Chapter 49: Chapter 49

"So, what happened? Not that I don't want you here, a. I'm just curious. I thought you wouldn't come back here." Erika asked me again for the fourth time.

She sat down beside me and withdrew a cup of coffee in front of me. It was still smoking because it was new bubbles. When I touched it, the heat it carried even flowed into my body.

"Nothing," I replied sparingly to her and blew out the coffee then drank it. I heard her swear.

"Can it be just nothing? What if I tell Apollo that you two are here? Won't you still tell me what happened?" She threatened me so I frowned.

Instead of looking at her, I turned my gaze to the vast barn in the backyard. Eventually, I decided to just go back here without talking to anyone, not even my own family. As I told Leon, I want to cut everything off. I would rather have peace of mind with my daughter here than continue to be affected by things that were previously hidden from me by everyone.

Also, Hector could easily find and track us down when I pursued my plan to ask Leon for help. Never mind.

“With so much happening, I don’t know where else to start,” I said while still staring at the emptiness.

"I know what happened to you and what Ares did to you. We all know that here, Ana. What we don't know is the reason for your sudden return. Look, it's been three days since you came back here, and At least tell us what happened so we can help. Even if it's just me." Erika tried to comfort me.

I bit my lower lip and violently let out the air. I sipped my coffee again. The heat it causes adds to the heat I feel in my heart.

"Hector was the one who shot papa ..." I almost whispered to myself because I felt like it was a knife stabbing my heart over and over

again.

I never heard Erika speak. I smiled bitterly and continued speaking.

Dad taught me never to harbor resentment in my heart. That as much as I can, I will still forgive so that I can also give peace to my heart. That as long as I can, I will continue to understand things that even other people find difficult to understand. And I did that often. I always do it not because of his command, but because that's really what my personality is shouting.

During the times when my mom and my siblings were making my life difficult, he was the only one who made me feel that all the heavy ones still have the ability to lighten. That's why ever since he disappeared, I haven't felt light in my heart until

now. I no longer know how.

But then Hector came. I don't know how but he found me at my weakest place. He always finds me. He always finds me in my most vulnerable state and he makes way for all my suffering — something I can't do for myself. That's why I don’t know how I will accept it. I don’t know how I’m going to forgive. That in spite of all the ways he had done just to settle and rebuild me — he could have destroyed me again with just one thing.

And the funny thing here is that I can still feel in my heart that he's still the one I want. He is still what I need to rebuild myself — which makes me even harder because I can't accept it. I’m hurting because I can’t accept it.

"So, what's your plan? You're going to stay here again until he finds you? What makes you think he can't think of you coming here?" She asked and stares at me for a minute before turning to nothingness.

I shrugged. "Let it be. I don't have a single plan, Rika. I just want to get away from them. I know Amari and I are safe here, so please, don't tell anyone. Even my family," I begged her.

I didn't wait for her to answer. I finished my coffee and went inside. I found Amari in the room sitting in the corner while writing

something. I can see the sadness in her eyes. I could feel her sadness because of our sudden departure and she couldn't even say goodbye to her daddy. My conscience was slowly killing me.

"Hi, baby," I greeted her and sat down next to her. She looked up at me for a moment before closing the notebook.

"What is it?" I asked but she just shrugged her shoulder.

"Mommy, are you mad at daddy?"

I was shocked when I heard that. My eyes averted her gaze but eventually, I stared at her. I can't find the right answer to her question but she seems to be telling me that I have to answer because of the way she stares at me.

"Uhm ... what made you think of that, baby?" I asked her again.

For a moment, her eyes rolled as if thinking. "I just feel it. Because ... I saw how you looked at him before we left. Not like before

..." She halted. Maybe because she doesn't know how to describe it anymore.

I didn't know that this was her level of observance. I didn't even know that she would even notice that because for me it was just a small thing. It didn't even enter my mind that she was thinking things like this.

My heart ached the more I realized what she said. That means she notices everything even small things, even small changes in a person.

I bit my lower lip and forced a smile at her. After all, she's my daughter. And I can't lie to her anymore.

"Mommy isn't mad, baby. Mommy didn't love daddy just to feel anger towards him. Let's just say that ..." I stopped and searched for the right words in my mind but I was even more hurt because of the truth.

