"IS that Zoe the commoner?”
“Wow, she’s hot, dude!”
“A commoner is always a commoner. Even if she wears luxury clothes.”
“Right.”
Zoe is aware that the people are eyeing her. Murmuring about her.
Well, who wouldn’t?
She was known to be the commoner. She has been bullied ever since because of her mother. But all of these, she tends to ignore.
And she was quite aware that her entrance, with the two men beside her, walking with her, would literally catch attention.
She stopped walking and faced the man on her right. “Maybe it would be best if you would wait for me in the parking lot? I know you understand my situation,” she said and smiled. However, she got no response.
She looked to her left, and still, the other man had no response.
‘Seriously?’ she thought.
“Look, sir. You will put me in trouble if you don’t stay away—”
“We need to follow sir Lincoln’s order, ma’am. I’m sorry,” finally the man on her right talked.
Zoe pinched the bridge of her nose to calm herself. Afterward, she wandered her gaze around and saw her fellow students gossiping, whispering through their ears. And she’s aware that it is all about her.
She heaved a deep sigh and continued to walk to the left wing of the university.
‘Damn, you got this, self,” she thought.
“Hey, bitch!”
Zoe stopped when she heard that voice—that familiar voice came from the cheerleading team leader at the University, Mira.
“My, my, Zoe…” Mira walked towards Zoe, but the two men on her side went in front of her, seeming to protect her.
“What on earth?” Mira, for sure, was baffled. “Hey, Zoe. Can you tell them to stay—”
“State your business, young miss,” the man on Zoe’s right talked.
Zoe heaved a deep sigh and moved to the side. She slightly pulled the man and smiled at him. “I got this.”
She looked at Mira, and the latter arched her brow as she crossed her arms in front of her chest. “What’s going on? As far as I remember, you’re not born rich, and the last time we see each other, you’re not with them.”
Zoe smiled faintly and nodded. Guess Helios’s idea is really gonna create a scene and will probably humiliate her.
“Trust me. I have no idea.”
Mira snorted. “Have no idea? Are you fucking kidding me?” she moved closer to Zoe, but the man stopped Mira, making Mira complain and glare at him.
“And what’s with their sunglasses? They’re inside the school premises. And I can’t see the sun?” Mira reacted and rolled her eyes.
Zoe let out a soft chuckle. “I’m sorry…” she glanced at her watch, “—I’m gonna get late—”
“Are you avoiding me now? Don’t tell me you already forget that you owe—”
“I certainly not forget about it, Mira. But please. I have a class to attend—”
“In ten days, we’re gonna climb to the stage and get our diploma. But your debts on me have not yet been paid,” Mira warned as she glared at Zoe.
Zoe could feel the blood rush towards her cheeks, and her heart started to thump fast.
“I… I know. I will pay you. But I still don’t have the money. I don’t have work—”
“Says the woman who has bodyguards and dresses like she was a real princess,” Mira interrupted.
Zoe knew that she needed to pay Mira.
The thing was, she had no job yet. It was her mother’s debt to Mira’s father but Mira, being a bitch who always bullies her, still saves Zoe and her mother. Long story short, Mira saved them, but they need to repay.
“Ten thousand dollars is just a small amount, Zoe. I’m sure your new sugar daddy can give you that.”
Zoe frowned.
‘Sugar daddy?’
“Sugar daddy? What makes you think that I have—”
“Then what? Don’t tell me your mother sell you and a rich guy has bought you?” Mira asked, making Zoe’s eyes widen in surprise.
She was rendered speechless.
Mira let out a disturbing chuckle. “Oh, did I hit the trigger?”
Zoe’s lips parted, and she let out a chuckle. “Of… Of course, I’ll pay you. I’ll tell him—”
“Great. Anyway, I don’t care about who’s your master, bitch. I just want to get my money,” Mira said before she left, which made Zoe feel a little mystified.
Mira is not like that, and it’s the first time that she confronted her and did nothing to her. Despite the two men beside her, Mira will always be Mira, and she should make a way to do things for her.
But why?
Zoe sighed and looked at the two.
“Do you know her?”
The two looked at each other and nodded.
“Huh?”
“She was Helios’s cousin, ma’am.”
Zoe’s jaw dropped; eyes filled with shock.
Cousin?
Does it mean she knew that Helios— “so, she’s familiar with you—”
“Indeed,” the two said in unison.
‘What the hell?!’
In class, Zoe’s mind is flying somewhere; her thoughts are full of questions, and she basically wants to know the answers.
How on earth did Helios and Mira have connections?
She shook her head and closed her notebook as she dropped her pen on the desk.
The whole thing will feed her curiosity. Then suddenly, she remembered the phone that was inside her bag.
‘Great. I need to ask Helios,’ she thought.
Zoe waited for her classes to end in the morning, and afterward, she went to the garden, where she usually spent her lunch alone.
But this time, she was with what they call ‘bodyguards,’ and she found it a little bit awkward.
