The Billionaire's Contracted Wife [English]

It was better while it was still early to prepare herself for what could happen.

"The kids need me now. Take care of yourself there. Bye!" Ashley hung up the phone, not even waiting for Tanaga to bid his farewell.

She couldn’t hold back her tears and cried out loud, pitying herself, "I wish you never reveal yourself. I wish you just would let me think that you’re already dead. In this important time, you are alive, yet you can’t remember me!" Her tears flowed like a river.

A week had passed, and Ashley was ready to go to her first day at work. Koji was informed of her situation, and she was glad that he was guiding her until she felt comfortable.

She assigned Tiny as her driver until she learned how to drive. Ashley didn’t have time to learn because she was recovering from the operation she had when she gave birth.

They hired a nurse to help Inday with taking care of the kids. Ashley’s parents made sure that Inday could look after the kids so that Ashley wouldn’t be worried while at work.

She couldn’t wait on starting her new life – the new CEO of the THJ Marine. It was one of her dreams, and that’s why she studied Business Management so that when the time would come, she could be a CEO or a leader of a company.

"Mom, dad, please pray that I will do a great job. If the outcome is good, we’ll build our own business and when we’re rich, you don’t have to do anything – just enjoy your life with your grandchildren. Hahaha!" Ashley sang happily while going down the stairs.

Grandma Hanada, who was sitting in the living room, was talking to someone on the phone and was amused when she saw Ashley. She looked like a model when she asked KC to do a makeover for her before. Now, her poise was so professional.

Ashley wore a pair of pants and a suit jacket with a white undershirt. Her hair was French braided and there were two strands of hair near her temples. She had light makeup, light red blush on the cheeks, and also red lipstick – not too thick and not too thin. Simple studded earrings on her ears and a cheap wristwatch complemented her outfit. But when Grandma Hanada noticed that she was not wearing a ring, her eyebrows suddenly rose.

"Ashley, why aren’t you wearing the wedding ring Tanaga gave you? Is there a problem?" She was worried that she didn’t want it.

"Grandma, the stone there was too big that it might be the cause of my death. Hahaha!" Ashley joked while she was walking towards Grandma Hanada to kiss her on the cheek.

"Hmmm, you have a point. But you need to put the ring so that people will know you’re married," Grandma argued a bit loudly so that Tanaga, who she was talking to on the phone, could hear her.

Mr. Gusman joined in with the argument when he heard what Grandma Hanada said. "Chairwoman, I think it’s fine if she won’t put on a ring. It’s gonna be [1]’babang luksa’. Tanaga is also gone from Ashley’s life." Mr. Gusman declared sternly. He warned that he wouldn’t allow his daughter to live a life of pain. 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

Grandma Hanada almost lost grip of her phone when she heard him. She also knew that Tanaga heard it and she wouldn’t be surprised if her grandson suddenly popped out of nowhere. She decided on cutting the line so that Tanaga wouldn’t hear more of their conversation.

Fortunately, Ashley stopped them in case Grandma Hanada slipped her tongue and told everyone that Tanaga is still alive.

"Grandma, Dad, stop it! This is my first day at work so we should be happy," Ashley proclaimed before hugging her father to bid goodbye.

Mr. Gusman calmed down and helped his daughter take her bag to accompany her to the door.

"Bye, everyone!" Ashley shouted while waving her hand. When she suddenly remembered her sons, she exclaimed, "Oh wait!" She then came back inside and went to the nursery room to say goodbye to her twins.

===

In his entire life, this was the first time Koji almost didn’t sleep because of excitement. The day before, he went to the Galleria Mall to buy new suits and went to the hair salon to make him look more handsome.

Before he slept, he prepared the clothes he was going to wear so that he wouldn’t rush when he woke up in the morning. It was about one in the morning when he slept, and he woke up after less than three hours. Because it was still about four in the morning, he exercised first before cooking his breakfast.

After he finished eating, he watched the news and wasted his time before taking a bath, while smiling from ear to ear.

Koji was happy because Tanaga didn’t stop him when he discovered he was transferring to America. Instead, he was asked to take care of Ashley and make sure she would be respected by the employees as their leader, and not stomping her because she was just new.

Koji promised to his cousin that he would do everything, and he would teach Ashley everything he knew. He wouldn’t neglect her and would make sure that she would be a great leader of a company.

That was why he was so happy since he was given permission by his cousin to take care of his wife. Yet one big mistake on Tanaga’s part was that he trusted his cousin and assumed that Koji had no other intention than making sure Ashley learned.

Tanaga didn’t know that Koji had something up his sleeves. His plans were final, and it was time Tanaga gave him so that Ashley would fall for him.

When the time would come, Koji planned on founding a business and he would take Ashley as his partner. Not just a business partner, but also in life...

[1] A/N: Babang Luksa refers to a Filipino funeral custom where relatives and friends commemorate death one year after it took place.