The Consortium's Heir

Substitute?

Zoe slowly opened the door to Ciel’s room, intending to say goodbye before leaving. Everything she needed was already packed and waiting in her own room. All that was left was a simple farewell before she could finally go.

She found him standing on the balcony, lost in thought, gazing over the vast expanse of Villa Kerrigan and the resort below. The sun was already sinking on the horizon.

“Uh… I’m leaving now,” she said softly.

Earlier, she had seen him at the poolside, talking with his brother—if she remembered correctly, his name was Carter. She’d caught a glimpse of the man the night she first met Ciel. Judging by their serious expressions, it seemed to be an important conversation, so she decided not to interrupt.

“Call me once you arrive in Samar,” Ciel said without looking at her.

Zoe nodded. “Okay.”

Her chest felt heavy all the way to the taxi that took her to the airport. Why? Maybe because she sensed how suddenly cold and distant Ciel had become. But a deal was a deal, right?

She reminded herself that she still had a job to return to at Villa Kerrigan—repeating the thought over and over during the trip to calm her uneasy heart.

The moment she arrived home, she was greeted not by warmth but by her Aunt Anizza’s angry, shouting voice. Not the kind of welcome she hoped for after being gone for months.

“I’ve been patient with you siblings for too long! Maybe I should just throw you all out!”

“Auntie, please don’t.” That trembling voice belonged to Chelsea. “Zoe will send money again at the end of the month—we’ll pay the rent. We just need a little for Issabel’s medicine. Ate can’t send it yet because she’s still inside the villa.”

“I’m not lending you anything!”

Zoe froze in the doorway. She could see Chelsea on the verge of tears while their aunt stood like a stone—no, like a dragon breathing fire, burning down her already fragile sister.

“Please, Auntie…” Chelsea tried to reach for the older woman’s hand, but Anizza shoved her away. Still, Chelsea persisted. “Just a little, please—”

“I said no!” The older woman pushed her so hard that she nearly fell.

Zoe’s tears burned in her eyes, but she held them back as she rushed inside to help Chelsea up. Her sister gasped in shock when she saw her.

“Zoe?!” Chelsea flung her arms around her, clinging tightly.

Zoe wanted to cry but refused to show weakness—not when her sister was watching.

“Oh, so you’re back. Good,” Auntie Anizza said with her hands on her hips.

“You didn’t have to hurt my sister, Auntie.” Zoe’s voice was calm, but her anger was simmering.

And she knew that if she found out this cruelty had been happening all along, she would never forgive herself.

“Chelsea’s being stubborn! I told her I won’t lend them anything, but she just won’t stop!”

“Even so, you shouldn’t have pushed her. What if she hit her head on the floor? Then you’d have another problem.”

Her aunt only raised a brow higher. Zoe felt no fear—only fury and disgust at the sight before her.

“Zoe, please don’t argue anymore,” Chelsea whispered, her voice trembling.

“We’re going to the hospital,” Zoe said firmly, turning her back. She didn’t care about her aunt’s glare anymore.

What mattered now was seeing her youngest sister—Issabel—who would surely be overjoyed to see her.

She dropped her travel bag in the siblings’ small shared room: three beds, one bathroom, rented from their aunt monthly. It didn’t bother Zoe as long as her siblings were safe.

But were they really safe?

She shook her head at that dark thought.

By the time Zoe remembered Ciel, it was already night. Hours had passed since she arrived, and she had completely forgotten his reminder. Damn it!

She fished her phone out of her sling bag, almost dropping it when it suddenly rang.

The call came from an unregistered number.

She didn’t even have Ciel’s number—how was she supposed to call or text him?

The ringing stopped. Then her phone buzzed again with three messages from the same unknown number. She opened them.

It’s me, Ciel. Where are you?

Her lips curved into a nervous bite. How did he get her number? And why did her heart flutter?

Where the f**k are you?!

She winced.

Answer your f*****g phone!

Before she could reply, the phone rang again. Her heart pounded as she answered.

“Hello—”

“Why the hell didn’t you answer my texts? Or my calls?!” His angry voice made her bite her tongue. “Z!” he snapped, and she almost jumped at how sharp his tone was.

“S-sorry…” It was all she could say.

