Chapter 14

My mind was confused. I no longer knew what I should do. I thought everything was fine. I thought I would have no problem.

"I'm really stupid!" I criticize myself. There was nothing to blame but me. When I had a plan to leave Fausto then everything went awry.

I touched my stomach. It didn't have a bulge yet, but I felt like someone was living inside me. I gasped. No matter what remorse I do, nothing would happen.

'Mommy loves you' I whispered Yes, I love it. Even if it was wrong how it was formed, I still loved it because it was my child.

Maybe all parents were like that. They loved their children. Sometimes, people just really differ in their expression and affection.

"Oh! What are you doing, Sofia?"

"I'm hungry, Mom," I said to her before hugging her. I went downstairs to go to the kitchen. Lately I have been very hungry. I also ate a lot of sour things.

Mom immediately picked up the sliced ​​mango. It was soaked in anchovies. As she served it, I was very hungry. My mouth salivates at what I see.

"Mom, who brought the mango? Wasn't it from yesterday?"

"Zeus. Why? That boy carries a mango every day."

I looked at Mom in shock. I told her about my situation, and she understood me eventually. She also knew who the father of my child was. Nanny Belen understands me, but she was very afraid of what my situation would be like.

"Mom, don't accept me when he brings mangoes. He might think I'm just consuming it all," I said with a sigh.

I stopped chewing on a piece of mango when someone sneezed behind me. I looked at it, and that was how big my eyes were when I recognized it. I also looked at Mom and she was just maliciously continuing what she was doing.

"So, you don't like the mangoes I brought?" It made me smile. Zeus obviously was teasing me. He was leaning against the door and seemed to be listening earlier.

I stared at him. I pouted my lips. And even though I still wanted to eat I pushed the dish away from me. Regrettable. But I didn't want him to think that I really enjoyed the mango he brought. Even if that was really the truth.

Zeus approached me and sat in the chair opposite to mine. He sat down at the table and stared at me intently. He pushed the dish back to me.

"Eat up," he commanded. My head heated up. These days it has always been like this. Maybe due to hormones so my patience was short.

I rolled my eyes. Nanny Belen just watched us two. She shook her head as she watched us arguing.

I am not ashamed either. I took the plate again. I pricked the mango with a fork and ate it. I didn't care if Zeus looked at me intently. What mattered to me was what my 'baby' liked.

"Did you tell Dad, already?"

I shook my head. How could I tell Fausto about my situation? He would definitely beat me to death.

Zeus frowned. His eyes were asking. Perhaps he was wondering why I could not tell his father about my condition. What he knew was that Fausto was the father of this child.

"I intend to keep it. Let's just keep it, as a surprise. Please, Zeus," I just said that to convince him.

I gasped for breath. Until now, I did not know what to do.

Zeus nodded at me. When he noticed that the mango I was eating was going down, he volunteered to peel me.

"That's enough, I'm full," I casually refused to tell him.

There has been a big change in how we have treated each other since I told him my grievances yesterday. We became civil to each other and calm. Even to this day I still wondered why he left then. I respected his silence. Just as he respected to hide my condition from Fausto.

***

Everything was going smoothly. I was in the second trimester of my pregnancy. I also felt relieved because Fausto was completely gone to have a vacation. I also did not ask questions because I was not interested. Even Aria was gone. She said she was in Manila and was busy taking care of Zeus' wedding.

I sighed. I was now alone in the stream. I decided to take a bath earlier after eating breakfast. I was just so excited, and I didn't even notice it was afternoon. I was sure Mom was worried about me.

I quickly got up from soaking in the water. When I reached the end, I was surprised by what I saw. Zeus was here and he was eyeing me. His angry eyes focused on me.

I wasn't nervous coming up from the stream. I was no longer ashamed of him. I was not wearing a top to cover my chest. I just picked up my scattered clothes and put them on one by one. When I finished, I turned to him.

"Why are you here?" I asked him. I walked to him first so when I noticed he was not following me I turned to him again. "Let's go."

"Why'd you do that?"

