Chapter 12

Knowing that my kids realized who I was, was my only consolation for what happened today. I am thankful to Ate Myla because she did not deprive my children of the fact that I am their mother.

The party also went well somehow. Despite the tension with each other, we tried to calm down and adjust our individual sentiments in life. I guess that was always the case.

Days had passed. The course of our lives has become normal. Except for Zeus who is always looking at me.

Awkward feelings enveloped my whole system. Besides, I hate him because he has no right to belittle me. It was as if he had been with me all six years. As if he knew everything that was happening to me.

The thought of it boiled my anger towards him more. I clasped my hands. I was never as vulnerable as this. Before all this happened, Mother Belen used to call me Amazona. But look at me now, a woman that was submissive to Fausto.

I sighed. I went inside the bathroom and took a shower. I soaked in the bathtub for a few hours before leaving my room. I even met Aria in the hallway. She immediately raised an eyebrow at me. I would have avoided her, but just as we were facing each other, she pulled my arm and faced him.

"So, what act did you pull a while ago Sofia? Are you too lacking in attention and even want Zeus to notice you?"

I pitied her. Was this what envy did? Aria was a desperate bitch. She had been living in the mansion with Zeus for a month. But she handled me now, it looked like I would grab her toy.

Never.

I would never fall into Zeus' trap again. I would never believe his cunning act again. It was enough that I was once vulnerable to him. It was enough to drown once in sin with him.

"Am I the one who lacks attention, or you are? Stop acting nonsense Aria. You lower yourself too much. Look at you?" I stared at her with an insulting look. I will not let this woman insult me. I have fortified them.

"If you're just afraid of being kidnapped Aria... calm your tits honey, 'coz I'm not like you. I will give Zeus to you in full." I said sarcastically.

Aria was stunned by what I said. She was about to slap me when I first got her hand before landing on my cheek. I pushed her hard. She almost fell at the force of my push on her. I continued my walk and left her alone.

"Bitch. You're going to pay for this!"

I never looked back at her. She was just a waste of time. I went straight to the kitchen to help Mother Belen, but she was not there, so I just went to the garden.

I looked closely at the flowers. They were all different kinds from different countries. Apart from the hacienda, Fausto also had a flower garden. He had a lot of business, and I knew he was a busy person.

Zeus was helping him since he came home from America. I was amazed when I heard that his course was agriculture. However, I was still happy because he graduated. As for me, I only finished until Senior High.

I shook my head and smiled bitterly. So much for the memories. And to prevent me from thinking about things I picked beautiful flowers and I would put it in the vase. Satisfied with what I was doing I left the place.

Holding the bunch of flowers, I was smiling as I walked. I walked straight to the kitchen when I heard someone fighting.

"Why'd you care that bitch so much, Zeus? Isn't it enough that she cheated on you? Why'd you do some digging about the baby?" Aria shouted. The two were facing each other and both were standing.

Zeus looked at her wickedly while Aria got tongue tied because of that. From the way Zeus looked, I knew he was furious.

"Don't call her a bitch!"

"So, you're defending her now, huh? Let me remind you how that whore played you and your father at the same time. Fuck! She played you in the head, Zeus. She—"

A loud slap silenced Aria. My hand was numb from the strength I exerted to slap her. I looked at them badly. I am breathing so fast. This woman has no right to accuse me of anything.

If I was a bad woman for others, it was just because I loved the wrong man. And when you love, you give everything to the person you loved even if it would hurt you. It was too late for me to realize that.

I let go of the flowers I was holding. I didn't care if they broke. What was important to me now was to get revenge on this woman.

I was not satisfied with the slap, so I pulled her closer to me. I didn't care what they thought of me now. I also didn't care what Fausto would do to me when he found out. Because now, I am rubbing this woman on the floor without hesitation.

"You're really shameless, Sofia. Aww!"

"Yes, I'm rude. Especially to women like you. Snake!"

Aria and I struggled for a few minutes as the housemates pulled us away.

"Stop!" Zeus shouted.

I stopped. Aria stopped too. We moved away from each other. I was still gasping as I turned to look at Zeus.

He was mad. The way he looked at me I knew he was angry. He also stared at Aria and attended her after. He stared at her intently.

Zeus looked at Aria the same way he looked at me before. Those times he was still my Knight in Shining Armor. At times, he still loved me. Or so I thought, maybe Aria was right. He just played with me.

Zeus just played me, like a toy.

"Why did you do that? Why did you hurt her?"

I didn't answer him because even I myself did not know why I did it right to Aria. If it was still right to correct Zeus' misconceptions, about me. What was the use anyway? By the way, I just humbled myself. I should have just ignored everything she said and accused me falsely.

Zeus held me by the arm. He held on to it tightly as if to really hurt me.

"Answer me. Damn it!"

And I just snapped. All my restraint was gone. I answered Zeus. What else was my silence for? It would have been a long time ago. It would have been a long time if I hadn't just been scared.

"I'm tired, Zeus. I'm so tired of your lies!" I shouted back at him. I turned to Aria. "You! You know the truth. You know everything that happened to me. But you're a snake!"

"What—" Zeus didn't finish his sentence because Fausto entered without hesitation.

His face was furious. He stared at me intently. With so much going on today I knew I could taste Fausto's punishment later. But I was no longer afraid of him. I am also ready for all his punishments on me.

I looked around. Mother Belen was there, even the housemates were there too.

"Get out of here. All of you!" Fausto shouted at the servants.

One by one the servants rushed away. While Mother Belen looked at me intently. I hugged her instantly when she came to rescue me. We were about to leave when Fausto called her.

"Join Sofia in the bedroom, Belen. Make sure to take care of her!"

Mother Belen nodded. She held my hand away from that place.

"And you Sofia. Get ready for me later."

I got nervous. I knew he was plotting against me. But was I still scared? Was I always afraid of him?

Before I left, I first looked at Zeus and Aria. The latter hugged Zeus as she burst into tears. I wanted to resent all of Aria's cards. There was a pity immediately from Zeus as if she was still the oppressed.

Mother Belen pulled my hand away and we continued walking. She gripped it tightly. When we got to the room, she immediately arranged my clothes for me and fixed me. My hair was messy, I had a small bruise on my shoulder, and my cheeks had scars from Aria's nails.

"What did you do when you were a child? Look at yourself. You are only making yourself worse," Mother Belen said. I could sense fear in her voice.

I looked at her. She burst into tears as she stared at me. She was currently treating my wounds. I sighed and shook my head. I raised my hand to wipe the tears from her eyes.

"Mom, don't cry anymore. That will make you even more ugly," I said as my tears flowed.

No matter how stubborn I was then, I knew Mom loved me dearly. She was also one of those who objected to me marrying Don Fausto. So, I knew she was hurting too when I got hurt.

As I looked at Mom's eyes, I knew I had things I wanted to bring back that would never be possible. Things I wish I had never done.

They said we couldn't turn back time, but we could change the future. And this. This was my fight to change my future.

Mother Belen hadn't even finished applying medicine to my wound when Fausto entered my room. He was obviously furious while eyeing me intently.

"Leave first Manang, Sofia and I will talk."

Fausto was eyeing me. Mother Belen squeezed my hand first before she left and headed to the door. She was worried about me, I knew. She glanced at me first before closing the door completely.

"What the hell, did you do this time Sofia?" Fausto's immediate introduction. His forehead was furrowed and the veins in his neck were also coming out. He was like a dragon that always fired on his enemy.

I thought about what I said earlier. It looked like this was the beginning of my fight.