Contract Marriage: I’ve Always Loved You

“She’s alright, Steve,” Grace murmurs, resting her head on my shoulder. “The doctor has confirmed it.”

“I know, but I still can’t stop myself from worrying about her. She was away from us for a month, Grace,” I respond, constantly checking Giana’s forehead, hand, and every inch of her body to make sure that she isn’t hurt.

Grace and I sit on the bed, Giana nestled in my lap, while Evan sleeps nearby. It’s been hours since we reunited with our daughter. It feels surreal, almost too good to be true. How did Giana end up here, alone and unharmed? And why did the kidnapper choose to return her now, after all this time?

Grace brushes a stray lock of hair away from Giana’s forehead. “I understand, Steve. It’s been a harrowing ordeal for all of us, but the important thing is that she’s back now, safe and sound.”

“I just can’t help but think something isn’t right,” I respond, my gaze fixed on Giana’s peaceful face as she sleeps soundly in my lap. “Why would the kidnapper leave her at our doorstep after keeping her away for a month?”

“It’s a mystery we’ll have to unravel,” Grace says, her fingers tracing circles on Giana’s cheek. “But for now, let’s just be grateful that she’s here with us.”

What if this isn’t over yet? What if the nightmare is far from over? As these thoughts cross my mind, my hand trembles.

Sensing my unease, Grace entwines her fingers with mine. “Baby, everything is fine. Just relax.” She reassures me, stroking my cheek with his other hand.

“I just can’t shake off this feeling of dread, Grace. What if something happens again? What if…”

She places a finger on my lips, silencing me. “Don’t think like that, Steve. We can’t dwell on the ‘what ifs’. We have to focus on the present and cherish this moment with our daughter.”

She’s right, as always. I take a deep breath, trying to calm my racing thoughts. Giana moves in my lap and lifts her hand to touch my face. I lean in and press my lips on her forehead, feeling a rush of love.

“You’re right, Grace. We should cherish this moment and be grateful for the miracle that brought Giana back to us.” I smile at Grace, my hand caressing Giana’s forehead.

She returns my smile before cupping my face and capturing my lips in a soft kiss. I deepen the kiss, sliding my hand into her hair and pulling her closer to me. She moans as I bite her lower lip before sucking her soft lips passionately.

I pull away reluctantly, my heart pounding with desire. “Love, I need you,” I whisper, my voice husky with longing.

She looks at me with desire. “I need you too, Steve,” she murmurs, her fingers tracing my face.

We carefully lie down the twins in the crib before losing ourselves in each other after a long month, forgetting everything.

***

One Month Later

I come to meet Jace in his mansion. It’s been a month, he has been avoiding me. He didn’t even attend the dinner party when Giana returned. Something doesn’t feel right. It’s as if he’s hiding something or facing some kind of trouble.

It’s still a mystery who kidnapped Giana. Despite our daughter’s safe return a month ago, the unanswered questions stay in the back of my mind. Who took her, and why? Why wait a month to return her to us?

However, it’s a relief that she is now with us, safe.

I settle down in the hall, waiting for Jace as a maid has gone to call him from his room.

My phone beeps, and as I reach for it in my jeans, my car key falls to the floor. Bending down to retrieve it, I notice a tiny bracelet under the table.

It’s Giana’s bracelet. The one she lost during her abduction. What is it doing here?

I wonder, staring at the bracelet, baffled.

Did Jace have something to do with Giana’s disappearance?

I gasp in shock and my breathing becomes heavy as this thought crosses my mind.

No. No. Jace could never do this. Why would he even do this?

But… how did Giana’s bracelet reach here?

“Steve, what a surprise. How are you?” Jace’s voice brings me back to reality, and I clutch the bracelet tightly to compose myself.

He settles beside me, and I just stare at him, feeling hurt, enraged, and bewildered.

He stammers, “What-what happened, Steve? You-you look-” He pauses as I glare at him.

“What was this bracelet doing under your table, Jace?” I ask, showing him the bracelet. His body stiffens, seeing it. “Can you explain?” I demand, watching his reaction closely.

“Steve, it must have fallen during one of Giana’s visits here.” Tapping his foot nervously and avoiding my gaze, he responds, his voice shaky, beads of sweat forming on his forehead.

I go numb. Jace is lying. He knows how the bracelet ended up here.

Fuck! No.

“Stop lying,” I growl, causing him to flinch. “Giana was wearing the bracelet when she got kidnapped. Were you involved in her kidnapping?” I ask, still deep inside, hoping to be proved wrong.

Jace is my best friend who is always there for me to support me. I can’t even think of him kidnapping my daughter.

He lowers his gaze and stays silent. Without saying a word, he answers my question. He was involved in the kidnapping of my daughter.

Fuck! I can’t believe it. It feels like a nightmare to me.

“What the fuck did you do this, Jace.” Seething with rage, I punch him, causing him to fall to the floor.

It hurts. My best friend betrayed me.

Jace looks up at me, his eyes filled with remorse. I can see the pain in his expression, but it does little to ease the fury boiling inside me.

I stand over him, my fists clenched, my heart pounding with anger and betrayal.

“Why, Jace? Why would you do something like this?” I question, my voice trembling with emotion. “You were supposed to be my friend. How could you betray me like this?”

He remains silent.

I crouch down and grab his collars, my eyes spitting fire. “Tell me, why did you do this to me?”

“I’m sorry, Steve. I can’t tell you.” His answer shocks me more.

He still wants to hide things from me. Why is he doing this? Is he trying to protect someone? Where is Zara? Was she also involved in the kidnapping of my daughter with him?

“Your wife? Where is she? Did you both kidnap my daughter?” He freezes as I take the name Zara.

After a few seconds, he shakes his head. “No. She doesn’t know anything about this,” He answers without looking at me.

Again. He is again lying to me.

I feel a rage and give him another punch before grabbing his collars. “I want the fucking truth, Jace. I know your wife is also involved in this.”

Tears trickle down his face, and blood oozes out from the corner of his lips. I don’t lie when I say his pain doesn’t hurt me. It does, but what hurts more is that he kidnapped my daughter, betrayed me, and destroyed our precious friendship.

“Send me to prison. I’m ready for whatever punishment you want to give-”

I intrude, glaring at him. “Of course, I’ll send you behind the bars. But before that, I want to know the fucking truth.”

I can’t understand why he did this to me. My mind is fucked up.

“I can’t tell you, Steve. I’m sorry,” Jace mutters, shocking me more.

I yell, gripping his collar to make him stand. “You can’t tell me? After everything we’ve been through, after all these years of friendship, you can’t even give me the truth?” I roar, shaking him roughly.

His shoulders slump, and he hangs his head in shame. “I’m sorry, Steve. I never meant for any of this to happen.”

His words raise my anger. “Sorry? That’s all you have to say? After betraying me, after kidnapping my daughter, all you can offer is an apology?”

He looks up at me, tears streaming down his face. “I know I messed up, Steve. I know I don’t deserve your forgiveness. But please, believe me when I say I never wanted to hurt you.”

I release my grip on his collar, taking a step back. The pain of his betrayal cuts deep, but somewhere beneath the anger, I can still see the friend I once knew.

“Why, Jace? Why did you do it?” I ask, my voice softer now, filled with confusion and hurt.Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.