Chloe Reyes has been sheltered all her life, lumaking nag iisang tagapagmana sa lahat nang ari-arian ng kanyang Ama. Despite all that, ang tangi niyang hiling ay maging buo ang kanyang pamilya and so when her Dad re-marry her Mother's best friend she welcomes her with open arms until she realizes that there's more to it than meets the eye. She found herself struggling to survive as death came knocking at her doorstep. At sa unang pagkakataon, Chloe has no choice but to protect herself even though it means living a pretend life with none other than the notorious business tycoon Luke Ramirez. Luke has all that money can offer. Nasa kanya na ang lahat except for the love and respect from his wife, Ruby Ramirez. He can't seem to make her happy and despite the knowledge that the marriage is doomed, he vows to keep his family whole for the sake of his daughter Zoie, even though he despises every fiber of Ruby's being. Dalawang nilalang na pinagtagpo ng trahedya coated with mystery, deceit and betrayal. Will they ever find solace with one another or will their lies continue to haunt them forever?
View MoreChloe was panting loudly habang pilit niyang pinapakalma ang kanyang sarili. She tried to heighten her senses as the two men who kidnap her tightly put her in blindfold habang nakatali ang dalawa niyang kamay. She tried to wriggle to ease the pain on her wrist pero hindi man lamang lumuluwag ang pagkakatali nito.
She heard their murmur. "Ano ang kailangan nila sa akin? Ransom?" She thought to herself.
Her fear is an understatement. She wondered kung sino ang may pakana nito at kung bakit. She was confused about how they entered the house without alerting the alarm system. The last thing she expected na magiging ganito ang kahihinatnan ng kanyang gabi. She was in bed reading her books when a loud thud was heard downstairs. Chloe wondered at first if the helpers were back.
It was out of the blue na pinayagan ng kanyang madrasta na bigyan ng pahinga ang lahat ng drivers at yaya nila. She thought it was odd but didn't mind calling her out about it.
Bothered by the unusual sound Chloe went out of her bedroom and traced the steps on the massive stairway when she suddenly felt two strong hands pinning her down. Takot at pagkalito ang una niyang naramdam, until she heard their menacing laughter that made her realize this was a real thing.
She wanted to plea but being shoved aggressively at the back of the car without a sight kung saan siya dadalhin ng mga kidnappers made her shut her mouth.
"Tiba-tiba na naman tayo nito..." Chloe heard one man talk and that made her breathing stop briefly. She swallowed hard.
"Oo nga eh, naka jackpot tayo" sagot ng pangalawang lalaki.
"Tingnan mo nga naman ang pagkakataon, sayang naman tong magandang dilag na ito kung hindi pa natin 'to papatusin. Ang kinis ng balat oh, mukhang ang sarap tikman"
Chloe was horrified to hear clearly what the two men were suggesting. Her lips tremble as she can hear the loud pounding of her heart.
"Please, kung sino man ang nag-utos sa inyo na gawin ang bagay na ito nagmamakaawa ako, I can pay you triple than the amount that was promised. Please let me go" she pleaded.
She heard them laugh, making her feel even more vulnerable. She watched a lot of suspense thriller movies and even documentaries about abduction and most of the time it never ended well for the victim. Pilit na iwinawaksi ni Chloe and mga imahe na pinapakita ng kanyang utak, she can't succumb to her own fear. Not yet. She tried to pacify herself.
Napansin niya na biglang huminto ang sasakyan. "Is this the end of the line for me?" She thought to herself.
Chloe Reyes is the sole heiress of the Empire Trading Co. the biggest trading company in the country. The vast influence of their family in the business world is not something that anyone can take lightly. They are indeed powerful, to say the least.
Being aware of her status, lumaki si Chloe na nakakaangat sa buhay but despite all the comfort and luxury she experienced in life, she longed for only one thing. She wanted her dad to be happy. Losing her mom at an early age was devastating for her but she also witnessed how difficult it was for her father, so when he found a new love sa katauhan ni Lucille Domingo, her mom's best friend she kept all her inhibitions aside and welcomed her with open arms despite her reservations towards Lucille.
It started with little non-threatening things, unti-unting napapansin ni Chloe ang ibang katauhan ni Lucille that only shows if wala sa presensiya ng kanyang ama, she can even sense her resentment towards her. Her subtle undertone when she talks to her is hard to ignore. She has not raised her voice towards her, but she feels the sarcasm behind her words. Why does Lucille feel any animosity towards her is beyond Chloe's comprehension?
Naalala ni Chloe on how many times she wanted to raise it to her dad, pero tuwing nagkakaroon na siya ng kaunting tapang to voice it out, Lucille always lingers like a hawk. It seems that she can read her mind and knows her plans and she is finding a way to stop her from verbalizing it.
