Maxine and Heather were currently in the playroom, the kid playing with her iPad. Maxine glanced at it and saw she was playing the good old game, Plants VS Zombies.

"What level are you at?" She then asked, eyes on the screen, undeniably curious.

"Already fighting with Dr. Zomboss, Mommy! This zombie doctor looks scary." She answered with a smile. Her attention was still on the screen, so focused on what she was doing. Maxine was amazed by how this seven-year-old kid could gracefully play this not-so-easy game. While there she was, a 30-year-old woman who couldn't even edit her PowerPoint presentations properly on her cheap laptop.

'World's unfair,' she thought as her friend Laura came to mind. It had been a long time since she last had a conversation with her, and she somehow missed her friend. Well, in fact, everyone in her life before she got the job.

Maxine then got her phone, opened her Facebook application, and sent Laura a message. It was in that instant when she gave her a reply. They talked for a while like how best friends would do. Maxine then told her that she was working at the Robbins household as a mom to an adorable kid and sometimes a wife to his hot dad. Of course, Laura didn't miss teasing her friend, saying she might fall in love.

Staring at her phone, then at Heather, who was still playing, Maxine thought about what her friend had said for a while. A smile appeared on her lips, thinking that it was never impossible. Yet, she said to Laura that she was just there for the money and not for the jaw-dropping, uber-handsome husband she had.

She hoped she could really make it, though.

And, of course, her best friend interfered. "You do know that it would be difficult for you not to fall for him, as well as for his child. Stanley, too could fall for you, that's for sure. The question is, was it really you whom he would fall for if ever that really happened? What if it was only because you resembled his child's mother?" That was Laura's exact text message, and upon receiving and reading it, Maxine froze to where she was seated. She was baffled and immediately lost in her thoughts, knowing that her friend had a point—a perfect one.

Having a deep attachment to the two will make everything hard for her. But, with the fact that Maureen, the birth mother, had come back, there really was a chance for her to be replaced—immediately.

"Maxine? Maxine?" A husky voice brought Maxine back to reality. It turned out that Stanley had been calling her name a few times already. She then just looked up at him without saying a word. "You seemed to be daydreaming." He said with a chuckle.

Maxine gave him a smile as she sighed. "Just thinking of my life back before my feet landed here," she lied.

Stanley grabbed a seat next to her as he stared Maxine in the eyes. It intimidated the hell of her. "Don't you have a boyfriend?" He then asked. Maxine was beyond shocked. She didn't expect Stanley to ask her that question. Wasn't that written on the contract?

"I- I don't have a boyfriend," she said in a low voice. Actually, Maxine hasn't had a relationship ever since. Her world basically just revolved around her work, family, and friends—and now to the two, Stanley and Heather, since she started working at them.

"Great. I was worried you might leave us soon if you have," Stanley playfully answered.

Maxine gave him a small grin, "you were giving me chunks of money. Why would I even want to leave?" Maxine answered even more playfully.

It made Stanley laugh as he went closer to her face, eyes piercing through her soul. "I don't believe you, honey." He let out, almost a whisper. Maxine could feel his breath. "You're staying because you liked taking care of Heather." He continued as he went closer, almost kissing Maxine. "You're staying because you liked being with me," he ended as he intently let their noses touch.

"What are- what are you talking about?" Maxine whispered, not wanting Heather to hear them.

Stanley didn't give her an answer anymore. His tease for a kiss immediately became a real kiss. Maxine closed her eyes while tasting his mouth, completely caught off guard. Again, butterflies began to rumble in her stomach. The feeling was unfathomable, and she inexplicably gave the kiss back. It went deeper and more passionate as if it was made by someone who was truly in love.

It felt real.

It felt like it was not a job.

"Daddy! Mommy! What are you doing? Are you kissing?" Heather's shout broke the kiss with her endless questions. The two immediately looked at her, then at each other, then back at the child who was complaining. In the heat of the moment, they almost forgot that they were in the playroom with Heather.

"You didn't see anything!" Stanley said in defense, it was more like a joke.

Heather had her eyebrows furrowed when she answered. "I was the only one allowed to kiss mommy!" She said as she went close to Maxine. She then hugged and gave her a kiss on her cheek—three kisses which made Maxine chuckle.

