"Do you still feel like eating?" Ivan turned to me, while I shifted my gaze to Heather."I'm sleepy already, Daddy...""Alright, let's head home." Ivan lifted his daughter when he noticed her eyes welling up from a repeated yawn.She seemed genuinely exhausted. Fortunately, the Greco mansion was conveniently close to the mall we were at.Upon our arrival, Heather struggled to keep her eyes open. Though her grandparents welcomed her with affectionate kisses, she found it challenging to articulate her words to them.I accompanied Ivan as we guided Heather to his room, gently encouraging Lucinda with a subtle pinch when she hesitated to join us."Why am I included? I'm not part of the family..." she whispered as she ascended the stairs with me. Teasingly, she added, "Are you afraid of being alone with Ivan?"I shot her a glare. She grinned and playfully gazed back at me.Heather requested my help with freshening up. I swiftly attended to it as she was feeling very drowsy."Mommy, sleep h
"I'm sorry..." I turned away, but Ivan blocked my path. I could see the pain in his eyes, so I quickly avoided mine."We're heading home. What are you doing, Ivan?!" I was irritated, but I forced myself to stay calm because I was carrying Heather.Heather was crying loudly, and tears began to well up in my eyes. It's okay if I get hurt, but if my daughter gets hurt, that's a completely different situation.My intuition was correct; it wasn't a good idea for my daughter to meet Ivan because Heather was still too young.It was frustrating! I felt disoriented, but I hesitated to inquire, avoided listening, and refrained from re-entering his life. However, we share a child."Ivan, let her go. She left you before. We're doing fine, aren't we?"My teeth were clenched, but I disregarded Maureen.I was boiling with anger, yet I kept my composure to spare Heather from any more suffering. Stepping forward, Ivan enveloped both of us in an incredibly tight embrace."Please, don't go. Let's talk,"
Fortunately, Lucinda managed to book a rental car. The driver had been waiting on the side since earlier, allowing us to leave promptly after I turned my back on Ivan, who remained frozen in place.I held Heather close as we traveled. Though I truly wanted to cry, I couldn't afford to appear weak in front of her."Mommy, I'm sorry..." Her voice trembled, and she began crying once more."You're not at fault, baby," I responded gently while stroking her hair."If only I hadn't followed Daddy. If only I hadn't introduced myself to Grandpa. If only I hadn't said I'm his child... You wouldn't be crying, Mommy. I'm sorry, Mommy."It seemed as if a tender warmth lovingly embraced my heart in reaction to my daughter's words. I count myself exceedingly fortunate to be blessed with such a bright and compassionate child."You're destined to meet your dad. He loves you..." I felt the warmth of his happiness and love for our child, yet amidst it all, a persistent sense of disorder lingered.His wo
In a moment of exasperation, I seized the eco-friendly bag from Ivan and swiftly closed the apartment door to prevent him from entering. Thankfully, he refrained from knocking or ringing the doorbell; otherwise, I would have felt compelled to report his intrusion to security. Lucinda, already alert and poised to question, received a silent signal from me in the form of a raised eyebrow. Despite her inclination towards natural curiosity and gossip, she couldn't resist the temptation to inquire further. "He came here last night and pleaded with me to let him in. Of course, I told him it wasn't possible because you would get angry," she pouted. "It's a good thing you didn't let him in," I remarked as I unpacked the contents of the eco-bag. I'll start cooking because Heather will wake up in a few moments. "Will you not forgive him?" she inquired. I turned away and directed my attention to the stove, heating the pan. "Didn't he tell you he loves you? Didn't you dream of him loving you
I'm uncertain about the time I drifted into sleep. The ache in my heart kept me awake, knowing what Heather was going through. I contemplate leaving her on the island to spare her the encounter with her father. I awoke at six. Leftover food was a lot from the previous night, so I opted to reheat them. I also fried the remaining rice. As I reflect on the events, I catch myself gazing into space, letting out sighs. In an attempt to shake off fatigue, I brewed some coffee, but it felt like my emotions were becoming even weightier. After preparing the meal, I entered the room to take a shower. Heather is still in deep slumber. Even after dressing up, she remains asleep. With plenty of time to spare, I chose to linger in the living room for an hour before departing. While perusing my email, I take solace in sipping my coffee, trying to alleviate my stress. Lucinda's door squeaks open, and she greets me with a smile. "Good morning, babe!" "Good—" I released a sigh as the doorbell chim
"Why did you head home so soon? Don't you still have two days left there?" I exchanged a meaningful glance with Rachelle. She parted her lips, as if deciphering my thoughts, and then signaled that we should talk later. "Later. Heather and I need to rest first," I replied while carrying my child, who was visibly exhausted from the long trip. I took her to our room. As I laid her down on the bed, she immediately hugged me. "I'm sad, mommy. Please, hug me." I hugged her closely, aiming to provide solace through the embrace. Suppressing my tears, I demonstrated strength and resilience for the sake of my child. After thirty minutes, she finally drifted off to sleep. However, with various concerns on my mind, sleep remained elusive. I rose and draped a blanket over my child to shield her from the brisk air conditioning. Purposefully, I adjusted the temperature to ensure she slept soundly. Before starting work, I got dressed and packed my laptop. I couldn't afford to be idle; I had to k
