#LOVE_OVER_BLOOD_2
©Sir Zach
EPISODE 68
” No! I don’t want to go back to that apartment again! I want to stay with my grandpa and daddy to..” she wiggled her hand and run towards Master Omni and Rio. Fear was visible in her eyes. Did something really happened while she was sleeping? She couldn’t und-erstand a thing!
” Alex… stay here for the meantime. I promise to explain everything to you later.” Ethan suddenly broke their conversation.
” O-okay…” the woman replied, still not knowing what is happening.
” Let’s have dinner first.” The man suggested then held the woman’s wa-ist and lead her to the kitchen.
It was rather an awkward dinner since Alex doesn’t know why they suddenly have some men inside the house. Though Ethan introduced Rio, master Omni and Shawn to her, and although there was this familiar spirit within her, she still doesn’t have the guts to converse with them freely.
They may have sensed her anxiousness therefore they didn’t ask to much of a question. They only inquired about general questions which she was able to answer confidently.
However, Rio couldn’t say a word but he kept glancing at her from time to time. And no one could determine his real feelings at the moment. Meanwhile, Mira had been enjoying her time talking with her two grandpa’s. She even asked Shawn to teach her self -defense when she discovered that the man is a good soldier.
” Please uncle, teach me some good moves. I want to protect my mom from the bad guys!” She pleaded.
” Eh?” Alex creased her brow. ” Mira, why do you need to protect mom from bad guys when there’s no one hurting me.” She chuckled.
” But mommy, you had just….”
” Don’t worry sweetheart, daddy is here. I will protect you and mom from now on.” Ethan interrupted the little girl since he knew what she was about to say.
”Besides, uncle Shawn and your grandpa’s are here now. There’s nothing to fear, right?” He added.
He could see how the little girl lit up from where she was sitting.
” Yehey!” She was filled with joy. ” Mommy, I want to stay here with daddy and the rest from now on. I don’t want to go back to that house again.” She scowled when she remembered what happened in that apartment earlier.
Alex faked a smile. ” We will have to talk about that first, okay?”
” Okay. But I don’t want to return to that house again, ever!”
After the seemingly awkward dinner, Aisha had the time to be alone with Rio. They were left on the dinning table since Master Omni took Mira to her room while Ethan and Shawn needed to meet with the boys who were at a different room.
” Your name is Alex, is that correct?”Rio asked while helping the woman fix the table.
” Yes… Mr. Demetrius.” She faked a smile.
” Please don’t call me that. You can just call me Rio.” He lovingly smiled.
” Yes sure… Rio.” Though its new to her but the feeling while talking to this middle age man kinda feels familiar.
Ah! Why is everything seems familiar! She thought.
” That’s way even better.” He replied. The man laid the plates on the sink while the woman started washing them.
Rio didn’t leave the woman, instead, he has been watching her while she was washing the dishes. It had been a few minutes when Alex glanced at him.
” I-is there something wrong in my face, Mr. Rio?” She curiously inquired.
” Ah… I’m sorry dear. It’s just that You reminds me of my daughter.” He suddenly went sad for a bit.
” I’m sorry if I cause you sadness by remembering your daughter. But If I may ask, what happen to her?”
The man lowered his head upon recalling what had happen before. ” She fell from the cliff and fell on the ocean.”
The woman grasped in surprise when she recalls something. Is he possibly the father of Ethan’s late fiance who fell on the cliff too? No, he’s definitely the father! So her daughter was dead. ah, what a tragedy! She felt sad for the man.
Then she paused for a minute or two then stared at Rio whose head was hanging low.
” I’m sorry to hear about her Mr. Rio. You must have been so sad.”
” she became my life since the day I found her. Too bad she didn’t had the time to bond with her twin sister and mother before the tragedy happened three years ago.” He continued.
There was silence on the woman’s part for a few minutes.
” Mr. Rio, I don’t know what had happen before but I believe that all things work together for good. Whether it is a bad one or a good one, God has his own purpose for doing everything. We may not und-erstand God’s ways sometimes but let’s continue to trust him. Who knows things needed to happen to make some things in life happens. I don’t know if I am making sense right now, But I felt the need to voice my thoughts.” She leered. ”Sorry.”
” It’s okay. I think it was what I needed to hear right now. Thank you.” He smiled the widest.
” You’re welcome.” She gave a smile.
”Can I hug you? Just a minute will do.” The man pleaded.
” Yes, sure!” The woman suddenly wiped her w-et hands and embraced the man.
Rio wanted to cry but he held back his tears. He is so happy to be able to hold his long lost daughter whom he thought was dead. Dang! His heart wanted to burst. What will Cherry feel if she discovers about Aisha too? Well, She will surely faint, that’s a fact!
