Chapter 34: The Contract Is Finally Signed

Chapter 34: Chapter 34: The Contract Is Finally Signed

~Frederick’s POV~

Dr. Ryan packed his medical case and secured the latches.

"I’ll take these samples back with me and have the tests run immediately. You should have the full results by the end of the day. I’ll send them directly to your email."

"Alright. Thank you, Dr. Ryan," I said, shaking his hand.

I signaled to one of my bodyguards waiting by the door and instructed him to escort Dr. Ryan back to the helipad. The helicopter would return him to the mainland.

Once they left the room, I turned toward Reynold, who was standing by the glass doors, waiting for me.

I walked over to him, ready to take him outside and finally show him the breathtaking expanse of the island.

We started with the main residence. I showed him the spacious living areas, the polished stone floors, the warm mahogany finishes, and the floor-to-ceiling glass walls that offered breathtaking views of the turquoise ocean. I took him through the large chef’s kitchen, the private library, and the upper-level gallery overlooking the lower floors. I also showed him the expansive infinity pool outside, stretching toward the ocean and giving the impression that the water continued endlessly into the horizon.

Reynold looked around with wide eyes, taking in every part of the house as we moved from one area to another.

After showing him around the main residence, we stepped through the grand glass doors onto the stone terrace and made our way down toward the shoreline.

The cool morning breeze drifted off the water, carrying the fresh scent of salt and damp sand. I reached for Reynold’s hand, sliding my fingers between his and holding it as we walked along the white sand.

Reynold gazed out at the endless ocean, pure wonder softening his features. He turned to me, his eyes bright.

"Everywhere here is so beautiful... I don’t ever want to go back."

I looked down at him, a faint smile touching my lips. "You like it that much?"

"Yes," he whispered, giving my hand a gentle squeeze.

"Well, this is only a private retreat," I replied, glancing toward the horizon. "It’s not beautiful enough yet. Don’t worry. For your next holiday, I’ll fly you out of the country and show you somewhere truly breathtaking."

Reynold stopped walking, staring up at me in disbelief. "For real?"

"Yes, little pet," I answered smoothly. "And more than that, every holiday you have from now on, you’ll be coming with me. Even when I have to travel for business, I’ll take you along. Don’t worry about the logistics. I’ll have all your travel documents sorted out so you can go anywhere in the world with me."

Reynold’s jaw dropped slightly, a bright smile spreading across his face. "So... I’ll actually get to travel abroad a lot?"

"Yes," I confirmed, rubbing my thumb over the back of his hand.

He let out a soft, thoughtful sigh as we continued walking, his gaze dropping to the sand beneath our feet.

"You know... my family used to travel abroad all the time while leaving me behind at home. The first time I ever went on a holiday anywhere was the trip we took when I met you."

A dark shadow crossed my mind at the memory of how that family trip had turned out, but I kept my voice steady.

"They may have taken you there intending to use you or hurt you, but at least you got the chance to meet me. Isn’t that something to be grateful for?"

Reynold turned his head and looked up at me with such genuine sincerity that it caught me off guard.

"It is. Very much," he said softly. "I’m actually much happier with you than I ever was with my family."

I slowed to a stop, blinking down at him in surprise.

"You’re happy with me?" The question slipped out before I could stop myself.

He nodded firmly.

"Yes. No matter what the situation is between us, I still think you’re infinitely more amazing than my family. With them, all I ever felt was pain. They never cared about my feelings. They were always looking for another way to hurt me. So... honestly, I’m deeply grateful to you, Fred."

I stared at him for a long moment, letting his words settle somewhere deep inside me. A strange, unfamiliar warmth slowly spread through my chest.

"I wish I could make you happy for a very long time," I murmured, the words escaping before I could filter them.

He gave me a soft, genuine smile, and we continued walking side by side along the shore, letting the rhythmic crash of the waves fill the quiet between us.

After a little while, the coastal breeze grew stronger, and I gently pulled him to a stop.

"We should head back inside," I said softly.

Reynold nodded. Still holding hands, we turned away from the ocean and walked back toward the house. Instead of going straight inside, I led him onto the shaded balcony attached to the master suite.

We settled into two comfortable armchairs facing the endless stretch of deep blue sea. The offshore wind picked up, carrying a sharp chill that made Reynold shiver slightly as he crossed his arms over his chest.

"Wait here," I murmured, standing up.

I stepped back inside and grabbed the thick, white hoodie I had left on the bed. When I returned, I draped it over his shoulders.

He pulled it on gratefully, burying his hands inside the oversized sleeves as the warmth settled around him.

A sudden gust swept across the balcony, blowing a stray lock of his blonde hair across his face. Something about the sight caught my attention. Without thinking, I pulled out my phone and discreetly snapped a picture of him just as a soft, genuine smile touched his lips while he gazed out at the ocean.