I hugged Amari and closed my eyes. Along with the path of my tears, she gave me a hug in return.

"Mommy is just hurting. I'm sorry if you're witnessing things like this. I'm sorry," I said and hugged her even tighter.

"It's okay, mom. Daddy said to me ... that when someone is hurt, they need to stay away from the thing that hurts them."

I cried even more when I heard that. I don't even know what did I do in my past life to deserve her.

In the evening, after three days, I just turned on my cell phone. Amari was asleep so I decided to take a walk outside the hut. I can still see the hacienda without the lights. I turned to look at my cellphone which sounded repeatedly because of the texts. When I looked it was just Hector and the others were Elena, Ulysses, Leon, and an unknown number.

I didn't waste any more time opening Hector's messages because I had a hunch about what the contents were. Instead, I opened the text of an unknown number that was just 6 PM sent. It's eight o'clock now.

Unknown Number

Hi, Anastacia. This is Vera. I know you know me already. I just want to propose you something since you need it after all. If you want to know the details, text me back ASAP.

I raised an eyebrow when I read it. I remember her — she was what Ariza Alcaraz — my real mother — considered her child when they hid me. This is also her right-hand man ever since. What does she want from me?

To Unknown Number

i'm not in the city ,,, what is this about ??

As I waited for her reply, it was only then that I realized that I had walked far from home. When I looked around I noticed a bright light coming from the far end of the barn. As far as I know, there is no house there because it is full of wood.

I no longer hesitated and walked towards it. I also felt my cell phone vibrate so I looked at it immediately.

Unknown Number

Seriously? Do you text like this? Just like your face, it's hurting my eyes!

Unknown Number

Anyway, Leon mentioned to me that you left. Where are you? Look, this is very important. Even though I don't like you, Aunt Ariza handed you over to me.

I don’t know why I see in my mind her expression as I read her text. And what's her problem with my text?

To Unknown Number

i cant tell u where i am now ,,, what is it about ???? what do you want???

When I was able to send it, I continued walking. My forehead furrowed even more in astonishment when I saw where the light was coming from. There is a big house in the middle of the woods but it looks abandoned because of its appearance on the outside. The light is coming from the second floor. Who lives here?

My cell phone vibrated again before I could enter the yard of the house, I checked it first.

Unknown Number

Damn it. This is about Ares Aragon. Leon told me that you need tools and information for your revenge. Tbh, your planning revenge is absurd. Are you serious?

Unknown Number

Can't you just tell me where you are ?! Let's just talk in person because your text hurts my head!

I immediately typed a reply for her.

To Unknown Number

im in a province vera ,,,, i dont need ur help ok ...

I continued walking again until I could enter the yard of this house. It seemed quiet inside but I could hear the rattles of something and it seemed like someone was still whispering. When I got close to the window on the side of the house, I barely peeked inside. My eyes narrowed to see what was inside. But my eyes widened and I almost had a heart attack when I saw a man in front of me who seemed to be looking at me from inside the house!

To my great surprise, I covered my mouth and then sat down on the grass while chasing my breath. Shit! Shit! Did he see me? Who is this? Why does he have a long gun in his hand and seems to be watching around?

I quickly looked at my cell phone when it vibrated again. I finally ran quietly towards the back of the big tree that was there and then opened the text from Vera.

Unknown Number

Don't tell me you're in CDO?

How did she know?

My hands were shaking as I typed a reply for her.

To Unknown Number

How did you know???

When I was able to send it, I looked around again. In the distance, I saw a car entering the yard of the house. It stopped in the middle and then the five men on board descended. My eyes narrowed again but also immediately widened when I saw the next one lowered. Five large luggage loaded with different guns. I can see that because the handle of them spits out! Shit! I think I'm in the stronghold of the syndicates! How can I get out of here?!

Simultaneously with my chest throbbing with extreme nervousness was the re-arrival of another black car. I waited for who would come down from there. My body stiffened as I could see who the three people were walking into the house.

When I turned my gaze to my cellphone, I just read Vera's earlier reply.

Unknown Number

Fuck! You're really there?! Didn't anyone tell you who was there?!

Unknown Number

You're freaking me out, Anastacia! That's where all of Ares' men are hiding, including Matthew, the secret assassin who killed Aunt Ariza, and the entire organization!