Chapter 9: Chapter 9

Unknown Number

I'll see you again, my wife.

I frowned when I read that. I didn't even bother to reply to him and just looked at Elena who was busy playing on her phone. We have lunch break today and she is with me instead of Ares. He has something important to do and I can't come.

"Do you know much the annulment costs?"

"Holy shit!"

Elena and I were both shocked by her scream. I saw the defeat on the screen of her cellphone which made me laugh.

"What? What annulment?" She asked me in shock. "I lost. Tsk!" She added, so I was just put down.

I bit my lower lip and remembered what that man had said yesterday. I thought he would take me somewhere, but he just took me to eat because he was not used to eating alone. Ares didn't come back to the boutique that day, so I went home alone.

"What annulment? Why? It depends on whether you have a child or not. Or if your husband disagrees — wait! You're going to annul?"

She was still shocked when she asked me, that almost everyone could hear what she said because of her loud voice.

I tapped her on the arm. "Don't be too loud. Ares wanted to rush our wedding, to next week. I'm still married, Elena," I complained to her because I didn't really know what to do.

That man was right. I'm barely living. Mama and my brother owe the same debt. I'm the only one paying Agatha's tuition fee. How can I file an annulment that cost almost a million?

I saw Elena grimace at me and seemed to signal as she looked behind me. When I turned around, I saw Ares just entering the coffee shop where we were and looking straight at me. I felt nervous at the way he was staring because it seemed serious. Didn't even smile. Is this really the feeling when there is a secret being kept? I can't take this for too long...

When Ares approached me, he glanced at Elena for a moment before turning to me. His face was still serious so my chest throbbed even more.

"What's wrong? I thought--"

"Dad wants to see you tonight. At our house," he said coldly to me so my forehead furrowed.

"Why..." He scratched the side of his forehead and frowned and smiled at me.

"Let's talk."

That was the last thing he said before he finally pulled me back to his office. I could feel the tightness of his grip on my wrist. I could already feel fear as I looked behind him. I can't even speak. Did he already know? If yes, what will you tell him, Ana? How would you explain everything to him?

When we got to the office, he let me go. I was stuck there as he went straight to his swivel chair and fell to sit there. He even slightly squeezed his senses.

"Uhm..." That was all that came out of my mouth before he looked at me directly again.

"Why didn't you tell me? Why do I need to know it from other people? I thought we don't hide secrets in this relationship, Anastacia?" His voice is firm and mad.

My whole system rumbled. I feel like I will faint anytime because of so much nervousness and fear. I could already feel the trembling of my knees and hands. My chest also gradually tightened due to extreme nervousness.

He knows...

"A-Ares... I'm so sorry..." Fuck it.

"Just answer me. Why didn't you tell me? Your mom told me you need some money. Why? Isn't your salary enough here? Do you want me to pay you to triple so that you can give them all yours and nothing left for you?" He asked me angrily.

I was shocked when I heard that. My shoulder fell. I don't know if it's because of the comfort I feel because that's not what he found out or what. I don’t know if I’ll ever appreciate it again.

"W-what?" I asked him in surprise. My lips trembled. He suddenly stood up and quickly crossed the path between the two of us.

"I met your mom earlier. She's the one I went to. She was borrowing some money from me. You're the one who needs it. For what? Is there something I don't know? Are you sick? Because after knowing the amount of money she was asking, I'll think you're sick..." he told me, full of concern.

My mouth dropped open when I heard that. I feel like I suddenly melted with embarrassment. What is it I hear? Why? What's up?

"H-how much..." I almost whispered to him because I really couldn't stand it.

"Money isn't a big deal to me, Love, and you know that. I can give it to you—"

"How much was asked of you?" I cut him off from what he had to say.

He scratched his neck and looked straight at me. "One hundred thousand."

My jaw just dropped and my eyes widened, even more, when I heard that. I felt even more like my soul had escaped from my body. I felt anger in my heart at those times because of the shame I felt. I can not explain it anymore.

Mama and my brother have done this several times. But this is the first time they asked Ares so much. For what? Why?

Later, I felt Ares gently touch me so I looked at him. Its expression is soft and its eyes are talking.

"Are you sick? What's that for? Why didn't you tell me?" He asked me so I quickly shook my head.

"N-no... No, I'm not, Ares. I didn't ask for that. Did you give it?"

