CHAPTER 4

Zelena closed her eyes and only opened them again when she realized that Dylan’s lips didn’t completely touch hers after a few seconds.

‘Shit. That’s 0.1 millimeter.’

Dylan laughed at her expression and could feel her trembling.

Zelena pushed her husband away and he stepped back.

Dylan grinned.

"You’re so arrogant about seducing me, but you’re actually afraid of me."

She gave him a sharp look, walked past him, and ran out towards her room.

"H-He’s playing with me too," she muttered, leaning against the back of the door.

"And who would kiss at this time of day? It’s too early for him to be feeling lust," she said, running her hands over her face.

She touched her lips as she remembered Dylan’s mouth. She felt it even though his lips hadn’t really touched hers.

Her eyes widened as, without meaning to, she bit her lip.

She let out a loud squeal and jumped onto her bed.

"What am I? A high school girl?"

She couldn’t help but smile, momentarily forgetting what her mom had done to her last night.

The next day, Zelena left early, and Dylan didn’t even notice.

While Dylan was eating breakfast, Tina noticed that he kept glancing at the door to the dining area.

"Zelena’s not here, hijo," she said.

Dylan didn’t look up.

"Did she go out partying early?"

"She was up late last night, but she said she had something important to go to, so she left early."

"This early" he asked, frowning as he drank his coffee.

"Yes. Looks like she’s meeting her mother."

He remembered what Zelena’s mother did when he saw them in the parking lot. He just shook his head at Zelena’s attitude, always being kind to him, even though she didn’t like him.

He grinned as he remembered how she trembled when he teased her last night at the bar counter.

"You’re in a good mood this morning, son," Tina commented.

He looked up.

"I just remembered something. It’s not important."

She nodded.

"Not important, but it makes you smile."

He paused.

Meanwhile, Zelena unlocked her car and her investigator got in.

'What did you find out?" she asked, removing her sunglasses.

"The Romanos have an illegal business, Ma’am," he answered, handing her a brown envelope containing pictures.

"What illegal business do they have?"

She opened the envelope with a frown and examined the pictures.

"They have underground gambling. The people they associate with are well-known, and some of them are even clients from their furniture business," the man replied.

She was speechless.

"I also found out that’s why they got into debt with your family, Ma’am. The Romano couple got addicted to gambling and asked your parents for help," he added.

Zelena turned to him.

"Does my mom know about this? Or are they involved in their business?"

"No, Ma’am."

‘I don’t want Mom to know this, but I have no choice but to follow her orders.’

"All right. Thank you. I’ll call you again if I need something."

Zelena immediately went to her mother’s office while holding the brown envelope.

"What did your investigator find out?" Arlene asked, as if nothing happened the night their family and the Romano family were together.

She didn’t even greet her or ask how she was.

She placed the brown envelope on her mother’s desk.

"The Romanos have an illegal gambling business, and that’s why they borrowed from us."

Her mother opened the envelope and looked at every picture. The photos showed the inside of the gambling den and the people playing there.

Arlene grinned and took out her cellphone.

"You may go," she said, not even glancing at Zelena.

She took a deep breath, turned around, and left.

She was on her way home when Lily texted, so she immediately pulled over.

She swallowed hard when she read that Dylan’s parents were in police custody.

Because of that, she hurried home.

"'Nay, where’s Dylan?" she immediately asked upon entering.

The older woman seemed flustered.

"He left in a hurry, dear. Did you hear what happened to his parents?"

"Y-Yes."

She didn’t know if she should tell what she had learned.

"How will they pay you back if they’re put in jail? Turns out they were hiding something after all," Tina commented.

She didn’t respond.

After what happened, she decided not to talk to Dylan for a while, and he was busy managing the businesses his parents left behind.

Zelena frowned when she read an article on social media that said Dorothy and Maximo Romano had been released from jail.

As she was heading down the stairs, she received a text from her mother saying Dorothy had talked to her. She said their payment would be delayed.

It was already dinnertime, so she went to the dining area. She stopped for a moment when she saw Dylan there.

He was seriously fiddling with his cellphone while waiting for the food.

"Mom told me that your mom spoke with her. She said you’ll be delaying the payment for now," Zelena said without looking at her husband.

"Yeah. Something happened with Mom and Dad. But it’s no problem. I’m also working on ways to increase our ability to pay off our debt to you," he replied seriously, then looked at her.

‘What kind of ways could those be?’

They started eating, and Zelena remembered her mother’s instructions. She knew that even if she shut down the Romano’s business, her plan would continue.

"Are you going somewhere tomorrow?" she asked.

