THE CONTRACT WIFE: A ONE NIGHT STAND BILLIONAIRE ROMANCE

CHAPTER 74 – Zara’s POV

The night weighed heavily upon us as we slept, carrying with it unresolved grievances. No greetings were exchanged, no apologies offered, and our stubbornness held us captive. The emotional distance between Lucas and me mirrored the separation of our children into separate rooms.

The air grew cold, and doubts crept into my heart, leaving me feeling insecure and unimportant in his eyes. The warmth of our marriage seemed to wane, and tears streamed down my face throughout the night, burdened by the fear that his love for me had vanished.Belonging © NôvelDram/a.Org.

How had we come to this? I believed Lucas and I were destined to endure together until the very end. Yet here we were, estranged and adrift. His heart had seemingly changed with alarming swiftness, and I questioned why. Was it just me? Why had he distanced himself so abruptly?

The weight of my emotions consumed me, and tears flowed ceaselessly. I cried out all the pain and anguish burdening my heart, emptying myself of the sorrow that seemed endless. If this was a test, I longed for its conclusion.

As the morning sun broke through, a sense of emptiness enveloped me. Neither my son nor my husband was by my side, but instead, a letter awaited me-a letter that would shake me to my core.

“Sorry, Zara…”

At that moment, an icy chill ran down my spine, and disbelief clouded my mind. I rose from my bed, feeling like a mere shell of myself, a hollow vessel lost in a whirlwind of emotions. Scandalous thoughts raced through my mind as I wandered aimlessly in the villa, unnoticed by all.

I tried to reach out to Lucas through messages, only to discover that he had blocked me. If his love for me had truly waned, if we were no longer okay, then I hoped he wouldn’t let our kids bear the weight of his regrets. I couldn’t bear the thought.

As I prepared to leave the house and step into the waiting car, a mysterious figure covered my nose, and darkness engulfed me as I succumbed to a deep slumber. It was an act of sabotage, a sinister plot against me, leading me into an eternal sleep.

When I awoke, the afternoon sun bathed me in its warm glow. I found myself in a jungle behind the hacienda, lying on a bed of dried leaves and flowers.

The melodic sound of a piano danced through the air, transporting me to a realm of unparalleled beauty. It felt like paradise, a blissful escape.

Clad in an exquisite wedding gown, I felt an unexpected surge of energy. Everything seemed to have been prepared with meticulous care, yet I struggled to grasp the reality of the situation.

The earlier sadness, pain, and anger that had consumed me were replaced by an indescribable joy-a joy that defied words. It seemed like a trick straight out of a fairytale, awakening to find myself on the verge of marriage.

So all along, everything had been a carefully orchestrated plan. Lucas, in his enigmatic way, had orchestrated these fights and conflicts, all leading up to our forest wedding. Damn you, Lucas! I had doubted his love, foolishly believing that it had waned. I chastised myself for such shallow thinking, for failing to appreciate the depths of his surprises.

As our favorite song was played in the background, two men stepped forward, revealing themselves to be his brother. Yes, I was about to marry Lucas, completely oblivious to the grand ruse that had unfolded.

Lucas had fought to marry me, and his peculiar sense of surprise had woven this intricate tapestry of emotions. But that was one of the reasons why I loved him-the unpredictability that kept our love alive. He was my husband, my partner in this unpredictable journey called life.

I trembled as I walked the red carpet, surrounded by an audience that seemed to fill every corner. I yearned for Lucas and me to mend our hearts and share this beautiful moment. Tears streamed down my face, though I couldn’t fathom what I must have looked like. All that mattered was that I took each step forward.

At the end of the aisle stood my grandfather, who had always been a father figure to me. His tearful gaze met mine, conveying his approval and love. I walked toward Lucas, who remained visibly guilty but also on the cusp of ending our pain. He awaited me, tears of happiness glistening in his eyes, mirroring my own.

