The CEO’S Orphan Wife

Fortunately, Lucinda managed to book a rental car. The driver had been waiting on the side since earlier, allowing us to leave promptly after I turned my back on Ivan, who remained frozen in place.

I held Heather close as we traveled. Though I truly wanted to cry, I couldn’t afford to appear weak in front of her.

“Mommy, I’m sorry…” Her voice trembled, and she began crying once more.

“You’re not at fault, baby,” I responded gently while stroking her hair.

“If only I hadn’t followed Daddy. If only I hadn’t introduced myself to Grandpa. If only I hadn’t said I’m his child… You wouldn’t be crying, Mommy. I’m sorry, Mommy.”Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

It seemed as if a tender warmth lovingly embraced my heart in reaction to my daughter’s words. I count myself exceedingly fortunate to be blessed with such a bright and compassionate child.

“You’re destined to meet your dad. He loves you…” I felt the warmth of his happiness and love for our child, yet amidst it all, a persistent sense of disorder lingered.

His words echoed in my mind once again. How many years? How many years have passed, and yet he hasn’t left Maureen? How can I trust what he’s saying?

I sighed. Why am I even dwelling on that man? Tsss! He’s just causing me a headache.

Upon reaching the apartment, Heather and I showered together. She quickly drifted off to sleep when we lay down on the bed. I embraced her while gazing vacantly at the ceiling, with Ivan’s words replaying in my mind like a broken record.

I shut my eyes. Take care of us, God. Watch over Heather and me. Thy will be done, Oh Lord.

The following morning, I rose early to prepare a special meal for Heather. She’s upset and hurt, so I wanted her first meal to be something special. I planned to make pancakes, but I couldn’t find any pancake mix in the cabinet.

I went into the room to retrieve my wallet. There’s a convenience store downstairs, so I’ll just buy it there. I decided to put on a bra because I don’t wear one at night.

As I opened the door, a man sleeping beside it halted me. His head was bowed, and I could hear him snoring. I rolled my eyes and angrily walked past him. Who is he, a beggar? And what is he doing here? I wanted to kick him, but he might wake up if I did that.

All I desired was a serene day, yet he, in his current state, was already shattering that tranquility.

I was near the elevator when I heard Ivan’s voice. He’s awake.

I repeatedly pressed the elevator button in an attempt to quickly distance myself from him, but it was too late; he had already caught up with me.

“Myla, wait! Where are you going?” The elevator opened exactly as he approached me.

I didn’t look at him. “Are you buying breakfast? I can do it for you…”

I remained silent. He sighed. I stood to the side, and he positioned himself in front of me, staring intently. He was about to speak when the elevator stopped and people entered. A lady and her daughter smiled at me, but their attention shifted to Ivan when they saw him-his handsomeness drawing their gaze.

Ivan disregarded them, keeping his gaze unwaveringly focused on me.

Reaching the ground floor, I hurriedly exited Tower Three. Turning right, the convenience store was there.

“What are you buying?” he asked insistently. “What do you want for breakfast? I can just have it delivered.”

I remained silent as a woman’s voice called out, “Ivan?”

I didn’t bother to look, instead opting to grab a basket and continue with my shopping. Pancake mix, eggs, chocolate drink, bread, fresh milk, and a bit of ice cream found their way into the basket. Heather, it seemed, was upset, and I suspected she might spend the entire day in our unit.

“I knew it was you. What are you doing here?” Ivan had trailed behind me, prompting the woman conversing with him to do the same.

“Ah, yeah…”

“Did you get a unit here? Didn’t you just get a new house?”

Ivan chuckled softly, and in my peripheral vision, I noticed him scratching his head.

“Yeah, my wife and I rented a place here.”

“Wife?” The woman sounded surprised. Not everyone who knew the Grecos and Ivan knew he was already married.

“You married Maureen?” The disgust in the woman’s voice as she addressed the woman didn’t escape me.

It sparked my interest. However, despite my curiosity, I opted to disregard their exchange.

Ivan let out a soft chuckle. “No.”

The woman laughed happily. “That’s great! Who is the lucky lady you married? Do you have kids?”

I found myself wondering about her identity, and why she seemed so invested in Ivan’s life. It was evident that she wasn’t one of those women smitten with him.

“The woman you mentioned earlier, she’s the one I married.”

My eyebrows shot up.

“Oh my God! Really? Didn’t I tell you that you two looked perfect together back then?”

Ivan chuckled once more. “Yeah. And I’m grateful she became my wife.”

I couldn’t help but roll my eyes. Was this some rehearsed and scripted dialogue?

“Good for you, Ivan. It’s a relief that you didn’t let Maureen pressure you into the marriage.”

But he let me pressure him into the marriage… I sighed, stealing a glance at the basket I held. I had been collecting items randomly because I was eavesdropping on Ivan’s conversation with the woman.

Despite my desire to observe the woman, I refrained from showing Ivan any interest in their discussion. I didn’t want him to assume I was pleased about still being married. I had communicated my wishes to him last night: to seek an annulment for our marriage.

