came here to check if you¡¯re really pregnant,¡± she said. I was about to confirm it, but she raised her hand, signaling me not to speak, so I closed my mouth.


    ¡°Based on how you look, I¡¯d say yes.¡± I still didn¡¯t say anything and just let her talk. After all, she hadn¡¯t said anything that would upset me. ¡°Maximus talked to me and told me not to stress you out,¡± she added with a sarcastic smile. ¡°Me, stressing you out? You¡¯re the one who ruined the life I wanted for my grandson.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± was all I could say, which made her roll her eyes. Winning her over seemed really difficult.


    ¡°I¡¯m not a bad grandmother; I only want what¡¯s best for my grandson. For a long time, I believed that Midori was the right woman for Maximus. She¡¯s sweet and always visits me, something you never did.¡± I lowered my head at her words. Maybe she had been waiting for me to reach out to her.


    ¡°Then again, how could you when your rtionship with Maximus is just a contract? I didn¡¯t expect it tost this long. You told me I only had to wait six months, and you¡¯d leave my grandson.¡±


    I looked up at her, surprised by what she said. Contract? Is my rtionship with Maximus just a contract? ¡°Why do you look so surprised? So, you don¡¯t remember anything, and something happened to you while you were away? Have you also forgotten what you really look like? Wait, are you even the real Sarina, the one my grandson married, or are you just an impostor?¡± she asked quickly. Still, none registered with me except for the word ¡°contract.¡± Why didn¡¯t Maximus tell me about this?


    I tried to feel what I was supposed to do for my husband, but nothing happened. With everything he had done to me, I couldn¡¯t think of any reason to feel negatively about him. Maybe he just didn¡¯t want to burden me further. The fact that I was the one who told the old woman about the contract means I was in my right mind when I agreed to it, whatever the agreement was.


    ¡°It¡¯s indeed, I don¡¯t remember my past, and I¡¯ll admit, I love Maximus. But I didn¡¯t force myself on him. I tried to resist him, thinking I had another husband. But he did everything he could. He discovered everything he needed to convince me that I am his missing wife, Sarina Marcelo, the woman he married and the mother of our child.¡±


    I looked her in the eye before continuing, ¡°I¡¯m not asking you to ept me right away, but I hope you¡¯ll allow me to show you that aside from Maximus, I can also love you as my grandmother. I hope you¡¯ll allow me to show you that you are important to me because you are important to my husband, son, and future child. I hope you¡¯ll allow me to express the love I can give, not just to your grandson, but to you.¡±


    The old woman didn¡¯t speak, but I saw her take a deep breath as she looked at me intently. I had said what I wanted to say, and it was up to her whether she would grant my request which I now prayed to God to touch her heart so that she would ept me or at least give me a chance to get to know her. That alone would make me truly happy.

 Chapter 88

    Maximus


    I wanted things to be good between me and Grandma, so I went to her mansion before heading to thepany. I talked to her about Sarina¡¯s condition because I didn¡¯t want her to add to my wife¡¯s worries, especially since I knew she wasn¡¯t well, not because of her pregnancy but because of her mental health. I feel like she¡¯s really traumatized by everything happening in her life, and she¡¯s just trying to stay strong so I won¡¯t worry and also for Chase and the baby she¡¯s carrying.


    I was nervous about what Grandma might do all morning, but I didn¡¯t get any calls from the mansion, even by lunchtime, so I was relieved. I thought that maybe she didn¡¯t bother my wife anymore. I just wanted her to understand that I¡¯m happy with Sarina and hope she can be happy for me, too.


    At 2 PM, I decided to go home to be with my wife and child. But when I arrived, I found my grandma ying with Chase and Jerome. Even though I didn¡¯t expect it, I was happy to see that. I looked around to find my wife but couldn¡¯t see her. It seemed she wasn¡¯t feeling well again.


    ¡°Dad!¡± Chase shouted when he saw me, so I quickly opened my arms to catch him. I kissed him on the head, picked him up, and walked over to Grandma.


    ¡°Good afternoon, Grandma,¡± I greeted her.


    ¡°It¡¯s good you¡¯re here. Your wife was here earlier, but she said she wasn¡¯t feeling well and went to rest,¡± Grandma replied. I nced upstairs, feeling worried.


    ¡°Alright, Grandma, I¡¯ll go check on Sarina.¡± She nodded and smiled. Even though I was worried about my wife, I couldn¡¯t help but feel relieved and happy because of what Grandma said and did. Are they okay now?


    ¡°My wife,¡± I called out to Sarina as soon as I entered our room and saw her asleep on the bed. I went closer to her to kiss her on the forehead, and when I did, I felt that she was burning with fever.


    I looked at her closely and noticed she was shivering, so I quickly turned down the air conditioner. ¡°My wife,¡± I called her again while gently tapping her. I went to the bathroom to get a thermometer and a wet cloth to wipe her down.


    I moved quickly because I knew it wasn¡¯t good for her to be sick, especially since she was pregnant. It could affect the baby.Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org.


    While the thermometer was under her arm, I kept wiping her with the wet cloth, which dried up quickly, so I kept going back and forth to the bathroom to wet it again every time.


    ¡°My wife, please wake up¡­¡± I pleaded while continuing to wipe her, especially when I saw her fever was at 40C.


    I grabbed my phone from my pocket to call my driver to get the car ready. ¡°Ughhh¡­¡± Sarina groaned, and I quickly rushed to her, forgetting what I was supposed to do.


    ¡°My wife, how are you feeling?¡±


    ¡°Ughhh¡­¡± She groaned again while shaking her head. Her forehead wrinkled like something was hurting her.


    ¡°My wife, let¡¯s go to the hospital,¡± I said, trying to lift her, but she pushed my hand away.


    ¡°Nooo¡­ stop¡­ please¡­¡± she started crying and seemed to panic, so I had to calm her down first.


    ¡°Please, stop it¡­¡± she begged.


    Even though she kept resisting, like I was doing something bad to her, I still tried to carry her. Grandma¡¯s eyes widened with worry when she saw us, followed by Chase¡¯s loud crying, which Grandma and Rowena quickly attended.


    Luckily, Sarina¡¯s bodyguard was on the porch, so he quickly ran to get the car.


    My wife is now calm, and the doctor quickly lowered her fever. Thankfully, we were immediately attended to by specialists when we arrived at the emergency room because I noticed that she suddenly started shaking, and I didn¡¯t know why.


    ¡°Mrs. Lardizabal had a convulsion, and it¡¯s good that you brought her here right away,¡± said Dr. Sanchez, attending to my wife. We were now in a private room, and Sarina was currently sleeping.


    ¡°How is she doing?¡±


    ¡°For now, she¡¯s in stable condition. She just needsplete rest. Let¡¯s also avoid stressing her out because of her situation.¡± I looked at my wife and felt pity for her. It seemed like she was suffering so much, and I began to think that maybe her pregnancy came at a bad time.


    It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t want the baby-I¡¯m excited. But if she¡¯s going to suffer like this, I wish our second baby hade after all our problems were over.


    Right now, my wife is the most important person in my life. Yes, we have a child, but in the end, it will just be the two of us supporting each other.


    ¡°Doctor, are there other things we should consider to make sure she¡¯s really okay? How is the baby in her womb?¡± I asked. I wanted to make sure I was doing everything right for my wife.


    ¡°Everything is fine, Mr. Lardizabal and the baby is doing well too. But we still need to observe her closely, so she needs to stay in the hospital to make sure everything is okay.¡±


    I suddenly thought of Jason. Maybe he was involved in why this happened to Sarina. I really need to stop whatever he¡¯s nning because, next time, something worse might happen to my wife.


    ¡°Just make sure Mrs. Lardizabal eats healthy food and avoids stress as much as possible,¡± Dr. Sanchez added.


    ¡°Okay, doc.¡± The doctor smiled and looked at Sarina again before leaving the room. I stayed behind, looking at my wife, and couldn¡¯t help but smile because I still found her very beautiful even though she was sick.


    I pulled the chair from the corner of the room, brought it closer to my wife¡¯s bed, and then sat down. I took my phone from my pants pocket, which I hadn¡¯t forgotten earlier, and dialed Sancho¡¯s number-he¡¯s Sarina¡¯s bodyguard who came with us to the hospital.


    ¡°Sir,¡± he answered.


