The Billionaire's Contracted Wife [English]

Ashley was going to rest. Her eyes were closed but she was interrupted when her phone vibrated under her pillow. She picked up her phone and looked at why it vibrated.

When she looked at her notifications, an unknown number had messaged her.

Unknown: [Forgive me!]

She suddenly thought of who would message her something like that.

She thought of Koji Hanada, but she knew his number. She thought of asking Butler Ruffy or Tiny, but the case was that her family was still there; she didn’t want them to know about the message.

Ashley decided on replying to know who the person was. She typed a response.

Tanaga – who was looking at his phone and waiting for Ashley’s answer – almost lost hold of his phone when it made a notification sound.

He immediately looked to see if Ashley had replied. When he saw that it was from her, his heart skipped a beat. He smiled cheerfully while reading the text.

My Wife: [I can forgive you, but I don’t know what you’ve done, so how can I forgive you?]

He sat on the sofa and prepared himself to text his wife until he was forgiven.

Unknown: [I made many mistakes and wrong deeds to you. One thing is the thing I said to you and how I treated you. Sorry!]

When Ashley received the message, she suddenly thought that it might be Tanaga texting her. To make sure of that, she quickly replied to the unknown number.

My Wife: [Who are you?]

Unknown: [What? Do you also have amnesia?]

My Wife: [I don’t have amnesia! Duh!]

Unknown: [If you don’t have amnesia, why are you asking who I am?]

My Wife: [Because it is the first time seeing your number. You didn’t even introduce yourself!]

Unknown: [Sorry, I forgot that my number also changed.]

When Ashley read the last message, she came to the conclusion that Tanaga was the unknown number. She thought of teasing her husband.

My Wife: [If that’s the case, why didn’t you tell who you are? Anyway, I forgive you for what you did, Mr. Koji Hanada!]

When Tanaga read the name Ashley sent, he suddenly wanted to rush towards Ashley’s room so that the two of them could clear things up. But he thought of going with the flow.

Tanaga: [What? You’re forgiving me now? If I’m forgiven, can we talk personally? Just the two of us, if that is okay?] He then clicked ’send’.

When Ashley read it, she suddenly thought of a good answer. A couple of seconds had passed yet she was still not replying. Tanaga couldn’t wait any longer and messaged again.

Tanaga: [Why aren’t you replying? Does this mean you really can’t forgive me? If that’s the case, even if you don’t want it, I’m gonna go to your room and face your family.]

Tanaga threatened her – which he was really gonna do if Ashley wouldn’t reply.

When Ashley read it, she hastily replied so that he wouldn’t come while her family was still there.

My Wife: [Give me thirty minutes before I let you come. I need to chase my family away first. Do you understand that, Tanaga Hanada Jones?]

When Tanaga saw Ashley’s answer, a gleeful smile formed in his lips. He then texted back.

Tanaga: [Thank you, I’ll be waiting.]

Ashley: [(❁´◡`❁)]

Ashley quickly thought of ways to chase her family away so that she and Tanaga could talk with no one disturbing them.

"Dad, Mom. I wanna talk to you for a second," Ashley called her parents, asking them to come to her bed.

"What is it Ashley?" the couple asked in chorus.

"I wanna ask if it is okay for me to... I wanna take a rest for a while. Then when I wake up I wanna eat what you cooked. The food here is tasteless – I don’t like it. I wanna ask if you could leave and cook stewed pork and fried fish? Let Inday go with you to also help. Also, Arnel and Arnold... please take them with you ’cause they’re kinda loud!" Ashely suggested to her parents while she acted tired and even yawned.

Mrs. Gusman smiled. "Gosh! You requested it like this is a big deal. Sure! Rest here and your father and I will handle it." Then Mrs. Gusman fixed the blanket for Ashley.

Mr. Gusman kissed her on the forehead before pulling his two sons to go out of the door. "Come on! Your sister wants to rest. Come with us and we’re going to the Hong Kong market," Mr. Gusman said to the two while they were going out.

Mrs. Gusman, on the other hand, made sure that the curtains were closed, and the air conditioner was on 75 degrees so that Ashley wouldn’t feel cold or hot. "Inday, you also have to come with us and help us to cook – that is the orders of Madam Ashley," Mrs. Gusman smilingly told Inday and grabbed her by the arm to go out before Inday thought of staying.

The whole room was met with silence when Ashley was the only person there. She was thinking if she should inform Tanaga that she was now alone or if she should just let him wait for a while so that she could fix herself.

Ashley was having her thoughts when the door suddenly opened and Tanaga entered. He had a slight smile on his lips, yet his eyes showed a clear sadness.

"Why are you here already? I thought you’d wait for my text before going – why didn’t you wait?" Ashley scolded him. She was irritated because she knew that her hair was in a chaos and she didn’t even know how she looked. She just wanted to look presentable before letting her husband go, but since he was already in front of her, she couldn’t do anything.

Tanaga stopped behind the door and made sure it was locked so that no unwanted guests could enter. When he was sure it was locked, he walked towards Ashley’s bed and sat beside her.

When he was already seated, he grabbed his wife’s hand. He stood up so that he could kneel beside the bed. Ashley was shocked; she didn’t know what to do nor to say.

"Tan-" That was all she could utter before Tanaga began apologizing.