Heather remained motionless. "Heather, baby?" Her father gently caressed her cheek, planting a kiss on her head before lifting her. Despite her lack of resistance, Heather remained silent. Observing her joy upon her father's arrival, I detected it in the way she looked at him while they descended the stairs. Tears welled up in her eyes, and I felt a deep sympathy for our child, who was deeply affected by our situation. Letting out a sigh, I tried to shake off the bitterness that surrounded me. Ivan and I exchanged glances. A faint smile adorned his lips. I simply looked at him, concealing the bitterness within. I refused to reveal any vulnerability. "Are you still upset with Daddy?" he gently inquired, his fingers tracing the contours of our daughter's cheek. Heather pouted, her nose and cheeks still red from crying. Ivan explained, " I didn't visit that woman because Daddy was working overtime. I won't meet her again, as I don't want to break my promise or hurt Heather's heart
He was even more determined to visit the island due to my behavior. Perhaps he genuinely believed I had a suitor or a boyfriend there. He had persistently questioned me about my suitor from that island, and even this early in the morning, he was getting on my nerves. "Can't you hear yourself? And please, stop talking nonsense in front of my child." "Nonsense? And she's my child too." I sighed heavily and closed my eyes, thoroughly irritated and annoyed. "Who are you hiding there? I know when you are lying, Myla." "There's none! Tsk!" I got off the bed and went to the bathroom to pee and brush my teeth, but he followed right away. "Ivan!" He grinned, crossing his arms over his chest as he leaned against the door. Glancing at Heather, who was seated on the carpet, engrossed in the toys and gifts her daddy had given her, she appeared to be in her own world, oblivious to our conversation. "I need to use the bathroom," I announced, shooting him a glare. He simply turned around but
I was lazily sitting in the office when my friends arrived."If you want to know what she's up to, ask her, or better yet, investigate.""I'm not interested.""Don't deny it, Ivan. You can't hide anything from us. We can see that you're starting to care about your wife.""Your cellphone was also turned off. Was it because you're avoiding Maureen?""Well, good job!"***I got home at six in the evening, but Myla hadn't returned yet. Seated on the sofa, I silently surveyed the entire house. The pervasive quietness left me with a sense of solitude. Could this be the reason she doesn't stay here for long? She left early and was still away at this hour.I stood up, intending to go upstairs when the door opened. She was surprised to see me and mustered a forced smile."Good evening." Without asking if I had eaten, she ascended the stairs.Tsk!Feeling hungry, I decided to have dinner somewhere else. The next day, she arrived home even later."What time is it?" I asked irritably. It was alre
"You and your girlfriend always seem to be having disagreements."I glanced at my older sister, who had suddenly appeared behind me. I stood on the balcony, trying to regain composure after yet another argument with Maureen. It's always like this. It feels like just a week ago when we last fought.A sigh escaped me as I redirected my attention to the garden. I lifted the beer bottle in my hand to take a sip, deciding to remain silent. No words came to mind. What my sister said was true. It's always like this. Maureen's immaturity remains consistent; it feels as if she hasn't experienced any personal growth since we entered into a relationship years ago.Whenever we argue, I choose to ignore her because I don't want to say anything hurtful. Besides, the next day, she'll apologize to me.We're already adults, but it feels like she's still in high school, not maturing at all. But despite that, I love her. Everyone has flaws."Think about it while it's early. She's not the marrying type,
The following morning, I awoke alone in bed, unsure whether Heather had spent the night here. The neatly arranged side of my bed hinted that she might have chosen her daddy's villa instead. This is currently a concern for me. She has grown accustomed to constantly being with her father. What if Ivan needs to return to Manila for his job? My child would undoubtedly be saddened. Despite Ivan assuring that he'll stay here, I believe there will be a day when he must return for their company. "Good morning, how are you?" Lucinda inquired, having noticed my tears the previous night as she prepared breakfast. I responded with a subdued smile. "Ivan set up a tent last night. He and Heather slept in it," she informed me. That explains why my daughter didn't come up last night. I approached them at the back, the laughter of my husband and daughter filling the air as Ivan playfully tickled our child. Upon noticing my presence, they promptly got up, and Heather exclaimed, "Mommy!" "Hello, b
