Upon arriving at the Moore manor, Henry immediately made his way into the study. He wanted to draft the marriage agreement. After many rounds of revision, he was finally done with it.He looked at the agreement and grinned like a satisfied cat.The agreement was between two parties. Party A being Henry Moore and Party B being Monique Xander. The gist of the agreement was as below:[Party B will serve Party A as a personal live-in maid, available at any hour of the day.[Party B is not allowed to have eye contact with other men for more than ten seconds. Party B is not allowed to have skin contact with other men.[The party who breaks the rule will agree to pay the other party $3,000,000,000.[If either party breaks the rule, Party A will have custody of Angel Xander and the necessary compensation will be made to Party B. This clause is to ensure Angel Xander receives the best possible care.]These were the major points in the agreement which Henry highlighted. The whole document
Monique wished time would stop at this moment.However, dreams were always short-lived.Time awaited no man.The alarm rang again and disturbed the morning peace. Ring! Ring!The alarm tone was frustrating.It was the first time Monique felt the urge to throw her phone away.The sentiment was shared by Henry.Monique switched off the alarm. When she saw what was on her phone screen, the calm from before disappeared.It was already 8am and she was going to be late.She remembered setting her alarm for 7am. Why was it ringing an hour later?Monique quickly sat up.It was her fourth day of work. She was already late on her second day and absent on her third. There was no way she could be late again.Her coworkers and manager already had a bad impression of her.She rolled out of bed and promptly made her way to the bathroom.Henry was amused when he saw her rushing.He elegantly crawled out of bed and went to the room next door to freshen up.By the time Monique was done,
”You want to come with us?” Monique was surprised.‘Well hurry up then!’ she thought.Angel danced happily and ran to Henry’s side. She climbed up the chair beside him and said, “I love you, Daddy!” She then gave Henry a kiss on the cheek.Henry stroked the little girl’s cheek and said, “Wait for me, okay?”“Okay.” Angel blinked and nodded.She was happy that her parents wanted to send her to school together.Very happy.She wanted to show her parents off to the children at school. They would be jealous of her, especially that chubby kid who came from a rich family.Mrs. Lawson felt the love in the interaction between Henry and Angel. She was happy for her master.On the other hand, Monique was processing a bunch of conflicting emotions. Her dream and reality were overlapping. Although Henry treated Angel well and Angel liked the man, Monique could not shake off the idea that it was weird for them to bond when they did not have a blood relation.She massaged her temple.Was
Monique bit her lip. She did not want Henry to go to work with an empty stomach. She told him,“Finish your food, I’ll wait.”Henry gave her a blank stare and urged, “Let’s go!”The woman was continuously pestering him to be quick.After he lost his appetite, she wanted him to continue eating?What did she think he was?Being annoyed, he said. “I need another 30 minutes to finish.”30 minutes?Impossible!Monique regretted her words.She should have just let him starve.“No way!” Monique retorted. She watched as Henry’s expression darkened.The pair of cold and black eyes locked onto Monique. Did she make him angry?Her survival instincts kicked in and she gave him a toothy grin. She said, “I mean, I’ll take Angel to school, you can slowly enjoy your breakfast! No rush!”The option upsetted Angel. The little girl frowned and complained, “No! I want both Daddy and Mommy to send me to school!”One could hear the determination in her juvenile voice.“But Angel, Mommy’s going
A smile broke through Angel’s teary face. She nodded enthusiastically.The smile on her face showcased her dimples. The little girl looked especially pretty when she was happy.The frustration in Monique’s heart melted away. She hugged her daughter and gave her a light kiss on the forehead.She knew Henry was an important figure in Angel’s life and so was she.Angel once said that if Henry harmed her, she would leave with Monique without asking any questions.For Angel and her own sake, was she able to conquer her own insecurities and take a step forward?Monique entertained the thoughts of being with Henry but her fear and insecurity hampered her.She took a liking to the man but she could not shake the feeling that he was only playing with her. She was a toy that could be discarded anytime he was bored.What could she do to make him stay?Monique stood up and gave Henry a gentle smile. She then said, “Enjoy your meal. I’ll wait for you.”The smile was easy and attractive. I
Angel raised her chubby arm and covered her face with an open palm. Her eyes twinkled in faux surprise as she smiled.It was all thanks to Angel’s sacrifice and perseverance.As long as her mother gave in to her father, they would be a happy family.When Henry released Monique, her face was as red as a baboon’s butt. She did not meet his eyes.She looked down and was met with Angel’s knowing stare.Monique raised her head and saw Mrs. Lawson giving her an affectionate smile.She faked her composure and said, “Then…Let’s go to school…”She took Angel’s hand and turned to leave.“I don’t have my bag!” Angel said.With her escape plan foiled, Monique stopped in her tracks. Henry noticed she was avoiding his gaze and grinned.Mrs. Lawson brought the school bag to Angel. Then, Monique took her daughter’s hand on one side while Henry took the other.Together, the three of them walked out of the house.It was not the first time Monique felt that they were a family.On Angel’s fir
Henry’s gaze softened as he looked at Angel and said, “Of course.”“I’ll be waiting! Both of you must come, okay? Don’t trick me,” Angel said.The last time they promised to pick her up from school, her mother ended up coming alone and she was late. The incident made Angel wary.Monique was delighted by her daughter’s cheery mood. She stroked the little girl’s hair.Henry pulled over by the road side in front of the kindergarten.Angel extended her little finger and gave both adults an innocent smile. She then said, “Then we should pinky swear on it.”No one could resist the simple request made by the adorable child.Monique hooked her little finger around her daughter’s, then turned to Henry.Would the uppity chairman join them?Angel’s joyous grin and the bashful expression on Monique’s face were enough to make Henry succumb. He raised his pinky and joined in with a blissful smile on his face. Warmth spread through them where their fingers joined.“Pinky swear, no take-back
Henry Moore was not her husband. However, during Angel’s kindergarten registration, Monique listed Henry’s as the father—she did it for Angel’s sake.There was no response from Henry. Monique then gave Miss Christine an awkward smile and said, “Thanks.”Monique did not shut the idea down. Instead, she reveled in the thought of having Henry Moore as her husband.“Say goodbye to your Mommy and Daddy,” Miss Christine told Angel.“Bye bye!” Angel waved her hand at Monique and Henry. She reminded them before they parted, “Remember to pick me up later!”Henry and Monique walked back to the car and Monique got into the driver’s seat.She drove faster than usual as she was running late for work. She kept an eye on Henry who was seated at the back. The morning sun shone onto the man who was focused on his phone.Monique remembered the first time she witnessed him driving at night.Her life was turned upside down after meeting Henry.It was a blessing in disguise. She did not want to th