"There were burn marks on her face and arms. We can do a simple graft to heal her skin but that can take years." The doctor uttered explaining the situation to the man in front of him.
"So, what will be your recommendation doc?" He asked, his tone was devoid of emotion.
"You know your wife, Mr. Ramirez. As her guardian, do you consent that we do plastic surgery with her?" the physician asked.
Luke sighed. "Kung iyan ang magpapakalma kay Ruby once she wakes up then I think that would be the best choice." He replied. His wife regards beauty as the only precious thing in the world, she is selfish and borderline narcissistic, kung makikita ni Ruby ang damages ng aksidente sa kanyang katawan Luke can already anticipate how this would impact her permanently. Her fragile state of mind would be intolerable, so he better anticipate it ahead of time. He has no patience to listen to her complaints and self-loathing.
His mind was set on what options to take after that conversation with the surgeon, surely that’s the best option to keep his peace. Luke clasped his hands as he trailed a path heading to another room. He stared at his friend and business partner Martin Lopez.
"Why are you together with my wife Martin? Ano ang ginagawa ninyo ni Ruby behind my back?" He whispered as he watched his friend's chest go up and down with the aid of the mechanical ventilator.
For a split second, he thought of messing up his mechanical vent and making him suffer for the betrayal he was doing with his family. He exhaled, as he tried to maintain a rational mind. He turned around and stepped away from the man whom he trusted. He needs to calm down and settle his thoughts.
"They are not worth staining my hands with their blood," he whispered.
He went back to his wife's hospital bed and stared at Ruby for some time. Her face was covered with bandages.
If he was being honest, he could have wanted his wife to die from that accident, to give him peace once and for all. He tried, he did try to make her happy, but he can't give happiness to someone who can't find it themselves or does not know what happiness means.
"Your will to survive is admirable Ruby, you are clinging too tightly. After all, you have put me through, you dare to come back alive" he whispered as his knuckles tightened.
Luke breathed. "I will never forgive you, Ruby, if you want to put my life in a living hell, I will do the same for you!" He uttered once again. "You and I together, wife" he added sarcastically.
************
Chloe opened her eyes one morning and realized she was feeling a little better, but her entire body was massively swelling. Her whole face was full of bandages while her extremities were contained. She has a cast on her right leg while another cast was placed on her left arm. She has not uttered a word ever since the incident happened, speaking seems to be very difficult for her.
She survived. The realization hit her hard.
She roamed her eyes around and noticed the white-painted ceilings and walls, and she quickly realized she was in the hospital. Kung ilang araw na siyang nandun is something she couldn’t confirm, she was in and out of consciousness and it was hard to keep track. She wondered kung alam na nang ama niya ang nangyari, she had not seen him in the hospital so far.
Chloe recalled the tragedy that fell on her, the images flashed in her mind of the ordeal that she went through recently and the hair at the back of her neck started to tingle. Hot tears stream down her face nang hindi na niya mapigilan ang sarili, how can people be so cruel? How can her stepmother be wicked?
A nurse went in and checked her vitals when she noticed that Chloe was awake and crying.
"Oh, my dear, it must have been difficult for you. I'm sorry. You are okay now. Don't worry about anything. We are here to take care of you." The nurse assured her.
Chloe attempted to respond but tanging ungol ang lumabas sa kanyang bibig.
"Take it easy with your voice, the vocal cords are temporarily damaged because of the toxic smoke you inhaled but you will be fine. I promise." The nurse uttered again soothing her mental state.
The kind nurse gently wiped her tears away and smiled warmly at her.
Hindi mapigilan ni Chloe na magtaka kung bakit foreigner ang nag aalaga sa kanya sa ospital na iyon and it didn't take long for that confusion to be cleared, her thoughts were confirmed when the resident doctor went in and made the daily rounds.
Wala siya sa Pilipinas! “How did I get here?” She thought to herself. Is she being kidnapped again?
Fear kicked in and it made her heart rate increase, prompting a warning sound on her monitor. The doctor was quick to aid her and induced a calming med. Soon enough, she felt her eyelids become heavy. Muli na namang nagparaya si Chloe as sleep came over her completely.
"Is she okay?" Luke asked when he was summoned by the physician attending to Ruby’s needs.
"Yes, we just have to put her to sleep," she was agitated earlier. Something must have triggered her. The surgery on her skin and face is successful, though the recovery period can take months to fully heal. Her broken legs and arms showed good signs of recuperation as well. We are monitoring her progress all the time and we’ll keep you posted for anything” He explained.