    ¡°Please send our things over here. Sarina needs to stay in the hospital to be monitored.¡±


    ¡°Yes, sir.¡± Before ending the call, I also gave him some instructions, especially about Chase. Then, I called Grandma, asking her not to go home yet so that someone could stay with our child in the mansion.


    I don¡¯t know why this keeps happening to Sarina. Sometimes, while she¡¯s sleeping, I wake up to her moaning. Could she be hiding something from me? I don¡¯t want her to keep everything to herself. I want her to share with me whatever¡¯s bothering her because I hate seeing her suffer and not being able to do anything about it.


    When my wife woke up, it was evening. ¡°I¡¯m really sorry about this, my husband.¡±


    ¡°Please don¡¯t say that. We can¡¯t stop our bodies from getting weak and sick,¡± I gently replied. She didn¡¯t say anything more after giving me an embarrassed smile. ¡°Love, is there something bothering you?¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡± She seemed surprised by my question. ¡°Nothing, why do you ask?¡±


    ¡°I see that you¡¯re happy, but I can¡¯t help thinking that maybe there¡¯s something you¡¯re not telling me or that you¡¯re too shy to share. I want you to know that whatever it is, I¡¯m here to listen or help you.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry about me. It¡¯s nothing. Maybe I¡¯m just having a hard time with this pregnancy. But I¡¯m fine.¡±


    I didn¡¯t push her any further because I didn¡¯t want her to feel like I was worrying too much about her condition. I let her rest so she could regain her strength. We¡¯ll be staying at the hospital for two more days to ensure that both she and the baby in her womb are healthy.


    At night, Sarina fell asleep quickly. I let her rest because the doctor said she needed it. On the other hand, I opened my email to check if Aries, my assistant, had sent me any documents. I couldn¡¯t go to thepany tomorrow, so I needed to be ready in case something was required.


    I wasn¡¯t wrong. When I opened my inbox, I saw my assistant¡¯s name right away. However, I realized that the email wasn¡¯t about work.

 Chapter 89

    Sarina


    ¡°Hi, my wife. How are you feeling?¡± Maximus¡¯ face greeted me as soon as I opened my eyes. I felt so weak, but seeing his handsome face gave me a sudden burst of energy.


    ¡°I¡¯m okay now, my husband.¡±


    ¡°You really worried me. Why didn¡¯t you call me when you weren¡¯t feeling well?¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t want to bother you at work. You¡¯re always absent.¡± Heughed softly and stroked my cheek while his thumb gently rubbed my hand, which he was holding.


    ¡°You will never be a bother to me. You actually give me power and energy because I get stronger when I see you and hear your voice.¡±


    He never makes my heart flutter; words like that make me love him even more. Even if I can¡¯t remember many of our happy moments, I can feel that what I feel for him is real. It¡¯s like my heart remembers him even if my mind can¡¯t.N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights.


    ¡°I¡¯ve been here since yesterday. Aren¡¯t we going home yet?¡± I asked. Knowing that many employees depended on him, I didn¡¯t want to take up too much of his time.


    ¡°The doctor said you need to be monitored before you can go home. Remember, we have a baby here,¡± he said, smiling as he gently touched my belly. ¡°There¡¯s nothing to worry about because our little one is doing fine, and so are you. But they want to be sure, so you might stay until tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°What about your work?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m the boss and have trusted people working for me. There¡¯s nothing for you to worry about,¡± he said confidently. Now, what do you want to eat?¡±


    ¡°Anything healthy, my husband.¡± After that, he ordered my food. I watched him as he cared for me, and I felt like the luckiest woman in the world because of how he took care of me. I followed everything he said since the doctor had advised it, so I just said ¡°yes¡± to all his requests.


    Around ten in the morning, Aries arrived with some documents that Maximus needed to look at. He didn¡¯t want to ept them initially, but I insisted because I didn¡¯t mind if he worked while watching over me. At least I wouldn¡¯t feel too guilty for making him neglect his work because of me.


    ¡°Have you called Mariano?¡± my husband asked his assistant.


    ¡°Yes, sir. He said he¡¯s checking on it.¡± Maximus nodded and said,


    ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll call you when I finish these.¡±


    ¡°Okay, sir.¡± Aries left, and I couldn¡¯t take my eyes off my husband as he began reviewing the documents his assistant brought.


    ¡°What is it, my wife?¡± he asked when he noticed me staring at him.


    ¡°What¡¯s going on with Mariano?¡± I asked curiously. Even though I didn¡¯t want to, I couldn¡¯t help but think of something bad when I heard them mention the man.


    ¡°I asked him to check on something in Las Vegas,¡± he replied simply, without borating. I wondered what he was having Mariano check on. Was it business-rted? But it¡¯s Mariano¡­


    ¡°What are you thinking?¡± he asked, his forehead furrowing.


    ¡°Nothing.¡± He sighed deeply before speaking.


    ¡°Whatever bad thoughts you have, let them go. It¡¯s just about business. I was nning on expanding his casino there and wanted us to be partners.¡±


    ¡°Okay, if you say so.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s all it is, my wife.¡± I didn¡¯t push further because it seemed like he was telling the truth. I let him work while he stayed by my side. Since I was feeling better, I didn¡¯t want to stress him out anymore.


    He worked peacefully all day while still talking to me from time to time, so I didn¡¯t get bored. By evening, Maximus had finished all his tasks, and we were free to chat. He told me how we became husband and wife, and Iughed at his confession.


    ¡°Honestly, my wife, I don¡¯t know why I was so drawn to you the first time I saw you in the hospital.¡± I was lying on my hospital bed while he sat in a chair next to me, holding my hand and gently stroking it.


    ¡°Really drawn to me? Then why don¡¯t I feel that way now? Maybe it¡¯s because I¡¯m pregnant, and you don¡¯t feel that way anymore.¡±


    ¡°Shit, my wife. Don¡¯t say things like that, or you might get it right here. I¡¯ll make sure of it.¡± Because of what he said, a spark of an idea shed in my mind.


    ***


    ¡°Really?¡± I stared deeply into his eyes, and he looked back at me. I made sure he could see the desire that had started to spread throughout my whole body. I wanted him to touch me as I started to rub small circles on his hand, which was holding mine.


    ¡°Fuck, you wait here.¡± Then, he suddenly stood up from his chair, walked to the door, and locked it. A mischievous smirk spread across his face when he turned around, sending a quick jolt through my body and making me ache for him.


    ¡°Just so you know, I haven¡¯t showered yet.¡±


    ¡°You should¡¯ve thought about that before tempting me so much if you¡¯re worried about that.¡± He started walking toward me, making me sit down on my hospital bed. Luckily, I had thoroughly washed before Maximus told me to rest. ¡°You really want this, huh?¡±


    ¡°Why do you say that?¡± I asked, grinning.


    ¡°If only you could see yourself, my wife.¡±


    ¡°Do I look the same as you do right now?¡±


    ¡°Exactly.¡± With that, he swiftly pulled me close and kissed me hard. I responded eagerly, craving him just as much.


    I was so excited to be with my husband that I didn¡¯t care where we were or whether I felt good. All that mattered was him, me, and the merging of our bodies.


    I pulled at the cor of his long-sleeved shirt to bring him closer while he drew me nearer until my legs dangled off the hospital bed. He spread them apart and wrapped them around his thighs.


    That¡¯s when I felt the hardness of his manhood pressing against my belly. ¡°You¡¯re so hard, my husband. I can¡¯t wait to feel you inside me.¡±


    He grinned at me after I said those words, and we momentarily stopped kissing. Since I was only wearing a hospital gown, he lifted it and slid my panties down. I raised my hips slightly to make it easier for him to take them off, and then he unbuckled his belt and pulled down his zipper, pants, and briefs.


    He was about to undo the buttons on his long-sleeved shirt, but I stopped him. ¡°I want it just like that.¡± I seductively undid only three buttons, revealing his broad chest.


    I couldn¡¯t help myself-I kissed him quickly and made sure to leave a mark by sucking near his nipple.


    ¡°Let me do my thing, my wife,¡± he whispered before kissing me again. His hands roamed, finding the ces they wanted. One hand was on my breast, ying with my nipple, while the other was down between my legs, teasing my sensitive spot.


    I arched my back from the pleasure as his kisses trailed down my neck, eager to go lower. I let him do as he pleased because I knew I would enjoy it just as much.


    ¡°Ahh, you feel so good, my wife,¡± he groaned. I was now lying down as he lifted my legs and spread them wide. I felt self-conscious about how I looked now, especially with the lights on, which made it clear he could see everything.


