Chapter 22

When I told my children the truth, I lost a thorn in my chest, but they became curious. They have so many questions that I do not know what to answer.

"I'm happy for you..." Mother Belen said to me. We are getting ready for dinner. I help him prepare because I have nothing else to do.

I looked at him and smiled. I am also happy for my children. Ever since they found out earlier that their daddy is Zeus, they have not left him. They always followed it as if they were amazed at everything their father would do.

They adore Zeus and it made me happy.

While I was preparing the dishes for later Zeus suddenly appeared somewhere. He stared at me intently then he spoke.

"Can we talk, Sofia?"

I nodded and left what I was doing. He walked over to me first. As I followed him, I remembered the times we were together. I used to walk a lot before, and he just followed me with a frown. I shook my head. I remember again. Sometimes there are things that are hard to forget.

I gasped. And continued walking. I still follow him. I was even surprised when he stopped at the hammock. He sat on the grass and pulled me to sit down as well.

"I just want to say thank you, Sofia, for telling the kids. You know, it matters to me so much," his introduction. "They were adorable, Sofia. They were just like you. They were my sunshine."

"Why are you telling me all that?"

"Cause I have to, Sofia. I wanted to know, how was your pregnancy. I wanted to know all, Sofia" he told me.

When I looked at him his eyes were pleading with him. Begging. Maybe he also wanted to know my hardships.

I gasped before speaking. "It was hard at first. I suffered both perinatal and postpartum depression. I used to think that I could do nothing with my children. How can I raise them? If I will be a good mother," my introduction.

That is true. I blamed myself then. Plus, he was gone and left me alone. I was at a point in my life when I just wanted to commit suicide. But my plan did not materialize, because when I was about to slash my wrist, my children kicked inside my tummy. Maybe they feel the same way I do.

I'm a bad mother once. I am a mother with flaws. And I'm trying to do the right thing now.

"It's hard because you don't hear Zeus. But I can. I'm young back then but I stand for myself and for my kids. When I lose you, I found my new sunshine of hope and love. It just became difficult when they left. of Fausto to me. "

I told him everything. To this day I still can't help but be emotional when I remember that dark part of my life.

I held his hand. I squeezed it to show him I was okay. That in all that has happened to me I can say that I have been steadfast.

The struggles I faced in life made me the woman I am now.

Strong. Independent.

I was just weak when it came to him.

"I'm sorry. I didn't know." When I looked at him his face turned red again. I just smiled at him. I reached for his face and stroked it.

Zeus. He suffered too much too. I know that everything that happened to us hurt him too.

I looked him in the eyes and without hesitation I kissed him on the lips. It was just light and fast. I smiled at him afterwards.

"Forget it. The important thing is they already know. You're already here. I hope you just don't hurt them"

He nodded. We were both silent as we left that place.

As we approached the house, Mother Belen greeted us immediately. Her appearance was worrying.

"Zeus, the Montreal attorney, is here. He is in the living room waiting for you," She dropped the information.

Zeus walked fast even though I followed him I also accelerated the action.

Attorney Montreal is the family's longtime lawyer. And he is currently in charge of my case.

I was worried about anything he would tell us. It only took a few months for that to happen. As far as I know, Fausto is now incarcerated. He was finally in jail. I know it's bad to ask for terrible things to happen to someone, but I can't help but wish that he would just rot wherever he is now.

When we approached the attorney, he immediately stood up to greet us. I bowed in reverence.

"Good morning, Mr. Vergara. And to you, Mrs. Vergara or should I say miss Ynarez" he greeted us.

I frowned at what he said but I just ignored it. All I know is that Zeus is already taking steps to annul my marriage to Fausto, and I thank him for that.

The three of us sat side by side in the living room. Zeus and I were side by side while we were facing the Attorney.

"I did some digging. And I guess, I really did a good job on this one," he said with a smile. He handed us a paper that I did not know what.

When Zeus read the paper. "Fuck!"

I did not know what to do so I picked up the paper and read. I was surprised by what I saw. I did not expect this thing. I can’t quite imagine that in almost six years, Fausto was able to spin me in his palms.

Null and void is my wedding with Fausto. My head swelled with what I found out. I want to cry in anger. Fausto is not as bad as I used to be.

