My brows furrow as I look at the woman whose voice rings loud and clear inside the room. She looks like she is in her mid-fifties, but a strong and domineering aura emanates from her. Her presence speaks of authority, and the lift of her chin and fiery gaze is enough to tell she holds a high position that even James bows down in respect.
“My queen! Why are you here?” exclaims James, his previous arrogant look melts down against the power and authority of this woman.
“Put down your weapons!” she orders, moving her eyes around. The three burly men instantly bend down and put their guns on the floor. I look at James and also find him conceding. He raises his hands in a gesture of surrender, then bows down, placing his gun on the floor.
“Surrender all the weapons, not only those in your hands!”
My eyes grow wide at her command, and my gaze darts toward the men pulling the pistols and knives hidden inside their jackets. I also watch James disengage an oliv
Zed's POV I stare at the charcoal portraits of two little kids. One painting shows them holding hands, another shows them eating together, and another shows them chasing happily. Those portraits depict my longing to be with the brother I had never met. I don't realize that my tears are already brimming as I recall those days. Those days when I sent those paintings to the orphanage together with my father's monthly allocation for him. I wonder if dad had noticed that I also painted a portrait every month and made sure I finished them before it was time to send them to him. "You keep them," I say, lifting my teary eyes to Dennis. Dennis rolls his eyes. "You made me so poor back then. All the money that daddy sent went to the expensive frames I bought for those portraits." Ella laughs but tears pool at the corners of her beautiful eyes. She looks so divine in her bridal gown; her angelic face matches the glitters of those thousands of diamonds that Den adorned on her wedding dress.
"I'm sorry, Miss -" "Ella. And you're?" Ella cuts me, and I realize we have been sitting across from each other in this coffee shop for several minutes already, but we have not introduced ourselves to each other. "Zed. Zed Ramos." She smiles, stares at her cutleries for a while, then looks at me. "Sir, it's too expensive if you'll get me a room in a hotel. And so are the food. If you don't mind, can I just go home with you?" What?! I gape at her for a second, and my lips curve to a smirk. Never. "I can explain it to your wife. I can help her with the household chores, take care of the kids, anything- " I understand. There's no malice in her expression. This woman looks up to me as her savior, and I know she's grateful for it. But I can't. "I'm sorry, Ella. I'm single, but I don't like to have any women in my house. Nor in my workplace." Her brows furrow into frown and confusion. It's perhaps the way I say it. Or probably because I make it sound like I'm allergic to women. If I
Ella pulls her brows together and looks at me. She perhaps can't believe her ears that I'm distancing myself from any woman. I know it's not normal for a man in his prime like me. I'm also aware that my declaration piques her curiosity. "Failed love life?" she asks, but her eyes widen afterward. I smile. "I'm sorry. That was personal, I know." "It’s alright.” I pause, then continue. “Miss Ella, do you mind if I ask where you come from?” I am curious as to why she said she has nowhere to go. She gives me a quick stare before answering, “Japan, but we used to live here until I graduated from college.” “I remember you telling me you don’t have a home here. Is that right?” “Yes. Maybe, I have some relatives here, but I don’t know any of them.” “You’re here for a tour?” I’m trying to rule out the guard’s conclusion that she’s here because of a boyfriend. “No. I’m here to cause trouble.” My eyes pop out right away. What?! I stare at her, wondering if she’s joking. Then, perhaps ex
I sit across from Atty. Garcia on her desk. She’s still into a phone call when I arrive, so I quietly help myself into a chair across from her.She sits elegantly on her swivel chair, an exquisite wall in oakwood design spreads as her backdrop. A shelf filled with trophies and a corner wall adorned with diplomas speaks of her myriad achievements as a lawyer. And she’s the lawyer who handles my annulment proceedings with Yen.“Welcome back, Zed! How’s your travel around the world?” She smiles, adjusting her large-framed glasses. Then, she stands up, opening her arms wide to me.I hug her back. Of all the people I am interacting with, she’s the only one who knows the depth of my emotional struggles against my annulment. She and Ara are the only exemption to my no-woman rule since she’s already in her mid-forties. And she has become a friend to me.“It’s good,” I chuckle. “I’ve gone to d
Yen, my ex-wife and the cause of pain and miseries.She rises from her seat as soon as she sees me, mesmerizing me with her smile. Oh, dear, she’s still beautiful as ever. I step back, suddenly not knowing what to do.Time hasn’t changed her. She’s even more stunning than the last time I saw her. Her smile grows wider, even with my reaction. And the graceful and elegant way she tilts her head just captivates me again.“Zed, welcome back!” she greets, opening her arms wide for me.“Yen,” I reply weakly, afraid that my voice will crack. “You’re here.”I pace forward like a snail, realizing I’m not yet ready to face her. All those pains I try to blot out from my memories now surges back, threatening my self-control.I stretch my arms wide, forcing a smile from my lips. She also throws her arms around my neck. I press her close to me. And no matter how hard I try; my tears s
I can't believe Yen will have the heart to bring this up. It's a subject I never want to talk to. It hurts me and my prideas a man."Yen, I'm sorry. Please leave that part to me," I say, a frown spreading on my face."Zed, please don't misunderstand. I'm just curious. Well, I want to know if you're healed already.""We can try it out and see," I suggest but laugh afterward. "Sorry, just kidding."She also laughs; the richness of her laughter soothes my aching heart."Honestly, Zed, I really wish you have overcome that part. It has made me guilty until now. After all, I am the reason why you have become like that.""Don't. Don't worry about me.""Have you continued your therapy?"Yen knows I had sessions with the same psychologist who had managed her before. The same psychologist who helped her restore her memories and the psychologist who helped me overcome the emotional trauma of my sexual pathology. And according to her
FLASHBACK The day I left the country was the most painful time of my life. Earlier that day, I received a letter from Kim’s lawyer that he was filing a case against me, and that was to nullify my marriage to Yen. I didn’t want to make it hard for them, so I decided to run away, thinking I could forget her easily. I had been sleepless for who knows how long, and words were not enough to describe the pain I was struggling to overcome. Yet, even if the pain was too much and I was tempted several times to slam my car into a post or pull it over a cliff, something was always holding me. And that’s my reluctance to let Yen live in guilt. Yet, I had set her free and didn’t want her to be responsible for my misfortune if ever I let my sorrows kill me. However, even if I had set her free willingly without a fight, it still hurt like hell. I didn’t even know how I’d survive for a day. I couldn’t seem to live without her, but it would be selfish
Ella's POV Four years ago... A waiter opened the door, and the strange gaze he shot at me sent shivers down my spine. I began to believe what I heard that my dad’s business partner was also not a simple man. “Good morning, ma’am. Are you Miss Ella Kaneko?” he asked, a weak smile forming on his lips. I frowned; I didn’t have to give my name to a stranger. But I got curious as to what extent the man I was going to see knew about me. Only a few people know that I am a Kaneko. The rest of the people knew me as Ella Sahara.” Without answering, I looked around, and I saw only a few people filling the place. It was still nine, so this was what I had hoped for. I was not too fond of crowded places, and even if Jamella was a five-star restaurant in Cambridge, I didn’t expect it to be less crowded. "Ma'am, this way, please," said the waiter I didn't notice was following me. He just sprung by my side, and I almost bumped into him. I glared at him, wrinkling my forehead at his know-it-all