    With both of my thighs in his grip, his head dipped down, and I felt his tongue glide over the small slit of my womanhood.


    I clutched the hospital bed sheet tightly, not knowing where to turn my head. ¡°It feels so good, my husband¡­ Ahhh!¡±


    I was loud again, but I didn¡¯t care because my husband liked it that way. However, I did worry that someone outside my hospital room might hear us. ¡°Please, my husband, just take me now¡­¡±


    That was all it took for Maximus to stand tall. Our eyes met just before I felt his hardness glide over my entrance before he pushed in and started moving.


    ¡°Ahh¡­ so good¡­ harder, my husband¡­ go deeper¡­¡±


    I could hear the hospital bed creaking with every powerful thrust. ¡°Open your eyes, my wife. I want you to look at me when we reach our climax together.¡±


    I did as he asked, and so did he, until we finally reached our peak, shouting each other¡¯s names in unison.

 Chapter 90

    Sarina


    What happened between Maximus and me at the hospital felt strange. I never thought I would agree to do something like that in a ce like that. Well, it wasn¡¯t dirty or anything. It¡¯s just that it didn¡¯t feel right to make love in a ce where someone could possibly see or catch us, even though we were married. But I admit it feels exciting and realized that no matter what, I will always do everything as long as I¡¯m with my husband.


    I¡¯m really happy to know that my husband loves me very much. That¡¯s why I need to sort out everything I need to. I need to remember. Maybe there¡¯s more that happened to me three years ago. Maybe, besides Ralph, there are other people behind why I got separated from my husband.


    I have to stay strong for myself and those who love and care for me. I don¡¯t want to end up in the hospital again, as it might put my baby at risk.


    I often dream about that scene and don¡¯t know why it keeps returning. I want to forget it, but I can¡¯t because it keeps showing up in my sleep.


    It¡¯s morning, and Maximus has already left for his office. It¡¯s been a few days since I was discharged from the hospital, and I¡¯ve been thinking about it carefully. My husband has been busy with whatever he¡¯s been up to, so I¡¯ve had more time to do what I want.


    I went to the hospital with Sancho, my bodyguard and also my driver, to talk to my psychologist. I want to remember everything, so I¡¯m willing to do it no matter how hard or extreme it might be. I just want my family and me to finally have peace of mind, which I know won¡¯t happen until I deal with the past that keeps haunting me like a ghost.


    ¡°Dr. Miraez,¡± I greeted her as I entered her office.


    ¡°You¡¯re here, Mrs. Lardizabal. Come and have a seat,¡± she said, guiding me to a single seat that felt like azy boy. It was reallyfortable, and the calming scent of the air freshener made me feel more rxed.


    ¡°Based on what you¡¯ve told me about your dreams, it¡¯s possible that you¡¯ve experienced repressed trauma.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean, doc?¡±


    ¡°Because of your terrible experience, you want to forget it. But part of your mind wants to remember it because it¡¯s important, even though you¡¯re scared.¡± The other day, I had already told her about my dream over the phone. She suggested I try EMDR or Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing therapy, which I agreed to, even though I didn¡¯t know what it was.


    ¡°Are you ready to uncover the painful memories you¡¯ve been trying to forget?¡±N?velDrama.Org is the owner.


    ¡°How painful?¡± I asked fearfully, suddenly feeling hesitant to continue. I looked at my doctor and found her staring at me and took a deep breath before she answered.


    ¡°Sometimes, the people we think love us, or the people we trust, or even the ones we never thought could hurt us, end up being the reason we¡¯re in a bad ce or bad condition or even bad situation. That¡¯s what¡¯s hard to ept. And that¡¯s why, at the back of our minds, we try to forget what happened, because we can¡¯t ept that despite our love for that person, they still managed to hurt us.¡±


    Does this mean I might know the faceless man in my dream? Who could it be? I started to feel anxious. What if he was someone I cared about as well? A friend? A cousin? A rtive? How am I going to ept that?


    My sessions with Dr. Miraez continued. At first, nothing happened because I was so nervous and scared that I just cried. I couldn¡¯t find the courage to go on, but I really wanted to know the truth. Thankfully, my doctor was very supportive and didn¡¯t give up on me.


    We¡¯ve already had four sessions, and I will see her again today. My husband knows what I¡¯m doing now because Sancho couldn¡¯t keep it a secret when he called my bodyguard thest time I had my session.


    Maximus wanted toe with me, but I stopped him. It¡¯s better if he¡¯s at work; besides, I know I¡¯m safe since I¡¯m with Sancho, who was very loyal to my husband, so I know he won¡¯t let anything happen to me as well.


    I was on my way to Dr. Miraez¡¯s office when I ran into someone I wasn¡¯t expecting. ¡°Sarina, love.¡± I froze, unsure of what to do. I suddenly felt aloof, and there was a part of me that tells me to be wary of him. But I didn¡¯t want him to notice that, so I found myself talking to him.


    ¡°Please, don¡¯t call me that anymore, I¡¯m already married, and my husband won¡¯t like it if he hears you.¡±


    ¡°Did you forget? You said after your contract, you¡¯d leave your husband.¡± Did I really say that? ording to Maximus, I told Jason about our contract, and my ex said he would wait for me. But am I really like that? I know I¡¯m married, yet I still entertained him?


    ¡°As I¡¯ve said, I don¡¯t remember anything about my past. But right now, I want to focus on the family I have. I¡¯m happy with my husband, our child, and the baby we¡¯re expecting.¡± I rubbed my stomach, which he also looked at. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Jason. I don¡¯t think I can leave my family.¡± I said it softly, but I¡¯m sure he heard me.


    ¡°But love, I can¡¯t live without you. You¡¯re the only woman I¡¯ve ever loved. To me, you¡¯re my whole life. I got used to being with you,¡± he said, making my mind even more confused. Not because I had feelings for him but because I felt terrible.


    ¡°Please, Jason, let¡¯s not make this harder for ourselves. I¡¯m going through something, too, and I want everything I don¡¯t understand to end. Please don¡¯t mess up my family¡¯s life because if you really know me, you know I can¡¯t destroy the family I have now.¡±


    I don¡¯t need my memory to say I¡¯m family-oriented. I know that about myself, and besides, I love Maximus now.


    ¡°No, Sarina.¡± His voice was firm, and I could sense anger in his tone. ¡°You¡¯re mine!¡± My eyes widened because he sounded like the man in my dream, and I felt scared. I stepped back from him, and it seemed like he realized what he had done as his expression softened.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, love. I just didn¡¯t like what you said. I want you toe back to me because I waited like I promised. I waited for your contract to end.¡±


    ¡°I- I¡¯m sorry, but I still need to see my doctor.¡± After that, I quickly left him and headed to Dr. Miraez¡¯s office. I was scared and didn¡¯t want to continue the session, but I knew I had to. I need to find out what happened to me three years ago and why I¡¯m so afraid of Jason after he showed his anger.


    Before I turned the hallway corner, I looked back at him and saw him still watching me. I couldn¡¯t tell what kind of look it was, but I felt bad about it.

 Chapter 91

    Sarina


    ¡°Are you ready, Mrs. Lardizabal?¡± Dr. Miraez asked, and I nodded in response. Even though Jason scared me a bit, I couldn¡¯t dy this any longer. I needed to remember anything about my past, like what Maximus told me.


    I straightened up on the couch and looked again at Dr. Miraez, signaling I was ready for our session. I wasn¡¯t sure if it was my desperation to remember. Still, I pushed myself harder, squeezing out every hidden memory. Minutes passed, and though it was difficult, something Jason had said earlier shed in my mind.


    ¡°No, Sarina!¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re mine!¡±


    After that, memories started to flood back. It began with Maximus and me walking hand-in-hand to the airport restroom.


    The restroom was clean and nice to use. I had just finished and walked out of the stall when I noticed a utility worker cleaning the mirrors. The worker was wearing a face mask, so I didn¡¯t think much of it-it seemed normal.


    I went to the sink, set my handbag down, and used my fingers tob through my hair. I didn¡¯t usually look in mirrors much. Still, since bing Maximus¡¯s wife-and knowing how much he desired me-I wanted to ensure I always looked good for him so he wouldn¡¯t be tempted to look at someone else.Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org.


