Bab 23: Chapter 23

"Mom..."

"Mom... Look..." Jules could already hear the excitement and amazement in her son's voice as they entered the massive gates and drove along the long driveway.

"Mom, look at this place." Oliver's eyes were ready to pop as he stared at his captivating surroundings, clearly in awe at the enormity of the house and the magnificence of the landscape.

She could already imagine what was going through her son's mind. She believed in her son's eyes that this place was a Kingdom and that the imposing structure was a castle.

She remembered she thought the same thing when Dale brought her to his family home. She could not even envision living in his world.

"Yeah, I am looking." She whispered to her son, conflicted with the mixed emotions rushing through her mind and body.

Her apartment suddenly looked like a matchbox compared to Damon's home. Even the resort seemed small compared to the size of the entire estate as her eyes roamed the spacious lawn.

Her son could have all this. Oliver could have a comfortable life, security, and a chance for a great future compared to what she could give him.

But she could not picture living her life without him. After the arrangement, she doubted if Damon would let her stay in his house. He might want her son, seeing him as his future heir, but he would not want her to hang around.

But what future could she give her son? Whatever it was, she believed he belonged with her.

"Is this going to be our home?" Her son asked as his voice slightly trembled with excitement.

She could see that her son could not wait to see the rest of the place. If he was not in a wheelchair, she knew he would have run the steps and the slippery hallway, enjoying the immense space.

But she was hopeful that upon regaining her son's full strength, he could finally be the active boy she chased around their tiny apartment.

"Yes. We are going to stay here." She avoided saying the word forever since she had no intention of remaining married to him for long.

As soon as the contract was over, she was leaving this place. And then she would take her boy with him because she had no plan of leaving him behind.

"What do you think?" Finally, Damon stood beside them, holding onto Oliver's wheelchair. "Do you like my home?" Then, he corrected himself. "I meant your new home."

He pushed Oliver's chair until they reached the steps by the front doors. Then, he leaned over and scooped Oliver in his arms, carrying him inside the threshold of his massive mansion.

Truthfully, it was a scene that suddenly brought tears to her eyes, but she quickly blinked them away, reminding herself that nothing about this was real.

She should not let their play-acting fool her into believing they were a family. It would take a miracle for someone like him to have a heart and want a family. And she doubted it would be her.

But she could not help but remember a few of her dreams where she wished that, by some miracle, Oliver would have a father who would love him deeply.

"It is big." Oliver acknowledged as he observed everything around him, holding to Damon's shoulders to balance himself. "Do you live here alone?"

She wanted to stop him from being nosy. But she did not want to suppress his curiosity. Therefore, she held her tongue, hoping her son would not cross any line.

"No, I have people who live here with me," Damon answered, appearing comfortable with how he handled their son and his questions.

"And this is Philip." Damon stopped in front of a man impeccably dressed in a suit. "He takes care of this place," Damon told their young boy.

"Hi, Philip. I am Oliver, and I am going to live here now." Her son extended his short arms, waiting for the man to shake them. "And my Mom said that Damon will be my Dad once they marry."

"It is nice to meet you, Young Master Oliver." The man smiled while his wrinkles showed on his face, appearing amused with her son. Then, he took her son's little hand and gently shook them.

"I am sure that Master Damon will be a great Dad." The older man tapped her child's hand as if assuring her son he was in good hands.

Suddenly, she wondered how much this man knew about their arrangement. Or did he believe that Damon was marrying her for love?

"Nah!" She could not see Damon loving anyone other than himself. And she was sure that this older gentleman knew that too well.

"Did you say something?" Suddenly, Damon was looking at her with his eyebrows raised.

At first, she had no idea what he meant, but then again, she realized she might have mumbled her reaction loudly about Damon being a great father, or was it marrying out of love?

"No, I don't think so." She denied uttering a word, but from the look on his face, he did not believe her.

Nevertheless, she did not care what he thought of her, but arguing before her son was the last thing on her mind.

"Who are they?" But their son seemed oblivious to them as his eyes turned to the people lined up on the other side of the hallway.

Oliver's interruption was a welcome reprieve. Frankly, she could not see herself marrying this despicable man. Despite what happened, she still believed he participated in ruining her life.

However, she swore that her only priority was her son. If she had to use Damon to give her son an equal chance of a better future, she would do it.

She did not care anymore about her reputation. She finally gave up on her future. But she was not yet done fighting for her son.

"They are the people who are working in this house. If you need anything, all you have to do is tell Philip or one of them." Damon pointed to the twelve men and women wearing black and white uniforms.

Still, she would only ask for what was fair. She still did not believe that money was the only thing that ruled the world. She still wanted her son to believe in love.