"Hello dear!" I jumped in fright when someone spoke behind me. I quickly turned around and found a woman in her late forties holding a vacuum, smiling at me."Sorry, did I startle you?""Just a bit," I replied, holding my pounding chest."I'm Helena. I'm the one who cleans the place two times a week.""I'm Athena. I'm their helper." "Oh!! She said, smiling. "Are you already here when they left? I oversleep. My alarm someone turned it off."Ah, yes. Sir Zachary asked me last night to come earlier and cook breakfast. They left around seven.""Seven? He said he's going to eat at nine?' I thought. "Dear, if Sir Zachary bullies you, just ignore him because if he sees that you are annoyed with him, he will keep doing it. Just follow what he said, and you were good. I know him because I'm the one who raised him since he was a baby. He is a brat, but if you get his trust, he is kind, and you can depend on him in everything."I wanted to contradict her words, but I held myself. She seems kin
"I don't want to eat anymore." He huffed like a spoiled brat kid. He only ate, I think, three spoons before the woman came."Don't waste food; many don't have food to eat. Be thankful you have some." "If you don't want to waste it. You eat it yourself." He huffed again like a little kid. What's wrong with him? He looks adorable, anyway. Where did it come from, Athena? I scolded myself and tried to remove that thought from my mind."I'm already full. If I eat more, I might throw up. You eat it. You only eat three spoonfuls." I frowned when he grinned. Is he bipolar? "Feed me." He said, smiling. That toothy grin showed his fairly white teeth."You are not disabled." I scoffed."Then throw it." He hissed like an angry cat. The smile on his face suddenly vanished and was replaced with his devil self. He stood up, but I quickly held his wrist."Okay, I'll feed you." He might make me miserable later at home if I don't follow his desires. He settled back on his seat, with his arms spread at
ATHENAToday is my first day of school. I felt nervous because it was already the second semester, and some of the students already knew each other, and one more thing I was worried about, the school was for rich students only while I was a maid.I just tried to convince myself since last night that once someone would try to bully me, I just ignored them. I go to school to learn to earn a diploma to find a good job so that I can leave the devil and nothing more.It's only five in the morning, and my class will start at eight. I wash my face to wake my sleepy self and run downstairs to prepare breakfast. It was already past six when I finished cooking and setting the table. I ran back to my room and went to the bathroom, and took a bath. After bathing, I wrapped a towel around me and wiped my hair with another towel while walking back to my room, but I was startled when I looked up to see the devil sitting on my bed with my clothes beside him."What are you doing here?" I asked, holdi
ATHENAAfter more or less ten minutes of standing, our professor finally came. He went straight to the elevated platform without noticing me."Good morning." He greeted his student, and his eyes quickly darted at me, and it widened."Miss Park, what are you doing there? Come, you sit here." He said, pointing to the seat in the front row where I sat earlier."They said someone was already occupying that seat, sir.""Don't believe them. Come sit here.""Thank you, sir." He quickly started the class by checking the attendance. The whole lesson, I could see the murderous stares of some of my female classmates, but I ignored them until the class ended.I went to my next class, and I'm glad it was not far away from my first class, with only two rooms in between. I went inside, and I was happy no one was paying attention to me. The students are busy with what they are doing. I settled in the vacant seat in the second row, and I smiled inside when no one said something about it."Thank god. Th
Athena"Athena, finally you came." I jumped in fright. I didn't notice Jason at the door of his office watching. He chuckled at my reaction and motioned me to come closer."You scared me," I said, glaring at him. What is happening inside the devil's office? Why did he ask me to come? I have homework to do.""He is screaming at his planning managers because they don't finish their work on time, and he doesn't want them to go home until they finish it.""And me, what will I do here?""I don't know. I don't even know why he wants you to come here. Wait, I will ring him that you have already arrived.""No, I'll just wait until he finishes scolding the people inside.""Nah! I don't want to be scolded as well for not informing him of your arrival. Don't worry, he will scream at you, but I'm sure he won't hurt you. That guy loves to scream every time he is mad." Jason said, chuckling, and went to his desk and picked up the intercom while I stood there nervously."Why did I meet this devil? I
ZacharyI slumped on the seat, mentally beating myself. What have I done? Why did I do it? You went too far, Zachary."Boss, what happened?" Jason burst into my door, and his eyes widened to see my face. "What the hell, Zach? What did you do?" He asked. I could feel the blood rolling down my neck and face where she scratched me, and I knew the big bruise was now visible on my right cheek where she punched me. I'm thankful she did because if she didn't, I might rape her here in my office. "I lost control, I... I... I almost rape her." I stuttered, and my hand trembled. "I didn't mean to. I didn't want to. I didn't plan to. It's just I don't know. I....I..."Calm down. Where's your pill? "I leave it at home. I didn't drink it for three days. I could control and handle my temper without it because I always did whenever she was around but I....I...I didn't mean to hurt her. I didn't, Jason."I know. Calm down. Your whole body is trembling. "I want her back. I want her back. Please brin
