Chapter 03
1534 Words
"Why does it seem like you’re suddenly deaf?"
One of the things that annoyed Farrah the most about Raze? His utterly blank expression. It was impossible to tell what was going through his mind.
“You’re joking, right?” Farrah asked once she regained her composure. She even forced a small laugh to lighten the mood. “I’ll just assume what you said was a joke.”
“Do I look like a joker?” Raze asked, his face completely devoid of humor.
Farrah’s smile vanished. Was he serious? No jokes?
“Welcome back, my wife.”
Wife.
The word sounded sarcastic to Farrah’s ears. She wasn’t amused. “Raze Elizalde, this wasn’t part of our agreement!” she hissed.
“I changed my mind while you were away. And there’s nothing you can do about it, Farrah.”
Their marriage wasn’t annulled four years ago? Farrah felt a headache coming on.
“That’s impossible,” she managed to say. “As far as I remember, you never wanted marriage in the first place. You were practically excited for our annulment to go through. Mr. Elizalde, I don’t have time for your jokes. You made me sign the annulment papers back then, so how—”
Farrah’s words faltered as Raze reached for something at the corner of his desk.
Her heart sank further when she saw the annulment papers—signed only by her. There was no signature on Raze’s part. But why?
Her shock turned into disbelief as Raze tore the papers into pieces right in front of her. He tossed the shreds into the trash bin with finality.
“See? Our marriage isn’t annulled. You’re still my wife, Farrah Margarette Elizalde.”
Elizalde?
Her?
Still?
The realization felt like a weight pressing on her chest. This wasn’t good. She was certain Raze had a hidden agenda—it couldn’t possibly be love.
If he dared claim it was because he loved her, she’d laugh in his face. She might even roll on the floor laughing.
Impossible. Completely impossible.
Raze had made it clear back then that he’d rather marry his business than be tied for life to a woman he didn’t love.
And he didn’t love her. He never had.
So why hadn’t he annulled their marriage? That was the burning question in her mind.
“I’m tired. I just had a long trip. If this is some prank, don’t. And I’m sure that document you tore up was fake.”
“You still don’t believe me? Go ahead, check your marital status. Request a CENOMAR,” he challenged.
“H-how could you?” she said, anger flashing in her eyes. “You made a promise, Mr. Elizalde.”
“Can’t a promise be broken?”
“But our agreement was clear. I held up my end of the deal. You got what you wanted. Why are you messing with me now?”
Farrah swallowed hard as Raze took a step closer. Her chest tightened as the space between them shrank to just a single step.
“You still owe me big time, Farrah.”
“And me? Don’t I deserve credit for what I’ve done for you?”
“Do you think you’re the only woman in the world?”
Farrah was at a loss for words. He was right—she wasn’t the only woman he could have married back then.
But he chose her.
She lowered her gaze.
“Now that you’re back—”
“I’m not staying long in this country,” she interrupted.
“I don’t think so.”
She glared up at him, her brows furrowing. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“If you try to leave, you’ll just be wasting your time.”
With Raze Elizalde’s influence, she was sure he’d already done something to block her departure. The thought made her want to stomp her feet in frustration.
“Mr. Elizalde, stop this nonsense,” she said firmly.
“Nonsense isn’t my style, Farrah.”
“Then what do you want? You wouldn’t bother with me unless you needed something. If I had no use to you anymore, you’d have made sure I was out of your life by now.”
Her throat tightened as she spoke those words.
It was as though Raze wanted to refute her, but he chose not to.
“Do you want me to get straight to the point?”
"Your time is gold, right? Just get to the point. Stop beating around the bush and—"
"I need an heir. And you’re the one I want to give it to me, Farrah."
Farrah was speechless once again. Did she hear him right? Raze needs an heir?
She couldn’t help but laugh at his words. Her laughter only seemed to make his brows furrow deeper.
"What’s so funny?"
"You are, Mr. Elizalde. You need an heir? And you want me to be the one? Why don’t you just get another woman pregnant? I’m sure no one would dare refuse you. They’d probably spread their legs before you even finish asking."
Raze’s lips tightened into a firm line, clearly not amused by her sarcasm.
"Like it or not, you’ll bear my child."
"And what if I refuse?"
"You know how influential I am. I doubt you’d want to go against me, Farrah. If I want to, I could destroy your life."
The smile on her face vanished instantly. She knew Raze wasn’t bluffing. He was a powerful man. If he truly meant what he said, he could ruin her. Everything she worked so hard for—her four years of studying at Harvard, her dream of success—it could all crumble in an instant.
Her heart clenched, and she felt her knees weaken. She swallowed hard, the lump in her throat making it painful to even do that.
"I want a son, Farrah."
"I haven’t agreed to anything, Mr. Elizalde," she said after recovering herself.
"You don’t really have a choice, Farrah. Think about it—you have nowhere else to go in this country."
"That’s what you think," she snapped. "Did you forget where I grew up? Do you think I can’t go back there?"
"You’d force yourself back to that place? Don’t you know? The orphanage you came from is on the verge of shutting down. But if you agree to what I’m asking, I can save it."
Could what he said be true? And if it is, how did he know about the orphanage's situation?
"How do you know about what’s happening to the orphanage?"
"Connections," Raze said plainly. "Even though you don’t have much of a choice, I still want you to willingly carry my child."
Farrah clenched her fists. "It’s impossible for you to run out of women."
"I don’t have time for the women you’re talking about."
"Then why me?"
"Because you’re still my wife. And everyone knows you’re my wife."
Wife... his wife...
"A wife that no one has seen in four years?" Farrah retorted quickly. "Don’t make me laugh. I’m sure they already assume we’re separated. And they’re not wrong."
Farrah froze when Raze held up his hand, showing her the wedding ring still on his finger.
"Don’t you think this ring is proof enough?"
"I have to hand it to you—you’re committed to the prop," she said, trying to sound unimpressed. But deep down, she couldn’t believe what she was seeing. Was it true? Had Raze kept wearing that ring all this time?
"Even though you can’t do anything about what I want, I still want to hear you say you’ll do it willingly."
"And why is that?"
"Because you’ll be carrying my child for nine months, Farrah. I want to make sure you’re fully on board with it."
Carry Raze’s child?
The very thought sent shivers down her spine. She felt like she was drowning in the reality of his demands.
Raze Elizalde—he wanted her to be the mother of his heir. But why?
Because you’re the wife everyone knows he has, Farrah, her mind whispered. It only makes sense for you to be the one to give him an heir.
But was that reason enough?
"If you willingly agree to my terms, I’ll make sure the House of Hope gets a significant donation immediately. Still doubting the orphanage’s situation? Go see for yourself."
The weight of his words was crushing. She didn’t want to see the place that had given her so much close down for good. It was a haven for children like her—those without parents, abandoned and left to fend for themselves.
"You said you wanted to visit that place. I’ll allow it, Farrah. But you’re not going anywhere without bodyguards. I’ll assign three to accompany you whenever you leave the house. And if you’re tired from your trip, take some rest now."
Farrah watched as Raze walked past her and left the Study Room. She placed a hand on her forehead as she was left alone.
What a way to welcome her back.
It felt like a nightmare. But it wasn’t. This was her reality now. She wanted to cry, but no tears came.
- Writer
