Chapter 19

Zeus and Aria left. They left me alone. Whatever I tried to convince him that I will go with them he did not want to. He said he wants to talk to his father, and I know he also wants to talk to Aria too. He also doesn't want me to come back because it is not safe for me yet. Though he left me his phone, I was still worried.

What if Fausto did bad to him?

What if he would be in danger?

Annoying. I think so much. I know we're not on good terms right now especially since he found out about our kids but even so, he still protected me.

I gasped. I'm alone and I feel lonely. At times like this I just want to numb everything. Being alone is what I've had for six years but I'm still not used to it.

How long can I be alone?

If only my children were with me, everything would be fine. I miss Mom Belen too. I talked to her last time, and she was very worried about me. Even though I could not see her I knew she was crying.

I sighed. I've been lying down before but I can't really sleep. It is ten o'clock in the evening and the place is quiet.

I looked at Zeus' cellphone and thought of calling Ate Myla. I saw her contact number earlier. It took me a while to finally press the call button.

"Hello"

"Ate Myla. How are you? How are the twins?" I asked immediately. It was a long time before she could answer so I was worried about what had happened to her.

"Ah! Oh Sofia, Kuya took your twin earlier. He said they'll just wander around. Until now, they haven't come home yet."

My grip on the device tightened. My chest throbbed very hard. I can hardly breathe at what Ate Myla told me. I am afraid of what Fausto will do to my children. They are too young to experience this.

"Ate!" I could barely hear my voice. My hand is holding my left chest. I told sister Myla everything. The situation I was in with Fausto and the way he treated me. She cried and apologized to me. She even blames herself for doing nothing.

We were still talking on the other line when there was a knock on the apartment door. I frowned. I never expected anyone so why would someone knock on my door.

Curious, I still went to open it. Maybe it was just Zeus and thought of coming back. When I opened the door, I was surprised no one came outside. I looked around to make sure it was gone. I was about to turn the door shut again when I noticed a paper at the foot of the door. Even though I was curious I picked it up. When I read it, my forehead furrowed even more.

'I’m home.'

I was nervous. Strange thoughts occupied me. I know I'm paranoid sometimes, but I have a different feeling this time. I crumpled it and threw it out. If anyone dares to do this, or if it is Fausto, I will never turn my back on him.

Even though I was awake last night, I still woke up early. I quickly washed and cleaned myself. I plan to go jogging today especially since it is not too hot in the morning here in Tandag.

I wore my black racerback tank top and I also paired it with gray leggings. I also wore my Adidas sports shoes. I let my hair in a messy bun. I also brought water in case I got thirsty. I will not go away. I'll just walk around the boulevard to the plaza.

When I was set, I started running. My every move was slow as I noticed as if there were eyes watching me. I looked around, but I could not see anything.

I shrugged the thoughts off and continued doing so. I thought of Ate Myla again. I forgot to call her earlier so after I am here, I will call her again.

I continued what I'm doing. But I can no longer stand the class of some I feel. When I reached home, I immediately went straight to the bathroom with Zeus' phone. I called my sister Myla while I was soaking in the bathtub, but several calls that no one even answered me.

I gave up on the idea that I could talk to my sister. I was also nervous for her. What if Fausto gets angry? What if he hurts her? Annoying. I feel paranoid again.

After I took a bath, I got dressed right away. I put on my comfortable clothes and was about to leave the room when I got startled by what I saw. My chest was pounding too hard. My knees are also softening. I cannot move.

"Hello, doll," he said as he approached me. He grinned as if he had seen an apparition.

As he approached me, I wanted to scold him. I wanted to run but I could not. When he finally got closer, he immediately grabbed my elbow. He slowly brought his body closer to me and hugged me.

My eyes widened. I want to push him. He has no right to touch and hug me. A few more minutes before I was able to breathe. I pushed him but he was stronger than me.

"Stay away from me!" I told him. I still try to get out of his embrace.

"Stop it or your children will be hurt?"

I was stunned. I want to cry but not this time. I need to be strong. I need to see my kids. I need to know where they are.

If being with Fausto means being with my kids, then I would rather choose to be with him. That's how a mothers love works. It is formidable.

"Good girl," he said as he patted my back. He also sniffed my hair and kissed my head. He looks crazy. "Come with me," he said once pulling me out of that place.

Not just Fausto alone. He has outnumbered men. They have been following me for a long time. While I was on the flight with him, I had no other thoughts but my children. They don't deserve this.

I wiped my tears that kept on falling. I am not afraid when Fausto hurts me but when it comes to my children, I become very weak.

As we reached the place, it was a big house among the big trees. Fausto was immediately greeted by his men. He imitated me inside the big house.

"This place is our home now," he said to me as we went inside.

I was surprised but I did not talk to him. If my hunch is right, this Fausto in front of me is crazy. He easily shifts his moods. It's not normal and it's scary. It scared me.

"Why are you doing this?" I turned to him and stared. The expression on his face was blank. And then, it easily shifts into anger. His eyes glazed over when I turned around, he held my arm very tightly.

"Because you're mine! I own you, Sofia. And you will never go to that bastard!"

Fausto's voice echoed throughout the house. But what my brain could not process was what he said about Zeus being a bastard. He was crazy to say those things.

"W-what are you saying?" I asked him.

He just stared at me and smiled. He gave me a sarcastic grin.

"Tssk! You really don't know. You see Sofia, Zeus is not my son. He is my wife's son to another man." He laughed out loud. "No matter how much you love the person when they want to leave; they'll leave. That's what his mother did to me. Then now, you. You want to leave me too! No! Because you are mine," he continued.

He held me tight. Apart from being shocked by what he said, I felt sorry for him too. Too much love will kill you. And in Don Fausto’s' current situation, it seems real.

He dragged me and took me to the room where my children were. He just left me and locked the door. I immediately saw them playing on the side of the room. They played a bath set. I breathed a sigh of relief because of that. When they saw me, they immediately hugged me.

"Mommy, I'm scared," Athena immediately opened up to me.

"Mommy, why does uncle lock us here?" Icarus asked.

I do not know what to say. I also do not know how they can understand everything. They were young and innocent. Fausto is just a demon, so he also felt sorry for my children.

"Shh, it's fine... Mommy is here" I smiled at them to assure them.

I was scared not for myself but for my kids. If asking too much is a sin, then I would gladly become a sinner. Because this time I just hope that Zeus will find us. That he will save us from this hell.

I hope so. I hope so.