Athena"Tin, I'm home!!! I heard Tyron holler but stopped when he saw Zachary. Jason and Alex are behind him."Zachary," Alex said, which caused the devil's eyes to move away from me. He took a deep breath and left the kitchen. I sighed in relief and went to my brother and patted his back. Go wash up. Dinner will be ready in thirty minutes.""Did he scold you again?""No, he just asked me to cook dinner. Now go and wash up.""Okay." He said and went up the stairs. I resumed cooking, and after cooking, I set the table and placed the food on the table."Tin, do you need any help?" Tyron asked, fresh from the shower. "Tell them the food is ready," I replied while mixing an orange juice. Tyron went out of the kitchen, and after a few minutes, he came back with the three men behind him.I poured orange juice into their glasses but was startled when the devil smacked his fist on the table."I told you just to serve me. Right?" I took a deep breath and picked up the three glasses of juice an
AthenaI looked at Zachary, still unconscious, with Jason wrapping a bandage on his forehead. I don't know that he suffered a lot." I murmured, now feeling pity for the devil."Alex, can you help me bring him to his room?" Jason asked. Alex quickly stood up, and they carried Zachary into his room."Tin.""I think we'll stay," I whispered. "I think so too. Sir Zachary is pitiful. Now I understand why he was like that.""Go to your room and rest." He nodded and went to his room while I followed Alex and Jason. "Athena, thank you," Jason said when he saw me step inside."I'll try to have more patience starting tonight.""Thank you. Just follow what he says, and don't provoke him. He wouldn't ask you to do things that could harm you. He loves to annoy you because he wants your attention. This guy is just an attention seeker when it comes to the person he likes and his loved one. Even with us, when he saw that we ignored him and all our attention to others, he would do everything to get o
ZACHARY"Come in," I called out when a knock at the door came. "Papa!! I quickly looked up from the paper I was signing with a smile when I saw Nathalie step inside the door with Athena behind her."What is my little princess doing here?" I stood up from my seat, and she quickly hugged my legs. I picked her up and peppered her face with kisses, and her giggles filled my office.I walked to my wife, who was smiling, looking at us, and wrapped one arm around her waist and pecked her lips. We've been married for five years, but it still feels like the first time. My love for her never lessened as the years passed by. Our love for each other keeps getting stronger.I now recover all my memories in the past, and it made me laugh remembering it, as well as regret doing those things to her."Papa, I missed you. That's why I asked Mama to visit you." "You missed me, but we just saw each other this morning, and it is just three in the afternoon," I said, walking to the couch. I settled on the
ATHENA I groaned when I opened my eyes the following day. My head is pounding, and my body aches. Zachary and Nathan are still sound asleep beside me."I checked the time and groaned again to see it was only six in the morning. It's too early for me to wake up. Usually, during the weekend, we get up from bed at ten, I wanted to go back to sleep, but with the pounding of my head, I'm sure I couldn't do it."Babe, Babe!" I softly shook Zachary not to wake our son, who was softly snoring between us."Hmm!!! He hummed, then opened his eyes but suddenly sat up, startling our sleeping son."Papa!!! He whined and snuggled back on his pillow. "Sorry little prince." He planted a kiss on his forehead and then faced me."Love, what happened? Why is your face so pale? He stood up from the bed and went beside me. Nathan, who was drifting back to sleep, sat up this time rubbing his tired eyes when he heard the worry on his father's face and then looked at me "Mama, are you sick?" He moved closer t
ATHENA"Mama!" I quickly looked behind me, startled, and Nathan glared at me. I didn't notice that he already come together with his father to pick me up. I'm currently outside the school gate talking with my classmate while waiting for them, and I saw Zachary parked not far away from us. I returned to school one year after our wedding to finish my studies. Zachary was against it, saying that he could provide for me and our son our whole life. He said that the profession I should be learning is to be a good mother and wife for him, especially in bed." I smacked him after seeing the smirk on his lips, earning a chuckle from him.After lots of hugging, kissing, and lovemaking, he finally gave in for me to go back to school, but he had another idea for me to just homeschooled together with our son. This possessive guy never failed to amuse me. He said there are lots of young and good-looking guys at school, and he isn't young like them anymore and is not as attractive to them. I couldn't
