Marrying her Ex-husband's Uncle

Chapter 9

She accepted the card from Ryan and examined it carefully.

For now, she didn't really need it.

She already had the money Nate had given her. Besides, there was still a considerable amount left in the personal account her mother had left her. Even so, she decided to keep the gold card for future use.

"Thank you," she said with a smile.

"Do you like the penthouse, Lady Barbara? If you're not satisfied with it, I can inform Master Nate and have you transferred to an even better unit."

She blinked before looking around the lavish space once more.

This was already beyond anything she could have imagined.

Did Nate really think her standards were that high?

"No need. This penthouse is more than enough for me," she replied.

Ryan nodded just as the doorbell rang.

After excusing himself, he stepped out of the master bedroom. A few moments later, he returned with a young woman.

"Lady Barbara, this is Debbie. Starting today, she'll be your personal assistant. If you need anything at all, you may tell her, and she'll relay it to Master Nate."

Debbie politely bowed her head in greeting. "Good day, Lady Barbara. It's a pleasure to meet you, and I look forward to serving you."

A small smile appeared on Barbara's lips. "Hello, Debbie. I hope we'll get along well."

Once Ryan had finished explaining everything she needed to know, he excused himself, leaving Barbara alone with Debbie in her new penthouse.

Barbara slowly sat down on the edge of the soft bed, her eyes fixed on the breathtaking view beyond the floor-to-ceiling glass wall.

She had never imagined her life would come to this.

As she sat there, her mind was already working through the first step of her plan—how she would regain access to Oceana.

The next time she met Nate, she would present her entire strategy.

From the penthouse, Ryan headed straight back to Master Nate's office at Stavros Corporation.

The moment he stepped inside, he was met with his boss's scrutinizing gaze.

"How was it?"

"Everything has been taken care of, Master Nate," Ryan answered immediately.

"How about the penthouse? Did she like it?"

Ryan nodded. "She did, Master Nate. I made sure of it."

The corner of Nate's lips lifted into a satisfied smile before he gave a small nod. "That's good to hear. You may leave."

Ryan cast one last glance at his boss before quietly leaving the office. As he walked down the hallway, he couldn't help but think about the situation. There were plenty of women surrounding Master Nate. In fact, most of them had no baggage whatsoever.

Unlike Lady Barbara.

After all, everyone knew she had once been Luke Stavros's wife.

His ex-wife, to be exact.

So why had Master Nate chosen to ask Barbara to marry him even before she proposed the company merger?

Ryan let out a deep sigh and shook his head.

Then again, whatever Master Nate's reasons were, he was certain the man had a deeper motive. He just couldn't figure out what it was.

"How's the baby, Doctor?" Celine asked with a bright smile as she watched the ultrasound monitor.

Luke stood beside her, gently holding her hand.

"The baby is perfectly healthy, Miss Ferrer. There are no complications."

Celine turned to Luke. The joy in his eyes was unmistakable. Even his mother, Madam Sofia, looked radiant with happiness.

"You heard that, Luke? Our baby is healthy."

Luke looked at her with nothing but tenderness in his eyes.

How she wished Barbara could see them right now. She was certain Barbara would be devastated by the sight.

Too bad she wasn't here.

"Thank you, Celine. Don't worry. I'll take good care of you... both you and our baby," Luke said with a warm smile.

"Thank you. I really am lucky to have met you."

Luke firmly shook his head. "No... I'm the lucky one."

As he stared at the monitor, Barbara suddenly crossed his mind. She was the complete opposite of Celine. Barbara had always been focused on business, making him feel pressured most of the time.

Celine, on the other hand, was caring, gentle, and, most of all, passionate in bed. She made him feel like he was the one in control.

If Celine had never come into his life, he probably would have remained with Barbara until now— stuck with a wife who dictated every aspect of his life and business as though she were the man in the relationship.

And above all...

He would have remained childless because Barbara could never give him a child. He had no intention of spending the rest of his life with a woman who couldn't bear one.