Zoriel couldn’t believe what he had just heard from his friend.
So even without the doctor’s approval, he chose to leave the hospital and signed a waiver. There was no way he would let them take his jeep when all its papers were complete. His vehicle was legally registered, and he even had a business permit. They couldn't claim it was operating illegally. As soon as he arrived at the municipal office, he went straight to the help desk. “What is your name?” “Zoriel Del Cruz. I’m the owner of the Jeep they just took. It’s not illegal, Ma’am! I have the documents to prove it!” The woman frowned but nodded. “Oh, that was yours? Sorry, but the police already transferred it to the impound lot. You’ll need to go there and present your papers.” Zoriel let out a frustrated sigh. If they had already impounded it, he was in trouble. But how? He had just renewed his license. His OR/CR was updated. Even his business permit was valid. So, how did this happen? “Oh, look who’s here. Still alive, huh?” Zoriel turned abruptly. His eyes darkened when he saw Alfred and Jessa standing together, arms entwined. They were smirking at him, clearly enjoying his frustration. Alfred sneered. “Something wrong, Zoriel?” Zoriel clenched his fists. He wanted to punch him, but the bodyguards standing behind Alfred were watching closely. “It’s none of your business, Alfred!” Zoriel snapped. Jessa frowned. “Watch your mouth, Zoriel! He’s the mayor now!” Zoriel turned to her, his jaw tightening. “And? He’s still a wife-stealing bastard.” Alfred’s expression darkened as he suddenly grabbed Zoriel’s collar. “Watch what you say, Zoriel! Or your jeep won’t be the only thing you lose,” he threatened before shoving Zoriel back. Zoriel narrowed his eyes. “What did you just say?” Alfred adjusted his coat, smirking. “That’s what you get for going against me.” Zoriel’s fists clenched even tighter. From the beginning, he had a feeling that something was off about how his jeepney was suddenly confiscated without any valid reason. His papers were complete. He had no violations. Turns out, this man was behind it all. He glared at Alfred, but the man only grinned back at him. “What? Are you angry?” Alfred stepped forward, making Zoriel feel even more cornered. “What can you do, huh?” He jabbed his finger against Zoriel’s forehead, pushing it slightly, forcing Zoriel’s head to tilt back. “Do you really think you matter, huh? Zoriel, maybe it’s time you understood your place. Stay away from Jessa!” With a final, harder push of his finger, Alfred knocked Zoriel off balance. He fell to the ground. Zoriel felt so small, so insignificant in that moment, crushed by Alfred’s words. Yes, he was just a jeepney driver. Someone who worked the streets. Someone who smelled like the streets. But he gave Jessa everything she ever needed. A high-pitched ringing echoed in his ears, leaving him momentarily deafened by the humiliation. He could feel the judgmental eyes watching him all around. Was this really what he had been reduced to? Was this how low his life had fallen? As he regained his footing, Zoriel glared at Alfred again. He wasn’t going to let him get away with this. Slowly, he stood up, facing Alfred’s smug, grinning face head-on. He was just about to charge at Alfred when— BAM! Alfred was suddenly thrown backward, crashing against the wall. “Mayor!” Jessa shrieked. Alfred groaned in pain, clutching his back where he had hit the hard surface. But before he could recover, his own fist shot up—and he punched himself in the face. “Alfred! What are you doing?!” Jessa cried, panic in her voice. “Stop that!” Alfred struggled, his arms trembling as if he were trying to resist an invisible force. But his fists kept moving against his will, delivering blow after blow to his own face. His bodyguards rushed toward him, trying to stop him, but his fists refused to obey. The crowd of onlookers gasped in shock, whispering among themselves. Meanwhile, beside Zoriel—where no one else could see—Lily hovered in the air, giggling as she waved her tiny hands. “You are doing this, right?” Zoriel whispered, eyes widening. Lily turned to him, grinning mischievously. “He deserves it. He’s evil.” Zoriel swallowed hard. He didn’t know whether to feel satisfied or horrified. Alfred’s lip was now bleeding, and one of his eyes was swollen shut. “Alfred! Stop!” Jessa pleaded, her voice desperate. “I—I can’t!” Alfred gasped, still struggling. Zoriel shook his head and smirked. “Maybe it’s you who should think twice before messing with me, Mr. Mayor. Looks like karma is favoring me now.” He cast a subtle glance at Lily and gestured for her to stop. Alfred’s fists finally froze midair before dropping limply to his sides. His body sagged, and he nearly collapsed from exhaustion. Jessa turned to Zoriel, eyes burning with fury. “You did this, didn’t you?!” she accused. Zoriel merely smirked. “I didn’t lay a finger on him.” “You… I swear, Zoriel!” Jessa growled before turning to Alfred’s guards. “What are you waiting for?! Get him to the hospital!” The bodyguards hurriedly lifted Alfred and carried him out of the municipal office. Zoriel watched them go, unable to suppress his grin. For the first time in a while, he felt a sense of relief. Then, he turned to Lily. “Alright, I might actually listen to you now,” he said. “But first—my jeep.”
