CHAPTER 24

“He’s small.” I burst into tears while looking at our son.

Here I was today outside the NICU with my mother and my sister, watching my baby fighting for his life. He was in an incubator and had small wires attached to his body. He needed to be observed and watched because his lungs were not in good shape yet.

I felt my mother gently caressed my shoulder. I was sitting in a wheelchair while she stood behind me.

“Be courageous, my daughter. Everything will be fine,” she consoled me.

I bit my lower lip and slowly lifted my hand to the glass, blocking the line of sight between my son and me.

“I don’t know who I should blame—whether it should be them or myself because I didn’t take good care of him,” I said in a cracked voice.

“Don’t think about those things. I’m sure no one wanted to ruin the child you are carrying.” My mother promptly stopped me.

“I don’t know what to do, mother.” I surrendered to the hardship I was carrying.

“Why don’t you start settling in with Achetbir?” Blair suggested while playing on her phone.

I took a deep breath and remembered how Achetbir pleaded with me a while ago. How he came out of the room with frustrated eyes because I couldn't say anything in response to what he said.

“It may help you decide,” Blair said and put her phone on my lap.

I frowned at her. She just shrugged at me and then eyed her phone. “Seriously, you’re losing everything for a wrong decision,” she spoke and bent down to tap her phone.

A video immediately played there.

“Yes, all the rumors are true...”

I stiffened in my seat as I saw Achetbir on the screen. There were still traces of redness on his eyes from crying so much, even though he was speaking on a small stage.

“It’s been two years since I had a relationship,” he continued.

“Is it true that she is one of your employees?” asked a reporter.

“Yes,” Achetbir immediately answered.

I could hear the people around him sigh because of the answer he gave. I bit my lower lip as I watched Achetbir stand up elegantly, as if that were the way he was showing his pride.

“Why did you keep it private? Is it because you know that it can ruin your reputation?” a reporter asked curiously when he recovered from shock.

“I don’t care about my image,” Achetbir said. “I hid our relationship because my partner wanted it that way. I felt the bitterness in his tone as he said that. “I have made my company grow and prosper because of my abilities, so I am not afraid even if I am criticized by the majority. I am not saying that I don’t care how much you admire me, but I’d rather lose everything rather than her,” he said, full of emotion, and then looked at the camera.

“She is my life.” He emphasized the words spoken as if saying them just to me.

I felt my tears fall as I watched his tired eyes. Then, the words he had said to me before flashed through my mind again.

He was tired…

He was tired of fighting alone.

“How is your upcoming wedding with Ms. Patriza? What will happen to the both of you?” another reporter asked curiously.

Achetbir turned his head seriously to him and sighed. “First of all, I want to say sorry to Patriza and to her family for the inconvenience. Secondly, there will be no wedding. If there is, I’m sure it will not be between the two of us. Lastly, we will talk about our issues privately because I respect her as a woman, and I also care about her image. I hope you understand,” he answered formally.

“Last question, Sir. Is it true that the Villa Forca Empire has a new heir now?”

Achetbir looked at the camera and sparingly smiled. “Yes, my partner just gave birth to our son, and I am shamelessly asking for your prayers for his health,” he answered.

I even heard murmurs in the background. Maybe they were talking about the bomb that he just dropped.

“No more questions?” Achetbir asked them.

“Sir, can we find out why you are not with your partner right now?" a male reporter asked.

Achetbir bitterly smiled. “Aside from when she gave birth, we are separated,” he replied sadly.

The rumors around him intensified even more. I was sure that this time, they hated me even more.

“Stop,” Achetbir spoke suddenly.

Everyone became silent, and the attention went all on him. I could see the tension in his jaw as his lips thinned, seeming to suppress the explosion of emotion.

“Speak ill of me, ruin my name, bash me, but never, ever dare to say anything bad about her. Do not belittle the woman I love. Conference dismissed,” he said coldly and turned against the people.

The video completely stopped after that. I kept my eyes on Blair’s phone and repeatedly remembered his answers as well as the tiredness in his eyes even though he persisted.