Dylan paused and took a sip of water.

"If you’re planning to do again what you did to me at the bar counter, don’t," he said.

Zelena was caught off guard and quickly drank her water.

She heard him chuckle.

"Yes, I have a meeting tomorrow," he added.

She stayed silent out of embarrassment, especially when she noticed Tina smiling at the side.

After eating, Zelena immediately ordered one of her staff to find out who Dylan was meeting with.

"My life feels pointless. I have no choice," she said as she sat on the bed.

She took a deep breath. “I’m still a robot. Damn it.”

She grabbed her phone again and called Dylan’s client.

"Hello! Is this Andrei Santos?"

"Yes. Who is this?" the man asked.

She adjusted her seating posture.

"This is Zelena Arivelez-Roma—well, Zelena Arivelez," she corrected herself, almost saying her husband’s surname.

"Oh, hi, Miss Arivelez! How can I help you?" the older man on the other end responded.

"I have a proposal, but we’ll discuss it tomorrow," Zelena said.

"I have a meeting tomorrow, Miss Arivelez."

"Oh, okay. My secretary was supposed to talk to you tomorrow. Can your meeting be postponed, Mr. Santos?"

She wanted to take up Dylan’s time tomorrow.

"I’ll ask Mr. Romano if that’s okay."

She smiled.

"Okay. I have a business offer for you. But I hope you don’t neglect your business with Mr. Dylan Romano."

"How did you know it was him?" he asked curiously.

She swallowed.

"I read about his parents in an article, so I thought you’d be meeting with him."

"Ah, yes. Thanks for the business offer. I’ll message you if I’m free tomorrow."

"Okay, okay. My secretary will get in touch."

When she ended the call, she smiled and stood up.

"Let’s see how brave you are, Dylan, my love."

She stopped suddenly as her phone rang.

She took a deep breath before answering—it was her private investigator.

"Yes? What did you find out this time?"

"This is about why Sir Dylan Romano became a womanizer, Madam."

She swallowed hard.

"His ex-girlfriend hurt him before, which is why he became a player. Her name is Yanna, Madam."

"A-And where is she now?"

"She’s in Ilocos, Madam. They haven’t seen each other since."

She nodded repeatedly.

"Good."

When Zelena got downstairs, she was already composed. She found Dylan frowning while looking at his phone.

"I thought you were going somewhere?" she asked.

He didn’t look at her.

"My meeting was postponed."

"Come with me to the land where I’m building the farm. I think we’ll pass by your rest house," she invited, standing in front of him.

He looked at her.

"Why?"

"You have nowhere else to go," she answered with a smile.

He was silent for a few seconds before replying.

"Okay. But we have to be quick. I still have things to do."

She held back a smile.

Dylan went out first, and she happily waved at Tina.

She sat beside Dylan, who glanced at her.

"What? I don’t want to drive today, so I’m riding with you," she said with a smile.

He shook his head and started driving.

First, they went to Dylan’s rest house, then to the land Zelena had bought.

"Why is there a paved area in the middle?" Dylan asked as they looked at the vast land.

"Ah, that’s a helipad. So I can get here quickly whenever I want."

Dylan glanced at her.

"What?" Zelena asked.

He said nothing.

She was about to speak again when Dylan’s phone rang.

She just rolled her eyes as he turned away to answer.

"Okay, I’m coming now," Dylan said.

Zelena felt annoyed that her plan to spend time with her husband was interrupted.

When Dylan ended the call, he looked at her.

"Hurry up, I have somewhere to go," he said.

"Can I come? I promise I won’t cause any trouble," she said, smiling.

"'Trouble' is the first thing you think of, isn’t it?"

Zelena stepped aside.

"Anyway, I’m not going home yet."

"You’re like a child," Dylan commented, then went ahead to the car.

"You act like you’re not married," she whispered.

Zelena put on black shades as she walked into a large fashion boutique. Dylan had entered ahead, and she followed.

She was a little surprised to see many people inside, and almost everyone was drinking.

‘Shit. I didn’t know it was a party.’

She spotted Dylan sitting and smiling as he chatted with his companions at a table nearby.

As she approached, two men came up to her.

"Hi, Miss Arivelez! I didn’t know you attended parties like this," one said.

"Silly. She’s a model for their own company. She’s probably been to many like this," the other said.

"What kind of party is this?" she asked.

"The boutique owner just introduced new designs, and this is the after-party. Women will be coming later," one replied, exchanging glances with the other.

Zelena didn’t seem pleased.

From a distance, Dylan looked at her and noticed her discomfort despite her composed posture.

She excused herself and hurried to sit beside Dylan.