Alex thought it was just a simple embrace. She thought she could give a warm hug for the man’s loss, but her heart is being stirred… again. There is an unexplainable kind of pain within her. It stings that much that she wanted to cry.
” Dad!”
She suddenly heard a woman yelled. It was her brain again! But she only saw a glimpse of a blurry memory.
Ah, now she seemingly und-erstands a bit and she could feel the father’s embrace from him. Ah, now she’s jealous of whoever that woman is for having a loving dad.
Dad…. A tear suddenly escaped from her eyes.
_______
*The next day*
On top of a building, two blocks away from a big casino, Shawn used the telescopic lense of the sniper gun to watch someone’s every move— Zoren! Some of his men have also entered the casino building without getting an attention from Zoren and his men.
Some have entered as civilians, like the others who were busy playing everywhere. And for some, they have applied as a bodyguard to some known businessmen so they would saturate the casino where Zoren and his men usually stays. Ah, the strategy that Shawn thought is definitely a good one.
Last night, Ethan, with the two old men and Shawn, had a talk about their plans against the loansharks who attacked the woman.
FLASHBACK:
” These are the information I received from Jc about Zoren.” Ethan flashed the datas infront of them. They have gathered at Ethan’s study room when everyone have fallen asleep already.
” Zoren Rasman, 50 years old. Also an owner of 22 casinos nationwide. The biggest casino was the one here in Estrella City. According to the source, Rasman usually stays overnight every Monday, Thursday and Sunday. Furthermore, he is also the chief of all loansharks in Estrella City.”
” If he’s that big, then how did Aisha manage to make an appointment with that old man?” Shawn curiously asked. Though if he will consider Aisha’s ability in the past, then she’ll definitely make a way. But since she lost her memories, then how?
” That was also a puzzle to me before. But when I got to talk to the old couple who had taken cared of Aisha, they said that a man helped them. In fact, he was the one who made an appointment with Rasman on behalf of them.” Ethan replied.
” Who’s the guy?”Rio inquired.
” Clement. Clement Zalasar, a mexican doctor who was a-ssigned as an outreach doctor. He was also the one who originally found Aisha floating on the ocean.” Ethan voiced with suspicions. ”But if you think about it, Rasman and Zalasar must have known each other before, since the couple received the borrowed money the day after the appointment date.” He furthered. “That was too impossible considering the amount of money they had borrowed.”
” Yeah, that guy is definitely suspicious too.” Shawn uttered his thought.
” I have my doubts on him too that’s why I asked Jc to investigate about him further. But for now, we have to concentrate on Zoren since I’m sure he already knew about his dead men as well as Aisha’s ability since one had escaped that time.”
” My grandson is right, we need to watch that old man for the time being. Unless he does something on Aisha, then that’s the time we’ll apprehend him.” It was master Omni who spoke.
” But you do know that touching Zalasar would mean war.” Rio stared at Ethan. ” Are you ready for an another all-out-war?”
” I am ….more than anything, as long as I will be able to protect them from him.”
” But is this the only way? Why don’t we just tell her the truth then go back to the Central State?”
” But will it really solve the problem if we do that? Zalasar is also a big time man; he got a lot of men all over the country. He can easily send orders to dispatch anyone and that doesn’t exclude Aisha.” Ethan explained. ” Even if we offer him double of what Aisha owed, the burning coal won’t heap easily. He is a man who’s motto is án eye for an eye and tooth for a tooth.”
” So attacking him first is your option?” Rio probed further.
” No, that’s not what I mean. I will go with Shawn’s suggestion. We just have to keep an eye on him and catch him on the act before engaging into battle. escaping might be a temporary solution for now but what if the things that had happened three years ago happens again? I don’t want to lose them. Not anymore.”Ethan made his final resolve.
Rio smiled at his proposition.
The truth is, Rio was just testing the man as to how far he would go to protect Aisha and her daughter. Looks like he learned from what had happened before which is definitely good.
Then Rio and Master Omni looked at each other. There eyes seemingly agreeing into something.
” This process will take some time, what’s your plan for the two?” Rio was pertaining to Aisha and Miracle.
” They will remain here for the meantime. Though I know that Aisha will soon find out what’s happening …but… I have a plan for that already.” He grinned after.
” Okay, since you said so.” Rio leaned his back on the chair. ” Then let’s proceed with your plans then.” He beamed.
Master Omni and Shawn had been listening intently on their conversation but they hadn’t interrupted them since it looks like it was a conversation between a father and a fiance wanting to protect the same woman.
******
Shawn smir-ked when he was able to see Zoren on his telescopic lense. ah, that dirty old man playing dirty with those two innocent teenager… tsk! He scoffed within.
Meanwhile, Alex woke up at 9am in the morning. And yeah, she had already agreed to stay at Ethan’s suite since he pleaded. anyway, it will only be for a week.
