To Love and Avenge

Chapter 41

Being widely awake for the whole night, my mind wanders, thinking of the pros and cons of having a child.

Rejecting him like that, will only hurt me, I know, but having one will even hurt me more. Not to mention that I'm not yet ready for another responsibility.

He doesn’t love me. It's true that we have been getting along with each other these past few months. Just getting along. I painfully thought. But nothing more than that.

Having a child is another story, and we should consider love as our foundation, not just some lustful desires we both share during our cold nights. filling our individual needs.

But how would I know, even this marriage was an investment in the first place?

Regardless of how much he wanted it, I should have to think about it. Otherwise, I would only jeopardize everything and everyone around us, and complicating it would be the last thing I should do. I have to think about it thoroughly because I can’t be reckless again.

Dawn breaks in, and the sun starts to set its way to a new day for everyone. It is for me another day of struggles. Dauis got up and later prepared for his daily work. But for me, I was left in bed lazily lying and pretending to be asleep. He then walked away without even bidding goodbye to me. The worst was that I was expecting him to at least muster a word.

Maybe he was so angry. But, what is he angry about? Just by not having a child? Didn't he think that he would only complicate things for us, or maybe he thought of another investment?

After a few hours, I dialed Mang Kanor’s number.

“Ale.” he greeted.

“Mang Kanor, prepare yourself. At first, I wanted you off of the mission, but seeing your determination, I guess you are right after all.”

“Indeed Ale, so what’s up? This time, I just hope that you have finally made up your mind.”

“Well, I thought of letting the enforcers do their job and I would focus on working up on my marriage, but after we spoke last night, I changed my mind. So, I just call to inform you that we will soon be doing the hunting again.” I said in a very determined voice.

“Are you certain?” he asked hesitantly.

“Why wouldn’t I be?” I responded, pretending to be tough. Yeah, I was always like this, too tough to be true.

Hearing how determined I am, he then said, “Right, that’s my girl,” and ended the call.

Determined on today's plan, I stood up, took a quick shower, and headed home. With a quick change of my plate number, the engine roared to life and accelerated, exceeding the speed limit.

St. Luisa Residence.

“Good day Ma’am.” The security greeted me politely. Bowing his head as he accepted the I.d that I handed him.

“Good day to you too, Mr. Cruz,” I said, reading his name that was embroidered on his uniform.

He smiled at me, acknowledging my return.

“It has been a while, Ms. Monica.” and he handed back my identification card.

“Are you new?” I asked curiously but as politely as I could.

“Sorry for my incompetence, I am new and still not very familiar with the residents around. I just asked because I have not seen you since I was assigned here.” he pointed out in a friendly manner.

“Well, you’re doing great.” I smiled at him in return and winked at him before I drove away.

My house was situated in a very secluded part of the subdivision. It was a bungalow style and had advanced security features.

I dug out the wireless device used to decode the first security line of the gate from the bottom part of the post. By using it, it has to read my cornea to decode. Then, after successfully decoding, a small device will flip open for another palm recognition before the gate opens. But if an intruder tries such this without finding the first decoder and will eventually fail, a warning alarm would be sent to me through the vibration of my ring. Except, of course, if the person was already recognized by the set cameras.

After that, the lawn was also planted with some traps. So anyone who goes inside should be well knowledgeable about the security system that works around the area.

Upon entering the house, I was greeted by a woman who was comfortably changing flowers in the flower vase while humming.

“Hello Monica, it’s been a while.” she smiled brightly the moment she saw me coming.

“Hey”, I stopped and greeted her back.

“What took you so long to be home?” she came to me and hugged me warmly. She has always been like this, and I am delighted at her motherly care for me.

“So much work to do lately.”

“Oh, poor Monica, come, sit for a while, I will go get you some drink.” I nodded at her hostility. She has seemed to be very affectionate to me since that day and she has been here for like a forever. She didn’t leave the house even for a single minute, so I would always stock up food for her or have somebody send her groceries.

“You must be tired,” she concluded as she put the juice in front of me.

After sipping the drink, I stood up to head to my room when she called out.

“Are you staying for a night?” she hesitantly asked, but the joy in his voice was very apparent.

I stopped halfway to my room and turned to her. Looking at her expectant eyes, I said yes.

She had always been like this after I took her from the safe house and introduced myself to her. She acted like a mother to me and it was quite overwhelming.

I sometimes find it surreal that I also tend to flee from her embrace when things become unbearable. I can also find comfort in her. It sends warmth to my heart though.

She cheerfully announces that she will be cooking food that I like. That was so thoughtful of her.

In my room, I quickly went down the staircase leading to the underground. It was hidden and the woman with me here had no idea that such a room existed.

My eyes wandered around the carefully and neatly stocked high-powered guns, from small to big ones.

I grin at the idea of how I cleverly acquired it all. ‘Make use of any opportunity that may arise, as they say

One day, I will be throwing it all away. The question is when? When I found her? Or I will forever be doomed in a kind of life.

During dinner, she kept on asking about the happenings in my life, which I obediently do as much as I can. And oh, not to mention that some were lies, most of them were.

I ate a lot this time. I set aside my problems and genuinely enjoyed her company. She has nothing much to tell though, but she never leaves the part when she wished that I was with her.

Of course, who else she would be missing, when all she knew for half a decade was only me.

We were both enjoying our dinner when suddenly a buzzing phone interrupted us. I took out my phone to see who was calling but decided not to take it, so I set it aside.

“Who was it? Aren’t you going to take it?” she asked kindly.

“No, it’s not important though,” I responded nonchalantly. She just nods at me.

The phone stopped ringing, then after a few minutes, it started to buzz again.

I was about to turn it off when she interrupted.

“You know, you should take it, who knows if it is urgent,” she understandingly said and, stood up to leave to give me some privacy, but I stopped her.

“You just stay here, I will just go outside and take it. There's no need for you to leave.” it’s a good thing that I have set up the place to interfere with the location connection.

As soon as I accepted the call, a cold male voice greeted me from the other line.

“Where are you?”

“Somewhere away from you?” I sarcastically said.

“But of course, why would I call if you were with me?” he said coldly. By the tone of his voice, I knew at this instant that he was displeased by my behaviour.

I smirk as if he oversees me through the phone.

(me) “...”

“You still there?” he asked impatiently.

“Yeah”

“What time are you coming?”

“I'm not coming tonight,” I said, then followed by a long silence. He heaved a sigh and said.

“Where are you?” he asked again. “I'm going there,” he continued.

“Why is that? I need space, I will see you tomorrow.” I said dismissively and ended the call.

Going back to the dining hall, I stood near the door to look at the woman sitting there, patiently waiting for my return. Her delicate features reminded me of someone I know very much, and have known for ages, but very opposite in terms of traits. She was so modest.

“How was it possible?” I asked silently to myself. Sensing my presence, she looked up at me, smiled, and walked toward her.

“Why haven't you continued eating?” I asked.

“I waited for you, like every other meal, I was always waiting for your arrival, hoping that you would just show up and have a meal with me. You know it’s more fun eating with someone close to your heart.” I can only smile at her, what can I say? Though I didn’t speak that much to her, she sure knew that I was grateful.

“Let’s continue then, sorry for the interruption of my colleague.” and she nodded.

She always speaks and does things with sophistication, so I wondered who she really was before being locked in the safe. Every time I asked about her past, she would always say that she had no memory of her past, only those times when she was in the safe up to the present. But I find it difficult to believe, as she often avoided the topic.

Later that night, I stayed up for the rest of it. Consuming the remaining hours for some preparation for future use, I did some research and asked my reliable source to do some hacking from the government files.