    I briefly made eye contact with the utility worker, but I couldn¡¯t tell if he was a man or a woman. His hair was short, and with the mask on, it was hard to tell. I smiled politely, and the worker nodded back.


    I looked at myself in the mirror again, checking my appearance. My dress was simple but nice. Satisfied that I still looked fine, I reached for my handbag-when suddenly, something covered my nose.


    I looked into the mirror and saw the utility worker holding a cloth over my nose and mouth. I fought back, but I couldn¡¯t resist the growing heaviness in my eyelids. I realized the cloth was soaked with something to knock me out. ¡°Maximus¡­¡± I called out to my husband in my thoughts before everything went ck.


    I woke up in a moving car or something; I don¡¯t know since I¡¯m still feeling dizzy. I struggled to open my eyes, figuring out where I was and who had taken me. I couldn¡¯t believe something like this was happening to me. I wasn¡¯t even from Las Vegas.


    Despite the weakness, I forced my eyes open and looked around. I was in a moving vehicle, meaning we hadn¡¯t arrived wherever they were taking me.


    It looked like a van-the kind that celebrities use, with a small bed inside. I tried to sit up, noticing I was alone. This was my chance to escape.


    Even though I was dizzy, I knew I had to stay strong to return to my husband. Slowly, I approached what looked like a door on my right. Yes, that should be the door. The doors of the vans are usually on the right side. Just as I was about to reach it, a man suddenly appeared from behind and pulled me back to the seat where I had been lying, which I now realized was just a reclined chair.


    ¡°Nooo!¡± I screamed as he pushed me down when I tried to stand up again. I wasn¡¯t used to standing in a moving car and got dizzy easily. Plus, there was still the effect of whatever I had inhaled earlier.


    ¡°Stay seated, or my boss will have to see you dead.¡± The man¡¯s words scared me into silence. He spoke English, so I was sure his boss was from Las Vegas.


    Why? What did I do to his boss? Then, I suddenly remembered the men who had harassed me at the hotel. Could it be them?


    I didn¡¯t realize I had closed my eyes, and when I opened them, I saw Dr. Miraez¡¯s face again. I was full of worry because I was already crying. ¡°Are you alright?¡± she asked, but I kept on crying, so she gave me time to calm down.


    I couldn¡¯t stop thinking about who that man was talking about when he mentioned his boss and why or what I did wrong to them. And who were the people who harassed me at the hotel? What happened at the hotel that suddenly came to my mind?


    ¡°I think we can stop for now and schedule another session next week.¡± I suddenly looked at Dr. Miraez when she said that.


    ¡°No!¡± I eximed. ¡°I mean, I think I was almost there. I feel like I¡¯m about to find out something important.¡±


    ¡°But it seems like you won¡¯t be able to handle it when it happens. I think you need your husband here when it does.¡± I couldn¡¯t say anything in response. Honestly, I was scared, but I was trying to fight it. I wanted all of this to end because I felt like I was going crazy from thinking about what really happened.


    ¡°Sarina, you have to trust me, okay?¡± Dr. Miraez said calmly. Our eyes met, and I felt calmer when I saw her smiling-I think it was a genuine smile. ¡°Next time, you have to bring Mr. Lardizabal. I have a feeling you¡¯ll need him by your side.¡±


    I didn¡¯t argue with her anymore. She¡¯s the doctor, and I¡¯m the patient, so I need to follow her advice if I want to get better. I didn¡¯t want Maximus to see me when I finally learned the truth because, as Dr. Miraez said, it could hurt me greatly, and I think it would be too much for me. I¡¯m sure my husband would worry again.


    ¡°Will I be able to handle it, Doc?¡± I couldn¡¯t help but ask. She smiled at me and nodded before speaking.


    ¡°As I told you and Mr. Lardizabal, you will make it. But we can¡¯t deny that everything will be too heavy for you to carry. That¡¯s why I want your husband here to support you.¡± I couldn¡¯t respond to what she said and nervously yed with my fingers.


    Dr. Miraez held my hands on myp and continued, ¡°I can see that you draw strength from Mr. Lardizabal, and he does the same with you, so there¡¯s nothing to worry about.¡±


    Her words made me feel a bit lighter. It¡¯s true; I feel I can handle anything whenever my husband is around. That¡¯s why I decided to bring Maximus to my next session.


    Unlike what Dr. Miraez wanted, I requested the next three-day session. I couldn¡¯t wait to find out what happened to me after I disappeared from the airport, and I knew it would happen soon.


    Sancho picked me up from Dr. Miraez¡¯s office, as she suggested. She thought it would be better if I wasn¡¯t alone when I left her office.


    When I got home and Maximus arrived, I told him what happened. He was in his mini-office at home, in front of hisptop, when I talked to him.


    ¡°Is it okay with you?¡± I asked.


    ¡°Why do you need to ask that? You know I always want to be with you wherever you go.¡± He stood up from his chair and walked towards me. I was standing in front of his desk like a secretary reporting something.


    I looked up at him, and our eyes met as he got closer. He held my face with both hands, gently brushing my cheeks with his thumbs.


    ¡°No matter where you go, my wife, I will go with you. I always want to be by your side, especially when you¡¯re struggling. I love you so much, my wife.¡± I smiled, then pulled his head down to kiss him, which he quickly deepened. It felt so good to be loved by someone like Maximus Lardizabal.

 Chapter 92

    Maximus


    After Sarina left the hospital, I got really busy. Even though I didn¡¯t want to leave her, I let her visit Dr. Miraez. I learned from her bodyguard that she saw the doctor, and I was fine with that since she had someone with her whom I trusted to protect her. She also told me about her sessions and why she needed them.


    A couple of days ago, my wife asked if I coulde with her to the next session. Who was I to say no? So here we are, sitting in front of Dr. Miraez, who is smiling at us. Although I could see some worry on her face, she still seemed optimistic about my wife¡¯s condition. Maybe she was just concerned about what Sarina might discover, too.


    ¡°How are you, Mr. and Mrs. Lardizabal?¡± the kind doctor greeted us with a smile.


    ¡°We¡¯re doing well,¡± my wife answered cheerfully, while I only managed a small smile.


    I couldn¡¯t help but feel worried for my wife, especially after she told me that she felt like she was about to find out something more. I could see the fear and anxiety on her face, but she tried hard to show me that she was okay.


    ¡°Are you sure you¡¯ll be alright, my wife?¡± I asked, unable to hide my concern.


    ¡°Now that things are better with Grandma Sol, and I know I still have my parents and family-plus you, Chase, and the baby inside me-I¡¯ll do everything for all of you. I want peace of mind, and I won¡¯t get that if I don¡¯t find out the truth behind everything that¡¯s happened to us.¡±


    I couldn¡¯t respond to what she said and just looked at her quietly. I didn¡¯t realize she had been thinking this deeply, too. Maybe it was because of her dreams.


    ¡°I¡¯m here for you, to stay by your side and support you, my wife.¡± She nodded and smiled before turning to Dr. Miraez, who kept looking at us warmly.


    ¡°I¡¯m ready,¡± my wife said, and the kind doctor nodded. Sarina sat on the couch, and they began her session while I sat quietly off to the side.Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org.


    ¡°Sarina,st time, you mentioned that you were in a car,¡± Dr. Miraez began, moving her hand, which my wife followed with her gaze.


    ¡°Yes, Doc.¡± I didn¡¯t ask my wife what happens during her sessions because she usually tells meter. But she hadn¡¯t mentioned what her doctor was asking now.


    ¡°Let¡¯s continue. In the car, you tried to escape.¡±


    ¡°Yes, but there was a man.¡± And then, just like that, my wife closed her eyes, but I felt she wasn¡¯t asleep because she kept answering Dr. Miraez.


    ¡°Where am I?¡±


    ¡°Who are you?¡±


    ¡°What do you want from me?¡±


    She kept asking questions, and I was sure they weren¡¯t directed at her doctor. ¡°What are they doing to you?¡± Dr. Miraez asked.


    ¡°They brought me into a moving room and threw me onto a bed. I felt dizzy; everything around me was spinning.¡± The fear in my wife¡¯s voice was so clear that I wanted to go to her and hold her, but her doctor stopped me.


    ¡°Roskov?¡± I stood up when she mentioned that name. That monster is behind all of this?


    ¡°What do you want from me?¡±


    ¡°Where are we?¡±


    ¡°What do you mean? Who told you to do this?¡±


    ¡°Please, let me go. I need to be with my husband¡­¡±


    ¡°Stop! What are you doing? Untie me, Roskov!¡±


    I wanted to leave the room. I didn¡¯t think I could bear hearing my wife say these things. What did that monster Roskov do to her? And he tied her up, too?


