2: WIFE TIME

CHAPTER 2: Wife Time

"Next."

The glass door of the Fullerton Holdings executive office opened.

Another department head entered.

Another presentation.

Another set of numbers.

Another problem that needed his attention.

Grant Anderson Fullerton sat behind his massive mahogany desk, his eyes fixed on the documents in front of him.

"Sir, the projected revenue for the third quarter increased by eighteen percent."

"Why only eighteen?"

The executives exchanged nervous glances.

Grant leaned back in his chair.

"We expanded into three new markets. The target should be higher."

His voice wasn't loud.

It didn't need to be.

Grant had always been calm.

But everyone knew...

A calm Grant was more intimidating than an angry one.

"Recalculate the strategy. I want the revised numbers before Friday."

"Yes, sir."

The meeting continued.

One hour.

Two hours.

Three hours.

His schedule was filled from morning until evening.

Board meeting.

Investor call.

Legal review.

International conference.

Everything revolved around Fullerton Holdings.

But despite being one of the busiest men in the country...

There was one thing he never considered a waste of time.

His wife.

---

The meeting finally ended.

The executives quickly gathered their files.

"Thank you, sir."

The door closed.

Silence returned to the office.

Grant removed his glasses and leaned back.

For the first time that day, he allowed himself to breathe.

His eyes automatically moved toward the small photo frame beside his laptop.

A picture of him and Erixia.

Their wedding day.

She was laughing.

Not the fake smile she showed cameras.

Not the elegant smile she used during business events.

A real one.

The smile only he knew.

Grant smiled softly.

"My Rixy..."

He whispered.

---

His phone suddenly buzzed.

He glanced down.

A reminder appeared on his screen.

WIFE TIME ❤️

Grant chuckled.

His assistant had set it years ago.

At first, he wanted to remove it.

He was a CEO.

He had meetings.

Deadlines.

Millions of dollars depending on his decisions.

But then Erixia found out.

And she laughed.

"Even your phone needs to remind you to spend time with your wife?"

Grant remembered her teasing voice.

"Maybe."

He had replied.

"Because my wife is too important to forget."

Since then...

He never deleted it.

Not once.

---

Grant looked at the time.

Almost six in the evening.

He immediately reached for his phone.

Meeting after meeting.

Business after business.

But this was different.

This was Rixy time.

The only appointment he never wanted to miss.

He pressed her name.

My Rixy ❤️

The call connected after a few rings.

"Hello?"

Her voice.

Immediately, his tired expression softened.

"Hi."

"Grant?"

He smiled.

"Did you forget my voice already?"

A small laugh came from the other line.

"Of course not."

"Good."

He leaned back on his chair.

"I just wanted to hear you."

There was a pause.

A comfortable one.

The kind they always had.

"How was your day?"

"Busy."

"Still alive?"

"Barely."

She laughed softly.

"Drama."

"Your husband is suffering."

"You're a billionaire."

"Money doesn't stop meetings from being exhausting."

Another laugh.

And Grant closed his eyes.

That sound.

That simple laugh.

It was enough.

---

"Erixia."

"Hmm?"

"Did you eat?"

"Yes."

"Really?"

"Yes, Grant."

"You always say yes even when you're lying."

She became quiet.

Grant smiled.

"I know you."

For a moment, Erixia didn't answer.

Because that was the problem.

Grant knew her.

Better than anyone.

"Are you still at the office?"

"Yes."

"You should go home."

"In a while."

"No."

He heard her scolding tone.

"Grant Anderson Fullerton."

He smiled.

There she was.

His Rixy.

"You promised you wouldn't work too late."

"I know."

"And?"

"I'm leaving soon."

"Promise?"

He looked at the photo beside him.

"Promise."

---

On the other side of the call, Erixia sat silently on their bedroom sofa.

Listening to him.

The same man she had hurt. The same man who still called her just to ask if she ate.

Her fingers tightened around her phone.

"Grant..."

"Hmm?"

She wanted to say it. She wanted to confess everything.

The secrets.

The messages.

The mistakes.

But the words refused to come out.

Hindi niya kayang maging honest, katulad nang ipinangako niya noong sila ay ikinasal, 

"... I promise to choose you every single day. I promise to be an honest, faithful, and loving wife..."

"I promise to communicate with honesty, to grow with you, and to build a home filled with love, understanding, and peace."

Her own vows keep on ringing in her ears. Long. Overdue.

Alam niya sa sarii niya na ni isa sa mga sinabi niy ay walang natupad.

"Nothing."

"Are you okay?"

A simple question.

Yet it almost broke her.

"I'm okay."

Grant smiled.

