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2024-10-29 19:42:56"Mr. D, I don't like cliffhangers. So spit it out," I urge him. I always know that there's always a sense to what he says behind his weirdness.
"Jessica, in Merchant of Venice, says that love is blind and lovers cannot see. But I'd still say it's stupid."
I laugh. Mr. D is indeed versatile. Aside from his immense knowledge about art and technology, I realize he's also well-versed in literature. Thus, the famous Shakespeare's quote.
"It's because you're not in love yet." Or maybe, your EQ is low, I tell myself.
He tilts his head sideward and stares at me. "What's so good about having someone who is not yours?"
Then, he leaves without looking back. I also stand dumbfounded, my mouth hanging open as I stare at his retreating figure.
What is Mr. D thinking? Could it be because of Zed's interest in Yen's portraits? I had the same sentiment as him, so I understand.
I then rush insid
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SINFUL INDULGENCE 3 51 Zed
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SINFUL INDULGENCE 3 52 Zed
"Maezy was here." Ara has a serious expression this time that looks odd on her. She's always silly and tactless that anyone who doesn't know her will think she never takes life seriously. But for those who know her well, she's soft, sweet, thoughtful, and loyal as a friend. Despite what happened between Yen and me, our friendship was never affected. It even grows better. When she was struggling emotionally because of Tim, I comforted her. I came to her aid and was her companion when she was feeling lost in a vast and foreign country. I was the father image to her son for a long time until she moved on with Alex. "But instead of coming to see me, I saw her glaring at Ella." I close my eyes and draw out a deep sigh. "I know." "Zed, tell me." Ara puts down her cup and looks into my eyes, "Who is Ella? Are you sure about this engagement? You know what, I had a hard time believing you were serious in this, but I only played along. You had been with
SINFUL INDULGENCE 3 53 Ella
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SINFUL INDULGENCE 3 54 Ella
Ella's POVThe plane I have boarded soars high through the dark skies the following morning. It took a hard argument before Zed conceded to let me travel alone. I was supposed to give in, but those recent photos of Yen and him kissing made me stand firm with my decision. It hurts like hell.Perhaps, Mr. D is right to think that I am melancholic. That I choose to be with the person who can never be entirely mine. I may have his body, but there is, and there will always be Yen in the deep recesses of his mind. If I am going to marry him, I will have to accept that part of him. She will always be the lurking shadowthat haunts us forever.Later, a gentle tap on my shoulder has my eyes flutter open. A warm smile from a beautiful stewardess greets me. I realize I have slept off my painful thoughts away."We're already here in Narita International Airport, ma'am. I hate to wake you up, but you might have an important appointment. Your phone h
SINFUL INDULGENCE 3 55
“James!” I mutter, choking in the sudden lump that stuck in my throat.My voice comes out hoarse in that sensation, my chest tightening as I force myself to smile. Looking into his lifeless eyes, I can no longer stop my tears from gliding into my face. He’s no longer the carefree James I had known and made love to. Gone is the luster in his eyes and the striking aura that marks his physique. His hair is disheveled, and his prison-issued shirt crumpled.“Don’t cry. I’m still alive,” James says as he settles on a chair across from me. The metal from his handcuff screeches against the chair’s surface as he straightens up his back.I suddenly can’t grasp some words to tell him. I don’t know anymore if it’s right to ask how he is doing because I know the answer. It will only hurt him.“Are you just going to stare at me?” he chuckles; perhaps seeing how I open my mouth several times b
SINFUL INDULGENCE 3 56 Ella
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SINFUL INDULGENCE 3 57 Zed
Zed's POV"What do you mean by that?" I roar from the doorway when I see her packing her things into a suitcase. All my nerves seem to quiver at the thought of her leaving me. I have already prepared my mind for this, but I realize I will never be ready.She scrambles to her feet – fear, worry, and anger seem to flash in rapid succession in her reaction."Zed, I'm sorry," she glances for a second, then returns to what she's doing.I slowly stride towards the back of the sofa. From there, I can look at her closely since it sits across the bed where her things are scattered."Just like this, Ella? Don't I deserve an explanation or a few words before you leave?" My shoulders drop as I throw her a frustrated look. My voice isn't loud, but its wave is enough to tell her I am hurting."If there's someone who should be explaining here, it should be you. Not me," she tells me, her voice starting to crack
SINFUL INDULGENCE 3 58 Ella
Ella's POV I take one last look around the house that has been my home for a few months — the house thatcradles my happy and unforgettable memories with Zed. I don't know if someday, I can still seethis place. Our situation is such a mess. And I can no longer foresee a future for both Zed and me. A pang of pain seizes my heart as I remember the day I danced with Zed. But somehow, I smile at the thought. He's so stunning, taking my breath away every time I set my eyes on him. I felt more like a girldreaming of a knight or the leading female character of a novel who finally meets her man. I drag my reluctant legs into the car I have rented until the one I've bought is ready to use. Gripping at the steering wheel, I still stare at the glass walls of thehouse, wishing to catch a glimpse of Zed. But not even a shadow of him is there. My eyes sting at just the thought of his indifferenc
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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
