His Contractual Mistress

[Bonus chapter] Instantly Sisters

John was over the moon. Sparks finally appeared in his eyes. "I promise I will return soon after we deal with Samuel and his master."    

"You have to!" Carmen warned him, but it sounded sweet to the ears. "I would not forgive you if you don't keep your promise to marry me when you come back." Carmen sniffs. She wipes her tears to glimpse at John.     

"I would not allow death to take me. I want to grow old with you, as I've said already. When I come back, let's get married." John promised. He reached for a Kleenex and helped dry Carmen's wet eyes.     

Carmen cried even more with what he said, and her tears flowed endlessly through her eyes. John kissed her forehead and then took her left hand. He put the engagement ring on Carmen's fourth finger. He was happy that Carmen did not pull her hand.     

He was looking at how exquisite the ring on Carmen's finger was. John planted tiny kisses on the back of her palm. Carmen's eyes continued welling up. She pulled John by the collar and kissed his lips. For what she had done, John could not contain the happiness in his chest.     

He is waiting for this moment. Now, the thorn in his heart pulled out that finally, Carmen accepted his marriage proposal and no longer gave her the cold shoulder and doubts.      

When she was initially hesitant to accept him back, he was worried that Carmen would reject him. Thankfully, the purity of his love reached Carmen's heart. Now that he had told her the truth and cleared out his name, he could finally share the good news with his family.     

John pulled himself from Carmen to look at her face. He muttered lovingly, "I love you, Carmen."     

"I love you too, John!" Carmen is no longer uncertain about her feelings.      

One more time, their lips meet. This time, the kiss was long and full of passion. After a while, John parted from Carmen and took out his phone.     

Carmen was confused if who he was calling. Soon, Ivy and Jay appeared on the screen and queried, "So? How is it going?"      

"She said yes!" John adjusted his phone, and Carmen came into view. Seeing her, Ivy smiled delightedly.     

"Hi, Carmen! Congratulations to both of you!"     

Carmen could not avoid feeling shy after being extremely jealous of Ivy, that she almost hated her because of the thought that she would snatch John. Thankfully, she silently accepted that John was breaking up with her and did not throw a fuss. Gratefully, she kept her sanity intact and never confronted Ivy.     

Ivy is a warm person. She was the one who talked a lot throughout the video call, and it made Carmen feel comfortable.     

"I already wanted to go home and see you guys!" said Ivy. The smile on her face didn't disappear.     

Ivy is genuinely happy to see John settling down soon. They grew up together; hence, she knew how great a man John was. Having Carmen, no one is more deserving than her.     

Carmen, on the other hand, is no longer timid toward Ivy. Gleefully, she exchanges thoughts with hee. She also asked Ivy about her pregnancy. When she mentioned it, Carmen saw the joy in Ivy's eyes.     

"Let's go shopping with baby stuff and clothes when you guys are safe to come back home," Carmen suggested. Immediately, Ivy agreed.      

"That's a great idea! Ah! I could not wait!" Ivy is actually getting bored when she has nowhere to go, but they have to hide inside the facility for the time being.     

The two women felt delighted to imagine it. Unconsciously, they actually feel the same way, thinking of each other as sisters. It was not a bad idea. Ivy has no siblings, so she treats John as her brother. Now that Carmen had arrived in their life, she instantly became her younger sister.     

As for Carmen, she was thrilled with the idea of Ivy becoming her sister. Now she had someone she could talk to about things she could not open up with her two brothers.     

Carmen is genuinely gratified for how things turned out initially. Samuel was still a treat to all of them, but he could not stop the joy they had at the moment.     

"John, I have something to tell you."     

Carmen decides to share the good news. She peeks at the phone screen where Ivy and Jay curiously wait for whatever she is about to say.      

"I'm sorry if I didn't tell you about it sooner. But my head has been muddled lately... I thought you broke up with me because you don't love me but someone else. A few days before the attack, I found out that…."          

    

Carmen trailed her last words. She looked at John, then glanced at Ivy and Jay. She coughs to clear her throat as tears threaten to flow from her eyes one more time. After having a long sigh, she continued.     

"I'm pregnant."     

