Chapter 45: Chapter 45

I remember many times how I wanted a complete family. It's okay if the house isn't that big, as long as it's a happy and complete family. Who doesn't want that? Everybody wants that but not until my father passed away when I was still in high school. He was shot and to this day, we don’t even know who shot him. It happened very fast and I’m the only one who witnessed how he fought back just to survive. I don’t know how many times I asked before that I wanted to give Amari a complete family. That I wanted to give her a loving family so that she could carry that lovingness until she grows up and as far as she can go. That I don’t want her to have a fake and fraudulent family like the family I grew up with.

And now that I'm slowly giving it to my Amari, I don't know if I'm going to ask for anything else.

Hector took us to his house. At first, Grandpa and Grandma didn't agree because of what happened to me, but later they gave in because Hector had no intention of giving up - and they know it.

I looked after Amari who happily ran towards her father. She snuggled up at the latter and they hugged tightly. They were in that position for a long time until my daughter broke up and smiled while watching her favorite cartoon series. I bit my lower lip. This is the second day of our stay at his villa and to this day, I still feel deprived. I can’t help but think that all of this isn’t true. That I was just dreaming and all of this is just a nightmare. A beautiful nightmare.

My attention was just caught watching them when I heard the ringing of my cell phone on the kitchen counter so I picked it up right away. It was Ulysses, so I answered it immediately.

“Are you free today? I'd like to discuss something with you,” he said to me. “I'm on my way to Terra Verde—”

"We're not in Terra Verde anymore, Ulysses," I was quick to say that he was referring to the big mansion. I heard him sipping. He didn't even know about Hector taking us.

“What? Where are you? Don't tell me you went back to Elena's condo. I told you, you are not safe there, Ana,” he said in a worried tone so I laughed.

“Hector took us to his house. I'm sorry I didn't tell you right away,” I said. Simultaneously with his laughter on the other line was the wrapping of Hector's arm around my waist which suddenly appeared so I almost screamed in shock.

"Who's that?" He whispered to me and gently kissed my cheek.

“That damn fucker. Can't really wait— ”

I could no longer hear what Ulysses said next when Hector suddenly grabbed my cell phone from me and put it to his ear.

“What were you saying? Stop calling my wife like you're some clingy bastard, Ulysses. What else do you need?” He was teasing my cousin so I couldn't stop laughing.

I kept my eyes on Hector especially when his expression suddenly became serious as he looked at me.

“Why would they do that? I thought everything was already settled. ” He asked the interlocutor.

"What's happening?" I couldn't help but ask him because my curiosity was killing me.

“That motherfucker should know his place. I'll go with her to meet you,” said Hector then turned off the call and turned to me.

“Your stepmother filed a case against you. It's about the inheritance that your father gave to you. Let's go,” he said hurriedly so I immediately grabbed his arm.

“What about Amari? Who will be left with her here?”

He took my hand and kissed it. “There are many securities here, Solei. If you want, I can hire more. Also, your friends Via and Riley are on their way here. I talked to them earlier.”

When I heard that, I was even more surprised. "Why didn't I know they were coming?"

He scratched his head and grinned. "It's a surprise actually."

Ulysses decided that we would only meet in his office. Hector didn't want me to go alone even though I insisted because it was too dangerous. He said he wouldn't let me leave alone until he knew Ares hadn't been caught.

When we got to the law firm, we immediately went straight to Ulysses ’office. I was shocked when I saw who we had caught up with there. She even smiled at me and looked at me insultingly before glancing at Hector for a moment.

“It’s true what I heard. After you took all papa's wealth, you are happy living with the person who killed him,” said Agatha in a cold tone.

I don’t know why I felt angry at what she said. I also suddenly remembered what Ares had said about who Hector really was but until now we hadn’t talked about that. Maybe he didn't even know that I already knew who he was.

I calmed myself down and ignored what she said. "You're not the reason why I came here," I said and sat down and then turned to Ulysses who was just looking at the two of us.

“Of course. Because if Mama hadn’t filed a lawsuit, you wouldn’t have shown up to us because you want a peaceful life after ruining ours. What are you up to these days, Ana, huh?” She was accusing me again so I quickly turned to her.

“You don't really know what happened to me these past few days? Do you really want me to answer that for you, Agatha? Or maybe because you are an accomplice of Ares in everything he did to me so that's how you react?” I almost yelled at her because of the extreme anger I felt when I remembered everything again.

Especially what happened to my child.

