I almost didn't get to say goodbye to Ameline properly because my husband rushed me too much. Even though it was an unknown number registered, I knew it was Theron.I looked at the watch on my wrist. I fell on my forehead when I saw that it was six thirty in the afternoon. I swallowed, and I kept on breathing through my mouth.My phone rang. My phone is new, so no one's number is registered on it.I stared at the screen. I don't know what to say to Theron. I forgot about her coming home at this time."Mother Mary," I said when I saw Theron's name stop flashing on the screen.He called again. I cleared my throat and sighed twice in a harsh manner to at least disregard the tension I felt now.I was about to answer his call, but he suddenly ended up dialing it. I'm doomed; he may think that I am taking him for granted now.He is surely so angry about what I did to him. My hand is trembling now as I am holding the phone. I almost dropped my heart because my phone rang. It's not Theron, bu
He left me without saying words anymore. I am still in my position. I heard Maid Tanna's mouth make a sound that made me look in her direction. There's a playful smile on her face. She seemed like moved on from Theron's scolding. This woman is really a hard one. "Why? Are you mocking me because I am being scolded again?" I asked her.She shook her head. She stood up and she came to me. She was now holding my arms and squeezed them not too tight. "I'm not. I'm smiling because I am happy because he finally told you that he was worried about you," she said, with a wide smile on her face. "Maid Tanna, don't tease me like that. You know, what? I am having a hard time now. He must be really upset with me now."She turned her head off to my side."It's so simple to win against him again. He is an easy man. I am sure that if you're going to caress him he'll be feeling alright towards you, Ma'am Athara," she said with a teasing voice. I sighed. "Whatever. Now, I will be a man for a man. I
My in-laws were finally home. Our house turned happy and loud again. We are now having fun in the pool except my husband Theron. He's with us but he seemed thinking too far. He was physically here but mentally away.We're having a good time because of this small feast as my in-laws came home from Carolina. "Athara, we really missed you!" mommy said. I looked at her and smiled. My heart is immensely grateful for the treatment I received from my in-laws."Thanks, mommy. I missed you too. Ask Maid Tanna if you don't believe me, I am really not in the mood when you were away. The house was never like it was when we're here together," I said. "Sorry, dear. Don't worry, as soon as Daddy Rondel and I leave, we'll try to make sure it won't last three days. We're just taking care of something, so we went to Carolina," she explained. We got out of the pool and headed to our respective beach chairs. I took a juice and slowly tasted it. It tastes like fresh grapes so it's really good. The juic
••Theron••She keeps on annoying me. I am slowly losing strength to avoid the beat of my heart. I am realising many things now. I am falling for the woman I abused. That's ironic. It's unbelievable!Someone called my number. I was about to take my phone to answer the call but Athara ran off to where I put my phone. She was the one who answered the call. "This is Theron's wife. How may I help you?" "It's Samantha. Theron's only love," Samantha said from the other line. I put down the blower I used to dry my hair. I heard their conversation because it was set in a loudspeaker mode."Do you really want to destroy us?" There's sadness and anger in her voice."Athara," I said but she gave me a stop signal. I am worried because she was trembling. Shit! I forgot that I told Samantha to call tonight. "Don't come near me, Theron," she said to me.I just sighed and swallowed. Her eyes narrowed and her lips were trembling. When she opened her eyes wider, I saw that her eyeballs became wate
I was caught by the day on the veranda. I drink alcohol to relieve the anger I feel towards myself right now. I just held my neck and stroked it violently because of irritation. "Fuck! I shouldn't have told her those words!"My phone rang immediately so I hurried to answer it. The smile disappeared from my lips when I saw who was calling. Samantha called. "Theron, what now?"My anger was aroused towards Samantha. If he hadn't blackmailed me, I wouldn't have let my mother and child walk away from me. "Theron, didn't you tell me you'd choose me? What's the news? Have you kicked that woman out yet?" she asked impatiently. I swallowed before I blew out the air I saved in my diaphragm. I stared into the distance. The fogs are kissing my hand and my face. Even my breath is like fog. It's cold in the veranda of the house. If I didn't drink alcohol I'm sure I wouldn't be able to escape the extreme cold here. I hope I can escape the fact that my mother and daughter are no longer by my sid
I'm constantly fiddling with my phone. She doesn't even answer my calls. Even if I wanted to forget what happened, I couldn't. My wife is pregnant but I let her go. I suddenly thought that it might be good for her to get away from Samantha. But later I thought that maybe they were right, that she had nothing sensible to sleep on. Maybe she's having a hard time outside. She has nowhere to go. Even with Ameline, she doesn't give a hint where she is. I scratched my hair near the nape of my neck. I looked at my phone again and checked if someone had texted me. What I expected was Athara. I hope that she will suddenly text me to pick her up or else she will at least tell me where she is now. "Fuck! Where have you been, Athara?" I asked myself. I threw my phone on the bed. Just as I threw it on the bed, it rang. I immediately took it and answered the call without checking the registered name of the caller. "Hello? Athara?!""Darn it, dude! What Athara your ass is mumbling? I'm not your
