The Royal Contract

BOOM!

BAM!

Screams!

Haley could hear the chaos that started downstairs. She could see from the room's window how her father's security was on high alert.

She also noticed the guests in their beautiful gowns and dashing tuxedoes running on the grounds, rushing to escape the horror that shattered the peace and prosperity of the occasion.

"What is going on?" Her trembling voice broke the silence in the room. She could feel her heart was ready to bust out of her chest at how hard it was beating.

Nevertheless, she could not help but notice how calm Gerald and Mike were. Maybe Mike had been startled, but he quickly recovered from the blast as he calmly watched the scene below them.

Still, she could not understand what was happening around them. "Shouldn't we be running out of this place?" She asked as fear continued to grip her.

Then, she felt his hands on her shoulders, warm and comforting. He squeezed her flesh gently before he leaned forward to whisper in her ears.

"Relax, trust me. We are safer up here than down there." He assured her as he wrapped his arms around her.

For the first time after a long time, she never felt more safe again. It seemed that all her doubts had melted away.

She believed whoever this man was. He was still the man that she had fallen in love with. He was still the man she wished to spend the rest of her life with, especially in raising their child.

"But what about the explosion?" Haley swore she heard something that blasted downstairs. Where? She was unsure, but it was loud enough to create panic among their guests.

Therefore, she could not help but fear for their safety, especially her child. But just like Gerald said, she had to trust him. She had to believe he had a plan.

Besides, she believed Gerald would never put their child in harm's way. In addition, Mike seemed to agree with Gerald.

"I think Gerald is right. The security might be searching for us on the grounds. It is better if we wait until things calm down." Mike seconded his friend as he walked away from the window and sat on the vacant chair, making himself comfortable.

"How can both of you be sure?" She still felt on edge. "What if that explosion created a fire? Wouldn't we be trapped up here?" She could not help but think of the worst scenario.

The idea of burning alive was not something she would look forward to. She would take her chance downstairs rather than wait to turn into burned flesh or ash.

"Come on, I think you should sit down and relax." Gerald pulled her away from the window, guiding her to the extra chair near Mike.

He also followed her, sitting beside her. Then, he took her hands, massaging them as if easing her from her worries.

"But just to ease your mind, I will tell you a secret." He turned to look at her as his eyes searched hers. It was as if he was reading her thoughts, delving into her mind.

But she could not help but wonder if he could decipher the chaos going through her head. It was like her mind had turned into a puzzle where she always ended up on a dead end.

And the idea of finally getting information to clarify her thoughts excited her. She guessed she hated that she was always the last to know.

"What is it?" She slightly relaxed in her seat, finally allowing her body to lean on the backseat to rest.

She had been high-strung since her father had taken her as his hostage. She never felt a moment of peace since then. But now, even if they were not yet out of danger, she knew she was in capable hands.

"The bomb is just fireworks," Gerald told them, making her wonder if he was telling her the truth. But what did she know about bombs or fireworks?

"I knew it." Mike burst into laughter, appearing not surprised by Gerald's revelation. "It was too weak to create even a dent in the wall," Mike commented.

Somehow, Mike's explanation had reassured her that she had nothing to worry about. But still, she could not help but feel lost. Gerald had not yet revealed how they were getting out of there.

"Okay. So, I gather this is part of your plan. What is next?" She did not believe that they would sit in this room forever. She should at least know what would happen next.

"The next is we wait for another signal," Gerald told them, still appearing like nothing bothered him. "Anyway, did you paint that?" He suddenly changed the topic, pointing to something in her back.

She turned around only to realize that she hardly looked at the room and everything around her. Her focus had been solely on what was happening below that she had forgotten about this space.

"No, that was my mother's work." Her eyes finally saw the various paintings in the room.

It was clean, but it was as if nothing had changed since she had seen this place. It would seem her father kept it the way it was after her mother had died.

Frankly, she had not visited this room after her mother died. She tried several times, but she always stopped outside the door.

"That was the last piece she ever painted." She remembered sitting on that chair by the corner, working on her project while her mother magically transformed a white canvas into a chef-d'oeuvre.

She could also remember this place was where her mother first let her touch a paintbrush. She could still recall it was in this room her mother taught her how to draw and everything she knew about art.

And it was the last thing she wanted to be, still feeling the pain of losing the person dear to her heart. And since then, she had avoided this room, never setting foot again in this depressing place.

"I guess you had inherited many of her talents," Gerald commented as he still gazed at the painting, sitting on the easel until now.

She always thought she had acquired her skills from her father as she followed his footsteps in the construction design world.

But now, she realized she also got many of her talents from her mother, seeing how she had combined her artistic creativity into her work.

"You think so." Haley suddenly stood up from her seat, forgetting her earlier worries as she moved closer to her mother's work.

Her fingers ran through the lines, gently stroking the different color combinations that created the magic in her strokes. It had all the components it needed, but more.

Suddenly, she could not help but be upset about not coming to this room. More than that, she regretted letting her sorrow and fear stop her from remembering her mother and what she had done for her.

"Yeah, I think you look so much like her," Gerald commented as his eyes turned to a picture of her mother on the other side of the wall.

Physically, she had many features of her father, but she also took some of her mother's distinctive features, like her hair and lips.

But thinking about it now, she doubted that her character would resemble her father's. Maybe in tenacity, but after discovering who her father was, she could never be proud to hear that she was her father's daughter.

"I wish I could be like her. She was the best mother any child could have." Haley honestly believed that. Her time with her might have been short, but it was full of love.

Now that she was about to become a mother, she realized the sacrifice that a mother would make for her child. And she could clearly remember how her mother had sacrificed a lot for her.

She gave up her career to be there for her. She had probably put up with her father to give her a family that her mother thought she deserved.

"I think you already are," Gerald said as he finally faced her, putting his fingers across her face, gently caressing her cheeks and wiping the tears that she did not even notice she had cried.

She liked his vote of confidence, but she still had her doubts. Still, she was glad that she had someone to look up to, reminding her what being a good mother looked like.

"Thanks, I appreciate that," Gerald telling her she would be a great mother to his child was already a boost in her confidence. But still, she believed it would be hard work. And in the end, she would still be a work in progress.

"Anyway, there is one more thing I need to discuss with you." But before he could utter another word, she heard the sirens outside.

She could only conclude that the loud explosion might have alerted the authorities to come and check it out. And it might be part of Gerald's plan.

"That is one of your cues," Gerald told them as Mike moved to check the ongoing downstairs through the window.

"There are firetrucks and police outside." He informed them as he kept his eyes outside. "Should we move?"

"Can you give us a minute?" Gerald asked his friend. Then, Mike nodded in understanding as he strode toward the door.

"I will check the hallway if it is clear," Mike told them as he exited the room.

"I hope you know how much I love you. I would give you the world if I had that power, but reality doesn't work like that. I am not perfect. I had made many mistakes." Then, she felt his arms enclosed around her.

"I am only a man who wishes to do everything to keep you safe and our child." Then, his lips sealed his words.

*** To my Royal Contract readers.

I will take a few days break from writing this story.

And I might not be able to write a chapter every day.

But rest assured that I am still determined to give you a good ending for this story.

Then, I will resume writing the continuation of Lance and Eida's story with The Royal Arrangement.

In the meantime, you might want to try my new book, A Contract to Marry the Cold-hearted CEO.

It is a new book that is different from this one. But I assure you it will be a nice story you might enjoy like this one.

Anyway, I do hope you will understand.

Again, thanks for all your support.