Chapter 5

CHAPTER 5: PARALYZED

I stopped in my tracks when I heard a familiar voice inside Nexus’ room

"Leave us first," it was Leticia.

Rex was surprised to see me standing in front of the door. He bowed at me and left, leaving the door slightly open. 

Leticia and Hordan arrived early this morning, riding in a chopper that landed on the rooftop of the mansion. I was even more annoyed because my sleep was interrupted. It would have been better if I was sleeping in the master's bedroom because it was soundproof. 

The servants were also disturbed by the sudden arrival and like a queen of the house, Leticia, she ordered the helpers, one after another.  

Even Miss Yeye, who hasn’t slept much yet, was being ordered around by the witch. 

"I have some papers here that need your signature." 

I didn't hear an answer from Nexus. 

"You just need to sign these for some company projects.” My eyebrows raised with Leticia’s tone of voice. She was talking to Nexus like a kid. 

Why does Nexus need to sign? Isn’t Alejandro the current CEO of Almeradez Empire and should be the one signing such projects? 

"Here, Son. This is for the monthly allowance of Hordan. While this paper is for the property I want. You agreed to it before the accident happened.” 

I smirked as I saw Leticia impatiently hand the fountain pen to Nexus. And because Nexus' reading capability has not yet fully recovered, he signed it slowly after looking at it for a few seconds. 

I shook my head because even though Nexus was in a bad state, all that Leticia’s concern was money. 

Nevertheless, I just shrugged it off and turned away to leave. I didn't care about Nexus' life. I didn't care if his mother was taking advantage of the situation for more money. 

"Where is Miss Yeye?" I asked the helpers. I wanna tell her that I’m going home. 

"She's in the garden, Ma'am. With Rita," they replied. 

I nodded and turned away from the four staff who were busy cooking different dishes. Nexus' mother was very picky when it came to food, that's why Miss Yeye prepared well when she came to the Hacienda. I took out my cell phone to book a ride home. 

I stopped walking when I saw Hordan leaning against the front door of the mansion, holding a lit cigarette and his mouth was like a smoking chimney. 

He drew an irritating grin when he saw me. "How are you, Amara?"  

If I didn’t like him before, more so now. Compared to Alejandro and Nexus, Hordan's life was fuck up—a messy one.  

His dark face and long, corn-colored hair gave him a goon-like appearance. His gaze was always sharp as if he read the souls of every person he met.

 I ignored him and continued walking out of the mansion. But, before I could completely leave, he grabbed my arm. I glared and snatched my hand away. 

"What do you want?" I asked coldly.  Cold as I looked at him.  

"Wow," Hordan managed to clap and smirk mockingly at me. "You and Nexus just broke up, and now you're already acting snobbish." 

"I don't have time for people like you," I replied.

He ignored what I said and stepped closer, trying to intimidate me. "How's life? Enjoying being rich after you became a slut?”

I smirked at him insultingly. “Are you still enjoying being supported by Nexus even though you're old enough? How's being useless?" 

His smirking face was replaced with irritation. 

 "Bitch! Nexus should give me money. We're siblings. While you, you just married him for his money. You clung like a leech and sucked his sh!ts!”

"Siblings? Don’t make me laugh, Monster." 

"You're a fucking whore. That's why you accepted my Mom’s offer, right? One hundred million. What's next, Bitch? Are you going to fuck with him again?" He grabbed my arm and my jaw. "You don't have to suffer with that poor guy. I have money too, jump in my bed and I'll take care of you. I'll make sure I give you a good f uck, better than him." 

My smirk grew wider. I grabbed his face and pushed my hand to his ear towards the back of his head. When I saw the three gold teeth in Hordan's teeth, I suddenly pulled his head down and slammed my knee in his face. 

I could hear the cracking sound of his nose followed by Hordan's loud groan. I wasn't satisfied yet. I twisted his hand when he was going to slap me and kicked him hard in the back.

 He fell on the ground while still holding his hands behind him. "I let men kiss dirt, Asshole." 

The sound of bone cracking in his hand and his screams echoed in the quiet mansion.

"Fuck you, Bitch. Damn you!" He cursed repeatedly and if it weren't for his broken hand, he probably would have attacked me. "I'll kill you, you Slut. I'll kill you!"

People came rushing out of the mansion, including Leticia, who was shocked as she looked at her son’s hand before her eyes widened as she approached me with her dagger eyes. Alejandro’s men blocked her to protect me. 

"Get away from me, you stupid! You bitch! What did you do to my son?"

She hit the bodyguards as she tried to approach me. I turned away, ignoring the woman's angry outburst. Hordan even stepped back as I glared at him.

The mansion was a hell for her, a place with shithead people.

I leaned back in the seat as the bus slowly started moving. The towering buildings were competing with the bright rays of the sun. My cell phone rang as the bus turned towards the town of Sagnay where I lived.

I turned off the call when I saw that the number was not registered. It rang again and I was forced to answer because the other passengers were staring at me already.

"What?" I answered coldly and irritably.

"S-Steph. Where are you? Are you coming back?"

I hung up and turned it off.

My mother was surprised to see me enter the gate. She thought that I had a new job and wouldn't be home at night.

I saw my father comfortably sitting on the couch while watching television. I sat on the armrest of the chair where my father was seated and playfully bumped fists with him.

"Your sister told me that you have a new job now, that's why you're not coming home. I know you want to be a billionaire, but take it easy, okay? You might get sick from that.”

"I'm fine, Dad,"

He stroked my hair like he used to do when I was still a child

"Don’t be too serious in life. Be like me, I’m always happy."

“I’m happy, Dad.” That was a lie and he knew it. 

"You're not happy, Amara Stephanie," said Ara Mijares gently as she looked at me intently. "Happiness can't be measured by how often you smile. It's measured by your heart and your eyes. You know that saying, "the eyes are the mirror of the soul"? Your eyes are sad, Steph."

I looked away and we were enveloped in silence.

After a while, my mother stood up and came back with a wheelchair. "It's time for dinner, Love."

She held my father's left hand while I held his right as we helped him onto the wheelchair.

I watched my mother as she began pushing the wheelchair.

My heart ached while watching my dad. He’s paralyzed and it was my fault. The very reason why I couldn’t be happy.