Marcus recoiled, his eyes a mix of fury and pain. "Why would you betray me like this?" he demanded."I trusted you.""I know I let you down. But I had no other choice. I had to protect Marco.""Protect Marco?"Marcus inquired.After a brief pause, I mustered the courage to reveal the truth."Elijah is the mastermind of the kidnapping, Marcus,” I confessed."He's been threatening me. He promised harm to Marco one again if I didn't obey,"Marcus fell silent, his complexion turning ashen. "I should have know this," he murmured at last."I should have seen it coming.""No," I interjected, shaking my head."It's not your fault. Elijah is desperate. He's capable of anything."Marcus let out a sigh and embraced me tightly."I swear I won't allow him to harm you or Marco again," he assured me.The weight of my betrayal lingered in the air as I whispered to Marcus, my voice trembling."I'm really sorry. I didn't intend for it to happen. I was desperate. Elijah had Marco."Marcus had forgiven me
As I woke up, my body was sore and I noticed Elijah sleeping next to me without a shirt. Swiftly, I grabbed my clothes and put them on. Quietly, I opened the door and slipped out. My heart felt heavy as I drove back home. I felt incredibly foolish and vulnerable in that moment.Just a few moments ago, I made it back home. A huge sigh escaped my lips as soon as I pulled the car to a halt. My phone rang, but I just watched it ring until it stops. I got out of the car and went inside the house. The darkness immediately greeted me as I walked in, which only means that Betty had already put Marco to bed. With another sigh, I went upstairs and into his room. Indeed, he was already fast asleep when I entered."Hey, baby," I whispered as I caressed his forehead although I know he wouldn't hear me.I planted a soft kiss on his cheek and watched him sleep.The sight of him is enough to ease the heaviness in my chest. Had it not been for him, I would've given up a long time ago. "Samantha..."
But I didn't get a reply. Instead, I heard the loud purring of his car's engine before it vanished all at once. "F*ck!" I screamed and pulled my own hair in anger. "F*ck, f*ck, f*ck." But then the loud screams and shouts receded to a little pained sobs. I sat down on the tiled floor of the kitchen, the wine bottle pressed between my lips. I drank and drank everything until I almost choked myself to death. "Madam." Betty suddenly appeared out of nowhere, carrying a towel. She wiped my face then pulled me up and sat me down in the bar stool of the kitchen's countertop. "Here, drink this," she said as she handed me a glass of water. "Betty..." I cried and drank the glass of water."Why is my life like this? What did I ever do to deserve this pain?"Betty gazed at me pitifully. She raised her hand, as though attempting to touch me, but hesitated. "All you ever did is to love unconditionally, ma'am."I cried even harder. "Then why... why does it hurt so much?""Because that's what love
"I'm Justin Elfuerto, I'm the manager of the bar,"My heart skipped a beat as anticipation starts to make its way inside my head. "Yes, why? What's the matter?""Madam, you're husband is causing a scene in my bar. He wouldn't stop and keep threatening us. I'm afraid I'm going to have to take further actions if he doesn't stop. It might involve the cops."I pressed a hand on my mouth as I processed his words. "W-What? Where is he? Where is this bar? I'm coming."I immediately went upstairs and changed my clothes. I went to Marco's room, where Betty was trying to put him back to sleep. I whispered a short explanation to Betty, who quickly understood and promised to look after Marco while I'm gone. "Ma'am, I'm going to call the police!" the bar manager told me when things probably escalated."No!" I yelled abruptly. "No, no, you can't do that! My husband has a reputation. A police call would ruin it. So please, I'm begging you not to call anyone. I'm coming."The manager promised to do
The room spun as I climbed the stairs, each step feeling like an insurmountable obstacle in my path. My heart pounded in my chest, a painful rhythm that matched the tumultuous storm raging inside me. I couldn't believe what I had seen on Elijah's message—the image of Marcus, naked, entangled with Sofia. It felt like a dagger through my heart, tearing apart the fragile illusion of happiness I had built with Marcus.But as I reached the top of the stairs and pushed open the door to the VIP room, the reality of the situation hit me like a ton of bricks. There they were—Marcus and Sofia, standing together in the center of the room (now fully dressed, thankfully), their faces frozen in shock as they turned to face me."Samantha..." Marcus's voice trailed off, his expression a mix of guilt and desperation. "I can explain."But before he could say another word, I felt a surge of anger boiling up inside me. "Explain?" I spat, my voice dripping with venom. "Explain what, Marcus? That you were
"Mommy?"My head snapped towards the direction of the living room when I heard Marco's voice. I dropped the kitchen knife on the countertop and got out of the kitchen as I wipe my hands. Marco stood by the stairway, his backpack on his hands."Yes, baby?" I approached him and give him a kiss on the cheek. I couldn't help but notice the cast of dark shadown on his face. His eyes are hollow, his lips turned into a slight frown. Under the florescent light, he looks a lot like his father that no DNA test is needed to prove it."Daddy said that he'd drive me to school..." he muttered through a pout. "But he didn't come home last night."It was as though my heart eloped from my chest. I opened my mouth to speak, but I couldn't find any words. Instead, I reached for his shoulders and pulled him in to an embrace. My fear is slowly becoming reality. All these time, what I really intend to do is to protect Marco from harm and give him the best life I was deprived of while growing up. I promise
My breath got caught in my throat. I stared at him in disbelief. "What?" I almost whispered, my voice barely audible above the pounding of my own heart. "You... you can't be serious."But Marcus's expression remained unchanged, his eyes burning with a fierce determination. "I am serious, Samantha," he said, his voice firm."I want my son, and I'll do whatever it takes to get him."And as I stood there, my mind reeling with shock and disbelief, I realized that the battle for my son was only just beginning—a battle that would test my strength and resilience in ways I could never have imagined.With a sinking feeling in my chest, I knew that the road ahead would be long and treacherous, filled with obstacles and challenges. But I knew that I would stop at nothing to protect my son—to keep him safe from the man who had once held my heart in his hands.Because in the end, the bond between me and Marco, a mother and her child, is stronger than any betrayal, any heartache, any obstacle
The days that followed were a whirlwind as I frantically searched for legal advice to counter Marcus's custody petition for our son, Marco. Anxiety gnawed at me with each passing hour, threatening to overwhelm me.I had always prided myself on being independent, but now I felt vulnerable and isolated. The idea of losing Marco filled me with dread. I knew I had to fight with all my strength.“Mr. Harper,' I began, my voice shaking with both fear and resolve, I've been seeking your guidance for days, trying to navigate the legal complexities surrounding my son's case.”Mr. Harper, a seasoned professional exuding quiet confidence, sat back in his chair, his gaze fixed on me. “Ms. Monte Verde, I understand the seriousness of your situation. Marcus's custody filing has turned your world upside down.”“I'm scared, Mr. Harper,” I admitted, my voice barely audible. “I can't bear the thought of losing Marco. He means everything to me.”Mr. Harper's demeanor softened, a glimmer of compassion in