Luke nodded, looking bored as ever, he was not fully interested in the development of his wife. He groaned inwardly. He missed his daughter so much, Zoie. She's only three years old but his daughter already acts like a fine young lady. He could have wanted to bring her to America with them, but she might have questions about what happened to her mom, and he has no heart to lie to Zoie, much more about how Ruby would react when she sees their daughter. He scoffed, at ngayon, dahil sa sitwasyong ito mukhang matatagalan pa na makabalik sila ng bansa. He breathed a sigh of irritation, why does he have to attend to Ruby's needs throughout her recovery? He wanted to just leave her. He exhaled again wanting to put some space between him and his cheating wife.
After informing him of her medical treatment, he finally bid goodbye to the physician and went out of the hospital to get some air. Good thing his business deals in America are keeping him company. He probably needs to spend more time securing their US branch before he can go back sa Pilipinas. He needed a diversion, he could not just be on standby and wait for Ruby to gain consciousness, her therapy would start soon, and depending on her physical strength they could stay here for as long as 6 months. He wanted to roll his eyes. It's been a month now since the accident and he's already on the verge of packing his stuff and going home.
"You gave nothing but trouble Ruby." He whispered in the wind.
Chloe started her early ambulatory just to stretch her stiffened muscles. Her legs are slowly healing ngunit malaki din ang naitutulong ng therapy niya. She has no idea still who's financing her treatment or maybe it's her dad, it was just odd that she had not heard from him. Chloe can now slowly produce some sounds and say one-word responses but it's still painful for her to articulate her words in full sentences. Cleaning and adding new bandages to her face has been part of her daily routine. She knows the burn on her face must have been serious. She inhaled. She must find a way to restore it in the future, but that's not her priority right now.
She wondered if reports had been made about the attempted murder that Lucille committed against her and of course the couple that was with her during that night. Her mind went on kung anong nangyari sa magkasintahan na iyon. There was a part of her that felt guilty that she dragged them to her problems and ended up in that heartbreaking accident.
"I hope both are okay..." she silently said.
She wanted to hear some news back home, to gain updates she can't deny that she feels isolated here, she can't speak yet and she doesn't know anyone. Her frustration is piling na para bang she's operating blindly, who is helping her in the background and where's his father in all this?
In one of her therapy sessions, she gained knowledge that it's been running for more than two months since her hospitalization. Chloe felt much stronger, that's for sure, as her strength slowly came back, her motivation increased. She is also very religious in adhering to her physical therapy schedule. She must; there's still a pending battle she needs to win against Lucille.
Medyo nawawala na rin ang pamamaga ng kanyang mukha. She's no longer feeling the tightening of her skin around her cheek. The pain has slowly subsided too.
What she's hoping to fully recover next is her voice. But even that she's allowing time to do its work and just patiently waits for it to be better.
One morning, the same warm nurse went in and was smiling at Chloe. She was doing her usual rounds, and she immediately took Chloe's vital signs and checked her fluids. "How are you feeling today?" she asked, not expecting that she could verbally respond. Chloe nodded as she tried to smile underneath her dressings. The nurse then checked her lymph nodes and very carefully told her to try to speak. Chloe tried to clear her throat and a breathy sound came out. She swallowed wanting to ease the discomfort. “Let's try again. Why don't you try to say Hi to me?" the nurse told her. Chloe then attempted to produce the word; when she did, she was extremely happy when she finally heard her voice. "Hi," she whispered. It was hoarse but undeniably her voice. She smiled. "We will practice more on this so don't strain yourself. But today, today is a good day for you." She excitedly said and Chloe waited for her news eagerly. "We are going to remove your bandages at last. You can now see yours
The plan she had thought of for days continued to hunt her, replaying in her mind the pros and cons of what the consequences would be if she decided to push for it. “But what about Ruby's family?” she asked herself, a deep sense of remorse hit her chest, the nagging thought kept her awake for days now. Chloe knew that what she was doing was wrong, immoral, and dishonest, a part of her was conflicted and ashamed for even entertaining it, however, she has a family to protect too. “Someday Ruby, I will ask for forgiveness, and I will make amends for what I did to you for the rest of my life. I promise you that” she whispered. After she confronts her wicked thoughts and tries to reconcile with them, her mind prompts the image of Ruby’s alluring husband. If she would assume her life, she would have to deal with him no matter what. In hindsight, the married couple has issues. No wonder the handsome husband looked at her with contempt and a sneer of disapproval; his words were harsh and c
