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Chapter 18
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2024-10-18 11:30:07Related chapters
Contract and Marriage Chapter 19
Sarina's POV:"Why are you here? I thought you had left!" Ruth snapped, her tone laced with venom.I felt my anger boil beneath the surface, and while I tried to remain patient, the scene I had just walked into made it increasingly difficult to hold back."Grandma, Sarina is my wife," Maximus interjected.My eyebrows shot up at Maximus' swift defense. He had actually stood up to his grandmother!"I don't care!" Ruth spat, her eyes blazing with fury as she leered at me."Well, if I had known you and that flirtatious woman were here, I wouldn't have bothered coming back. I could have just stayed on vacation and enjoyed myself.""You dare talk back to me?" she hissed, then slapped me across the face.I didn't see it coming and had no time to react.I had forgotten that this was how the wealthy behaved—except for the Castro family, of course."Grandma!" Maximus exclaimed, jumping off his hospital bed and rushing to my side.I cupped my cheek, fighting back tears, my jaw clenched
Last Updated : 2024-10-18Contract and Marriage Chapter 20
Maximus' POV:"Hello," I answered as Aries called."I've located Mrs. Salonga," he said."Follow her and don't let her out of your sight. I need to know where she's going," I instructed."Okay, sir," he replied.I ended the call and turned to face my grandmother and Miranda. Anger boiled inside me, but she was still my grandmother."Miranda, I don't want to see your face ever again. If you don't stay away, I won't hesitate to ruin your family's life. Mark my words," I warned."But babe—""And stop calling me your 'babe' because I'm not!" I snapped, my voice loud and sharp, making her flinch."Maximus," my friend Gerald Onyxer, the doctor, called out. He seemed just as shocked by the events."Stay out of this, Gerald," I said coldly.Geralde wisely nodded and excused himself."I'll leave you to it," Gerald said, and I appreciated it.I didn't want him to hear what I had to say to these two women."You don't respect me anymore, Maximus!" My grandmother was clearly enraged.
Last Updated : 2024-10-18Contract and Marriage Chapter 21
Maximus' POV:More than an hour had passed when Aries called me again."Where is she? Did she go back to the condo?" I asked."No, sir. She went to a hotel," Aries replied."Where?""At Blue Hotel, sir.""Okay, you can get back to work. I'll handle my own discharge," I instructed.After our conversation, I called Gerald and asked for his help."You know what, man? I don't understand why you're going through all this trouble for your wife. Do you love her that much?" Gerald asked, disbelief evident in his voice."She got me hooked. I don't know why, but I've never felt this way with any other woman," I confessed."You're in love, man. Anyway, good luck with winning her over. But from what I saw earlier, it seems your wife might be interested in someone else," Gerald remarked.His words made my muscles tense, my jaw clench in anger, and my fists tighten.Gerald continued, "And it looks like you already know that. Good luck, bro."I nodded and said goodbye.I needed to see m
Last Updated : 2024-10-18Contract and Marriage Chapter 22
Sarina's POV:I felt incredibly comfortable as if I were being gently rocked to sleep. I wasn't sure if it was the air conditioning, but everything felt so light and peaceful.Slowly, I opened my eyes, blinking a few times to adjust. My vision was a bit blurry, and I rubbed away the dried tears. There was someone beside me, looking at me."Maximus?!" I exclaimed as I quickly sat up, feeling a bit dizzy.Before I could topple over, he pulled me close, preventing me from falling off the bed.I glanced around to confirm my surroundings. Just as I remembered before I fell asleep, I was still in the hotel."What are you doing here? How did you get in?" I asked."I don't see any reason why I shouldn't be able to get in," he replied casually, leaning back against the headboard with his arms crossed."What do you mean, ‘you don't see any reason'? This is my hotel room! You're not supposed to enter without my permission," I retorted."I can enter wherever I want, especially if I own it
Last Updated : 2024-10-18Contract and Marriage Chapter 23
Sarina's POV:I was taken aback by what Maximus said, and just as I was about to respond, he claimed my lips with his.I could feel his familiar pull as he sucked on my lips—a favorite of his, something he never failed to do whenever we kissed.His hand cupped my cheek, making it impossible for me to move my head. But when I clung to his shoulder, he let go and allowed his hands to wander across my body.I returned his kiss, something I had learned from him.Before him, all I had known were the innocent kisses Jason and I had shared. But Maximus was different. He made me crave more than just simple kisses, awakening desires I didn't even realize I had.The heat of our kiss consumed me, and before I knew it, I adjusted myself on his lap.His hands found their way to my waist as I let my hands roam over his chest, our lips still locked in a passionate embrace.I arched my back when he suddenly slid his hands under my crop top, letting out a soft moan into his mouth as his fingers
Last Updated : 2024-10-18Contract and Marriage Chapter 24
Sarina's POV:"Why stay in this room when you can get a better one?" Maximus asked.We had just finished eating, and I must admit I had eaten a lot, so I was grateful Maximus had ordered so much. I hadn't even realized how hungry I was."I don't have any money," I replied as he continued to caress my hand, which he was holding. We were sitting on the couch, with me leaning against his arm while his other arm was wrapped around me."What about the card I gave you?" he asked."I didn't want to use it, even though I was really tempted earlier. I just thought of your grandmother, who would probably explode in anger if she found out, so I held myself back." I replied."You don't need to think about her. It's my responsibility as a man and your husband to provide for all your needs and wants. So next time, don't hesitate to spend my money," he told me."No need, Maximus. I have my own money."Although what he said was sweet, I didn't want to waste his money either. I also didn't wa
