Contract And Marriage

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 the company,” Aries said. He called me, which had been our way of communication. 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 the company.

“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.Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.

“Okay, sir. I’ll gather everything that needs your attention and send it to your email later,” 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 glass 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 plan 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 your company. 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 without compromising the company 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 our company, 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 regularly.” 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 our communication 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 plan. We were heading to the Los Angeles police, and he hadn’t told me why. He just invited me and asked if I could accompany 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 place 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 will come 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.”

“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.