THE CONTRACT WIFE: A ONE NIGHT STAND BILLIONAIRE ROMANCE

Zara’s POV

I was surprised upon seeing Lucas when I got home. Then suddenly, Lucas claimed that he had a stomachache and needed to rest. As if I would care to check on him or disturb him! What was wrong with him? He didn’t have to put on some drama right after spending a lot of time with his girlfriend.

But then, I was all talk, and lacked actions. I tried my best to ignore the fact the he was sick but after a few moments, I found myself knocking on his door. When he allowed me to enter, I slowly walked inside and found him lying on his bed. I thought he was lying, but then, he really looked like he was sick!

“Why don’t you want to see a doctor?”

“I don’t need to. I’ll be fine with some rest. Why do you insist on seeing a doctor? Are you concerned about me?” he asked, but I just rolled my eyes at him.

“If you don’t want to see a doctor, then it’s your problem!” I stood up, walked straight to the door, and left.

He kept on irritating me with his words, and I wasn’t comfortable with what he’s saying. Yes, we lived under the same roof but I barely paid attention to him because he was mostly absent from my life of even from our son’s life. I didn’t care even if I saw him walking around the house without a shirt because I never paid attention to his body, but now, even though he was wearing a lot of clothes, I could imagine his naked body underneath. In short, I desired him!

However, it would be wrong to want him all the time. I couldn’t afford to get pregnant for the second time. It’s something I shouldn’t do as a woman especially when Lucas couldn’t reciprocate my love for him.

But of course, even though I didn’t want to see him again, I had no choice. I had to check on him and brought him some food. For the nth time, I convinced myself that I was only doing it for my son’s sake.

Carrying a tray with food for him, I knocked before entering his room. When there was no answer, I panicked that something bad had happened to him. So, slowly, I pushed the door open, but he’s gone! Where could he be? Was he struggling in the bathroom or did he pass out inside? I got worried so quickly, I rushed to the bathroom.

Because of my panic, I didn’t hear the door opening and I accidentally bumped into the man as he came out of the bathroom. With his body size and the impact, I was knocked off balance and fell backward quite far. I expected him to catch me while falling, just like in the movies, but no, he didn’t try to help me.

He just let me fall to the floor even though he saw me grimaced in pain from the impact on my lower back. He continued walking toward the closet to get his clothes. Then, I noticed he was only wrapped in a towel and had just taken a shower. Instead of looking away because he was topless, I boldly stood up and approached him. I was about to confront him for letting me fall to the floor, but different words came out of my mouth.

“I thought you were sick?” I raised my voice as I faced him.

“Relax, Zara. I just took a bath,” he answered.

“Relax? What if your stomach pain gets worse? You’re so stubborn, Lucas! You’re like a child!” I couldn’t stop myself from scolding him like that.

“I’m fine now. I called my personal doctor, and he told me I wouldn’t die from a stomachache,” he explained.

“By the way, I’m going overseas with Giselle,” he announced and I was momentarily speechless when his words sunk in.

“W-what did you say? When are you leaving?” I immediately changed the question because he always accompanied Giselle whenever he has a free time to waste.

“We’re leaving tomorrow morning,” he told me while busy choosing his sleepwear.

“So soon? Can’t you go on another day?” The news shocked me; I didn’t expect them to leave so soon. I wasn’t ready!

“When I’m gone, will you miss me?” he suddenly asked.

“No, of course not, but our son will miss you,” I lied. Of course, I’ll miss him too!

“Okay. Anyway, thanks for taking care of me, Zara. I’ll see you again soon,” he promised.

“Anytime,” I said as I thanked him.

I looked at him with confused eyes, but isn’t this what I wanted? Not seeing him every day? Well then, my wish was about to come true.

“What time should I take you to the airport tomorrow?”

“Six in the morning will be good,” he said. “Oh wait, you don’t have to do it.”

“Noted. Hmm, there’s food on the table if you’re hungry,” I said while heading to the door to leave. I turned the doorknob when suddenly Lucas approached me. I looked back. “Do you need anything else?” I asked him.

