Zoriel finally woke up and found himself in a hospital room, his head wrapped in bandages. "Zoriel! Thank God you're awake!" a man beside him exclaimed. Zoriel turned his head and saw Carlito "Caloy" Suarez—his best friend. "What happened to you, man? The doctors said you were lucky I brought you here in time. If I hadn’t acted fast, you could have died from the hemorrhage," Caloy explained. "Good thing I decided to check on you that day. I found you unconscious in your room, and this paper was beside you." Caloy handed him a brown envelope. Zoriel frowned as he took it, immediately opening it. His jaw clenched when he saw what it was. A divorce agreement from Jessa. Zoriel’s fists tightened. She really went through with it. After everything he had done for her. After working three times as hard just to provide for her. After giving her everything he could—and it still wasn’t enough. She still chose a wealthy man over him, thinking money would bring her happiness. "What is i

As Zoriel walked away from the municipal building, he couldn’t help but be amazed by what Lily had done.But he stopped himself from showing it to the tiny fairy.“Where are we going, Zoriel? I thought you said you’d start listening to me?” Lily asked, sitting on his shoulder.She must’ve gotten tired of constantly flying by his side.“I need to get my jeep back. I need it so I can work again,” Zoriel replied softly, making sure no one else could hear him.Lily pouted. “But you don’t need to work. You’re a Santhigar!”Zoriel let out a sigh. He still couldn’t quite believe what she kept saying he was.It’s not like he was blind to these kinds of things—just... it was a lot to take in.He didn’t bother replying. Now he had someone to wait with at the jeep terminal.After a few minutes, a jeepney pulled up in front of them. Zoriel was about to hop on when a woman suddenly cut in front of him and climbed aboard.He froze for a second, surprised—there was a strange black shadow clinging to

Zoriel had been staring at his cellphone for a while now.He had just finished talking to Jessa, who told him she wanted to meet."Don't tell me you're actually going to see her, Zoriel?" Caloy asked, frowning.They were eating together at a local eatery when Caloy saw Jessa’s message flash on the screen.Zoriel let out a sigh."Looks like I don’t have much of a choice."Caloy clicked his tongue in frustration."I told you, we can get help from a public attorney. I know someone. You don’t need to go running back to her.""But Alfred is still the Mayor. With just one word, he could make my case disappear—or make it worse."Caloy shook his head."True. But I’ve never trusted your wife, not even back then."Zoriel didn’t respond.He understood where his friend was coming from. Caloy had witnessed firsthand how miserable he had been during their marriage.After finishing their meal, Zoriel decided to head to the address Jessa had given him.She said she wanted to meet at her new apartment

Zoriel’s eyes widened as he turned to the creature behind him.It looked human—yet its sheer size gave away that it was anything but.Its dark skin was covered in coarse black hair.In its right hand, it held a smoking tobacco pipe, which it puffed on slowly while keeping its gaze fixed on them.When the breeze passed, Zoriel almost gagged from the strange, pungent scent it gave off.“What the hell are you?!” Alfred shouted.He stumbled back, nearly falling in fright.Jessa quickly ran to him, clinging tightly to his arm.Alfred’s bodyguards froze, instantly taking defensive positions in front of the pair.Meanwhile, Zoriel remained on his knees, still facing the creature.The creature bent down slightly, studying Zoriel closely. He held his breath as the creature blew smoke right into his face.“Your blood... it smells familiar,” the creature said in a deep, gravelly voice.Zoriel swallowed hard.“W-What do you mean?”The creature didn’t answer. Instead, it straightened up again and

After speaking with his sister, Zoriel decided it was time to head back home.Zenaida tried to stop him, wanting to go with him after she finished something first.But he still had a big problem—his jeep. He needed to figure out a way to get it back.As soon as he got off the tricycle, he noticed several neighbors staring down the alley where his house was.Zoriel ignored them and kept walking.“Zoriel! Iho! Where have you been?”Zoriel paused as one of their neighbors, Judith, came up to him.She was the owner of the small convenience store at the corner.“Why?” he asked.The old woman clucked her tongue.“Oh no! Jessa’s there, Zoriel! She's hauling your things out! And she brought the police with her!”Zoriel’s mouth dropped open.He rushed into the alley to see what was going on—and sure enough, just like Judith said, people were carrying out his belongings.There were also policemen standing in front of the house, talking with some of the neighbors.He hurried to one of the office