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2021-11-16 15:52:11I sit across from Atty. Garcia on her desk. She’s still into a phone call when I arrive, so I quietly help myself into a chair across from her.
She sits elegantly on her swivel chair, an exquisite wall in oakwood design spreads as her backdrop. A shelf filled with trophies and a corner wall adorned with diplomas speaks of her myriad achievements as a lawyer. And she’s the lawyer who handles my annulment proceedings with Yen.
“Welcome back, Zed! How’s your travel around the world?” She smiles, adjusting her large-framed glasses. Then, she stands up, opening her arms wide to me.
I hug her back. Of all the people I am interacting with, she’s the only one who knows the depth of my emotional struggles against my annulment. She and Ara are the only exemption to my no-woman rule since she’s already in her mid-forties. And she has become a friend to me.
“It’s good,” I chuckle. “I’ve gone to different places, met many people – “
“But never a special someone?”
I laugh. “I’m surprised you get it.”
“Because you won’t be doing this if you have found a new one.”
Atty. Garcia gestures for me to sit down. “Are you sure to do this?”
“Yes.”
By saying yes, I am authorizing her to transfer the ownership of the first three coffee shops I have opened to Yen, aside from the 50% share of the house and car I’ve just sold lately. This is one of the reasons why I return. Although these are not literally conjugal properties since I had acquired them before our wedding, I have still decided to give them to her. Just because I bought those properties for us.
She was my inspiration. And she’s part of it ever since I started dreaming of having them; her presence in my life completed it.
“You love her that much,” she says, sliding me the documents I need to sign.
Her words choke me, but I manage to smile. Then, suddenly, the same old feelings of pain and loneliness come crushing me deep inside again.
“Would you want to be here when she signs?” Atty. Garcia says, staring at me. I know she sees me through.
“No.”
“Zed, the only way to forget is to love another.”
“I’m fine, Atty.”
I stand up to end the discussion, then extend my right hand for a handshake. “Thank you so much, Atty. Please let me know once she signs it.”
“Sure,” she smiles, accepting my hand.
I wave at her, then hurry to my car. Unfortunately, I still have to return the car to my old home since the buyer will come over this afternoon. But before I turn on the ignition key, a message notification beeps.
I swipe my phone’s password then click the message. “An amount of P5, 000. 00 is deducted from your account xxx….”
I smile, remembering the awkward incident last night. Then, fastening my belt, I pull out from the parking lot and head toward Yen and mine’s house.
I start feeling nostalgic as I turn towards the familiar block of the subdivision. And as soon as the guard ushers me in, my eyes lay on the façade of the house that holds my bittersweet memories of Yen.
I step out of the car, checking the garden first. The flowers beckon me from their well-crafted landscape islands, and all of them remind me of Yen. The wooden swing is still there, drawing some memories of her from the back of my mind. I’m glad the housekeeper has maintained the way I want it to be.
Why is it so hard to forget? If loving someone with all of your heart puts you through this searing pain, I’d rather stay alone forever.
Stepping out of the garden, I proceed to the main door. I open it, and the same furniture I left behind greet my eyes. A surge of painful memories then floods in my mind that I step back. I close it again, park the car well, and leave.
I book a car ride and proceed to the car rental company. I need a car before my new one is released. I have already processed it ahead, but I think it will still take a few days before I can have it.
I haven’t paid much attention to my time in the car rental company and the car showroom. I glance at my watch, and it’s already thirty minutes before three. Arnold must be already at the coffee shop. I can’t waste his time since he’s handling all the branches of XYZ Coffee Shops in Cebu.
I drive faster than I usually do, and when I open the door to the coffee shop, the smile of the woman I’m never ready to see greets my eyes.
It’s Yen.
