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71 Zed
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2022-03-16 11:04:14I freeze in my seat as I glue my eyes on the TV screen, drops of sweat trickling down my temples. How long have these people been following me? And who the hell had taken these photos? Is it Kim's men or James'?
I watch in horror as photos after photos roll on the screen. And I can still vividly remember when that kissing happened. Although I didn't initiate the kiss, Ella would still take that as an act of cheating because the damn reporter has stated the date.
And how does Kim react to this news? Will he hurt Yen? How will she defend herself? Because I am sure this would be a significant blow to their marriage.
I turn to look at Dr. Mitch, who has now walked over to my side. Her eyes are on the screen, her right hand resting at the edge of the desk.
"Zed – "
"According to the source who chooses to be anonymous, Mr. Zed Ramos was seen several times coming in and out of the office of Dr. Vergara…"
Now, every cell under my skin has trem
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“Is buying a painting sin? Why the hell did you run away?” Ara snickers, and I shrug. I don’t care what she thinks. I had all my reason to run away. “Simple. I didn’t want the artist to know who was stupid enough to squander his lifetime savings just to purchase that portrait.” Ara’s mouth drops, her eyes as wide as the moon that has started to sail in the sky. “Do you mean it’s so expensive?” “More expensive than buying a car,” I smirk after hearing her gasp. “So where is it now?” she asks, looking at me like she’ll do whatever it takes to see that painting. “It’s upstairs. “Tell me more, Zed. This part of you seems so interesting,” she implores happily, her excitement palpable in the air. While I’m giving a thought to what she asks, some scenes of the past start floating in the back of my mind… ______ “Mr. Ramos, someone wants to see you. He said he just needs five minutes,” one of the seminar organizers approached me while I was resting in the anteroom, waiting for the int
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"Ar, do everything to convince Zed to go with you today. Trick him if you have to. Go to Mountain Paradise, a mountain resort not far from his place. Aliyah is there already. From there, they will fly directly to Bhutan." Ella's voice is louder than a whisper, but the hissing sound of her shallow breaths draws a string of fear within me. It looks like she has arranged a private plane for Zed and Aliyah's escape. "Ella, what's going on?" I ask her, staring at the screen on my phone. How I wish she were on video call so that I could see the actual situation she is in. "We don't have time to talk, Ara. Just please listen to me. Get Zed into the plane right now!" Everything that Zed revealed flashes yesterday in my mind. Ella has betrayed him! He's even sure that she was the one who leaked his secret on social media. Because, apart from Yen, only Ella knows his story – his regular sessions with Dr. Vergara. And even if he believes that Ella still loves him, he al
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“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
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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
