THE CONTRACT WIFE: A ONE NIGHT STAND BILLIONAIRE ROMANCE

Zara’s POV

For some inexplicable reason, I found it difficult to meet his piercing gaze. It seemed as though I had done something wrong, and he no longer wished to witness my self-care routine.

Well, I refused to be constrained by his rules. I will not allow him to bind me with his words and desires anymore. Antoinette was right about him being unjust, selfish, and dictatorial. It turned out that I had been blinded by so many things. I couldn’t believe how delusional I’d been… all these years!

I made my way upstairs and decided to change my clothes. However, as I glanced at my wardrobe, I realized my outfits were hopelessly outdated, and I had no idea how they would look on me now.

Tomorrow, I will make it a priority to buy new things for myself. In the meantime, I settled for knee-length black pants and a plain white shirt. I secured my hair in a messy bun with a hairpin.

Downstairs, I headed to the kitchen to prepare dinner. Chicken curry and egg soup seemed like a good choice, as they were easy to make. During my college days, I lived in a dorm since my home was far from the school.

That’s when I became even more independent and learned how to cook properly. I couldn’t always rely on takeout and instant meals, which were not the healthiest options when consumed frequently and turned into sugar.

I had been burying those memories, which brought some trouble from fans who had crushes on him, especially his girlfriends at the time, who mistook our friendship for something more. In reality, we were just friends.

While cooking, I couldn’t help but smile as I reminisced about my college moments. I didn’t even realize that the food was ready until I finished setting the table.

Both of them sat down at the table, and we said our prayers before enjoying the meal. I could see that my son was happy now. Perhaps it was because his dad had finally shown up, something Lucas hadn’t done before.

“Dad, can we play after dinner?”

Enrique asked his father, and I was slightly taken aback. It was because he allowed our son to casually address him as “dad.” Clearly, he had changed his stance.

“No, son. It’s time to get ready for bed. You have an early class tomorrow, and you need a good night’s sleep to grow as tall as me when you become a teenager,” Lucas responded to our son with kindness.

I couldn’t hide the smile on my lips. I had been dreaming of this moment for a long time, even if it was the only gift and exchange for the pain Lucas had caused me. I was happy as long as my child was happy. There wasn’t a mother who didn’t dream of her child’s happiness.

After we finished eating, Lucas announced that he would put our child to sleep. I immediately agreed without any objection. I would take care of cleaning up.

While wiping the plates to dry them faster, I was startled by a deep baritone voice speaking behind me. My heart skipped a beat with nervousness.

“Who were you with earlier?” he asked.

I couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow at his question, as if he insulted me by insulting my friend. Setting aside the plates I was wiping, I turned to face him, wearing a serious expression.

“So what if I was with him? And what’s it to you, Lucas? Don’t you ever dare call him a bastard. You don’t even know the person.”

He looked at me with eyes that melted my heart. “Of course! Of course, I know that bastard! He’s also a wealthy man. And he’s interested in you.”

I couldn’t help but wonder why everyone saw malice in my friendship with Nick. And why was Lucas showing this anger? Shouldn’t he care about me anymore? I couldn’t comprehend his behavior. It was becoming increasingly difficult to understand this man. It felt like trying to solve a complex puzzle!

“Stop meddling in my affairs. So what if that’s the case? Don’t I have the right to pursue a relationship again? Look at yourself first! Then ask yourself if you have the right to complain,” I couldn’t help but speak up.

“Just because you went with that man, you forgot to pick up our child. What kind of mother are you?” He poked at me, fueling the fire in my already heated head. This guy really knows how to push my buttons!

“Now you get a taste of your own medicine! You probably know how it feels, considering what you did to me when you were with Giselle.” I turned my back on him, knowing that I wouldn’t gain anything from continuing the conversation.

I couldn’t wrap my head around Lucas’s behavior. He was acting completely contrary to my expectations. He should have been happy for me, now that I had found someone to love. Shouldn’t he be even happier? After all, he would be freed from the bonds of our marriage.

