The Royal Contract

"Hey, what is wrong?" The man beside her asked, feeling his hand gripping hers firmly. He must have noticed that she was quiet on their trip home.

When Zach told her his parents invited her and Edison to their house, she immediately wished to decline. She was not sure if that was a good idea. But Zach managed to convince her to accept the invitation.

"Nothing." She tried to deny that there was something wrong. Although she knew it should not concern him. Still, it did not stop her from thinking about it.

However, her idea of dinner with the parents was dining with his parents and the three of them. She was not expecting there would be other people joining them.

It was not like she was eating with people more of her caliber. But these people were the people who she only saw on the television or the news. Most of them ran the city, including his father, the Senator.

"If it is about tonight, I believe my parents loved you. My father adored Edison." Zach happily told her, looking excited and satisfied.

She looked at him, slightly unable to believe his words. Although she did not feel resentment from his parents, she could not help but question whether they would like her for their son.

They could be acting civil with her and her son. But internally, they wished she would vanish from their son\'s life, now and forever. She knew it was hard for a parent to accept someone like her, a woman with a bastard for a child.

"I guess you are right." She tried to agree with him, not wanting him to worry about it. "Edison had a great time." That was not a lie.

She saw how his son enjoyed the evening with Zach and his father. Until now, looking at his son, who was fast asleep at the back of the car, she could see the book in his arms. Her son said that the Senator gave it to him. Now, he would not let it go, even in his sleep.

"Mom, John said I should come back." She remembered her son telling her excitedly. The Senator promised him that they would watch another movie in his viewing room, and he would show him the other parts of the house.

"Of course, my darling." She agreed with him, not wanting to ruin his happiness. But she was unsure if the offer would still stand later, knowing that the Senator was busy. She doubted he would have time for her son.

But she could not help but hope, not wanting Edison\'s heart hurt by a broken promise. She never made promises to her son that she could not keep. She wished that was also the case with the Senator.

But sadly, politicians were not known for their track records of keeping up with their words. On the contrary, the majority of their pledges were likely empty promises.

"I know this would not be easy. But if we work together, we can get through this." Zach grabbed her hand to his lips and kissed it, assuring her that whatever happened, he would be there by her side.

She guessed that was the most valuable part of their relationship. She had to learn to trust that their love would be enough to pull them through whatever challenges would come their way.

"I know you are right. I am just being silly as always." She finally admitted, acknowledging that a healthy relationship would require open communication.

"No, you are not. You have a reason to feel that way. And I understand. But remember, I will always be here to guarantee that what happened to you in the past will never happen again." Zach said to her, squeezing her hand before letting her go.

Then, his concentration returned to the road ahead, driving them back to her apartment. He had already offered to live together since they would get married eventually. But she opted to stay at her apartment in the meantime. She did not wish to rush things.

Although she did not intend to withdraw from his marriage proposal, she still needed time for Edison to adjust to their situation. At least that was her excuse for delaying the wedding date.

But if she was honest with herself, she was waiting for Zach to take his marriage proposal back. If there was just a reason for Zach to think that this marriage should not happen, she wanted to give him a way out.

"By the way, Tabby invited us to join him at his new home this weekend. Do you think you can make it?" She decided to change the subject, not wanting to talk about his family anymore.

Maybe she just needed time to adjust to having other people around her and her child. She remembered it took her a while before trusting Sasha and her family with Edison.

She admitted she did not know how to deal with a family since she never had a lasting one. She only stayed with one foster home after another for a short while, never having a chance to bond with any of them.

"I will still have to check on my schedule," Zach informed her. But she already knew that since he was starting his business. He would be busy most of the time.

But she understood since she was also swamped with work now that she was a permanent member of their company after her promotion. Still, she would like to make time for Tabby, who had been there for her since they were a child.

"Ok. But I hope you can join us. Tabby looks forward to seeing you there." Ria told her fiancee, who had become a close friend of her childhood friend.

She also thought of setting up a surprise for her friend. It was the least she could do for all the lost time they missed when they were apart. It would be one memorable day in their lives that she wished to cherish.

And she wanted Zach to be there.

"I will try my best, Ria." He answered, but she knew he would try his best. She guessed that should be good enough.

Then, they parked outside her apartment after their long drive home. Just like her son, she also felt exhausted. She knew Zach might be feeling the same way too.

"Why don\'t you stay the night?" She asked him, offering him a warm bed, despite knowing he had already decided to go home.

He said he had an early meeting that he could not miss. But his things were still back home. He did not want to drive back home in the morning to change. Therefore, it would be better if he went home tonight instead.

"I wish I could." That answered her question. She guessed she had to understand that she could not have everything.

Besides, it was just one night. After all, if she had agreed to live with him, they would not have this predicament. But for now, she had to accept that there were times when Zach would have other priorities other than her and her son.

She watched Zach carry Edison into his room, depositing him on his bed. He took his shoes off his feet and tucked him tightly under the blankets before softly walking away from the bed and closing the door gently.

She could see how much Zach loved her son. She did not doubt that he would be the best father to Edison. And she also felt so lucky that he loved her, even if there were moments like this.

"I promise I will be home tomorrow night." He said as she walked him out of the door.

"I will be waiting." She responded with a longing she could not understand. Suddenly, she felt a heavy weight in her heart at the thought of losing him.

After a long passionate kiss, she let him go and watched his back disappear around the corner. Would it be this hard to see him go? She guessed it would be worse.

"What are you thinking?" She asked herself as she closed the door and leaned over it.

She knew that she could never let him go despite all the opposition that would stand in their way. She would have to learn to fight for him no matter how hard it would be.

The thought of not being with him for another night was hard enough. What more if it would be forever? She doubted she would make it without him. Therefore, what was she waiting for?

"Marry him." Her mind shouted. "As soon as possible." She could hear it repeatedly said in her brain. "You silly girl."