CHAPTER 28

We arrived in the Philippines after a 16- to 18-hour flight. It was very exhausting even though Oceanus and I spent much of our time eating and sleeping. He booked a hotel near Austria City and chose an executive suite with two rooms, so we still have some privacy.

"Can you just agree to it?!"

He shook his head and took a sip of his drink. He raised his hand and smiled at me. A smile that reached almost to his ears. His face was flushed from the alcohol, and his hair was a mess.

"Nope, Huzzah!" he slurred.

I annoyingly brushed my straight hair and raised an eyebrow.

"I'm independent, Oceanus! Don't treat me like a baby. Gosh!" I replied, irritated.

He looked me up and down. He rolled his eyes and gestured for me to leave.

"Fine. Go where you're happy. Just call me immediately if something bad happens to you," he said quickly.

I chuckled softly and nodded. He's so much easier to talk to when he's drunk. I left him without another word because he might change his mind.

The hotel Oceanus and I are staying at is also close to the beach. There's a beach party happening, and one of my friends invited me to join since they found out I was here. Partying isn't the reason why I came here to the Philippines, but I'll just go to relieve stress for a while, and I also invited, so who am I to refuse?

I'll stop by the restroom first to make sure I look presentable. I gathered my long, straight chocolate-brown hair behind me. My light brown eyes appeared even more vivid as they caught the sunlight streaming through the bathroom window. I was wearing a fitted, sleeveless brown dress that accentuated my hourglass figure.

I smiled when I saw that my appearance was presentable. "You're so pretty, Val," I said to myself.

-ˋˏ ༻❁༺ ˎˊ-

"Omg! Hexia, nice to meet you again!"

I chuckled softly and hugged her. She jumped up and down with joy when she saw me. Well, it's been a year since our last party. I met her because Atlas brought me to Ismael's niece's birthday party.

"Nice to meet you too!"

We chatted about various things in their cottage before going up to the yacht. One of her friends owns it. The yacht is big, and there are already quite a few people on board.

"Do you want to swim later?" she asked me while I watched her rummage through her bag as we entered a cabin. "I have a new two-piece and a one-piece swimsuit in my bag. Just tell me if you're going to swim in the sea so I can choose a swimsuit for you."

"Sure. I'll let you know," I replied simply.

I told her I was stepping out to get some fresh air on the top deck of the yacht. It was already moving, and the wind was stronger. I leaned against the railings, enjoying the powerful breeze on my face.

I think I should enjoy this since I don't know when this will happen again. My friend works in business and real estate, I expect there are other business owners and people like that here.

"Hi, I saw you were alone, so I came over. Do you want me to accompany you?"

I opened my eyes and looked to see who spoke. I didn't even know him and had only just seen him now. I gazed at him emotionlessly, as if my stare could pierce through his body.

"No. If you don't mind, please leave me alone."

He frozen at the moment and understood what I said and left quickly. From the tone of my voice alone, he could tell I wasn't pleased with him. I sighed and refocused my attention on the beautiful blue sea in front of me, but my view was interrupted when something caught my eye.

I recognized him by his body even from behind. I was very familiar with him, though we had only met face-to-face once. His broad frame was so expansive that you could almost hide behind his wide chest and his body that it's like he can tower over you.

It was Amadeus Alejandro Zevallos, also known for his codename 'Helios'. The person Atlas ordered me to kill.

I didn't expect to see him scanning the crowd on the yacht's top deck as if searching for something until he stopped in my direction. My face remained emotionless, but my chest was in turmoil. Why am I feeling this way?

None of us broke our gaze. Even from a distance, I knew it was him. His beautiful gray eyes, handsome face, and his dominant aura—who could forget those? The night, we almost did it if I hadn't passed out. I know him, but he doesn't remember me anymore.

I was the first to look away and leave my spot. I started to head down and was about to enter the hallway where the cabins are when someone grabbed me. He pulled me until we reached a dark part of the cabin hallway. Just as I was about to reach for the pocket knife in my leg holster, he stopped me.

I felt a chill run through my body when I heard his voice. I knew him well, and I could never forget that.

"I didn't know that you're here. You supposed to be in Mexico focusing on your training, Valentina, or should I say Sarah Dayanghirang?"

It was Atlas.

I clenched my fist and punched him hard in the face because he was holding my hand. I stomped on his foot and grabbed the pocket knife from my leg holster. I pointed it at his throat and met his gaze.