Stanley laughed at the sight while raising both hands as if he accepted his defeat. This little moment soon turned to them playing, laughing, and tickling each other. At some point, Maxine had stared at the two when they were so distracted by their playful gestures. Again, she smiled. It was a sad smile while a thought ran through her mind.

'How could I even handle losing both of you?'

"Hurry up, Mom and Dad! We don't wanna be late for the family day's first game!" Heather excitedly shouted as she ran down the stairs.

"Careful, baby. You don't wanna attend the family day with a foot injury," Maxine warned Heather as she followed her.

It was Heather's Family Day at school, the first time Maxine would show up there, standing as her mom, and the first time in many years that Heather's classmates would see her with her family, complete. If there was someone who was so excited about this, it was the child.

"The car's ready. Come on, my babies." Stanley gleefully said. It made Maxine smile while double-checking everything that they needed to bring.

Upon arriving at the school, Heather went straight to the field, where she saw her classmates and teachers. The place was full of colorful buntings and happy families in their different colored shirts. It made Maxine's heart full. She, too, was very excited about how this day would go.

"Hi, teacher! Hi classmates! Look at my mom; she's so beautiful, right? I really wanted you guys to meet her," Heather suddenly said, taking everyone's attention, which made Maxine shy and shocked. She then just waved her hand as smiles greeted her.

"Hello, I am Patty. What is your name?" One of Heather's classmates said. "You are really beautiful," she continued while looking straight at Maxine's face.

"You're so sweet, thank you," Maxine responded as she patted her head. "I am Maxine, Max for short." She continued.

"Mom's kidding. She is Maureen. That's your name, mommy," Heather interfered, making Maxine completely speechless. Some of her classmates also laughed as to why Maxine didn't know her real name.

"Hey, what's going on?" Stanley finally came back after parking their car.

"Mom said that she was Maxine. But her name was Maureen, and not Maxine, right daddy?" Heather complained. It made Stanley look at his wife, who was still speechless now.

Stanley let out an absurd laugh. "Okay, guys, listen. Heather's mom was named Maureen Maxine. Maxine was her second name," he lied, thinking that this was the only way to get out of it. The children, including Heather, thankfully believed.

"I'm sorry about that," he then said to Maxine as he held her hand.

"No problem," she responded with a smile, not letting go of his hand.

"Parents, students, our family day will start in a while. Please go to your designated areas now," one of the teachers announced.

There, the whole day went by with ease. Everyone was clearly enjoying every activity prepared, including the Robbins. They gladly join every game and do it with such teamwork, competitiveness, and joy. Like a real family, they were. That made them the school event's overall champion.

"We've made it, woohoo!" Stanley said while holding out the trophy.

"My daddy is the best! My mommy is the best! Our family is the best!" Heather excitedly said while jumping over and over. She then gave both her parents a kiss. "Thank you, mom and dad."

"All for you, baby," Maxine responded.

"I'll just go to the washroom, mom!" Heather said before she ran through the nearest bathroom.

Maxine just sat at one of the school benches while waiting for her child to finish. That was when she realized that Stanley was not around anymore. She roamed her eyes around the campus and finally saw her husband—surrounded by many girls, primarily those moms.

'Jerk,' she laughed at the odd situation.

Fifteen minutes had passed, and Heather was still in the washroom. Thinking that it was taking her too long, Maxine decided to just follow her inside.

"Our family was the best! Your mom just cheated on the game earlier; that's why you won!" A girl shouted inside the washroom. Maxine saw it when she pushed Heather hard, making her fall on the bathroom floor.

"Hey! What are you doing?" She fastly went over to Heather to help her stand up. When she did, she immediately gave her a tight hug. The child started to cry. "What are you doing? Don't you know that hurting someone is a bad thing?" Maxine said, her voice a bit loud. It made the other girl start crying too. And just as that, her mom showed up.

"Who gave you the right to yell at my child?" She was mad.

"I'm not yelling at her. I'm just telling her that hurting someone is bad because it seemed that you didn't teach her about it." Maxine retorted back.

"Excuse me?!"

"Excuse me, too, but I saw how your child pushed Heather. Miss, please teach her some manners." Maxine said as she started her way out of the bathroom.