Last Updated : 2024-10-18Contract and Marriage Chapter 25
Sarina's POV:"Who are you calling?" I asked Maximus."Do I have another wife?" Maximus replied with his own question.He hadn't even called me by an endearment, yet he was undeniably possessive about the title he used.I didn't answer. I simply took a deep breath before stepping closer to him."You used to do this by yourself," I said as I began to fix his tie."It feels better when my beautiful wife does it for me," he replied.I looked at him, sensing a teasing undertone. I shook my head, choosing not to take his words seriously."You don't seem to believe me.""I don't, and flattery doesn't work on me either," I said, tugging his necktie to finish straightening it. "There, all done—"I couldn't finish my sentence because he kissed me. With kisses like his, I couldn't help but kiss him back."Believe me, you're beautiful," he said once our passionate kiss ended."I've known that for a while now," I replied with feigned bravado, even though I didn't truly feel special.I
Last Updated : 2024-10-18Contract and Marriage Chapter 26
Sarina's POV:"I wish you had told me first, Mom, before deciding to come," I said as I picked them up in Coreville."I just visited, and you already missed me?" I teased."Oh, dear, if we'd told you, you would've just told us not to come. It's better as a surprise—no excuses. I've been wanting to come for a while now to see how you're living here in Ventalis. It's hard not knowing, especially since you're living alone," my mom replied."And I want to personally thank your boss for lending us the money to pay off my debt," my dad added as we got into the taxi I had booked."We've already thanked him enough, Dad. I thanked him, and now you want to thank him again?""Don't be like that. You know it was a huge help for us," my mom scolded.Maximus was at the office, and I had spent all last night convincing him not to tell my parents about us just yet. We agreed that he would act as though, after his successful surgery, he asked me to live with him to help care for him as he recove
Last Updated : 2024-10-18
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Contract and Marriage Chapter 110
Sarina's POV:"How could you be so handsome?" Ruth asked Chase.Chase sat beside her in the living room, happily chatting with Ruth.I watched them. Though Ruth still held anger toward me, I couldn't help but feel happy seeing how much she doted on Chase.I hadn't expected her to accept him so warmly, despite Maximus and Gerald's assurances that she would.Even though Ruth still seethed at the sight of me, I could no longer stay angry with her.Perhaps it was time to try to understand her better, especially now that I knew she was one of the people who loved my son.I texted Maximus about his grandmother's arrival.He called, but I declined—didn't want Ruth to think I was tattling on her.Thus, Maximus and I texted instead."Daddy, handsome," Chase said, delighting Ruth even more. Her smile seemed about to split her face in two.Ruth stayed for lunch, happily feeding Chase herself.I noticed Lisa glance at me, aware of how poorly Ruth had treated me in the past.I shrugged
Contract and Marriage Chapter 109
Sarina's POV:The last I heard about Ralph was that the police were holding him in custody.Now, Mariano was here because he believed my life as Bella might be in danger and that my fake husband could be involved in my disappearance as Sarina.As I recalled the memories of my awakening, I looked at Chase, happily playing with Jerome.I smiled, noticing how much he had changed since we arrived in Pearlisia.I was grateful that Maximus, not that beast Ralph, turned out to be Chase's real father. It was also confirmed that the medicine I had unknowingly taken had affected Chase's brain development.Fortunately, as long as he continued his medication and therapy, there was a good chance he would develop normally.I wished for nothing more than the end of this family chaos. I wanted Ralph caught and imprisoned, so he could no longer threaten me or Chase.Most of all, I wanted Maximus' grandmother to find peace with us, so Maximus, my true husband, could finally be happy.I once ask
Contract and Marriage Chapter 108
Sarina's POV:I cried nonstop, sweat, snot, and tears streaming down my face as I shielded Chase with my body. He cried too.I felt Ralph kneel before me, so I curled in tighter to protect our child.I felt his hand on my head and braced for more abuse.To my surprise, he stroked my hair instead and, through his tears, said, "I'm sorry. I'm really sorry, babe…"I looked up at him, and our eyes met.I saw remorse, sadness, and pity—maybe for me and our child."I'm really sorry. I don't know what came over me…" He continued, gently lifting my head.I feared he was pretending, that he would suddenly let go or slam my head onto the floor.The thought frightened me, and he noticed it."Please, babe, don't be scared. I'm sorry. This won't happen again," he said.He helped me sit up, and we both turned to look at Chase when he started crying again."I'm sorry, my son, if I scared you," he said, then picked him up.After that, he helped me stand and practically carried me to our b
Contract and Marriage Chapter 107
