The Billionaire's Bundle of Joy

Chapter 31

JUSTIN

HEARING Matet’s testimony made me want to remember faster. Asking my wife’s name is something I would never do, especially in a club. Hell, I don’t even know why I was there in the first place. I want Matet to tell me everything she remembers, hoping it might jog my own memory.

“Really? Tell me more about that night.” I sat on the armrest of the sofa since Riz chose to sit in a single chair.

“You don’t remember anything?” Matet asked, frowning until I shook my head.

Manang arrived with a tray of cold water, juice, and sandwiches.

“Have a snack first,” Manang invited. “The one on the left is egg, and the one on the right is chicken.”

“Thank you, Manang.” Riz’s friends were polite, and there was respect in how they spoke. I like them already.

Manang nodded and walked back to the kitchen. Ever since my mother married my dad, she has been kind to us. She takes care of us like family, which is why I want Riz to stay here until she gives birth. When I’m not around and in Manila, someone will be there to look after her with care.

Riz cleared her throat. “Justin had an accident shortly after we met. He lost some of his memories.”

“Including you?” Reysa asked, just setting down her glass of juice on the table.

“Including her,” I clarified.

But this time, I didn’t see any surprise on Matet’s face. In fact, she smiled and said, “Oh, is that so? Don’t worry about that. I’ll refresh both of your memories because I think you don’t remember Riri either, given how drunk she was. Your wife is quiet, and if we hadn’t made her drink, she wouldn’t have become chatty.”

“You know, it was her first time going to a club that night. It was also her first time drinking,” Reysa shared.

“What made you decide to go there that night?” Riz and her friends seemed like the type who didn’t often go to clubs. They seemed well-off, but not wild.

“Riri was sad because no one came to her graduation. That’s why Matet and I decided to take her to Club Pyre to change her routine of just school and home. Can you imagine, after class, she’d help at the registrar and library? Thank goodness cell phones became popular; otherwise, we’d have a hard time finding her under a pile of papers and books.”

Riz graduated with honors, but none of her family members came. That’s really sad for such a joyous occasion.

“Anyway, Riri was quite talkative then because she had three drinks. The first thing I ordered was rum and coke, then gin and tonic, and when she noticed you, she had just downed a shot of tequila,” Reysa laughed as she recounted the story.

“She called you the hottie CEO because—”

“Matet.” Riz gave her a warning tone.

“Come on! You’re embarrassed when you’re already married to your hottie CEO,” she said with a grin at Riz. She turned her gaze back to me. “As I was saying, that’s what she called you because you were wearing a coat. Riri’s eyes were practically heart-shaped even though her words were all jumbled. We had to adjust.”

I pulled Riz closer to me. She was so stiff, and when I glanced at her, her face was bright red. I have a feeling she can remember it now.

“I thought you didn’t like me?” I teased her. I heard Matet giggling. She shot me a glare, but that didn’t stop me from teasing her again. “Did you seduce me that night?”

She motioned for me to lean closer and then whispered, “I wasn’t seducing you; you were already smitten. What if I did try to seduce you? Good thing for you, I no longer have a crush on you. That was just a moment of weakness and—”

“You no longer have a crush on me… because you’re in love with me?” I whispered back. I almost shouted when she pinched me lightly on the side. I took it like a man and didn’t even flinch. But the truth is, it hurt. She pinched me with her fingernail.

“This couple is so sweet. I’m envious of Riri. Maybe I should ask Ryan to marry me. How did your husband propose? Was it romantic?”

“Oh, Matet. Don’t disturb them; it looks like they have a lot to talk about.” Reysa finished her drink and smiled. “By the way, did you reconcile with your friend? His name also starts with P. He’s tall and handsome, but he seems angry with you.”

“What’s his name?”

“Pri… His name is unusual. But he doesn’t like you at all. He was angry with you when I passed by. You were arguing about someone. Sorry, I didn’t mean to overhear your conversation,” she shared shyly.

A flashback came to mind, and a familiar face appeared. Priam, the senator’s son. That’s the guy she was talking about who was arguing with me. He’s Ryleigh’s best friend.

“It’s okay. I’m actually glad you’re helping me remember. Is there anything else that happened that night that I should know about?”

“I can’t remember anything else.”

“Well, I do. There was a woman trying to get back together with you. I don’t know her name, but you asked the guards to take her out of the club. She was hysterical, but she couldn’t do anything,” Matet recounted.

Veronica. I don’t know how she followed me to the club. But I know now why I was there that night. I was supposed to meet Papa’s adopted son. He said he wanted to talk, and even though I didn’t want to, he convinced me by mentioning my family.

It’s a sensitive subject for me and something that shouldn’t be brought up in public. Of course, in exchange for his silence, there was money involved. Isn’t that what people want these days?