"Good."

Then, softly—

"I love you, my Rixy."

Her eyes burned.

Because he said it so easily.

Like she still deserved it.

"I love you too."

She ended the call moments later.

And for the first time that day...

Erixia cried.

Because the worst punishment wasn't losing Grant.

It was having a man who loved her completely...

while knowing she was the reason he would eventually break.

Erixia sat on the couch in the living room, staring blankly at the television.

She wasn't watching.

Her mind was somewhere else.

On the messages.

On Stanley.

On Azi.

On every mistake she wished she could erase.

Her fingers unconsciously touched her wedding ring.

Six years.

Six years of being loved by a man who never made her question her place in his life.

And yet...

She was the one who kept creating reasons to lose him.

---

The sound of the front door opening pulled her out of her thoughts.

"Sir Grant is home."

Erixia immediately looked up.

"Grant?"

She wasn't expecting him yet.

A moment later, he appeared.

Still wearing his office suit.

His tie slightly loosened.

A tired expression on his face.

But the moment he saw her...

He smiled.

That smile.

The same smile that always made her heart ache.

"Hi, Rixy."

Erixia stood.

"You're home early."

"I promised."

She remembered.

Their call.

His promise.

Grant walked toward her, hiding something behind his back.

She narrowed her eyes.

"What are you hiding?"

He smiled.

"Nothing."

"Grant."

"What?"

"You are terrible at surprises."

He laughed.

"That's rude."

"You have the most obvious face."

"Do I?"

"Yes."

"Even after six years?"

"Especially after six years."

Grant shook his head, amused.

"Close your eyes."

Erixia hesitated.

"Grant..."

"Trust me."

Those words made her chest tighten.

Trust me.

A phrase that used to be so easy.

Before everything.

Slowly, she closed her eyes.

"Okay."

She heard him move.

Then...

The sweet scent of flowers filled the room.

"Open."

Her eyes opened.

And she froze.

---

Standing in front of her was a large bouquet of pink roses.

Not red.

Not white.

Pink.

Her favorite.

"You remembered."

Grant looked surprised.

"Of course I remembered."

He handed them to her.

"Pink roses mean appreciation."

He smiled.

"And I appreciate my wife."

Erixia looked down at the flowers.

Her throat tightened.

"Grant..."

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing."

He gently touched her cheek.

"You've been quiet today."

She forced a smile.

"Just tired."

Grant studied her face for a moment.

But instead of pushing...

He simply kissed her forehead.

"Then I'll make your night better."

---

"There's more?"

She looked confused.

Grant nodded.

"Close your eyes again."

She laughed softly.

"Another one?"

"Yes."

"You really love surprises."

"I love seeing you smile."

That answer hurt.

Because she knew she didn't deserve this kind of love.

Still...

She closed her eyes.

A few seconds later, she felt his fingers gently touch her ear.

A small box opened.

Inside was a pair of elegant diamond earrings.

Simple.

Classy.

Beautiful.

Her breath caught.

"Grant..."

"Do you like them?"

"They're beautiful."

He smiled.

"They reminded me of you."

She looked at him.

"Why?"

"Because they're not too flashy."

He gently brushed her hair aside.

"But everyone notices them."

A pause.

"Just like you."

Her eyes became glossy.

Grant didn't notice.

Or maybe he did.

But he pretended not to.

"Try them."

---

A few minutes later, Erixia stood in front of the mirror.

The diamond earrings sparkled against her skin.

Behind her, Grant wrapped his arms around her waist.

"You look beautiful."

She looked at their reflection.

The perfect husband.

The perfect wife.

The perfect marriage.

At least...

That's what everyone believed.

"Thank you."

Grant rested his chin on her shoulder.

"For what?"

"For always trying."

He smiled.

"Always."

That word.

Always.

It felt heavier than ever.

---

Later that night, after dinner, Grant sat beside her on the couch.

Her head rested on his shoulder.

His fingers played with hers.

"You know what I realized today?"

"What?"

"No matter how busy my life gets..."

He looked at their intertwined hands.

"I never want to be too busy for you."

Erixia closed her eyes.

"Grant..."

"Hmm?"

"I'm sorry."

He looked down at her.

"For what?"

Her lips parted.

But nothing came out.

Because she couldn't tell him.

Not yet.

So instead...

She whispered the only thing she could say.

"For everything."

Grant smiled softly and kissed her hair.

"I know you're not perfect, Rixy."

Her heart stopped.

"But you're mine."

A tear escaped her eye.

Hidden against his shirt.

And Grant, unaware of the storm inside her...

Held his wife tighter.

Still believing he had forever with her.