“Can you please stay away from me for a moment? My apology, but I wanted to have privacy.”
“But ma’am—”
“At least give me time to talk with Helios. I will gonna call him.”
They nodded. “We’re gonna watch you still, ma’am,” the man said before they walked away.
Zoe sighed in relief when the two kept their distance from her. She then let out the phone and tried to figure things out with it.
This is her first time. Although she tried to tap it last night, still, she needs more knowledge about it.
Helios’s instructed her that the only contact on the phone was his number, and all she needed to do was to click the designated app.
And she smiled when she successfully did it.
She heaved a sigh and calmed herself while waiting for Helios to pick up his phone.
Well, Nana told her that Helios might call. However, it seems like the man is quite busy.
She sighed once again when no one answered, but after a few seconds, she heard his voice over the phone—deep, velvety, and husky. It was Helios’s charming tone.
“Baby.”
Zoe pressed her lips and smiled. “Helios.”
“Mm…”
“C-Can I ask something?” Zoe started.
She heard Helios’s soft chuckle. “Seems like something is bothering my baby?”
Zoe shook her head, well as if Helios could see it.
“How are you related to Mira?”
The line went silent for a few seconds before Helios responded. “Mira, what?”
“Mira Riverdale.”
Helios let out a soft chuckle. “She’s my cousin. Second. In the mother side.”
Zoe nodded.
“Oh, I forgot, she’s at the same university as you. Is she bullying you? Tell me. If so, I’m gonna punish that—”
“Hey, it’s okay. She’s no harm. And she’s good. She even saved mom and me just like you did.” Zoe needs to let it out. She feels like Helios must know.
“Oh. I know Mira; she’s a bitch, and helping is not her cup of tea.”
“She did, Helios—”
“Calling me ‘baby’ is fine, wife. Besides, we’re gonna marry—”
“Enough with it, Helios. I am not exerting a joke here,” Zoe stated, making Helios laugh on the other line.
“Sorry, baby. So… what about Mira?”
“I owe her ten thousand and—”
“She wants the money?”
Zoe nodded. “Yes.”
“No problem, baby. I will transfer it to her account. That’s nothing. And—”
“Helios…” she sighed, “—you don’t understand. I just want to—”
“No. It’s fine, baby. Your fiancé will take care of it.”“Helios, are you still making fun of me? How did you become my fiancé? I know you save me—you bought me is the term. And sooner, I will make amends—”
“Who said that I will let you make amends? I want to marry you not because of pity, Zoe. It’s because I love you. Now, let’s talk when I get back….”
Zoe was about to interfere, but Helios didn’t let her.
“—Oops. I don’t wanna hear a thing about you, undesiring my offer. Let’s talk about the marriage when I get back, baby. I’m not fond of jokes, Zoe. So, wait for me.”
ZOE was surprised when she woke up one morning. Helios was there, sitting beside her, and she bet he was staring at her, who-knows-when.It was a hell week for Zoe, dealing with other bullies, but she admits it and is beyond grateful because the queen, Mira Riverdale, was there to save her ass.“Hey,” Helios uttered and smiled at her.Zoe couldn’t still believe the things happening between them were too swift and seemed temporary.She moved herself up and leaned on the headboard, never leaving Helios’s gaze.“Since when did you arrive?”Helios crept a playful smirk on his lips. “Just this morning.”Zoe pressed her lips and sighed. “And how long have you been staring at me?”Helios let out a soft chuckle. “You have no idea—”“Just answer me, Helios. And I am not up for a joke.”Helios’s forehead creased and sat properly. “What’s with you, baby? Did I do something wrong?”Zoe took a deep breath and sighed. “I don’t know,” she shook her head, “—all of these seem so unreal, and it shouldn
“CONGRATULATIONS, ZOE!” Nana Milky greeted Zoe as she exited the stage.Zoe gave the elderly lady a genuine smile and hugged her. She then walked over to her mother, who was crying and standing on Nana Milky’s back.Iris couldn’t help but cry as she watched her daughter walk across the stage to receive her awards and diploma. Words can’t describe how proud and happy she was.“Mom…”Iris shook her head, and she couldn’t stop thinking about what happened a few weeks ago. She regretted everything, and she was grateful that Zoe had allowed her to attend her graduation.“Please accept my apologies—”“Shh…” Zoe rushed up to her and tightly hugged her. “—don’t blame yourself, mom,” she released her grip and smiled. “We all commit mistakes, and I forgave you. And all I ask is that you promise me one thing...”Iris bit her lower lip as she fixed her gaze on her daughter. She took Zoe’s hand in hers and squeezed it tightly as she met her gaze. “Please tell me, honey.”Zoe cracked a grin. “Promi
A FEW days after Zoe’s graduation, she decided to look for a job that suited her knowledge. The thing was, Nana knew about it, so she did tell Helios, and here she is, sitting in front of him while the man was staring at her.Zoe doesn’t know how to react, but she finds it awkward. She knew that Helios had confessed last time, and she rudely responded with it. She bit her lower lip and hemmed to clear her throat, catching Helios’s senses.“Uhm, is there anything wrong?” she asked.They were just a few distances away from each other, sitting in Helios’s living room, and she did hear his deep sigh.It seems like something is bothering him.“What’s wrong?” she asked once again.Helios took a deep breath once again and sighed. “I want to ask you one last time about—”“If this is about your proposal. I apologize, but I can’t give you what you want. I am still young and full of dreams, Helios. I am sorry.”Helios scoffed and arched his brow. “I see. I understand. I will not mention it once
