His Contractual Mistress

Chapter 512 Grow Old With You

　　"I'm very grateful for how much you've helped us. Without you, we are not progressing and reaching this far."

　　John smiled. "Don't mention it, Vincent. I'm the one who is grateful to you for helping me get rid of that man."

　　"Don't worry. It will be soon." Vincent assured John. Stretching his arm, he reached for John's shoulder, giving him a light pat. After that, Vincent shifted his attention to Rob. "How's it going?"

　　Vincent is querying about the drama they plotted. After the Franklin twins saved him, their men and Rob's loyal subordinate fought Samuel's assassins. Once they won against Samuel's men, they hid them underground. After that, they pretended to be the assassin to carry out the drama. 

　　To be believable, Rob joined them and played the hostage. This ensures that Shun's men and the T Country's armed forces would not pursue them and capture his men.

　　While Vincent is hiding to ensure his safety and the drama looks true, Rob plays the two roles well: the hostage and the hostage-taker leader.

　　"I could not tell dad and grandpa yet because Samuel might have his men spying on us. The only one who knew about the drama is mom," replied Rob.

　　"How about Carmen? Haven't you told your sister yet?" Vincent queried. 

　　Rob did not reply to Vincent but looked at John and said, "I think someone should better explain himself."

　　John understood Rob's words. He must have had a long conversation with Carmen by now, so John excused himself.

　　At the moment, Carmen was drinking her milk. She was startled by John's sudden appearance at the door. 

　　Carmen hurried to pull a Kleenex from the box and wiped her mouth. She looked at John and asked, "Did you and my brother have met already?"

　　John nodded his head as he approached Carmen. When he reached the bed, he noticed the food on the bed table. He frowned. "When did you like to eat chips dipping into vinegar?"

　　When he and Carmen dated back then, Carmen told him she wasn't fond of eating chips flavored with salt and vinegar because of her acidity. But now, she even dipped the chips in mayonnaise. Not only that, she added apple cider.

　　Being caught red-handed, Carmen did not reply. John didn't know she was pregnant, yet she hadn't decided whether to tell him about the child.

　　"I… I feel nauseated after I eat some stew cooked with tomatoes for dinner. So I asked mom to get me something sour."

　　John believed both would trigger her acidity, so he is baffled.

　　"Those are chips. You know it's not healthy at all." John complained. Then he questioned Carmen. "Did your doctor allow you to eat that? What are they doing? You are still recuperating from surgery!"

　　As she heard John mention her doctor, Carmen panicked. She pleaded, "Please, don't tell Doctor Serena. I promised this is the last time."

　　After she says that, Carmen realizes she was supposed to act cold toward John. Now that she reminded herself, she regained her composure and scowled at John.

　　"What are you doing here, by the way? Rob told me you have something to tell me. What is it about?"

　　John noticed the coldness in Carmen's tone. Carmen deliberately gave him the cold shoulder and put up a wall that misunderstood John.

　　He thought Carmen's sudden shift of attitude and showing him poor treatment was because of his objection that she eat those sour food, which he was only concerned about her fast recovery. Eating salty food would not help her at all.

　　But Carmen could not tell John the real reason. In fact, she also doesn't want to eat sour flavored chips, but she has no power over "his" child growing inside her womb, the real culprit why she craves this kind of food. 

　　John, who didn't know what was going on, yielded. He did not want to have misunderstandings with Carmen when he coaxed her to get back together.

　　John lowered his head and apologized. "I'm sorry. I'm just worried about you."

　　Carmen, who was too in love with John, cannot stay indifferent toward him. To end the issue, she urges him to talk.

　　"What do you want to talk about?"

　　John cast a meaningful look at her before he lowered his gaze. He heaved a long sigh and started afterward. "I owe you an apology."

　　Carmen wondered why John was apologizing all of a sudden. She said coldly, "You've already apologized before we flew here."

　　With a soft voice, he uttered, "Until now, I'm still upset with myself. What happened to you is my fault. I didn't protect you enough. I'm sorry."

　　"What are you talking about? We've broken up, so why do you have to protect me?" Carmen is confused. She tried to figure out what John had in mind.

　　He broke up with her. So what is he blabbering about? Also, why did his mind change in the first place, and he is eager to get back together? Carmen mused while listening to John.

　　"Carmen, I promised not to hurry you to accept me back. However, I don't want to be separated from you anymore. If you agree, I want us to get married soon."

　　Carmen had rendered speechless. She wondered if what she heard was correct. 'John is proposing to me? But he's in love with Ivy, right?'

　　Her heart filled with doubts, at the same time wishful thinking that what John had said was true because she could not convince herself yet to believe him. 

　　"How about Ivy? Aren't you breaking up with me because you want to persuade her since she is a widow now?" Carmen did not look at John when she questioned him, so she didn't see the confusion on his face. 

　　"Persuade Ivy? What do you mean by that?" John wondered.

　　Carmen senses the confusion in his voice. She lifted her gaze and met John's eyes, and she saw genuine surprise appear on his face. Now, Carmen is also confused. John acted like their breakup had nothing to do with Ivy.

　　She was taken aback to express what she truly felt for a moment.

　　Carmen held tight to her blanket, searching for the strength to be straightforward to John. She bit her lip, asserting, "You like Ivy, right?" 

　　John fell silent. He pondered how to explain it clearly to Carmen. After a little while, he answered.

　　"Ivy is my sister-in-law. It would be normal to like her, as she's part of my family."

　　What John said didn't help Carmen feel better. It only worsened the uneasiness she felt in her heart. On the other hand, did she mistake with her judgment that John's kindness toward Ivy is just purely a brotherly affection? Carmen mused.

　　"I… You don't need me anymore because you wanted to care for Ivy and the child in her womb. Am I wrong?" She swallowed hard and took some courage to speak up regarding their breakup.

　　John stared at Carmen, noticing the slight blush in her cheeks. He processed what she said, and finally, he realized Carmen misunderstood everything.

　　"Were you thinking I have a romantic feeling for my sister-in-law?"

　　When John finally figured out what was on her mind, Carmen lowered her head. Avoiding meeting his eyes, she nodded. Suppose she should be upset, but John's action seemed telling differently. So what is it?

　　Carmen flinched when John took her hand. She pulled it back, but John clasped her palm with his two hands. John is staring at her with so much affection shown in his eyes.

　　"Carmen, Ivy is happily married to my twin brother. Even if she were a widow, I only think of her as my sister-in-law because the woman I want to spend the rest of my life with is you."

　　Carmen stared at John. She searched for something on his face and what she found was sincerity in his confession. Absolutely, she was happy to hear his sweet words. However, there are still some doubts in her heart.

　　Is John genuinely wanting to get back together with her, not because Ivy rejected him? Carmen had this suspicion in her mind. After some time, she came to her senses when John spoke again.

　　"Carmen, I would be honest that I really liked Ivy. Before, I was jealous that she loved my brother over me when we were childhood sweethearts, and we grew up together and were too close to each other. However, it was all in the past now. The woman I want to grow old with is you."

　　Carmen could no longer hold her tears. The act she put up with is completely dissipated.

　　"Are you telling the truth?" Carmen wanted to believe it. Her heart tried to accept it as well. Maybe John is genuine in his feelings for her and not just a substitute after Ivy refuses to love again.

　　"Carmen, I really love you! I was in great despair when Samuel sent his men to attack the lodge, thinking maybe you were shot dead. It made me crazy. I want to fly to T Country as soon as possible and be by your side after learning that you were sent to the hospital. I don't want to lose you again. So, if you say yes, I will marry you tomorrow before Vincent and I meet Samuel." 

　　"What did you say?"