13 Martinez

With her eyes filled with longing and love, I can spend my infinity just to see a second of it.

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Weeks and maybe months have passed since Jayden and Devoree decided to continue their affair, the whole town heard about Devoree's pregnancy and this news had reached Jayden. He knew for himself that he was the father of the child Devoree was carrying so he immediately went to the woman's home after a two-week trip out of the country .

But instead of enjoying the arrival, he saw the chaotic scene based from the messed up crops that the gardener always took care of to the broken mirrors that the maids always wiped. He asked everyone there but no one dared to answer.

That's where it began.

"VERONICA! WHERE IS DEVOREE ?!"Jayden raged in front of the woman who is the only person he could think of that can do something horrible to Devoree. He looked at her violently and when he saw Veronica’s eyes full of anger, he saw the grin plastered on her lips.

"WHAT DID YOU DO TO THEM ?! TO DEVOREE ?!"his voice echoed in the basement then he heard the heavy steps of some people behind him.

"Jayden? W-what's going on here?" He heard a lady's voice or what he had known as his mother who took care of him inside that family. He felt a hand caressing his back and when he looked back a fist landed on his face making him lose a grip on Veronica.

"Who gave you the right to threaten the family who kept you ?!"a tall figure’s shadow cast on the floor. Jayden’s jaw tightened as he wiped the blood from his mouth. That blow came from the leader of the Martinez clan, Leonardo, the father he acknowledged before.

“Veronica is the one you always blame for everything that happens on that cursed family!She’s the one who told us about you and Antonio’s daughter’s relationship! And you’re the one who has the guts to make everything’s happening Veronica’s fault?”Leonardo was about to hit another punch when Veronica suddenly blocked him.

"VERONICA!" Leonardo shouted but the woman did not move. “I'm the only one who can hurt Jayden! No other than me! If he will be punished,it should be in my own way!” Jayden stared into Veronica's eyes and he could not deny that the woman was beautiful but behind that façade is a crazy and psychotic woman he wanted to kill.

This family took care of him, and now Jayden doesn't know if he should be thankful or not. This family is a bunch of people who ruined their minds and became heartless!

Jayden next found himself riding in a carriage going to a place he did not know. Veronica is also there, staring at him. Jayden wanted to escape but he can’t because apart from his limbs tied, the carriage door was locked.

Days passed and Jayden did not see Devoree again.The Martinez locked him in a secluded place he can’t escape.

"V-veronica, I beg you I-I just want to s-see her... I want to see o-our child." He received a strong slap on the woman but he didn’t because his body was used to it.This is the third month of his calvary in that place and his body looks far different because of the suffering he was going through. "You can't leave here until you learn to love me, Jayden! I thought you were smarter than I thought but you weren't! You chose that woman over me! You know our families are rivals but she is still the one you chose!"

Jayden thought it would be easier to get away with it if he just pretended to love her but he would not do that to Devoree, he loved the woman and he would not deny his love. He will not return to his woman and child due to rejection of them.

"F-forgive me, Devoree."

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Julie and Simon are silently watching Jayden who is just quiet and harder to talk to these days. They have arrived at Simon's mansion in Spain and they have been waiting for the young man's parents.

It was difficult for Simon to get everyone out of the room so that the two of them could talk to Jayden, they were both worried about it because it seems like his mind is wandering around somewhere. Julie doesn't know if she is the only one who noticed it but she can now see Jayden's smoke-like appearance. Even though she didn't ask Simon, she knew he was already noticing the change in Jayden's appearance --- it seemed like he was not becoming more human.

They began to notice the change when they learned that Jayden and Devoree's child may be Eula.

"I think we should tell him." Julie said to Simon who was still looking at Jayden.

"Yes, I think we should."Both of them approached Jayden and they were about to tap his shoulder when he spoke.

“Eula may be our descendant.” Simon and Julie were not shocked by what they heard but they decided to stay quiet."I didn't see Devoree when she had her last breath but she indeed told me something in the journal."