John thought he heard wrong. But his surroundings seemed activated in slow motion as he replayed Carmen's last sentence. If it weren't for Ivy screaming, John would have remained in a daze.      

"Do you mean? I'm going to be a dad?" asked John repeatedly. He wanted Carmen to say it all over again so he would not believe everything was just a dream.      

"Yes! You are going to be a dad soon!"     

John pulled Carmen into his arms and wept with joy. "Oh, Carmen! Thank you!"     

Listening to John's sobs, Carmen could no longer hold her tears. She threw her arms around John's body and embraced him, burying her face in his neck. John was elated to learn the such good news.      

Meanwhile, Rhena and Rob watched John's proposal to Carmen outside the door. John had already asked Rob to help him propose to Carmen and see tonight as the perfect moment.      

Thus, when Rob met Carmen earlier, he brought a giant pink stuffed toy with an operating camera inside. When John carries out his proposal, Rob will turn on the camera, and it will start filming.     

Then, Rhena heard everything that Carmen and John had talked about. Now that John clears his name, she no longer opposes Carmen from marrying him. Especially since John's family was alive and everything that had happened was necessary to apprehend their enemies.      

"Mom, are you not going to praise your son? I helped plan out the drama," Rob boastfully said to his mom. He expected a good word from her; however, he only received a sharp glare and didn't expect to be scolded.     

"I would only compliment you after finding the perfect woman to marry." Rhena twitched her mouth as she snapped at her excellent son. Rob is older than Carmen but seems to have no interest in settling down soon. He doesn't even have a girlfriend!      

Being berated, Rob chuckled and scratched his forehead. Now that John is done with his proposal and Carmen has revealed the truth of her pregnancy, he encourages his mom to enter the ward and congratulate the couple.     

"Congratulations, sis! Hey, John! Congrats, bro!"     

"Thanks, bro."     

John and Rob threw knuckles at each other. Rhena, following her son, approached Carmen and gave her daughter a big and tight hug.     

"Congrats, honey."     

"Thank you, mom. I'm going to marry him," she told her mom.      

"Whatever makes you happy," Rhena approved with complete understanding. As long as John was faithful to her daughter, she would not object to the marriage but give her full support to whoever Carmen would marry.     

"Mom, I'm worried about dad and grandpa."     

"Don't worry. I'm sure they will understand and accept John after a long heart-to-heart talk with them."     

"Did you hear what John told me?"     

Rhena nodded. Carmen breathed with a sigh of relief. At least she did not need to share everything she and John talked about with her mom.      

"Congrats, John. Welcome to the family."      

"Thank you, Mrs. Dawson."          

    

The way John addressed Rhena earned ridicule from Rob.      

"You'll address her mom soon!"      

~     

A while ago, as Rob and Vincent discussed their next step, Hailee exited the Children's ICU and walked toward the glimmering giant Christmas tree on the corner of the lounge.     

Hailee, who is only thinking of meeting her children, did not notice how it illuminated the entire floor with Christmas ornaments and lights.     

Not long, she felt Vincent's two muscular arms wrapped around her waist. His scent was too comforting, and his warmth gave her security. Soon, his warm lips place a kiss on her hair.     

Hailee subconsciously rested her head on Vincent's shoulder. Together, they watch the white Christmas tree decorated with blue and pink ornaments.     

"So beautiful!" She muttered.     

"James told me that while you are in the coma, everyone helps to hang the ornaments so that when you wake up, the entire hospital is covered with Christmas decorations."     

"I can't believe the girls proceed with my plans. It was supposed to be my surprise for you, but in the end, I was the one who was utterly surprised."      

"Thank you," said Vincent, kissing her forehead. "I love it. When our children feel better, and we could carry them around, I'm certain they would be fascinated watching the bright Christmas lights."     

"Ah! I can't wait to share our first Christmas with our family of six."     

"I feel the same, Wifey. It was the greatest gift I could ever receive in this life…." quoted Vincent.      

"Being blessed with family and wonderful friends…." Hailee added.      

While the two of them were immersed in counting their blessings, Madison, Levi, Derek, and Cassandra approached them.     

"Vincent, we want to talk to you about this Chronomancer you've mentioned. How could we defeat him?"