Miracle had already left for school with Ysabelle. Therefore, she went to the shower room to have a quick bath before going to work. As soon as she had prepared herself, she went down the stairs and was amazed to see no one, not even Ethan. Where did everyone go? She asked herself.
Maybe Ethan was at his office therefore she went outside and strides to the man’s office, however, even the office was locked! Where is he?
She was thinking to call him but when she took out her phone and was about to dial his number, her phone suddenly rang.
” Clement?” She glanced at the caller i.d before answering the call.” What’s up? How are you?”
” Where are you?” The man instantly asked. ” I was about to visit you at your apartment but it was shut down!” The man on the other line inquired.
” Ah yeah, it was closed for renovation.” She replied since that was the reason Ethan gave her. ” But I am at the First Estrella hotel right now.”
” I am coming to see you.” It was a statement from Clement.
” It’s up to you. Anyway, I think I am free today.” She innocently answered.
” Okay.” Clement sneered as soon as the call got disconnected.
Alex was about to go to the hotel’s restaurant to book a table for two when she suddenly bump into manager Sheila.
” Oh, look who’s here?” She was wearing an insulting smile. ” Looks like you have succeded in seducing the CEO, huh.”
Alex heaved a sigh. ” Get out of my way. If you think you will be able to provoke me with those worthless words then try har-der .” She was about to leave when the woman suddenly tripped her with her foot.
” OooppPpss! Sorry.” Manager Sheila chuckled mockingly as she gaze at the woman who was supposed to fall on the floor but managed to balance herself.
Manager Sheila was about to leave too, but Alex suddenly grabbed her shoulder leveled hair and made sure to pull her down. She sat on her bu-tt at the for-ce of Alex pull. “Ouch!” She yelped.
” Oooppppsss! Sorry!” She sarcastically chuckled then immediately left the manager who was in total shock.
********
After an hour or two, Ethan was on his way back to First Estrella Hotel. He went to visit his female neuro-Psychology friend to ask her opinion about Aisha forgotting what had happened yesterday.
” Looks like her confusion and unbelief chose to bury what had happened. She is still on the in denial stage. She must be in total shock that she unknowingly suppressed that tragic memory. But it wouldn’t be long. She might have forgotten it temporarily but she will soon remember. And when that time comes, make sure not to leave her.” The psychologist explained.
” Worst thing to happen is, she might lose her sanity because of that.” She continued.
After a few more conversation, he also dropped to where Jc was and had some chat just like the old times. But most important was, he was able to learn more of that Clement guy. Dang! He is definitely a villain!
As soon as he was about to enter the hotel, his eyes caught a glimpse of two people laughing together inside the hotel’s cafe. Then he raised his brow annoyingly.
He strides to where they are and took a hold of the woman’s arm and pulled her up instantly.
” Alex, let’s go!” He voiced seriously.
” Ethan!?” Alex was a bit surprise.
” Come on Mr. Williams, that’s rude!” Clement stood up to meet the man’s eyes. ” we’ve been friends for a long time and were just catching up. What’s wrong with that?” He suddenly went serious as well?
Alex could feel the tension between the two and it’s not far from possible that they can start a fight anytime soon if this clash continues.
” Ethan, please, go back first. I just need to talk to him for a few minutes. I’ll be there as soon as I’m done.” Alex pleaded the man softly.
” I can’t. This man is dangerous. You should stop seeing him moving forward.” Ethan warned Alex.
” Ho-ho!” Clement interrupted. ” Just who are you to stop —–” Clement didn’t finish his statement since Ethan interjected.
” Zoren. Zoren Zalasar.” Ethan smir-ked meaningfully. ” You knew him, correct?”
As soon as Alex heard the name, she suddenly snapped out of the blue. The name seemingly had triggered her subsconscious mind that it brou-ght her all the memories she tried to suppressed before.
The men who raided her apartment as they took Ysabelle and Mira hostages. The guys who were trying to collect a one time payment. The men who threatened to take away her daughter as a compensation. The fight with them… then all that had transpired that very morning came into her remembance!
Zoren! She suddenly shuddered. The two men had been talking but Alex couldn’t hear them. Her mind went hazy all of a sudden. After a few minutes of shocked, the woman came back to her senses when she heard something. Then she stared at Clement.
” Clement… Are you friend’s with Zoren Zalazar?” She looks startled. ” and… Are you the one who pushed ‘them’ to borrow money from those loansharks?” Her gaze was accusing.
” Alex… I will explain what happened, okay?” Clement was caught off guard.
Pakkkkkkk!!! A crisp sound of a cheek that was hardly slapped echoed in the cafe.
” How dare you!” Alex scoffed upsettingly. ” How could you do this to them?! And to me?!” She cried.
WATCHOUT FOR EPISODE 69
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