"Don't bring Sarah into this, Atlas. She's gone," I spat, my voice laced with venom. "Oceanus and I searched everywhere for you. How could you just abandon us? Ismael's been frantic, and your office is a mess," I roared.

My heart pounded in my chest as rage consumed me. I remembered everything he'd done, and a cold fury washed over me.

"We need to talk, now," I hissed, the knife digging into his skin.

He stared at me, his expression unreadable. It was as if he welcomed my anger.

"I have questions, and you're going to answer them," I growled, my voice low and menacing.

I noticed a flicker in his eyes, a knowing glint that told me he'd figured out what I wanted to ask.

"So you found out about your father," he said softly, taking my hand. But I tightened my grip around his neck, digging my nails into his skin. "That means you went through my office."

I noticed a drop of blood trailing down his neck, but I didn't loosen my grip. Instead, I applied even more pressure, ensuring he understood I wasn't playing around.

"That's not a problem anymore, Atlas! You fucking killed my father!" I screamed. "W-why? Why did you do t-that?" I asked, my voice weakening.

I quickly dropped my hand that were holding a pocket knife when I sensed someone watching us. I glanced around, searching for the intruder. At the end of the hallway, I saw Helios standing there, watching us.

I wasn't sure if he was just passing by or if he had been there the whole time. Atlas snatched the knife from my hand and tossed it into the trash. His arm wrapped around my waist, pulling me close. I looked up at him, my brow furrowed, trying to pry him away.

"What are you doing?" I hissed. "Let me go!"

He also turned to look at Helios, who was now standing there with his arms crossed, watching us. I knew he was looking at us because it was just the two of us, Atlas and I, and no one else.

"We will continue this in my warehouse," Atlas said seriously, still not taking his eyes off Helios.

I noticed the corner of his lip curl up as he began to walk away down the hallway of the cabin, his hand still resting on my waist.

-ˋˏ ༻❁༺ ˎˊ-

Oceanus and I didn't even get to relax in the booked executive suite at the hotel because I had him follow me to Atlas' warehouse as soon as we arrived. As usual, we were in Atlas' office and continued the conversation that was interrupted earlier on the yacht.

"I'm just following our organization's rules, Hexia. And your father already signed the letter. There's nothing he could do if that was his fate."

I slammed my hand on his desk and glared at him.

"You killed him! You killed my father!" I cried, my voice filled with tears.

"You've become your father's replacement, Hexia. How many times do I have to tell you that I'm just following the rules of our organization? If I hadn't done it, who would have taken responsibility? Of course it would be me. He signed the letter that you would be his replacement. After a couple of weeks, he changed his mind and said he would take back the replacement letter where you would be a replacement for him, but it was too late because he had already signed it."

My shoulders shook as tears continued to stream down my face. He looked at me emotionlessly, sitting in his swivel chair.

All the things I wanted to know, he answered while we were arguing here in his office.

"So this was all planned?" I asked weakly. "You didn't just accept me here because I was looking for a job. You accepted me because I was really my father's replacement here?"

"Yes and yes," he replied quickly.

I wiped my tears and calmed myself down, trying to process everything he had said. It hurt my head and my heart like millions of needles pricking at me.

"And your mother knows it, she's also working here, and when she wants to retire, your father takes her position while working in our organization, and then you. I also planned that I would be the one to support your education until you finish your studies and get a job here. And if you plan to leave our organization again, you already know what the consequences will be."

I blink several times when I hear his first statement. My legs went weak, and I almost fell.

"Mom..." I whispered. "She's also working here?" I said weakly to myself.

"You've been working here for five years, and you're still not used to what's happening here?" he asked seriously.

I swallowed and couldn't answer his question. I had nothing to say, and until now, I still couldn't believe what I was hearing. That everything happening to me now, from when I found out that Dad died but the truth was Atlas was the one who did it, to my working here was planned.

I turned my back on him and angrily opened the door. I almost bumped into Oceanus when I met him, he seemed to be entering Atlas' office as well. He furrowed his brow when he saw my red eyes and the traces of tears. I didn't bother to wipe it in front of him.

Before I could leave Atlas' office completely, he said something in a serious tone.

"We're all victims here, Hexia. There's nothing else we can do, even if we want to leave this organization. We're all trapped here."

SHANGPU