I visited Samantha a while ago because she said that her anxiety is attacking her again. We had sex but I was not happy with what happened to us. I haven't been in the mood to have fun these past few days. All I could think about was Athara. Every night and day that passes, she's always running in my head. The house is possessed with loneliness again because I'm with no one. Tears flowed when I entered my house. I was temporarily happy because of my parents, the maids and Athara who only smiled and laughed during those days. I sighed heavily. I thought there would be no room in my heart for that woman. I thought I wouldn't be worried when she disappeared from my side. What I thought would be good for her to distance herself from me may turn out to be bad. Now I can no longer watch over her and I don't know what happened to her time after time. I didn't feel like going to the sofa but still my tired feet walked to it and sat above it. I leaned back. I looked at the small table. It's
Samantha called the next morning. Even though I don't want to answer her call, I can't do anything because I wonder what else that woman can think of doing. Her mind is unreadable. "Sam?""Theron, I'm confused. I want to die, Theron," she cried. I looked up and stroked the nape of my neck gently. "Samantha, what's going on with you again? Are you taking your medicine?" I asked. She just cried. I didn't think Samantha had an anxiety disorder. I used to think that it was because of that tragedy that he had anxiety, but it turned out not to be the case. Behind our relationship before, being good friends, she hid from me the fact that her anxiety disorder started when she was just a teenager. We were always together before but I couldn't even once notice that she had symptoms of anxiety disorder. "Theron, I'm disgusted with myself. I feel useless. We lost our child because of both of us," she said. "I am disgusted with the world because it did not let me be a mother to the child tha
Two years had come and gone since the untimely passing of my beloved husband, Theron. The pain of his absence still reverberated within me, but life went on, as it always does. I found solace in the comforting arms of our three children, Wisdom, Triumph, and Athro. Together, we stood strong, leaning on one another as we navigated the unpredictable journey of grief.In this time of sorrow, there was one constant source of support that held us all together: Mother Tanna. She had been my rock throughout this tumultuous period, offering her unwavering love and guidance when I needed it the most. Tanna had known Theron since we were young, and her bond with our family was unbreakable.On a sunny afternoon, as rays of golden light filtered through a canopy of trees, I found myself standing before Theron's grave. The marble headstone, etched with his name and the dates that bookended his life, stood as a somber reminder of our loss. I gently traced his name with my fingertips, a bittersweet
My heart was beating even faster than before. Earlier, the police with Theron were shooting against Herod's men. "Athara, are you still there?""Y-Yes, Theron. Are there more enemies?""Ugh...damn," Theron moaned weakly but surely in pain, making me stand up without thinking that an enemy might see me."Theron? What happened to you? Are you hurt?!" I asked him worriedly. "I-I am not," he said even though it was obvious that he was hurt. I held tightly to the end of the cement beds. Now I realize where I am. I was inside the morgue of this abandoned hospital. "Theron, do not lie! Are you hurt? Don't hide anything from me, Theron! What's happening to you?!""N-Nothing! Don't worry because I'm fine. The best thing you can do is to stay there and not come out!"I walked out of the morgue, my heart pounding in my chest. The sound of gunshots still echoed through the empty halls of the abandoned hospital, but my thoughts were solely focused on Theron. I knew deep down that he had been s
My right hand trembled as it swam inside my bag. I pulled my hand back when I caught the object I intended to pick up from it. It was my phone. I let out a sigh when my phone was in front of my face. "Love, we can not go ahead with the plan if you hesitate. We'll just find another way to catch Herodotus," Theron said to me as he grabbed my left hand that had fallen to the side of my body. I looked at him and smiled. "Theron, I don't hesitate. I just can't help but feel nervous and scared."He positioned himself behind me. He hugged me while his chin rested on my shoulder. "We can talk to Officer Lucas," he continued. I shook my head before facing him. I know that he was full of concern for me. The worries in his eyes were readable."I can't back down, Theron. It's here. We're here. If Herodotus doesn't put an end to his evil, I ... we will."He just smiled and pulled me closer to him. He gave me a tight hug. My nervousness and fear gradually disappeared because of my husband's hu
