After a drunken night inside a high-end bar leads to a one-night stand with a stranger. Everything is blurry on Zoe’s part, but she sees the stranger’s tribal tattoo covering his left shoulder and chest. *** ZOE is a graduating college student from Manhattan. She’s a scholar of a well-known company that deals with cars. She lives in four corners of a small apartment with her mother, Iris. They’re living a simple and peaceful life not until her mother brought her to a party and she finds herself standing in front of an old man. At first, she has no idea that her mother is about to sell her not until a stranger comes in, who happens to be the old man’s son named Helios. Zoe was grateful that Helios came and acted like her knight. Helios was against his father’s schemes, and he bought Zoe to save her from his father’s cruelty. Their bond grew deeper not until a hurdle came that tested their relationship. Zoe was on the edge of giving up when she found out his deepest secret. Will she forever be sold to a billionaire, or will she be at the peak of escaping her destiny?
View MoreZOE is a graduating college student from Manhattan. She's a scholar of a well-known company that deals with cars. She lives in four corners of a small apartment with her mother, Iris.
Iris works every night at the nearby club as a pole dancer and a court for the upper-class—billionaires, politicians, and the like. People address her as an ultimate 'courtesan' because she's been targeting high profiles.
Zoe even gets bullied because of her mother's job. Despite this, she mastered ignoring everything. Her mother may not have a decent job, but she still loves her, and no one can change that.
“Zoe…” her mom called her name, and she stopped doing her homework.
Since their apartment costs cheap, she could easily hear voices outside her room. She then walked towards the door and opened it. She looked at her mom from head to toe, and she dressed seductively for her work again.
“Have you finished your homework already?” her mom asked.
She shook her head. “Not yet.”
Her mother's lips formed an 'O'.
"Why?"
"I'm gonna ask if you want to go to the club and chill since it's Friday, " her mom asserted and fixed her dress, especially in the bust area, where the cleavage of her boobies was flaunted.
"I'll just continue it then tomorrow," she replied. "Give me five minutes," she added, making her mom smile and nod.
"Hmm..."
She frowned slightly and looked into her mom's eyes. It seems like her mom wants to add something or say something.
"Ma?" she snapped out.
"Ah…" her mom cleared her throat, "—w-wear something sexy, okay ," she stuttered.
Zoe arched her brow. "Why?"
Her mom flashed a smile on her face again. "Just."
Zoe then heaved a deep sigh and nod.
"Wait for me," she said before closing the door.
She heaved a deep sigh as she walked toward her small wooden cabinet. She opened it and roamed her eyes inside. “Wear something sexy?” she whispered, “—but I don't have any sexy dress,” she added. She laughs . Most of her clothes were shirts and jeans. She is not fond of dresses. She prefers loose shirts. Sometimes she wears a skirt, but she makes sure that it reaches her knee. She will never wear any revealing clothes nor try one.
“ Mom! I don't have any of…” the door of her room opened, “those,” she whispered the last word as she faced her mom.
Her mom approaches her while holding a black off-the-shoulder dress. “Sorry , sweetie. I forgot you don't have any sexy clothes," she said and flashed a wide smile.
She arched her left brow as she reached for the dress. “I am taller than you, mom. And this is…” she lifts the dress to scan it, “—too short for me,” she added as she looked at Iris.
Iris smiled. "You should try it—"
"And why do I need to dress like this? We go to clubs or bars, but this is the first time that I will wear this…" she glanced at the dress once again, " —kind of dress.”
Iris let out a soft chuckle. “Sweetie, we will be going to attend a party.”
Zoe arched her brow. “In a club?”
Iris nominee. “My last client invited me to attend his son's 28th birthday."
She arched her brow. "I thought we're gonna chill—"
"Of course, with free drinks, since it's a party," Iris interrupted and let out a disturbing chuckle.
She wearing nod. "I see. But it's fine if I don't wear this, right? It's not that I will join you and the rest. I will just have some drinks on the counter," she said, trying to avoid this soul-chasing dress.
Iris crossed her arms in front of her chest. “Zoe…” okay, her mother already uses her warning tone. But there's no way she would wear a kind of dress like this.
