The Royal Contract

He had a plan to save himself from his enemies, but the success of it would solely depend on the cooperation of the people in the room.

However, as he looked at their faces, he could not help but doubt if they would lift a finger to assist him in his dilemma.

"I know you don't owe me anything. But I am here to seek your help." He looked at Dani, hopeful their shared blood would soften her heart toward his plight.

After all, she had shown signs that she was starting to warm up to his existence and their blood relation. From what he had heard, she was not the type to hold a grudge.

"I am..." He continued, but someone disrupted him as another person joined them in the room.

Looking at his sister's husband, he knew it would take more than his apology to garner his support and trust, judging from the visible scowl on his face as he sat beside his wife.

"And what makes you think we will help you, Gerald?" His brother-in-law quickly spoke before he could finish his statement.

He believed it would not have been easy for Alex to welcome him to his home. And it would be much harder to accept him with a warm embrace.

Of course, he could not blame his brother-in-law, remembering how he had placed their lives in hell. He remembered how he enjoyed watching Alex suffer.

"I know it will not be easy to convince you that I have changed, but I promise I am a different man." Gerald wished there was an easier way to persuade them, but he had no magic wand or power to erase the past.

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Even though it was not his idea to kidnap them, he was still instrumental in subjecting them to such a horrific situation. He could not put the entire blame on Nick, the real mastermind.

"Forgive us if we find that hard to believe." Alex appeared to be not in the mood to listen to his explanation. But that was his prerogative.

If he had been in their shoes, he would not help him. He might have acted the same way. Moreover, the old him would have exacted his revenge.

"I understand." This time, Gerald turned his attention to his sister, who had been silent since her husband joined them. He could not read her thoughts, but he could guess what was swirling in her mind.

He admitted that he was not a saint, far from it. He might be Robinhood in the eyes of the people he had helped, but behind the scene, he was the Sheriff who wanted everything for himself.

In other words, he was a wolf in sheep's clothing. He acted like a good man, but deep inside, he always had a dark heart tainted with anger and hatred.

"But since we are already here, maybe you can spare me a few minutes to listen to what I came here to say." Gerald pleaded silently to his sister, imploring her to give him a chance.

He had to try. He believed, somehow, he had changed. And besides, he was not only doing this for himself but for the woman who loved him and his unborn child.

"How do we know that this is not a trap?" Alex spoke again, appearing to be taking over the conversation while Dani remained silent. "What is our assurance that this is not just another of your evil scheme?"

He shook his head as exasperation washed over him. Nevertheless, he would do everything in his power to earn their trust. It would not be easy, but he would find a way.

Hopefully, he could gain their confidence and support without losing his life. The whole purpose of this meeting was for him to regain his life so he could be with Haley and their child.

"I assure you we came here in good faith and with no ill intention." Suddenly, his friend, who sat quietly at his side, backed him up.

"If you only give him a chance to speak, you will see that he only wants what is best for everyone." Mike continued, not letting Alex stop him.

He stood up from his seat and wandered around the spacious room until he walked over to the fireplace. He looked at the displays that enhanced the beauty of the place when his eyes landed on a picture frame.

His eyes focused on the first picture. It was his sister with Alex, probably taken before they were married. They looked deliriously happy.

"Honestly, I can't promise you anything, but if there is one thing I hope I can do is change." He spoke, not realizing that his expression and voice had mellowed.

He could not stop thinking of the future he dreamt of as a child. He had remembered suppressing those memories because his father, Joaquin, had demanded it from him.

He recalled how much he wished for a happy family. He never liked seeing her mother sad when his father was away for days or months. He wanted to see his parents just like in the picture.

Then, he dared to dream of having a happy family someday.

"Dad, how much do you love Mom?" He had dared ask his father one day, believing his father was King and his mother was his Queen. And in the end, there was a happy ending to their unique love story.

But much to his dismay, his father's answer was far from what he thought he would say. "My son, love is for the weak. I don't want you to ever fall for such rubbish."

Of course, he could not believe it at first. "But, how can love be weak when it binds two hearts into one." He could still recall how his father scowled at his statement. He noticed his father was not amused by what he said.

Still, his father's words contradicted his mother's actions. He could tell that her mother loved his father so much. However, his father did not seem to reciprocate the same affection.

"As my heir, you should never speak to me about love. I need you to promise to forget about this foolish notion." His father would not have it.

His father squashed all his remaining hope for happiness when he placed the burden of carrying his legacy on his shoulder.

He had no time for love or anything else. He had to harden his heart, sharpened his mind. He should be cunning to his friends and ruthless to his enemies.

"I need you to concentrate on your role in my organization. I need you to prove that you are worthy of being called my son." With that, his father had sealed his fate.

There was no place in his heart or his life for love or love life. Women were just objects to use, nothing more. They did not deserve more.

He had devoted his youth and young life to helping his father build their empire. Until one day, he inherited them all.

"Why?" Suddenly, his sister's voice penetrated his thoughts, snapping him back to the present.

Yet, his eyes remained staring at the picture before him before moving on to the next one. This time, it was a picture of an infant. Next to it was another picture. It was the three of them.

"Why do you want to change?" Dani asked again when he did not answer the first time.

Of course, it was not that simple to answer such a question. Who would believe a man like him would wish to change?

Nobody.

Why would he give up an empire? Why would he want to lose his power and wealth? He guessed only an insane person would wish to be in his position.

"I know it is hard to believe that someone like me would want to turn a new leaf in life. It is ridiculous, totally unthinkable." He slightly laughed, obviously thinking who would take him seriously.

"But believe me or not, funny as it might sound, I wish to turn my back on my old life and start afresh." This time, his face transformed as the laughter and the smirk vanished from his lips.

His eyes concentrated on the picture of the child, that seemed to be smiling as his parents carried him in their arms.

"But I am going to need your help in doing so." He knew he had to ask. They might say no, but he had to try.

His fingers touched the frame that held the photo of his nephew, Ares, the Prince who would continue the succession of Alex's family lineage.

"Why should we help you?" Dani asked again, appearing confused and curious at the same time.

He guessed his sister was wondering why he was staring at their son. Was she afraid that he would harm their child? But her expression did not show signs of fear when he finally turned to look at her.

"Because Haley is pregnant." He looked deep into his sister's eyes, watching her reaction to the news. "And I am about to become a father." He spoke with a voice he could hardly recognize.

He guessed he was also capable of having emotion, hearing a slight tremor in his tone while he held in his hand a captured moment of a father and a mother together in a loving embrace with their child.

He could not help but feel jealous as he gazed at the happy family photo. In that instant, he realized how much he wanted one.

He wanted what he never had when he was a child, a happy and loving family.