When I saw his nod, it was as if cold water had been poured on me. I didn't wait for him to answer. I immediately ran out of that office and grabbed my bag. I even heard Ares chasing me but I didn't pay any attention to it.

It was only a few minutes later when I got home. I slammed the door and mama immediately exposed herself to me with a wide smile. I looked down at the money on the table, she seemed to be counting.

I don't mess around anymore. I quickly approached her and saved the money to return it to Ares but she quickly took it from me.

"What are you doing? Why are you here? It's still early—"

"Ares told me. Why, ma? What's going on? For what? I already gave you money, didn't I?" I calmly asked her but she just ignored me. She quickly returned that money to the small bag.

"Because you didn't give enough. I have to pay Martina. Don't be so selfish, Ana!" She yelled at me.

I laughed. I feel the pain of something in my heart.

"I-I'm still selfish? Do you hear what you're saying, ma?" My voice trembled.

She looked at me even more and hid the bag completely. I can still hear her swearing.

"Why? It's true! You're not giving enough money. Do you know how much it costs here at home? I can't afford what you're giving. I have to pay Martina because otherwise, we'll lose this house!" She shouted at me.

I became even weaker when I heard that. My hands were shaking badly. I saw how she averted her eyes from me and even scratched her head. Later, she lit a cigarette and looked at me again.

"I mortgaged this house because your older brother needed the money. You didn't give much, so I approached Ares. You're really lucky because you'll marry a rich man," she told me with a laugh so I almost lost because of what I heard.

This house... it's only been five years with us. This was the first house I bought before I resigned from my previous job before it was in the Aragons. And now they have mortgaged it?

I violently sat down because of my trembling knees. I closed my eyes tightly and tried to calm myself but I really couldn't. I felt like I was going to explode especially when I saw the sudden arrival of Matthew who immediately approached mama.

"Did you ask? Give me 50 thousand..."

I sighed violently and stood up again. I quickly approached mama and snatched from her the bag with only money which surprised the two of them.

"Ana! What the hell! That's mine. Ares gave it to me!" Mama shouted angrily but I ignored her and walked straight to the door.

"And you used my name! Aren't you embarrassed, ma? Even Ares is sympathizing with the problem that you are the only one doing..."

Before I could continue what I was about to say, I felt my world suddenly shake and I fell to the floor. I held my cheek and I felt blood coming out of my nose due to the force of Matthew's blow on me. I could not hold back my tears especially when I heard them swearing.

"You fool! You are ungrateful! It does not mean that you are the one who brings money into this household and that you will no longer respect the people here. We are still your family! What's wrong with asking Ares for money, aren't you getting married? You, selfish bitch!" He shouted angrily at me.

I didn't know what to say during those hours. I feel like I was deafened by the force of his blow. I was unable to stand up and never looked at them again. I also dropped that bag and just turned my back on them.

"That's right! Get out of here! Ungrateful selfish bitch. Pwe!" I even heard my older brother yell, so I felt even heavier.

I grabbed my chest and gently tapped it. I swallowed and swallowed just to suppress my anger and emotion. I firmly wiped away my tears as well as the blood in my nose that was still coming out then walked away from that place.

At the same time as I was walking while slowly melting, the rain suddenly fell, so I was even more depressed. What happened that day suddenly came to my mind. I looked up at the sky and met the raindrops.

"P-papa... I miss you so much..." I whispered to myself and just sat on the ground there then I let go of all my resentment towards my

family.

I don’t know why it wasn't still enough. I don't know why they are like this to me. We were all fine when dad was still alive. It's been two years since he died. It has also been two years since they wished I had just died and not papa. Until now am I the one they blame for his death?

"Hey!"

I stopped sobbing when I heard that scream. I looked up at the road and saw a car parked in front of me. The window on its passenger seat is open.

"What the hell are you doing?"

My eyes narrowed and tried to glance at the man who spoke from inside the car but I could not see him. I tried to stand up but my foot couldn't handle it because they are still trembling. I feel like I will faint at any time because of that blow.

Sometime later, I saw the man quickly get out of his car and approach me. When I looked up at him, my forehead furrowed as I could see who he was. I even heard his firm curses before finally kneeling in front of me.

"What the fuck... what happened? Who fucking did this to you?" He said loudly and touched my cheek.

"You're fucking bleeding, Anastacia!" He yelled and I just realized that he was lifting me as I could feel the continuous bleeding from my nose.

"It's you again..." I just whispered before I completely lost consciousness.