Latest Chapter
Chapter 22: His People
“Ms. Crystal?” Zoriel called, still in awe.Caloy rushed to his side. “We’ve been looking for you, bro!” he said, then glanced at Zenaida. “Whoa! Miss, easy with that blade!”Zoriel snapped back to the moment. He turned to his sister. “Zen, put it down.”Zenaida reluctantly lowered her weapon but narrowed her eyes. “And who are they supposed to be?”Zoriel glanced toward Crystal, who stood silent, her eyes fixed on him. Standing beside her was Mr. Thompson, his expression stern and unreadable.“They’re my friends,” Zoriel said simply.Lily squealed, flapping her tiny wings. “It’s her! She’s the one who was possessed by the kapre!”She flew over to Crystal’s side, hovering close to examine her face. “She’s so beautiful… like a Diwata!”Zenaida arched an eyebrow. Still unsure, but sensing something different, she slowly sheathed her blade.“You! Who the hell are you, and what are you doing here?!” Alfred barked at Crystal and Michael, his eyes sharp and threatening. Jessa, on the other
Chapter 21: Face off
"Why do we even have to come here? We should be heading to the province already!" Lily snapped, her tiny wings flapping in frustration."We can’t leave without getting my jeep back," Zoriel explained calmly."But you’ll have to face your loudmouth ex-wife again!" she protested, clearly furious.Zoriel could only sigh. Her rage was written all over her tiny face."I still need that jeep if we want to make it to the province," he said flatly.Zenaida shook her head. "You're right. We do need transportation. But what if she tries to have you arrested again?"Zoriel paused. She had a point. But Mr. Thompson had assured him that Jessa couldn’t use the same so-called evidence to get him locked up again. Plus, he had his own proof now—something that could turn things around."That won’t happen, Zen. Trust me."He finally entered the municipal hall, the two women trailing close behind. With his documents in hand, he went straight to the mayor’s office.Even before reaching the door, he could
Chapter 20: The Start
Zoriel could only shake his head as he set the food on the table. Zenaida and Lily were still going on and on about his so-called destiny.He hated to admit it, but after what happened with Crystal, he was starting to have second thoughts."Are you even listening, Zoriel?" Zenaida asked, her brow raised.Zoriel finally sat down and looked at his sister, who was already eating without waiting for anyone else.Even Lily had dug in—she was practically hovering over her plate mid-air as she devoured her food."Yes. And still, it's impossible. I'm not a Santhigar, Zenaida. Weren't you the healer? The albularyo? Why not you?" Zoriel said as he started eating.Zenaida swallowed before looking him straight in the eye."Because I wasn’t the chosen one, Zoriel. No matter what we say or do, it’s you. You were the one chosen to continue Lolo’s legacy."Zoriel let out a deep sigh."Alright. Let’s say you’re right. But how am I supposed to do any of this? I have no idea what I’m doing.""Your neckl
Chapter 19: Enemies
“Urgh! That bitch!” Jessa spat out angrily as she stormed into Alfred’s hospital room, throwing her bag down onto the couch.Alfred’s brows instantly furrowed as he looked at her.“What’s wrong? Didn’t you meet with the real estate agent?” he asked.Jessa rolled her eyes. “How was I supposed to, when Zoriel was there? Seriously, is there nothing you can do about him? I thought the Santiagos were the most powerful family in Eastwood?”Alfred’s ears practically rang at her last sentence. “What did you just say?” he asked coldly, staring directly at her.Jessa met his gaze with a glare of her own, but her posture quickly changed when she saw how serious his expression had turned. It was like reality suddenly slapped her across the face.“W-What I meant was… maybe we should speed up getting Zoriel back in jail, Love,” she said in a gentler, almost sweet tone, forcing a smile on her lips. “Because… what if he tries to get close to me again? What if he shows up at the house? You wouldn’t w
Chapter 18: The Calling
“Let go of my brother!”Everyone’s heads snapped toward the door when a woman’s voice rang out.Zoriel lit up the moment he saw his sister—and Lily—storming into the house. Lily flew straight toward him, while Zenaida stepped in with a bolo pointed at the barangay officers holding Zoriel. Just like the last time he saw her, she wore a long skirt and a plain t-shirt, a backpack slung on her back, and a small sling bag on her side. A sheath for her bolo was tied around her waist. Her wrists were stacked with handmade bracelets, and just like him, she wore a necklace, though hers was smaller and etched with an eye inside a triangle.“Let him go unless you want your hands chopped off!” Zenaida threatened.“Zoriel! What is going on here?” Lily asked as she landed beside him. “Is this your wife again?”Zoriel exhaled hard. He stood straight when the officers finally let go of him.“Zenaida.”“Who are these people, Zoriel? And why are they messing with you?” Zenaida asked, not lowering her w
Chapter 17: Get out!
“Zoriel! Wake up! You’ve got some nerve!”Zoriel jolted awake from the loud, continuous banging on his front door. He rushed out of his room, feeling like the door might be broken down any moment.“Open up! Get out here!”His brows furrowed.“Jessa?”He hurriedly threw on a pair of shorts and went to open the main door—only to be greeted by Jessa’s furious face. Behind her were several barangay officers.“You bastard!”Zoriel stepped back just as Jessa tried to slap him. She raised her hand again, even angrier this time, but the officers quickly held her back.“How did you even get out of jail?!” she snapped.Zoriel exhaled sharply.“That’s none of your business anymore, Jessa. I thought we were done.”Jessa raised an eyebrow.“We are! But I’m here to kick you out of my house!”She turned to the barangay officers.“Get him out of here already!”The officers exchanged glances. After all, they knew the Del Cruz family well in this neighborhood. They also knew who the true owner of the h
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