Achetbir...

I burst into tears silently as I said his name in my mind. I felt both my mother and Blair caress my shoulder.

“Don’t hurt yourself anymore. Just for once—be selfish,” Blair said.

“Blair is right. I can feel Achetbir’s pure love for you, and I know you did all this because of your excessive love for him. But every sacrifice of yours is in vain if you do not meet in the middle,” Mother said.

I stooped low and reminisced how Achetbir took care of me despite all we had been through. Despite his misconceptions about the father of my child, he still begged for me to come back.

I took a deep breath and wiped my tears. “Does someone know where Achetbir is?” I asked.

“I think he’s on his way here. Thirty minutes have already passed since the interview ended,” Blair answered in confusion.

I just nodded and held her phone. 

“What will you do, dear?” asked my mother while I touched my phone.

I smiled and placed the phone near my face. “I will start a live stream,” I said.

Blair shrieked and jumped up from her place. She tapped my shoulder and stared at me. “Are you sure about this, sis? For sure, people would bash you once you become active on social media,” she warned.

I ignored her and continued to do a live stream.

He was also my life.

Just as I expected, I got many viewers, and they started to share my live post. Some commented, but I didn’t dare to read them. I deeply sighed to clear my chest from nervousness.

“I don’t know if you know me, so I will introduce myself first. I am Jandie Mendoza, the secretary of Mr. Achetbir Villa Forca. We’ve been in a relationship for 2 years,” I formally began while pinching my fingers. “I am here not to clear my name or force you to like me. I am doing this to grant my love’s wish,” I said and smiled.

My eyes clouded with tears as I stared at the camera, thinking that he was watching me at this moment.

“Two years. You have been asking me for two years to shout out your name, to be proud of you...” My lips trembled as my voice started to become shaky. “I never granted your request because I was so scared that your name would be ruined because of me. I feared that people would bash you." I tried to smile at the camera. “I was treasuring your name so much that I forgot to treasure your love.” I bit my lower lip as my tears started to escape from my eyes. “I am sorry, Achetbir. I am sorry for causing you so much pain. I am sorry if I'm fighting for you only now. I am sorry that you waited for so long. I am sorry, babe.” I broke down in front of the camera. “I love you so much, Achetbir. I really do love you,” I exclaimed proudly as I sobbed.

I looked at the camera again and tried hard to smile despite my sobs. “To all of you who are watching right now, I just wanted to tell you all how much I love him. Yes, I am just a secretary, but it doesn’t mean that I'm not worthy enough for him. I may not have a degree, but it is not a reduction of my character. I want you to know that this secretary who is in front of you is the only girl who is loved by Achetbir Villa Forca,” I added again, proudly.

“And that girl will be a Villa Forca soon...”

I stiffened when I heard the familiar voice of Achetbir. I slowly looked to the side where his voice was coming from, and I quickly covered my mouth with my hand in shock. I cried right away while staring at my beloved man, who was now kneeling down next to me.

Achetbir was crying at that moment while his hand was searching for something in his pocket. My mother pushed my wheelchair to Achetbir. Then, Blair took my phone and continued my live video while capturing our scene.

Achetbir brought out a small red box for his pocket. I was not so stupid that I didn't know what it was—I just couldn’t believe that he was now prepared for this.

Did he prepare this for a long time?

“Jandie Mendoza, my secretary, the girl who hid the billionaire’s heir. Will you marry me?” asked Achetbir, full of happiness.

I slowly put down my hand from my mouth and nodded. “I will,” I answered.

He stooped low as his shoulders trembled with his tears.

“Damn, I should jump in joy. Why the hell am I crying?” he hissed and wiped his tears.

I just laughed softly in the middle of my drama and bit my lower lip as he stood up and walked closer to me.

He held my hand and slipped the ring on my finger. We stared at each other and smiled as our tears kept falling. 

“I love you,” we said in unison. Then, he crouched to give me a passionate kiss.

After seven long months of hiding the billionaire’s heir, I was now finally with the billionaire himself.