“No, I just want you to lock the door when you leave.”

For a moment, I couldn’t move from where I was standing, and my eyes blinked several times due to what he said.

When I finally stepped outside, I stayed there for a moment in case he changed his mind and ran after me. But in just an hour, nothing happened. Of course, I stopped myself from knocking on his door, pretending to be hard to get!

As I stood outside, my heart pounded in my chest, hoping he would come rushing after me. The street felt eerily quiet, and every passing minute only heightened my anxiety. Maybe he needed more time to think, I reassured myself.

An hour passed, but there was no sign of him. I battled the urge to go back, to knock on his door and confront him about his feelings. But I knew I had to stay strong, to show him I wasn’t desperate. I decided to play hard to get, even if it was tearing me apart inside.

The night air felt cool against my skin as I wandered aimlessly, trying to distract myself from the ache in my heart. I replayed our conversation over and over, searching for any signs that he might still care. But the more I analyzed it, the more confused I became.

Was it all a mistake? Did I read too much into his words and actions? I felt like a fool for letting myself fall so hard, only to be left hanging in uncertainty.

To stop thinking about Lucas and Giselle, I took Enrique to the nearest park. Enrique played in the park for a couple of minutes but since there were no other kids present at that time, he got bored and wanted to go home to watch his favorite cartoons.

As soon as we arrived home, an eerie silence engulfed the atmosphere. Lucas was already present, sitting in a daze, while sipping on his wine. He absentmindedly switched on the television, flipping through channels until he stumbled upon his girlfriend’s face.

My son, Enrique, approached Lucas timidly.

“Dad, I’m watching cartoons.”

Lucas stared at him, a coldness settling over his features. He handed Enrique a tablet dismissively. “Watch it on YouTube. Don’t bother me.”

“But I’m following it there,” Enrique replied, his voice quivering.

Lucas’s anger surged like a volcano about to erupt. “CAN’T YOU UNDERSTAND? JUST WATCH IT THERE! ON THE TABLET! STUPID!”

I felt frozen in place, witnessing Lucas yelling at our innocent son, who appeared scared and shocked. Lucas seemed taken aback by his own outburst, but it was too late-our son had fainted from fear and shock when Lucas screamed at him.Property of Nô)(velDr(a)ma.Org.

“Enrique, my son!”

Shaking with anger and fear, I couldn’t believe Lucas could stoop this low. I scooped up my son, and when Lucas reached out to grab him, I yelled at him with every ounce of my being.

“DON’T TOUCH ME! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE, LUCAS? I WISH YOU’D JUST SHOW SOME PATIENCE WITH THAT KID! HE’S A CHILD, NOT JUST ANY CHILD, BUT YOUR OWN SON! I’D RATHER YOU SLAP ME IN THE FACE! JUST HOW COULD YOU?!”

I hurriedly got into the car and sped off, making a quick call to Nick. Confusion overwhelmed me.

‘Damn it! Not my son! Please, not my son.’

As I drove, I tried to steady myself and regain composure. I needed to stay calm, to focus on the road ahead. I put on my AirPods and dialed Nick’s number.

“Nick… Something terrible happened to my son. Please come to the hospital with us.”

“Huh?! Which hospital? Alright, I’ll be right there!”

Upon arriving at the private hospital, my son was promptly taken to a room. I remained outside, anxiously waiting for news about his condition.

Lucas’s behavior had reached a breaking point for me. I couldn’t subject my son to any more of his cruelty. Lucas had brought nothing but pain and suffering into our lives.

Perhaps it was time for me to put an end to this madness. As a mother, I felt a deep wound from the incident. Our family cannot continue to crumble like this. I simply couldn’t bear it any longer.

While waiting outside the room, I couldn’t contain my frustration any longer, and tears began streaming down my face. Through my tear-filled eyes, I saw Lucas approaching me.

“How’s my-”

I didn’t let him finish his sentence. I deliberately slapped him across the face. My heart was consumed by anger. I despised him.