    I was holding back my anger, unsure if it was right to go along because I might lose control after everything I had just learned. Even though Dr. Miraez had warned me about what could happen and how I might feel, I didn¡¯t expect it to hurt this much, seeing my wife suffering. I can¡¯t imagine what she had gone through at the hands of that monster, Roskov.


    ¡°What¡¯s that? No! Don¡¯t inject me with that!¡± Sarina screamed.


    ¡°What are you doing to me, Roskov?¡±


    ¡°What do you mean he¡¯sing? Who told you to do this to me?¡± Her voice started to weaken as if she was affected by whatever the man had injected into her.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to sleep; why would I sleep?¡±


    ¡°I want to go to my husband; I want to go to Maximus¡­¡± I was on the verge of tears because it felt like she was hoping I would suddenly appear and save her.


    ¡°Please, let me go. Take this off of me. Untie me, please. I didn¡¯t want to be treated this way¡­¡±


    ¡°Who are you?¡±


    ¡°I never thought you could do this to me¡­¡± She was speaking in Tagalog now, which meant the person she was talking to understood Tagalog. So, it wasn¡¯t Roskov anymore!


    Sarina stayed quiet, but her tears began to fall. I felt so sorry for her; it was like my heart was being squeezed from the pain of watching her suffer.


    ¡°Nooo¡­¡± I stood up when my wife suddenly screamed, her tears flowing and her body shaking with fear.


    ¡°No, don¡¯t say that. Let me go!!!¡± She screamed, and suddenly, her cheek turned to the right as if someone had pped her.


    ¡°Ahhh!!¡± She kept screaming with her hands raised in the air.


    ¡°Let me go!!! Let me go!!!¡± she cried while her legs spread wide open.


    ¡°For mercy¡¯s sake, please stop¡­¡± I could see that she was struggling as if someone was pinning her down and choking her while violently taking advantage of her. Who was the heartless person who did this to my wife?


    ¡°Noooo¡­. Maximussss¡­¡± My heart shattered when she called my name. She begged for help, but I wasn¡¯t there to save her. How could I have left her like that? I copsed back into my seat, feeling like a candle melting down. I needed something to hold on to after discovering what my wife had gone through. I couldn¡¯t help but me myself-if only I had been quicker, if only we hadn¡¯t left that day when our flight got dyed. There were so many ¡°if only,¡± but I knew I couldn¡¯t change the past.


    Sarina kept repeating the same things, which probably meant the person who hurt her did the same horrible things to her over and over. The pain I felt from not being able to find her and save her was just as relentless.


    ¡°Roskov, please, help me¡­¡± My eyes widened. Why was she asking for help from that man?


    ¡°Roskov!¡± Sarina cried.


    ¡°Roskov!¡±


    ¡°Roskov!¡±


    ¡°Argh!!¡±


    ¡°Let him go¡­¡± I couldn¡¯t understand what was happening anymore, but I felt that maybe Roskov had helped her.


    ¡°Sarina,¡± called Dr. Miraez. ¡°Sarina, can you hear me?¡± But my wife didn¡¯t respond.


    ¡°Sarina, tell me, who just arrived?¡±


    ¡°Let her go, I said¡­ Ump! Argk!¡±


    ¡°Run, I need to run; he can¡¯t catch me!¡±


    ¡°Where are you, Sarina?¡± Dr. Miraez asked.


    ¡°Shore, I¡¯m on a yacht,¡± she replied.


    ¡°I need to run; I stabbed him. I didn¡¯t mean to¡­ But if I didn¡¯t do it, he wouldn¡¯t stop,¡± she said, breathing heavily as if talking to herself. Did she stab the person who hurt her? Where was Roskov?


    ¡°Run, Sarina, don¡¯t let Jason catch you!¡±

 Chapter 93

    Sarina


    I pulled off the cloth covering the face of the man, pinning me down after I asked who he was and got no answer. I couldn¡¯t speak when I saw who it was. It felt like my world crumbled as I looked at Jason¡¯s grinning face. I couldn¡¯t believe the man I loved for so long, who I thought I knewpletely, was capable of such an evil act. The sweet and happy Jason I knew is gone.


    ¡°You¡¯re mine, Sarina, only mine!¡± he said angrily after I pped him, and he pped me back, causing my face to turn. It was painful; he hit me with so much force that I cried. He never let me get hurt by anything or anyone when we¡¯re together. And here he was, the cause of my pain, both physically and emotionally.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t think you¡¯d ever do this to me.¡± His eyes softened for a moment, probably because of what I said. But it quickly vanished, and he looked at me angrily again.


    ¡°You¡¯re supposed to be with me, Sarina. That man doesn¡¯t want to break up with you once your contract ends. Even you! You don¡¯t want to leave that rich guy, do you? Why? Because he¡¯s wealthy?¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about! Let go of me!¡± I shouted back, full of anger. I couldn¡¯t believe Jason knew Roskov-the man who had me kidnapped at the airport and brought me to this ce. I was dizzy, and everything felt like it was spinning, probably because of the drug they made me inhale.


    ¡°No, Sarina! If you don¡¯t want to return to me, I¡¯ll ensure you stay mine forever.¡± Then, he pped me again. I couldn¡¯t do anything because my hands were tied. He walked away and grabbed something from the drawer by the bed. My eyes widened when I saw it. He was holding a syringe, and with the look on his face, I knew it was not good for me. I want to beg him, but no. I¡¯m not going to do that.


    They had injected me earlier, and I didn¡¯t know what Jason was nning to inject me with now. I struggled harder, trying to prevent him from doing whatever he wanted. But I was weak, not only because of the dizziness but also from all the drugs they had already given me.


    I felt my body going numb, and I couldn¡¯t do anything as Jason climbed back on top of me. He looked like a demon to me now, no longer the Jason I once knew. What happened? Why did he be like this?


    ¡°You¡¯re mine, Sarina, okay? I should have been your first, but what did you do? You gave yourself to that man I¡¯ve been waiting for so long to be with you. I imagined how our honeymoon would be, but you ruined it. You ruined everything!¡± he spat out angrily while forcing himself on me.


    ¡°Ahhh!!¡± I screamed, using up all the strength I had left. ¡®Stopp..¡¯ is all I can say to myself as I am already losing the strength to shout or even struggle. My heart was so broken that this was happening to me, that I was suffering like this from the person I once trusted.


    ¡°Shut up, Sarina, and enjoy it. You should enjoy this with me, not with that other man!¡± His eyes were wild. Where was the man I had loved? Tears streamed down my face, unstoppable. I was hurting, not just from what he was doing but from the sight of him. No matter how I look at him now, I couldn¡¯t see the Jason Satudez I once loved, who had been a part of my childhood and life.


    ¡°Let go of me!!! Let me go!!!¡± I kept screaming, even though my voice was hoarse. ¡°Please, stop this¡­ just stop¡­¡± I begged him. But he only smirked before reaching for a swiss knife.


    ¡°Noooo¡­ Maximussss¡­¡± I screamed, thinking he was going to kill me. But he only shed my cheek.


    ¡°Because of your face, Sarina, Maximus fell for you. From now on, he won¡¯te back for you because the beauty he loved is gone. Only I love you truly. I ept you no matter what, but you chose another man!¡± He shed the other side of my face.


    I couldn¡¯t feel the pain anymore, but the tears kepting.


    ¡°Shit! What did you do?¡± Roskov burst into the room, his voice full of shock. Both Jason and I looked at him at the same time.


    ¡°Roskov, please, help me¡­¡± I didn¡¯t know why, but he helped me. He lunged at Jason and fought to take the knife from him. He quickly untied my hands once he managed to do it, and I took the chance to move away.


    ¡°Roskov!¡± I screamed when Jason suddenly punched him, and they started exchanging blows.


    ¡°Roskov!¡±


    ¡°Roskov!¡± The knife slipped from his hand, and I quickly grabbed it. But Jason picked up something else, ready to hit Roskov over the head with it, so I rushed to help and pushed Jason away. He quickly recovered and pped me.


    ¡°Argh!!¡± I didn¡¯t care about the pain anymore.


    ¡°Let him go¡­¡±


    ¡°I said let him go¡­ Ugh!¡± I hadn¡¯t even realized it, but I had stabbed Jason in the back, causing him to elbow me.


