Episode 2

Arman stared at Kinara without blinking, his body tense even though he was just sitting in a wheelchair. The room felt too small, too quiet. Aksa sat beside Arman, looking worried, biting his lip while constantly looking at Kinara, as if afraid of losing the woman he had only known for a few minutes, but who had managed to quell all his tantrums.

"Aska, go out first," Arman said softly but sharply. Aksa immediately shook his head quickly. "Don't want to. I want to be here with Mommy Ki..."

"Rudi," Arman's voice changed to a deeper tone, "take him out."

Rudi nodded. Aksa immediately stiffened. "Daddy, don't want to! I..."

"Aksa." One word that came out of Arman's mouth, cold and flat, made Aksa immediately get off the chair. Aksa immediately fell silent. His tiny eyes welled up, then he bowed his head and followed Rudi's steps out of the room. Each small step sounded like a blow to Arman's chest, but he couldn't waver. The door closed, and the room was again plunged into silence.

Now it was just Arman, Kinara, and the tension that could break at any moment. Arman stared at Kinara for a long time. The woman looked nervous, but did not avoid his gaze. There was something in Kinara's eyes that could tame Aksa. That was a fact, a fact that made Arman decide on something he never wanted to do.

"Sit down," Arman finally said.

Kinara obeyed, her hands clasped anxiously in her lap.

"You know," Arman's voice was soft but full of pressure, "Aksa has never been this calm before. He never stops running away. Never stops... looking for a mother figure."

Kinara bowed her head, letting the words touch something in her chest. Arman continued, "I have no other choice."

Kinara's eyes lifted. "What do you mean?"

Arman locked his gaze. "Marry me."

Kinara was shocked, the chair beneath her almost shifted. Her breath caught as if something had hit her chest.

"W—what?" her voice was almost inaudible.

Arman's face hardened when he saw the expression of surprise. At that moment, his eyes turned cold, offended, bitter. As if Kinara had just laughed at the fact that he was trapped in a wheelchair or the malicious rumors that had been circulating since the accident.

People said there was an important part of his body that no longer functioned. The gossip pierced his pride every day. And Kinara's reaction just now cut even deeper.

"I don't need sympathy," Arman hissed. "This isn't a real marriage."

Kinara froze.

"Contract," Arman said firmly. "For Aksa's sake, you'll be in this house as my wife until he's old enough to understand the situation. After that, you're free to leave."

Kinara opened her mouth, but Arman continued without giving her a chance.

"I'll pay you whatever you want, no matter how much!"

"We'll sleep separately," he continued, his voice like cold steel. "I just need you here, for him, not for me."

Kinara looked at the man for a long time. At this moment, their world felt trapped between despair and faint hope. After a moment, she nodded.

"Yes... I agree."

Without her realizing it, her expression radiated something like relief. There was a small joy, only for a moment, that arose because she really needed a place to live. Needed stability and to be a stepmother, and she thought it was just a job.

Arman saw the change. Saw the small smile that appeared without being able to be hidden. And his whole body stiffened and in his heart, he muttered coldly,

'Right... all women are the same. In the end, all they're looking for is money. Not me, not Aksa, and only... what I can give.'

Arman's gaze dimmed, but his voice remained flat as he said,

"Good, our contract starts today."

And suddenly, Kinara realized that her life had just entered a storm that would never be the same again.

Arman pressed the intercom button on his desk. His voice was flat, without a hint of hesitation.

"Rudi, come in!"

In less than a minute, the door opened and Rudi stepped in. His face was stiff; he knew that whenever Arman called him into the study, there would be an important order.

"Yes, Mr. Arman?"

Arman did not answer. He simply pushed the files on his desk aside, creating empty space, as if the room had to be clean before a big decision was announced.

"We're getting married," Arman said suddenly.

Rudi took a half step back, almost tripping over the air. His gaze alternated between Arman and Kinara, who was sitting on the sofa.

"Ma... married, sir?"

"Yes." Arman snorted softly. "Take care of everything immediately. Marriage registration, schedule at the civil registry, and draw up the contract."

The tone was cold, harsh, a final decision that left no room for discussion.

Rudi swallowed. "Sir... sorry, but..."

"Rudi." Arman interrupted without looking at his assistant. "This is all for Aksa."

Silence hung in the air. Unexpectedly, the sentence softened. There was a heavy burden rolling in Arman's chest every time he spoke about the child—a burden that only he and God knew.

But before Rudi could answer, a small voice was heard. Clearly breaking the tension in the room. The sound of the door hinge creaking softly.

All heads turned. Aksa stood there, half his body hidden behind the door, his cheek pressed against the wood, his round eyes sparkling. He had been peeking since earlier, listening to every word about the marriage.

As soon as he heard "for Aksa", the boy immediately ran over to Kinara like a chick finding its mother.

"Mommy! Mommy!" Aksa hugged Kinara's leg tightly, his tiny face beaming, unaware of how complicated the decisions that the adults in the room had just made were.

Kinara could only respond with a wry smile that was a mix of amusement, worry, and disbelief.

'Oh my god... no one knows what this kid is thinking and how naughty he is?' she thought as she stroked Aksa's head.

From his wheelchair, Arman watched the scene. His fingers gripped the chair tightly.

Because for the first time in a long time, the house was filled with the sound of small laughter that did not come from pain.

And for the first time, Arman decided on something not for himself,

but for the boy who was now smiling in the arms of the strange woman.

***This work has been signed with NovelToon, and piracy such as reprinting without permission is strictly prohibited.***

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***