"Are you ready?" Ulysses asked me as I sat down in front of him. I looked down at Hector who gently squeezed my hand. As if he was trying to calm me down because even I could feel the extreme nervousness in my chest.
I bit my lower lip. “Wouldn't it be better if they just didn't introduce me to everyone? I mean, to strengthen my safety,” I said and watched their reaction. Ulysses frowned as Hector just stared at me intently.
Today Alcaraz’s big event is scheduled and it will be held on a large part of their property. Yesterday Donya Andrada, my grandmother, called me to tell me about the matter. She even asked me to stay at the mansion so that they could calm down while the said event was not yet held.
And I'm having a hard time deciding about it. I think of Amari. I don't care about my safety anymore because my child's safety is more important. I don’t even know what kind of people I will be dealing with especially the big enemy that the family I belong to has. I have no idea who they are and what kind of war they want.
“If you don't want this, you can just tell your family about it, especially Lola Andrada because she is the one who wants this event to happen the most, Ana. Grandpa Leoncio is against it honestly,” said Ulysses so I looked at him.
"But why do they even want to show Solei to everyone after a decade of hiding her?" Hector asked him.
Ulysses scratched his head. "If only your mom is still alive, she'll be the one to explain everything to you clearly."
My forehead furrowed. “Grandma said mom had been dead for a long time. What happened? And why did she and papa die almost in the same year?”
As soon as it came out of my mouth, I noticed Hector's sudden silence. He also suddenly let go of my hand so I caught a glimpse of him. His expression darkened and it remained to stare at Ulysses. The other day, I wondered why he didn't ask me about what he found out at that social party — me being an “heiress” of the Alcaraz, even though I saw how surprised he was by that information. Isn't he telling me something?
“Well, you should ask them about that, Ana. I don’t know the full details but what they told everyone was that Aunt Ariza died in an accident, but I doubt it. Dad was the lawyer of that case and I saw in the autopsy report that your mommy had many wounds and bruises. As if someone tortured her for a long period of time,” Ulysses explained to my surprise.
I was horrified when I heard that. I don’t know if it’s fear or pain I’m feeling. It was as if cold water was suddenly poured on me. Torture? Who would do something like that to her? And why? Did it have anything to do with her being the leader of their secret organization back then? Does dad know this? Why did they pretend to have died in the accident if that wasn't what really happened?
Until we got back to Hector’s office, I was still quiet, even him. I was even more confused by what was happening around me. Even though I try to understand what I know over and over again, I feel that a large part is still missing from the story. As if someone is trying to fabricate everything. As if someone had calculated everything just what I could figure out.
“I’m busy, Hans. Let’s just talk — what?”
I looked up at Hector standing when I heard his startled voice. He turned in my direction so I stared at him. He hasn't talked to me before. Does he have a problem? Who is he talking to?
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I do not understand you. What do you mean?" He said it even harder so I stared at him even more.
He tilted. I could clearly see the tension in his jaw as if he was in trouble.
“I didn't have a meeting with them! It was Ares. Why is it my fault again? I don’t even know what they agreed on. Tell that to your stupid boss!” He yelled and turned off that call.
The moment he turned to me, our eyes immediately met. His eyes become tender and I was about to approach him when the door suddenly opened so we were both surprised. His secretary exposed herself to us.
“Don’t you know how to knock, Maureen? What the hell do you want?” Hector asked him angrily so I approached him and grabbed his arm. I gently stroked it.
"Calm down," I whispered to him. He just whispered a few curses.
“I’m sorry, sir. It's just that…” Her voice trembled like she was scared.
"What?" Hector blurted out.
"Your dad is coming up here," she said and glanced at me for a moment.
"What the hell does he want this time?" Hector whispered and dismissed his secretary.
When I looked at him, his expression became even more troubled. He sat in his swivel chair exhaustedly, so I approached him.
"What's happening? Can I help you?” I asked him and lightly stroked his arm to calm him down.