    ¡°Run now, Sarina!¡± Roskov shouted. I looked at him, and when I saw him nod, I followed his order, even though I didn¡¯t want to.


    ¡®Run, I have to run, he can¡¯t catch me! I didn¡¯t mean to stab him.¡¯


    I kept running and realized I was on a yacht. I didn¡¯t stop; I kept going. I didn¡¯t know how far I¡¯d gone, exhausted and weak when I didn¡¯t notice the speeding car. The next thing I knew, I had collided with it.


    ¡°Miss, are you alright?¡± a man asked. I lifted my head and looked at him. As I was losing consciousness, I whispered,


    ¡°Please¡­ send me back to my husband.¡± Then everything went dark.


    ***


    ¡°Are you okay, Sarina?¡± I saw Dr. Miraez¡¯s face when I opened my eyes. I could feel the wetness on my cheeks, and I didn¡¯t even realize I had been crying. Maximus suddenly came closer and hugged me tightly. I felt his worry and sympathy for me. His body was shaking, just like mine. I was shaking because of fear and the pain of what I had found out. He was surely shaking from anger and concern for me.


    ¡°We will make him pay, my wife,¡± he whispered as he rubbed my back gently. I felt relieved, knowing that some of my life¡¯s questions had been answered. But it was so painful to ept that the person I had first given my heart to was the one who would break and ruin me.


    I never imagined that Jason could do that to me, even the first time I saw him again when I couldn¡¯t remember anything. After knowing he was the first man I ever loved, I quickly feltfortable, even though I knew Maximus was jealous of him.


    I told Maximus and Dr. Miraez what had happened once again. It hurt so much to repeat the story, but I had to. I wanted to free myself from the pain of that discovery, and I was grateful that my husband was by my side. My doctor was right-I really needed him.


    When our session ended, Maximus and I went home. I was quiet during the trip, and he asked if I could still manage. I nodded and gave him a sad smile. ¡°I need to be strong because I want justice for what he did to me.¡±


    When we got home, Maximus let me rest in our room after I hugged and kissed our child. That was when I realized how brave Chase was. Whatever I went through, he went through, too, because I was already pregnant with him at that time.


    I am so grateful to the Lord for giving me another chance to be with my family.N?velDrama.Org is the owner.


    ¡°Will you be okay here?¡± I looked into his eyes and saw clearly his worry and anger.


    ¡°What are you going to do?¡± I asked anxiously because I didn¡¯t want him to do anything wrong after knowing what happened to me.


    ¡°I told you, we¡¯re going to make him pay.¡± His jaw tightened as he said that. Maybe he wanted to remain calm in front of me.


    ¡°What exactly are you going to do?¡± I asked again. ¡°I want to know so I can also feel at ease.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry, my wife. I won¡¯t do anything you¡¯ll be concerned about. Even though I want to kill him right now, I won¡¯t hurt Jason.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not him I¡¯m worried about, it¡¯s you. I don¡¯t want you to be away from me, Chase, and our future child. What he did to me is unforgivable. He betrayed me and my trust. I never thought he could do that to me. But I would rather have you with us, so please¡­¡±


    ¡°Shh¡­¡± he hushed me because I had started crying again. ¡°I won¡¯t stain my hands with his blood if that¡¯s what you¡¯re worried about. But I¡¯ll make sure he pays dearly.¡± I nodded to him and tried to calm myself down. That¡¯s all I wanted to happen, too.


    After our conversation, Maximus left our room and went to his mini office. I was sure he would call the people he needed to contact so Jason could be caught.


    I still couldn¡¯t understand why I always saw Jason at the hospital. What was he doing there? I shook my head and prayed to the Lord that he would be caught in the right way.


    I still couldn¡¯t remember much of my past, but Maximus and my parents said I was close to Jason¡¯s parents. Even now, I already feel sorry for them. They probably never expected or thought their son could do something like that.


    I prayed that Jason would show remorse. Even if I never spoke to him again, I would know he still had a chance to live a righteous life after paying for everything he did to me.

 Chapter 94

    Sarina


    The next few days were chaotic. The police arrested Jason, causing an uproar on the ind of Catanduanes. My parents called me, asking what was happening, but I told them I¡¯d exinter. Thankfully, they listened to me, so I didn¡¯t have to exin everything immediately, knowing it would only hurt them.


    Little by little, memories started shing in my mind, and I felt more pain whenever I thought about Jason and me. How happy we were and how much we loved each other. I suddenly wondered why I let us separate when I knew how deeply he loved me. I couldn¡¯t help but ask myself why I now love Maximus so much.


    The news was all about Jason¡¯s arrest. At the time, he was in the hospital, the same ce I often visited him. He was out of control, furiously shouting my name like he had lost his mind.


    I felt a deep sadness over what was happening. Even so, I couldn¡¯t help but feel hurt for the man I once loved. But I knew he needed to face the consequences of what he had done for my own peace and my husband¡¯s.


    ¡°This will all be over soon, my wife,¡± Maximus said, sitting with me on the couch. We were in the entertainment room, watching the news.


    ¡°His parents are well-known, and everyone expected him to take his father¡¯s ce for thest term as governor.¡±


    ¡°Are you okay?¡± he asked, worried. I gave him a weak smile, knowing I wasn¡¯t. He gently pulled me closer and kissed the top of my head.


    I closed my eyes, feeling thefort of his touch. If everything that happened hurt me, I knew it hurt him just as much. But I could see he was trying to be strong. Maybe it was for me and for our child that he felt he shouldn¡¯t show any weakness.


    I hugged him tightly to let him feel my love, to show him how thankful I am for having him as my husband, and to let him know I appreciate everything he¡¯s done for me.


    Not everyone is lucky to have a husband like Maximus. I know many dreams of having a partner like him, but not everyone is as fortunate as I am to love and be loved by him.


    Days passed, and Maximus still didn¡¯t leave my side. He stopped going to thepany to stay with me, especially since Grandma Sol asked Chase to stay with her while we dealt with Jason¡¯s case.


    I didn¡¯t mind because I couldn¡¯t take care of him properly anyway, with all my daydreaming and the fact that I was pregnant. As much as I wanted to stay strong, there were still times I zoned out, unable to believe everything that had happened.


    At the moment, I was in our room resting while Maximus was in his mini office. He had some work to do, so I left him alone. But he told me to call him if I needed anything.


    I was nning to nap, but the door to our room opened before I could, and Maximus¡¯ smiling face peeked in. I sat up in bed, frowning as I asked,


    ¡°Did something happen?¡±


    ¡°You have a visitor.¡± My frown deepened; I wasn¡¯t expecting anyone. ¡°Come, they¡¯re downstairs.¡±


    I got up and followed him down. When we reached the living room, I was overwhelmed with happiness-I saw my parents. But their faces were written with worry and sadness.


    ¡°How are you, child?¡± my mom asked, her voice shaky, while my dad just looked at me.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine, how about you?¡± They didn¡¯t need to know that I was struggling too. I didn¡¯t want them to worry about me.


    ¡°I never thought Jason could do that to you, dear. Your father and I trusted himpletely, but I don¡¯t know what happened to that boy.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s not talk about him for now, Mom, Dad. The case is moving forward, and our attorney thinks we have a strong fight, especially now that I¡¯m starting to remember what happened.¡±


    My mom and dad hugged me as they cried, and I couldn¡¯t stop my tears. Knowing they were here for me, I felt a bit lighter.


    By noon, we ate together and were happy, even though our child wasn¡¯t with us. My mom was always by my side because of my pregnancy. ¡°Mom,e on, now you and Maximus are both overreacting,¡± I said when she insisted on feeding me more fruit.


    ¡°I  want to do this,¡± she replied.


    ¡°That¡¯s what I¡¯ve been telling her, too, Mom,¡± my husband said.


    ¡°Sweetie, you need this. We can¡¯t be sure the baby won¡¯t be affected by the medicine you took.¡± I sighed deeply and just went along with them. Even Lisa, who was watching us, was smiling. She was always one of those reminding me about my health.


    We were chatting when Rocel came over and said, ¡°Sir Maximus, people are asking for Ma¡¯am Sarina.¡± We exchanged nces before my husband stood up.


    ¡°I¡¯ll go check.¡± I let him handle it since he knew what to do. But several minutes passed, and he hadn¡¯t returned, so I grew curious. I stood up and excused myself to my parents, saying I¡¯d just check on him. I didn¡¯t wait for their response and followed my husband.


