Contract And Marriage

Sarina

I couldn’t figure out why I was feeling strange. I’ve felt this way since I woke up, but I haven’t told Maximus because I’m worried he might skip work again. He’s been neglecting the company because of me and our child. So, as long as I could bear it, I tried my best to hide my feelings from my husband.

But I felt dizzy the whole morning. Thankfully, it got a little better around noon, so I could eat a lot. The problem was, after that, I started feeling severe stomach pains as if something was stabbing me. Rocel had already told me to see a doctor, but I wanted my husband to be with me.

Seeing my husband’s face when he entered our bedroom made me feel a little less pain. I knew he was worried again, and I started to feel guilty. As soon as he found me, I felt I had been a burden to him. I had never given him complete happiness.

And now, here we are, sitting in front of the doctor, who’s asking when I last had my monthly period. I paused and looked at Maximus. “I can’t remember,” I replied. My urine test results had just come out, and they showed that I had a UTI.

“I’m going to refer you to an OB. Please visit after this. I won’t give you any pain relievers for now, just to be sure.” Maximus and I exchanged looks, and already, I could see the joy on his face. It had been months since the first time we were intimate, and it had happened again and again since.

Even I couldn’t help but feel excited at the thought that Chase might soon have a sibling. I’m certain what kind of father Maximus is, so I wouldn’t hesitate to have even a dozen children with him.

We then went to the OB, where I had more laboratory tests done. We waited for the results since they wouldn’t take long. Eventually, we returned to the doctor for the official diagnosis.

“Congratulations! Mrs. Lardizabal is five weeks pregnant,” joyfully announced Dr. Cruz, my OB. Maximus and I looked at each other; if I was happy, he was even more so. He hugged me tightly and kissed both my cheeks with tears in his eyes.

“Mrs. Lardizabal needs to come back for monthly check-ups to ensure her health and the baby’s. You’re in the first trimester, so you need plenty of rest. Please stop taking any medication, as it could harm the baby. And most importantly, stay stress-free.”

“My wife will never be stressed with me because I love her. I won’t even let her worry about anything,” Maximus proudly declared, and it was true.

“Doctor,” I said, causing them to look at me. I then mentioned my therapy sessions for the dreams I’ve been having and my desire for my memories to return.

“It all depends on you. As Dr. Miraez said, there shouldn’t be any issues as long as you can handle it, especially since Mr. Lardizabal is very supportive. But I suggest you prepare for the worst when your memories return.”

I took a deep breath and nodded as Maximus gently held my hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze. I knew deep down that I would face whatever comes for the sake of my family, especially now that it’s about to grow.

I smiled at my husband as our eyes met. “I’m always here for you, my wife. No matter what happens, I won’t let us be separated again, and I’ll protect you and our children from harm.”

I held on to those words from Maximus and felt more at peace and lighter inside.

After we learned about my pregnancy, my husband became sweeter and more attentive. Even at work, he never forgot to call or text me about himself or whatever he was doing. What mattered most to him was that we communicated.

I was content with my life. My sessions with Dr. Miraez continued, and little by little, I started to feel more relaxed, even as I discovered new things about what had happened in my past.

On Thursday, I decided to visit Maximus at his office. I wanted to surprise him. I knew he wouldn’t like that I went out, but I had my bodyguard with me. Besides, I would only leave the car once we arrived at the company building.

I brought lunch for the two of us. I wanted us to create new memories that we could talk about. The car stopped right in front of the company. My driver-bodyguard opened the door for me, and after thanking him, I turned away. He said he knew where to park and would only leave when Maximus called for him.

Our household staff were just as meticulous, so I felt completely safe. I hadn’t called Maximus yet, wanting to surprise him by just showing up at his office.

As I entered the building, a few employees looked at me. The guards greeted me, and I did the same. I didn’t want them to think I was snobbish, although I wasn’t sure they knew I was their boss’s wife. I headed straight to the elevator, not expecting to see Jason when it opened.

“Sarina?” I was surprised but felt something different when he said my name. It wasn’t like before when I didn’t feel much, but now my chest felt lighter. Perhaps it changed because Maximus told me Jason was my first love and childhood sweetheart.

“Jason, what are you doing here?” I asked, confused. Who was he here to see at my husband’s company?

“Huh? Oh, I just had to ask Mr. Lardizabal something.” I became even more puzzled. According to Maximus, they weren’t on speaking terms. They hadn’t even met, except at the hospital outside Dr. Jerold’s office. “Can we talk?”

“But Maximus is waiting for me,” I told him. I didn’t know why, but I wasn’t comfortable talking to him alone. My answer seemed to change his expression. He looked angry, though only for a moment.

“Did you forget? I just came from Mr. Lardizabal’s office, and I didn’t think he knew you were coming here.”

I smiled, although I was starting to feel nervous. It was like there was a hint of anger in his words. “Maximus gets jealous and won’t stop bothering me if I don’t tell him everything we discussed.”

“Aren’t you going to tell him?”Exclusive content © by Nô(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.

“I’ll tell him we talked, but I’m not one to go into details. I don’t want him to get upset with me.”

“Do you love him that much?”

“Isn’t that how it should be? I mean, he loves me, so I should love him too. Besides, we’re married, so I owe him respect. If I know something will make him jealous, I should avoid it.”

I saw a bitter smile cross Jason’s face before he looked down. “You were like that with me before, too. You didn’t want me to get upset. Even when people were angry with you for not giving in to what they wanted, you didn’t care. All that mattered to you was that I wasn’t upset or angry.”

“Jason,” I called his name. He quickly lifted his head and looked at me. Still, I didn’t get to say anything because the elevator opened, and Maximus stepped out.

“My wife,” he greeted me with a smile, but I saw his jaw tighten when he looked at Jason.

“Stay away from my wife.” There was a warning in Maximus’s voice, and I found myself glancing between them. Why was Maximus acting hostile toward Jason when Jason had just said they’d spoken? Didn’t they understand each other?

“Sarina,” Jason called my name again, and when I looked at him, I saw the anger in his face, no longer hidden.

“Leave, Mr. Satudez, or I will call security and have you thrown out of my building.” As Maximus said this, he quickly wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me closer to him.

“You were mine first, Sarina. Was it that easy to forget everything we went through? Our love?”

“She doesn’t remember, Mr. Satudez,” Maximus warned again.

“Did you forget you told me you loved me and would never leave?”

“Stop it, Mr. Satudez!” Maximus shouted, and as the argument escalated, flashes of memories of Jason and me together filled my mind. Happy memories.

“Love, remember how we were together, please…”

“That’s it,” Maximus said, pulling out his phone and calling someone. “Tell security to come here…” I didn’t understand the rest of what he said because my eyes were fixed on Jason.

“Love…” Jason repeated.

“Love…” I echoed.

“No, she’s my wife. She doesn’t love you anymore,” Maximus suddenly turned to me.

“Huh?” Right, what did I just say? “I’m sorry, my husband”

“Your heart still remembers me, love. Please, come back to me.” Now, I am confused. What was the truth? Memories of Jason and I together kept flooding back-times when he gave me flowers, and we ate burgers and street food. What was real?

“Stop it, Jason!” Maximus shouted again, and I quickly looked at him. “Sarina is my wife now, and we have a child. She may have loved you before, but it’s different now. She loves me now. I hope you understand she’ll never return to you because she’s mine.”

“No!” Jason shouted. But the security had arrived, and they escorted him out of the building. Even as they did, he kept shouting, and people started staring.

“You’re mine! You’ll always be mine, Sarina!” His screams left me frozen, gripped by fear that I couldn’t explain.