Chapter 10: Chapter 10

I was dizzy when I felt something cold on my forehead. I slowly opened my eyes and the face of a woman was exposed to me so my forehead furrowed. She wiped me with a cold and wet towel so I was even more surprised. Where am I? What happened?

"You're finally awake." She smiled at me.

I slowly sat up and rolled my eyes. This is not my room. The whole area is clean and quiet. The interior is pure black with a touch of gray. The appliances and furniture that are here also look expensive, even the bed where I am lying. The scent of the whole surroundings as well. Obviously, this is where rich people live.

"How are you feeling? Your body temperature is still low. You need a long rest."

I looked back at the woman as she spoke. She smiled at me for a while before her face became serious. Wait, where am I? Who is this?

"Uhm... what happened? Who are you?" I was embarrassed to ask her because I don’t really remember anything.

The last thing I just remember was Ares and I talking in his office and then it was gone. In recent days, I have noticed that my memory is failing. Even small things make it hard for me to remember. Is it because of that accident?

I rolled my eyes again across the room. Before the woman could answer me, the door slammed so we both looked there. It opened and spat out a familiar man. My eyes widened when I realized who it was.

What is he doing here?!

"How is she?" He asked the woman and didn't even pay attention to me. Its expression and voice were very serious. Deep and seemingly angry.

"She needs to see a doctor, Apollo. It's obvious from the bruise on her face. What the hell happened? You just sent me here to change her clothes without saying anything. Did you beat her up?"

"What? Of course not!" He immediately refused the woman ranting at him and glanced at me again.

His forehead furrowed when he looked at my cheek so I was caught there. I winced when I felt the intense pain and even my headache. What happened, Ana? Why is he here again? And Apollo? Is this his name?

"I'll explain later. Go home," he said coldly to the woman. The woman would have refused but she did nothing when the man pulled her

upright and accompanied her outside.

My heart pounded when they came out. I stared at my body under the blanket that wrapped around me. I'm wearing something else. I was just wearing shorts and a white t-shirt that was big on me. I also felt myself and that’s when I noticed I was burning hot. I looked at the side table there and there I saw a tray with only a glass of water and medicines on its side.

Later, I almost screamed when the door slammed again and spat on the man again. It was looking straight at me. He looked at me rudely and frowned.

I bit my lower lip and pinched myself. Why can't I speak when he's in front of me?

"Now, explain what happened. Who did that to you?" His voice is so deep and threatening.

My eyes rolled. I swallowed and ignored what he said. I'm not supposed to be here. Why do I have to answer his question?

I sighed violently and forced myself to stand up. I almost fell because of the dizziness but he caught me right away so I quickly looked at him.

"Where do you think you're going? Do you know what time is it?" He asked me a cold question. I felt his grip tighten on my waist so I was even more unable to speak.

I averted my eyes from him and heaved a sigh. "Where are my things?"

"I found you in the middle of nowhere while you were soaking wet and bleeding. You weren't carrying anything," he replied to me and gently touched me on both shoulders, and set me back on the bed.

I cringed when I remembered what had happened earlier. I feel even hotter even in the corners of my eyes. Even the pain in my face and head got worse. Of course. I was trying to get Ares' money back from mama and Matthew and then... he punched me. I don’t know what I should feel. I can't even think straight. I feel like destiny is playing tricks on me. He has done this to me several times but I have never been able to complain. Why is that, Ana?

I bit my lip hard to stop my sobbing. "I am going home..."

"Your brother did that to you." I was shocked when I heard that. I’m not sure but I know that’s not the question.

"I called your best friend. She's on her way here," he said softly so I started to cry.

I rubbed my whole face and quietly cried there. I could feel the weight on my heart. I feel like I am slowly drowning in extreme pain. I feel like I’m slowly melting like a cigarette because of the pain and I don’t even know what to do. They have done this to me several times but I can't complain. Because I want everything to be fine. Because I promised papa that everything would be fine even without him. That's okay even if I work so hard, as long as we're completely happy. But a few years ago... I didn't even feel like I was part of the family I went home to every day.

There are so many good things in my life that I should be happy about. I have a nice job, Ares and I are getting married next week... but why is it so hard to be happy?

"You should rest. Don't worry about your family. I'll take care of--"

"A-and who are you to interfere with my personal life? I don't even know who you are yet you're always interfering with my life." I cut off what he was going to say and looked at him.

His forehead furrowed for a moment. He looked deeper at me so I laughed.

And this situation makes me even more miserable because of this man.

"I don't fucking need your help..." I told him emphatically.

"Just rest. Let's talk when you're strong enough to handle yourself without getting beaten up," he said coldly to me and left the room.

