CHAPTER II: THE ANONYMOUS MESSAGE

THE couple was no longer surprised to be surrounded by the press when they arrived at the venue. Elena Salameda has a long and illustrious career as a broadcaster. Because of her passion and dedication to the field, she was admired by many in the journalism industry. She had a strong desire to achieve her goals. She would always pay close attention to the smallest of details in order to provide the most accurate information possible. That's why she's become ingrained in so many Filipinos' TV viewing habits.

"It's going to be an exciting program, but I'd rather not talk about it now," she joked when a reporter asked about the next season of her famous talk show.

"You know my wife, she is very supportive of me. No worries 'hon, you can answer their questions. My day is also your day," her husband replied and held her by the waist.

Because of their sweetness, the people around them teased them. She blushed when she realized that everyone was looking at them. Her husband had always enjoyed receiving public adoration. But it didn't bother her. In fact, she was flattered that her husband was never embarrassed to flex her in front of so many people. In fact, she thought it was very sweet. However, their sixteen-year-old son, Peter Salameda, clearly disagreed. Their sweetness was too cheesy for him.

"Oh, we better stop. Look at our son's annoyed face," she joked as she hugged their unico hijo.

"Mum!"

"What?" She chuckled.

They finally made their way into the venue, hand in hand. The couple had their only son in the center as they waved to the people they passed.

Everyone was mesmerized by her scarlet evening gown, which was encrusted with Swarovski crystals. It was designed by her favorite Dubai-based fashion designer. She got it done a few months ago because she had spent a great deal of time preparing for this occasion. She wanted to make sure she looked her best without stealing the spotlight from her husband. Tonight, all she wanted to do was applaud him and make him feel how proud she was of him.

Miguel Salameda, the newest CEO of the Salameda Group of Companies, will be introduced tonight. His family owned one of Southeast Asia's most powerful corporate conglomerates. Since then, she'd known how much her husband wanted to run the company. So she tried her hardest over the years to urge and encourage him to work more. She would pick him up whenever he was down and made sure he didn't forget about his ambitions.

She made it a point to push him to strive for nothing less than perfection. Everything they've done as a pair has now paid off. It was finally time to reap the fruits of their labor.

"You go inside first, I'll just go to the comfort room for a while," she told them.

"I know you're going to fix your make-up, but there's no need, 'mum. You're already beautiful," Peter flattered her.

"You really are your father's son!" she exclaimed, chuckling.

"Is it my fault that our son has inherited my honesty?"

She couldn't stop laughing at the two's antics.

She smiled and moved away from them, saying, "Fine, whatever. All right, you go inside first. I really need to pee."

She walked straight to the nearest restroom, which was only a short distance away. Her manager called her while she was walking. She was aware that she would be attending an important event, therefore she wondered as to why he was still bothering her. Thinking that it was an emergency, she decided to answer the call.

"Hello, Miss Pam?"

"I'm really sorry if I called you, dear! I know you're attending a big event, and I hope I'm not bothering you."

"Don't worry, it hasn't started yet. What is this about?"

"I have some wonderful news for you! I just received an email from the network executives, and you will be one of the prime-time news anchors in addition to your upcoming talk show!"

Her mouth opened in surprise. She couldn't talk right away since her excitement was overwhelming. It was a significant moment in her life! She's wanted to go on prime-time news for a long time since it would solidify her status in the industry.

"Oh my Gosh! I-I… I don't know what to say."

"I feel you, dear! I feel you! We've been waiting for this, and now your dream will come true!"

"I have to tell my husband about this."

"Yes, go ahead. He'll be even happier when he finds out about it. Maybe the network has already noticed all the international recognition you've gotten in the past few years. Yes, there are many other veteran newscasters. But it's not just all about the years of experience. It's about expertise and excellence. And we can't deny that you're the best in your field."

"Thank you!"

Her grin lingered long after they had hung up the phone. She couldn't believe how well things were going for her and her husband. It may have seemed too good to be true, but they deserved it all because they had fought so hard to realize their goals. It wasn't because of pure luck; it was the result of their hard efforts.

She examined her reflection in the mirror when she entered the comfort room. She gave herself a wry grin. She finally achieved the pinnacle of her success. She was aware that she still has much to accomplish, but she was also content with what she has. What more could she possibly want? She already had a great son, a loving husband, and a rewarding career!

Her personal and professional life was both going smoothy. It would be unreasonable to ask for anything more. She was simply appreciative at the time.

She'd gone a long way from being a pathetic child asking for love from those around her. Everyone now adored her. She was in high demand, and everyone wanted a piece of her.

Her train of thoughts was interrupted when her phone rang once again. When she opened it, she saw a text message from an unknown number. She instantly opened the text message, thinking it might be work-related. She did, however, immediately regret what she had done.

Her mouth hung open, and she felt dizzy. Her brain took a long time to digest what she had read.

No, it was impossible!

"N-no... this isn't true," she muttered to herself.

She shook her head numerous times, constantly denying to herself what she had read. She went back to her phone and re-read the text message which said:

YOUR HUSBAND IS CHEATING ON YOU!