"You knew I don't wear this kind of stuff."
Iris heaved a deep sigh and approached her. She cupped her face as she looked up at her.
"Look, sweetie, can you do this for mommy, just this time?"
Zoe met her mom's eyes and her forehead slightly knitted. Her eyes were confused, and her heart started to feel doubt, and fear suddenly lingers inside her.
She doesn't know—she doesn't want to overthink it, but she has a bad feeling about it.
WHEN they took a cab towards the club where her mother usually goes for work, her mom seemed bothered—it looked like something was bothering her.
Zoe held her mom's hand and pressed it, and she felt that it was cold. "Ma, is everything fine? You seem unwell—" she didn't finish her words when her mom tapped her hand and flashed a smile.
"I'm okay. Nothing to worry about," Iris replied.
Zoe heaved deep sigh and nod. She didn't let go of her mom's hand until they reached the club.
Iris paid for their fare before they got out of the car . She smiled at her again when they walked towards the entrance, making Zoe frown.
“Ma, your smile is creeping the hell out of me,” she uttered. Her mom doesn't usually smile or laugh. She's a busy woman during the day and night. When she comes home, Zoe is already asleep. And when she went to school, her mother had already left.
So, she knew, and she strongly felt something was bothering her mom.
However, she chooses to stay silent when they enter the club.
The loud music welcomed them. As usual, the club ambiance is still the same. The first floor is the dance floor and the bar counter, while the second floor is the VIPs areas, and the last floor, which is the third floor, is full of rooms—at least there were ten.
She's been in this club about four times now, and she can't pinpoint any changes. Except for those men who are outside. She hasn't seen those men in tuxedos. And what are they doing there?
Well, she doesn't mind. All she needs is to have some drink at least. And at the moment, she wanted to change her dress already. Her body was too exposed with her dress. Her cleavage can be seen if she pulls the hem a little bit.
She cursed under her breath when a hand touched her exposed legs while walking toward the stairs.
She glared at the man who was now staring at her like a pervert and got closer to her mom.
Iris saw it and drove the man away. “Sorry about that, sweetie.”
“Ma, he just runs his fingers into my left leg,” she complained, but her voice was in control.
Iris smiled. "No one can harm you here. Trust me. My client is too powerful. If I tell him that they touch you, that man will be dead—"
"What are you saying, Ma?" Zoe asked as confusion lit her eyes.
Iris' eyes widened. "Oh—it's nothing, sweetie. Come on, and the party is upstairs. They must be waiting for us," she said, which drew lines into Zoe's forehead.
They were on the last step of the stairs when Farah's eyes widened because of surprise. She was about to turn around, but her mom grabbed her in the arm, making her step forward.
"Ma..."
"I'm sorry, sweetie," her mom uttered as she grabbed Zoe by the arm again, and they walked towards the single couch where a man in his seventies was sitting, and a pipe was in between his lips.
Zoe started to feel fear when her mom's grip tightened on her arm as she pushed her.
“Ma… what are you doing—”
“Come on, sweetie. Please, behave,” her mom muttered.
“B-But, Ma,” she forced her feet to stop, but her mom pulled her again. “Ma… what are you doing!” her voice roared.
“Zoe, I told you to behave—”
“What are we doing in front of a murderer? And where's the party?!" Zoe shouted as she glanced at the older man.
"That person sitting on the black couch was the one who
killed the President—"
"Shut up, Zoe. Just follow me, please…" her mom pleaded, and when Zoe met her eyes, she saw fear in them.
Iris pushed her forward and let her go.
Zoe shot a glare in her mom's direction. Suddenly two men went to her side and pointed their guns at her. She trembles in fear as tears fall down her cheeks. She glanced at her mom, and her vision started to blur.
"Why? " she whispered.
However, her mom didn't give her answers.
Iris faces the old man. "As promised, here she is. She's clean and pure. She's also at the right age—"
"Mom!" Zoe exclaimed when she got the idea of what was going on. “How could you do this….”
No one dared to answer her. She wiped her tears as she glanced at the gun on her right. She choked back tears when the man dipped the gun's muzzle into her arm. Her sobs got louder until a deep voice ruined the tension on the second floor.
