Chapter 73: Chapter 73

Hector's POV

One thing about Solei that I love the most—she is different—she still looks up even when the stars aren't shining. She made the broken look beautiful and strong look invincible. She wasn't simple. She was a beast in her own way. She's mystical. Anastacia Solei is deep and I am always willing to dive into her mind and soul—no matter how deep it is.

I looked up at him. The flower crown on top of her head is not enough to beat her beauty. She looks like a fairy in her long white dress. It's simple but her beauty is so beautiful. Her brown hair looks so shiny while they were swaying by the strong winds. She smiled and focused her gaze on me. It pierces my soul. I feel like my heart is going to explode because I love him so much.

I am so in love with her that she makes me feel sick to my stomach.

I can still remember the second time I saw her after so many years—after that incident.

Inside that bar, he was the only one I saw. He seemed to be glowing while dancing in the middle of the dance floor. The slow and rhythmic beat of his waist seemed to bring me a strange sensation. Watching her dancing like she owned the music is wanting me to come and get her and get her away from this place. Especially when I noticed the number of eyes staring at him and watching every movement of his waist.

"Do you know her?" I heard Hans ask me from my side.

I drank wine again and nodded. I kept looking at him. "She's Ares' fiancé," I replied to him.

"Why do you seem to want to take it home?" He asked more so I laughed.

“I wish I could. If possible, why not?" I said and stood up.

I could feel my heart pounding as I approached him. It seemed that I wanted to run between the two of us when that way I could get close to him quickly. As soon as our skin touched I was shocked.

This woman is indeed different. You were right about her, Ares.

And I regret letting you claim her from me.

"Ana!"

I stopped trying to touch him when his companions suddenly called him. He approached it for a moment so I was stuck there in the middle. I just watched him while he was busy talking to his three female companions.

A few moments later, it suddenly turned to me. Her eyes narrowed down and walked towards me.

"It's you... again," she uttered weakly.

If I haven't encountered her earlier I would think she remembers me. But no, she's pertaining to what happened earlier.

"I didn't know you could drink that much. You look sober," I promised him. "Do you want to go somewhere else to loosen up?"

And she immediately agreed. He was silent as we walked under the bright moon—not knowing where to go. I glanced at her. He was also looking at me and seemed to want to say something so I laughed.

"I'm not doing anything to you. Don't worry," I assured him because there was a trace of worry in his eyes.

Her eyes lit up and nodded. "I don't know why I feel like I know you. Somehow, you looked familiar.”

It's because we met already, Solei.

"You're really drunk, huh? I can tell this is your first time drinking. What's the occasion then?" I asked him when we sat down on the bench there.

I couldn't look away from the view in front of us even though it was beautiful because I didn't want to look away from him. I want to watch her over and over again. I want to watch how her lips move while she talks. I want to watch how his eyes smile while he's squinting from drunkenness.

"Ah, is that it? My friends prepared a bachelorette party for me so I didn't do anything...” She halted and held her head. "It's just shit. Elena is annoying because she made me drink over and over again!” He will come.

I couldn't stop smiling while watching him who seemed to be struggling with his headache. When he looked up, it was straight at me.

"Ah, I know why you are familiar. You're the one who stopped me from drinking what the bartender gave me earlier," she stated with her sudden realization.

I half-smiled at her. "Yeah, that's why I can tell this is your first time."

"Thanks a lot. I really have no idea. It's a good thing you're there," he said and covered his entire face as if feeling it. It was already red and his eyes were even redder.

Her eyes didn't change a little bit. It's still the same—always happy and carefree. If I didn't know what kind of life he had, I would think that his smiles today are real. But no, this is not real. She's hiding her sorrow deep inside. And he could never show that to everyone.

Silence enveloped us both. When I suddenly heard his little sobs, I quickly turned to look at him.

"Hey, are you okay? Did I do something wrong? Or do you want to go home now? I can take you home," I told him in a panic.

I even tried reaching for her hands because they were covering her face but she didn't move. His shoulders just keep going up and down. His sobs were small as if he was trying to prevent his sobs from getting louder.

"I... I don't know what to do anymore. I have a lot to be thankful for. There are many good things in my life now but... but it's still sad. I don't understand why my heart is still heavy even though I know I'm happy...” She suddenly said and burst into tears. His voice trembled.

My mouth opened but no words came out of it. Everyone seemed to be stunned by what he said because I didn't expect him to be like this all of a sudden.

“Hey...”

