Mag-log inMARIMAR OQUENDO'S POINT OF VIEW
My heart was racing so fast I could barely breathe. I nearly jumped out of my skin when I realized how dark it had gotten outside.Wasn’t the sun just beginning to set a moment ago? How did time fly by so quickly?I had no idea where I was going—I just kept walking, overwhelmed by the presence of the man following close behind me.This whole situation was driving me crazy. I still couldn’t believe he was here. Was this whMARIMAR OQUENDO'S POINT OF VIEW I don’t know how long we stood there holding each other. The cold wind no longer mattered—not when our bodies were so warm pressed together. My arms were wrapped tight around him, and I could feel him pressing kisses to my forehead, my hair. This is it—flutters in my stomach, pure joy, a thrill I never saw coming! Who would’ve thought our next meeting would be like this? Regret washed over me—all those years I let fear and overthinking keep me away. But at the same time, I was grateful. Now that he’s back, we finally see each other clearly. Still… a part of me can’t quite believe he loves me back. Please… please make this doubt go away. I’m terrified he might just be playing with me again. I let out a deep breath and pulled away from his embrace, too shy to meet his eyes right after that intense moment. “L-Let’s go… Lebi’s probably looking for us—for me,” I stammered.
MARIMAR OQUENDO'S POINT OF VIEW My heart was racing so fast I could barely breathe. I nearly jumped out of my skin when I realized how dark it had gotten outside. Wasn’t the sun just beginning to set a moment ago? How did time fly by so quickly? I had no idea where I was going—I just kept walking, overwhelmed by the presence of the man following close behind me. This whole situation was driving me crazy. I still couldn’t believe he was here. Was this what I’d always known deep down? That my girl’s instinct was never wrong? That’s why the moment I laid eyes on Aello, I’d had such a heavy feeling about what was to come. And now I know why! What was I supposed to do now? Levi was here—he’d seen Lebi, who looked exactly like him. And he was clearly furious. I didn’t know what to say, how to face him. Where would I even start? Would I be angry? Sad? Would I cry? My mind was a mess, spinning out of control. Be
MARIMAR OQUENDO'S POINT OF VIEW It had been nearly an hour since Sir Psikh arrived. We’d talked formally about how Aello had ended up here, and about the expenses I’d covered while she was in the hospital. I didn’t mention Yakov’s note. My chest was tight with nerves. I’d been praying nonstop that he wouldn’t recognize me—because oh my God! He might kill me, or throw me in jail for running away all those years ago. “N-no, Sir… please don’t. It wasn’t much—I took her to a public hospital first, and we got her out quickly,” I said, refusing his offer of payment. “No, you should take it. It’ll help you and… your son,” he replied, his eyes fixed on Lebi, who’d just come home holding a toy car. Oh no, Lebi! What are you doing here? I knew Sir would notice how much he looked like Levi the second he laid eyes on him. But I’d do anything to keep him from suspecting the truth. But… there were so many things I wanted to ask
MARIMAR OQUENDO'S POINT OF VIEW I’d run to Nay Minda’s store—the closest one to our house—to buy some bottled water, and now I was hurrying back. But when I reached the front door, I paused, hearing voices inside—Lebi and the woman were talking. “Yes! My daddy works in Romania—he’s a race car driver there hehe. So it’s just me and Mommy here at home!” “D-daddy? What’s your father’s name?” I heard her ask. My heart hammered against my ribs. I’d been right to suspect she knew Levi—especially since Yakov had sent her to me. Oh God—what now? Our quiet life might not stay quiet for much longer. “Owen Knight! His name is so beautiful, isn’t it? He’s our knight in shining armor—mine and Mommy’s!” Lebi replied proudly. I took a deep breath, forced a smile, and pushed open the door. “Sorry I took so long—I had to pick up water from Nay Minda’s,” I said casually, as if I’d heard nothing of their conversation.
MARIMAR OQUENDO'S POINT OF VIEW I’d left Lebi with Carla’s mother—thankfully, the older woman had understood, and my son had been surprisingly calm about it. What was supposed to be a quiet day off had turned into something out of a movie. I was still scrambling to figure out what to do, what to say here at the hospital. I had no idea how I’d manage to bring her home—Yakov’s note had been clear: she couldn’t stay here long. So I was already brainstorming every possible way to make that happen. I sighed as I sank into a chair in the waiting area. The public hospital in town hadn’t been equipped to handle her injuries, so they’d transferred her to a private facility in the next town over. Then it hit me—private hospital. Which meant bills. I nodded to myself, almost proud of the plan forming in my head. I’d just insist on taking her home and tell them I couldn’t pay—because it was true. I didn’t have the money for this kind o
MARIMAR OQUENDO'S POINT OF VIEW I was walking on air—floating, untethered—as I made my way home. It was one o’clock in the morning when Hapi and Eros dropped me off. Thank God they’d taken pity on a girl like me and offered me a ride. Darkness no longer scared me. All I wanted was to get inside, collapse into bed, and see my son. Carla and Lebi were home already. Carla’s mother must have agreed to let her stay over—since I had the next day off, after all. Yes, they gave me time off to “gather my thoughts and forget what happened tonight.” Funny thing—I wasn’t shaken by the man who’d almost assaulted me. It was the one who’d saved me that had my head spinning. I knew it was Levi. No way I could be wrong—girl’s instinct never lies, right? Just a few more steps and I’d be there. My eyes drifted to Owen’s old car, still parked where it had been for three years, a massive sack of part







