Chapter 33: Chapter 33

My chest is starting to drown itself in pain. I am mad! I am very angry now and I feel like I can hurt him because of what I hear from him. I kept all my frustration and sorrow to myself. I kept my silence all along because I don't want trouble anymore. I chose to stay away from them so that the trouble would not get worse because I admitted that I was also guilty of it. I wasn't faithful to him also. That I should've told him everything that happened that night, but I chose to keep it a secret. I know that and I admit it! But this, him asking me everything in rage is just absurd. I can never understand it. I will definitely not accept it.

I gasped and forcefully wiped away my tears. “I kept everything to myself until I finally left the city. Did you hear anything from me?” I asked him in my trembling voice.

He averted his eyes so I laughed even more bitterly. “A-after I found out about your betrayal towards me and my own family, did you hear anything from me? Did I rebuke you as you rebuke me now? Answer me!"

“That's because you wanted revenge! You want revenge so you prefer to suppress everything. That's why you came back, right?! That's why you let everyone know about your marriage with Apollo because you know what is happening to me. You and that motherfucker

planned everything all along, right?” He shouted and quickly approached me again then grabbed both my arms so tightly that I almost fell where I was standing. I could feel his intense anger when our eyes met so the pain I felt before came back again.

"A-Ares, it's hurt—"

“You planned everything to overthrow me, didn't you? I'm right, am I not?!”

"Fucking son of a bitch!"

What happened next was so fast. Suddenly, I sprang up and hit my back against the wall, causing me to sit on the floor. As I was dealing with the pain in my back, I saw how Hector was raining blows on Ares so I cried even more.

“I will fucking kill you! I will fucking destroy your fucking face! I warned you never to approach Solei, didn't I? What right do you have, huh? Do you really want me to fucking kill you that much, ha?!”

Hector's loud voice echoed in that hallway. I wanted to approach them but the pain in my back was drawing and I could feel it.

“H-Hector…” I called him but he didn't seem to hear anything and just kept punching Ares who didn't seem to resist. I saw that his face was bloody so my system became even more alarmed.

"H-Hector, please!" I yelled.

“Oh my god! What the hell is happening here? Stop it, you two!”

I quickly turned my gaze to the speaker and I just saw Donya Valeria, Don Damien, and Agatha quickly approaching the two as I remained sitting on the floor while holding my back.

"I'm going to kill you, motherfucker!" Hector shouted loudly when Don Damien separated the two of them. I saw Ares smile at him as he wiped the blood from his lips a little. His left eye was cracked as well as his lip.

“Really, huh? Then let's bet who will be dead first after tonight,” Ares said threateningly and glanced at me.

“You two have stopped! What's going on? What did you do, Apollo?!” Donya Valeria was furious while holding Ares, even Agatha was holding him.

“I can't believe you'd kill each other just for a woman! What is happening to you?” Don Damien said and turned to me.

I did not hear an answer. Instead, I suddenly felt Hector gently pick me up and turn to everyone again.

“What? That woman is the reason for it again? I told you to get rid of her because that opportunistic woman did nothing good—”

“She’s not an opportunist, ma! She is my wife, and you will fucking accept it whether you like it or not. Tell your stupid son to be content with what he has now. Because otherwise, I will be the one to erase that redheaded motherfucker man in this world!” Hector replied nervously to his mother.

I just bent down and held on to his arm. "T-that's enough, please…"

“Do you hear what you’re saying, Apollo? Would you rather choose that woman than the welfare of this family?!”

“Yes, dad! Yes, I will fucking choose her over and over again! I will fucking keep choosing her over you, over this damn family and you know that. I would rather choose Ana because she was the only one who chose me during the times you threw me away like garbage after you used me for the sake of your family!” Hector replied quickly to his dad.

My heart pounded when I heard that. There's a part of me that doesn't understand what he's saying because I haven't done anything for him yet. What is he saying?

“You don’t know what you’re saying, Apollo. You don't even know that woman very well, eh,” said Donya Valeria. I heard Hector's sarcastic laugh.

“You know I knew her from the very beginning, ma. Please, don't make me say this in front of her. As much as I still want to protect you, I will not hesitate to protect the woman I love more against you,” he said emphatically so I looked up.

