Bound by Fate's Contract

Chapter 18: Uninvited Guest

The day of the gender reveal party had arrived, and Maya and Ace stood side by side, surrounded by friends and family who had gathered to celebrate the upcoming arrival of their son. Laughter and joy filled the air as they cut the cake to reveal the blue interior, signifying their baby's gender.

As the festivities continued, Maya felt a sense of contentment she had never experienced before. Seeing Ace interact with their loved ones, witnessing the joy on his face as he embraced the reality of becoming a father, filled her heart with happiness.

But amidst the celebration, an unexpected guest made an appearance. Daniel, the man Maya had briefly connected with during their honeymoon, walked into the party with a smile on his face.

Maya's heart skipped a beat, and she glanced nervously at Ace, unsure of how he would react to seeing Daniel there. She hadn't invited him, and the sight of him at their intimate gathering sent waves of discomfort through her.

Ace noticed her unease and turned to see Daniel standing there, an amused expression on his face.

"Who's that?" Ace asked, his voice low and guarded.

Before Maya could respond, Daniel approached them, extending his hand to Ace with a friendly smile. 

"I'm Daniel, a friend of Maya's. Congratulations on the baby." Ace shook his hand, but his expression remained tense. "Thank you." As the party continued, Maya found herself torn between her past connection with Daniel and her commitment to Ace. She tried to keep her distance from him, but he seemed intent on engaging with her and, at times, subtly provoking Ace.

Later in the evening, as the party was winding down, Maya retreated to their bedroom to take a moment to herself. To her surprise, Daniel followed her, closing the door behind him.

"Maya, I'm glad I got to see you again," he said, his voice filled with a mix of nostalgia and longing.

She took a step back, feeling uncomfortable with his presence. "Daniel, this isn't appropriate. I'm married now."

He moved closer, his gaze unwavering. "But does that mean you don't feel anything for me anymore? The connection we shared was real, wasn't it?"

Maya hesitated, unsure of how to respond. The memories of their time together tugged at her heart, but she knew that her commitment was now to Ace and their unborn child.

Before she could reply, the bedroom door swung open, and Ace stood there, his expression a mixture of anger and hurt.

"What's going on here?" he demanded, his voice trembling with emotion.

Maya's heart sank, and she tried to explain. "Ace, it's not what it looks like. Daniel followed me in here, and I was trying to-"

But Ace cut her off, his anger boiling over. "I can't believe this. I thought we were building something real, but it seems like you can't let go of your past."

Maya's eyes filled with tears as she tried to reach out to him. "Ace, please listen-"

But he turned away, storming out of the room without another word.

As the night wore on, Ace didn't return home, leaving Maya in a state of anguish and worry. She called and texted him repeatedly, but he remained unresponsive.

In the midst of her fear and confusion, she couldn't help but wonder where he had gone. The distance between them felt like an insurmountable wall, and she feared that the progress they had made in their relationship was now unraveling.

With each passing minute, Maya's heart ached, uncertain of what the future held for her and Ace. The party that was meant to be a celebration of their love and impending parenthood had turned into a night of heartache and uncertainty.

As she waited for Ace's return, she clung to the hope that their love could withstand the challenges they faced. Fate's contract had brought them together, and it was up to them to determine the fate of their love—a love that was now tested by unexpected guests and past connections.