“What are you doing here?! We don’t need you anymore! I hope you understand, even if it’s just a little… I wish you had thought of him as your own flesh and blood.”

My crying intensified, echoing the depth of my pain.

“Enrique will be alright,” he said calmly.

“You’ve gone too far, Lucas! I can’t understand you anymore. I can’t endure this any longer… What you did was unforgivable. I wish you had just slapped me or hit me physically. But I’m begging you, Lucas. Don’t hurt my son. It’s as if you’ve killed me as a mother!”

As they say, everyone has their breaking point. My heart, like a candle, had flickered and struggled against the gusts of Lucas’s abuse for far too long. And now, it had finally been extinguished. The love I once held for him had turned to ashes, scattered in the winds of his cruel words and actions.

Lucas stood before me, his face flushed from the impact of my slap. His eyes held a mixture of surprise, regret, and perhaps a glimmer of realization. But it was too late. His apologies meant nothing to me anymore.

“You should have thought about all this before,” I whispered, my voice trembling with a mixture of anger and sadness. “You had the chance to be a father, to be a loving partner. But you chose to destroy everything we had. And now, I won’t let you hurt our son any longer.”

As I turned away from him, I felt a surge of determination welling up inside me. It was time to take a stand, to protect my child from any further harm. I knew that staying in this toxic relationship was not an option anymore.

Antoinette was right. I should have let go of Lucas a long time ago. It was painfully obvious that he was in love with someone else. I shouldn’t have continued the fight. In truth, I lost the battle from the very beginning.

But it was when I saw my son in that state that true fear gripped me. It was like a slap in the face, a wake-up call. The consequences of keeping Lucas in our lives were clear as day, captured on camera, right in front of me. It was time to make a change for the sake of my son, Enrique.

Finally, I mustered the courage to sign the divorce papers that I had long desired. Yet, I had never followed through with it because deep down, I held on to a glimmer of hope. I believed that maybe, just maybe, things would change. Perhaps fate could be altered. I know it sounds hopeless and foolishly martyr-like, but that’s where I stood.

I no longer want to dwell on what happened in the past.

My husband can be replaced, but my child, the one I brought into this world, is irreplaceable. I won’t be selfish anymore. The truth has struck me hard. I thought I was making the right choices, and walking the right path, but in reality, I was being selfish without even realizing it.

“Nick, eat your food first, and don’t tire out Enrique too much,” I scolded the two mischievous pranksters as I caught them tickling each other on the hospital bed. We were in a private room that I paid for myself because even if I leave Lucas, I won’t let him chase me.

“Buddy and I had a blast, didn’t we, Buddy?” Nick asked my son, who politely nodded, holding onto his beloved Pokémon collection.

My son was spoiled by his godfather Nick, and it’s heartwarming to witness their bond.

Nick was intelligent, attractive, and a charmer. He’s the complete package, and he almost has it all. Back in college, he was my second crush, but I never took his advances seriously. I never considered myself beautiful or wealthy enough for him, and at that time, my focus was on my crush on Lucas. I was a fan girl, completely blind to what was right in front of me.

“When your mom agrees, Buddy, why not?” Nick grinned, causing my cheeks to blush. He’s as goofy as ever!

After Lucas and I reached an agreement, I went home to straighten things out. He left too, which made me feel that I made the right decision. We were leaving that house, a house that witnessed the coldness of a marriage I desperately tried to hold onto. Now, I’ve learned that our union was a lost cause.

“Yes, chicken!” the two exclaimed excitedly as they dug into their food.

They looked like a father and son. I was grateful that Nick filled the void of paternal love that Lucas couldn’t provide.

Their synchronized bites echoed with delight as they enjoyed the crispy chicken skin. Meanwhile, I couldn’t help but laugh at their mischievousness. After they finished eating, I put away the containers.

Nick volunteered to put the playful boy to sleep. Once we made sure my son was sound asleep, Nick and I stepped out to a nearby coffee shop next to the hospital.