Ivan was still around. He had been here for several days, looking after Heather all day while I was at work. He took on the roles of both preparing breakfast and handling our dishwashing duties. "Mommy, your flowers are here!" Heather shouted excitedly from outside the house, eagerly awaiting the helicopter's landing. "Mommy!"I glanced out the window to see my daughter, a big smile lighting up her face. Ivan was by her side, both of them looking up at me. She dashed toward the helicopter as it landed. The bouquet was too large for her to manage. Ivan's assistant handed her a paper bag, likely containing a new toy or clothing item. Ivan carried the flowers and a couple of other paper bags. They were about to enter the house, heading up here to present me with the flowers. "Mommy!" I mustered a smile. "Your flowers have arrived!" For three consecutive days, a helicopter has been dropping off bouquets for me. Ivan was wasting money on this. "The flowers are beautiful, Mommy!" I
I left Ivan, and he made no effort to stop or chase after me. There was nothing he could do to change my decision. Given his past actions, did he truly believe I would entertain his proposal? It felt like I was permitting him to inflict more pain on me. He needed to understand that I was no longer the delicate wife who could empathize with him, even during moments of distress. I am no longer that person. I showered before joining Heather in bed, but despite a bit of alcohol, sleep eluded me. Frustrated, I rose to engage in some work. Reflecting on the situation, I shook my head in disbelief. Damn you, Ivan! All you ever did was play with my emotions. It would have been okay if there weren't a child involved. Even Heather, you're messing with her mind. *** I woke up to the realization that Heather was no longer beside me. Despite the throbbing pain in my head, I compelled myself to rise and tend to my child; it was already eight in the morning, and she might be hungry. After fre
Almira quickly recovered from her surprise. She returned a serious look to the man she was hiding from. Chelle, on the other hand, seemed as though she had seen a ghost while looking at Ivan's friend. I didn't know whether it was Angus, Caius, or Huxley. Ivan grabbed my attention, and I blinked in response. "What are you doing here?!" I exclaimed at him. What was his deal, suddenly showing up here? I wanted to slap some sense into him, but I refrained from revealing my bitterness, despite feeling a strong urge to vent in those moments. "You're drunk; go home," he replied calmly. His voice was gentle as if he were a patient spouse comforting an upset wife. I scowled. I didn't budge from my seat. Who was he to tell me what to do? The nerve of him! "Let's go," he invited, but I remained stubborn. I looked in another direction, arms crossed. He patiently looked at me. Why did he seem angry with me? What did I do wrong? And what was he doing here? He sighed. His face softened again
I attempted to force a smile despite the pity evident in Almira and Rachelle as they awaited our arrival. They hugged me, encouraging me not to cry, but my tears flowed uncontrollably. I felt exceptionally exposed when it came to him. Heather promptly joined Myrrh to engage in a play. "Please stay in the room, alright?" Almira instructed. She didn't want her child to go outside and be around other people. Mira, too, preferred not to interact with or be observed by others. They were in hiding, which is why their presence caught me off guard. I wouldn't have cried if they hadn't insisted on going over the events again. I was frustrated with the repetitive nature of the story, including the details of how we became a couple. They laughed when I expressed my annoyance. I knew they did it deliberately, but I’m not sure for what reason. I scowled, crossing my arms. "Let's not discuss him! It's getting on my nerves!" They burst into laughter. "That's one of the steps to move on—refusing
A few minutes of heavy silence lingered. With hesitation, I parted my lips. "O-Okay," I nodded. He sighed, affirming his decision, and gradually retreated from me until he left the room. I lost track of time as I stared at nowhere. When I finally blinked, the dampness on my cheeks revealed the silent tears. Swiftly, I wiped them away. What should I do? I contemplated for a few moments, then reached for my phone. Anxiety tightened its grip on me, prompting the need to find someone to talk to instead of surrendering to a breakdown. I refused to let weakness take over. Given the challenges I've faced, heartbreak felt like nothing more than a fleeting mosquito bite. "Hello? How are you? Are you okay?" Rachelle bombarded me with questions. I hadn't spoken to her since the incident. My life was a whirlwind of events. Kidnapped, and now Ivan was informing me about the impending annulment. I cleared my throat, gazing up at the expansive sky before uttering, "Ivan is ending things with m
I lost consciousness, and the duration eluded me. Upon regaining awareness, an unusual noise enveloped me—the resonant hum of a formidable engine. Unsure if it originated from the vessel, a more clamorous sound ensued. My eyes remained shut, shrouding me in uncertainty about my surroundings. Amidst the chaos, echoes of screams, gunfire, and an urgent call of my name reached my ears. Then, all plunged into darkness once again. Upon waking, a white ceiling and bright light greeted me. "I-Ivan?!" The man I addressed approached with concern, and tears welled up in his eyes as he saw me. "I had a bad dream," I murmured. He enveloped me in a tight hug. "Yes, love. It's just a bad dream." We are presently at the hospital. Ivan is in good condition, while there's a bag of intravenous cellulose water hanging, connected to my arm. I lost consciousness and had to undergo stitching for the wound on my cheek. The doctor mentioned that it was a deep and relatively large cut, necessitating