Chapter 41: Chapter 41

MARA'S POV

Six years later...

"Ms. Mara, Ms. Jessica is here." My secretary said on the intercom.

“Okay. Let her in.”

I saw Jessica entered my office. I guided her to the sofa. She took out her portfolios one by one. She showed me the possible concepts for Tanya’s 7th birthday. I chose the Beauty and the Beast concept. It just came out of the cinema, so Tanya was so thrilled about this movie. After that, the stylist who will do the costumes also came.

This is Tanya’s 7th birthday, that’s why we’ll be going to throw a big party for her.

A few minutes later, the intercom rang again. I went to my table to answer it.

"Ms. Mara, Sir Maru is already here." My secretary informed me.

"Copy. Thanks." I said, then I dropped the intercom.

I went and opened the door for my husband. I was greeted by a very handsome creature wearing a big smile. He asked for a hug which I gladly oblige.

"I miss you, wife!" He whispered, then he kisses my temple.

I softly hit him. "We were just together this morning!"

He chuckled. “So what? I always miss you every second when you are not with me.”

I rolled my eyes. "Liar!"

I pulled him towards the sofa where the people who will do the costumes for the party were.

"Good afternoon Mr. Ottave!" They said while giggling.

I just shook my head. My husband is very handsome. That’s why I’m so used to that kind of reaction. Maru didn’t entertain those girls, so I never gave attention to them. We ended the meeting fast because it’s almost time for lunch.

Since the hospital incident, we have never seen Jana again. The last news that we heard about her is that she flew to Canada. She has a relative there, and she accepted a job offer in Canada. I already forgave her for what she has done to us, and I think Maru did too.

What she did is wrong, but I understand her. Her love and obsession blinded her to get Maru. Her only fault was she let herself consume by her selfishness. We just hoped that this thing would serve as a lesson for her. And also, Jana is still young. She will still meet a lot of guys. I hope that she will meet the right person for her pretty soon.

"Let's go?" Maru said.

I nodded at him, and we both went out of the office. We will be going first to Tanya’s school to have lunch together.

We saw Tanya coming out of the gate when we arrived at her school. I waved at her. She looks excited while going towards us.

"Mommy! Daddy!" She excitedly greeted us.

I was smiling while kissing my daughter.

"Mom and dad have a surprise for you! But we need to get out of here and have our lunch first." I said to her sweetly.

I saw her eyes twinkle.

This is our schedule during our lunchtime. It so happens that Tanya’s out from school is lunchtime, so Maru and I decided to fetch her every day after her class and eat lunch together.

Sometimes Maru sends her home after lunch, but sometimes she will go with us to the office and do her school homework there.

My life is already complete. I couldn’t ask for more. I never thought, even in my dream, that I will be this happy knowing that our marriage was just arranged. I felt that all my life, I will use all my time to handle our family business.

What I did not know was that God had a great plan for my life. They were right. No one can perceive what God has prepared for us. His plan was always good. I didn’t think that this arranged marriage will be God’s instrument to achieve my dream of a happily ever after.

I also found out that my parents were really in love with each other. At that time, they were letting their pride overpower them. That is why they treated each other like that when I was young.

My mom thought that my dad doesn’t love her, and my dad just forced himself to marry her. My mom was in love with my dad even before their marriage. She thought that my dad doesn’t have feelings for her.

My mom doesn’t want to force herself on my dad; that’s why she became cold towards him. While dad tolerates mom’s attitude towards him. Then mom thought that dad was having an affair. My mom’s pride cannot take it. That’s why she decided to leave daddy.

Dad was alarmed by my mom’s plans, so he courted and confessed his feeling to her. And the rest is history.

Maybe I wasn’t able to notice it because I was consumed by my thought of being unwanted by my parents. I was not made out of obligation but out of love because they secretly love each other.

I felt giddy when I heard their love story. I felt like my life before was wasted. If I only knew that story, my life wouldn’t be that boring.

But on the other hand, it's also a good thing that it happened, because if I knew that my parents loved me, I would have asked them to stop the arranged marriage and just let me choose the one I want to marry.

Indeed, everything happened for a reason.

***

It was baby Tanya's seventh birthday!

