Chapter 25
“Tm planning to tell her right after our wedding, dad-”
“Marriage is sacred, son. Anastacia is part of our family now, especially you. You should include her in your decision–making.” Donya Valentine said seriously, and I glanced at her. She offered me a small smile before averting her gaze, prompting me to look at Ares.
“Is there a problem. Ares?” I couldn’t hold back my curiosity.
When he looked at me, his forehead was already furrowed, and he seemed apologetic. Before he could answer, Don Damien spoke again.
“My son and I have an agreement, Ana. I will be transferring all my assets, including the Aragon Group of Companies, once he marries someone. That agreement has been long overdue, and I didn’t expect that he would keep it.”
My shoulders slumped as I absorbed his words. I suddenly recalled the dispute between them and Ares‘ brother over the inheritance they would receive from the two elders. As far as I knew, Don Damien had planned to give Ares‘ brother all the branches in Las Vegas, while Ares would receive their other businesses here in the Philippines. But I still didn’t understand why…
“Ana, I will explain everything to you,”
“Does it mean that by the time we get married, all the businesses will go to you, even your brother’s?” I interrupted him, feeling a wave of confusion. His jaw tightened, and his gaze suddenly deepened.
I recognized that look. It was always his reaction whenever I brought up his brother.
Ares was a competitive person, particularly when it came to his brother. His competitive nature had heightened when he learned about the Galvez proposal to him, and he didn’t receive any. I could clearly feel his tension and pressure.
But I never expected that even our marriage would be entangled in this matter. I had thought he was in a hurry for the wedding because he had been waiting for it for so long. Because he loved me.
I bit my lower lip and remained silent.
The dinner continued with just the three of them talking. I wanted to go home, but Ares insisted on talking afterward. I didn’t know how I would feel after finding out. I could understand why he felt that way about his brother, and he knew that.
His mother had long hidden from him that he had a step–brother, and their father had accepted him. He didn’t even know about the appointment of branches abroad. He only found out last year. Since then, he
Chapter 25
has been like this. I understood that, and he knew that very well. So why did he keep it a secret from me?
I felt foolish for not realizing it.
I was still quiet on the way home to Elena’s condo. I had lost my appetite for everything. I suddenly felt
tired.
“Hey… I’m sorry…” Ares began.
I closed my eyes tightly. All day long, that was all I could hear from him. My ears couldn’t take it anymore.
“I’ll really tell you-”
“After our wedding so that I can no longer say anything?” I interrupted what he was going to say and
glanced at him for a moment.
His forehead furrowed. It seemed like he was suppressing his anger, so I almost laughed at the idea.
“It’s not like that, Ana. Dad just preceded me in telling you everything, but I really plan to explain it to you. I’m so sorry…” He pleaded.
I tiredly sighed and turned my gaze back to the window.
“Is that the only reason why you’re in a hurry? You should have told me right away, Ares. You know I can understand you. I’ll still help you, but you chose to keep it a secret from me. I thought you really
loved me, that’s why-”
“No, please. Of course, I love you. Stop thinking like that. Hey…” He called me and immediately stopped
the car.
I felt his gentle touch on my arm, so I turned to him. His tired eyes met mine, his jaw tightening again as he stared at me tenderly. I felt a pain in my heart as I looked at him.
“I am in love with you, that’s the reason why I want to marry you. That’s all, Ana. I’m sorry,” he said, full of pleading.
In the past, whenever he told me he loved me, his eyes twinkled and brightened. I could feel his sincerity. But now, for no apparent reason, I saw nothing. I couldn’t even feel what he said. Something felt off.
“But if you want to call the wedding off, I will understand-”
“I’m not calling it off, Ares. Just… stop keeping secrets, please.”
I could see the relief in his eyes when I said that. It was only then that I realized which of the two reasons was the real cause of his hurry. And I still wanted to understand that.
Chapter 25
I watched everyone around me, especially the man in front of me who was eagerly waiting for me. My chest continued to throb as I saw him patiently waiting for my slow walk.
Today was our wedding day, and I wanted to be happy, but my heart didn’t seem to want to. Especially when I realized I didn’t even have a family happily waiting for me right now. They didn’t show up, even though the whole preparation wasn’t grand.
I was in the middle of walking when I spotted a man on the side of Ares. I couldn’t see his face because it was turned away. That’s the best man’s position.
To my knowledge, his cousin took the title, but I was wrong. When I saw him turn his gaze on me, I completely stopped walking. I felt my soul run away from me, and my heart felt like it wanted to come out of my body when I saw him smirk at me.
My knees and hands began to tremble. I saw Ares frown as he looked at me. It was as if I was about to
vomit while still staring at the man next to him.
It was Apollo, no. He was Hector. Why was he here? Why was he the best man at Ares‘ wedding?
I sighed. I blinked twice when I saw his deep eyes piercing my soul. The smile disappeared from his lips and was replaced by a cold expression. It seemed to mean something.
My fear and nervousness intensified when I saw Ares was about to approach me. Even before he could reach me, my own body moved quickly.
I couldn’t do it. My conscience couldn’t do it. This was wrong. I could not do it. No.
“I–I’m so sorry…” I whispered and started running away from him, outside the church. With my broken, sinful soul.
I looked out at the vast farm in front of me. I closed my eyes when the fresh air suddenly blew hard, sweeping a few strands of my hair towards my back. I smiled as I saw the green plants, especially their
fruits.
“Anastacia!”
I immediately turned to the person who called me, and there I saw Nanay Soledad. She was carrying a
woven bag and a hat while smiling and walking toward me.
“Good day, ‘Nay. Are you going to the market?” I asked her and glanced at the bag she was holding.
She took me by the arm and guided me back to the hut where we were staying. My eyes even caught a glimpse of a car that suddenly stopped at the corner toward Hacienda Lazaro.
Chapter 25
Who could that be?
“Can I ask you something? The Lazaro family has arrived with a few of its bassiness partners. The Hacienda needs a lot of people,” she told me seriously, so my forehead furrowed,
“Now? I thought it would be next week?” Shocked, I asked her and hurried into the hot
I think they were in that car. Mother Soledad told me that last week.
They have lived in this province for a long time. Tatay Lucio is a farmer, and Nanay Soledad works at the Hacienda. They took care of me when I was young. Dad and I used to go home to this place, and every time I set foot there, I felt like I didn’t want to go home to the city. I don’t know what’s in this place, and it
seems to draw me in.
“It’s so sudden. We were also surprised. By the way, is it really okay with you? I won’t force you if you don’t want to,” she said again, so I smiled.
I looked at myself in the small mirror that was there. I slightly adjusted my black t–shirt, and my hair was loose, then turned to Nanay Soledad.
“It’s okay, “Nay. You have helped me a lot, so I don’t have a problem,” I replied to her, and she just
laughed.
“I told you to stop mentioning that. I’ll leave you. Let’s just meet at the Hacienda.” She said goodbye to me
and left.
I just stared at her until she disappeared from my sight.
I went back to my room to change. I bit my lower lip as I looked at her. She was still sound asleep and seemed very tired. I smiled and reached for her hair, then gently stroked it.
“You’re so big already, I cannot… Please, slow down…”