"Which one?" I asked again. I didn't know what he was saying. I turned my gaze to him. Frustration was written all over his face. I could also hear his weak swearing.

"Do not bathe naked!" My eyes widened. My head also grew bigger. What right does he have to scold me? He was not my Dad.

"You don't care! This is a private property. Even if I undress, no one will see me!" I shouted back at him.

My hormones were annoying, they just kept my head warm. Zeus also irritates my head.

Zeus swallowed a few times. He was also staring at me. He stared at me and when his eyes landed on my lips, he blinked a few more times.

He ended the stare and sigh. He sighed in frustration. He lowered his gaze and, in a moment, the anger in his eyes disappeared. He approached me and hugged me tightly. I felt like he was just worried about me.

"Don't make me feel worried, Sofia. I don't know what to do if you ever are gone again," he whispered just close to my ear.

If he said those words six years ago it would be music to my ears. But for now, I didn't really know.

I nodded while he was still hugging me. I felt a bit strange, but it was fine. It was really fine. Zeus and I, embracing each other was just really fine or so I thought.

***

"Oh my God, Sofia! Where are you from?" Mom greeted me immediately. Her face was streaked with concern.

I just arrived from the sugarcane plantation. It was time to harvest, and I needed to help Zeus to talk to the workers. Fausto was gone in the past, and I didn't know where he was.

"What happened, Mom?" I asked. I don't know what's going on. Why does she look so scared?

"Hija, he has arrived."

I got nervous. Even I felt afraid of the knowledge that Fausto had arrived. I know my stomach is not obvious yet because I also wear loose ones, but it still has no certainty. Fausto had many eyes inside and outside the hacienda. And I know that Zeus and I have always been close to him.

I gasped. I mustered up the courage and entered the mansion. I also have no choice no matter what else I do. Fausto will know this too.

I was about to go upstairs when I met Aria. He immediately smiled foolishly at me. We both stopped a few feet away from each other. He looked at me from head to toe and raised an eyebrow.

"You shouldn't have challenged me bitch. I just lost. You're having fun with my fiancé."

"What are you saying?" I frowned at him. I think it's crazy.

"Ow, playing victim huh? Now go! And claim your prize." it said to me then it walked away. It even laughed foolishly.

I wanted to tweak him, but I restrained myself. I need to go to Fausto first now. I was confused by the events. He would suddenly disappear and now that he had just arrived, he was immediately angry.

I slowly opened the door of my room. I immediately saw Fausto on my bed. He was sitting in front of it as if he had been waiting for me earlier.

He stood up to see me. Fausto was not that old. He is just in his mid-fifties. He is also handsome and has something to be proud of. But I am one of those girls who does not have a thing for old men. He has no love for me.

He walked quickly towards me. And when he reached out to me, he slapped me without hesitation. I was almost deafened by the force of his slap on me. Unsatisfied, he slapped me again.

"You're really flirty!"

He took an envelope from the table and presented it to me. He opened it and one by one threw it at my face.

I picked them up and looked. My eyes widened at what I saw. My whole being was shocked. These photos are photos of Zeus and me together. And it's not just that the photographer really meant to make the picture malicious.

I looked up at Fausto. His eyes glazed over. He pulled me over and threw me on the bed. He was still not satisfied; he repeatedly pulled me and threw me in different parts of my room.

"That's enough! That's enough!" I shouted.

Earlier I was screaming loudly. I hope that even now during my six years of suffering someone will save me.

Aside from numbness in my body I also have a strange feeling. He slapped me once more before he threw me on the bed. He immediately dominated me.

"No!! Have mercy on me! Help!" I was still screaming so a strong blow to my stomach calmed me down. And whatever I stopped I knew something was flowing down my leg.

"What did you do to her?!" Zeus' voice I heard. I even saw how he kicked his father.

In my blurred vision I could still see his worried look at me. He looked at my foot and was shocked.

"Fuck!"

He picked me up quickly and immediately left the house. I rubbed my thigh and when I looked at it, I felt like I was being crushed by pain.

'Please baby, hold on tight. Mommy loves you, remember?'

I only prayed before I faint.