The Billionaire's Bundle of Joy

Chapter 26

JUSTIN

I was silent when those words escaped her lips. When I asked Tony to find out some things about Riz’s background, that was part of what I discovered. I just want to hear everything straight from her, so I asked her. I want it to be a casual conversation between us. From any angle you look at it, we are married. The least we can do right now is get to know each other.

“My family background is not ideal. Mom got pregnant and didn’t finish her studies. According to Dad, Mom didn’t want a simple wedding at the courthouse. She wanted a church wedding with many guests, so they didn’t get married right away. I think it’s a blessing that they never got married and did not end up together. Otherwise, their lives would have both been hell.” Riz scoffed, bitterness evident in her voice. I couldn’t tell if it was directed at her mother or father. It could be both.

What child would want their parents to be apart? Everyone I’ve met in my life wants a complete family. Me included.

“What happened?”

“It’s a long story, and you’ll be here for a while if I tell you.” The irritation was still visible on her face, and it was as if I could straighten her furrowed brows.

“I have time.”

My plan earlier was to talk to Veronica, which is why I was going back to Manila, but there’s no reason to anymore since I already said what I wanted. Besides, Riz’s friends are coming tomorrow, and I want to meet them. At the back of my mind, I want to stay because I want to know who that f*****g hottie CEO is. Knowing she likes another man does not sit well with me, especially since we are married. The fact that she denies it makes it even worse. I don’t know if she really doesn’t remember or if she just doesn’t want to talk about it, which is why she avoids it.

“Donnabelle and Carlos are like two poles apart. I don’t even know how they fell for each other. I mean, Mom is beautiful, and you know how men are: they love beautiful women.”

I can tell Riz doesn’t like talking about her parents. I laughed, and she immediately shot me a glare. “Please continue. Why didn’t they end up together?”

“Dad said they were okay at first. He regularly sent money to Mom to prepare for my arrival. That included saving for their wedding. Until she gave birth, and Dad couldn’t come home right away because his contract was extended. He said it would be a waste of six months, especially since his salary was raised. Until rumors started about Mom. At first, Dad didn’t want to believe that there was another man. Until one day, Dad suddenly came home without notice and saw that there was… someone with Mom in the very apartment they were renting. You get the picture. That’s when it ended. The wedding didn’t push through, and Dad also found out that the money meant for that was spent by Mom on various beauty treatments.”

Her mother cheated. No wonder her father didn’t end up with her. Even I, if I were cheated on, wouldn’t be able to tolerate that person anymore. That’s the hard part about trust; once it’s broken, it’s hard to restore. And most times, it can’t be fixed anymore.

“I was going to school when Dad picked me up. He and his wife, Liberty, couldn’t have children. Obviously, Madam is the one with issues. One time, while I was cleaning the storage room, I found some medical records there.”

One of my eyebrows raised. “You were snooping?”

“I wasn’t. How would I know those were her medical records when they were just lying on the floor? Anyway, Madam has issues because she got sick when she was still single. I don’t exactly know what her illness was, but that’s why she can’t have children.”

“Is she mean to you?” Almost all stepmothers in fairy tales are bad, so it’s not far-fetched that it’s the same in real life.

Doubt was evident on her face. “She doesn’t like me. I never told my father about this, but she used to pinch me a lot. It was in places that are not easily seen. Sometimes on my thigh, but more often on the side.” She pointed to her waist. “She always said not to cry and not to tell on her. There were many times I thought of going back to Mom. But at night, I would also think that she had given me to Dad and that I shouldn’t go back to her. I had nowhere to go, so I stayed. As I got older, she stopped hurting me. But the tasks she wanted me to do when Dad was on business trips were countless. I am not one to complain. As long as I can do it and I know what to do, there’s no problem.”

I don’t want to judge her mother right away. No matter how you turn it, she’s still the one who gave birth to Riz. Whatever she did during her relationship with Carlos is their business. But Liberty has no right to hurt anyone, especially a child.

“It’s just hard when I have exams or presentations the next day because I can’t study or finish what I need to do right away since I prioritize cleaning her car, followed by washing her clothes and many other things. That’s automatic when I go home. One time, Dad caught me washing Madam’s car and asked me why I was doing that. My answer was simple: I volunteered. Dad praised me then and didn’t scold me. Until it became a habit. She always reminds me that I’m just a guest in their home, which is true. She’s not my mother. That’s why when I graduated from college, I really planned to move out. My plan then was just to find a job, and I would move out.”

Then the pregnancy happened, and in an instant, we became married. I can’t imagine what her life would be like if she hadn’t come to me. There’s a chance I will never know about my child.

“No one is going to hurt you again.” I don’t know why I said that. Maybe it was out of my anger towards her father’s wife. She wasn’t in Carlos’s life when Riz was born. And whatever her reasons were, she shouldn’t have hurt a child.

Riz laughed bitterly. “For now, yes. You have me in your power. But when our agreement ends, you won’t be able to say that again.”