Chapter 13

"You're so stubborn! Look at what he did to you?"

Mother Belen was here. She did not leave me. She just waited for Fausto to leave after punishing me.

Earlier while Fausto was slapping and strangling me, I did not howl anymore. I didn't even fight with him anymore. I just accepted all his cruelty to me. He even stabbed me and repeatedly said that I had nothing to expect from his son.

I wanted to laugh at him. They were very similar to Aria. They thought I was going to seduce Zeus. How funny, they think of me that way. They really thought I would stoop that low.

I smiled bitterly. I knew I still loved him but there were things that were not eternal. There were things that needed to be given up. There were things that I had to fight for.

"Slow down Mom. Ouch!"

"That's because you get your stubbornness, Sofia. I told your mother I would take care of you. But what happened today? Where am I missing," she said in tears as she carefully placed the cotton on the side of my lip.

I had a lot of bruises. If only Fausto hadn’t called from the office, he might not have stopped torturing. He was so angry with me that I did not know the reason. I gasped. I would only wear sleeveless clothes to cover these marks.

I stood up and just hugged Mother Belen. I knew he would cry again so I needed to stop her. She was so emotional about what was happening to me and that would not be good for her. Mom was old so she was not allowed to feel hurt and be devastated.

"I love you, Mom," I said while still hugging her. She patted my back and gently guided me to the bed. Mother Belen did not leave me. Even at dinner, she just brought me food to my room.

I smiled at myself. I knew that in all my struggles, Mom was the only person who would support me. She was always there for me because she loved me, and I love her dearly too.

The next morning, I got up after a long time. I felt a little bad, as if digging into my stomach. When I could no longer do so I ran to the bathroom. I took out everything I ate last night. I feel nauseous. I almost fainted when I finished.

I rinsed and washed my face. I also looked at myself in the mirror. I looked wasted. I also peeked into both my arms to check my bruises. When I got bored, I decided to just take a bath. It was already past ten in the morning. I knew Fausto was gone because he leaves early to take care of his people at the hacienda.

I took a quick shower. I put on my black blouse and put on a denim jacket. I wore jeans and blind. I also took my hat for the heat.

I no longer eat. I had no appetite. I prefer to roam the hacienda now. Even though Fausto was cruel, he let me roam around inside the hacienda that he owns.

I walked fast as soon as I felt the coldness of the wind blow. I was going to the mango plantation. I thought about eating that now. I have not yet salivated.

It was rocky on the path I was treading. This was the only road to the garden. Sometimes I touch the rocks and still stumble. But nothing could stop me from eating mangoes today.

I did not notice the protruding rock on the side, and I stumbled after a few steps. At the same time as I was lying on the ground, a car stopped from behind me. I ignored it because the people of the hacienda went through it. I was about to stand when someone offered his hand. I did not reach for it but raised my eyes to look at it.

I was immediately surprised by what I saw. I did not expect to see him in this place. Zeus was here. He was standing in front of me. Offering me his hands.

I did not accept it and quickly stood up. I rubbed myself and stared at him sharply. I also frowned at him.

He was wearing faded jeans paired with a white shirt. He was wearing almost his entire body. While faded Nike shoes were on his feet.

Who would have thought that he would be a farmer? I shook my head and stared at him again.

"Stay away from me," I told him emphatically.

His forehead was furrowed as he also stared at me. He looked at me from head to foot. I knew he could no longer see my bruises, but I also knew that he was not blind to not see my wound on the lip.

Zeus raised his hand and stroked my face specifically on my cheek. I was shocked by what he did, and I was about to walk away when he stopped me in my arms. I winced in pain because he was holding that part of my bruise in my body.

"What happened when I left?" he asked me.

I laughed out loud. I couldn't believe that he immediately opened up to me about that topic. I was shaken. I removed his grip on me and moved away slightly.

Zeus was really an asshole. During his few months in the mansion, he did not even notice. He did not even have an idea. A lot was lost. A lot has also changed.

"Why do you just want to know now? Why did you just ask? You had six years, but you never showed up. Now you are suddenly interested! Just fuck you, Zeus!" I answered him and quickly turned my back on him.

