Love didn’t protest anymore because he looked like he really wanted to get out of that place as soon as possible. And like him, she also does not want to linger there or even see that hell much longer. She just laid her head against his chest and let him protect her. She had no idea who he really was, but she was very grateful to him. She owed him hers and her cousin’s lives.
When they arrived at his car, the man who had given her flowers at the restaurant before was waiting for them. “Sir, are you okay? I almost called General Monteverde because the five minutes was almost up and you’re still not back.”
"I'm okay, Marvin." He put her inside the car and sat her in the backseat.
Only then was she able to breathe normally when their car finally drove away from that place. Their savior was sitting between her and Kulas.
“Did they hurt you? Did they do inappropriate things to you? What did they do to you?” he asked and stroked her cheek. 
Slowly, she felt warm because of his caress. It was a welcome touch, compared to the lewd looks the men from that club had been giving her earlier. 
“Apart from the scene you’ve arrived at, they did nothing else. If you didn’t come, they would have done something worse to me. Thank you!”
But he still doesn't seem convinced by her answer. "Are you sure? That kind of establishment really should be shut down.”
"It's okay now. I finally got away from that place, and that’s what’s important to me.” She was just worried about the others she left behind. Not all the women working there wanted to stay and work at the club. She remembered Lorena. The woman looked like she also wanted to be free from Andres and his dirty business but she couldn’t. “I just hope they don't follow us anymore. What if they take us back again?”
“Let them try. And they will know I’m not the type they should be messing up with.” There was a threat in the man’s voice. "I can close their business if I want to."
"And how are you going to do that, Mitos?" she asked, emphasizing the name he used to introduce himself to her.
His assistant, Marvin, cleared his throat. Love noticed ‘Mitos’ suddenly got uneasy. Marvin seemed to be signaling that “Mitos” was stuck in her questions.  
“Ah, my boss…he has a friend who is a Filipino businessman. We got acquainted really well and told me that if I had a problem, I could ask him for help. So there. When I told him what happened to you, he referred me to his godfather who is a general. But that's just for emergency situations. I got you out on my own just fine.”
A godfather who’s a general? That was probably the general Marvin would have called earlier. She wouldn’t be surprised if that general turned out to be ‘Mitos’’ actual godfather.
“Oh! Kulas had fallen asleep,” he said.
When she glanced at Kulas, her cousin had passed out for real. She clutched at her cousin and positioned him to be more comfortable in his sleep. He had been working since morning, so he was probably really tired now that he was able to take some rest. She was really grateful that Kulas didn’t leave her.
“How did you find out what happened to us?” she asked.
“I went to the mall this morning because I wanted to see you and talk to you.” Then it means that she was not able to push him away as she thought. “I thought you were hiding me," he said with a slight laugh.
“But Bham said that she couldn’t reach you. She also mentioned your father’s debts that you were paying for. Bham said that the syndicate that your father owed money to must have taken you already. So we went to your house immediately, and your neighbors told us what happened to you.”
She could feel his tension and anger. He was really worried about her. As if it would be his fault if something bad really happened to her. 
“They wanted me to pay them exactly ten thousand, but I only have six thousand. They didn’t accept the money.”
He gritted his teeth trying to keep his anger from blowing up. “They really wanted to get you. You should have told me about your father's debt when we met the other day. I would have helped you.”
“Because it’s my family’s problem and it doesn’t concern you.”
And how would she be able to ask for his help when he’s practically a stranger to her? She really didn’t know him. He just introduced himself to her as Mitos. She couldn’t bear to abuse his goodness when she was not his responsibility at all. If he really was Mitos, then she would have swallowed up her pride and asked him for him. Correction, she would oblige him to help her. 
“You are too proud. You and Kulas were about to get in big trouble, and yet you still didn’t tell me. You could have set aside your personal issues with me for a while. Is that more important than your and your cousin's safety?”
She pressed her lips firmly and counted to ten. This man had taken pretending to be Mitos way too seriously. If she was really blind, she might have believed him too. “Mitos, you were gone for years. I don't know where in the world you went to. You just turned up now and you expect to just pour out my trouble on you?”
He grabbed her hand. “I am sorry. I’ve hurt you too much. I should have seen you sooner. Maybe then this would not have happened to you.” He kissed her hand. “I am sorry. I shouldn't blame you if you weren’t able to tell me your problems.”
She felt a strange current of electricity with just a mere touch of his lips on her skin. Mitos never did that to her. Mitos had kissed her before but she never felt that kind of strange electricity flowed through her with those kisses.
And it felt very romantic, this man’s kiss on her hand. How does an innocent kiss on the hand make her this happy?
This could not possibly be! She didn't even know this man. She should not be feeling this thrilled. 
"How did you find us?" she asked and withdrew her hand from her.
“You have neighbors who gave us a tip on where Andres' men could have taken you. He has many clubs. So I hired a private detective. I was even told that the guards can be easily bribed.”
She never saw a hint of fear from him earlier. He wasn’t even frightened of Andres. In fact, it was Andres who looked like he was all ready to kiss this man’s shoes earlier. So brave. So confident.
She swallowed when she remembered the debt. “That…that two hundred thousand was too much. You should not have paid that off. I only owe them one hundred and fifty thousand.”
He waved his hand. “I don't want to talk too much when negotiating. All they want is money anyway. Don’t tell me this will also be an issue for us. Even if they ask for a million, I will give it just to get you back.”
She felt dizzy at the amount he was willing to pay for her freedom. A million! “There was no way I was worth that much. And paying you back…I don’t know how I would be able to pay you now that it's been doubled.”
“Don’t worry about the money for now.”
“That’s impossible. Two hundred thousand was not a small amount.” What would she pay him for, just in case? “I really don't want to be indebted to anyone. I will pay for it, no matter what.”
He stroked her hair and leaned her on his shoulder. “Let's not talk about it for now. Look at Kulas. He’s been fast asleep for hours now. Take a rest now and I’ll just wake you up when we get home.”
"Our home?"
He shook his head. “No! You will never go back to your old place. You’re gonna stay with me from now on.”