He removed his hand from her face and started crying. I don't know if I will smile because of her appearance—she looks so fucking cute—but I can also feel that my heart is tearing apart while watching her crying her heart out like this.

"I miss my dad so much..." He said and cried again.

I cleared my throat. "Why? Where's your Dad?"

"W-no more..." She said weakly. "He was shot to death."

When he said that, the incident of that day immediately registered in my brain.

I ran fast to catch up with him but he quickly disappeared from my sight. I caught my breath while holding the gun at my side. I looked around and when I looked at an alley I was relieved to see him.

“Uncle Anastacio—”

I couldn't continue my shout because I suddenly realized that we might attract attention. So instead I ran again to approach him. When I got close, I stopped when something caught my eye.

It was Ares!

It's holding a sniper rifle! My eyes widened when I saw who it was aimed at. When I looked at Uncle Anastacio, I only saw the woman with him he said that my guess is only my age. He was talking to her while the woman seemed to be handing him an umbrella.

"Uncle!" I shouted but he didn't seem to hear because of the heavy rain.

When I looked at Ares again I didn't waste any more time. I positioned myself on the side there and pointed the gun I was holding at him. I noticed that my hands were shaking so I was embarrassed! I am not good with guns! I was only more confused when the two started walking and now we were between them. Ares is aiming his rifle at Uncle Anastacio and mine is aimed at him.

I did not expect that their group's response would be this fast when Ariza Alcaraz just died yesterday!

I shouted again to call them but they didn't hear me again. They are both ready. When I looked at Ares, I saw him move the trigger so my finger automatically moved too.

Bang!

Bang!

It was two gunshots. It seems that I was deafened for a moment and I barely sat on the grass because of the force of the impact of the gun I used. I was already wet from the rain but I didn't delay it any longer.

I stood up quickly. My eyes immediately searched for Uncle Anastacio and the girl with him. My shoulders slumped when I saw both of them lying on the ground. I immediately approached them.

"D-daddy!" The woman screamed before she completely lost consciousness. When I looked over his shoulder, I saw two gunshot wounds.

My whole body felt cold—not because of the cold caused by the rain but because of what I was seeing. When I turned my gaze to Uncle Anastacio, my whole system was even more shocked. He was a headshot. Twice. Fuck!

I don't know what to do first. But when I remembered the person who did it, I immediately looked for him. But he was no longer there. The next thing I realized was the arrival of other members of the organization and my accompanying the ambulance carrying the woman.

Uncle Anastacio died on the spot. Ares didn't give him a chance to survive anymore— something I don't know how he did that.

"P-papa! where is dad?! Dad!”

I turned to the source of that voice and saw the woman disappearing and apparently not feeling the pain of her wound due to the gunshot wound to her shoulder.

“Apollo, why are you at the scene of the incident? What are you doing there?” I heard Hans ask me. I ignored her and kept my eyes on the woman who was disappearing.

She's hysterically yelling her father's name. No one could calm him down. But when his mother and his two brothers suddenly arrived, he suddenly stopped and seemed scared.

"Why? Why did this happen, Ana?! All the bad luck is on you! I hope only you died and not your dad! You really are a worthless kid!” His mother suddenly shouted at him so I was surprised.

Is this why she suddenly quiet down and terrified? Because he knows this is what his family will say and react? But why?

"Let's go, Apollo. Your dad is looking for you—”

"I'm staying here, Hans. You leave if you want," I firmly promised him without taking my eyes off the woman they called 'Ana'.

"And what are you going to do here? I'll be mad at your dad if you don't come home yet!”

"I will stay here with her. I will watch over him. Now, go home if you want. Stop bugging me!” I almost yelled at him and got him out of there.

I stayed with her that day without her knowing until she got out of the hospital. As I said, I just watched him. I don't want her to feel alone especially when I saw that since her family found out what happened to her dad, they never visited her again.

That's when I found out everything about her. I became so fond of her that when I had to fly to Las Vegas for my scheduled appointment as CEO of the branch estate, I had second thoughts and almost didn't want to leave.

I wish I had done that so Ares didn't get her from me. I was so dumbfounded at first when I found out about their relationship. But I immediately found out his true intentions with Solei when he once headed to Las Vegas with her sister Agatha.

And I didn't waste any more time.

"You're marrying my brother Ares Aragon, right?" I couldn't stop asking him after a few minutes of silence.

He seemed stunned. He quickly looked at me. "Brother? Are you his brother?” He asked me in surprise.

"You're going to marry the man who killed your father?" I told him directly.

