THE CONTRACT WIFE: A ONE NIGHT STAND BILLIONAIRE ROMANCE

CHAPTER 65 – Zara’s POV

It was a surreal feeling to be back. The overwhelming happiness and boundless joy consumed me as I returned after a long period of being lost and separated. My life had been taken away from me all because of a misguided love.

I couldn’t help but feel a mix of emotions towards Nick. He had been a good friend for a long time and had helped me in many ways. However, he also owed me a lot. His persistent feelings had stolen so much of my time.

But deep down, I understood his feelings too. He was also a victim of circumstances and his own emotions. I wanted to listen to him, to hear his explanation. But for now, anger burned inside me, overshadowing any desire for understanding. It was a painful feeling, knowing that so much time had been wasted. Even now, I couldn’t shake off the heaviness in my heart.

The significant amount of time that Nick took away from me left me upset. It was time that should have been filled with happiness, a time when we were building our family. Love, when toxic, can lead to destructive consequences.

I couldn’t fathom what mistake I had made to deserve this unfortunate fate. I hoped for a chance to make things right. It felt like I was trapped in a never-ending cycle, chasing both wrong and right simultaneously. It was exhausting.

I knew that instant happiness was not possible. Everyone faced their own struggles, and I was no exception. But all I wanted was to find a sense of stability and peace.

My contemplation was interrupted by my mom placing a cup of coffee and bread in front of me. Her smile and the warmth of her hand holding mine filled my heart with joy.

“We’re overjoyed to have you back, Zara, my child. The day you disappeared… it felt like a part of me was stolen. I was a mother robbed of the right to see her child again. But when the Divine returned you to us, it was like I was given a second chance at life. All I wish for is for everything to be alright,” she said, her words touching my soul.

I held onto the hope that everything would eventually be okay. Who wouldn’t want that?

“Yes, Mom. I missed out on so many days with my husband, my child, and our family. My memories are still incomplete. But I’m determined to make up for lost time and set things right. That’s all I wish for, Mom,” I replied, hoping that my wish would come true.

“God is kind, my child. He will help you heal and find a better path. Just hold on and remember that you may have lost your memories, but we haven’t lost you. Mama is here, your Grandpa is here, your husband, your child. You’re not alone in this fight,” she reassured me, embracing me tightly.

After that, I headed straight to the kitchen. The housekeeper had been absent all day since she was responsible for getting our rations and supplies for the week.Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

“The whole week?” I asked Lucas, still in the kitchen. He had just grabbed a bottle of water while I prepared sandwiches for our snack later.

“Yeah, a week. We’re going back to Claybourne. By now, they should know that you’re back. Many people have missed you. You disappeared suddenly, and many are still hoping to see you. You have a lot of catching up to do, love.”

In that moment, a glimmer of hope emerged. Hope for a fresh start, a new beginning, and a chance to embark on a new chapter. I wasn’t a fan of unexpected twists and turns, so I hoped there wouldn’t be any more detours.

We lingered for a while, sharing a meal at the same table. It brought me immense joy to see my grandfather again. We even shed tears together. They had viewed my return as a hopeless case, thinking they would never find me.

I had vanished without a trace, so it wouldn’t be surprising if they had considered various possibilities of what could have happened to me.

They informed me that I had been in a comatose state. They were still withholding some information, as recalling too many memories tended to cause pain.

It was an incredibly painful sensation, as if my senses were being punched and squeezed. I decided to rest at the elder’s house because I had grown weary from the journey.

On the other hand, I felt a bit nervous. The truth was, I was about to see my in-laws again after a long time.

To be honest, I was scared and anxious. I wanted to be honest about my feelings. But as my husband had reassured me, there was no need to be afraid or worried because they were there to support me. With those simple words, I began to feel a sense of calm.

It was evening, and we bid farewell to my mother. We headed straight to the mansion to settle in. Lucas’s mother wanted to have a conversation with me. I’ll be honest, I was feeling extremely anxious. I couldn’t recall the last time I had seen my in-laws.

I wondered how they would react. Would they be angry? Was there going to be a confrontation? Would it feel like having coffee and tea spilled all over me? Would leaving the mansion be a dramatic affair? These fears and worries consumed my thoughts.

“There you go again, dear. Your expression was becoming unreadable. Trust me, they wouldn’t harm you. In fact, it was quite the opposite. They were excited to see you. After all those years, they had longed for your return. They knew what happened, and they understood…” Lucas tried to reassure me, easing my concerns. To some extent, I began to feel a little better.

“Sorry, I just couldn’t help it…” I replied, gazing out of the car window. “You knew, right? I was still in the dark…”

“Mom, don’t worry. We were right here,” my child chimed in, planting a kiss on my cheek.

They were right. What could I fear more than losing these two precious gems? They were my only treasures.

Finally, we arrived at the familiar mansion, a grand structure that exuded wealth and social status.

We were greeted by a familiar and elegant woman in her late 50s. Her timeless beauty and gentle aura radiated kindness. Her warm embrace as a greeting washed away all my worries.

“It had been a long time, dear. I was delighted to see you again! Come, let’s go inside. We had so much to catch up on,” my mother-in-law said.

We entered the living room. Lucas took our child to their room, leaving Mama and me to have a conversation.

“How were you, Zara? You were still as beautiful as ever, dear… Were you feeling better now? What about your amnesia?” the lady asked me immediately.

“To be honest, I still hadn’t fully recovered. I continued to struggle with this memory loss… I could recognize faces and had a few nostalgic memories, but everything was still incomplete. I was in a coma for three years. It was a miracle that I woke up,” I replied, a hint of sadness in my smile.

“Dear, you showed incredible strength in facing that ordeal. I was at a loss for what to do when it happened, and it breaks my heart that we lost our granddaughter,” she said, her voice filled with sadness.

Suddenly, confusion washed over me. “Granddaughter?” I asked, furrowing my brow in confusion.

“Yes, dear. You were pregnant when the accident occurred… It was about six months ago,” Mama explained.

In that moment, a wave of dizziness hit me. Memories flooded my mind, causing my vision to blur. I remembered my college days with Antoinette and Nick, the accident that involved Lucas and me, and the development of our one-sided love story. All of my memories came rushing back, and I woke up crying in Lucas’s comforting embrace.

“Lucas! Lucas, I remember everything, my love! Our child, our precious child!” I exclaimed, holding onto him tightly.

“We will make Nick pay for his terrible actions!” Lucas declared angrily, and I felt my own heart burning with anger.