Chapter 4

"Well, if you are not convinced, then why do you can see it yourself." He said and left to check the twins that are in their crib.

I went to my room to get that agreement paper. I search for the page and look for the clause that he mentioned in the contract and he is telling the truth. Whatever he might request after the compensation, I have to abide, I sat on my bed and think then I went out to go to the kitchen where he is sitting down and preparing some meal for the both of us. "What is your request?" I hope it won't be the marriage that he really wanted the most.

He was washing the bottles of the twins. "What if I tell you that I want you to give me full custody of the twins?" he said without turning so I couldn't tell what expression he is making. "Remember, you can't say no but I am giving you the benefit of the doubt."

I lean on the table and look at him. Giving him full custody of the twins means I will be the one to ask for visitation rights and everything that I need to be with my children. I felt my heart ache just thinking about it, it made me frown. A long sigh escaped from my mouth. I was about to answer when he talk again.

"What if I tell you, I want to have another child and I want to make it as soon as possible? It's not a bad deal, after all, you can have the twins… I will still be a father to them but the next baby will be in my custody and whenever I visit, you can be able to see the child." he said once again while arranging the dates of the breast milk I pumped earlier.

Did I hear it right? Another baby, then that means I have to do that with him again. It's not that I cannot do it again but I just gave birth, how can he be so cruel?

After sorting the dates, he is carefully placing them in the freezer. "What if I tell you, I want our baby girl to be with me and our baby boy will stay with you they can still play though whenever we visit."

I frown. Separating the twins, I won't allow that! I never thought that he was this desperate to have a child. I never thought that he is too much to handle. I thought I knew him already.

"Or… those conditions won't matter as long as we live as a family of four, doing the husband and wife duties and setting aside the marriage." He said while I am contemplating. "You have to choose, Abstract. Getting a marriage certificate, how your family wants it to be, or living in with me and doing all the perks of a married couple." He said as went back to check the water on the bottle steam sterilizer.

I tried to be strong and rational. I do not know who this man was right in front of me anymore. Why is he doing this? I turn around as I am about to answer when he suddenly hugs me tight.

"Those are all what-ifs, Rackie. I will never let you choose any of them. I am just making you think of the possibility that if I request cruel things from you but I am not that bad to break your heart by requesting that will go against your principle and will hurt you. However, I only have two requests that you can choose from. You will still have the option."

I close my fists as firmly as I could. "What are those options you have for me?" I replied while my eyes are closed.

"First option, give me the chance to show you how much I love you by going on a date with me once a week. At least, you can still think that if you date me you will know me better not just a friend." He said and he sighed. I opened my eyes and held my breath. "Second option, I know I cannot stop you from marrying someone else if…" his hug tightens. "… if we really didn't end up together so, my request is... when that time comes, I hope that you will choose to have someone that our twins will approve of because I will do the same."

I turn around, close my eyes and hug him. I am just backing out because of that call I made last week when a girl answered his phone. I am just afraid that he will get tired of me because I can't give them things that he expects me to give. I am afraid that he will find a girl that can give more than what I can offer. I can't help but think about it over and over again. I don't want to lose our friendship the most yet here I am pushing him over and over again. "Who is that girl who answered your phone?" I can't help but ask.

"Who's the girl?" he asks as he tries to push me away so he could look at me.

"The girl on the phone the last time I called you," I replied then suddenly I thought that maybe that woman didn't tell him that I called.

"Oh… wait, I remember. River told me that you called me last time as I was taking a bath. I went to her house because I fetch them to go to the hospital. After all, Lily was sick. However, before we go out of her house, Lily vomits while I was carrying her that is why I had to take a bath first before going to the hospital."

I can't catch up anymore. Who are these River and Lily that he is talking about? Wait! Don't tell me…

"Whoa! Rackie, don't make your imagination run wild. River is my childhood friend, and Lily is her daughter. The father of Lily didn't appear again after knowing River is pregnant. I am taking care of them because I promised her parents. After all, they left her that I will look after her and her daughter. Just to be clear, I am not the father of Lily although she is calling me daddy I am her godfather."

"So, you mean to say…"

He laughs. "Did that worry you?" he asks full of excitement all over his face. "Well, River is also the interior designer that I also get whenever I have a project that needs her help so she can have extra income. Well, raising a child alone is a tough job while also working so she can support their daily necessities."

"Well, I was worried that you can't be with the one you really love and all. I was worried that after marriage, I can't provide the duty of a wife and you'll end up having an affair. That is why; I told you that I want you to be happy."

"Hey, are you saying that I'll end up betraying you by cheating just because you can't give the wife duties?" he asks. I nod. He sighs and hugs me once again. "Oh, Rackie… why would you think that? I will never force you to do anything that will make you feel uncomfortable, if you can't do it, that's fine, we can talk about it. I will never cheat on you, not even thinking of betraying you." he said full of understanding. "Wait, is that the reason why you are asking to break our agreement?"

I nod. "I was afraid that if we got married, you'll have an affair because you won't be happy to be with me."

"Now that is it clear, do you still want to break our agreement?"

I shook my head. "I want to have a whole family, I badly want our twins to grow up with us together."

He smiled at me. "Then, let's do that. You do not need to worry about everything or anything. No one can take me away from you. I'll stick with you like cement."

I crooked my forehead. "Why cement?"

"Well, if I did say like glue, there's still a way to separate us from each other that is why, I said cement since cement will stay still when it is dry and even if you break it, still it'll be hard."

I laughed. "Corny!" I commented.

He laughed with me. "At least, I still made you laugh, right?" he said. "Let's go, everything is ready. I just do not know if you are."

After checking all the necessary things before going to his house, he received a call. "Rackie, we have a problem."

"What is it?" I asked.

"King told me not to go home right now because there's trouble in the house."

I look at him with confusion all over my face. "What trouble?"

"She's back."