Sarina's POV:Our life together was going well, and I had grown comfortable with him. I was happy, especially as the time to give birth approached.Ralph took such thorough care of me that he wouldn't let me do anything around the house.Everything would have been perfect, and I wouldn't have worried about a thing, if not for one nagging issue.According to my credentials, I was born in Los Burnham and had even studied there.But if that were true, why did I know how to speak Pearlisian?I didn't consider myself particularly smart or gifted—I believed my abilities were quite ordinary. Because of this, part of me doubted my past.Naturally, I didn't dare ask Ralph about it, afraid he might get upset, so I kept it to myself.I was content, and so was Ralph. He cared for me deeply, though I also sensed his possessiveness. He didn't allow me to go out on my own. I always had to be with him.I didn't really mind, but even when I stayed in the yard and talked to a passing neighbor,
Contract and Marriage Chapter 106
Sarina's POV:I laughed at Maximus. It became clear why he had been so irritated when he saw me with Jason—it was because Jason had been my ex-boyfriend, first love, and childhood sweetheart.I also learned that Jason's family was wealthy, but his parents approved of me, just as my parents had approved of him.I remembered asking Maximus whether my parents disliked him. He had said they probably didn't, adding that they loved me deeply and would always support whatever made me happy.-The next day, Maximus had to leave, so it was just me and Chase at home.I was happy he had someone to play with, Jerome, who had helped a lot in his development.I sat by the poolside, reading while keeping an eye on Chase and Jerome as they played. Lisa had asked her daughter-in-law, Rachel, for help, so I offered to look after the children myself.We had also hired a nanny for Chase, who was supposed to arrive later, according to Aries.Maximus had gone with Mariano to his office, though I kn
Contract and Marriage Chapter 105
Maximus' POV:I couldn't settle down.I had been happy that Sarina remembered something about us, but why had the timing been so off? Why was it that whenever she teased me, I always ended up at her mercy?I knew she hadn't recalled anything about Jason, but I still couldn't help feeling jealous. Even if she couldn't remember Jason, it didn't change the fact that he had been her first love.When she stepped out of our room earlier, I wanted to follow her. Something felt off, even though she had kissed me willingly just moments before.After that, it seemed our way of talking had changed.No, I couldn't let this happen. I wanted the cheerful, teasing Sarina back, even if she did rile me up sometimes.She had been in the bathroom, taking a shower, and I made sure to go first.I didn't want her to go straight to sleep, leaving us no chance to talk. I didn't want the night—or even a single day—to pass with her feeling any resentment toward me, not even a small sulk.I hadn't taken
Contract and Marriage Chapter 104
Sarina's POV:I had just returned from the restroom, leaving Maximus and our son with Chase's pediatrician to hear the doctor's update on our child's development. Now, I was completely certain—Maximus was Chase's father.The joy on his face when Aries handed him the results and some paperwork to complete was beyond what even the greatest artist could capture.As I approached Gerald's office to meet my husband and son, a man suddenly approached me."Hi, Bella, right?" he said.I frowned, trying to recall if I knew him."Oh, you don't remember me? I have a pretty ordinary face, so I can't blame you," he added, scratching the back of his head. "We bumped into each other once when I was out jogging. I think you were on your way to work.""Ah, yes, I remember you now. What was your name again?" I asked, feeling embarrassed for not recalling his name when he clearly remembered mine. Though, 'Bella' hadn't really been my true name."Jason. Jason Castro," he replied."What brought
Contract and Marriage Chapter 103
Maximus' POV:It was a relief Mariano was here. I felt nervous and scared for my wife and child.I immediately called Aries to inform him I couldn't make it to the office for now. If anything urgent came up, I asked him to send it to the condo.I didn't want to leave my wife and son alone, especially with only Lisa there to look after them. If something happened, they wouldn't be able to do much.I also asked Aries to check the hospital's security footage for the man Sarina had mentioned, but he couldn't track him further after leaving his spot.As Mariano wanted, we finally told Sarina everything about Ralph, the man she had once believed was her husband.She was deeply shocked and terrified when Mariano showed her photos of the real wife of that criminal, whose body had been found.The real Bella Drinx's body had been discovered in their backyard in Las Islas. Mariano had never stopped searching for answers regarding Sarina's disappearance, always on the lookout for cases invo
Contract and Marriage Chapter 102
Bella's POV:Mariano joined us back at the condo, and from my observations, it seemed he had something he wanted to discuss—something I couldn't quite figure out.Lisa greeted us. She had become a temporary nanny for Chase, which meant she hadn't been going home.When we moved into the new house Maximus had built, she and her husband would live with us, according to Maximus' wishes."Come on, Mr. Chase. Let's change your clothes," Lisa said, taking Chase from me.My child understood Pearlisian because I spoke it to him whenever the shameless Ralph Drinx wasn’t around—a man who was neither my real husband nor Chase’s father.I headed straight to our bedroom to change into something more comfortable, then rejoined them.Both men sat across from each other on the couch, and I naturally sat beside my husband."Were you discussing something important?" I asked, not taking my eyes off Maximus.I didn't want him to hide anything from me, especially if it involved me or our son."We