Tanya was wearing Belle's costume, while Maru was supposed to wear the Beast costume, but our daughter didn’t like the idea because, as per her, I will not have a partner. That’s why his uncle James wore the costume instead.

James and Tanya have a resemblance, and Maru can’t accept that fact. I just laughed at him whenever he gets pissed when he hears people saying that Tanya and James look so much alike.

If you think about it, he also has a huge resemblance to Tanya. Tanya is Maru’s female version. But because Maru and James look so much alike, so automatically, Tanya will have a resemblance with James.

My daughter is very close with her uncle. My husband often gets jealous because of the closeness of the two. Most of the time, Tanya was looking for her uncle more than her dad.

James was always out of the country. That’s why Tanya was like that, but Maru can’t accept that reason. I just shook my head from my husband’s rant.

“Friend, stop staring at Tanya and James! Your husband will turn to a beast if he sees you!” Yelle teased me.

"You look beautiful in your dress, friend!" I said instead.

"I know, right." She giggles.

I rolled my eyes from her cockiness.

“But has no love life!” I said, then laughed.

“You are so mean!” She pouted her lips.

We just laughed at our craziness.

“Yelle, you are already thirty-two, yet you don’t even have a boyfriend!” I told her.

“So what? That’s the trend now!” She said, then she rolled her eyes.

“Your thing might close if you don’t use that!” I teased her.

She rolled her eyes. "Duh?! You are so naughty! Is that what you have learned from your husband?!”

I hug her. “I’m just kidding, okay?! I’m just concern about you.” I said sweetly.

She just pouted. “I haven’t met the one yet.”

“You are so meticulous and choosy, that’s why!”

"Because I deserve the best!" She confidently said.

“I couldn’t agree more. But maybe the person who is perfect for you is just right there, but you can’t see him because you are looking at the wrong place or person.” I said with so much concern

“I’m okay, friend. If I will be an old maid, so be it.” She said, then shrugged.

I shook my head and looked at my daughter and his uncle.

I suddenly smile.

“What do you think about James? I think you two are a perfect match! You both are near the finish line!” I teased her.

"Haha, funny," Yelle said, a bit pissed.

I just laughed at her reaction. This two were not getting along with each other. I don’t know what’s with them—the reason why I often teased them with each other.

In us three, Yelle was the only one who was still single. Alex got married two years ago. And her wife is already pregnant. I'm happy with his married life. And I can see contentment and happiness in his eyes. I know he deserved it.

That is why we were so concerned with Yelle’s love life. What she always said is true. She has a lot of suitors, but she never likes even just one of her suitors.

I shake my head. With her personality, I never thought that she will still be an NBSB, No Boyfriend Since Birth. The first time she tried to court someone, she was dumped. Thanks to my dear husband.

After some activities on Tanya's birthday, Maru called us to accompany Tanya to blow the candle.

"Make a wish, princess," Maru whispered.

She closed her eyes and made her wish.

After that, she blows her candle. Everyone gave her warm applause. We asked her about her wish.

"I want a baby sister or a brother, mommy, daddy!"

The audience cheered!

"We'll work on that." Maru just said.

I smiled at my daughter.

"Wish granted, baby!" I told her.

The crowd went silent

“I now have a baby sister or a brother, mommy?”

I nodded.

"Where?" My daughter asked with excitement.

I point at my belly. "Here, baby. Wait for eight months, and you will be with your sibling.”

I turned to Maru to see his reaction. He looked so shocked from what he just heard. His hand was trembling while touching my belly.

"You mean..." He still can’t believe what he just heard.

I nodded and took out a gift box.

"I was about to give this to you for being a great husband and a father."

"But it looks like our daughter also wants this gift.” I smiled and look at my daughter.

Then Maru took the gift from my hand. He was trembling while opening the gift. His eyes widened. Later I could see the redness in his eyes. He took out the pregnancy test from the box.

"Y-you are p-pregnant!" He said in disbelief.

I nodded and kissed him.

"Y-yes! Yes!" He shouted.

He then hugged me and kissed me.

"Dad, me too! Kiss!"

The people laughed at my daughter’s request.

Maru held her and kissed her.

"Thank you, wife! I love you."

"I love you too."