Chapter 4 He Came

ARES

Kianna Myst Saavedra, I'm betting that you won't be sad to see me leave after our two-year arrangement!

*Phone ringing*

I reached into my pocket to answer my phone.

[What's up, boss? Are you coming to work today?

"Get all the bidding projects for the company that treated me last night finished. I'm planning to take them over within a week."

[You can trust me, boss. I'll make sure it gets done.]

"Alright, have someone bring a complete women's outfit to my hotel room, the one I stayed in last night. Also, buy me a house in Laguna, not too big, just enough for an average office worker's expenses, and then transfer my belongings there after cleaning."

[Seriously, boss? Are you out of your mind? You want to live in Laguna, and you want an apartment that looks like it's meant for office workers.

"Do you want to look for another job? There's a vacancy in the cleaning department..."

[...Boss, I promise! I'll get started right away!]

*Call ended*

...

KIA

After waiting for 15 minutes, I heard a knock on the door. It must be Ares. What took him so long to buy me some clothes? I wrapped the blanket around me before heading to the door.

A hotel staff member greeted me with a smile as she carried paper bags. She said, "Good morning, ma'am! This is from someone for you."

I accepted it graciously, thanking the employee, and locked the door. It had to be Ares... He seemed engrossed in his work. Is he really looking forward to getting married?

Without wasting any time, I packed my things and checked out of the motel. I hailed a taxi and went straight home.

When I arrived, I called out, "I'm back!"

"...Dad, can I talk to you for a moment?" I tried to sound composed, but the anxiety I felt was different from yesterday.

You've got this, Kia, just stay calm.

Dad's response was, "You still remember this is your home..." I could see anger building in his eyes as I observed his actions. "It's absurd for a girl like you to stay out all night and not come home. Do you still consider yourself a responsible woman?" He raised his voice.

"I'm sorry, Dad, but I really can't explain right now... I didn't leave the office until early in the morning..." I tried to hide the truth; I couldn't bring myself to tell my dad that I spent the night with someone else...

"Dad, I wanted to discuss something important with you today..."

"What is it? I don't have all day, so if you have something to say, say it now," he said, sounding like he was in a hurry.

"I'm planning to marry someone else. I don't want to go through with the marriage to Vincent Rivera because I suspect he's been cheating. So, Dad, please understand that I can't marry him," I admitted, unable to meet his gaze. My eyes were fixed on the floor as I waited for his response.

We have to update our household registration for housing assistance through the civil service, and he wants us to live together. But it's not practical for me to stay here all the time when I have my own place, I explained.

"Do you even qualify for public servant housing benefits these days?" I asked my dad while he sipped his coffee and looked at me with a smirk. "And if you get deceived, don't come crying to me for forgiveness!... Fine, follow your heart's desires! I'll finally be able to enjoy some peace without you."

When he said that, it felt like my whole world was crashing down, and all I could do was gather my strength. He has his own life now, and he doesn't need me, so it's easy for him to let me go.

"That's her, alright!" I heard her voice and quickly turned to see her. It was Avery Saavedra, my stepmother. I gave her a fierce glare.

"I guess you don't want to see me, huh?" I retorted. "You didn't even tell me when you were coming home," I added.

Why is she here? What impeccable timing. Whenever I hear my stepmother's voice, it's like the irritation and anger I'm trying to hide from her comes out first. I don't know why it happens.

"It has nothing to do with you! Besides, didn't your daughter come home with you last night? Why don't you ask about your beloved daughter's plans for last evening?" I snapped.

Her response was to approach her father in a pitiful manner, clearly upset by how I had treated her. "Look at her, honey... It's embarrassing how she treats me in front of you... She doesn't know how to respect her parents or other adults, even though we never raised her to be disrespectful."

My stepmother's hurtful words immediately infuriated my father. His nostrils seemed to smoke as he scolded me, "How dare you speak to your mother like that! Apologize to her right away!" He was clearly in pain.

I couldn't understand why he always defended my stepmother, yet he couldn't be bothered to check on me, his own child. "Why should I apologize to her, Dad? I didn't do anything wrong... She's not my biological mother! Unfortunately, Mom passed away a long time ago."

Daddy abruptly stood up upon hearing my words. "You! How dare you talk back to me!" He shouted, his thoughts racing to process the information I had just revealed.

"It won't change anything whether I stay here or move in with you. I haven't felt like a part of this family for a very long time. I'm leaving!" Annoyed, I quickly left the house.

Just as I was about to make my escape, Daddy's shout halted me in my tracks, "Fine! If you can, never come back!"

I headed straight for the Civil Affairs Department's Marriage Registration Bureau. After what happened at home, I had nowhere else to go. I had no choice but to agree to the terms of this marriage contract... but was I rushing into it too hastily?

Were these decisions I was making the right ones? I found myself at the Civil Affairs Bureau, struggling to remember his full name. All I could recall was that he went by Ares, and unfortunately, I didn't have his phone number. How could I contact him now? It felt like it was too late for me.

What had led me to make such a quick decision? Who in their right mind marries a complete stranger on the spot? I kept berating my own foolishness...

"I'm sorry I'm late," a man's voice said.

It was him...