"Dad. What's the meaning of this?"
ZOE’S POVStanding in the hallway, in front of the open door… is Helios. He was holding our daughter’s hand.Is my third eye open as well? I did the sign of a cross and closed my eyes. Lord, God, I may badly want to see him, but this shocked me. I opened my eyes, and he was still there.I also heard the seemingly suppressed laughter of those with me inside.He smiled at me, which made my heart thumps so fast that I could even overhear it. Astonishment registered on my face. Confused…What is this?"Mommy, daddy!" Hela shouted.I looked down at the bouquet of roses that he was holding. It has assorted colors.What’s going on? I turned my gaze to my parents to find an answer. But they just nodded.I backed away when Helios started to walk inward. Our daughter was still next to him, smiling. Helios’s face remains calm as he slowly walks toward me.He stopped a few inches away from me."Baby," his soft voice almost feels so unreal.I shook my head. My vision started to blur again. My hear
ZOE’S POVWhen we got inside the hospital, and inside Helios’s room, I fell on the floor, crying incessantly. They were all inside Helios’s room. Helios is already covered with a white blanket. The apparatuses are also gone.I no longer knew who had pulled me up and led me near him.He gave up!He didn't fight for me... for us.God never answered my prayers.Why?Why do I have to feel this agony?Why do I have to experience this epic romance? I thought things like this would just be in a movie.I immediately hugged his corpse.Corpse?No. I didn’t know what to feel as I hugged his body. Why didn’t he fight for me… for us? Why did he let this happen? Did he not miss us? He promised me. He’s a fighter, but why?“Why?! I screamed. “Why did you leave us? Why did you let go?! You promised that you were going to marry me. You’re being unfair! You’re leaving me alone again while I deliver our child. I want… I also wanted to you—"“Zoe, calm down. Breathe, sweetie. Slowly… Something might hap
ZOE’S POVSIX MONTHS.Six months had passed swiftly, but Helios was still not waking up. There’s still no progress. And I almost wanted to give up, but I knew he was trying to fight. He’s trying to come back for me… for us. And every single thought of losing him almost tears me apart.How many medications have been injected into him? I lost count.I pray every day, especially when I’m on his side, holding his hand, pressing it, and talking to him. I know there’s still hope. And I believe a miracle could exist.Our daughter turned one about a month ago. We celebrated it inside his room, trying to lighten the atmosphere that day, but even if we tried hard, we all knew we couldn’t. We can’t be happy, seeing Helios lying on this hospital bed, apparatuses plunged into some parts of his body and sleeping so sound that it gives a false alarm—that he will let go at any moment.Damn it! May God forgives me. Many people out there wanted to take themselves for useless things. Why should it be hi
“WHAT a cute family?!” shouted Bill and laughed. “Do you think things will be easy just like that? I’m not a fool, Helios. If I die, I will drag you down. And I’m going to take this building down. Now, let’s play, finding the bombs,” he said and grinned.“Helios...”Helios kissed Zoe on her forehead, “Everything’s going to be fine. Let’s get you out,” he said. “Don’t let them escape. Take all of them out of this building!”They were about to leave when Amanda screamed. Her sister’s attention was on Beige. Helios turned to them.“Sir, the bomb in him is activated,” one of the assassins said.“I told you. I’m not a fool, Helios!” shouted Bill, who the two men were holding.Her eyes widened as she trembled because of fear. The timer is only one minute and twenty seconds. Her eyes were enveloped by tears again, as she was afraid of what she was seeing. But Helios led her out. Her chest was heavy as she left the place.“Helios, where’s Sam and Cindy,” she asked between her sobs.“Grant to
BILL came out from an old room and laughed as he pointed a gun at Helios.“Hello, Helios,” he said demonically.The man stopped a few meters from where Helios was. “So, Helios… let’s start some convo, shall we? How are you, my brother?” asked Bill as the muzzle of the gun still aimed at Helios.On the other hand, Helios remained calm that even if he wanted to blow Bill’s head off, he couldn’t because his loved ones were inside.“I’m not your brother,” he replied emphatically.The man laughed. He put down his gun, and his men pointed theirs at Helios.Zoe wiggles and tries to speak even though Helios can’t understand them. Helios glanced at her, and pity registered in the young man’s eyes. And his heart pounded fast when he saw his daughter lying on a wooden table, sleeping as Bea patted her.“Do you like what you see, Helios?” asked Bill.Helios turned to Bill. “No. Let’s end this. Let them go, and you can have me. I’m the only one you need, right?” he said and gritted his teeth.Bill
