ATHENAIt was already past twelve when we arrived home. We quickly went to our separate rooms to rest. I removed my jewelry, dressed before I went inside the bathroom, and took a quick bath, but it took a bit longer because of the makeup on my face. I wrapped a towel around my body and stepped out of the bathroom but was startled to see Zachary lying on my bed, looking at me."Why are you here?" I asked, holding the knot of my towel, and went to my closet to take my pajama. But I stiffen when two strong arms wrap around my body, and his lips touch my neck."Zachary! I pushed him softly. He smiled and turned me around to face him, and his lips quickly covered mine. My hold on my towel tightens." Zach!" I pulled away from the kiss and tried to distance myself from him. God, I'm naked under this towel, and if he wanted to, he could easily pull it off my body. He kissed my forehead and just wrapped his arms around me."Let me wear my pajama first," I whispered on his chest. He kissed my
ZACHARYWhen I opened my eyes, I was lying on a bed, and I quickly bolted up when I remembered Athena. "Calm down, Zach." Jason was quickly beside me. "Athena is fine for now. Look at the bed beside you." And I was relieved to see her lying there with a bandage on her head."What the Doctor said, and how long I was out," I asked. I stood up and went to the side of her bed and held her hand."You were out just a few minutes, and the Doctor will tell you her condition. Just wait for a while. Alex called the Doctor." I nodded my head and planted a kiss on her cheek before I settled down on the chair beside her bed."Hello, Mr. Anderson. How do you feel?" The Doctor greeted me as soon as he stepped inside the room."I'm okay now, Doctor. How is she?""Her injury is not serious, but I found something in her head when I did an x-ray." I straighten my seat and face the Doctor, wondering what he saw in Athena's head."Ms. Park has a brain tumor, which will stage two. She needs an operation no
ZACHARY I just stepped out of my car when my phone rang. Last night my parents forced me to go home. I didn't want to leave Athena's side, but my parents convinced me that Athena wouldn't wake up until tomorrow and that she wouldn't be happy to see my messy self once she woke up.I went home at almost midnight while Tyron stayed. I asked for another bed from the hospital so he could rest properly.I woke up around six in the morning and quickly took a bath, and went back to the hospital. I bought breakfast on the way for Tyron and myself. I'm sure he wouldn't leave the side of her sister until she wakes up.I pressed the answer button when I saw it was Tyron. I locked my car and went inside the waiting elevator. "Tyron?""Sir Zach, my sister is awake, and the Doctor is checking her now.""Okay, I'm here already," I replied and stepped out of the elevator, and walked to her room."Okay, Sir. I'll wait for you. Bye." I put my phone inside my pocket and knock at the door, and Tyron open
ZACHARYTyron came back around twelve carrying a backpack and his laptop."Hey, why did you bring so many clothes? Do you need to go back to school, you know? You have already been absent for two days.""I brought my school things. I'm going to school from here and come back here after my class.""No, you sleep at home. You visit your sister after school, but you cannot stay here. I'll hire a nurse to watch over her. You can visit every day after school.""But..."You'll go home later. I'll pick you up. I need to go now. I have a meeting in thirty minutes." I planted a kiss on Athena's cheek before I left her room.I reached my office ten minutes before the meeting, and Jason was already waiting for me. He is already in the conference room. Alex is with him as well."Okay, let's go." I walked towards the conference room with Jason following me. He opened the door for me and stepped inside first."Good afternoon." I greeted the people inside and went to the head of the table, and looke
AthenaI watch as Tyron and Zachary interact, and they seem very close to each other. Tyron is comfortable talking to him. I already noticed it while I was still in the hospital. It looks like I forgot significant memories that I shouldn't have. Zachary is very caring to me. He said I was his helper here, but the way he treated me was not like a helper at all.The way he treated me is the opposite of how I remember him. He is very soft-spoken towards me. The bossy and cold treatment he showed me before is gone. Zachary is very kind-hearted.He ordered our food, and as soon as it arrived, he prepared a portion of food for me and handed the plate to me. This kind gesture from him warmed my heart.Tyron and Zachary chatted while we were eating, and I just listened. My eyes widened, and my face turned like a red apple. I don't know why I did it, but when I saw sauce on his lips, I grabbed a tissue and wiped it. He smiled at me but didn't comment about it. My heart pounded inside my chest.
ATHENAI wanted to ask more, but I saw Zachary coming to us, and he quickly sat beside me.I noticed that he usually sits beside me and always stays near me whenever he is around me. I felt uncomfortable by his presence this close to me every time, but I didn't voice it out, and I'm thankful I didn't because after knowing that he has an IED, I don't see how he would react if I did.He picked up the remote control and turned on the television, and spread his hands behind the couch, almost touching my shoulder. I looked at him, but he focused his eyes on the television. He was so close that I could feel his leg brushing mine. Why does he need to sit here beside me? It's too crowded with the three of us with Tyron's bag. There are two single-seater couches on our right and left, but he chooses to sit beside me.I looked at Tyron, and I could see he was smiling despite not looking at us. "What are you doing, Tyron?" I asked when I noticed he was putting his things inside his bag, then to
"Umm!!! Zachary, Can I borrow you some money? I couldn't find my wallet, and I couldn't remember where I placed it. I need to buy something.""What do you want to buy? I'll ask Jason or Alex to buy it for you before they come home.""I need to use it now.""You need to use it now? What is it?" I blushed and lowered my head."It's a girl thing," I murmured."What girl thing?" I groaned. I'm embarrassed to tell him, but I have no one to ask for money. So I swallow my embarrassment. "I have my period, and I need a sanitary pad," I whispered, not looking at him."Okay, I'll accompany you after we eat our breakfast.""No need, I can buy it myself. Just lend me some money.""Do you know where the grocery store is? Do you remember your way around here?" I'm sure you forgot. That's why I want to accompany you.""Okay." After eating breakfast, Zachary told me to change because we were going to the mall to buy some groceries, and we were going to eat lunch outside. Still, he followed me inside
"I think we will go ahead. I'm sorry." I told them and held Zachary's hand and pulled him up, and I was thankful when he let me guide him to the counter. He paid for our food and quickly dragged me out of the restaurant. I jogged following him because he was walking so fast, to catch up with him, or Zachary would drag on the floor like a rug because of his long stride. He stopped beside the car, then leaned his forehead on the side of it, taking a long deep breath. He was holding my hand tightly. "Are you alright?" I quickly stepped back when he suddenly looked at me with his murderous eyes. I gasped when he slammed his hand on the car three times, but my eyes widened when he bumped his forehead into it."Zachary !! Despite my fears, I wrapped my arms around him, pulling him a few feet away from the car so that he couldn't hit his head on it."I hate you!!! He said between greeted teeth and wrapped his arms tightly around me, almost breaking my bones. "Sir!!! Two men rushed to us,
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