It was noticeable that my husband was not very energetic. I didn't talk to him and I didn't apologize after I slapped him. I'm tired of the setup of our life. It's tiring to hide. I think it's better to live like other people, that's why I've made up my mind to coordinate with the police to make Herodotus' greed over. I informed Mother Tanna of my plan. We are now sitting on a sofa. We are next to each other. My right hand was locked between her two palms. We stared at each other at this time. "Have you really made up your mind to do this thing, child?""Mother Tanna, I'm not backing down anymore. This is for my family. This is for all of us. I know it's scary but it's not right that we'll be afraid forever. I've always wanted all of this to end," I said. You can see the fear in Mother Tanna's eyes. He pressed holding my hand. "Child, how about your husband?"I pressed my lips together. I breathed deeply. "He's against my decision, mother. We haven't spoken for a few days after I
I kept staring at Lucas. I just saw his mouth open but what he was saying didn't sink into my mind. "What?"He adjusted his seat. "What I said is let's make your wife a bait. Athara is what he wanted to get from you, right? If he agrees to meet Athara, then surely that will be our chance to catch him completely."I stood up and immediately shook my head. His way of arresting Herodotus was wrong. My wife will be destroyed the way he wants. There's nonway I would let Athara be in that unsecured plan! "I'm sorry, Lucas. I won't bet my wife on this. What if my wife gets hurt? No way. I can't afford to lose Athara."Lucas gave me a blank look. I know he wants to go ahead with the plan. It was obvious to him that he wanted to convince me. "Look, Theron. Athara is the only way we can catch Herodotus. Security is tight at his house and I'm sure it will be difficult for us to get close to him because he is cunning.""I don't want Athara to be involved—""I will allow myself to be the bait
The sun was beginning its descent, casting a warm golden glow across the city streets. It had been a long day, and I was eager to head home and find solace in the sanctuary of my humble abode. I stepped out of the office building, briefcase in hand, ready to leave this chaotic world behind.As I made my way towards the parking lot, a familiar unease nestled in the pit of my stomach. Glancing in the side mirror of my car, I caught a glimpse of a sleek, black sedan parked a few meters away. A chill ran down my spine as I recognized the license plate – it was Herodotus' car.Herodotus. The name alone sent shivers down my spine and evoked memories of a painful past. He was a man filled with darkness, an insidious force who sought to claim what was rightfully mine. And now, it seemed that he was lurking in the shadows once again, like a wolf patiently stalking its prey.I knew I couldn't afford to be complacent. Herodotus was relentless, a force to be reckoned with. He wouldn't stop until
I glanced over at Athara as she fastened her seatbelt. The worry etched on her face was plain to see. Herodotus's relentless pursuit had reached a dangerous level, and it was imperative that we stay together, even on a simple trip to the store. With a deep breath, I mustered up the courage to voice my concerns."Athara," I began softly, "we need to stick together. I don't want to alarm you, but Herodotus is looking for you. He's become obsessed, and I fear he might try to take you away."Athara's eyes widened, and I could see fear creeping into her gaze. I reached out and placed a reassuring hand on her arm, hoping to convey some semblance of comfort."I will, Theron. Don't worry" she whispered, her voice trembling. "What does he want with me anymore? He got your company and the trust of the board."I hesitated for a moment, unsure of how to respond. The truth was too complicated, too painful. Herodotus's motives remained shrouded in mystery, his obsession with Athara unfathomable."S
The water kissed my skin as I was under the shower. Tears were sprouting in the corner of my eyes and slowly forming transparent balls before they were rolling down my face. I knew that it would come to happen. I already accepted the fact that I couldn't please the board and they would wish me to leave my position, but I am not used to it. I remembered the moment that Mommy Thaira and Daddy Rondelle gave me the power to take care of the company. I poured my whole being into the company to improve it and achieve goals. I was the reason why the company was on top now. There are many things I want to happen and achieve as the CEO of the company, but I know they will never happen. I no longer have the right to decide what is good for the company because I am no longer in charge of it. I don't know why the board didn't want daddy to be the CEO again. What they really wanted was Herodotus. They chose Herodotus who was greedy and a traitor to lead the company. After I finished taking a
As the sun stretched its golden rays across the room, casting a warm glow over the embrace between Mommy Thaira, Daddy Rondelle, and our children, my heart swelled with a mixture of joy and apprehension. It had been days since their visit, and I had been eagerly awaiting this moment, longing to be in the presence of the ones who had showered me with love and affection. Little did I know that their visit would bring unsuspected turns, unraveling a tangled web of emotions.The laughter of our children echoed in the air as they clung tightly to their grandparents, their innocent faces filled with pure delight. "We miss you so much, kiddos!""We miss you too, granny and grappa!"It was a beautiful sight, one that filled my soul with immense gratitude that they had found such unconditional love in Mommy and Daddy. But beneath the joyous reunion, an underlying tension pulsed, making my heart race with anticipation.After the initial flurry of affectionate greetings, Mommy and Daddy asked f