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Yen, my ex-wife and the cause of pain and miseries.She rises from her seat as soon as she sees me, mesmerizing me with her smile. Oh, dear, she’s still beautiful as ever. I step back, suddenly not knowing what to do.Time hasn’t changed her. She’s even more stunning than the last time I saw her. Her smile grows wider, even with my reaction. And the graceful and elegant way she tilts her head just captivates me again.“Zed, welcome back!” she greets, opening her arms wide for me.“Yen,” I reply weakly, afraid that my voice will crack. “You’re here.”I pace forward like a snail, realizing I’m not yet ready to face her. All those pains I try to blot out from my memories now surges back, threatening my self-control.I stretch my arms wide, forcing a smile from my lips. She also throws her arms around my neck. I press her close to me. And no matter how hard I try; my tears s
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I can't believe Yen will have the heart to bring this up. It's a subject I never want to talk to. It hurts me and my prideas a man."Yen, I'm sorry. Please leave that part to me," I say, a frown spreading on my face."Zed, please don't misunderstand. I'm just curious. Well, I want to know if you're healed already.""We can try it out and see," I suggest but laugh afterward. "Sorry, just kidding."She also laughs; the richness of her laughter soothes my aching heart."Honestly, Zed, I really wish you have overcome that part. It has made me guilty until now. After all, I am the reason why you have become like that.""Don't. Don't worry about me.""Have you continued your therapy?"Yen knows I had sessions with the same psychologist who had managed her before. The same psychologist who helped her restore her memories and the psychologist who helped me overcome the emotional trauma of my sexual pathology. And according to her
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Latest chapter
SINFUL INDULGENCE 3 87 The Epilogue
Zed's POV I stare at the charcoal portraits of two little kids. One painting shows them holding hands, another shows them eating together, and another shows them chasing happily. Those portraits depict my longing to be with the brother I had never met. I don't realize that my tears are already brimming as I recall those days. Those days when I sent those paintings to the orphanage together with my father's monthly allocation for him. I wonder if dad had noticed that I also painted a portrait every month and made sure I finished them before it was time to send them to him. "You keep them," I say, lifting my teary eyes to Dennis. Dennis rolls his eyes. "You made me so poor back then. All the money that daddy sent went to the expensive frames I bought for those portraits." Ella laughs but tears pool at the corners of her beautiful eyes. She looks so divine in her bridal gown; her angelic face matches the glitters of those thousands of diamonds that Den adorned on her wedding dress.
SINFUL INDULGENCE 3 86 Special Episode 9 ( Ara's POV)
My brows furrow as I look at the woman whose voice rings loud and clear inside the room. She looks like she is in her mid-fifties, but a strong and domineering aura emanates from her. Her presence speaks of authority, and the lift of her chin and fiery gaze is enough to tell she holds a high position that even James bows down in respect. “My queen! Why are you here?” exclaims James, his previous arrogant look melts down against the power and authority of this woman. “Put down your weapons!” she orders, moving her eyes around. The three burly men instantly bend down and put their guns on the floor. I look at James and also find him conceding. He raises his hands in a gesture of surrender, then bows down, placing his gun on the floor. “Surrender all the weapons, not only those in your hands!” My eyes grow wide at her command, and my gaze darts toward the men pulling the pistols and knives hidden inside their jackets. I also watch James disengage an oliv
SINFUL INDULGENCE 3 85 Special Episode 8 : (Ara's POV)
"Very well," James raises his hands and claps slowly but loudly. He stands at the doorway, slowly pacing towards us. Following behind him are three burly-looking men who quickly spread apart, covering the room's corners. However, his claps are not to applaud but to mock. James is devilishly a handsome man in his mid-thirties but doesn't have the aura of domineering and stunning CEOs. He has gold piercings on his ears, messy bangs that he keeps pushing to the side, and tattoos painting his entire arms. He stands tall in a pair of signature rubber shoes and bleached denim jeans, coupled with a button-up shirt that lays open down to the center of his chest. His figure better fits the definition of a mobster. James looks at Zed and says, "I always know you would come to play the role of a knight in shining armor, saving a damsel in distress." I glance at Zed, now sitting beside Ella and holding her hand. He looks back at James, his eyes keen and watchful.
SINFUL INDULGENCE 3 84 Special Episode 7 : (Ara's POV)
I feel my fear sucking the air out of me. If I have to see myself in the mirror, I must already be as pale as death’s shade. Zed glances at me worriedly, but his expression is worse than mine. I know very well that he’s not scared for himself but us. Every minute that ticks by feels like taking away some years from my life.“Where are we now?” Mitch asks, her eyes moving around fast. She’s as scared as me!“We’re going uphill,” says Zed. He looks now at Ella, who is now fast asleep due to the sedative that Mitch administered to her. Because of my fear, I didn’t even notice before that an intravenous solution was dripping above her.“Will the baby be alright?” He’s sleeping soundly on the stroller beside the stretcher. I can’t help noticing how Ella has prepared for this.“She must be. I have been able to prepare her needs ahead.”The ambulance then skids to a turn. Mitch and I hurriedly peer through the slits of the curtains and see that we’re entering a wide gate. Zed also peeks out,
SINFUL INDULGENCE 3 83 Special Episode 6 : (Ara's POV)
"What are we going to do now?" I whisper, but my eyes dart wide in fear. Mitch and Ella also look back at me with freezing gazes, massive glints of fear and shock ruling their expressions. "Where are we heading?" Ella asks, her gaze shifting among the three of us. "I'll call a backup." Zed pulls out his phone from his back pocket without wasting a second. "Sir, we screwed up. When we reached the clinic, Ella was already in an ambulance. But an enemy has taken the driver's place." "Whose ambulance?" "From the hospital where her OB-Gyne is affiliated." "Where's Monster?" "At the clinic. But the key is with me." I realize that the monster they are talking about is the car we used in coming to the clinic. But, perhaps, it got that name because it is heavily tinted and bullet-proofed, aside from the ammunition loaded inside. "No worries. I have spare keys." "You're following?" Zed asks. "Yes."
