Contract And Marriage

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, according 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 the compliment, 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 were laughing 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, laughing. 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, still laughing. 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?” I laughed, and he joined in, pulling me into a hug.Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

“Like I said, it doesn’t matter what you look like. You weren’t even that beautiful before.” I playfully 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 we laughed. 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 place 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 place erupted in laughter, 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 plane. 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 my last 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 shortcomings 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 have come 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 his last moment, he couldn’t accept 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 relationship.

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. According 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 planted evidence for crimes he didn’t commit. 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.