The Royal Contract

But she wondered how she could have slept this late without being interrupted by his cries. And where was Alex? Did he leave for work without waking her up?

“Oh, no!” She shouted as she abruptly jumped out of bed, thinking that Alex must have woken her up before leaving, but she returned to sleep instead of doing her morning routine.

Now, what happened to her son? Why was he not making any sound as she stared at the baby monitor? It had its lights on, so it was working. She quickly ran out of her room and into the next room, his nursery, checking on him.

However, her son was not there. The crib was empty. She even checked the floor and all the nooks and crannies of the room, thinking he might have fallen. Impossible for an infant, but she still searched.

“No...” She started to panic, thinking that someone must have taken her baby, as she dashed downstairs to alert their security. They must find him. The cameras must have caught whoever took him.

She ran towards the front door, focused only on catching whoever had taken her child. But she almost had a heart attack when a hand suddenly touched her on her shoulders as she was about to open the door.

“Hey, where are you going?” She heard his voice and saw his face as she abruptly turned around. “Is there something wrong?” He asked with concern etched on his face.

She immediately released the air from her lungs as relief rushed through her blood. “Ares.” She said, seeing her child tucked safely in her husband’s arms. “Alex, what are you still doing here?”

.....

She quickly took the child in her arms and hugged him firmly. Was this what it was like to be a mother? To be constantly in fear for her son’s wellbeing, she wondered.

“I tried to wake you up, but you were still fast asleep. So, I thought I might as well take a turn in taking care of this little rascal while you get your much-needed rest.” Alex told her as he carefully watched her.

“Are you ok? You look pale.” He added as his hand touched her cheeks to check on her.

She was still trying to catch her breath from her recent scare, but she was feeling much better now. “I am ok. But I think my lack of sleep is getting to me.” She said, allowing her husband to usher her back to the living room and sit with her.

“I thought you had left, and when I checked the nursery and found Ares gone, I lost it.” She confessed to him, feeling like she was losing her mind.

She only felt that kind of fear during their kidnapping incident. And it was not a memory she would like to relive. She had buried it deep in her mind, but somehow, it had crept back in.

“Hey! Come here.” She felt him pulling her into his body with their son and enveloping them in his warmth. “It is just the fatigue and the trauma of what happened to us recently.”

She knew what he was referring to, believing he might be right. Even though she did not get the chance to bond well with Gerald as her brother, they had been friends and her mentor.

His death had made an impact on her life, in a way, adding fear to the trauma she already had. Dying due to natural death was acceptable, but his death was not a health issue nor an accident but caused by an unknown entity or probably a group.

It was only innate for her to fear for her life and her family, believing that the world was unsafe. She had never cared if something happened to her life before, but just thinking that something would happen to Alex and Ares sent a chill down her spine.

“I guess.” She could sense that her husband had a point.

“Besides, we should get a nanny in the day to help with Ares. He is becoming a handful every minute.” He said, turning his face toward their son, who was quiet and listening. “Aren’t you?” He said, which earned him a smile as he tickled Ares’s chin.

He had been insisting on it. Although their mothers came once in a while to check on them, they could hardly do much. But a nanny would be full-time in a day. So, all she would have to worry about was the night shift.

Maybe, it was time that she tried it. It did not mean she was abandoning her child. She was only getting a new pair of hands to help out. She finally realized she was not a horrible mother if she asked for help.

She would be if she neglected her child because she could not stay awake. Luckily, Alex stayed today. But what if he also had an emergency at the office? What then?

“Ok. We need to hire one.” She finally conceded, thinking it was best for their little angel. She would never forgive herself if something happened to him because she was sleeping on her watch.

“Great. Besides, I think you need to go back to work soon.” Alex said as if it was a fact.

“Why? Is there a problem with the office?” She quickly asked, but the last report said the company was doing fine under Alex’s administration.

“The company is great, but you are not.” Alex pointed at her heart. “You might say you love it here, playing housewife and mother to our child, but I know you also love what you do out there.”

“But...” She was about to contradict his words, thinking that he and Ares needed her more than the company. He was already doing great with it. She did not have to go back.

“I did not marry you because I want a housewife who will bear my kids. I love you because of who you are.” Alex stopped her from saying more. “You will still be a good housewife and mother if you follow your dreams.” He said, assuring her that he would not mind a wife with a career.