FIVE MONTHS LATERATHENAI smiled, watching my reflection in the mirror. All I could see was a woman who was content with what she had. Her eyes smiled in happiness, and she looked radiant and beautiful. All she wished for come true. She has a loving man's soon-to-be husband beside her. She has a sweet son, a loving mother and father-in-law soon, a brother, and friends. She has nothing to ask for. She got everything she wanted. Her life is complete, and her heart is content. I'm blessed to have met him that day, even though he was a bully initially, but I wouldn't change any of it because we won't be where we are right now if those things never happened. "Mama, you are so pretty, like a Princess." Nathan grinned in my soon father in law arms. Everyone carried him constantly, which he had longed for before. "Thank you. You are handsome like a prince as well." He is wearing a black tuxedo that fits him perfectly, a red bow tie, and shiny black shoes, and his hair is sleek back. He lo
"She just made up all of those stories. She is a liar. She wants money from me." Dylan said, still denying all the allegations against him. "Then why do you hide Miss Park and let everyone believe she is dead," Alex asked."It's her idea, not mine." He denied. "And this woman is lying. They are lying." Dylan screamed and rushed to Winter, but the guards caught him before he could touch her. Let me go, let me go. I'm not guilty of all their accusations. They are lying. The judge shook his head."Mr. Dylan Lee is guilty of multiple murders and kidnapping and will have life imprisonment." The judge said, standing up from his seat. "No!!! They are lying!!! He screamed, struggling as the guards dragged him out of the courtroom. His father followed behind him with tears in his eyes. Winter went to us and bowed her head."I'm so sorry for everything. I'm so stupid, and my love for him blinded me. I didn't 'mind that all the things I was doing were already wrong because all I wanted back the
ATHENA"Very well said, Dylan." I looked at the woman, trying to figure out who she was, but her hoodie and cap covered her face."Miss, who are you? You are not allowed here." The guards said and grabbed her wrist to pull her out of the courtroom, but she struggled with his hold. "I want to testify against Dylan Lee. I know what happened from the very beginning. I know everything." I gasped. Someone comes to help us. I looked at Zachary, and he had the same surprised and hopeful look. "Send her away. I don't know her. Someone might pay her to testify against me." Dylan snarled, but I could hear the fear in his voice. The woman yanked her arms away from the guard and pulled the hoodie and cap off her head."You don't know me?" I gasped when the woman showed her face to us. I will never forget that face, even though her right cheek has a scar."Winter?" Zachary muttered, looking at me with a surprised look in his eyes. I looked at Dylan; his face was now pale, and fear in his eyes."W
Zachary Today is the first court hearing. We are sitting in the court hall together with my parents. Athena is sitting on my right, Nathan is on my lap, and Alex is on my left as Athena's lawyer. My parents are sitting in the chair behind us.Dylan and his father are sitting on the row of seats opposite us. He was throwing us a death glare and smirk once in a while. He looks confident, as if he already knows he will win.They already took their oath earlier, and now the hearing will start. Athena is the first to tell her story, and she told the court everything that happened six years ago until we rescued her.Dylan was calm while Athena was talking. He even looks uninterested in it. He never interrupted until she ended talking. Then Nathan was called to support all Athena's allegations. We don't want him to be in here, but we don't find any witnesses, and he's the only one who can support his mother's story.Alex walked him to the witness stand. I'm so proud of him. He looks so brav
ZACHARYI snapped my eyes away from the paper I was reading when a knock at the door came. I went back to my work just this morning. I have lots of work that were pending for my absence. Jason did some of it, but some needed to be done by me."Come in!" I called out and resumed reading the document I was holding."Papa!!! I quickly looked up and smiled to see Nathan and Athena entering the door. I chuckled when he ran to me and wrapped his arms around me. "Why are you here?" I asked, smiling, then picked him up and settled him on my lap. "We brought you lunch." He grinned and kissed my cheeks. I smiled at Athena, who set the food they brought on the center table. I stood up, carrying Nathan in my arms, and went to her and kissed her forehead."Nathan wanted to see you. He said he missed you and kept asking me to visit you.""You miss me already?" I just left this morning." I ask, poking his nose. He giggled, then buried his face in my neck."Yes, I missed playing with you, papa.""We
ZACHARYI sighed and turned my eyes to Athena, who was now sleeping soundly. Hesitantly, I ran my fingers through her hair. It looks foreign but feels familiar. Everything about her felt familiar, even her scent, the feel of her arms around me. It's so familiar that I always wanted her arms wrapped around me. I think I loved this woman so much back then. I smiled and pressed my lips on her forehead but quickly pulled away, embarrassed when someone suddenly pushed the door open."Papa, did you kiss Mama?" I awkwardly scratch my nape, embarrassed. I felt like I was caught red-handed for doing things I shouldn't. I took him from Jason's arm, who was wearing a teasing smile on his lips, but I ignored it."You can leave now and do your thing. If you need me to sign any documents, you can bring them here.""Okay, sir." He said, smirking. "See you later, Nathan. I need to go to work. Rest so that you'll get well fast.""Okay, Uncle. Bye-bye.""Bye, little one." I glared at him when he gave me