When she sat, Dylan was still busy talking with his friends.

Zelena clenched her fists quietly as the man who had spoken to her earlier came over.

"Actually, I have a business proposal for you, Miss Arivelez," he said, moving closer since they were seated side by side.

"You can talk to my secretary," she replied seriously.

"Since you’re here, and you have many connections, I’d like to partner with you on the bar I’m building," he said with a smile.

Zelena shifted slightly away and moved closer to Dylan, who was busy talking to others.

"I’m sorry, but I don’t want to build a bar."

He nodded.

"If you’re free sometime, can I invite you to dinner?" he persisted.

Zelena took a glass of wine and drank.

"No. I’m busy."

"Oh. But can I visit you at your home?"

She smiled.

"I’ll ask my husband."

The man stopped.

"You’re married?"

She nodded, showing her wedding ring.

She heard Dylan sigh beside her.

"It’s okay, he doesn’t need to know if I visit you," the man said, smiling as he sipped his wine.

She swallowed hard and almost jumped out of her seat when she felt Dylan’s hand on her right thigh.

She couldn’t bring herself to look at her husband.

"Right, Miss Arivelez? What’s your married name, anyway?"

She looked at the man again, her knees and hands trembling.

"Y-You don’t need to know," she stammered and drank her wine again.

Dylan’s hand was still resting there, and she felt its warmth.

The man smiled.

He couldn’t see Dylan’s hand because the tablecloth covered them.

"You’re young in my eyes, Zelena. Why did you get married so soon? I hope you enjoyed your single life," he commented, moving closer.

She swallowed hard.

She became even more uneasy as Dylan slid his hand further up her thigh and stroked it. She was only wearing a skirt.

"Fuck," Zelena whispered weakly, her heart pounding loudly.

"Why do you seem so panicked? What’s going on—"

"B-Back off!" Zelena said as the man reached to touch her.

He stepped back.

Dylan hadn’t removed his hand, so she was made to drink more wine.

She panicked when she spilled wine on herself as Dylan’s hand moved higher toward her crotch.

"Are you okay, Miss Zelena?" Dylan’s companion asked.

She couldn’t look at Dylan as he glanced her way.

"I-I’m okay. I’m just going to the restroom," she excused herself and stood up.

Dylan watched her until she entered the restroom.

He looked at the man who was pestering Zelena from head to toe.

"Long time no see, Mr. Dylan Romano," he said.

He said nothing, just nodded and returned his gaze to his companion.

"What were we talking about earlier?" he asked.

"Oh. About your partnership with Mr. Artiendo on your business. Actually, I thought, why not start another business? Not just your department store and your other ventures."

"I have an idea, but it seems I can’t do it yet."

He nodded.

"By the way, do you have time? There’s a cruise party after this, lots of foreign girls," he said with a laugh.

He smiled in response.

"I know what kind of girls you like, Dylan. If you want, you can go ahead and choose before I do," he said.

"Actually, it’s been a while now. But I’m busy today," he replied.

"I heard from Bryan that you’re married."

He paused, then sighed and nodded.

"Arranged marriage," he answered.

"Oh. I see. You can still join us."

He laughed again.

He didn’t say anything and just smiled.

He glanced toward the restroom and noticed Zelena still hadn’t come out.

"How’s your wife? Is she okay?" the man asked.

"I can’t even touch her," he replied, then took a sip of wine.

"Why? Is she that ugly?"

Dylan laughed.

"No, she’s just—"

"Help! A woman is trapped in a cubicle!"

They looked toward the woman shouting outside the restroom.

Dylan immediately stood up and ran over.

He thought of Zelena right away.

"Where?" he asked urgently. The woman pointed to a cubicle on the side.

He swallowed hard when he saw it was locked and they couldn’t hear anything.

He stepped back, kicked the door, and broke it open.

His eyes widened when he saw Zelena lying down, drenched in her own sweat.

"Fuck it," Dylan muttered as he approached her.

"N-No, no," Zelena kept stammering as he touched her and she kept her eyes shut.

"You better have an explanation after this," Dylan said softly.

"I’m going to call an ambulance, Sir," the woman working there said nervously.

"No. I’ll take care of her," he replied, turning to look at her.

The woman seemed surprised when she recognized Dylan.

"W-Where are you taking her?"

Dylan pulled out some money and handed it to her without counting. Her eyes went wide.

"I’ll take her home," he said, then without warning, he lifted Zelena up.

The woman grabbed his arm.

"S-Sir, please don’t—"

"I’m her fucking husband," Dylan said firmly.

The woman’s eyes grew even wider.