Chapter 11

“Ana Mystica...” I turned to Martin, who was organizing my belongings at the hospital. “Is that my new name?” I asked, a smile on my face.

He sighed and nodded to me. “You’re no longer Bernardino, okay?” I nodded and turned to face him. “You have a lot more to learn in politics, business, and associations with influential people,” he said. I took a deep breath and nodded.

I should listen to him because Martin is an expert in situations like this. This is the beginning of my revenge.

Martin coughed to get my attention, so I looked at him again. “Don’t worry, I’ll hire people to teach you everything you need to know,” he said as he approached me. “Paris is there to help you with anything you can learn.” I bit my lower lip and turned away from him.

“Isn’t that awkward for Paris? I’m already bothering her at work,” I sighed.

I was bothering with Martin’s friends. They cannot manage their time because of me. When he put a scarf on me, I was stunned, so I looked at him, who was also staring at me.

He grinned and flicked my forehead. “If you don’t want to waste everything you’ll learn, no one will fail in this fight,” he said. Because it was my first time doing so, I snorted.

“The first thing you should learn is self-defense because that is where we will start,” he said, turning away from me to fix my things. “We don’t know how many people will try to kill you,” he added. I sighed and reached for his hand as he turned to me and took my bag.

We left the hospital together; he informed Reese that I was fine and that I wanted to go home, so Reese did nothing but discharge me. He actually used me as a ruse to get out of the hospital. TSK.

When we left the hospital, I noticed Alexis waiting for us, and he opened the door for us. Martin helped me in getting into the car and then followed him. I leaned back and let my senses take over. I haven’t even started what I’m going to do, but I’m already having a difficult time.

My parents told me before they died not to harbor ill will toward others, but it appears I cannot keep that promise. I also feel that my anger is about to consume me.

“You must also learn to speak without stuttering, and you must remain calm in front of others,” Martin explained. I looked away from him, as if doing so would get me in trouble.

They didn’t raise me to be a rebellious child, so I’m not sure if I’ll be able to handle everything. When Martin took my hand, I blinked and turned to face him.

“Don’t worry, I’m here, and I’m not going anywhere,” he said. “You just have to be brave so no one steps on you again,” I exhaled and nodded to him.

“I know it will be difficult, but I can handle it just to complete all the plans,” I said, tightening my grip on his hand. “I will no longer be a coward because it is also the reason for my death,” I said with a sigh and a smile.

“With everything that has happened in my life, I have only recently realized that I am a fool,” I laughed, letting go of his hand and looking out the window. “I’m a fool for falling in love with a man who can’t really fight for me,” I smiled bitterly. “I wish I had never loved him, I wish I had never met him,” I said, wiping away tears as I remembered Mateo cheating on me.

Repentance comes at the end. Why am I so blinded by my feelings for Mateo? Even though I know that, and I accept that we aren’t meant to be because his family doesn’t accept me either. I was so foolish that I even offered my love to the one who destroyed me.

I sighed as we arrived at Martin’s mansion, where we will be staying for a few months and where I will receive instructions from Martin.

Martin’s friends greeted us as we exited the car. “Welcome back, Ana!” they all exclaimed, and I laughed and shook my head.

Paris approached me and kissed my cheek. “You look even better!” said Paris. I smiled at her, but her smile faded as if she remembered something. “It's my fault that you’re still in the hospital,” she said. I smiled as I patted her on the back.

“Nothing to worry about here, Paris, because I remember everything.” I said. They were all surprised by what I said. Maybe they assumed I couldn’t remember anything anymore.

“So, the plan is to continue?” asked Paris. I noticed they seemed excited about the upcoming plans. I grinned and shook my head.

When I heard someone scream, I turned to see who it was. “Oh, I want to see Chloe growl in anger,” said Arielle, and my gaze shifted to those behind her. I recall they were twins.

Paris stepped in between Arielle and me, rolling her eyes at the girl next to me. “You and Chloe are BFFs, right?” asked Paris. Arielle’s eyes widened because everyone knew that wasn’t true.

“No way!” Arielle exclaimed, as if she was sick of hearing Chloe’s name. I shook my head because, according to Martin, they always fight.

Arielle, Chloe’s colleague at an agency, had taken me to an event once, and I remembered her. I saw her there, so I recognized her face.

When we heard Martin’s voice, we came to a halt, and the two women who were fighting fell silent. Martin's defiance carried them away. I laughed softly because they were right about the man being grumpy. He also chastised me several times, especially when I insisted on seeing Mateo.

“Ana.”

I came to a halt and turned to Martin, who was staring at me, so I bowed because they were all looking at me. Damn, I’m embarrassingly laughing by myself. Martin sighed and motioned us all inside the mansion, as if he had something important to say. I snorted and followed them into the house.