I also have a lot of questions. How it all happened. Fausto and I had a great wedding so I could not believe it. I was not even able to ask him any more questions. When I married him, I just accepted my fate.

I gasped. I looked at Zeus and saw him staring at me. His fist clenched sharply causing the paper he was holding to wrinkle.

"Do you know about this?" he asked me. I just shook him. I don't know. "Damn, that old man!" he said once, punching the table hard. I then looked at the Attorney who was just sitting in front and smiling.

"Hey, Zeus bro. Relax!" teasing, Mr. Monyreal says. "I bet that man fooled everybody," he added. Zeus looked at the attorney sharply, but he just laughed and shrugged.

I also cannot believe what happened. All this time, I put up with Fausto because I thought he was my wife. I put up with her pain because I thought I had no choice. That I'm trapped with him.

"Are you sure about this?" Zeus further confirmed. Perhaps he still could not believe what had happened. Be me too.

"Actually, no." the attorney replied seriously. "Actually, I also can't believe Zeus. But I found out something. Someone is blocking Sofia's marriage registration. I don't even know who," he added.

I frowned. Who will do that to me? I don't know anyone who can do that. I was confused by all the circumstances. My brain hurts mentally.

The Attorney did not stay long in the mansion either. After talking to Zeus, he also left. I still think about what the Attorney told us. Who could have done that for me? But whoever he is, I am very grateful to him.

"Are you sure, you want to do this?" he asked me after he came from the hacienda. Zeus still takes care of the land regularly. It turns out that Don sold it for a long time because of gambling. And it was Zeus who struggled to recover.

I nodded at him. I am determined to do this thing. I need it for myself. For me to gradually forget. And so that the wounds in my heart will disappear until I can truly forgive.

He walked over to me first. We got in his car and headed to the jail where Fausto was taken. During his few days in the hospital, I did not ask Zeus about his condition.

Because I'm still scared.

Zeus and I were both quiet while on the flight to the town of San Vicente. It is said that the old man was taken there to be temporarily detained while our case is still being tried.

When we got to the place I immediately went down. I no longer waited for Zeus to open me. He raised an eyebrow at me once shaking. I ignored him and just went straight to the police station.

We were seated at an empty table there. Many other prisoners were also there talking to their families.

Zeus and I sat side by side in the small chair. Perhaps he noticed my hand was shaking so he touched it. I looked at him because of that. He was just looking at me and everything seemed natural to him.

After waiting for a while, we immediately saw Fausto. On either side of him were policemen on guard. Unlike before, now it is losing weight. We saw a sad body and a rather wrinkled face.

I was about to get up, but Zeus stopped me. I thought I could do it. I thought it was gone. But now that he is in front of me, bad memories come back to me.

How he hurts me. How he always makes me feel useless. How he drove me away, And how he took away the rest of my dignity for myself.

"Zeus..." I whispered. Trying to gain the strength I had a while ago.

"You can do it, Sofia. I am always here.

I took a deep breath and calmed myself. I need this. I need it for myself.

"I have a visitor," Fausto opened as soon as he approached us.

Zeus tightened his grip on my hand. He seemed to make me feel that he was just next to me. I glanced at him and saw that he was just holding back his anger.

"Why did you cheat on me? What did I do wrong to you?" it was as if those words were just whispering to me. I know he heard that because he grinned.

"I love you so much, Sofia. It's just you! But that bastard kidnapped you from me!" every word Fausto uttered was heavy even though he was not shouting.

I shook. "You don't love me. Because if you love me, you will not do those things to me. You are selfish, Fausto. You took everything from me."

She bent down and burst into tears. When I saw his appearance, I was filled with pity. Sometimes, I hated myself for being kind. Just like today.

"I'm afraid to be left behind, Sofia. It feels scary to be alone."

I was shaken. "If you were afraid of being alone you would have just taken care of me. But what did you do? You hurt me. You took away the dignity I only have. That even if you repent now, it will be too late. I will never come back to you. I will never be with you, Fausto," I kept saying.

I looked at Zeus. He still supports me. I removed his hand from my arm and stood up to leave that place.

That place suffocates me. And I hated it.

My tears fell. Life sucks for me.