What is he saying?

I looked at all the traces of apprehension on their faces. Even Agatha remained holding on to Ares. What's happening?

“Are you threatening us, Apollo?” Don Damien's voice was deep and he looked at his son sharply.

For the nth time, Hector smirked at them. I felt the tightening of his hold on me because I felt like I would fall again at any moment.

“You know what I’m capable of, Dad, so please, make your favorite son stop with his bullshit and leave my wife alone. If you don't want us all to get into trouble,” Hector finally said and guided me to leave the place while still confused.

What did he mean by what he said?

I gasped when I felt hot air around my neck. I slowly opened my eyes and the dark room was exposed to me and only the lampshade served as light. I looked down at the terrace door that was open. The curtain is dancing because of the strong wind. The moonlight coming from there added to the light.

Again I felt the hot air on my neck and a little later, his long kiss on my head followed. I remained silent and waited for what he would do next. I just felt him leave beside me and then went to the terrace quietly. I slowly sat up. I winced when I felt the pain in my back and there I remembered again what had happened earlier. What time is it?

My gaze went again to the terrace where Hector was. When I found out that it was three o'clock in the morning, I got up to go to him. I hugged myself because of the cold air that greeted me. I found him standing there looking into the distance. He had no long dress and was only wearing sweatpants. I could see his wide, rocky back. I didn't hesitate to hug him from behind.

"Aren't you cold?" I asked him and felt his body warm. He was stunned for a moment but immediately grabbed my arm wrapped around his waist.

"Did I wake you up?" He asked instead of answering my question.

"You didn't take me home to the condo."

He moved and faced me. His head blocked the moonlight so I looked up at him. His expression is dark but his eyes are wide.

“I didn’t see your ring since our first night. Where is it?” He asked as I stopped. I remember taking it off when I went home to the province then and since then I haven't worn it.

“Just hidden…”

"Do you want us to divorce?"

I was caught off guard by his question. For a moment my, heart stopped beating and drew the strange pain there. I feel like the words have escaped me. I don't know what to answer. I’m not sure what the answer to that question is.

I removed my hands from him and stood by his side. I looked up for a moment at the full moon.

“If you want—”

“Just answer yes or no, Anastacia,” he cut me off.

My heart was pounding. This time, something touched my heart and it went straight down my throat. It was hot and heavy. It hurts too. I bit my lower lip and glanced at him for a moment. He leans against the hand railings and is bent over. His expression remained dark.

When he first told me that he wanted to annul our marriage, I immediately answered him, yes, I would agree. That's because I still have no reason to stay being his wife because we don't love each other.

But now, after hearing everything he said before — that he would choose me over and over in any situation, I feel that everything has changed.

I swallowed and the pain in my throat only got worse. “Y-you’re not mine, Hector. I feel like you're not really mine and you're just a made-up thing in my mind…”

I sighed as I felt my tears fall. “But sometimes I pretend that you wish you were. That when you left me without saying goodbye, I repeatedly wished for you to come back to me and I will still accept you because you are the only one I have. Since that day you said you wanted to claim me, I started to create this idea that you secretly want me even though what I had in mind then was that maybe you were just using me to get revenge on Ares.”

My chest started to tighten so I was able to hold on to it. I leaned my head on his shoulder and closed my eyes tightly. “I-I'm scared but I really want you… I'm scared but I want to have you. But if you want us to divorce then I will not push it anymore. After all, everything was just… an accident,” I said and burst into tears.

I felt his gentle grip on my waist and in an instant, he was hugging me. I buried my face in his chest and there I cried and cried. Hopefully not. I hope he'd take me back. I hope I was wrong. I can not take it anymore.

“Then let’s face your fears together, baby…” He whispered softly and kissed my head. I cried even more. “I’m yours, Solei. I’m all yours, hmmm?”

-

I stared at a text I received from an unknown number. My heartbeat slowed as I tried to understand that.

Unknown Number

How's the long-lost heiress of the Alcaraz clan? I heard that your family will introduce you to everyone. And I guess you haven't heard who the real Hector Apollo Aragon is. Want me to tell you his secret?

Who is this?