A heavy sigh came from the other end. Silence followed—long, tense—until Ciel finally spoke again.

“Did you arrive safely?”

The tension in her chest melted away at the sound of his raspy voice. He sounded calmer now. Just like that?

“Y-yes… I got a little busy earlier. I’m really sorry, Ciel. I forgot to call to remind you about your meals and meds.”

“Don’t forget to call me tomorrow.”

She nodded instinctively, as if he could see her.

“P-promise. I won’t forget again.”

“How’s Issabel?” he asked, changing the topic—something that made her smile softly.

It touched her that he remembered her sister’s name. And maybe… he cared? Or was it just pity?

She shook the thought away and glanced at her youngest sister, peacefully asleep on the hospital bed.

“Her fever went down. I’m not as worried anymore. Thank God.” She sighed, leaning back in her chair. “Who’s going with you to the doctor tomorrow?”

“My brother.”

“The one you were talking to earlier?”

“You saw us?” He sounded surprised.

“Yes. I was going to say goodbye but you both looked serious, so I waited for you to come back.”

“Okay.”

She checked her wristwatch. “Take your meds at 9:30, okay? But eat first.”

“I will.”

Silence. Neither of them seemed to know how to end the call.

“Uh, Ciel…”

“Hmm?” He was waiting for her to speak first.

“Thank you.” She bit her nail when he didn’t reply. “When I come back, I’ll work harder to make it up to you.”

“Don’t think about work for now. Enjoy your time with your siblings, Z. How are Ashley and Chelsea?”

Her smile widened. He remembered their names too? His memory was amazing.

“T-they’re at home. They have class tomorrow.”

“Zoe…”

Zoe turned toward the small, sleepy voice. Issabel.

“I’ll talk to you later, Ciel,” she said quickly, not waiting for his answer.

She sat on the edge of the hospital bed, phone still in hand, and smiled down at her sister.

“How are you feeling?”

“Happy.”

“Really? Nothing hurts anymore?”

“Because you’re here, Zoe. So nothing hurts now.”

“Oh, you little flatterer!” Zoe tickled her side, earning a soft giggle.

“Zoe, are we going to be together now? Will you work here?”

Her smile faltered. As much as she wanted that, she knew it wasn’t possible yet.

“N-not yet, Issabel. My boss just gave me a short leave, that’s why I was able to come home.” She saw the disappointment cloud her sister’s small face and sighed. “But once I’m done with my job, I’ll live here with you, okay?”

“When will that be, Zoe?”

Zoe played with her sister’s tiny fingers, forcing a sad smile. If she could, she’d stay forever. But the pay she earned in Villa Kerrigan as a private nurse was more than triple what she could get here. She couldn’t just give that up—not yet.

“W-when my boss gets better.”

“Zoe, can we move to another house instead?”

Her brows furrowed. “Why?”

Issabel looked away. “Issabel…” Zoe’s voice softened. “Tell me one good reason why you want to move.”

“A-Auntie Anizza hits me… even when I make small mistakes. I don’t want to live with her anymore, Ate.”

Zoe’s chest constricted painfully—with anger, sadness, and guilt all at once. So it was true? Her aunt had been hurting them?

She swallowed her tears and forced a calm face for Issabel’s sake.

“Auntie hurts you?” Her voice trembled. Issabel nodded. “And Chelsea? Ashley too?” Again, her sister nodded.

Zoe fought to keep her voice steady.

Her heart broke into pieces. She couldn’t believe she had left her siblings with that woman. She felt sick with guilt.

“Zoe, please don’t tell Auntie I told you, okay?” her little sister whispered innocently. “She’ll hit me again if she finds out. It really hurts when she hits me, Ate.”

Zoe clenched her fists. No one—no one—was allowed to hurt her siblings.

“I won’t tell,” she promised gently. “Just rest now, so you can get better. Then we’ll move to a new house, okay?”

“Really?” Issabel’s eyes lit up. “Thank you, Z! I love you! You’re the best!”

Zoe hugged her tightly, finally letting a tear slip down her cheek.

“I-I love you too. So much,” she whispered, fighting back her sobs.

The image of her siblings being hurt burned into her mind. She would never allow it to happen again. She had to do something—anything—to stop her aunt.