Terror overtook her face. I regretted what I said for a moment but I couldn't do anything. I will never let that fool take possession of him forever.

"W-what are you saying? Stop joking, please," he said with a laugh and repeatedly shook his head at me.

"I'm telling the truth. If you want, you can ask him yourself. Let's see if you still want to marry the man who killed your beloved father," I told him lazily and stood up.

I was about to leave him there but I felt his quick grip on my arm. When I faced him, I was greeted by his crisp slap.

“S-liar! He was right about you. You're a manipulative and psycho jerk! How dare you say that to me as if it was some sort of a joke!” He yelled at me angrily and started punching me in the chest.

I felt a burning anger in my heart when I heard that. She's now brainwashed by that motherfucker!

“L-liar! Liar! Liar—”

“Enough!” I screamed and immediately held her hands. He looked up at me. I can see the mixture of anger and pain in his eyes.

"Wake up, Solei! What will I gain from you if I really lie? Are you into me? Will you come back to me, huh?! Just say it because I'm willing to tell you all kinds of lies if that's what it takes! But no, right?! That will not happen!"

My heart seemed to be squeezed as I saw his sad eyes. In an instant, I saw all the suffering and grief he was hiding. In an instant, my heart seemed to be torn to pieces by what I was witnessing.

I waited for him to speak. A few minutes passed and I was still holding his hands but I could feel that he was no longer fighting as he did before. His shoulders have completely collapsed. As soon as I let go of him, he immediately became weak and felt like he was going to fall, so I held him again.

"Solei, please..." I pleaded. "I don't want to say this but everything is just a made-up thing on your mind. What you know about Ares' life is full of lies. Believe me.”

"And why are you saying this to me now? And how do you know my name? How do you know me?” He almost whispered to himself as he tried to remove my hold on him.

But I remained firm.

"Because I want to save you. Everyone around you is just fooling you and I know you're letting them just to get the love you're looking for since your father died. I know it, baby...” I uttered and reached for her face. The pain in my heart is slowly killing me.

"I know it, so please, stop doing this. That love isn't the one you deserve. It was a fraud. Please... stop draining yourself just to get that kind of love. You're killing your heart, Solei, and it's killing me, too...” I said and hugged her tightly. I can feel his body giving and his tight grip on my chest. The next thing I heard was his loud shout.

Her deafening scream of pain is terrifying to the point that I didn't know what to do to ease her pain— didn't know what to say to calm her.

"W-what do you want me to do now?" I heard him say in his trembling voice.

I immediately pulled her away from me and looked directly at her bloodshot eyes. "Marry me. Right now. And I promise you, I will destroy anyone who intends to hurt you.”

And for the first time, she said yes. Only to find out that she'd forget everything that happened between us. He didn't remember even one of them. As long as I am a rooster, I will mark everything. How he said my name. How she moaned my name while panting and sweating under me. How she begged me to continue what I was doing to her and never stop.

I can still remember everything, especially when I found out that she was still a virgin that night. And I took that from her. But I remembered that it was okay because we were married. And Ares will never ever be able to take her away from me anymore.

The moment my lips touched hers, my body convulsed over her. I took a breath and grabbed him by the back of his neck to bring him closer to me.

"Damn, Solei... I am going to kiss you until the only name you will ever taste is mine."

I caressed his waist. I gently removed the strap of the dress she was wearing even though I wanted her to tear it because it was too much trouble! I'm running out of patience! When I completely undressed him, I was just disgusted when his whole body was exposed to me. Her body is like a Goddess. Damn, Solei!

I didn't waste any more time and kissed her again—deep and passionate. I can hear her every moan especially when my hand started to travel all over her body. That's right, Solei. Moan my name. Moan my name until you become sore. Moan my name until you memorize it and never forget it after this night.

"H-Hector..." She cried again.

My movement became faster, harder, and deeper. It intensified more. I held her thigh tightly around my waist. She clutched the bed sheet tightly. He bit his lip and when he released it I could see his weakness.

I pressed my lips to him but he didn't return the kiss.

"Hector... please..." She called me again and started kissing me back.

I filled her harder and faster again. I filled her to the brim. Her hot and wet insides made me mad and crazy. I felt the rise of the intense sensation I feel.

My body convulsed. I poured out all my love, frustration, and longing for her inside her. I can't resist it anymore. I looked at her. The way she needed to be looked at like the whole world could crumble and I wouldn't blink.

"I am so madly in love with you, you have no idea how fucking heavy this is..." I whispered to her and completely collapsed on her side.