"Could Lucille be capable of kidnapping her? Could she be the person behind this crime? Why would she do that? What's her goal?" the questions flashed one by one.
Her thoughts were cut short when Chloe felt she was being pulled painfully palabas ng sasakyan. She can't still see anything but narinig niya ang pag bukas ng pinto as they pushed her inside the house or a room. She immediately lost her balance and fell on the solid floor; she grunted trying to ease the discomfort.
After a while, she heard footsteps heading towards her, she braced herself. Bigla nitong tinanggal ang blindfold and Chloe had to adjust her eyesight, in front of her were the two men who were gazing at her maniacally.
She gulped.
She checked her surroundings and noticed na dinala siya ng mga ito sa isang maliit na cabin, it was semi-lighted, enough to see the features of the two men who captured her. Maalikabok ang paligid, confirming that this hasn't been used for a while. The small room was practically empty except for a few broken wooden chairs that had not served its purpose, the entire space was dirty, rugged, and disheveled.
"Where is this place? Where am I?" She thought.
"O ano? sayang naman kung wala tayong mapapala nito?" the bigger guy spoke addressing it sa kasama niya, he snorted.
"Tumigil ka nga! Baka mapahamak pa tayo nito kung may gagawin tayo." the shorter guy reasoned out scratching his head in the process.
Based on their exchange, Chloe feels that they wanted to do horrible things to her, and they are now deciding whether to proceed or not. She wanted to cry ngunit pilit niyang pinipigilan ang sarili not to cave in to her fears. She'll die fighting if necessary.
The larger guy didn't seem to mind the point that his partner raised. He paced towards Chloe, and she knew she had to do something.
"Ikaw ang bahala, basta ako... pagsasawaan ko ito" he reached out to her smaller frame and touched her shoulder. She wanted to gag as she felt his hand on her neck caressing it. It was a disgusting feeling and Chloe was on the verge of hysteria.
She was about to scream when the door burst open, and Chloe didn't hide the shock that registered on her face. The man who made a move on her back off abruptly as he gave way to the alluring frame in front of them.
"Lucille? Lucille Domingo?" Chloe uttered loudly.
Biglang nawalan ng lakas si Chloe as it fully confirmed her doubt.
A loud slap hit her face leaving a tingling pain on her cheek. She was surprised. Her eyes widened in shock.
"Napaka walang modo mo talaga! I am your stepmom, and you are not even addressing me properly." She shouted. "It's Mrs. Lucille Domingo-Reyes, don't forget that! Clearly, lumaki kang walang inang nag-alaga sa iyo teaching you simple manners" she corrected Chloe as a thin smirk registered her lips.
"Why are you doing this?" A flare of anger flashed in Chloe's eyes as she gazed at her so-called stepmother.
Humalakhak ng malakas si Lucille. "Well, you're not that sharp are you, Chloe? If we remove the heiress, then who do you think can benefit next?" she intentionally left the details hanging.
Chloe was surprised kung gaano ka selfish and twisted ang kayang gawin ni Lucille for the sake of money. She knew she had a facade but never in a million years had she thought Lucille could commit a heinous crime for the sake of wealth.
"Where is Dad?" she asked suddenly. Her father is in danger too, if this woman will do everything to get rid of her, what will stop her from doing the same thing sa kanyang ama?
Lucille laughed once again. "You should be worried about your own life first, I mean, no one suspected about your mom, so I think I can get away with it for the second time round?" She pursed her lips as she suppresses another smirk na lalong nagpalamig sa kaluluwa ni Chloe.
"No, no, no. Is that a confession that there was foul play taken against her mother?" she wanted to ask.
"What exactly are you talking about?" she clarified. Her eyes narrowed as she tried to suppress her breathing.
"Well, you won't live long enough to know it," Lucille uttered with finality.
Chloe felt a massive terror when she smelled the scent of gasoline and saw how they scattered it all over the small cabin. Are they going to torch me alive?
"Lucille! Please, please! Don't do this to me. Please, I am begging you" she pleaded loudly.
Chloe crawled almost kissing Lucille's boot as she earnestly requested for her life to be spared.
"I pray for you to have eternal peace my beautiful stepdaughter." her lips curved lacing her words with poison.
Lucille walked heading towards the door while the two men she hired followed behind her. Chloe saw the actions pave right in front of her eyes. Unti unti niyang nakita ang pag kuha nang malaking lalaki ng lighter from his side pockets, smiling as they want to inject torture even in her last moments.
