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Chapter 83
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2024-12-18 11:29:45Related chapters
Contract and Marriage Chapter 84
Maximus' POV:Days passed, and I decided to avoid Bella. I didn't want her to resign because she was good at her job. Besides, just hearing her voice felt like I was talking to Sarina again.Bella hadn't mentioned what had happened, and things seemed normal whenever she needed to give me something or report to me."Mr. Salonga, here's Bella's record from HR," Aries said, placing a folder on my desk.I took the folder and began reading.Although I had already reviewed her resume when she applied, we still gathered additional information so the other department heads and I could better understand each employee.As she had mentioned during the interview, she had a special-needs son.I felt guilty because I knew her child needed her, yet I often made her work overtime. Maybe I should reduce that."How about her husband?" I asked, frowning as I looked at Aries."I don't know much about that, Mr. Salonga. But if you want, I can look into it," Aries replied."Why?" I asked, reacting
Last Updated : 2024-12-18Contract and Marriage Chapter 85
Bella's POV:What was it about Maximus that made his gaze affect me so deeply? I couldn't understand why I missed him whenever I didn't see him.After what had happened between us in his office, I tried to act casually around him. He seemed to do the same, though he appeared uneasy in a way I couldn't quite place.I couldn't resign—I needed this job for my son, who required special medication.For several days, we behaved as if we didn't know each other.Still, I noticed he seemed to want to initiate conversations unrelated to work. He was skilled at holding himself back, and I couldn't figure out how he managed it.Meanwhile, I struggled, unsure whether he noticed.There were things I wanted to ask him, but I couldn't bring myself to start the conversation. I didn't want him to think I was interested in him.What if his feelings weren't what I imagined?I was confused—just a little over a month into this job, and yet my mind and emotions were in turmoil.That morning felt li
Last Updated : 2024-12-18Contract and Marriage Chapter 86
Bella's POV:"I don't care, and don't you dare talk back to me—you're just an employee here!" Ruth yelled at Aries, snapping me back to the present."And you—stay away from my grandson. You're not suited for him. Only Miranda can be my grandson's wife. No one else!" she barked at me.I raised an eyebrow and glanced at Aries, who briefly met my gaze before looking at Ruth.Maybe I should respond and show her I wasn't intimidated?Unfortunately, I couldn't risk losing this job, so I ignored what my employer's grandmother had said and shrugged it off."You heard her," Miranda repeated, her voice dripping with annoyance. "So you'd better stay away from Maximus.""Even if I stay away from him, he still won't like you. You couldn't win his affection before, and you never will. From what I've heard around the office, he only loves one woman, and that's his wife. No one else," I retorted."You crazy bitch!" Miranda snapped, raising her hand to slap me.I quickly blocked it."You have
Last Updated : 2024-12-18Contract and Marriage Chapter 87
Maximus' POV:My eyes widened at her words, and for a moment, I forgot my curiosity about how she had gotten in."Say that again," I demanded."Say what, Mr. Salonga?" she asked, puzzled.Her eyes went wide, and she quickly covered her face with both hands."What I meant w-was…" she stammered.I suddenly remembered Sarina, who had said something similar back in Las Islas when she showed me her unique way of pleasing me."What is it, Bella?" I prompted."M-Maybe I meant... if I could sample living here in your condo because it's so big and beautiful..."She finally found something to say, but her gaze kept sliding over me—from my chest down to the bulge barely covered by my towel."Are you sure all you want is to experience living in my condo, and not to be taken here... inside my condo?" I teased.Bella's cheeks reddened.She glanced at me, her eyes darting around as if unsure where to focus."G-Goodness, Mr. Salonga! What do you mean by that? You're rich and well-educated
Last Updated : 2024-12-18Contract and Marriage Chapter 88
Maximus' POV:I saw no sign of resistance from Bella, confirming that she wanted this too.I deepened the kiss, the same way I once kissed Sarina.Damn, I didn't want to think about that—it was unfair to Bella, but I couldn't help it. To me, my secretary practically screamed, "Sarina."I heard something drop to the floor but ignored it, especially as I felt her hands slide up to my shoulders and then wrap around my neck.My desire flared, and I quickly removed her blazer, followed by her long-sleeved blouse. She didn't protest.Only her bra remained, covering her upper body.I unclasped it from behind and let it fall to the floor with the rest of her clothes.Next, I dealt with her pencil skirt, lowering the zipper, unhooking it, and letting it slide down.I loosened the towel around my waist and lifted her, intending to carry her to the guest room.However, she gestured toward the bedroom Sarina and I used to share. I didn't know why, but I didn't hesitate to follow her lead
Last Updated : 2024-12-18Contract and Marriage Chapter 89
Bella's POV:Max and I were lying down—I meant Mr. Salonga.Damn it, I no longer knew what to call him. Maybe just Maximus.I didn't even know why I had called him "hubby." It had slipped out, and now I couldn't confront him when he called me that too.What was going on? Was I the only one allowed to utter another man's name while he wasn't?It wasn't even really a name, but still, we both had our spouses.The difference was mine was alive, while he was still grieving and couldn't move on from his late wife.I shook my head and closed my eyes."What were you thinking?" he suddenly asked.I turned to look at him, meeting his gaze. The way he looked at me felt different—a mix of happiness, confusion, and hope."Nothing," I replied."Why did you scream like that?" he asked."Huh?" I responded, without breaking eye contact.Neither of us looked away, so I probably seemed foolish by then.He rolled onto his side to face me, then pulled me onto mine so we were lying face-to-fac
Last Updated : 2024-12-18Contract and Marriage Chapter 90
Bella's POV:Maximus left the room for a moment while I picked up my panties, which lay near the head of the bed.When he returned, he brought the clothes he had removed from me earlier, handing them over.I dressed quickly, feeling uneasy.How could I not? He kept watching me while he dressed, too.You'd think we were really husband and wife. "Let's go and talk," he said after we finished dressing."Outside," I quickly replied, walking toward the open door. He hadn't even bothered to close it.I sat down on the couch, feeling him follow me. I glanced up when he sat beside me."What?" I asked."Sit over here," he said, pointing to the couch across from me. "Something happened between us, and you're still embarrassed?""I feel uneasy. What if you suddenly start calling me 'wifey' again?""Are you uncomfortable when I'm close to you?"Did he really need to ask that? Of course!What decent woman would feel at ease talking to a man right after they'd just slept together?"You
Last Updated : 2024-12-18Contract and Marriage Chapter 91
Bella's POV:Maximus refused to let me go home alone and insisted on driving me to my house.I felt embarrassed about where I lived, but I didn't argue—I didn't want any more tension between us.Deep down, I knew he was only worried about me, so I couldn't blame his protectiveness.Still, I didn't introduce him to Marga or the others in the household. Things weren't clear for either of us yet.Even after our conversation, I couldn't believe I was supposedly his deceased wife.Still, an odd sense of happiness stirred within me.Was it wrong to wish for someone's love when they already belonged to another—even if that other person was dead and might be me?Yes, I had a husband, but was it wrong to long for a partner I knew would love and cherish me?I had suffered at my husband's hands, as had Chase, who had done nothing wrong.Meanwhile, Maximus wanted to get to know him right away.It wasn't that I trusted Maximus easily, despite knowing him for only a short while. It was th
Last Updated : 2024-12-18
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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