Chloe tries to ignore the nagging feeling when out of nowhere Luke speaks. "Zoie, you have not said hi to Daddy yet" Luke uttered breaking the spell. "I am jealous of Mommy now," Luke said na may halong tampo sa kanyang boses, he even pouted his lips adding to the effect. Chloe carefully observed a different version of Luke as he interacted with his daughter. His usual scornful look that she had grown accustomed to was now replaced with warmth, longing, and admiration. She watched as his eyes spoke volumes, expressing his emotions that she had not seen before, and Chloe couldn't help but feel a sense of tenderness wash over her as she watched the genuine affection he held for his child. He must have loved his daughter very much. "I miss you, Daddy! I love you!" Zoie turned her attention to her father this time, Luke scooped her in his arms and embraced her tightly. "You are a big girl now! You are growing so fast!" he commented, and Chloe was mesmerized by the exchange. She real
"I'm sorry" she replied softly, her heart heavy with understanding. She was sorry for Luke who had to put up with his wife. She was sorry for Zoie who probably didn't feel the love and affection from her mother. "Isn't that a bit late now?" Luke’s words pierced like daggers, aiming to maim her. "Why are we still married anyway?" She blurted out unexpectedly, instinctively covering her mouth, wanting to suppress the words. A feeling of regret washed over her. Chloe knew she had no right, no right whatsoever to interfere in this relationship. At that moment, she wished she could disappear into thin air. Strong hands were on Chloe's shoulder as he held her close. It was almost painful how tight his grip was. "You are hurting me" she whispered, habang may takot sa kanyang mga mata. Luke slowly loosened his grip, yet his eyes were full of malice, penetrating her soul. "I don't know what charade you are pulling now. If it weren’t for Zoie and your sick games of manipulation, I would fil
Luke arrived at the house well past midnight. His afternoon encounter with Ruby had made him go spiral, causing him to hastily retreat out of the mansion away from the witch. He was eager to distance himself from her presence. Exhausted, Luke needed to clear his mind, so he turned to work as his best distraction. "Magandang gabi po sir" pagbati ni Lisa dito. He nodded. "Good evening, where is Zoie?" He directly asked. "Natutulog na po sir, napagod po iyon sa kakalaro sa Mommy niya" she narrated and as Luke listened to Lisa recount the events, he swiftly turned his head around in disbelief. "Mommy? Si Ruby?" He clarified, shocked by what he had heard. "Yes, po sir. Si Mam Ruby po. Siya din po nagpakain kay Zoie kanina sa hapunan" she added to her story. "Si Ruby?" He repeated the same question, the information not quite registering in his mind. "Opo sir." Lisa yet again confirmed. He couldn't believe it. In three years, Ruby had never shown any care for their daughter. Hearing w
Chloe was engrossed in playing with Zoie one morning, guiding her through building bricks and solving puzzles to develop critical thinking skills. Chloe prepared a colorful building block and a set of LEGO, Zoie’s eager hands touched the toy with enthusiasm, while her eyes sparkled with joy, at first she stacked the block clumsily, and she giggled seeing how the tower wobbled and got destroyed. Chloe was there to guide helping her to ignite her imagination and creativity. Chloe smiled at how much energy a child can have, the way they learned in constant repetition amazed her. They say rearing a child requires a lot of patience and Chloe realized that first hand. They continued with their exploration and cooperative play eventually Chloe and Zoie got lost in their little world, at dahil diyan hindi napansin ni Chloe ang pagdating ni Luke, as he came earlier than expected. Chloe watched him and she could see that he was tired. His shoulders slumped and his face even though still looking
Chloe stood up abruptly and angrily preached herself. "Why does it matter if he understands or not?" She questioned herself. “Is it important what he thinks of me?” she paused and her mind said yes. She mused.Her mind drifted back to the moment when he kissed her in the hallway, his kiss was gentle and sweet however a sudden coldness ran down her spine as he unexpectedly called her Ruby amid their kiss. It was ridiculous. Did she expect him to call her by her real name? Of course, ang mukhang nakikita niya ay ang mukha ng kanyang asawa. Would that be the same motivation why he kissed her again a moment ago? Because he missed his wife? Chloe ran her fingertips on her lips recalling how it felt. She swallowed as she blushed uncontrollably. She suddenly felt hot wanting to decrease the temperature even more. The way Luke’s arms cradled her closely made her feel safe and protected. Her eyes widened from her thoughts, it was
Luke closed his eyes tightly pushing Ruby’s image out of his mind as he tried hard to make sense of his feelings. He wanted to be with his wife, to feel her close. But on the other hand, he couldn't shake off his strong dislike for Ruby. It felt like a mix of wanting something and hating it at the same time. It was equally repulsive. These thoughts of her kept bothering him for days now, tormenting him over and over. It made him feel upset and confused. He had been fighting with it for a while now and he was almost at his breaking point.He snapped his eyes open and studied Ruby's sleeping form from head to toe. "This is wrong," he thought to himself, feeling the clash of ideas. Just then, another voice in his mind countered, "But we are still married on paper, despite the mess we're in. Technically, I have the right to make love to my wife. Right?" Luke stared at her chest going up and down in each intake of her breath, she was sleeping peacefully unaware
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