“What have you decided, Zara?” Nick asked, handing me a small cup of coffee.

“Thanks,” I replied before addressing his question.

“We’ve made an agreement, Nick,” I told him with a serious expression.

“An agreement? Please don’t tell me you’re going back to that worthless Zara! He will never change! He no longer has a place in your life, Zara. Set yourself free from that jerk, for your own sake and your son’s,” he pleaded, his eyes filled with concern.

“So, Nick, I’ve come to a decision. Let me explain,” I pretended to joke, building up to what I wanted to say.

“I agreed to sign the divorce papers for both of us on one condition. If it means our son will experience the love of a father, even just for a little while, then I want Lucas to give Enrique a happy memory. After that… we’re leaving. We won’t leave a single trace in Lucas’s life.”

Tears began to stream down my face, and Nick held me in a comforting embrace. It was written all over his face that he was happy with my decision, and deep down, I knew it was the right thing to do-to let go.

Nick accompanied me back to the hospital room before bidding farewell and heading home. He insisted on staying with us, but I declined, feeling that I had already imposed on him too much. We said our goodbyes at the door, and I gently placed my son on the spacious bed.

My son slept peacefully, and I made a promise to myself. I would provide him with a life filled with more joy and happiness than a complete family ever could. Happiness isn’t contingent on completeness; it’s about finding assurance and contentment.

The next day, we were discharged from the hospital. With Nick by our side, coming to pick us up, I began to doubt whether returning to Lucas’s house was the right choice.

We have an agreement, but I could help but fear disappointment. What if he doesn’t follow through with what we discussed? If he fails to honor our conversation, I’d rather leave him and take Enrique away from his father.

It was a relief that Nick helped me pack our clothes and a few belongings here in the hospital room. Antoinette wasn’t around, and it was becoming difficult for her, considering her growing belly from the pregnancy.

The only surprise came when Lucas showed up to pick us up from the hospital. He even brought some fruits along. Nick approached him, and I could sense the tension between the two men. I nervously bit my lip, wondering about Lucas’s heightened emotions now.

“I can drive home your wife and your son, Lucas,” Nick said while giving Lucas a stern look.

“I also have a car, and you said, my family… so I’ll take care of them!” Lucas exclaimed.

I froze for a second, taken aback by his actions. What was wrong with him?

Nick, usually the calm and collected one, seemed shocked.

“You’re a fool! Why don’t you just go back to your girlfriend!”

The two men were on the verge of a fight when I intervened, feeling embarrassed in front of the nurse and doctor in the room. Seriously? Acting this way in front of such a young child!? If only I could bury them in the ground!

I ushered them outside. Their presence made me feel dizzy. Why was Lucas here? He was supposed to be at his office… Or maybe it was because of our conversation? He seemed overly eager to break up…

Now, we stood outside the hospital in the parking lot. Nick had already taken charge of carrying the travel bag with Enrique’s clothes and belongings. The atmosphere was heavy with seriousness and an uncomfortable silence… Was it awkward?

“I’m only here to fulfill our agreement, nothing more,” Lucas started, his voice carrying an air of detachment. I noticed that he was dressed more casually, and it suited him well. He was always in formal attire whenever I saw him before.

“Why? Are you afraid Zara won’t go through with the divorce? One day, you’ll wake up to find them gone, replaced by someone better…” Nick chimed in, his words laced with provocation. I was about to retaliate with what Lucas had said to him so harshly.

“You’re being foolish! What place do you even have in their lives? A dog waiting for scraps? Poor you…” Lucas fired back.

My ears throbbed with the sting of his words. Me? Reduced to a mere leftover… I couldn’t help but feel hurt by his callousness. He didn’t seem to be fazed at all!

“Let’s go, Nick…” I said in a disappointed tone, my voice filled with a sense of resignation. Lucas still couldn’t believe what I had said. What an insensitive jerk…

“What?! I also have a car… I can drive you home…”

“I am not going back to your house, Lucas,” I told him.