    ¡°We just want to talk to Sarina, Mr. Lardizabal,¡± an older woman said, apanied by an older man. They seemed familiar, but I couldn¡¯t remember where I saw them.


    Maximus was about to respond when the woman suddenly looked at me, causing Maximus to nce at me as well. ¡°My wife,¡± he said.


    ¡°Sarina? Is she Sarina?¡± the older woman asked, surprised.


    ¡°Is that really you, Sarina?¡± the man asked. ¡°It¡¯s us, Jason¡¯s parents.¡±


    ***


    I stood frozen in ce before Maximus approached me and put his arm around my shoulders. ¡°As I already said, it¡¯s not the right time for my wife to talk to you, Mr. and Mrs. Satudez.¡±


    ¡°Rina!¡± the woman eximed, so I turned around and saw my parents.


    ¡°You¡¯re really Sarina?¡± The couple still seemed in disbelief, but I nodded. ¡°We just want to talk to you, dear. Your parents are here, and they know we¡¯re not bad people.¡± The woman looked kind, so I nodded even though Maximus didn¡¯t like it.N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights.


    I smiled at my husband because I could see the irritation on his face. He just wanted to protect me; that¡¯s why he was like that, but since my parents were here and he was with me, I thought it wouldn¡¯t hurt to hear what they wanted to say, even though I knew it was about Jason.


    We entered the house and sat down in the living room. Maximus, as always, sat beside me. The Satudez couple sat on the couch across from us while my parents were seated to our right.


    At first, it was silent. No one spoke as the Satudez couple exchanged nces, probably deciding who would speak first.


    ¡°It must have been painful for you, Sarina,¡± Mrs. Satudez began. ¡°On behalf of my son, I want to say sorry. I know that loving you too much isn¡¯t a good excuse for what he did, but Jason has never loved anyone like he loves you. He was even willing to ignore us, his parents,¡± the older woman said tearfully.


    ¡°I want to ask you not to continue the case against him and to consider what you two had.¡± Mr. Satudez spoke, which angered Maximus.


    ¡°Are you out of your mind?¡± my husband shouted, but I quickly stopped him. He looked at me and then sighed.


    ¡°That¡¯s why we came here, Sarina. But after seeing you, I realized how big a mistake Jason made. With that, I want you to know that you can do whatever you think is right regarding the case you filed against him.¡±


    We didn¡¯t speak-especially me. We all knew they came here to convince me to drop the case, but I appreciated that they had changed their minds.


    ¡°But please, find it in your heart to forgive him,¡± Mrs. Satudez said, now crying while her husband gently rubbed her back. Then, she started telling stories about their son.


    ¡°He was hot-headed even as a child. He was always angry with anyone who worked in our house. The smallest thing would set him off. We had him checked by a child psychologist, and he was a special child. It wasn¡¯t obvious because he looked normal,¡± Mrs. Satudez began.


    ¡°But everything changed when he met you. When you became friends, we could feel how much better he got, and that¡¯s why we were so fond of you. Especially when the two of you became a couple,¡± Mr. Satudez continued.


    We quietly listened, but I could see the shock on my parents¡¯ faces. They probably didn¡¯t know anything about Jason¡¯s childhood.


    ¡°I can say he was the happiest person in the world when he told us he would propose to you. He said he wanted to be your inspiration when you studied to be a doctor. I even teased him, asking if he was okay with you being far away,¡± Mrs. Satudez added with a bitter smile.


    ¡°But he said he would go with you, so we shouldn¡¯t expect any grandchildren soon because he wanted you to achieve your dreams first.¡± The woman broke down in tears, and I couldn¡¯t stop myself from falling. ¡°I never thought something like this would happen to you two, Sarina. Believe me, my son loved you very much. He talked about building a good life and family with you.¡±


    Maximus hugged me andforted me as I cried. Even after the Satudez couple said their goodbyes, we remained silent. None of us could speak. I knew I couldn¡¯t bring back the past and change how I felt now. Memory or no memory, I knew in my heart that I loved my husband. Maybe Jason saw that, and that¡¯s why he did what he did.


    Feelings can¡¯t be controlled, and we can¡¯t tell our hearts to forget everything. So I couldn¡¯t me Jason if that was the only way he thought he could get me back. But no matter how you look at it, it is still wrong, and you can¡¯t fix something by doing something wrong.

 Chapter 95

    Three Months Later


    Sarina


    ¡°Where are we, Maximus?¡± I asked, confused. My eyes were covered with a blindfold that my husband put on me an hour after our car started moving away from the house.


    I felt the car stop, and my husband helped me out, holding my hand as we walked somewhere I couldn¡¯t guess. But I was sure we were inside a building because of the cold breeze that I knew came from the conditioner.


    ¡°Just wait, my wife, we¡¯re almost there.¡± Even though he couldn¡¯t see my eyes because of the blindfold, I still rolled them at him. I don¡¯t know what came to his mind that he¡¯s doing this.


    ¡°Why do you have to do this? You¡¯re so dramatic,¡± Iined. ¡°It¡¯s hurting my eyes, you know!¡±


    ¡°Sorry, my wife. Do you want me to loosen it a bit?¡± he asked, and then I heard the sound of an elevator. We walked a bit more before stopping and standing still.


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you just take it off?¡± I asked, feeling his hand on my waist gently caressing my sides.


    ¡°Just a little more; we¡¯re almost there.¡± He insisted, so I took a deep breath and leaned against him, making me feel his lips on my temple. I smiled internally; he¡¯s so sweet and very protective.


    ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll wait for your surprise. But it better be something I¡¯ll really like, okay?¡± I pointed my finger at him, knowing he was on my right, but he grabbed it.


    ¡°You¡¯re so demanding, wifey. Just because you know how much I love you, huh?¡± I smiled at what he said. ¡°See? I knew it! You¡¯re taking advantage of my feelings for you.¡±


    Iughed at his words, imagining how he must look. Every time heined about his love for me, the way he pouted reminded me of a little kid.


    ¡°You¡¯reughing at me again,¡± he said, and I could imagine his sulking face.


    ¡°Okay, fine, I won¡¯t anymore.¡± He brought the hand he was holding to his lips and softly kissed it. I always felt giddy when he did that, along with the simple kisses he gave to my forehead or head, which filled me with joy and excitement. I could truly feel how much I meant to him.


    ¡°But where are we?¡± I asked again. I wouldn¡¯t stop until we got to wherever we were supposed to go.


    Ding! It was the sound of the elevator stopping. Then we started walking again. He still held my hand while his other hand rested on my waist. He¡¯s so possessive.


    ¡°We¡¯re here, wifey.¡± Then, he finally took off the blindfold. My vision was blurry momentarily, so I blinked a few times until my eyes adjusted.


    ¡°Where exactly-¡± I couldn¡¯t finish my sentence as I looked around. We were in a grand hall. I don¡¯t know what it¡¯s called exactly, but it looked like an event hall in a hotel. The designs were so beautiful as if a special asion was happening.


    I looked at Maximus, who was smiling back at me. He took my hand and led me to the middle, where there was a red carpet. On both sides were tables and chairs, all elegantly set up, and people sitting and looking at us.


    Maximus gently wiped my cheek, and I realized I was already crying. We continued walking until we reached the front. I still didn¡¯t know what was happening, but I felt special. I was incredibly happy and couldn¡¯t understand why.


    I turned and saw my parents at a table with my older brother and his family, who I had just met two weeks ago. Maximus and I had gone to Catanduanes with Chase, and our son was so happy to meet his cousins, too.


    Grandma Sol, Chase, Lisa, and her family were at another table.


    Next to their table, sitting was Mariano, and I couldn¡¯t help but frown because Eunice was with him. There shouldn¡¯t be any other reason since Aunt Marga and Aunt Amor were also there, but why did they seem so close?


    Not far away were Maximus¡¯s friends from Las Vegas. I met them just the other night, and they said we had known each other for over three years. I didn¡¯t ask further because that was also the time when fate tested Maximus¡¯s and my rtionship.


    ¡°What¡¯s going on, my husband?¡± I couldn¡¯t stop myself from asking, feelingpletely overwhelmed. I had a little idea but still wanted to hear it from his lips.