I was just stunned at the door when he disappeared from my sight. I don’t know if he’s joking or what. I couldn't even understand what he said. Even if I wanted to just leave and go to Ares to let him know about my condition, I couldn't do it because I was weak. Everyone is so sick of me and I can't do anything.

I stayed in that room for a few more hours until the door slammed again so I sat down. I thought it was that man again but Elena came up to me so I almost screamed. She quickly ran to me and hugged me.

"Oh my god, Ana! I thought something happened to you!" She said and looked at me.

"Fuck!" I winced when she saw my cheek. I haven’t seen what I look like now but from her reaction, I know it’s really bad.

"What happened? Why? Fuck it, Ana! Why did you get beat up again?" She said hysterically to me as she didn't seem to know what to do.

I grabbed her arm and forced a smile. "Ares... can I borrow your cellphone--"

"Ares is also out of nowhere. I would have taken him here but he just left the office when you suddenly disappeared. I can't even contact him. What happened?" She immediately interrupted what I was going to say so I was stunned.

Where would he be?

"And who is that man?" She asked more questions so I looked at her again. We stared at each other for a long time before her eyes suddenly widened.

"Shit! Don't tell me he's your husband?" I rolled my eyes when I heard what she said.

"He's not my husband, Elena. Let's go home--"

"You're not going anywhere, not until you're fine. Look at yourself in the mirror."

Elena and I both looked at the man leaning against the door jamb as he stared at me intently. Its eyes are deep and its forehead is still furrowed. Both hands are in his pocket. It was only then that I noticed that he was still wearing a polo shirt that seemed to have just returned from work. But it's six o'clock, why isn't he getting dressed yet?

"And who are you to command me? I'll go home whether you like it or not," I stubbornly told him and stood there. I hurried out of that room.

My mouth dropped open as the large space of the house where was exposed to me. It looks like an expensive condo. I could even feel Elena following me tapping me on the shoulder.

"Who changed your clothes? Is that his t-shirt?" She whispered to me so my eyes widened.

Before I could speak, I saw the back of this man marching towards the dining table there. There are also ready meals. He drank water and look at me again.

"I thought your family wanted you gone? Didn't they drive you away?" He asked me directly so I kept quiet.

I wanted to look at Elena but I knew she was looking sharply at me so I just looked at this man again.

"And how did you find out?" I asked him. He just grinned and shook his head so I was even more irritated.

"I should know, you're my wife after all," he said seriously and sat there.

I felt the heat all over my face. Before I could speak, I heard it call Elena to eat. This woman just pulled me and made me sit next to this man and then started eating. I could still see her teasing me so I immediately kicked her under the table.

"You can stay at my condo, Ana. I don't have anyone there." I heard Elena say so my eyes lit up.

"Thank you, Elena. I'll just tell Ares maybe when we get home," I told her with a shrug.

I heard the heavy breathing of the man next to me. I could even see out of the corner of my eyes his stare at me so I suddenly felt disgusted.

"Or you can stay here since we're married. I have a big bed for the two of us."

I almost choked when I heard that. Elena also seemed surprised so she quickly looked at me and smiled.

"Yes, Ana. You're married. You're already on your honeymoon-aw!" She shouted when I kicked her again under the table.

My whole face grew hotter. It was as if I wanted to feed on the ground out of embarrassment. Especially when I hear the grin of this man next to me. Before he could speak again, I finished my meal and invited Elena to leave. I don't want to stay here for long. This man is getting on my nerves!

"Take care. I'll see you tomorrow. I have something important to tell you," he said seriously to me before I finally got into Elena's car.

I looked at him and frowned. "Say so now."

He just shook his head and looked at me rudely. "Tomorrow. Take care," he said authoritatively and suddenly approached me.

Before I could react, I just felt the touch of his soft and warm lips on my cheek where my big bruise was. Then quickly turn away.

I suddenly held my chest when I heard the loud throb of my heart. What the hell was that?

-

"You're not going to work?" Elena asked me the next day when she met me in the living room.

I just looked at her and lazily shook then I looked back at the cell phone I was holding. Ares is still not calling and it is still unreachable. I’m not sure what happened to him and where he is. It just so happened that a day had passed but he still didn't call me.

I felt Elena sitting next to me so I looked at her.

"Ana, I have something to tell you..." I heard her say. Her voice was serious so my forehead furrowed.

"Huh? What is it?"

But before she could speak, her cell phone rang. When I looked at that, I almost jumped when I saw Ares calling so I answered immediately.

"Love..."

"Ana..." He greeted me, His voice is deep and I feel something is wrong. I heard a noise in the background. Sometime later, I felt my whole world stop when I heard what he said next. I felt a bomb explode in my chest and it destroyed my whole being.

I don't understand anything anymore...