Later, she faced Chelsea and Ashley outside Issabel’s hospital room. Both avoided her eyes.

“I’ll ask again,” she said firmly. “Does Auntie Anizza hurt you too?”

They didn’t answer—just nudged each other nervously. Zoe took a deep breath, summoning patience.

“Ashley.”

“Z…”

“Be honest. Issabel already told me Auntie hits her. What did you do to protect her?”

“We… we just cry,” Chelsea whispered weakly.

Zoe pressed a hand to her forehead. “She hits you too?”

Both nodded.

“Why didn’t you tell me?!” Her voice cracked, full of pain and anger. The girls flinched.

“Zoe… we’re sorry,” Ashley said, her voice trembling. “We didn’t want you to worry. We can handle it—”

“Stop!” she interrupted, her heart aching. She turned away so they wouldn’t see her tears.

That night, Zoe barely slept. The next morning, she knew what she had to do. She couldn’t let another day pass without confronting that woman.

“Zoe, please don’t tell Auntie we said anything,” Chelsea begged. “She’ll hurt us again. Please, Zoe…”

Zoe wiped her tears roughly and faced them with forced calm. “Go inside,” she said, pointing to Issabel’s room.

“But—”

“Inside!”

Startled, they hurried in.

Zoe composed herself before leaving the hospital. She couldn’t stand another hour knowing her siblings suffered. They could hurt her all they wanted—but not them. Never again.

x-x-x-x

Time backwards before Zoe left… (in Ciel’s POV)

Ciel’s sharp gaze followed his brother as Carter strolled into his room uninvited. The older man casually sat on the couch, eyes immediately finding Zoe—sound asleep on Ciel’s bed.

After they discussed her siblings and finalized their deal, he’d let her rest there. Big deal? Not really. No woman had ever slept in his bed—not even Serena. He rarely stayed in this mansion anyway, not since the incident. So it meant nothing.

…Right? He tried to convince himself.

“So this is where your nurse sleeps now?” Carter asked with a smirk.

“Shut up.”

Carter chuckled, earning himself a glare sharp enough to kill.

“Why are you here?” Ciel demanded.

“I missed the Villa.”

“Since you’re here, come with me tomorrow,” Ciel said flatly.

“Where?”

“To the orthopedist. My doctor’s checking my leg.” His eyes flicked toward Zoe again. He didn’t like the way his brother looked at her. “Quit staring at her.”

“Oh-oh.” Carter raised both hands in mock surrender. “Why me? You’ve got a nurse.”

“She’s leaving tonight. Don’t ask why.” Ciel wheeled himself toward the door. “Let’s talk outside.”

Carter sighed but followed, pushing the wheelchair until they reached the poolside.

“I remember that girl,” Carter said, glancing around. “What did you do, Ciel?”

“It’s none of your business, man.”

Carter paced by the pool’s edge, staring at his reflection on the water as morning blended into noon.

“One of Heath’s nurses, huh?” Ciel stayed silent—but yes, she was.

“I thought she only looked pretty in the dark…” Carter grinned.

Ciel’s eyes narrowed dangerously, and his brother almost ended up in the pool—but Carter only laughed. “Turns out your nurse looks even better in daylight.”

“Mind your own damn business. And stop talking about Z.”

“‘Z,’ huh? You’ve even got a nickname for her?” Carter whistled teasingly.

Ciel flipped him off, making Carter laugh harder. God, this annoying bastard.

“Have you talked to her yet?” Carter finally asked, his tone calmer.

“She doesn’t want to talk. Stop pushing what’s not meant to be,” Carter said, glancing at him for a reaction. But Ciel’s face stayed blank. “Find someone else instead.”

“Easy for you to say,” he muttered bitterly.

“I was there in New York, you know. If I were you, I’d free myself. Women are everywhere. Why stick to someone who loved you only at your best—and left you at your worst?”

“Stop.” His jaw tightened. But the words struck deep.

“You know what Serena wants, right? For you to walk again. So if you still want her back, fix your mess. Learn to walk.”

Ciel said nothing. He already knew that was what his ex-girlfriend wanted—that’s why she’d rejected his marriage proposal.

She couldn’t accept a man who couldn’t walk.

The memory stung his pride—and his heart.

Damn it.