CHAPTER 18 - LIE
1175 Words
HANNAH
When we got on the yacht, Harley immediately took care of putting the towel on my shoulder so I wouldn't get cold. Then he massaged my sprained leg while I was dumbfounded and absorbing what just happened.
If Harley hadn't been there I probably would have drowned. Because I'm not the first one Apollo will save and I don't know if he'll ever come back to me. Tears welled up in my eyes and I immediately covered my face with my hands.
"Hannah, you're safe now. Please, don't cry. I got you, didn't I?" I'm mine with Harley.
But I didn't cry because I was afraid for my life. I was crying because I was hurt by what Apollo showed me and how cold he treated me. Harley hugged me and leaned my face on her chest.
"I wanna go back. I'm sorry. I don't want to continue this." I said between sobs. I heard Harley order the operator to turn the yacht back.
My eyes moved to the left and saw Apollo hugging Anabel while calming her down. He seemed to feel that someone was looking at him and our eyes met.
'I'm sorry.' He mouthed. That was the first time I saw him apologize. But for what reason?
I didn't say anything and just closed my eyes. I want to go away and forget everything. When I got to the shore, I got off and Giaco met me.
"Hannah, I'm sorry for the trouble." Harley apologizes.
"It's not your fault." I said calmly and removed the towel from my shoulders. I gave it back to Harley. "Thank you for saving me."
"Hannah..." His voice was sad. "Did I do something wrong?"
"I.." I took a deep breath. "I want to be alone for now. I'm sorry."
"I'm just here if you need me." I thanked him before turning my back. I thought I would have peace by coming here but it was no use either. I stopped walking when I saw Apollo and Anabel in the distance. He was carrying her like a bride while Anabel's arms were holding onto Apollo's nape.
"I want to disappear. Why am I not enough? I tried to be, but where did I fail?" I whispered and bit my lower lip.
I closed my eyes and sighed. "Giaco, are they still at the conference, Papa?"
"Yes, miss. He called to check on you while you're at the sea." he said and followed what I looked at. "Should I inform them that we'll leave first?"
I nodded. "Let's leave now, I'll pack my bags."
"Alright," he said gently. It seems like he knows how I feel right now.
I looked at him. "Can I ask you something? Have you ever cheated before you got married?"
He swallowed hard and I knew he was hesitant to answer. "I.. uhm... I actually cheated twice on my wife."
"Twice?! Giaco, you animal!" I teased and put my hand over my mouth in shock. "What's wrong? Why did you cheat? What's wrong with you?"
He looked away. "Miss, I thought we're leaving?"
"Say it! Come on, be more comfortable with me. You used to babysit me when I was in high school." I forced him.
I want to stop from thinking about Apollo for a moment. And to do that I started teasing Giaco. We continued to walk while he talked about his past and his family.
"I got her pregnant and got married because of it. I became a responsible husband and took care of her. But then, she blamed me because the pregnancy ruined her career. We fought a lot, and she had a miscarriage. I was devastated and she continued to blame it on me." Giaco told the story with so much regret in his voice. "That's when I met a girl who listens to my rants. I can be myself around her. And we got caught, and I thought my wife would throw a fit but she didn't. So, I cut my ties with the woman and repaired my marriage. But every time we fight, she brings it up."
"And then?"
"Then, I met another woman who is caring and adorable. She was fun and there were no dull moments with her." He sighed and cleared his throat. "Turns out, she was my wife's cousin. We got caught again and that's the first time I saw my wife cry. I didn't know that she was pregnant and had a miscarriage again. My fault, there is no doubt."
I just found out about this family. He was my bodyguard for 12 years, I think? And I never got close to him because he's too scary and intense.
"Remember when I wasn't around for a year and the Mayor hired a sub?" I nodded in response. "I was busy wooing my wife. She filed an annulment and I don't want to sign it. Because if I do, I will lose her. We had a lot of troubles and fought a lot. But, everything fell into the right place when we learned to accept each other's history and flaws."
"Wow." I said, amused. "Your love life is like a TV series."
He laughed softly. "We have three boys and two girls now."
"Wow. Five kids, you're really an animal!"
"It's seven. I still consider her two miscarriages as our kids. We can't forget them."
"I hope the best for your family, Giaco." I said and patted his arm.
We got back to the hotel and I packed my things in my bags. And because I lost my cellphone at sea and I borrowed Giaco's phone to call Papa.
"Are you gonna be alright, sweetie?" My father asked.
"Yes, still. Uhm, I'm getting tired of the activities here and I want to go back. I miss our ranch."
"Alright. Just call if anything happens. And I asked my secretary to buy you a new phone."
I laughed. "'Pa, I'm a grown woman. I can buy my own phone. I have money."
"Don't mind it. You're my only baby. All of this is yours."
"Okay, okay. I got it." I said before hanging up.
When I left the lobby, my car was stopped in front. Giaco opened the passenger seat door. I stopped riding when I heard someone call my name.
I turned around and saw Harley running towards me. "You're leaving?"
"Yeah. I'll see you around, Harley." I said sincerely.
"Can I at least get your number?"
"I lost my phone at the sea remember?"
He winced. "Right."
"But you can still visit me at the ranch if you have time."
His face lit up. "I'll make time."
"Alright, I'm leaving." I said goodbye to him.
He held my hand and that shocked me. "Hannah, when I saved you..."
"What?" I suddenly felt nervous. Did it hear the name I mentioned?
"Nevermind. I'm just glad that I was the one who saved you."
I pulled him and gave him a friendly hug. I patted his back.
"Me too." That's a lie.
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