I lost consciousness, and the duration eluded me. Upon regaining awareness, an unusual noise enveloped me—the resonant hum of a formidable engine. Unsure if it originated from the vessel, a more clamorous sound ensued. My eyes remained shut, shrouding me in uncertainty about my surroundings. Amidst the chaos, echoes of screams, gunfire, and an urgent call of my name reached my ears. Then, all plunged into darkness once again. Upon waking, a white ceiling and bright light greeted me. "I-Ivan?!" The man I addressed approached with concern, and tears welled up in his eyes as he saw me. "I had a bad dream," I murmured. He enveloped me in a tight hug. "Yes, love. It's just a bad dream." We are presently at the hospital. Ivan is in good condition, while there's a bag of intravenous cellulose water hanging, connected to my arm. I lost consciousness and had to undergo stitching for the wound on my cheek. The doctor mentioned that it was a deep and relatively large cut, necessitating
A few minutes of heavy silence lingered. With hesitation, I parted my lips. "O-Okay," I nodded. He sighed, affirming his decision, and gradually retreated from me until he left the room. I lost track of time as I stared at nowhere. When I finally blinked, the dampness on my cheeks revealed the silent tears. Swiftly, I wiped them away. What should I do? I contemplated for a few moments, then reached for my phone. Anxiety tightened its grip on me, prompting the need to find someone to talk to instead of surrendering to a breakdown. I refused to let weakness take over. Given the challenges I've faced, heartbreak felt like nothing more than a fleeting mosquito bite. "Hello? How are you? Are you okay?" Rachelle bombarded me with questions. I hadn't spoken to her since the incident. My life was a whirlwind of events. Kidnapped, and now Ivan was informing me about the impending annulment. I cleared my throat, gazing up at the expansive sky before uttering, "Ivan is ending things with m
I attempted to force a smile despite the pity evident in Almira and Rachelle as they awaited our arrival. They hugged me, encouraging me not to cry, but my tears flowed uncontrollably. I felt exceptionally exposed when it came to him. Heather promptly joined Myrrh to engage in a play. "Please stay in the room, alright?" Almira instructed. She didn't want her child to go outside and be around other people. Mira, too, preferred not to interact with or be observed by others. They were in hiding, which is why their presence caught me off guard. I wouldn't have cried if they hadn't insisted on going over the events again. I was frustrated with the repetitive nature of the story, including the details of how we became a couple. They laughed when I expressed my annoyance. I knew they did it deliberately, but I’m not sure for what reason. I scowled, crossing my arms. "Let's not discuss him! It's getting on my nerves!" They burst into laughter. "That's one of the steps to move on—refusing
Almira quickly recovered from her surprise. She returned a serious look to the man she was hiding from. Chelle, on the other hand, seemed as though she had seen a ghost while looking at Ivan's friend. I didn't know whether it was Angus, Caius, or Huxley. Ivan grabbed my attention, and I blinked in response. "What are you doing here?!" I exclaimed at him. What was his deal, suddenly showing up here? I wanted to slap some sense into him, but I refrained from revealing my bitterness, despite feeling a strong urge to vent in those moments. "You're drunk; go home," he replied calmly. His voice was gentle as if he were a patient spouse comforting an upset wife. I scowled. I didn't budge from my seat. Who was he to tell me what to do? The nerve of him! "Let's go," he invited, but I remained stubborn. I looked in another direction, arms crossed. He patiently looked at me. Why did he seem angry with me? What did I do wrong? And what was he doing here? He sighed. His face softened again
I left Ivan, and he made no effort to stop or chase after me. There was nothing he could do to change my decision. Given his past actions, did he truly believe I would entertain his proposal? It felt like I was permitting him to inflict more pain on me. He needed to understand that I was no longer the delicate wife who could empathize with him, even during moments of distress. I am no longer that person. I showered before joining Heather in bed, but despite a bit of alcohol, sleep eluded me. Frustrated, I rose to engage in some work. Reflecting on the situation, I shook my head in disbelief. Damn you, Ivan! All you ever did was play with my emotions. It would have been okay if there weren't a child involved. Even Heather, you're messing with her mind. *** I woke up to the realization that Heather was no longer beside me. Despite the throbbing pain in my head, I compelled myself to rise and tend to my child; it was already eight in the morning, and she might be hungry. After fre
Ivan was still around. He had been here for several days, looking after Heather all day while I was at work. He took on the roles of both preparing breakfast and handling our dishwashing duties. "Mommy, your flowers are here!" Heather shouted excitedly from outside the house, eagerly awaiting the helicopter's landing. "Mommy!"I glanced out the window to see my daughter, a big smile lighting up her face. Ivan was by her side, both of them looking up at me. She dashed toward the helicopter as it landed. The bouquet was too large for her to manage. Ivan's assistant handed her a paper bag, likely containing a new toy or clothing item. Ivan carried the flowers and a couple of other paper bags. They were about to enter the house, heading up here to present me with the flowers. "Mommy!" I mustered a smile. "Your flowers have arrived!" For three consecutive days, a helicopter has been dropping off bouquets for me. Ivan was wasting money on this. "The flowers are beautiful, Mommy!" I
The following morning, I awoke alone in bed, unsure whether Heather had spent the night here. The neatly arranged side of my bed hinted that she might have chosen her daddy's villa instead. This is currently a concern for me. She has grown accustomed to constantly being with her father. What if Ivan needs to return to Manila for his job? My child would undoubtedly be saddened. Despite Ivan assuring that he'll stay here, I believe there will be a day when he must return for their company. "Good morning, how are you?" Lucinda inquired, having noticed my tears the previous night as she prepared breakfast. I responded with a subdued smile. "Ivan set up a tent last night. He and Heather slept in it," she informed me. That explains why my daughter didn't come up last night. I approached them at the back, the laughter of my husband and daughter filling the air as Ivan playfully tickled our child. Upon noticing my presence, they promptly got up, and Heather exclaimed, "Mommy!" "Hello, b
"You and your girlfriend always seem to be having disagreements."I glanced at my older sister, who had suddenly appeared behind me. I stood on the balcony, trying to regain composure after yet another argument with Maureen. It's always like this. It feels like just a week ago when we last fought.A sigh escaped me as I redirected my attention to the garden. I lifted the beer bottle in my hand to take a sip, deciding to remain silent. No words came to mind. What my sister said was true. It's always like this. Maureen's immaturity remains consistent; it feels as if she hasn't experienced any personal growth since we entered into a relationship years ago.Whenever we argue, I choose to ignore her because I don't want to say anything hurtful. Besides, the next day, she'll apologize to me.We're already adults, but it feels like she's still in high school, not maturing at all. But despite that, I love her. Everyone has flaws."Think about it while it's early. She's not the marrying type,