I captured another couple of quick shots before lowering the phone when he turned his head, narrowly avoiding getting caught.

I quickly locked the screen, but before I could put the phone away, a notification banner appeared across it.

Eva.

I didn’t even bother opening the message. I swiped it away with a flicker of annoyance.

A second later, her name appeared again as an incoming call.

I silenced it, turned the phone facedown on the small table, and gave Reynold my full attention.

We spent the rest of the afternoon on the balcony before eventually heading back inside as the sun began to dip below the horizon. We talked about everything and nothing, and I listened as Reynold slowly opened up about the quieter parts of his life before everything had fallen apart. Little by little, I began to understand the subtle pieces of who he was beneath all the hurt.

When night fell, a quiet knock announced dinner. The island staff wheeled in a fresh, steaming spread of food, arranged everything neatly on the dining table, and quietly left us alone.

Reynold and I settled down to eat. True to form, he ate with his usual enthusiasm, happily working his way through his food while I ate at a much slower pace, enjoying the strange sense of domestic comfort that had settled between us.

Right in the middle of dinner, my phone buzzed sharply against the table.

I reached for it, expecting another annoyance, but my attention immediately caught on a new email notification from Dr. Ryan.

I opened it at once and scanned through the attached medical report.

Everything was completely clean.

I slid the screen across the table toward Reynold, a slow, predatory smirk pulling at the corner of my mouth. "Look at that. Now I can fuck you raw without needing to worry about a damn thing."

Reynold’s face flared bright red. He looked down at the screen, then shyly hid his face behind his hands, a breathless laugh escaping his throat.

"Tonight, we’re doing it raw," I murmured, my voice dropping an octave as I leaned across the table. "Are you ready for me?"

He peeked through his fingers, his chest rising and falling as he gave a soft, shy nod. Yes.

"Good," I said, my gaze darkening with sudden heat. "Then you should sign the contract after we’re done with dinner."

"Yes," he whispered, his voice steady.

As soon as dinner was cleared away, I walked over to my bag and pulled out the leather-bound contract portfolio. I carried it back to the table and placed it neatly in front of Reynold.

Reynold didn’t hesitate for a second. He took the pen from my hand and signed every page, sealing our arrangement in ink.

Once the final signature was on the last page, I stood up and walked over to the mini-bar in the corner of the suite. I pulled out a bottle of aged red wine and two crystal glasses.

"We should celebrate," I said as I returned to the table and popped the cork with a soft pop. "And afterward... I’m going to fuck you so hard tonight."

Reynold’s breath hitched, a nervous shiver running down his spine. "I’m ready," he murmured.

I poured the dark crimson wine into both glasses, handed one to him, and clinked my glass against his in a silent toast.

We were halfway through our drinks, the lighthearted tension still lingering between us, when my phone suddenly vibrated against the table.

A notification email from the private investigator I had hired to track down Reynold’s mother had just come in.

Before I could even open the file, my phone lit up again with an incoming call from him.

I glanced at Reynold and offered him an apologetic look. "I’ll be right back, pet. I need to take this."

"Alright," Reynold said softly, taking another sip of his wine.

I stood up and walked away from the table. I slid open the glass door and stepped onto the quiet, breezy balcony before accepting the call.

"Hello?" I said, keeping my voice low.

The investigator’s voice came through the phone, tight and solemn.

"Mr. Corvin. I just sent the complete file to your email, everything you need to know about the woman you asked me to look into."

"Get straight to the point," I demanded, gripping the balcony railing. "What are the results? What hospital is she in?"

There was a heavy pause on the other end.

Then his voice came again, quieter this time.

"Sir... the person you asked me to look into isn’t in this world anymore."

My grip on the phone tightened as shock coursed through me. "What do you mean?"

"Nineteen years ago, the woman gave birth... and passed away shortly after."

The air rushed out of my lungs. I stared blindly at the dark ocean stretching before me. "What? Are you absolutely sure?"

"I confirmed every single detail, Mr. Corvin. I pulled the birth records, death certificate, and official hospital archives. I have physical proof and documentation, and I’ve already sent everything to your email."

My mouth fell slightly open, the shock leaving me momentarily speechless.

"There’s more," the investigator continued, his voice dropping lower. "That woman... she wasn’t a mistress to Mr. Blake, like everyone was led to believe. She was his legal first wife."

Ice seemed to flood my veins. "What?" I said, the word barely leaving my lips. "Are you out of your mind? Are you sure?"

"Yes, I’m entirely certain," the man confirmed. "And to make matters worse... the woman Mr. Blake is married to now, the one currently playing the role of the wicked stepmother, was actually that first wife’s best friend. And..."

The line crackled slightly.

"And what?!" I demanded...