We remained silent as we awaited for Martin to say something. I examined the entire mansion because it was smaller than the mansion in the hacienda.

“From now on, we’ll stick to the plan I made.”

When I realized they were looking at me, I lifted my head and took a deep breath. I’m also impressed by the mansion. I looked at Martin, who was already staring at me, and winked at him to stop him from scolding me.

Aren’t we supposed to eat first? Hello?!? I had only just awoken, but Martin drove me home before I had even eaten. I was also in my dream for several months. Gosh!

Martin coughed as he seemed surprised by my wink. He wants it as well, he-he… “Listen carefully to what I have to say,” said Martin, and I nodded because he appeared to be reprimanding me.

Annoying! Is he going to scold me now? TSK!

“I’ve done my first plan to deceive Chloe Cain,” he said, and the name stunned me, so I frowned.

“What do you mean?” my eyes widened, and I covered my mouth as I asked what was on my mind. F–ck!

Martin grinned. “She’s one of the girls with whom I had a one-night stand,” he said, staring at me. Because what he said was so vulgar. My eyes widened, and my face flushed slightly.

My fist clenched. “What? Have you gone insane?!? You don’t know her!” I said. My shout surprised them, but Martin remained silent while staring at me.

What was going through Martin’s mind, and did he act on it? I know Chloe and what she used to do, so she might be crazy about him!

I glared at Martin. “You’re insane!” I exclaimed. I’m not certain, but his first plan for Chloe was wrong.

I stomped my foot in annoyance because Martin was also stupid. GRR! Annoying. When I looked at them and noticed that they were smiling while looking at me, my tantrum stopped. My eyes widened, and I shook my head, as if they were trying to figure out why I was so upset when I found out what Martin had done to Chloe. I’m not jealous. I won’t be jealous of the plan because I know Martin did it for me.

“It’s not like that, okay? I know Chloe because if she did those things to destroy my relationship with Mateo, she can do it again,” I sighed, clenching my fist. “I want to be the one who destroys her; she has a sin against me, so whatever she has now, I will destroy it one by one,” I said, biting my lower lip, and remembering the smirks she gave me when I caught her and Mateo.

I want to be the one who sees her face after I’ve ruined everything and have everything she has.

“Hmm, sorry, that was a stupid plan,” said Martin. I shifted my gaze to him and shook my head.

“I’m also sorry for yelling at you, and I know you did it for your plan,” I said with a smile. “Don’t worry, whatever your plans are, I’ll do it…” but I have another plan for the Villalba, and I’ll do it alone. Because they are only had to sin against me, I should be the only one to charge them.

Martin sighed and approached his friends, introducing them to me. “This is Klein,” he said, pointing to the tall man who was always smiling. He waved at me, so I smiled back.

“This is Rio,” said Martin, pointing to a man who resembled Arielle.

Rio said, “Her twin,” and I nodded because I knew.

Martin approached Doc Cole, who gripped his shoulder firmly, and I noticed Doc’s grimace. “This is Cole,” I smiled. “You know him, right?” I nodded again and thanked Doc Cole for his help.

Martin’s attention was on a man with red hair. “This is Lucas,” he added. When Lucas waved, I smiled and turned back to face Martin.

Martin sighed and turned to face his friends. “They’ll teach you to defend yourself,” he said. “They will also teach you how to use a gun and other things you should know,”

I sighed and looked at them all, as if I was nervous.

When we shifted our focus to Paris. Martin said, “Paris will teach you how to deceive others, how to make them believe everything you say, and how to act without flinching.”

Paris smirked and flipped her hair. I swallowed and scratched my head.

“Leave it to me, Martin!” said Paris. When I smiled at her, I became even more nervous. It’s as if anyone can’t touch them.

The Villalobos’ happiness might not have lasted long if I had remembered everything for a long time. Maybe they’re pleading with me for their sins now.

When I thought of Mrs. Caridad and Chloe, my fists clenched. I didn’t think they could do those things, and that they would kill me just to ruin my relationship with Mateo.

“Ana, are you okay?”

When someone grabbed my shoulder, I halted, and I felt so ashamed that I just shut my eyes, and I made a bow to Paris. “I’m sorry… I just remembered what they did to me,” I apologized to Paris as I turned to face her. I could tell she was worried about me because she patted my shoulder.

“I understand; it would seem that you need to rest first,” she said. I shook my head and looked at Martin, telling him to keep going. I can’t be a hindrance to them, and also need to stand on my own.

Martin sighed and nodded. He pointed to his friends and said, “They’re all the children of well-known business executives.” I know that just by looking at them, it appears they are not ordinary people.

