The Billionaire's Bundle of Joy

Chapter 24

RIZ

Justin doesn’t want to eat fast food. He says it’s bad for us and the baby, so I had no choice but to agree to go to a resort. The food there is supposed to be delicious, and the chef even studied in France. Plus, it’s by the beach, and the air is fresh.

“What’s the place called again?” I asked him once we were in the car.

“Zion’s. It’s owned by some pastors. They also have another one somewhere in Mataas na Kahoy. Next time, we’ll eat there.”

“Are you a regular there?” I was almost about to ask him if he had taken Veronica or any other flavor of the month there.

“If you’re asking if I’ve taken a woman there, yes.” It felt like I’d been punched in the chest. I really shouldn’t have asked. “Papa used to take me and Mom there once a month. I haven’t brought any woman there on a date. Did I answer the question in your mind?” he asked with a grin.

Am I supposed to believe him? On second thought, there’s no reason for him to lie. Come to think of it, since we first met in the penthouse, he has been straightforward with his words. Every now and then, he annoys me, but he always turns it around and makes sure I feel better. I thought to myself how nice it must be to love him.

I didn’t respond and just gazed out the window.

“Do you want me to introduce myself to your parents? We’re married now. I think their anger would subside if they knew we were married.”

I haven’t told my mother that I’m pregnant. Honestly, I don’t know what her reaction will be. If my hunch is right, she probably knows by now that I’m no longer under Dad’s care. But then again, she doesn’t seem to care about me. She hasn’t even bothered to text or call. She doesn’t need anything from me.

As for my father, there’s the business rivalry, and if he finds out that Justin is a Calderon, even if I tell him we’re married, it won’t lessen his anger. He might even go wild, and I’d be lucky if I only got a slap.

“Let’s talk about it later. It’s too hot right now.”

“It’s going to be okay. Don’t put it off. I’m sure even if your parents are angry, they still worry about your condition. If I had a sister and she got pregnant, even if Mom was angry, she wouldn’t be able to sleep until she came home. Do you have sisters?”

I nodded. “Two.”

“Are you the eldest?” he asked again.

I nodded. “You?”

“Same.”

“Do you have siblings?”

I didn’t see any pictures of his family in their house or even in the penthouse. He doesn’t even have a picture of himself. Not even of his parents. I don’t know why. Maybe I’m just used to Dad’s house, where there’s a big portrait of Liberty. Everywhere I look, it’s her face. But the biggest portrait in their house is the one of them as a couple. It’s their wedding photo made into an oil painting. I often heard Madam bragging about it to her friends and any visitors to the house. She said the painting cost around two hundred thousand pesos and that the artist was famous. Since I wasn’t interested, I didn’t bother to find out who the painter was.

“Yes.”

I wanted to ask how many but felt shy. It seemed like he didn’t want to give details, so I didn’t push it. I just listened to the soft music playing on the radio.

“My mother had a miscarriage when I was in high school. She was quite young when she got pregnant with me. She was about your age. And since she was almost in her mid-thirties during her second pregnancy, it was a delicate situation. The baby didn’t hold on well, and that’s when she lost it. She never got pregnant again.”

I couldn’t explain the pain I felt upon hearing about his mother’s pregnancy loss. I don’t know much, but I think his parents waited a long time for his sibling. I can’t imagine losing our baby, and even though I haven’t been pregnant long, I already know I love him or her. That’s why, even though it’s just the two of us, I chose to nurture this child. Luckily, Justin hasn’t let us down.

“I’m sorry to hear that.” I didn’t know what else to say.

“As if that wasn’t enough, I had just finished college when the car accident happened. They were on vacation with my dad. Their driver lost control, and the car flipped over. No one survived, and I’ve been living alone since then. What about you? What’s your story?”

Before I could share, the car stopped. We had arrived at the lobby of Zion’s. I knew it wasn’t easy for him to share about his family, but he tried.

“Good afternoon, ma’am, sir. Welcome to Zion’s. This way, please.” With two menus in hand, the staff guided us to our table.

Once we sat down, the server briefly left us to decide on our food. Everything looked nice on the menu, and I didn’t know what to order. A small basket of warm bread was served along with two glasses of cold water.

I settled for pasta while Justin ordered salmon with roasted vegetables and potatoes. He also ordered calamari, which I also liked. I can’t believe we’re going to share food again. This time, in public. It felt so intimate to me, like the coffee he gave me back in the penthouse with milk and sugar.

I noticed the setup at the side. There was a guitar and a mic. Before long, a tall woman came out. By my estimate, she was older than Justin—maybe in her late 30s or early 40s—but I was hesitant because when she smiled, she looked younger. Her hair was short and barely reached her shoulders. One thing that caught my attention was her smile. It was mischievous yet could light up the whole place. She must have been quite the troublemaker when she was younger. She wore a halter black dress, and the only jewelry she had on were earrings—a pair of diamonds that were neither too big nor too small.

“Hi, everyone! I’m bored at home, so I tagged along with Dad and thought I’d play for you.” She looked at us and winked. “It’s funny how you find love in the most unexpected places at the most unexpected times. This song is for the two lovebirds over there. Cheers!”

From her first strum on the guitar, I knew she was talented. What I didn’t expect was her voice. It was so gentle yet powerful enough to give me goosebumps. She sang a female rendition of “Until I Found You.” I swear, I could listen to it forever.

She played a few more songs. I wondered why she hadn’t mentioned her name yet. It wasn’t until she took a break that she walked over to our table and introduced herself.

“I’m Raven. You’re Mr. Calderon’s son, right?” She shook Justin’s hand, but it seemed he didn’t recognize her. “I designed the Calderon’s main office in Manila. Your dad had a penthouse built there.”

“Oh, wow. Small world. It’s very nice to finally meet you, Raven. By the way, this is Riz, my wife,” my husband said with a smile. I didn’t feel a hint of jealousy. Maybe because Raven was so friendly.

“It’s very nice to meet you, Riz.” She shook my hand, and I noticed that when she spoke, she looked into the eyes of the person she was talking to. “How are you guys liking the food?”

“It’s really good. Thank you.” We were now on dessert, and I could hardly breathe from being so full.

“That’s awesome. Well, I won’t take any more of your time. Enjoy your lunch and have a great day.”

I didn’t expect that Raven would take care of the bill. It turns out she’s the daughter of the owner of Zion’s. Not only that, she’s a car enthusiast. When I saw the hanging photos, they were all taken during her prime. One photo was taken in Moscow, where she won a race. Another photo showed her in front of a skyscraper that she also designed as an architect. The other photos had her in cleats and a soccer jersey, where she had a “C” on her arm, referring to captain. I wasn’t surprised to see her playing the drums, and one picture had her holding a guitar while singing. She is quite a woman, and her husband is very lucky to have her.