As I glanced at my cell phone again, I saw the last message from that man.
Unknown Number
Text me once you get home. Please. Be safe.
I bit my lower lip and realized I was typing a reply while my hands shook.
To Unknown Number
Thank you very much, Apollo.
After sending it, I left that house completely. I hailed another taxi and headed to Elena's condo. My heavy heart added to the weight of my luggage.
The rain was falling heavily again, darkening the sky. I no longer knew what to prioritize, whether it was Ares or my family. I felt utterly alone at that momen
"I'm planning to tell her right after our wedding, dad—""Marriage is sacred, son. Anastacia is part of our family now, especially you. You should include her in your decision-making," Donya Valentine said seriously, and I glanced at her. She offered me a small smile before averting her gaze, prompting me to look at Ares."Is there a problem, Ares?" I couldn't hold back my curiosity.When he looked at me, his forehead was already furrowed, and he seemed apologetic. Before he could answer, Don Damien spoke again."My son and I have an agreement, Ana. I will be transferring all my assets, including the Aragon Group of Companies, once he marries someone. That agreement has been long overdue, and I didn't expect that he would keep it."
"Ana, are you leaving?"I was almost startled when I heard that voice. I turned to find Lily, her hair still wet, standing there in front of me, a pleasant smile on her face as she continued to comb her hair."I'm sorry, Lily. I'm just going to head over to the Hacienda for a bit. I'll leave you with her for a while. Let me know if there's anything wrong," I explained, giving her a reassuring look before I left the room."It's alright. What about you? I'd love to go to the Hacienda too, but my mother would surely scold me. I saw Sir Anton and his business partners; they're all handsome!" She exclaimed, her voice filled with excitement, and she seemed to be giddy. I couldn't help but chuckle.As I made my way towards the bathroom to change my clothes, I could still hear Lily's animated commentary. When I came out, she was still at it, so I couldn't resist joining in."Did you see them? Do you know who they are?" I asked as I adjusted my attire.She rushed to the window and gazed out at
After I made that promise to myself, I had decided never to return to the city where so much pain and turmoil had taken place. I had no desire to revisit those memories. I needed a break from it all after what had transpired, to escape the anger, pain, and regret. And that was okay. It was okay to take a respite, to walk away and feel like nothing would change. Because, in reality, there was nothing left to return to.However, I couldn't fathom why I was still here. Despite years of running away, it seemed as though I couldn't escape completely.My heart was racing, and I felt an overwhelming mix of nervousness and fear sitting next to the man. I watched him from the corner of my eye, sensing his warm and heavy presence. His jaw tightened as he smoked a cigarette, and his gaze felt like it was piercing right through me. I quickly wrapped the towel Sir Anton had
But my perspective on life changed once more when I saw him at night, in a restaurant, and he wasn't alone. He was with Agatha, my sister. I watched them from outside.Ares had a genuine smile on his face, and his eyes sparkled with happiness, as if nothing had happened yesterday and this morning. My sister seemed equally joyful. I sighed as Ares took Agatha's hand and tenderly kissed it. I couldn't make sense of what was happening."Are you sure it was Agatha with Ares? Maybe you were just hallucinating," Elena said as she produced a bottle of beer in front of me. I looked at her, perplexed."What's this?""Drink up, dummy. I know you need it," she replied, taking a swig from her own bottle.Without hesitation, I accepted th
"Hey…" I heard his soothing voice as he gently took my hands, which were still covering my tear-streaked face. I remained hunched over, tears flowing silently.I waited for him to speak, my breath hitching with anticipation, as he continued to hold my hands.Slowly, I allowed myself to look at him through my blurry vision. His eyes, up close, held a tenderness that contrasted sharply with the turmoil in my heart. His eyes were unique, bearing no resemblance to Ares. They were deep and soulful, framed by thick eyebrows and long eyelashes that matched the intensity of his gaze.A few stray hairs framed his face, some falling across his eyes, and yet, it seemed to suit him.A sense of vulnerability washed over me as I realized that he had not uttered a single word. H
I was well aware of the fact that I was a ticking time bomb, harboring emotions that could explode and cause harm to those around me. That's why I chose not to reveal my true feelings to anyone. It was okay because, in the grand scheme of things, my emotions didn't really matter.Then Hector entered the picture, claiming me as his wife in a whirlwind of events. I couldn't pinpoint exactly when or how it happened, but it felt like it had disappeared as quickly as it had appeared. Maybe it was because of everything that had occurred.And now, he was back to being cold, despite constantly expressing how much he missed me."I can't believe you really knew each other. How? He's the one I was referring to earlier as the most handsome of the five who just came home from another country," said Erika who remained to stare at
My heart sank upon hearing his words. It was as though I had been jolted awake, and I turned to him, my emotions a swirling tempest within me. Was this pain I felt in my heart?Hector, with his cold eyes, gazed back at me, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips."But I think that's too much to ask for. You intended to file for it, didn't you? Yet you left. Do you still want to go through with it?"His questions were directed at me, but he didn't wait for my response. He turned away and continued, "In that case, you probably need money, but you don't have enough of it... I need an assistant. The salary, I believe, is adequate and fair. I'll hire you, and your first day is tonight. Come with me."Before I could protest or question his proposition, he walked away, leavin
In a flurry of emotions, I slapped my palm against my forehead. His words left me reeling, unsure how to process them. Why did he have to be so blunt? Doesn't he understand the art of subtlety, or even posing his inquiries indirectly?I nervously chewed on my lower lip, trying to craft a suitable response. Uncertainty still clouded my thoughts. Why...?To Unknown NumberPlease, stop bothering me.After hitting 'send,' I turned to Elena, who was engrossed in her phone. In a sudden change, her focus shifted to me, catching me off guard."Have you seen this yet?" Her grave tone made me furrow my brow. Before I could respond, she moved closer, displaying her phone.A