Due to his strange behavior, my night turned into a sleepless one. My mind was exhausted, and deciphering Lucas’s actions felt more challenging than my board exams for the CPA.

The next day, I woke up early as usual. It wasn’t even six o’clock, and I was already in the kitchen. After ironing their uniforms, I cooked breakfast. Since it was still early, I prepared fried rice, sunny-side-up eggs, hotdogs, and bacon. Afterward, I took a quick shower. I still had some tasks to attend to at my business office branch.

Once I was dressed for work, I woke up my little boy and made sure he had breakfast right away. I would pack his lunch for later.

“Good morning, Daddy!” The boy cheerfully greeted Lucas, who seemed to have dressed himself properly.

“Morning, son,” the man greeted him back, but his gaze towards me held a stern expression. It was I who chose to avoid eye contact; I had no time to dwell on his seemingly erratic behavior. He just didn’t want me to initiate anything. I didn’t have the luxury of deciphering his bipolar tendencies!

We headed straight to the kitchen, where our child ate his breakfast with gusto. Only the sound of utensils clinking against plates filled the room.

“I’ll drop off our child,” I said, and he simply nodded in agreement.

After we finished eating, Lucas kissed his son on the forehead, bidding him goodbye and mentioning that he might be heading to the office. Once I was certain he was gone, my son looked at me with a surprised expression.

“Is Daddy okay, Mom?” the boy asked, and I didn’t immediately respond.

Lucas’s stubbornness was likely due to what happened last night. If that wasn’t half-crazy, I didn’t know what was. His attitude was beyond comprehension!

“Maybe Daddy is just busy, or it could be work-related,” I finally replied. My son simply nodded, letting go of the topic.Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

After our meal, I took my car out of the garage and had my son hop in before closing the gate. We were off to school.

My son excitedly recounted a story about his father’s kindness during the ride. It was a completely new experience for him, and he couldn’t contain his enthusiasm. In his whole life, he had only recently discovered that his father loved him too. I knew it was an overwhelming emotion for him.

When we arrived at the school, I escorted him to his classroom before heading back to my car. I immediately drove to the office to attend to my responsibilities. I was also planning to open another branch of my café near Khalifa’s hotel. My business had gained a good reputation, thanks to the quality of our products and excellent customer service.

I was so engrossed in my work that I didn’t realize lunchtime had arrived. I briefly visited the chef and barista to pick up the lunch boxes I had prepared. I would bring them to my son at school, and we would have lunch together.

Many kids stared at me, perhaps surprised by my slightly altered sense of style and grooming. They were used to seeing me looking like an old lady who had no knowledge of salons and combs. Maybe they found it strange that I put in some effort this time.

“Mom, look, my classmates are staring at you. You look beautiful, especially today. You resemble a real goddess.” When did my son become so good at flattery? This kid would become a heartbreaker in no time!

Still young, but the beauty was evident! And the words he spoke were incredibly sweet. I felt content knowing that my son would grow up to be kind, respectful, and hardworking. That would be my greatest achievement as a mother and as someone with a purpose.

After their break, I accompanied my son back to his classroom before returning to the office to organize my tasks. I planned to visit a boutique later and purchase some new clothes. Dressing in the latest fashion trends would ensure that no one noticed any problems with my marriage!

I drove towards the mall and was greeted by Jozel, the mid-twenties manager of the boutique.

“Hello, ma’am!” Jozel approached me with a warm smile.

I asked for assistance in selecting newly purchased dresses, shirts, and outfits that would suit me. They helped me choose, and I left the boutique with bags of stylish clothes. They even complimented my new look. Well, maybe now I looked like a put-together person.

Afterward, I visited a renowned makeup store to purchase beauty products. I carefully selected lipstick shades and other makeup items. I also bought skincare products.

This day wouldn’t end without making Lucas realize what kind of woman he was about to lose…