Enigma (Dauntless Series #4)

Chapter 23

Being Andronikos' wife is both freeing and challenging. It's always in between. One day he let me be, the other day he's tampering with my business. He's still helping me with the Almazan case especially now that the police gathered a strong evidence against the Mayor. With Detective Capistrano in charge, they were able to seize all documents, his suspicious accounts, as well as his accomplices involve in this case. I was also the one who broke the news that's why Niko's with me all the damn time. He doesn't want to believe me when I told him that I can protect myself.

Sa bahay na siya umuuwi. Hindi alintana ang layo ng base sa inuuwian niya basta ang mahalaga, mabantayan niya ako. I appreciate it but I also think it's too much.

In addition to that, Huxley and Mr. Hernandez have learned about my real job. His brother was surprised while their father got hysterical. They immediately called us to their house the day after the news broke. Iyon ang unang beses na nakita kong kumawala ang sungay na pilit nitong tinatago.

"You fooled our family! You deliberately walked into the lion's den thinking you won't get caught but you're wrong. Are you that desperate to get a scoop that you had to lure my son into marriage?"

Nagtiim bagang ako dahil kung makapagsalita siya ay tila ba kilalang-kilala niya ako. I wanted to counterattack his insults but Niko's grip on my wrist was too strong for me to yank. I glared at him but he wouldn't budge. Instead, he eyed his father with such coldness I've never seen before.

"What's happening right now has nothing to do with our marriage. I accepted her job just like how she accepted me into her life wholeheartedly. Matagal na akong may alam sa illegal na gawain ni Magnus bago ko pa man makilala si Gwyneth kaya kung ano man ang mga paratang mo sa kaniya, nagkakamali ka roon, Papa. Hindi ako madaling mabola ng kahit sino." he spat those words like he finds it disgusting. Galit na galit ang kaniyang ama.

"Your sister's life is in shambles---"

"Which she could've avoided if you didn't force her into that fucking marriage!"

"Watch your mouth, Andronikos!" si Huxley na mukhang susugod na rin. Pinigilan siya ni Alexei kaya hindi natuloy ang balak nito pero base sa reaksyon niya, mukhang hindi lang suntok ang matatamo ni Niko kung hindi lang ito napigilan.

Hindi ko alam kung bakit nasaktan ako sa sinabi ng Papa niya kahit na totoo naman ang mga paratang niya. Kung titingnan sa ibang anggulo, ako talaga ang pinakanakinabang sa kasal na ito kahit pa sabihin nating si Niko naman ang nag-alok ng kasal. There's a part in me that want to erase those realization in people's minds. Hearing them talk about how I used Niko for my own benefit hurts like hell. Even if it's true...

I guess I'm just afraid that one day, Andronikos will wake up and realizations will come to him. He'll finally comprehend that what we did was wrong and then he'll leave me.

"Sa dinami-daming babaeng pwedeng pakasalan, bakit iyan pa?" Leonardo Hernandez pointed me like I'm some trash he wants to be thrown away. Nanatili ang tingin ko sa kaniya dahil natatakot ako sa magiging reaksyon ni Niko.

What will I do once he wakes up and decides to end this? Can I take it? Should I let him end this even if that's what we agreed upon in the very beginning?

"I don't think you're in the position to choose whoever he wants to marry, Sir," I said through gritted teeth. Napaawang ang bibig ni Mr. Hernandez sa pagkabigla dahil sa kabila ng mga insulto niya sa akin ay nagawa ko pa ring sumabat sa kanila. Siguro nga makapal ang mukha ko. E, ano naman? "Had you the one who chose his bride, what's the possibility that she could end up worse than Mayor Almazan? Can you stomach seeing your other child in a difficult situation like what happened to poor Natasha? No offense but you're not a good matchmaker."