“And Arielle, she’ll be there for everything; don’t worry, you can trust her.”

Arielle and I exchanged glances, and she winked at me as if to say, “I’ll take care of you.” I laughed and grinned at her.

Martin, who was still calm, caught my gaze. “I will teach you everything I know about business and politics,”

What I heard brought me to a halt. Politics? Isn’t the Villalobos family involved in politics as well? Mateo does not want to enter politics because he prefers to start his own business without the support of his parents. But that was back then, and I’m uncertain if it’s still that way now. People’s choices are also changing.

I considered what I was planning, what if… “I enter politics…” They were all surprised by what I said, so I covered my mouth because I had unexpectedly said something that should have been on my mind.

F–ck! I bowed and exhaled deeply.

Martin raised an eyebrow. “I will not teach you how to enter politics, Ana, but I want you to learn how to be a mayor,” he said, and I was stunned. “I’ll just show you what a mayor does, and we’ll look for a loophole just to impeach Levy,” he added.

I remained silent, since I had nothing more to say. I’m not certain, but I sense a connection here.

We turned to face Paris after she raised her hand. “Isn’t that a good plan?” she asked, smiling. “After all, Martin, you don’t want to be a politician.”

I looked at Paris, wondering if Martin plans to run in the next election.

“It would be better if we only had Ana to take part against Levy in the next election because that’s when someone will follow in Uncle Martinez’s footsteps,” she said. I noticed that Paris's statement caused Martin to be taken aback.

Who is Uncle Martinez? Because of their reactions, I think he is an important person.

Doc Cole approached me because it confused me with what they were discussing. “He’s Martin’s father,” he said. My eyes widened as I turned to face Martin, who was avoiding my gaze.

“He has been the mayor of San Alfonso for over four decades,” said Arielle. What I had just heard left me speechless, so I couldn't say anything.

“He has been the mayor of the town for over four decades,” said Lucas. “Martin caught up with Don Martinez’s leadership, but he passed away…” I bowed and bit my lower lip because it appears I understand why Martin does not want to follow in his father’s footsteps.

Because of what I heard, I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, and I became even more determined. I saw little San Alfonso before, because of my condition. It preoccupied my mind with Mateo, so I didn’t even see the entire town; even the Hacienda of the Monticello, I didn’t see it properly.

I’m only now regretting not forcing myself to remember because I was too selfish.

Martin coughed again to draw our attention, so I sighed and turned to face him.

“They do not need Ana to take part in the election—” Martin paused as I spoke.

“I’d like to run against Levy Villalobos in the next election,” I stated. Martin halted by what I said.

But, I’m sorry, I’m set on what I’m going to do. If this is the only way to get Levy out of San Alfonso and bring his family down, I will do it. This is also my first step towards creating my plan. I’ll also seek more evidence against them.

“But we won’t tell him I’ll be his opponent in the election,” I laughed. “Right now, all I want to do is to compete with my ex-father-in-law,” I said. They smiled when they saw how determined I was, so all I had to do was wait for Martin to agree to begin my training.

“I will not abandon San Alfonso, Martin; believe me on this.” I said, looking at him to get him to agree to what I wanted.

Paris burst out laughing because she knows Martin. “You might agree, Martin. I know you can’t stand her,” said Paris. Because of what she was saying, my eyes widened, and I blushed slightly. “That’s even better because she’ll be closer to the Villalobos, and if she truly wants revenge, she should approach the enemies herself,” Paris added. I nodded in agreement to what she said.

Martin looked at me, and I smiled because I knew he couldn’t stand me.

He sighed as he loosened his necktie. “OK, fine. There’s nothing I can do because it appears if we’re serious about succeeding, we should approach Levy ourselves,” he said, as he turned his back on me.

“Be cautious; Levy is not an easy opponent,” he warned before heading upstairs to his room.

I smiled because I knew Martin couldn’t stand me. I can’t wait to see what I’ll do to the Villalobos; they’ve just robbed the people, especially those who support their families, because of their cruelty.

Furthermore, I will not let San Alfonso fall because of their corruption. Likewise, I came to a halt when they shouted because Martin had left; it appeared they were planning something.

“Is everything settled? It’s party time for Ana’s return!” Arielle shouted. I was aware of it. That’s precisely what they intended.

They just screamed, so I laughed because there’s nothing wrong with having fun right now because what I’m about to do in the following days won’t be easy. I need to rest and relax for a while because I would rather not mess up my plans.

I entered the room designated for me and shut the door. I walked in and looked in the large mirror in front of the bed.

I smiled while holding my lips. “The time for revenge is near.”