"So, you're saying that my child is a brat!?" The mother yelled as she followed Maxine out.

"I didn't say that at all." Her calmness made the other party even more upset. She continued the yelling until other people's attention was caught. The teachers also went to stop the scene. Stanley was already there too.

The teachers sincerely talked to the two kids one by one. It took a few minutes before letting them go back to their parents. "Come on, Alice. Be a good girl and do what you have to," one of the teachers said.

The other girl, Alice, then went near Heather. "I'm sorry for pushing you inside the washroom. I will not do it again," she said.

Heather gave her a smile. "It's okay. Apology accepted," she said as she gave Alice a quick hug.

When everything was settled, the Robbins headed to the nearest bench to eat and take some rest. "Thank you for standing up for her," Stanley said while walking, and again, he held Maxine's hand.

"That would never happen if you didn't flirt with other single moms in the field," she joked, making Stanley scratch his head.

It was a long and memorable day for the three of them. It may not be as smooth and perfect as it should be, but it sure was one of those days they would go back from time to time.

"Goodnight, baby," Maxine said to the already asleep Heather. As she gave her a forehead kiss, she heard a shattering glass sound from Stanley's room.

Maxine immediately walked over to see what was going on with Stanley or if everything was alright. The door was half-open when she reached the room. Her heart sank as she saw Stanley crying while holding a beer bottle.

"Fuck it, Maxine. Why do I have to like you? Why does it have to be this fast? Fuck, I like you so much! I like you so much…" she heard him say.

Maxine was so caught off guard that she didn't even notice how Stanley had already seen him outside.

"You heard everything?" He asked as he walked closer to her. He then put strands of her hair to the back of her ear. "All of that was true, Maxine. I like you." He said with all his heart.

"Stanley… we have a contract. Remember rule number seven? Personal attachment with me is forbidden. I am your boss; you are my employee." Maxine reminded him without moving an inch away.

"Fuck that contract, Maxine. I want you." He cursed as he started kissing her.

Although shocked and barely believing what was happening, Maxine still gave the kiss back. It was far from the kisses they shared before or when Heather was around. It was more intimate, passionate, and somehow lustful. Stanley devoured Maxine as he let the kiss go deeper.

They walked inside the room, lips unseparated. "I want you," he breathlessly said as he bit Maxine's lower lip.

Stanley's hands started to wander around her body. Slowly, he undressed Maxine. And although it was her first time, she didn't make him stop. She let him consume all of her, giving up at his every touch. The night was intimate as they shared love, making their souls one. Moreover, both of them didn't regret one thing.

"I love you," Stanley breathed out while hugging Maxine from the back. But since she was already too tired… she didn't hear him clearly, lost in her sleep, inside his arms.

Maxine woke up at the beaming sunlight hitting her face. Beside her was Stanley, who was still sleeping soundly. A bitter-sweet smile unconsciously appeared on her lips as she looked at his gorgeous face. She stared at him while reminiscing about what had happened between them last night.

It felt surreal, knowing it was her first time and she had given it to someone like Stanley, an ideal man. But upon remembering Maureen, she couldn't help but feel guilty. It was a fact that she still had slept with a married man.

She was brought back to reality when Stanley gave her a hug, his head on her chest. "Good morning, love." He said in his groggy voice. He was about to give her a kiss when he noticed how blank Maxine's expression was. "Was there a problem?" He then asked as he leaned his head on the bed's headboard.

"We- we- had," Maxine could not put into words what she wanted to say. "We did it even if you were still married. Stanley… all of this was wrong." She finally managed to let out.

Stanley then gave her a quick kiss and a playful smirk. "Maxine, I would never sleep with someone if I was still married. I and Maureen were already annulled. You don't have to worry about anything," he gave her assurance, putting a slight smile on Maxine's lips.

The two went silent for a few seconds as if trying to figure out what they should say. It was until Stanley broke the silence with words Maxine had never expected to come out of his mouth. "Marry me, Maxine." He said while holding her hands and looking straight into her eyes.

"What?" It was hard for her to believe. "Why?" She added.

