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 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
A MAN in a gray polo and black trouser butt in, and then he walked towards the old man, whom he called 'dad.'"Helios, son," the old man greeted as he stood up. A sly smile crept into the old man's lips."What are you doing here, dad? And what are these people doing here?" the guy named Helios uttered as he stopped his gaze on Zoe."You're doing it again?!" Helios' booming voice roared on the corners. He walked closer to his dad and grabbed the old man by his collar. "I'm warning you! Don't you dare tint my place with your schemes!” he asserted.Instead of answering, Helios' dad let out a devilish laugh."Let them go, dad," Helios asserted once again.The old man's devilish smile is still drawn to his lips as he equaled Helios' death stares.“I will if…” he paused, which made Helios clench his jaw. “Well, I will let the young lady go—”"Both of them. Let them go," Helios said.“No. The older one needs to pay debts to me—”"I am clear, dad. Let them go!" Helios shouted, making the old
IT'S been two days since Zoe lived with Helios. It's Monday, and she just went home from school. Her everyday life as a student became different the moment she lived with Helios. Yesterday, the man ordered someone to pick up and pack her things at her old apartment. However, they only brought her something that she would need at school but not her clothes because Helios bought many of them.She knew he bought her but to the extent that he would buy her dresses and stuff. She couldn't say anything about his treatment. He's caring—despite the fact that he has a solid and scary aura, she still manages to stay calm on his side. And she has this strong feeling that she's safe when she's with him.About her mom… they lost communication. But Helios assured her that her mother was safe. She trusts Helios' words. She doesn't know, but she felt at ease being with him in just a few days."Miss, dinner is ready.""Thank you, Nana Milky. But I will wait for Helios first," Zoe said and smiled at He
WHEN Zoe’s lips met his lips, a bomb suddenly exploded inside her. The kiss is familiar, and so is his touch. She knew that her body recognized it.He was the man whom she let have her that night two years ago. She can’t forget that tribal tattoo design covering his left chest and shoulder. The room that night is dim, but the tattoo shines through the dark.She was sure that he was the man who took her virginity—yes, she lost it that night. It was clear as snow, but it was the memory she tried to forget. She was drunk. However, she still remembers what she did. She was at the counter at that time while waiting for her mom. She remembered clearly how she pulled the guy that passed by in front of her and suddenly kissed him. It was supposed to be a peck, but the guy caught her lips again.She opened her eyes at the moment and pushed Helios away. Her chest was heavy panting while she stared at him.“Now, you remembered me,” he said, and a smile formed on his lips.“W-Why you didn’t tell
Zoe awoke beside Helios the following morning. Naked. She shook her head as she locked her gaze on Helios, who was sleeping peacefully beside her.She questioned herself at this point: how did she get in here?She was a typical college student who was only concerned with her studies and her mother. Her mother, whom she adores, attempted to sell her to a man—a murderous devil.However, how could she be certain Helios is not a mirror image of his father?Zoe sighed and was about to descend when she felt a warmth draw her.“Hey.”When she felt Helios’s breath land on her bare neck, she closed her eyes. She sighed as she turned to face him.Zoe smiled as she locked eyes with Helios. “Hey.”“I apologize for last night—”“No,” she said, shaking her head. “You are not required to be sorry. We both desired it,” she continued.Helios smiled and kissed her temple softly. His hands caressed her right cheek.“I’m reluctant to claim you, but I can’t help myself—”“I understand,” Zoe sighed. “Belie
THE following day, Zoe awoke early to prepare breakfast. She was aware that Nana Milky was present, but she insisted on completing the task on her own.“Have you seen Helios, Nana?” she inquired as she prepared to cut the white onions.Nana greeted her with a smile. “He departed at the crack of dawn. H he will be on a week-long business trip.”Zoe paused in her onion cutting and looked at Nana, baffled. She spent the entire day yesterday with Helios. As she was afraid to leave the house—prior to what happened recently—she chose to play board games after discovering a chessboard in the living room.How come Helios failed to inform her?“Didn’t he inform you?”Zoe sighed and gave a faint smile. She examined the onions that had been chopped. “No. Hmm... well, it’s his business,” she replied, her voice a little somber.Nana Milky approached her and took her hand in hers. “I’m certain he’ll call. Helios is always this way when he embarks on a journey.”Zoe pursed her lips and gave a slight
"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 wand