THE CONTRACT WIFE: A ONE NIGHT STAND BILLIONAIRE ROMANCE

Zara’s POV

I couldn’t believe what I was seeing-or reading. Lucas, my soon-to-be ex-husband, was not the type to send me private messages. It had been a long time since we had any form of communication, and now, here he was, popping up unexpectedly in my inbox. As I read his message, disappointment washed over me once again. It seemed like the same old story, repeating itself over and over. After contemplating his message, I found myself typing back, my fingers moving with resolve.

“I will, but not now. We have an agreement, after all.”Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

Lucas had always been my biggest downfall. I deserved to be happy, and he deserved to be free. We had been tormenting ourselves for far too long. He was eager and enthusiastic about reclaiming his dreams, while I felt like I was stumbling blindly in the dark.

I knew there would be hesitations and regrets along the way, but I believed it would be worth it once I stepped out of the darkness. So, I decided to give myself some time to rest. A week of respite, to clear my mind and gather my strength. After that week, I would face Lucas again and fulfill my part of the agreement.

I was doing this for the benefit of my son, Enrique. It was all for him. I wanted him to experience a father’s love and grow up with a complete family, even if it meant sacrificing my own happiness. At least Lucas would be good to him, albeit temporarily. And after that, I would have no regrets about leaving him.

I believed there was a greater purpose behind all of this. And with that conviction, I rested my case.

Once my son finished his snack, I busied myself with washing the dishes, making sure to store leftovers in the fridge to prevent them from spoiling. I left just the right amount for Nick to eat when he would come for a visit.

As I retreated to my room for some rest, my grandfather continued his pursuits with his friend. Grandpa had always been adventurous, never content with staying in one place. That was one of the reasons he remained strong and full of life-he never let himself become stagnant.

It didn’t take long for me to hear the sound of Nick’s car outside. I hurried to open the gate, allowing him to enter. We planned to leave at seven, avoiding the heat and the crowds. The atmosphere of the fair was entirely different when there were fewer people around.

“Where’s my snack?” Nick teased as he stepped out of the car.

I chuckled, playing along with his joke. “Oh, you thought I saved something just for you?”

He burst out laughing, following me into the kitchen. We engaged in friendly banter as I served Nick his food. He moaned in delight as he savored each bite.

“I wish there was always something like this,” he expressed with satisfaction.

I playfully countered, “Well, that’s your privilege. Even if you hired a personal chef, you couldn’t afford it.”

My statement wasn’t far from the truth. Nick may appear down to earth and humble, but I knew he came from a wealthy and influential family. I had once visited their mansion and was astounded by its sheer size.

Their business ventures and political involvements in Claybourne placed them on a similar tier to the Blackwoods. Yet, Nick remained unassuming, as if unaware of his privileges.

We decided to unwind by watching a Disney movie, a favorite pastime of ours. After the movie, my son and I took a shower and got dressed. As I stood in front of the mirror, combing my hair, my cell phone rang. The voice on the other end lacked any introduction, and I immediately recognized it as Antoinette’s. I could hear her frustrated groan through the line.

“Hi, Antoinette, what’s up girl?”

“Nick told me everything! You’re going to the fair together? Are you really a couple? Just when I’m unavailable, you two decide to make a move! How could you do this to me, Zara!” Antoinette’s loud outburst was painful to my ears, even though the volume was turned down.

“Please calm down. It’s just a coincidence that it’s a holiday today, and you’re due this month. We can do it again after you give birth to your second child,” I told her.

“Fine! But you owe me one!” she exclaimed, but her tone suddenly changed. “Or maybe you two are secretly dating, you and Nick. You’re so sneaky! It’s happening so fast!”

“What’s going on in your mind, Antoinette? Nick is just a friend. Let’s not mix people’s goodness with malicious intentions.” I defended myself, concerned about preserving the purity of our friendship.

Nick was still young, and I… I had nothing to be proud of. I had a child, just in case. I didn’t want Nick and me to be tarnished by rumors. I didn’t want him to settle for less. I knew I was unworthy. I could hear her let out a loud sigh on the other end.

“Why is it that he’s so clumsy, and you’re so oblivious? It’s obvious he is in love with you! And there’s nothing wrong with that,” she insisted.

“I need time for that. I want to focus on my son first. Now, go have dinner, and we’ll leave for the fair. Nick is already waiting for me.”

Antoinette grew annoyed. “It’s so unfair! I miss eating street food from our favorite vendors.”

“We can schedule that after the delivery, okay?”

Sometimes, Antoinette could really be stubborn but after explaining the situation to her, she finally understood. After ending the call, I reviewed my outfit once more. Faded jeans, a printed shirt, and a messy bun for my hair. Since Lucas wasn’t around, I allowed myself to apply a bit of makeup.

Later on, I saw Nick and Enrique wearing a bored expression on their face, and their arms were crossed while waiting for me. Seeing my son like that, I couldn’t help but chuckle at his playful snorting and pinch his cheek. He was really cute! Nick, on the other hand, raised an eyebrow and frowned. Obviously, Nick showed how impatient he was at the moment.

“What took you so long?” Nick asked.

“Antoinette called, and I had to glam myself up,” I explained.

“Alright, let’s go now,” Nick said.

Since the fair was within walking distance, we decided not to take the car. It was dark outside, and the cool night air justified my decision to bring jackets for the three of us.

The pathway was well-lit, making the walk less intimidating. We joined the flow of people heading towards the fairgrounds, a mix of different ages and relationships. Friends, couples, parents with children-everyone was excited to experience the renowned fair.

Thankfully, I had plenty of coins for later. The fair games involved throwing coins to win prizes, and while I could afford them outright, there was a different thrill in winning through sheer luck.

As we arrived, we were greeted by a bustling and lively atmosphere. It had been so long since I visited this place. I had almost forgotten the joy it could bring.

And then it hit me-I had wasted so much time chasing the wrong guy. So much time was lost!

“Mom, I want to ride that!”

My son’s eyes were fixed on the carousel. It seemed like a suitable choice, considering we couldn’t go for the extreme rides, especially with me accompanying him.

Enrique and I hopped on the carousel while Nick captured the moment with his camera. Unbeknownst to him, he was garnering attention from both girls and guys present. It was no surprise, given his captivating charm, towering height of 6’1, broad shoulders from his love of extreme sports, fair complexion, and handsome face.

I simply shook my head, smiling. We continued exploring the fair, trying out a few booths and winning prizes. My son proudly held onto a stuffed toy we got from a gun-shooting booth earlier. We had so much fun at the fair that we lost track of time.

We found a vacant table near a food booth and sat down. My son happily enjoyed his shawarma and sipped on a chocolate drink. It dawned on us that we had forgotten to have dinner, so we ordered a rice meal to satisfy our hunger. We ended up ordering quite a lot, as Nick had a voracious appetite.

It was almost midnight when we decided to go home!

I thanked Nick for being there for me. I wished him all the happiness he deserved, knowing he was such a kind and empathetic man. I couldn’t help but wonder why no woman had captured his heart yet.

It was late at night, and Nick needed to drive back to his penthouse.

“Thanks for the wonderful night,” he said, a genuine smile gracing his lips and eyes.

“Thank you too, Nick. Thank you so much. Drive safely!”

“Of course! I have to be careful especially now that you started to go out with me, Zara,” he remarked.