    Suddenly, Aries came forward and handed him a microphone before stepping aside. ¡°My dear wife, I know this has been long overdue. So much has happened, and we¡¯ve been through a lot together. I thank God that we made it through all of that.¡±


    We looked into each other¡¯s eyes, and I was certain anyone could see our love.


    ¡°In front of your parents and family, as well as my grandma, my brother, rtives, friends, and acquaintances-and most especially in front of our son-I want to formally ask for your hand in marriage, for real this time. No more one-year contract or expiration date because I no longer know how to live without you. Sarina Marcelo, will you marry me? Again?¡±


    Tears flowed freely from my eyes, overwhelmed with joy. I couldn¡¯t even speak, so I quickly nodded repeatedly. Then Chase came over and handed something to his Daddy, which Maximus took.


    It was a ring. He slipped it onto my finger before kissing me deeply. Yes, I was more than willing to marry this man who did everything to make me love him. Who was I to say no to such a blessing from God? It felt like I had saved the whole world in my past life. Now God had given me the most wonderful man in the universe who had saved me from the misery that every woman couldn¡¯t possibly go through alone.


    ¡°I love you, my wife.¡±N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    ¡°I love you too, Maximus Lardizabal,¡± I replied emotionally before he kissed me again, and the guests started pping.

 Chapter 96

    Sarina


    Until now, I still feel like I¡¯m floating in the clouds because of Maximus¡¯ proposal. Deep inside, I know I¡¯m just a simple person, content with simple things. I¡¯m poor, and there¡¯s a vast gap between me and my husband. But he did everything to bridge the two worlds no one thought would ever meet.


    Maximus didn¡¯t even let me dress up nicely when he proposed to me a week ago. I had no idea that, at that very moment, our wedding preparations were already underway. And now, here I am at the Sarina Hotel and Casino, along with our families, for our big day.


    Thanks to this day¡¯s joy, all the bad things that happened in my life disappeared like bubbles. I¡¯m staying in the most expensive hotel suite courtesy of my beloved husband. Where else would he put me but in the best because, ording to him, I¡¯m his queen, and he¡¯s offering me everything, including his life?


    ¡°Wow! Is that me?¡± I asked the stylist after seeing my reflection in the mirror. ¡°I look so beautiful! You¡¯re amazing!¡± I wasn¡¯t trying to boast, but she did an incredible job. She brought out the beauty I had been hiding, hahaha.


    ¡°Oh, Ma¡¯am, you¡¯re already beautiful,¡± said Analyn shyly. She returned thepliment, and I was about to smile when I remembered that this wasn¡¯t my original face. But I shook my head. I couldn¡¯t let that ruin my mood. Besides, there was nothing I could do about it. I didn¡¯t want to undergo surgery to regain my old face.


    I¡¯m happy with how I look now. I¡¯m not too concerned about physical appearance. What¡¯s important to me is having a clean body, and I¡¯m proud that, even though we¡¯re poor, my skin is blemish-free.


    Analyn and I wereughing when we heard the doorbell. We both turned toward the door. It was just the two of us, as the others were busy getting ready.


    ¡°I¡¯ll get it, Ma¡¯am.¡± I smiled, nodded, and thanked her before looking at my reflection again. Analyn must have a lot of clients because she¡¯s just that good at what she does.


    My eyes widened when I saw Maximus. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± I asked,ughing. My mom didn¡¯t want us to see each other. She wanted him to wait at the altar.


    ¡°I just couldn¡¯t stand not seeing you, my wife. Imagine, I ate breakfast and lunch alone,¡± he pouted, making me shake my head with a smile.


    ¡°Just a little more time, and you couldn¡¯t even stop yourself,¡± I replied, stillughing. He didn¡¯t answer and just kept looking at me. ¡°Hey, what¡¯s wrong?¡±


    ¡°No matter how you look, you¡¯re always the most beautiful woman in my eyes.¡± I didn¡¯t know what to say and just stared back at him. Maybe he was thinking about my old face, too. But I didn¡¯t want to ruin this beautiful day.


    ¡°Do you want me to print a picture of my old face and stick it on my forehead?¡± Iughed, and he joined in, pulling me into a hug.


    ¡°Like I said, it doesn¡¯t matter what you look like. You weren¡¯t even that beautiful before.¡± I yfully pushed him away, but he didn¡¯t budge and hugged me even tighter. ¡°I love you, my wife. Whatever face you have, the effect on me is still the same.¡±


    ¡°Do you still feel the same love for me?¡± I asked.


    ¡°I still feel just as crazy about you,¡± he answered, and weughed. If my parents, Grandma Sol and Chase hadn¡¯t arrived, we probably wouldn¡¯t have stopped. Then we all went downstairs to the main hall of the Sarina Hotel and Casino, where the entire ce was decorated with beautiful and expensive flowers matching our emerald green motif.


    Unlike other weddings, Maximus and I decided to walk down the aisle together, which made our guests chuckle. Hand in hand, we walked through the hall, heading toward the priest waiting to marry us.


    The ceremony ended, and Maximus didn¡¯t even wait for the priest to say, ¡°You may kiss the bride.¡± He quickly turned me to face him and gave me a deep and sweet kiss. He might have carried me straight to our room upstairs if he hadn¡¯t held back. The whole ce erupted inughter, and the celebration continued.


    ***


    A year has passed¡­


    ¡°Are you happy, my wife?¡± Maximus asked as he embraced me from behind. I tilted my head to look at him and smiled.


    ¡°Very much, my husband. My happiness has no limits,¡± I answered honestly. Exactly one year after our wedding, we were again in Las Vegas, this time with our kids, Chase, and our youngest, Chastity, who was almost eight months old.


    We were staying in a luxury hotel room. Our children and their nanny were in their room, while my husband and I were alone. We were on the balcony, having just finished an intimate moment, watching the beautiful lights of the buildings around the hotel.


    Unlike our first visit, we flew on our own ne. Maximus was so traumatized by what happened to me before, so he made sure we had our own aircraft. He said his fear and worry tripled, especially since we now had two children he wanted to protect. It wasn¡¯t about being extravagant, but now we could bring anyone we wanted when we traveled abroad.


    ¡°Just tell me anything you want, and I¡¯ll do it for you, my wife.¡± I was touched by his words, so I turned to him and cupped his face.


    ¡°You¡¯ve already done everything for me, my love. More than I need, more than our children need. I have nothing more to ask from this world. All I want is to cherish your endless love until myst breath. I¡¯m even worried that I¡¯m not doing enough as your wife. Maybe I¡¯m not giving you enough.¡±


    ¡°Like I said, you¡¯ve given me more than I need. And I thank God that He gave you to me despite my shorings and sins. A wife who fills the gaps in my life. A wife who supports, helps, respects, and loves me.¡±


    I smiled at what he said because I didn¡¯t realize we felt the same way about that. So, I could say I was content with my life and had nothing else to wish for.


    Some of my memories havee back now, happy ones and sad ones. There were even memories of Jason from when we were still together and in love. I didn¡¯t think my feelings would change even though I loved him back then. But what¡¯s done is done.


    Speaking of Jason, he couldn¡¯t handle everything and took his own life about five months ago. Until hisst moment, he couldn¡¯t ept that I was truly gone from his life.


    I felt sorry for his parents because I knew how painful that was for them. Now that I¡¯m a mother, I understand their pain even more. I know how much they loved Jason and supported our rtionship.


    I didn¡¯t want what happened to Jason. Despite what he did to me, I still felt pity for him and pain because of what happened to us.


    Another thing we didn¡¯t expect was finding out that Abegail had also died. She was the woman Jason was in the room, which led to our breakup. ording to the investigation, Jason was responsible for her death, too.


    Mariano also discovered that Jason was the one who caused the police raid on Roskov¡¯s mansion, which led to his death.


    Jason reported Roskov¡¯s illegal activities and even nted evidence for crimes he didn¡¯tmit. But at the time of the raid, illegal activities were happening, so Roskov and his men fought back.


    ¡°I know you¡¯re still haunted by the things that happened in your life, my wife. But just remember, I¡¯m here to face them with you,¡± Maximus said, making me smile.


    ¡°Thank you so much, my love,¡± was all I could say before kissing him deeply, which again sparked the heat between us, filling us with joy only we could give each other. I was happy to know that Maximus Lardizabal was truly my husband now and that our marriage was for life, no longer just a one-year contract for intimacy.


    This is the story of my love life, which started with a contract and ended in real life as true partners facing life¡¯s challenges together.Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!