SINFUL INDULGENCE 3 82 Special Episode 5 (Ara's POV)
Zed moves straight ahead instead of turning to the left as initially planned. So I start presuming that Zed has changed his mind about picking up Ella himself. But then he turns right, and soon, we enter a black gate. “What are we doing here?” I ask Zed. Seeing him unfastening his seatbelt, I also do mine. “Hurry, Ar. We need to change the vehicle, a bullet-proof one.” “Who is living here?” “One of my teams.” Zed jumps down from the car and runs towards my side to open the door for me. But before he reaches me, I have already stepped one foot out. “Ara, just stay here. You will be safe here. This area is heavily guarded, and the security is high. I will pick you up once everything is over. But in case I can’t, my team knows what to do with you,” Zed speaks in utmost tenderness. His face even paints his gratefulness and worry for me. But I don’t like him saying goodbye. I may not be of any help to him, but I want to accompany him until
SINFUL INDULGENCE 3 81 Special Episode 4: (Ara's POV)
"Ara, close your eyes and tighten your seatbelt!" I scream even before I see Zed's next move. He then looks over his right shoulder, places his right hand on the top of the steering wheel, then eases off his foot abruptly from the brake pedal. I scream again as the car reverses andaccelerates backward, missing the car that speeds next to us narrowly. "Slow down, Zed! I'm not ready to die yet!" I shout from the top of my lungs as our car is about to collide with another vehicle. And the torture doesn't end. Cars after cars come closer by a thread's width, but luckily, Zed swerves away just in time! Damn, Kim! I wouldn't be in death's mouth if it were not because of him! Is he siding now with James? "Scream as loud as you can, Ar! It eases your fear. Haven't I told you? Kim's kindness is just a show-off?" Zed yell in my left ear, jolting me off from my seat. "My goodness, Zedrick! I don't expect this side of you. How can you fly a
SINFUL INDULGENCE 3 80 Special Episode 3 : (Ara's POV)
"You're seeking more trouble, Zed. Do you think James will give you peace?" I am already shaking in anger. Zed is just too stubborn. Just where does this man get his courage from? If he relies on his previous investigation team, I don't believe they're more powerful than the assassin's group. They have been delving into James' case for several years already. They would have solved the case long ago if they were that good. "Let him do what he wants." Zed doesn't look like he is kidding. His eyes are on the road, but his sharp gaze reflects his determination. Silence envelopes inside the car, giving me more time to look left and right, scared that a convoy of vehicles will suddenly overtake and block our way. I am fond of watching suspense movies, and finally, I have become the leading character in my life's drama. My phone suddenly vibrates, and I immediately presume it comes from a bomb planted under my seat. I scream, and Zed s
SINFUL INDULGENCE 3 79 Special Episode 2: (Ara's POV)
“Made from finest silk fabrics, this gown is embellished with 1000 diamonds. But this is not the most expensive wedding gown. Kate Middleton’s sparkling wedding tiara alone had 1000 diamonds.” Zed’s face pulls into a stern frown. “Are you meeting me just to show that off? Damn you, Dennis! I admit I can never afford a lavish bridal gown as you do, but believe me, the beauty of the wedding lies not in the expensive gown a bride wears, but the weight of the affection she carries in her heart.” I raise my head this time and peer at these men squarely. I may not have met Dennis yet, the one they call Mr. D, but I heard many things about him from Yen. She even calls him eccentric. And judging from what I am seeing now, he looks far more bizarre than how Yen describes him. How can a man in his right mind calls an ex-fiancé just to show off? “I’m seeing you because I want to ask for your suggestion.” Mr. D shrugs like he doesn’t care about Zed’s reaction. I
