Chapter 1

• Promises. I fucking hate that word. All my life promises gave me pain. If I only used my brain, I wouldn't be in this situation that I am in. I wouldn't be in hell for the past years. I wouldn't be hurt. I wouldn't be battered.
• There were things in life that changed. There were things in life that would change you.
• Everything wasn't permanent.
• Even love would fade.
• I never thought that love would ruin me. I never thought that the man I love dearly would hurt me until I bleed.
• The only man that I thought that would stand by me was the reason why I am hurting and still hurting. All this time, I was broken by him.
• False hope. The right word to describe it.
• I shrugged the thoughts off and shook my head. I smiled bitterly as the memories came flashing in my head, then I asked myself. Why it wasn't fading? Why am I still hurting? When would I forget the memories?
• "You're crying, again?"
• I wiped my tears instantly as I heard Nanny Belen's soothing voice. I looked at her direction and saw pity in her eyes. She even tapped my shoulder and offered her handkerchief to me.
• Nanny Belen was like a guardian to me. I was ten years old when my mother died because of cancer. My father was nowhere to find because I am a product of a one night stand. But, Nanny Belen took care of me and treated me like her own kid.
• My life was painful. It seemed that I caught all the unwanted things that life could offer.
• "I am just sad Nay," I said and hugged her tight.
• "Everything has a reason Sofia," Nanny Belen answered. I could feel the pain in her voice. I knew she was hurting too seeing me like this.
• "I know. But--"
• She cut me off and shook her head. "Change your clothes now and be prepared. Fausto will call you later. There will be a dinner with his investors," Nanny said.
• I felt the sudden rush. My senses were also awakened. I desperately tried to calm myself and looked at Nanny Belen after I released her from the hug.
• Fausto was expecting a visitor. He said it was his investors. I am not actually interested. Not even thinking about it. But because Fausto told me about the dinner, I felt afraid to say no. Because I knew he would get mad if I declined. He was like a devil reincarnated.
• Fausto was my husband. We were married for five years. Five years of hurting and crying for me too.
• I was young when I married him. I am vulnerable and broken that I even agreed to marry him. The only thing that I regretted until now because, marrying him was like hell.
• "I will leave you now, Sofia." She handed me a black dress.
• I nodded and took the dress from her. I sighed and watched her leaving. I am all alone again. The loneliness of my room made my heart hurt and the reality I had been living.
• I should be used to it but no. I am still aware of everything. I am still not numb.
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• "Where is Sofia? Why'd she still not here?" I heard Fausto shriek. I could also imagine his mad face. He was always like this. He was always mad when the thing was about me, which made me confused.
• Fausto was my former employer. He was a haciendero from the province. He owned half of the land in San Vicente. He was powerful and wealthy. He controlled his people and everything. He also controlled me, which was odd because I was once his favourite scholar. He cared for me once. He gave me shelter and sent me to school.
• But, that was a long time ago.
• Everything changed. Everything was ruined. And, it was all because of that one man.
• I shook my head and tried to compose myself. I instantly saw Fausto at the edge of the grand staircase, waiting for me. He instantly smiled upon seeing me that made me want to roll my eyes on him. But, I suppressed myself. I made a fake smile, instead.
• "You're late. I've been waiting for you." Fausto kissed me when I reached his spot. "You know I don't like to wait," he whispered.
• I nodded to his remarks while he grabbed my arm and held it tight. I am hurting but I couldn't do anything. Fausto took something special to me. It was very special that I am willing to take the risk and live in hell just so I could protect it. The only reason that I am still breathing.
• "Let's go!" Fausto said and pulled me to be near him. We walked out of the mansion. He was in a hurry. We walked directly to the garden that was situated at the back.
• As we reached the spot, Fausto's visitor's were already eating. And it wasn't just his business partner's. They were all familiar to me because they were the Guerrero's. The family of politicians in our province.
• It wasn't just a normal dinner. It was some sort of a family dinner.
• I looked at them one by one. My heart hurt when the realization hitted me. It hurt as I figured it out and saw Aria and her family. Her brother was also present. And I am not dumbed for what was about to happen.
• "Aria, Hija. Did you call Zeus again?" Aria's mom asked.
• I looked at Aria's mom. My heart hurt even more as it beat faster when I heard his name. How could it still affect me when what happened between us was a long time ago? Some people forgot about it already. I am the only one that still holds the memories. I am still the loser that couldn't move on from the very beginning.
• "Sorry, I'm late!"
• My body froze while all the people in the table looked at where the voice came from. I even looked at it too, and my heart stopped when I saw the man standing proudly a few meters away from us. He was eyeing us one by one but when his eyes met mine, he stopped. His stare made my knees shake and made my heart pound even more.
• "It's been a while," he said while his eyes were still on me. His jaw clenched.
• Yes. It has been a while. Six years had passed but nothing changed to me. I am still vulnerable. My heart was still aching.
• I felt Fausto wrapped his arm on my waist but I didn't bother to ask. My mind seemed shut because of Zeus and his eyes.
• For the past years that he was gone, I never did forget him. I never did. My heart just couldn't. And tonight, I knew it wouldn't be the same anymore.
• I hoped someone would save me from drowning. I hoped that someone would take away the pain that I was feeling. Because, we already finished everything. Because, we already ended everything a long time ago.