Chapter 3

THIRD POV

“Mateo, please wait for me!”

“Mateo!”

“Huh?” He suddenly turned around when he heard a voice calling his name.

Later, he suddenly remembered that he was in a bar with his friends. He moved his eyes around while massaging his senses, that tingled slightly.

“We’ve been calling you for a while, but you’re just dumbfounded!”

“Are you sure you’re okay?”

He let out a deep breath, then nodded and stroked his hair. He was just confused by what was happening now. Earlier, he also heard the voice of his ex-wife. He didn’t know what was happening to him, but he was sure that he had been dreaming about his ex-wife for several nights. He didn’t know if it was just a vision or a memory.

Until now, he regrets a lot about what had happened before. Because of just one mistake he made, he lost his wife.

If he asks for forgiveness from his wife, he will do it only to pay for his sins.

“Ana, I’m sorry!” He whispered.

***

Many business executives greeted Don Martin when he arrived at the Royale. After several years, he is now back in Royale.

“Martin, it’s been a while!”

When he saw his two guests, he nodded to them, then he walked closer to their table. He sat in a chair in front of them. After a while, one of his men handed over a glass containing wine.

Levy Villalobos is the mayor of San Alfonso, and Caridad Villalobos is the First Lady.

“It’s been a long time. And I realize it’s too late. But congratulations on becoming the new leader of San Alfonso,” Martin said with a smile.

“Thank you very much for your help,” said Caridad.

Martin raised an eyebrow and stared at the couple for a moment. “Of course,” he said. “We have the same desire for the town, don’t we? We both want to develop our town.” He said and later he suddenly laughed, which surprised them.

The couple looked at each other for a moment and both swallowed. But later they also laughed.

“My late father left me all the properties of Montecillo to grow and develop it. To provide a bright future for our constituency. And he also asked me to support you in the development of our town. That was my father’s last request. We should work together,” said Martin. He even smiled at the couple.

They became serious for a moment because of what he said. But after a few moments, the couple is forced to smile again.

Even if they were the new rulers of San Alfonso, they still couldn’t match the wealth and power of a Montecillo.

“Cheers for the future of our town!” Martin raised his wineglass.

The couple smiled again and cheered with him.

“Mateo Villalobos made a deal with me,” said Martin. “Why didn’t he follow in your footsteps?”

“He wanted to do his own business,” said Levy.

Martin nodded and grinned at them before looking around and motioning for his men to leave them here. They immediately obeyed.

“By the way, your former daughter-in-law died five years ago, didn’t she? What’s her name again?” he later changed their conversation.

The couple’s eyes widened slightly because of Martin’s words. Both of them were surprised and did not expect what the young man would say. The two looked at each other before looking back at Don Martin, who was waiting for their response.

“Um, Don Martin, this is a personal question—”

“Caridad,”

“What?”

“Stop.”

Martin secretly smiled because of the reaction of the couple.

“I’m sorry! I don’t want to ask about that, but wouldn’t that affect our town?” he asked.

“That case was closed a long time ago,” said Levy. “My daughter-in-law died because she committed suicide. I don’t even know why she did that, when they both love each other very much and their marriage is happy. Even I was shocked by the incident.”

Martin’s face became serious because of what he heard. He also secretly clenched his fist.

“Master.”

He spun to his staff when he called him. He approached him and whispered... “Miss Ana is missing.”

“What?” he said in shock and suddenly stood up in his seat when he found out that Ana was missing.

“Martin?” Levy called him.

He took a deep breath and looked at the couple without emotion.

“We’ll talk again some other times, Don Levy. I’m just going somewhere important.” He said, then he pivoted around and walked out of Royale with his men.

“Alexis, do you know where she is?” he seriously asked his driver, who was now busy looking at the tracking device attached to Ana.

“She’s in the villa, master.”

He was shocked because of what he heard. Damn! Ana, what are you planning? Are you hurting yourself? He asked in his mind.

“Let’s go straight there!” later he ordered his driver.

***

ANA’s POV

“We’re here, Ma’am.”

Before I got out of the car, I smiled at the driver and handed him my payment. “Thank you!” I said.

When I finally got off the taxi, a smile appeared on my lips as I looked around. Oh, this place still hasn’t changed. The place where Mateo and I had many beautiful memories.

I ran towards the tree and there I glanced at Mateo’s house. I smiled again.

“His house still hasn’t changed,” I said with a smile. But later I was suddenly stunned when I heard a car engine.

I looked all around until I saw a familiar car. I smiled again. That’s Mateo’s car. I chose his car so I know it.

When the car stopped in front of our house, I hid behind a tree. Later, I saw Mateo get down from the driver’s seat.

I let out a deep breath and came out of my hiding place to approach my husband and let him know I was alive and well. I was about to call him when I was stopped and suddenly backed away when I saw a woman come out of the house.

My forehead furrowed.

Chloe?

What is she doing in our house? Why are they together?

“You’re drunk again, sweetheart!”

Sweetheart? Why did Chloe call Mateo like that?

Suddenly, my eyes widened, and I gasped for air when I saw what happened next. I covered my mouth.

They kissed!

What is happening? Why did they kiss?

Suddenly my knees went weak because of what I saw, so I leaned against a tree, and my tears fell.

Was Martin right? Is it true that they are married?

I shook my head while holding back my sobs. No! This is not true! Please, Ana, wake up! You’re just dreaming. What you saw is not true.

I hugged myself when suddenly there was a loud thunder. Looks like it’s going to rain hard!

“M-Mateo!” I sobbed at his name.

“What does this mean? Are you really married to someone else? To Chloe? Why? Why did you do this? I’m your wife!” I said, crying.

Why did he do this? Didn’t he look for me before?

I endured all the pain for many years because I hoped that I would have something to fall back on after this. But... What did I see?

When I peeked in to see them again, my heart broke even more when I saw Chloe was carrying a child and they were laughing like a whole happy family.

I teared up even more. I feel so much pain in my heart at this moment. Many things are also playing in my mind right now.

I don’t know how long I stayed in my place. After a while, I stood up and came out of my hiding place and walked away.

Mateo, don’t you love me anymore? Do you believe I’m really dead? Do you have feelings for Chloe? Those are the questions playing in my mind as I walk down the road.

“Mateo, I’m still alive and I’m coming back for you! But why didn’t you wait for me?”

With my knees so weak, I couldn’t stop myself from kneeling on the pavement and yelling loudly at the same time as the thunder was also loud. It seems like it wants to empathize with the pain and emotions I’m feeling right now.

You promised me and in front of the altar that you will love me forever! That I’m the only girl you’ll love and I’m the only one for you! You promised we’d be together forever. But why didn’t you wait for me to come back?

“Why?!”

I cried even more. Suddenly, heavy rain poured down. And after a while, a light suddenly hit me that caused me to look in that direction.

“M-Martin?” I said when I saw him get out of his car. Even though it was pouring, he came to me and suddenly hugged me tightly.

“Shhh! I’m here.” He said, and he hugged me even tighter.

I cried even more in his chest. “He cheated on me, Martin! He fooled me!”

He just caressed my back to stop me from crying.

“Take me home, Martin!” I said to him.

“Yeah, let’s go home.”

He adjusted me away from his body and, without saying a word; he picked me up and walked back to his car and put me in the backseat.

“Everything will be okay!” He whispered to me as he brought me to his chest again and hugged me tightly. I even felt him kiss my forehead.

You will not leave me, Martin, are you?