The Contract That Changed Everything

A

r?" Raymond's questio

s dead," I said quietly. "Not in the way you thin

first enemy, and he'll always be my enemy. He's the reason I never got to fe

cut through the room. We ran inside to find h

her hair gently. "Mummy's here,

lmed under my touch, and

nt, my thoughts lingering o

*

ONTHS

of a sudden?" Bella asked, her small

ror, keeping my face calm. "Don't you lik

er voice lifting for a moment. Then she added softly, "Bu

hest. I reached over and touched her hand. "You'll do great, Bella. An

trembled slightly as sh

with Raymond constantly hovering around, wasn't something I could handle anymore. Sending her to boar

here. It wasn't just the way he insisted on getting her things every time or calling to check on he

o ask if I needed help paying for it-despite alrea

as dragging. What was holding his father back from finalizing it? The

Bella and me to breathe without Raymond'

y daughter going to a standard school is my joy. Her face lit up as she spo

tightened. "I know. That's wh

tle, but as I hugged her goodbye, her words s

o, Bella. So much," I whi

small frame carrying her violin case, one o

ou baby"

*

pick up a new skincare product. I deserved a little self-care after the week I'd had. Just a

the screen.

myself for whatever this was about

as brisk, straight to the p

, more annoyed than I probably should've been. "It'

nued, "Raymond is very sic

rocess what he'd said

stunned. "What? Why

ing at the road ahead. The call fr

. If he's sick, he can take care of himself. I shook my head, muttering to

unfamiliar car parked outside. Its shiny black exterior

ed, stepping out of the car. Mi

, and I never expected the peop

face immediately caught my attention. His left cheek was a

thing, Grandma's voice

med. "Come, come, come! We

t beside her, moti

His father sat carefully in an armchair, watching me

ul. "Ah, you're looking at him, too. I don't know how you're coping wit

my lips despite myself.

uttered quickly, "It's nothing."

can never be nothing, my darling," she sai

s high school students saw him and tried to take a picture of him-probably to make him go viral. But this stubborn boy caught sight of them,

lf. The image of Raymond, standing in the middle of a fight wit

urning red-not just from the swelling, but f

row, clearly unimpressed. "Then

of the story and saving what was left of his pride. I pressed m

I said, my voice te

th and stormed toward the kitchen,

ing her head. "HE-goat

ter bubbling in my chest

***

ng to leave for his office, she insisted that, I make some food and we all eat together. She said something

patiently eating our food-or at least trying to.

a mischievous grin. "You know," she began, glancing at Raymond, "I t

ork pausing midair. "G

***The mighty Raymond took on some kids, b

food, covering my mo

eady," Raymond mutte

y, who gets beaten up by high schoolers? If I were you, I'd st

lipped out, and when Raymond turned his g

joying herself. "Maybe next time, you'll th

s face turning red-not just from embarrassment but also

calm but firm. The table fell quiet, and I took the opport

did

er said suddenly, breaking the qu

anded like

t, coughing violently. I wasn't much better-I froze mid-bite, my

and I shouted a

. "You heard me. Marriage. Maybe it'll settle you down, Raymo

to process what he'd just heard. "Th

delighted smile spreading across her face. "Imagine-gra

t her. "W

roaned, pinching th

tter-of-fact. "Of course, it's up to you. But if you're not ready for marr

. His jaw tightened, and his hand

oment, I thought he'd explode. Instead, he let out

out of my chai