Apollo’s P.O.V.When I went home, I decided to meet with my cousins, Michael, Harold, and Seb. I've asked my cousins to meet me at the condo.They brought some chips cola and whiskey to drink. That was their sole purpose why they met, to have a drink. It's been a while since we've talked about this and had this kind of hangout.As Seb took a piece of a chip which is called Piattos, he sat beside Apollo and started teasing him. "I know why you're smiling!!" I looked at Seb nonchalantly, waiting for the next words that will come out of his mouth. Michael rebutted "Yeah! You know what, after your ex-girlfriend, I've never seen you smile like that! What's my name again?"Harold ate the last piece of chips of Piattos that Seb has been eating since a while ago and then he replied, "Ivy."Michael and Seb did the high five with Harold and then they laugh as they tease me. I rolled my eyes while shaking my head. "It’s been a long time, why do you keep on bringing her up? Can we just dri
Beatrix’s P.O.V.Michael suddenly felt a pang of anger in his chest. "Yes, she's just your employee. But does that mean that you really have to be so rude to her?” "Rude?” asked Apollo. "I wasn't being rude I was just being me. Maybe she has forgotten who I really am because I was being so kind to her. But I'm not. And as far as I can remember, I even told you to tell that phrase to her when you abduct her, right?"Seb was feeling irritated. He couldn’t take Apollo’s words anymore.He was having this urge of punching his cousin but he was still trying his best to keep it between his toes.Seb answers, "And you're really acting upon it?"I can't help but burst into tears. They were all arguing because of me and I don't know what to do. Harold, who has been so quiet the whole time, started banging on the door to catch our attention, especially Apollo. Even my display of emotion had been interrupted because of his loud banging. "If you can’t protect a woman that you like, then stop
3rd P.O.V.It's been a week since the moment Apollo acted insane, cold, grouchy, and weird toward Beatrix. Ever since that, Beatrix had never been so bubbly as she was before. It's after lunch and she decided to visit Charis before going to the hospital to visit Andrei. Beatrix walked into Charis' apartment, taking a deep breath as she took off her coat. She had been so busy with her brother that she had not seen Charis for a while. Beatrix has also been so busy that she forgot how to look after herself. She's been devastated, out of herself, and did not bother to smile.Harley was already there, seated at the kitchen table, sipping on a cup of coffee. Beatrix gave him a quick nod before heading towards the couch, where Charis was sitting with a book in her hand."Hey, Rix! How's Andrei doing?" Charis asked, looking up from her book.Beatrix smiled, feeling relieved to have some company. "He's doing better. He's awake now, so I decided to stay with him in his room."Harley nodded
3rd P.O.V."I can't believe you would do this to me, Apollo," Beatrix said, her voice shaking with emotion.Apollo didn't respond. He just continued to comfort his crying fuck buddy, ignoring Beatrix completely.Beatrix couldn't take it anymore. She turned around and started to walk away, tears streaming down her face. Apollo's father, who had been watching the whole thing, followed her."Beatrix, wait," he called after her.Beatrix stopped and turned to face him, wiping the tears from her eyes."Please, Dad, I just want to go home," Beatrix said, her voice barely above a whisper."Beatrix, I'm sorry for what happened tonight. I didn't know that she was going to do that," Mr. Cartier said, looking genuinely apologetic."It's not just that, Dad. Apollo has been acting strange towards me lately, and I don't know why," Beatrix said, feeling a lump in her throat."I know, Beatrix. That's why I set up this date for you two. I wanted you to reconnect and work things out," Mr. Cartier, looki
3rd P.O.V.As Beatrix sat at the bar, Harley and Charis joined her, each taking a seat on either side of her. Harley slid her a drink, and Charis gave her a sympathetic smile.Harley spoke first. "So, what's going on with you and Apollo? I saw him storm out of here earlier."Beatrix sighed. "He's so closed off, Harley. I don't know what to do. Every time I try to get closer to him, he pushes me away."Charis chimed in. "Maybe he's just not ready yet. You have to be patient."Beatrix shook her head. "I don't know if I can be patient anymore. I want to be with him, but I don't want to keep waiting around for him to change his mind."Harley frowned. "But what about your brother? Isn't he your top priority right now?"Beatrix's face fell. "Of course he is. But that doesn't mean I can't have a life too."Charis nodded. "You're not being selfish, Beatrix. You deserve to be happy too."Beatrix took a sip of her drink and sighed again. "I just don't know if it's worth it. All this stress and
3rd P.O.V."Because I saw it with both of my eyes. Every time he hurts me, shouted at me… every time he does something inhuman, he will come to me and say his mistakes. He will admit it and apologize with all of his heart. And he will not sugarcoat everything that he did or justify it for him to prove that I am the one who is at fault, and not him. He could admit his mistakes and at the same time, he’s HOT, okay? I can’t deny that fact, he’s hot.”Charis and I laughed, especially Charis, as she heard about being hot. It's really the first thing that matters to me. It’s the first thing that made me interested in him and curious about him what made us closer, right? I’m not just his contracted wife, but also a sex worker to him. But to me, I’m not just doing this because of work, or because he told me to, or because he needed someone to take out his lust.Charis, Harley, and Beatrix are still drinking. For them, it’s their day off the next day so it doesn’t matter. Beatrix slumped o
3rd P.O.V.Harley walked Beatrix to her apartment, both of them in comfortable silence. Beatrix was lost in thought, thinking about her brother's condition and the mounting medical bills. As Harley dropped Beatrix off at Apollo's place, Seb, Harold, and Michael happened to be walking by. They immediately recognized Beatrix and wondered what she was doing there with Harley."Hey, Beatrix, what are you doing here with Harley?" Seb asked curiously.Beatrix sighed, not in the mood to explain her complicated relationship with Apollo. "It's none of your business, Seb," she said curtly.Harold stepped in to diffuse the tension. "Come on, Beatrix. Let's go inside and catch up. It's been a while," he said, gesturing towards Apollo's house.Beatrix hesitated, not sure if she wanted to get involved with Apollo's friends. But she didn't want to be rude, so she reluctantly followed Harold inside.Once they got inside, Harold, Seb, and Michael realized that Apollo's apartment was empty. Harold sug
RIX’s P.O.V.I took a step forward, my hands clasped tightly in front of me. "I want to quit," I said quietly.Apollo's eyebrow raised. "Quit what?""Being your contracted wife, being a slave under this stupid deal," I said, my voice growing more confident as I spoke.Apollo frowned. "You know the deal, Beatrix. You signed a contract.""I know,'' I said, nodding. "But I can't take it anymore. I'm tired of pretending to be something I'm not. I'm tired of living this life. I'm tired of pretending I can take everything and I can breathe everything, when I can't. I’m tired.”Apollo stood up, towering over me. "You knew what you were getting into when you signed that contract," he said, his voice low and menacing. "You agreed to be my contracted wife for six months. You can't back out now."I swallowed hard, my throat feeling tight as I was trying so hard not to cry. "I know," she said softly. "But I can't keep doing this. It's not who I am."Apollo stared at me for a long moment, his expr