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,
" You remember?" He grinned this time and captured my lips again. I groaned and kissed him back with equal fervor. He laughed when we pulled apart. He sat up and cradled me in his lap. "I missed you. I missed you so much." He whispered and pepper kisses on my face. I just smiled and let him be."You remember everything?" He asked."No, I don't remember anything." The smile on his lips suddenly vanished. "I saw the photos in your room, and it tells so much. No wonder I always wanted to see you. I feel my heart pounding whenever you are near, and I badly want to hug you, like right now." I said and wrapped my arms tightly around him. "Why didn't you tell me the truth?""You mean, you still have no recollection of your recent memories?" I shook my head. "You mean you still love me even though you don't remember me?""I guess so." He grinned this time and cupped my face, then caressed it softly. "Kiss me, love. I missed you so much. I can't sleep every night knowing you don't remember me
"I'm home," Tyron called out as soon as he entered the front door but stopped from his track when he saw Zachary and I cuddling each other."Tin, you remember?" He asked and settled beside me. I rolled my eyes because they asked me the same question."No." I give him the same reply."Then, why are you hugging each other?""Ah! She couldn't stop herself from falling for me." Zachary replied, grinning. I rolled my eyes at him but didn't comment about it."I just found out what we have, and he told me," I replied."That's good then." Tyron grinned."How's your field trip?""It was fun and adventurous. It's so much fun.""Tyron, do you have my wallet and phone? I can't remember where those things are. I wanted to buy something earlier, but I don't know where I put it."I have them. Sorry for hiding them from you. I'm just afraid that your head will hurt if you see something that you can't remember, and you'll force yourself to remember it." Zachary replied."Can you return it to me later?"
ATHENAIt's been a month since I found out about my real relationship with Zachary. I met his parents, and his mother is a real sweetheart. She's very talkative and very cheerful. And they look just like Zachary's older brother and sister. They both look young, like they are only in their thirties, especially his mother. I don't feel out of place when I'm with them. They are very kind to me and never give me a look that shows I am below them. And I am so happy about it. They adore even my brother. Last week I resumed my online class. And the whole week, I'm busy with my studies while Zachary is busy with his office work. We stayed in his room all day doing his work while I was busy with my class.Today is Monday, and Zachary will resume going to the office, and I'll go with him. He wanted me near him always, and I didn't mind because I didn't want to be left alone in the house.We are heading to his office now while eating breakfast inside the car because we both woke up late. He is
ATHENAAround five in the afternoon, Zachary returned with his face looking like he wanted to pound into someone. Jason is behind him with a worried look. I gasped and jerked from the couch when he hurled everything that was on top of his desk. "They have the guts to walk out of me when they are the ones who called this meeting for a favor knowing there are paparazzi outside. " He angrily said and kicked his desk. "Zach, I think they purposely did it. I heard some gossip this past month while you were not here. It was circulating in the business world that you are sick and incapable of becoming CEO, and some of our investors are starting to doubt your capability to handle the company." What illness are they talking about?""That you have a mental disorder." I launched at Zachary when Jason finished his sentence because his whole body suddenly tensed up and rigid. His eyes looked like he wanted to murder someone, but because he couldn't do it, he would surely hurt himself. That's wh
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