THE COLD breeze of the wind shoves inside the window, waking up the sleeping beauty. The surrounding is still calm and could be deafening.Zoe stretched her arms upward and smiled before opening her eyes. Her eyes blinked twice, thrice, until she adjusted her vision to the light coming from the window.“What a lovely day,” she stated when she got up and sat. She looked pat through the window and saw the shades of the sky turning orange in delight.The sun is rising and ready to say HI to the world. Zoe knew today was a busy day. Of course, her first day of work. However, she couldn’t help but sigh as she got off of her bed. She opened the window and wandered her eyes around. And she let out a soft chuckle when she remembers that the AC is on. She then pulled back the window and waved the curtain to see the view.The trees are still calm this morning. She also saw birds flying as if they were also in a hurry for something, maybe finding a portion of food to eat.And, of course, she c
“THANK YOU,” Zoe said when the guards let her in. They may act a little bit rude to her earlier; she could understand it. Besides, Helios didn’t instruct them.Zoe heaved a deep sigh and cursed inside her mind when she walked toward the elevator. Ever since she has been an introvert, she will spend her time at school, at home, and vice versa. She’s not fond of socializing and seeing many people, making her feel a little bit anxious.At the same time, she was clueless. She might not be dumb, but she can still feel that jitters in her very first.It took her a couple of minutes before she reached the top floor of the building.The space on the top is vast, and every corner is well-furnished. The dim lights beamed in the hallway, and the indoor plants were quite refreshing to the eyes.The moment she saw Helios’s office, which is just at the center, right after she stepped out of the elevator, she took a deep breath to calm herself. She knocked thrice before she twisted the know and ente
Zoe’s POV“ARE you sure about this, Zoe?”“Mom…” As I was fixing my clothes inside the small luggage, I looked at my mother, “—it has to.”“But there must be a reason why Helios treats you like that. Let his head cool off. You can’t just act like you wanted to be just because of Helios’s cold treatment. You have to respect him.”I sighed as I sat on the edge of my small bed. “You don’t understand—”“Zoe, I didn’t teach you to hold a grudge or to give up that easily. It came from you that he proposed marriage, but you declined it because of the unrequited love.”Mom walked towards me and sat on my side. She reached for my hand and pressed it gently. “Helios is a man. Sometimes, when it comes to love, men choose to be straightforward. Some got cowardly. However, Helios is different. He’s honest. It takes time for a man to take courage in confessing, yet he took the risk.”I shook my head. “Then he could also understand my feeling, mom.”“This is all about lowering your pride. Helios was
Zoe’s POVMy mother was still teasing me while we entered the club entrance. The bouncer nodded at me, but I doubt that he knew me. The nod was for my mother, making me look at her.“Mom, stop smiling. You look stupid,” I said and rolled my eyes. I frowned and glared at her when she slapped my butt. “Mom…” I warned with a steady voice.She smiled at me and winked. Afterward, she dragged me towards the bar counter. “Two shots of sex on the beach!” she said, her voice booming and blending with the loud music being played.“I’ll have a beer, mom.”She arched her brow and glared at me. “Quit being stubborn, Zoe. Let go of the bad vibes, feel the rhythm of the music, relax and chill.”I took a deep breath and nodded. “Fine, you win this time.”I saw how a smile drew to my mother’s lips. “You mean, you’re accepting that you like Hel—”“Mom!” I yelled and then suddenly looked at the crowd. I pressed my lips when a couple looked in my direction, but, in the end, they still continued to da
Zoe’s POVSoon as we enter the VIP room on the edge of the second floor. I heaved a deep sigh to calm myself and won’t get enraged because of what he did.“I’m sorry.” Two words slipped out of our mouths in unison.I met his gaze and pressed my lips. If I will point out what he did earlier, I will just waste my time. So I decided not to mention it and told him my purpose.“I know I was wrong. I should have considered your feelings. But you should have known that love doesn’t work that way, Hel.”Helios met my gaze. “Forget about it. Are you okay now? If so, I’ll let you take a nap—”“I want us to talk.”Helios scoffed. “About what? It’s clear as crystal that you don’t like me—”“I like you. That’s the truth.” I saw how his eyes widened and his forehead knitted. “However, that marriage you wanted, it’s too fast, and I am not prepared. What if you’ll regret it in the end?”“I never regretted every decision I made,” he said, making me shake my head. “No, Helios, you can’t be perfect for