Chloe cried and screamed begging once again, her horror of how it was going to end was affirmative. As the last image of Lucille flashed in her eyes before the cabin door was fully closed, Chloe's hope was wearing thin. Bigla niyang tiningnan ang nakapaligid sa kanya and check if there is a way out. She needed to get his hands free from the tightrope. Chloe's mind was racing when she noticed a sharp object underneath the broken chair not far from where she was sitting. She walked towards it and tried to pick it up gamit ang kanyang bibig. Her adrenaline was on the roof and her survival instinct was kicking in. She securely held on to the broken metal and started to move it against the knot back and forth, twisting it vigorously. Bigla niyang napansin na lumuluwag na ito sa kanyang kamay, she repeated the process continuously and when she broke free, she was ecstatic.
Her happiness was short-lived when she started to see thick smoke coming from the outside, she lowered herself para hindi niya malanghap ang delikadong usok. The Fire Drill at her university started to pay off as she maneuvered herself to find an escape route.
"I need to survive!" She repeated the mantra as she crawled carefully towards the door. When she pushed it forward it was locked. The heat slowly transcends now on those old wooden walls. Her skin started to feel the warmth burning from a distance.
Chloe suddenly felt that her consciousness was fading, she couldn't get out of there and there was no other escape. The cabin had no windows, and the only exit was the door in front of her. She wanted to cry.
She's going to die. That was her realization.
The cabin blazed far too quickly and as Lucille watched the scene right in front of her eyes, she laughed loudly celebrating the success of achieving her dreams.
"Burn Chloe, burn!" she screamed as the fire danced to her roar.
Luke watched, almost in a daze, as she plucked a flower from the ground and tucked it behind her ear, mirroring the action with Zoie. The little girl giggled as the flower brushed against her earlobe. "It tickles," Zoie commented, her laughter filling the air. Luke's mind went blank as he mindlessly dropped the book he was holding. He felt himself standing up, his movements slow and deliberate, as he walked towards the figure in front of him, unable to tear his gaze away. Nakatuon ang kanyang mga mata sa imahe nito afraid that it might just be a figment of his imagination. Luke swallowed hard, the lump in his throat making it difficult to breathe. As he approached them, his shocked expression was so evident that even Zoie noticed it. His hands trembled uncontrollably, and cold sweat began to form on his forehead as he tried to process the surreal sight before him. "Daddy, meet my friend. She's so pretty..." Zoie exclaimed, her innocent excitement evident as she touched the woman's
One morning, after months of relentless searching and heartache, Luke found himself seated at the rocky beachfront, gazing out at the horizon with a heavy heart. Lost in his thoughts, he felt a gentle touch on his face, like the soft caress of tiny hands. Napalingon si Luke dito at mataimtim na nakangiti. "Daddy, is mommy gone?" Zoie's innocent voice pierced through the morning air, her question hanging conveyed a sense of longing and uncertainty. Luke felt a heavy weight settle in his chest at Zoie's question, and he had to swallow hard before responding to his daughter. "Mommy is out there somewhere," he began, his voice thick with emotion. "We may not be able to see her anymore, but she's in a better place now," he replied, his words tinged with both sorrow and acceptance. The truth of her mother's passing might be difficult for Zoie to fully comprehend at her young age. Ruby may not have been the perfect mother for Zoie, but she was still her mother, nonetheless. Despite their d
Luke extended his arms towards Lucille trying to ease her from making any harsh decisions. As Luke's gaze fell upon the older woman, a sense of dread washed over him, causing his features to contort with fear. His eyes widened in horror, reflecting the realization of the danger they were facing. His breath caught in his throat, and his body tensed, ready to spring into action to protect Chloe from the impending threat. Despite his efforts to remain composed, his trembling hands betrayed the overwhelming fear coursing through him. Every fiber of his being screamed with urgency, urging him to act swiftly to prevent the unthinkable from happening. "I recommend you take no step further Mr. Ramirez if ayaw mong aksidente kong maitulak si Chloe dito sa bangin. It's going to be a terrifying fall below this cliff, "she threatened. Luke raised his hand surrendering to her demands. "What do you want Lucille?" He asked. Toni is standing at his side habang nakikiramdam din ito sa sitwasyon kung
Chloe's breathing stops momentarily when the main door opens and gives way to the menacing presence of her stepmother. For the second time, Lucille beat her in this contest of wit and Chloe felt her knees weakened. She finds herself yet again in this situation where she becomes the pawn of her stepmom's twisted game. Her eyes went to the smirking faces of Lucille, Martin, and Rebecca. She was about to utter some words when two additional presences emerged from behind. Chloe can't help feeling a sense of panic, these were the two men who abducted her from her home and torched her alive in the cabin months ago. They were smiling at her, mocking her entire being, this was every nightmare that haunted him each night, and this now became her reality. She whimpers. "Well, well, well... Akalain mong you were under my nose all along patiently waiting for an opportunity to strike back. you were slowly penetrating my circle, lurking, watching me fail. I bet you prayed each night so I could fal
