CHAPTER 3: THE EX
1313 Words
*DISCLAIMER*
This story is a work of fiction. All characters are 18 years old and above.
---
Amara's POV
The cast was pink.
Luna was so proud of it. She showed it to everyone in the house like it was a trophy.
"Look Tita Ara! Tito Zian picked the color!"
I smiled and ruffled her hair. "It's pretty, baby."
It was our first week.
And somehow, this house stopped feeling like a prison and started feeling like... home?
Wrong.
It was a contract. 5 million. 1 year. That's all.
But when Luna called me "Mommy" in her sleep last night, I didn't correct her.
And when Zian canceled his meeting to stay home with us, I didn't question it.
Maybe I was getting too comfortable.
Maybe that was dangerous.
---
The doorbell rang at 3 PM.
I was in the kitchen, making merienda for Luna. Pancakes. Her favorite.
Nina, the house helper, answered it.
"Ma'am, may bisita po."
My stomach dropped when I saw him through the glass door.
David Reyes.
My ex.
The man who left me when I told him I was pregnant.
The man who said "That's not my problem" and blocked me.
He was holding flowers. Smiling. Like he didn't ruin my life.
"Amara." His voice was smooth. The same voice that used to whisper "I love you" at 2 AM. "You look good."
"What are you doing here?" I stepped outside and closed the door behind me. I didn't want Luna to hear. "How did you even find this place?"
"I have friends." He shrugged. "And congratulations. Mrs. Castro. That was fast."
I crossed my arms. "What do you want, David?"
"I want to talk." He held out the flowers. "Can we go somewhere? Coffee?"
"No."
"Come on Ara." He used the nickname I hated. "It's been months. I miss you. I miss the baby."
My chest tightened. "Don't call it that. And don't call me that."
"Fine." He dropped the smile. "Then let's talk about the 5 million. Because that's what this is, right? You're selling yourself to a billionaire."
The slap came before I could think.
His face jerked to the side.
"Don't you dare." My voice was shaking. "Don't you dare talk about my daughter like that."
"Your daughter?" He laughed. "You don't even know if it's mine."
"Get out."
"Or what? You'll tell your new husband?" David stepped closer. "The one who doesn't even love you?"
The door opened behind me.
"Is there a problem?"
Zian.
He was in a suit. Tie loosened. And his eyes... his eyes were on David like he was prey.
David straightened immediately. "Mr. Castro. Nice to meet you. I'm David. Amara's—"
"Ex." Zian finished. He didn't look at me. "Leave."
"Actually, I just wanted to talk to Amara about—"
"I said leave." Zian's voice was low. Dangerous. "Before I have security remove you."
David looked between us. Then he smiled. "Sure. But we'll talk soon, Ara. About the baby. About custody."
He walked away.
I stood there, shaking.
Zian didn't touch me. He just said, "Inside."
---
Luna was asleep when I came in.
Zian was in his office. Door open.
"Come in." He said without looking up.
I stood in the doorway. "Thank you. For earlier."
"Don't thank me." He signed something. "He threatened you. In my house."
"I'm sorry. I didn't know he would—"
"Stop apologizing." He finally looked at me. "Are you okay?"
The question surprised me. "Yes. I'm fine."
"Good." He went back to his papers. "He won't come back."
"How can you be sure?"
"Because I said so."
That should have scared me. But it didn't.
It made me feel safe.
---
That night I couldn't sleep.
I kept thinking about David. About what he said.
About custody.
I was rubbing my stomach without thinking when someone knocked.
"Amara?"
Zian.
He was in sweatpants and a shirt. Hair messy. No tie.
"Can I come in?"
I nodded.
He sat on the chair across my bed. Not too close.
"I had a background check done on him." He said. "David Reyes. 32. No job for 8 months. 3 credit card debts. And a new girlfriend."
My face burned. "You didn't have to—"
"I did." He cut me off. "He's not going to get custody. Not with his record. Not while you're married to me."
"Zian—"
"But he will try to make trouble." Zian leaned forward. "So we need to be careful. In public. At events. He might use Luna against us."
"Luna has nothing to do with this."
"To him, everything is leverage."
Silence.
"Thank you." I whispered. "For protecting us."
Zian stood up. "Get some sleep, Amara."
He was at the door when I said it.
"Are you scared?"
He stopped. "Of what?"
"Of this. Of us. Of it feeling real."
Zian didn't turn around. "Every day."
Then he closed the door.
---
The next morning, things were different.
Zian was at breakfast. With us.
He was actually eating pandesal.
Luna climbed onto his lap. "Tito, can we go to the park?"
"I have a meeting—" He started.
"Please?" Luna used her puppy eyes.
Zian sighed. "Fine. One hour."
The park was empty. Private park. Owned by Castro Group.
Luna ran around with her pink cast. Laughing.
I sat on the bench. Zian sat beside me. Not touching.
"She's happy." I said.
"Because of you."
I looked at him. "What?"
"You did this." He gestured at Luna. "She talks now. She laughs. She calls you Mommy."
"That's not—"
"It is." He cut me off. "And I don't know how to repay you for that."
"You don't have to—"
"I want to." Zian turned to me. "Amara, the contract says 1 year. But if you want to extend—"
"No." The word came out too fast. "I can't."
"Why?"
"Because it will hurt more later." My voice cracked. "Because Luna will get attached. Because I already am."
Zian looked away. "I see."
We didn't talk the rest of the park trip.
---
That night, my phone buzzed.
*Unknown Number:* _We need to talk. About the baby. About money. Meet me tomorrow. Or I go to the press. - D_
My hands shook.
I showed it to Zian.
He read it once. Then crumpled the phone in his hand.
"He's threatening you."
"What do we do?"
Zian's jaw clenched. "We fight back."
"How?"
"By making this marriage real." He looked at me. "At least to the public. To him."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean we go to the gala next week. Together. As husband and wife. No distance. No pretending."
My heart was pounding. "Zian, that's not part of the contract."
"I know." He stepped closer. "But it's the only way to shut him up. To protect Luna. To protect you."
"And after the gala?"
"After the gala, we figure it out."
The air between us was thick.
"Okay." I whispered. "Okay."
Zian nodded once. "Good. Get some rest."
He left.
I sat on my bed and touched the ring on my finger.
This was supposed to be fake.
So why did it feel like the most real thing I had?
---
*Later that night*
I heard footsteps. Soft.
Luna was standing by my door. Holding her teddy bear.
"Mommy?" She whispered.
My heart broke. "Yes, baby?"
"Can you sleep with me? My arm hurts."
I didn't think. I just nodded and followed her.
I lay beside her on the small bed. She immediately curled into me.
"Mommy, don't leave."
"I won't, baby." I lied. "I promise."
She fell asleep in 5 minutes.
I stayed awake all night.
Because the truth was, I didn't know if I could keep that promise.
And the worst part was, I didn't know if I wanted to.
*TO BE CONTINUED...*
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- Writer