With my back turned, the woman couldn’t identify me, and I wondered if she truly recognized who I was. Yet, it was apparent that I was the focus of their conversation.

I shouldn’t care about this guy. It’s his problem anyway!

I returned the napkin I had picked up. I also placed the liquid detergent soap back on the shelf.

I heard Ivan’s soft laughter beside me, but I chose not to pay attention to him. The woman he had been talking to earlier had already left.

“She’s a college friend…”

“Where?” I asked.

“Huh? She already left,” he replied.

“No, where is my concern?” I retorted sarcastically.

I walked towards the cashier, with him following me.

“You’re so grumpy. You’ve changed, huh…” He laughed, sounding a bit crazy.

Well, I wasn’t accustomed to speaking like that. I just picked it up from Rachelle and my new friend, who lives on the nearby island. Heather’s friend’s daughter, Myrrh, is her child.

Twice or thrice a month, we regularly make a boat trip to the neighboring island to visit Almira and her child, as well as the locals residing there. On occasion, we also assist the indigenous people in that area.

While the cashier scanned the barcodes of the items in my basket, I retrieved my card, but Ivan preemptively offered to pay. I shot him a threatening look, but he appeared unaffected by the disapproval I was directing at him.

“That’s mine, Miss, so I’ll cover the payment,” I asserted. The cashier looked perplexed, unsure of which card to accept.

“This is for our child, so allow me to take care of the payment. I’m the father…”

The cashier swiftly accepted Ivan’s card, causing me irritation and a frustrated sigh. Despite my embarrassment in the public setting, I couldn’t conceal my annoyance at Ivan, who was genuinely irritating.

Our disagreement extended to the eco-bag.

“Let me handle it,” he insisted.

Due to the growing line behind us, I chose to step aside. However, upon leaving the convenience store, I seized the bag from Ivan. Attempting to reclaim it, he inadvertently caused me to stumble into his solid chest, resulting in an unexpected outcome.

My eyes widened, and I instinctively distanced myself from him. A sly smirk adorned his lips, which he attempted to conceal as soon as he caught my disapproving gaze. Ivan cleared his throat and winked at me.

Blushing is strictly prohibited, Myla. Prohibited! I rolled my eyes at his playful remark.

“It’s you again…” I shifted my gaze to the woman in front of us, the one Ivan had been talking to earlier. She looked familiar because she had frequented the mansion for group projects in the past.

The woman smiled knowingly. “No wonder he couldn’t introduce you earlier; you two were having a lover’s quarrel.” She giggled. “Hi, I’m Phil… I’ve been shipping you two since I first saw you at the Greco mansion.”

She winked at me and teasingly scolded Ivan. I uncomfortably mustered a smile. “I still can’t believe you two ended up together. But it’s a bit hurtful that you didn’t even invite me to your wedding. Did you get married abroad?”

I pursed my lips.

“Our annulment is in process,” I replied with a smile, eliciting a gasp of disbelief from the woman.

“That’s not true. No one will separate,” Ivan replied irritably, sharing a glance with me.

The woman scratched her head and let out a weak chuckle. “Well, you two go ahead. When you’ve sorted things out and decide to get married again, make sure to invite me, okay?”

“Of course, we’ll make you one of the bridesmaids.”

“Wow! I’d love that. Okay then, I have to go. My family is waiting for me. See you when I see you.”

“Take care. I’ll message you when we set the wedding date,” the man bid her farewell with a cheerful tone.

My expression twisted. This guy had some nerve.

“She used to mention you often, saying we’d make a good match.”

“Really?” I entered the building. How did he manage to get inside, and how did he figure out the unit I was staying in?

“Myla, I know you’re upset with me because I’ve disappointed you in various ways.”

The couple we bumped into cast a glance our way.

“At first, I didn’t want to marry you because-”

“Go ahead, remind me.”

“Sorry… Sorry if I didn’t treat you as a husband back then.”

“I’m not angry about that, Ivan. What upsets me is why are we still married?”

I cleared my throat and lapsed into silence as the elevator doors opened, revealing six people who stared at me in surprise. Avoiding their gaze, I stepped into the elevator, and the two women were about to follow when Ivan intervened.

“Take the other elevator, ladies. I need to talk with my wife.”

This guy’s attitude is terrible. Does he consider this building exclusively his?

The women blushed initially, but later on, their expressions transformed into smiles that conveyed a sense of delight. I simply shook my head in response.

When the elevator doors closed, Ivan faced me.

“Aren’t you going to forgive me?”

“I would if you initiate our annulment process.”

His eyes darkened. He closed his eyes and let out a slow breath.

“Even if you despise me for a lifetime, Myla, it’s okay. No annulment will happen.”

My fist clenched.

“Even if I have to woo you for the rest of my life, that’s fine. I’d rather do that than get an annulment. I won’t let another man have you and Heather. No! I won’t allow it!”