Luke was certain that they had narrowly escaped death, and he felt immense relief when reinforcements finally arrived that night, securing the perimeter. Toni was swiftly taken to the hospital and received proper medical attention. Luke's parents were furious when they learned of the ordeal, and they made him promise never to put himself in harm's way again. He accepted their admonition and put the memory behind him. However, his bond with Toni endured. Even after Luke inherited his father's business, he ensured that Toni and his family were well taken care of. He offered Toni a job, and their friendship flourished over the years. As Luke's business expanded and he started his own family, his priorities shifted. His interactions with Toni became less frequent, but their mutual respect and trust never wavered. Despite the passage of time, their connection remained strong, a testament to the enduring bond forged in the crucible of adversity. "Utang ko sa yo ang buhay ko, kung sa hinah
Chloe uttered softly as she tried not to prove her captors. She would try to play the innocent card until she could figure out how she could flee from this place. "When I woke up after the incident, I already had this face on me. I didn't know... they switched out bodies identifying me as Ruby," she uttered truthfully not breaking eye contact. "So, Luke knew all along that his wife was dead? Did he plan to have you assume Ruby’s role then?" Rebecca jumped into the conversation, and a hint of disgust registered on her face. Choe saw how Martin flinched. "He probably didn't know either. The rescuers, the medical team, they all just assumed I was Ruby Ramirez, and the one who died was Chloe," she explained, attempting to justify the confusion and divert Rebecca's attention away from involving Luke in the conversation. Napapikit ng mata si Chloe nang maramdaman niyang unti unting sumisikip ang mga kamay na nakahawak sa kanyang mukha ng biglang mabanggit ang pangalan ni Luke. "You shoul
Rebecca paused and met her eyes. "Well, I guess I just want to talk to you since we do share something in common. Our beloved Luke..." she smiled abruptly. "The connection between us is undeniable, sharing the same man we both love, is just a profound thing, don't you think?" Chloe felt a sudden rush of heat on her cheek. She's provoking her and so far, it's working. "Why are you doing this? When will you stop? How often must Luke turn you down until you realize your worth? You know he's married, right?" she tried to reason out. A sharp gaze went Chloe's way, but Rebecca was quick to hide it as a sultry laugh echoed in the bar loudly. It was a little showstopper that made Chloe check her surroundings, she breathed when no one paid attention. Madalang lang din ang tao sa mga oras na yun giving them their much-needed privacy. "You are such a hypocrite I can't believe it! And is it okay for you to take on the role of his wife? The damsel in distress, the poor girl in need? And you da
Isang matunog na tawa ang namamayagpag ng biglang hindi mapigilan ni Martin ang kanyang sarili. He was sitting right across from Lucille Reyes and listening to her story intently as it completed the puzzle that had burdened his mind for some time. The investigation that he had for that mysterious woman on the night of the accident came to light after the report was out and he stumbled upon Chloe Reyes and her relationship with her stepmother Lucille who very interestingly owns the clothing line that Ruby is modeling currently. Too much of a coincidence. Hindi mapagtanto ni Martin ang kanyang swerte ng hindi man lang naging mahirap sa kanya ang pakikipag-ugnayan kay Lucille and set this meeting up, he anticipated a little bit of resistance and caution from this woman but apparently, she was equally curious about Ruby Ramirez too, na parang bang hinihintay niya ang pagkakataong ito. "Kaano ano ka ulit ni Ruby?" Lucille asked while sipping her hot coffee. "You can say we are close fri
When Chloe entered the familiar confines of their house, she suddenly felt a sense of belongingness, ito ang bahay kung saan siya lumaki, lahat ng anggulo ng kanilang mansiyon ay kabisado niya, this was her playground when she was just a little girl. She closed her eyes, greeted by the same scent she was used to. Trailing the living room of their old home Chloe could see the same marble polished against time. It was nostalgic, all her memories came back to life. She just loved the natural light hitting brightly through the massive glass window, she smiled, and they still used the sheer curtains that her father liked. Not much had changed with the furniture and its arrangement, the soft sofa was still there with a cozy armchair that overlapped the window, except for the old coffee table, that was adorned with books and other trinkets, that one was gone, Chloe realized. It’s like time went still from the last time she was here. When she made her presence known at the Reyes mansion she
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