"Because I love you, and I don't want to pretend anymore. I want you to be Heather's real mom. I want you to be my real wife. I don't want the contract anymore. I want sincere and genuine love from you," he confessed. Stanley had actually said everything to her last night when Maxine was already sleeping. She didn't hear a thing, but now, everything was said right in front of her.

Maxine had her tears almost falling from her eyes, yet, she didn't manage to utter even a single word.

"Loving you was unexpected. I honestly didn't know when everything had started. It's just one day; I opened my eyes, saw you and my daughter so happy together, and my heart was immediately filled. I knew that there was nothing I would want in this world but for the three of us, Heather, you, and me, to be together." He said. Maxine was happy with everything he said, but her mind was somehow doubtful.

She then wiped the tears that had already fallen from her eyes. "Did you love me because you really love me? Or was it because I resembled Maureen?" She asked.

Stanley cupped her face. "Of course not. I love you because it was you, not because you resembled anybody else. It was Maxine Ballard that I love—you, only you." He answered as he let their noses touch. Maxine let out a small laugh at his gestures. "Do you want to be my wife?" He then asked.

Her laugh continued. "But you don't even have an engagement ring," she joked.

Stanley also laughed at what she said. "I could buy you an engagement ring now and ask you the same question later," he responded with a smile.

Maxine also cupped his face as she took a deep sigh. "I would marry you, Stanley." She then said, making Stanley kiss her out of happiness. Maxine gladly gave the kiss back. She had never been this fulfilled in her entire life.

The two took a shower together, claiming each other as their own.

After dressing up with playful moments in between, Heather's nanny, Yolly, knocked on Stanley's door, saying that the kid was crying. Upon hearing that, Maxine immediately ran through the room, leaving Stanley with a smile on his face.

'I know you're gonna be a good mother,' he thought before following her.

"I thought you left me again, mommy," Heather said in between the sobs.

Maxine immediately gave her a forehead kiss. "That would never happen again, baby. You don't have to worry, okay?" She said as she gave Heather another kiss. The child had finally smiled.

"Come on, my babies, let's eat our breakfast," Stanley said while standing behind the door.

Grandma Lisa and Grandpa George had joined them for breakfast that morning.

"I have some good news for the both of you," Stanley said as he drank a glass of water.

Both of his parents had looked at him with curious eyes. "What is it, young man?" George asked.

He then held Maxine's hand as he took a deep breath. "Maxine and I were already engaged. She said yes!" He said in full excitement.

"That's great to know. Congratulations!" Lisa said with a smile.

"When and where do you plan to get married?" George added.

Heather was also smiling despite not getting everything that they were talking about. On the other side was Maxine, who also had a smile on her face. She was so glad, relieved, and happy, knowing that Stanley's parents were in favor of them getting married.

"The details were yet to announce. We will let you know soon," Stanley answered as he continued eating. All of them continued eating as well and finished the breakfast with a calm atmosphere.

**

She went inside her manager's office with such grace and perfect posture. Even if shades covered her eyes, everyone she passed through kept their stares on her until she was out of sight. Indeed, she created such a huge impact—a head-turner. It's impossible not to when she was six-foot-tall, had long blonde hair, and a gorgeous face.

"I'm sorry for being late. The traffic was crazy," she said as she removed her shades, revealing her astonishing emerald eyes. She also took a seat in front of Jen's table.

"Well, well, well… welcome back, Maureen. You looked as beautiful as ever. Wait, wrong, more beautiful than ever." Jen, her manager and also a friend, complimented her as she handed her a bouquet of flowers.

After knowing that massive projects had wanted to get her to play a big role, Maureen had never thought twice about going back to the US. One reason was that it was an opportunity she never wanted to miss in her acting career.

"Their offers were huge, and it's up to you who you want to sign with. I have a few suggestions that you might want to consider. One was a project with DiCaprio," Jen winked as she handed her the files. Maureen got it from her hand and scanned everything carefully.

Another reason was the money and growth she could get from all of these.

She then dropped the files on the table, lay back her head on the chair, and took a deep breath. "I'll continue looking at it later," she then said.

"Why? Was there something else you wanted to do more than this?" Jen asked in confusion upon noticing that she was somehow not that interested.

"Maybe…" she sighed.

In her mind was the biggest reason for coming back.

For her, returning to the country was a great way to reunite with the family she had left seven years ago.