This place was a witness of how heartbroken I was today. The lush trees on the side and the cloud were the witnesses of whatever resentment I would have liked to tell him.

But why should I forced myself to make him understand everything? I was no longer his priority, and he has someone else. I just wanted peace of mind. Because in the almost six years since I loved him, I have forgotten myself.

"Sofia..."

"What?" I spat. " Zeus, let me go. I want to be alone!"

"I just want to offer you a ride. Where are you going?" he held my hand again. He looked at me as if he was still the same Zeus six years ago. That was the same way he treated me then.

I shook my head. I didn't want to believe my eyes anymore, because I knew, it just cheated on me.

"Now, you act like you care. Fine!" I said sarcastically.

I quickly marched inside his Wrangler. I went inside and sat in the front seat. This was often the case in rural farms due to bumpy roads. The car was also good for mud.

Zeus then entered the car. He even looked at me as if he couldn't believe it. I just shrugged at all that.

"In the mango farm. I want mangoes," I told him.

He glanced at me for a moment before turning on the car. I raised an eyebrow at him. While we were on the trip, we were both silent until we reached the plantation. I quickly went downstairs and did not even pay attention to him. I just kept walking as I approached the workers.

I immediately spat at what I saw. Exactly as they harvest mangoes. When they saw me, they immediately bowed their heads. I smiled because of that.

"Big Jose, I'm not used to that," I said as I approached them. They all raised their heads and smiled.

"Well, the most beautiful woman in the hacienda is here. She should just be respected," Big brother Jose answered. It made me smile. I knew he was just kidding me. He used to do this to me when I was a young woman.

"What about Sofia?" he asked me.

"Brother, I want mangoes."

My eyes were still shining when I told him that. His face lit up and he immediately ordered his men.

Brother led me under a mango tree not far away. He also gave me a bunch of raw mangoes. He peeled it and added a new sauce.

I ate so well that I didn't even notice that Zeus was sitting next to me. I was even surprised when I looked at him. It was probably embarrassing how I looked today.

"You like it?" I offered the mango to him. I also presented the new one. He just looked at me and shook his head. I continued eating. He will take care of those who watch me.

"I miss you eating like that."

I stopped. My eyes widened at what he said. I also looked at him back.

Zeus was looking at me. As if he wanted to know everything about me. That even everything that I think he also wanted to know.

"I miss you being so carefree. You used to be a naughty girl. Naughty and heavenly. Why did you change, Sofia?"

I stopped eating. I lost my appetite. Suddenly it tasted bitter. I let out a deep breath then turned to him.

"A lot has changed, Zeus. Since you left, everything has changed. I have changed. You have changed me."

I glanced at him. He looked like an idiot and thought deeply. He stared at me with bitter eyes.

I continued to speak. "If I ask you now, do you love me, Zeus?" I asked him.

I wiped my tears that went down to my cheeks. I did not realize that it was dripping on purpose. I remembered the pain again. I remembered again how I lost myself because of my love for him. I remembered again how he relied on me for all his promises.

My chest hurts a lot. I thought I cried all over it. I thought I could overcome it, but not yet. Maybe this was what I was waiting for. Maybe it was the time to tell him everything I hated about for six years now.

"Why did you leave me? Why did you still want me to believe your lies? Are you happy now? Because if you are happy, you are still hurting me until now. Please, stop."

After I said those words, I calmed myself down. I looked at Zeus, who was still looking at me intently. I knew he could see the tears on my face as well.

"I'm sorry if I left you," he whispered that I could barely hear.

"The damage has been done, Zeus."

"Oh, do you still want mango Sofia?" Brother Jose spoke behind us. I quickly wiped away my tears. I calmed myself down first and immediately turned around.

"I'm fine. I'm full."

"Ow, child! When you are hungry for mangoes, I think you are pregnant."

Suddenly, the smile disappeared from my lips. I could hardly process everything Brother Jose told me. My chest throbbed and I was very nervous. My heartbeat was deafening.

'Pregnant'

Suddenly the events of the previous day came back to me. Frequent drowsiness. The bad feeling and my vomiting.

The realization made me still.

I was so fucked up.