In an instant, his expression softened and he looked up at me. He did not speak and quickly pulled me to sit with him. I was surprised for a moment but when I felt his face on my neck, I let it go. He is resting…
"I don't know what I would do if you weren't by my side now," he whispered in his hoarse voice. I was still slightly tickled by his hot breath fanning my neck.
My heart began to pound again because of what he said. Hector's words are just… enough to make me kneel and obey everything that comes from him. I don’t know how he can do this to me.
“Do you want to sleep—”
"I want to sleep beside you, baby," he interrupted me. My face grew hot and my imagination began to spin again. You're going crazy, Ana!
"Can I?" He asked like a child and looked at me. I shook slowly.
"I can't…" our daughter will look for me. "Maybe next time," I continued.
I felt him sniff and then his soft kiss on my shoulder. My whole system was horrified there.
“Why? We're married. It's been a long time since we last slept together, Anastacia Solei. I miss your voice every time— ”
“Stop it. That's even worse to ask me,” I immediately interrupted what he was going to say as my whole face seemed to be smoking with the extreme heat. I just heard him smile and at the same time, the door slammed so I immediately stood away from him.
My heart was almost out of my ribcage because of the extreme nervousness, especially when I saw Don Damien’s serious and seemingly angry face. He glanced at me for a moment before turning to Hector who stood up as well. He held my hand.
“What is it this time, dad? Hans had already told me what had happened. Do you really think I can do that?” Hector asked his father coldly.
My chest throbbed even more because of how intimate he was. I can't even look it in his eyes.
He went straight in and remained to stare at Hector.
“And I don’t see any reason for you not to do that. Tell me, are you planning to bring down the whole company?”
My mouth fell open because of what he said. I felt Hector's grip tighten on my hand so I looked up at him. His forehead furrowed as pain and anger were visible in his eyes. What's going on?
“Why would I fucking do that after I did everything to save it?” Hector firmly uttered. The pain in his voice is much more visible, so I sighed heavily.
Don Damien sarcastically laughs. He looked at Hector even more.
“Do you really want me to answer that for you, Apollo? All I need is the truth!”
“Which I already told you repeatedly, but you didn’t even listen to any of it. They are just setting me up! Why would I give them information about the company if I knew it would ruin me, too?!”
Hector's voice echoed throughout the room so I was almost shocked by that. I no longer knew what to do while listening to them. I don't even know where to look.
“Do you expect me to believe that after seeing you on the CCTV? Some have seen you too, Apollo. How do you explain that to the board of directors?” Don Damien insisted which made Hector furious even more.
He suddenly let go of my hand and cuss multiple times, so I was alarmed. I thought that was what it would do, but he just sat there in the swivel chair while nailing. Words suddenly escaped me as I just watched him.
“Explain it to me, Apollo—”
“I don’t have anything to explain to you. I don't fucking care anymore. If you want me out of this fucking company, so be it, dad. Just fucking do it,” Hector seemed to say reluctantly so I was even more depressed.
“Is that what you want? What is happening to you? Ever since you came back to the country and you were with this woman again you have lost focus. You're even disobeying us. Is that what you want to give back to us after all? After I sided with you all along over my own son?”
The strange pain drew in my heart when I heard that. This time, I looked at Don Damien. I've not hurt anymore because of what he said about me, but because of what he said about being Hector’s child to him. I feel my heart break as I hear that. If it still hurts me to hear it, how can it be with him that I'm sure everyone is letting him know that?
Before I could speak, I heard Hector stand up and he quickly grabbed my hand. He looked at his father directly and without emotion.
“Say whatever the fuck you want about me, but don’t ever include Anastacia in any of this bullshit. She has nothing to do with all this and especially she is not the reason why I am like this. I did everything I could, I did my part very well and you all fucking know that. Now if that's still not enough for you to trust me, then fuck it. I'm out of this! It's not my loss anyway,” he finally said and pulled me away from that room while I could feel his anger. That seems to scream all over his system but he does everything to just not explode. He was hurt but I couldn't do anything about it.