The ceremony was breathtaking and heartwarming. This would be our third attempt at a joyous marriage, and I couldn’t help but wonder if it was all a dream. But now, it was real. No longer tainted by pretense or selfishness, our union was a testament to pure, unconditional love.

Guided by my grandfather, who had assumed the role of a loving father, I walked the path toward Lucas, witnessing the immense love and support surrounding us. Antoinette, my maid of honor; our children, serving as bearers and flower girls; my mother; and our extended family from Lucas’s side-everyone had come to bear witness to our love.

My grandfather led me to Lucas, and with a smile, he said, “Lucas Blackwood, promise me that you will never break my granddaughter’s heart. I trust you to love and care for her, just as you promised.”

I wept, moved by my grandfather’s tenderness. At that moment, surrounded by loved ones, the past burdens seemed to dissipate, making way for a future filled with hope and happiness.

Our forest wedding marked a new beginning. And as I stood by Lucas’s side, tears of joy streaming down our faces, I knew that together, we would embrace the unpredictable journey that lay ahead.

“Thank you, Lucas. If you hadn’t pushed me into this marriage, I might never have experienced such immense happiness,” I expressed my gratitude, turning to my husband.

“Shall we, my dear?” Lucas asked nervously.

A wide smile adorned my face as I inquired, “How did you do it, Lucas? Is everything meticulously planned?”

He sheepishly scratched his head, causing laughter to ripple through the wedding crowd. Perhaps they were already privy to Lucas’s secret scheme.

“I apologize, my love, for putting you through this. It won’t happen again. Pretending to be angry with you was truly challenging. It felt like I was tearing myself apart. You know how much I adore you!” he admitted, his eyes gleaming mischievously.

My husband was devilishly clever and undeniably charming. Absolutely adorable. Yet, I felt compelled to remind him of his guilt.

“Lucas, you didn’t have to…”

“But I wanted to, Zara. Love knows no boundaries, and I want to marry you countless times if I can. You are my forever,” he declared, his excitement contagious.

The priest, seemingly unenthused, interjected with a lighthearted tone, “Before we proceed with the vows, let’s actually get you married, young lovebirds.” This prompted chuckles from both Lucas and me, slightly embarrassed but undeniably delighted.

“Today, we gather here to witness the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Blackwood, for the second time,” the priest proclaimed.

It felt like we were embarking on a brand-new journey together. As tears of joy flowed, we exchanged rings.

“Lucas, you have forever engraved yourself in my heart, my mind, and my soul. God and all these witnesses bear testament to the depth of my love for you. I will never let you slip away. You were my dream back when we were in college, a dream I thought would never materialize. I attempted to let go of my love for you, thinking our marriage was a lost cause, my dear,” I tearfully expressed, caught off guard by the surge of emotions.

Who would have thought we would end up getting married so suddenly?

“But one day, destiny intervened, and the world turned around; it became clear that you loved me. My patience had paid off. Every tear shed was worth it because you, Lucas, are one of God’s greatest gifts in my life. I love you, and I promise to be with you until death separates us, my Lucas.”

My husband’s response was a smile mixed with tears as he slipped the ring onto my finger.

“Zara, I thought I would despise you until the end. I resisted my feelings for you. Our love story began on rocky grounds. Yet, even with all the reasons to hurt your heart, I found mine changing unexpectedly. It was as if I woke up one day, realizing I couldn’t bear to lose you. The pain I felt when you were gone, snatched away by fate, was unbearable. I thought you had left for good, that you didn’t want to marry me. I tried to stop loving you, Zara… but I failed. And when you reentered my life, I realized just how much I truly loved you. Till death do us part, my love.”

After exchanging our heartfelt vows, the priest introduced us to the gathered congregation.

“Ladies and gentlemen, it is with great pleasure that I now present to you Mr. and Mrs. Blackwood! May the couple seal their union with a kiss?”

He’s the only one I will ever love. The man who has brought me through moments of sadness, anger, joy, and happiness. Lucas completed me, completed us, and our child.

And together, we sealed our love with a tender, passionate kiss.