I still remember the whispers about him - they said he was born at the most dangerous hour of the day and I Olivia Montes had laughed it off, wondering how one could spot the most dangerous hour of the day.
Everyone kept their distance, he was someone you could never mess with, easily intimidated by his domineering aura.
His body features were sharp and on point. His piercing silver eyes were like strong magnets that captured and pulled you at once, leaving you straying when you stared into them; maybe you could get lost and drawn.
Is it his chiseled abs that were like sweet temptation, like fresh fruits he flaunted most of the time for all to see; making ladies gawk and awe from a distance since no one dared approach him? His aura was both intimidating and alluring, like a god amongst men.
Now I heard and saw all these about him a few years ago, I was not the only one who made sure never to cross his parts. Those who did, hah! No one knew how their life turned out to be, he must have left them in the hottest part of hell where they gnashed their teeth.
One of them who suffered his treachery was this boy in my college school days. I can vividly remember until now, the boy who got a severe injury in his legs that made him lame.
And after a series of investigations were made, no one could discover how he got his life injury. But I, Olivia was the only one who knew who had done that to him, but I dared not to speak because if I did, my life would have been at steak.
He was very handsome, having charms that revolved around him, but these charms were deadly, so deadly that no one dared to come close.
However, no matter how I tried to never walk on the same path he did, fate had its curse. Unfortunately, I ended up falling into his endearing cage. Till now, this cage held me captive and its evidence was what he left me with. 'His child' I took care of.
Then again, after all these years had passed and I thought I had gotten rid of his deadly charms, he resurfaced from nowhere.
I felt a shiver run down my spine as I realized that this man, once the cold icy person I knew, the chill in his demeanor though still intimidating, gave way to a radiant that captivated my heart - his eyes once frosty and detached, now shone with the intensity that made my heart race.
How could I escape him?
★★★
It all began again on a Friday morning in B city moll, the day I had been looking forward to spending the day with my daughter, Christine. I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw him walk into the mall, flanked by two men. The moment I saw him, I knew we had to leave - fast.
My heart raced as I grabbed Christine's hand. "Hurry, sweetie, we have to go now!" I urged my daughter, trying to hide the panic from my voice.
"But why, Mummy? It's only ten minutes since we got here and we have not bought anything yet." she protested, her high-pitched voice laced with disappointment.
"I know, sweetie, but we have to go. It's an emergency," I lied, trying to pull her away from the danger that had suddenly appeared.
Christine's eyes welled up with tears as she realized I was breaking my promise to spend the day with her. I felt a pang of guilt, but I knew I had to protect her from him.
"But Mummy, you promised me you would spend the whole day with me, right? That was why you took a leave from work."
"Sweetie come this way. Mummy will make it up to you some other time. For now, we must get out of here. There is an emergency at the office and I must get there immediately. You don't want mummy to lose her job, do you?" Determinedly, I drew her away from there, heading hastily towards my BMW. My heart ached as I saw her so distraught.
"Mummy, you promised you wouldn't leave me today. You told me nothing will make you go to the office today. Mummy you're making me sad." Christine winced, her lips parting as she sniffled a cry.
Little Christine didn't know how sad she made me feel when she winced and cried in that manner. It made my heart ache, a lot just seeing those tears run down her eyes.
It was the third month of the year and I was happy Christine was finally discharged from the hospital. I had longed to spend quality time with her, making up for the moments lost during her hospitalization.
Day in and day out, my life was devoted to work, fighting hard to ensure she was well taken care of. I did all I could to never let her feel the pain, tears, and suffering I had gone through growing up as a child.
All I wanted was to give her a good life, that good life I never had the opportunity to have when I was just a child. I did everything I could to make sure she was safe and properly taken care of; just so I could be able to show her how much she meant the world to me, and how she made me feel strong.
But he had returned to threaten everything. I never knew I would see him again. Of all the places he could go, why now that I needed to have this memory with my daughter?
I urged Christine into the car and shut the door close, clasping my eyes shut. It was him, I know it was him. A new danger had emerged, threatening to disrupt our reunion and shatter our plans.
Never in my life had I thought I would see him again. Not in this city, not in a place like this. Not with my daughter I have fought so hard to keep away from him.
Trying to start the ignition, my fingers froze as I saw Christine's body begin to tremble. Fear sent shockwaves down my spine. No, not again. This couldn't be happening.
"Christine! What's happening to you?! Please don't do this to me now!" I cried, getting into the back seat beside her.
"Mummy, Mummy..." she cried but was slipping away from me, her eyes glazing over.
"Christine!" tears streamed down my face as I begged her to come back to me.