"Devoree left you a message?"

"Yes." Jayden looked at the two of them and they could see how his emotions mixed together-- the anger, the sadness and hatred can be seen on those hazelnut eyes eyes. "She wrote how she went through the same path I did when Veronica locked me up. She wrote how she is in pain for so long. She is tormented that she was filled with anger and agony."

"Anger? For what? Did she tell you anything else?" Julie asked and Jayden looked into her eyes and gently shook his head. "I don’t know what is the connection of my state to this. I don’t know if it is connected afterall or maybe I ran into some witch and I turned into this. Devoree didn't wrote much but I know that when the time I was in the hands of Veronica—"

"Veronica? Who is---"

"Julie, I'll explain to you later." Julie was silenced by Simon and she decided not to speak again. "So, what happened?"

"Well, when I'm in the hands of that filthy Veronica, I know for sure that she is suffering too. So I couldn't find her when I went to them."

"Are you saying that Devoree's family was also abducted by then?" Jayden nodded before the door behind them cracked open.

"We're home, dear!" Simon's mother quickly went to him and hugged him tightly. Julie looked closely at the lady and could see her thin body but scary and strict face. Her lips were a bit thick but her eyes were gentle. Only now did she notice its appearance again because she saw her differently compared to when they were still in the Philippines.

On the other hand, Julie saw Simon's father standing just next to his mother and looking at her intently. Julie can tell that Simon’s father is older than his mother because he has more wrinkles on his face and more white hair.

"Shall we talk inside, son? I hope that your lady here will wait for us, right dear?" Julie glanced at Simon first and when he saw his nod, she immediately left the room.

Julie is also at ease because they even have a record device that they implanted in Simon's clothes in case his parents are planning something bad. They need to be careful.

"We’re stuck here, huh?" Jayden regarded when he found her also on the field. Simon's mansion is surrounded by a wide flat and will take about half an hour to reach the city.

Julie looked around and closed her eyes when she felt a strong gust of wind. She sat down next to Jayden as she hugged her legs. There was a few minutes of silence between them until Julie could not bear to ask the young man.

"Aren't you scared?" Jayden turned to her and looked back at the trees who looked like dancing with the breeze.

"Of what?"Jayden put his hands behind his back and stare at such a great view.

"Of what might happened after you disappear." Julie focused on Jayden's reaction but he just looked straight ahead.

Jayden pouted as he looked into some appropriate words he can use. A not-so complex explanation that Julie can comprehend.

"Yes, everyone fears going to the unknown. But I'm more scared to live with fear. Fear that some other time, the one that you loved will disappear right before your eyes and you continue to live with that guilt of not saving them."

It was as if Julie's heart was pounding at what she heard. She thought that her life was so messed up not until she heard about some of the details about Jayden's past.

"You know what, I like you." Julie's eyes widened and she looked at Jayden. He raised his palm and waved. "No, no .. it's not what you think I mean, I like how you can be calm hearing about me, hearing about this madness and hearing all about the weirdness happening to us." He laughed softly and stood up from his seat.

"Why don't you just make someone feel or notice you? You said to me before that you will disappear once they feel your existence."Jayden turned to the sky and closed its eyes. Julie just stared at him and he seemed like the most peaceful and beautiful thing she had ever seen in her whole life.

"There is a part of me that is scared once that happens. I have to find the answer before I disappear. I can't afford to disappear without knowing why I became like this." Jayden pointed to himself while looking away. Sometimes Julie seems to want them to exchange lives. She thinks Jayden would want to suffer taking care of someone rather than suffer alone.

"When I last did what you said, I almost disappeared and unfortunately only a few parts of my arm were lost." In its brief explanation, the question that had been bothering her for a long time was answered. That’s why some parts of Jayden’s back are almost invisible to her eyes.

"And ever since we met you, that never happened again." He smiled bitterly and laughed softly.

Julie suddenly thought.

What did fate think of to make you suffer?