Agatha's expression hardened and she immediately averted her gaze from me. "I do not know what you're saying. I do not know of Constantine's plans for you.”

I laughed. Constantine, huh? Why hadn’t I noticed that before? That the only thing he wanted to call him by that name were the people he loved - and obviously I’m not one of those so I just call him Ares.

“Who is a fool to admit his sin, right? Anyway, tell mama, whatever papa left me before he died, I didn't ask him for that. Think about it, why didn't he leave you at least a little bit?” I asked her, and she looked back at me.

It was so sharp that it seemed like she wanted to hurt me but she couldn’t. “How fucking dare you! Shut your mouth or else— ”

“Shut it, Agatha. Remember you are in my office.” Ulysses interrupted. That’s when I just remembered why we came here.

For a moment, I looked at Hector who remained behind me. He just smiled at me sparingly and even touched me on the shoulder. I sighed violently and turned to Ulysses.

I found out that my mother had filed a lawsuit against me because of the inheritances left to me by my father. I didn't know everything about it because Ulysses said I had a big fight. Hector told me the same thing.

When we finished our short conversation, I invited him to go home because I was still worried about Amari's safety even though Via and Riley were with her now. I wouldn't want to risk anything especially when it comes to my daughter. I can't stand it when something bad happens to her.

“What do you want to eat? I'll cook something for you.” Hector woke me up so I turned to him. He was smiling but I could feel him being worried about what Agatha had said about him.

When I first found out about it, I didn’t feel anything. I don't want to judge him quickly. I want to know the truth first. And I knew he could tell me the truth without lying. Without hiding anything from me because he knows I trust him.

I looked down at his hand on his lap. I didn't hesitate to touch that. I saw his head tilt for a moment to look at me.

"Is something bothering you?" He asked softly. His expression immediately changed.

“I know you are the new leader of Black Lotus, Hector. Ares told me the day he imprisoned me,” I told him directly.

I felt him pause for a moment but he kept his gaze on the road. I can also feel the tension on his arm before the car suddenly stops. When I looked outside, I was exposed to an overlooking so I smiled.

"I'm sorry…"

When I heard that, I immediately turned to him. His expression was dark and the gaze remained on the front. I still held his hand but I didn't feel it move at all.

"What for?" I asked him and tightened my grip on him just because I don't want him to assume that I am mad or something.

“It was six years ago when Black Butterfly, your mom’s group of assassins, attacked the main office of the organization. I wouldn't have been in charge then if it wasn't for Uncle Louie. Your mom killed his wife, but he never thought of any revenge. He chose to stop all his connections to secret industries like this but I did not agree. I took his position without his full consent,” he explained while still not looking at me.

I did not speak. I want to listen to everything he has to say because I want to understand everything. I want to understand what happened then without getting angry or anything.

“But a day before the ceremony, your dad came to the main house of the organization. He apologized and then left, but one of Uncle Louie's men followed him on his way to his house. There we heard that your father was shot and declared dead.”

I sighed as I remembered the day he was referring to. That was the day I picked him up from work because it was raining hard and he wasn't carrying an umbrella. When I first saw him, I noticed that he was being followed but I just ignored that. Until he was shot while the heavy rain was falling that day. And I was hit in the arm, too.

I don’t know how I will feel but I am glad to know that after all, he was still able to apologize for the sin my real mother had committed. There’s still a part of me that I can’t understand everything because it’s still broken but I understand better how good dad’s heart is. I will forever admire him until my life is over.

The two of us were silent in that car for a while. But later, I felt Hector grab my hand and kiss it softly so I looked at him. He didn’t speak and just kept looking at me so I smiled.

“It’s fine. As long as I know you have nothing to do with everything that happened, that's fine.”

That was the last thing I said to him that night before I received a call from someone I don't know. It's the male voice and unfamiliar to me.

"Do you want to know what really happened that day your father was shot?" He asked me.

I frowned and looked at Hector who was currently feeding Amari. "Who is this?"

“You know me, Anastacia. Your father raised you so well, I can tell. But I'm sad to know who you ended up with. Of all people, Ana, why Apollo?” He continued.

My chest throbbed as I automatically focused my gaze on Hector who was also looking at me.

“You really fell in love with the person who shot your father, huh? That's upsetting,” he said and turned off the call.

Next, I received a text from his number as well.

Unknown Number

If you want to know the whole truth, meet me at Aragon Estate tomorrow, 4 PM sharp.

"Who was that?" Hector asked which made my heart stop beating for a second