“I’m begging, Bill. Please, let us go. And please, let me hold my daughter,” Zoe pleaded.Her heart was almost broken because of the constant crying of her daughter, who Bea was holding. They give her milk in the bottle, but her daughter is still dependent on her—she’s breastfeeding the child.How cruel will they be?“B-Bea, please, let me hold my daughter! Let me go!” Her voice was cracked, trying to hold back her tears. “Let me go… let me go,” she said, almost whispering.Bill just laughed while he could see her suffering. What a demon!“That’s right. Feel my wrath, Zoe—Helios’s kryptonite that can serve to be the source of his death,” he said and devilishly laughed along with her daughter’s loud cries.“L-Let me hold my daughter…” she said weakly. She felt dory for her daughter, who won’t stop crying.She doesn’t know where they are. They were immediately blindfolded when they saw the driver on their way to Batangas. When those demons removed their blindfolds, they saw tall trees.
HELIOS went out early to visit Grant’s twin brother, but those guards outside Gunner’s room were already dead when they arrived. They didn’t see any gunshots because all his men were drugged to death, and Gunner was missing.“Damn that, Bill!” Grant murmured as he punched the wall.Ali approached him and touched his left shoulder. “Calm down, Grant. Don’t let your rage eat you.”“How the shits I can calm down? He took Gun—he took my brother!”Helios then let Ali calm his cousin. He massages his temple. Bill is getting on his nerves.“He already found out that we knew his plan and Gunner’s betrayal! And I’m sure he’ll kill Gun! That psychopath will think that Gunner talked about his plans to us. Fuck!”"We need to go back," said Helios."Where to?" asked Calyx.“At home,” Helios replied and twitched the doorknob, and went out of the room. He pulled out his cell phone and called someone to remove the corpses inside the room before the police could see them.When he hung up, his phone ra
THE NEXT day, Helios and his friends leave early. Cindy and Sam decided then that they would stay for a while.“You didn’t come down last night, huh, Zoe? What did you do inside the room?” asked Cindy, carrying her daughter. After bathing her daughter and dressing her, Cindy immediately took the little girl.“Yeah. You left us with those jerks downstairs,” Sam complained while busy tying her shoelaces.Zoe was delighted that Sam could get along and erased the awkwardness.Zoe just shook her head and returned things to her daughter’s bag. “We just talked,” she replied.“Really? Just talking… no touching?” asked Cindy.She rolled her eyes and shook her head.“Ah, that’s why there are hickeys on the top of your left chest and neck?” asked Sam and grinned.“Oh. My. Gosh! Is that hickeys?” uttered Cindy and laughed along with Sam.At that time, she wants to be swallowed by the ground. When she finished, she acted as if she was not affected by the teasing from her friends.“We will be going
IT WAS ten o’clock in the evening when Helios got home. Zoe’s friend is still in the house, and both decided to do a sleepover. Hela Selene was already asleep upstairs. She’s with their maid named Bea.Helios went home not alone. He’s with this guy named Ali, together with Grant and Calyx. She smiled when she saw the reaction of her friend, Cindy. Cindy spits the water she’s drinking when she sees Calyx.They were busy watching when the men arrived. Cindy is at the edge where she back faces the main door—she didn’t expect the arrival of Calyx.Helios approached her and kissed her on the forehead. “Where’s Hela?” he asked.She was about to answer when Cindy and Sam started to tease her. They’ve repeatedly been saying the words, ‘long table’. At the same time, Helios's companions began to whistle.She shook her head and smiled. Then she looked at Helios again. “She’s already asleep. What took you so long?”Helios sat down beside her, and he put his arm around her. He leaned the back of
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