Chapter Five - The Proposal
1018 Words
Danielle's POV
"What?" I raised a brow at him. I hastily wiped away the tears off my cheeks and I stared at Julian with wide eyes. He wanted what? His son? After I had raised him for five years, did he suddenly think he could just take custody of Alex?
"I want to take responsibility for the child. I want my son." Julian rose to his feet and spoke confidently.
I ran a hand through my hair in frustration and scoffed at him. "Take responsibility? What do you mean by that?" I snapped at him.
"I want what is best for my son. You clearly can not offer him that with a job as a secretary. I am taking him into my custody." Julian said. I shook my head in disagreement, no way was I going to let Julian take Alex into his custody. Alex was the only family I had left. Was Julian really going to snatch him away from me?
"Alex and i are doing fine. We have always been doing okay even before you came into the picture. I can handle my child's welfare by myself." I said through gritted teeth. I felt anger swell up in my chest as I clenched my fist tight and watched Julian push further.
"We both have a say in this. After all, I am his father." Julian said boldly. Why was he suddenly claiming responsibility? Was this a joke to him?
"What is wrong with you? I will tender my resignation letter to you but I will not let you take Alex from him. You can visit him whenever you like, I will not stop you from doing that but I will never approve that you take Alex from me." I beat my chest confidently.
Julian scoffed "What are you going to do if I take legal actions?" He c****d his head to the right and emphasized his words.
If Julian were to take legal actions then I would lose. Julian had more power, influence and even more money than I did. If the court were to decide, they would say it was safer for Alex to stay with Julian.
"No, please." I said with pleading eyes. Julian nodded his head slowly, he took a few steps closer to me and halted a few inches away from me. "Why should I listen to you?"
"Alex is the only family I have left. I beg of you to please let me stay with him. I will do anything else you want. Just please let me have Alex." I went on my knees to beg. Julian stared at me with a straight face. I knew he was angry at me for hiding Alex for years, that was probably why he wanted Alex for himself.
I needed him to at least feel pity for me. I never wished to hide Alex but I was afraid.
"Fine. I have come up with a better deal that will benefit the both of us." Julian said. I rose to my feet and nodded my head in agreement. "I will do absolutely anything to keep my son by my side." I said.
"A marriage contract." Julian blurted out. He leaned on his desk and crossed his arms to gaze at me.
A marriage contract? What did he mean by that?
"I don't understand." I muttered in a low tone. Julian cleared his throat and continued. "We get married, that way the both of us can have access to our son. You don't have to worry about working, I will make all the provisions. You just do your job as a good wife." Julian blurted out.
Now but it seemed like Julian had other plans stored for me. Did he really want Alex in his custody or was he just stylishly looking for a way to keep me by his side for some reasons unknown to me.
"It will be an open relationship. You get to have other men around as long as the public do not know about them. I get to have other women around too. Just see it as a relationship that keeps you close to Alex." Julian said with a shrug.
I could not comprehend what was going on. I became confused. It was a really tempting offer for me and for my son. It meant financial security, an escape from hunger but it felt suspicious too.
"Think about it and give me your answer tomorrow. Keep it in mind that all you are doing is for your son." Julian said.
I left Julian's office with tears in my eyes. I rushed to Rita's house where Alex was. I cried to her and told her everything that was going on.
Rita felt bad for him, although her advice was that I accept the offer. Was i ready to get into marriage with someone like Julian? I barely knew much about him or what his family was like.
I knew that his father had high expectations of him for sure. I knew he had a sister too but that was all. Would they accept I and Alex? There was only one way to find out.
The next day, I was at Julian's office with my answer.
"So? What is it going to be? Marriage or we take things to court?" Julian asked. He managed to show no emotions and it made me feel angry, what was he thinking? I wanted to know how he felt.
"Yes. I will marry you but like you said it is an open relationship and it is only for the sake of my son." I stated.
Julian nodded his head. He seemed pleased by my response."Alright then. Prepare your things. You will be moving to my home tonight." He blurted out.
Why was he rushing things?
"Why?" I questioned.
"The marriage is next week. Our marriage." Julian said.
What? Our marriage? There was no possible way for me to actually get married to Julian when I was already married to Damien and I had not divorced him yet.
How was I going to break this news to Julian?
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