"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
ATHENAIt was already seven in the evening when we arrived home. " You can resume sleeping while I cook our dinner." "I stay here with you." I just nodded in agreement because, at the moment, I might provoke him if I disagreed with him. I went to the kitchen, and he followed behind me. "Tin, I already cooked dinner," Tyron called, running downstairs."You did? You know how to cook?" I asked, surprised."Yes, Jason taught me. I cooked bulgogi, kimchi fried rice, fried chicken, and stir-fried vegetables. Is that enough?""Wow! I'm so proud of you, and it's more than enough." I smiled and ruffled his hair. " We just wait for Alex and Jason, and then we'll eat.""Sir Zach!" Tyron whispered when he saw the bandage on Zachary's forehead. He doesn't need to ask because he already guesses what happened. Zachary smiled at him and patted his back."You sure your cooking is edible?" He jokes and sits on his seat, and I sit beside him. "Of course." Tyron grinned and sat opposite us. "Jason is m
ATHENAJason was outside the door when we came, and he opened it for us, and we went inside. Zachary's face is void of emotions like how I first met him, cold and distant to everyone.All the shareholders quickly stood up in greetings, and Zachary just nodded in reply and settled on the head of the table. He let me sit on his right while Alex was on his left, and Jason sat in front of a desk where the projector was. "All of you called this meeting for what?" Zachary asked despite knowing what this meeting was about."These rumors are spreading like wildfire." A man who was wearing a black suit replied. He looks young but looks older than Zachary."What rumor?" He asked and grabbed my hand under the table."That you have a mental illness." The same man replied."Do I look like I have a mental illness in your eyes, Mr. Jung? Did any of you see me go mental to all of you? Do you think I could bring this company where it is now if I have a mental disorder? Did I run this company badly for
ATHENAAfter eating dinner, I washed the dishes, and we returned to our room. I went straight to the bathroom and brushed my teeth, with Zachary following me. I rolled my eyes when I finished brushing my teeth, he scooped me up and brought me to our bed, and his lips quickly covered me. "Don't be surprised if I tell you I'm pregnant one of these days. We've been doing this without protection every day. I said as he removed my top. This guy is always horny." I don't mind. I would love to hear it from you." He whispered, nuzzling his face on my neck."If we have a baby boy, what would you name him?" He asked, leaning his forehead on mine. "I don't have any idea. You?" I asked, smiling and running my fingers through his hair."Hmm!!! I like Nathan, and if it is baby girl Nathalie." He grinned."I guess you've been thinking about it already, am I right?" He smiled but nodded his head. "I want to have our baby. It would be fun seeing our baby running around. I will spoil them, and I lov
ATHENAWill you grant my wish to spend the rest of my life with you until my hair grows white, all my teeth fall until death do us part? Athena Park, will you marry me regardless of who I am and what I am? I love you. I love you so much. Please say yes." A sobbed left my lips, and I quickly kneeled in front of him and pulled him in a tight hug."Yes, Yes! I will marry you. I want to spend the rest of my life with you until death do us part." I whispered, sobbing so hard. He pulled away from the hug, grinning wildly, but tears streaming down his face.He slipped the ring on my finger and captured my lips with him. "Congratulations." We quickly pulled apart when we heard screaming and applause. There stood his parents, Tyron, Jason, and Alex. Zachary pulled me up, and Charrie promptly hugged me tightly."I'm so happy for both of you." She said, smiling with her eyes brimmed with tears. Zoren also hugged us and kissed both our cheeks."This call for a celebration." Jason cheered, holding
Finally, we arrived in front of the boutique. Zachary stepped out of the car, rounded to my side then opened the door for me. Offering his hand, I wrapped my hand around his forearms and stepped out of the car.Locking the door, we went inside the boutique hand in hand. "Good morning, Mr. Anderson, Miss Park. Gina, the designer, greeted us. I smiled at her while Zachary nodded in response. She guided us into one of the rooms and let us sit on the couch while she took my gown and Zachary's suit."Here you go, Miss Park." She pushed the dummy in front of us, wearing my wedding gown."What the... Zachary gasped to see my gown. It was backless, and the front had a deep V- neckline that reached my navel and thin straps holding the front. Only a piece of cloth could only cover my breast, and it flowed down. It is a white lace gown."I don't like it. It is so revealing."It's my wedding, I can choose what I wear and besides your mother designed it. "I will kill her later." He threatened, bu
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