He didn't answer. Instead, he came closer to me and nuzzled my neck. As if she is now resting. I could feel his warm breath there and his hug on me. I smiled.

"That's alright. Your silence is enough for me to know how you feel, baby," I said and started stroking her hair until she fell asleep.

Solei will never know how my breath escapes when her smile lights up the day. She'll never know what I see in her eyes. That despite the chaos she feels inside, I still see how she always wants to make the daylight.

Everyone tried to kill her emotionally and I couldn't do anything about it. But when her stepmother told me everything about her condition, I found out that not everyone around her is incapable of loving her.

Solei is so easy to love.

"She's pregnant, Apollo."

I was stunned when I heard that. My whole system rumbled and I seemed suddenly deaf. I just got back from Las Vegas and found out from Hans that Solei is really gone—she left the city and never showed up again. At first, I didn't understand why. I sent her hundreds of emails and messages when she found out what happened and I had to leave suddenly but she didn't reply to even one of them. And I will know that he has left Manila for good.

And this... I'm so damn confused! What is going on?

"W-what?"

"My daughter is pregnant. Anastacia was pregnant when you left her. Do not you know?" He suddenly asked me.

My heartbeat slowed down. "N-no."

"She waited for you for a long time since you left but you never came back so she decided to come back here and told me about her pregnancy. But I drove him away...” His voice trembled. I still don't know what to say.

“I pushed him away even though I wanted to give up and accept him again. But I thought I was unworthy of her love, Apollo. Anastacia is kind and loving and I can't waste any more of that. I can't bear to see him hurt because of me... just because he thinks I can't love him. I love him... I love my son so much... it's just... I know that it won't be enough and it will only hurt him when the time comes, so please... take him back..." He started crying while holding my hands.

"B-bring him back. Five years have passed. I know he is still waiting for you to come back... with your son. Please, Apollo, bring her back... Take care of her for me because I can never do that to her... Especially to my grandson.”

That was also the same day I found out what my mom did to her right after I left the country five years ago.

"Why did you do that to her?! What do you know about our relationship?!" I couldn't stop yelling at him.

I almost crumpled the envelopes I was holding. These are the letters I sent to Solei but never reached her because she blocked them!

"Apollo, you don't understand. That woman is not good for your life. He's ruining you! He's ruining both of you and Ares!”

"What are you talking about? It's been a long time since we've been broken by that mess and we'll never get back together! You don't even understand where I'm coming from! As if you know how to love truly —”

"How dare you!" She yelled at me and quickly slapped her palm on my face.

"How dare you say that to me! Did you even hear what you just said? That's why I did everything just to get that girl out of your life because this is how she affects you! You should be thankful for what I did. After all, I am your mom!”

"You're not my mom!" My scream echoed throughout the mansion. I could see the shock in his eyes but I didn't understand it anymore.

"What?"

"Do you think I'm dumb? Do you think I don't know anything?! I didn't even ask you anything about my relationship with her! You don't even know how much I love that person and I will do everything for him more than my family! She is my only family, not you! What can I thank you for?! It's not him who keeps ruining my life, it's you! All of you!" I screamed in so much frustration and agony that I couldn't even contain my thoughts anymore.

I let loose again and completely overturned the round table that was there.

"Apollo!" He screamed.

"You don't know how much I love her that I'm willing to sacrifice my life for her and you say I should thank you because you took her away from me? Fine. Let me tell you this, mom. Try to interfere in our lives and relationship, I will not hesitate to fucking ruin all of you. After all, you're not even my real mom," I finally told him and left.

That same day, I left with Anton and the others to go where she is. Anton also told me everything that happened to Solei since she lived in Cagayan De Oro. She gave birth there and I will forever regret the fact that I wasn't with her during that time. I will never forgive myself.

I feel mixed emotions while staring at his beautiful face. His eyes were red along with his cheeks. There is a trace of happiness in his whole being. Shouting at him that he was very happy. Now, from this day forward, I can finally call you my wife... again.

My dearest Anastacia Solei Alcaraz - Aragon, you came into my life at a bad time. When I truly hated who I was and what I had become. I was broken, damaged, full of hatred, revengeful, and fading... but you fought your way in and saved me. You loved me and by doing so, you made me love myself again too.

You didn't have to do anything to make me fall for you. I didn't fall for you because of what you could or couldn't do for me. I fell for you simply because you were unapologetically yourself.

And it's your love that I crave every moment. I couldn't ask for more but you.