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.

"To where Mr. Robbins?" Stanley's driver asked him.

Stanley, who was at the back of the car, fixed his suit before answering. "To Cartier," he answered with a smile painted all over his lips.

The driver then started driving to one of the finest and most expensive jewelry lines in the world.

Along the way, Stanley got lost in his thoughts, thinking about Maxine being his wife and the mother of his child. He loved the idea of it becoming a reality. But somewhere along the line, Maureen had entered his mind… Maureen and all the chaos he had been through because of her…

–Seven years ago, at Silversea Cruises, Europe–

"What does a gorgeous man do on the cruise's upper deck all alone when everybody is having a party inside?" Maureen approached Stanley while holding a glass of wine.

He stared at her for a while. "Just wanted to breathe in some fresh air," he answered, eyes on her face.

Maureen let out a small laugh as she drank her wine. She then offered him a handshake. "Maureen Frezilia," she introduced herself.

Stanley was fast to accept her hand, and instead of shaking it, he placed a kiss on it. "Stanley Robbins."

That was their first encounter, and Stanley was immediately mesmerized by the beauty of the girl standing in front of her.

The two became inseparable on that fourteen-night cruise. Like Jack and Rose, they were fast to fall in love. Infatuation or not, the two had decided to continue what they started as the cruise departed.

–Anatole Paris, France–

"When we met at the Silversea Cruises, I instantly knew that you're the one I want to marry. As cliche as it may sound, it was true, Maureen. Since then, I have dreamt of marrying you." Stanley stated in front of the crowd and in front of his three-month girlfriend, Maureen. He then knelt in front of her. "Make my dream come true, Maureen. Marry me," he said as he pulled out a ring.

The new actress in town never thought twice about accepting his proposal. She said yes, in the city of love, under the Eiffel Tower.

Upon getting married, Maureen found out that she was pregnant. Wanting to focus on Stanley and their soon-to-be baby, Maureen wholeheartedly gave up her acting career. She wanted nothing but to become the best mother and best wife.

–Newark, New Jersey–

"Take care, babe," Maureen said to Stanley. After giving their now one-month-old baby, Heather, and his wife a kiss, he headed to work.

Staring at their angel's innocent face, Maureen heard her phone ring. It was a call from her manager, Jen.

She answered it, and they talked for almost half an hour. When the call ended, she looked at Heather again, but this time, her stare had doubts and regrets.

It turned out that she was offered a big acting opportunity at Europe's biggest media company. Maureen thought about the offer a million times, and it seemed that she couldn't put it down. It was every actress' dream.

But accepting it means leaving Heather and Stanley.

Being the young woman who was full of dreams that she was, Maureen ended up choosing the once-in-a-lifetime offer. He left the two without even saying a word. She didn't even bid goodbye to them. Stanley was stranded, lost, and full of questions.

He just figured everything out when she saw her on the television making her own name, having the best times in her acting career.

–London, United Kingdom–

"Was there any chance that Ms. Maureen Frezilia was here?" Stanley asked one of the staff of the media company Maureen was working at.

"Do you need anything from her? I'm afraid that she had her schedule full for today," he answered.

"I just need a minute with her…" Stanley pleaded.

After knowing that he was known in Newark, they decided to let him in at Maureen's dressing room. They gave him thirty minutes to stay while Maureen was preparing for an interview.

"This is it, Heather. You're going to see your mom!" He said to Heather, who was now one year old. The child's face was immediately filled with excitement.

"Yey!" She cheered with chocolates all over her mouth. Stanley gave her the chocolates when she started crying a while ago.

He then let the child walk as they went through the dressing room. When they opened the door, they immediately saw Maureen in her elegant white gown, the one she would wear at the said interview.

"Stanley? He-heather?" She was in total shock upon seeing the two.

"Hello, Maureen." Stanley greeted her with emotional eyes. "Come on, baby, go to your mom." He then said as he let go of Heather's hand.

The child happily ran toward Maureen. "Mommy!"

"No!" She said in defense, but Heather had already hugged her feet. "Fuck, kid! Can't you see your face? Fuck, you ruined my dress!" The chocolate in Heather's mouth was transferred to her gown, making her growl at the kid with anger.

"Hey, you don't have to curse and yell at her like that!" Stanley comes over.

"And you two don't have to come here! This kid needs to learn her lesson!" Maureen turned Heather back at her and repeatedly hit her butt. She never stopped until Stanley got the crying kid from her.

"She just wanted to see you," he said while carrying Heather in his arms. Maureen just rolled her eyes. "You're right. We should have never come here." He ended as a single tear fell from his eyes. He then stormed out of the room, fully deciding that he would never come back to her.

It was a wake-up call he knew he should never ignore.

"We're here, Mr. Robbins." His driver brought him back to reality.

Stanley immediately went inside the jewelry store and searched for the best ring to give Maxine. Once he bought the ring, they headed home, so excited to place it on her finger.

She was with Heather in the rocking chair when he arrived. The two were sleeping soundly, and Stanley had admired the sight of them being together. They looked like a real mother and daughter.

He was about to approach them when Lisa tapped his back. "I'm so glad you found her. I am so happy for you, Stanley." She said with a genuine smile.

Stanley gave her a hug.

Finally, he walked toward the two and placed a kiss on Maxine's forehead, waking her up. He then pulled the ring out of his pocket and knelt in front of her.

"Maxine Ballard, will you be my wife?" He sincerely asked.

Maxine cried out tears of happiness as she let him hold her hand. "Yes," she answered.