Dalisay's pov, "I have decided to liquidate some of the assets to raise capital for the company," I declared solemnly as we sat down for dinner. The dining hall fell silent as my words hung in the air. My mom and Karl looked at me in disbelief, their mouths agape. They had no idea what to say. "I know this may come as a shock," I continued, "but it is a necessary step if we are to keep the company afloat. We must make sacrifices to ensure the future of the business." My mother's eyes widened in disbelief, her brows furrowed in concern. My husband's face was contorted with confusion, his mouth agape. They both looked at me as if I had just uttered blasphemy, their disbelief and skepticism palpable. I could tell they were not pleased with my announcement, but I was determined to remain resolute, knowing that this was the only way to ensure the company's survival."It's the best idea I can think of right now, " I took a deep breath as I continued to explain my reasoning, hoping the
Luciana's Pov, "What's going on, Dali?" I asked, my voice tight with irritation as I watched Karl excuse himself from the table after Dinner. It seemed odd that Dalisay would entrust such a significant task to Karl, especially given his lack of experience in real estate. I couldn't help but wonder if her change of heart was due to her growing affection for him, perhaps brought on by her pregnancy. Alternatively, she could have simply been feeling overwhelmed by the responsibility of managing the family's properties and was looking for a way to offload some of the stress. But regardless of the reason, the decision to put Karl in charge was certainly a wrong one. "Mom, please don't start again, I thought we'd agreed to put this topic to rest," Dalisay said wearily, clearly exhausted. I could sense her frustration, but I couldn't let the matter go without some resolution."I just need to know, are you trying to give Karl more power than me in the company?" I asked my tone firm and in
Two weeks later, Amihan's POV, It was a relief to see Judith's smile returning to her face, even if it was tinged with sadness. The past few weeks had been a rollercoaster of emotions, but we were beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Judith was starting to heal, even if it was a slow and painful process. I was determined to be there for her every step of the way, and I knew that eventually, she would be able to find happiness again. For now, I was just glad to see her slowly coming back to life. The deafening silence from Dalisay regarding my offer to purchase fifty percent shares in the company was troubling, given the massive losses they had recently suffered. I couldn't help but question their decision-making and business acumen, as it seemed unfathomable that they would not respond to an offer that could potentially save the company from further financial ruin. I wondered if there was something more at play, some hidden agenda or ulterior motive that was preven
Dalisay's pov, I heard a commotion at the company's gate, followed by a deep, urgent voice. "Let me in! I need to see Dalisay!" it shouted. My heart pounded as I recognized the voice - it was Adams. Why was he here? What did he want? I felt a wave of panic wash over me. Should I stay hidden or go to the gate to find out what was going on? What was he doing in my office after we both agreed to call off wherever we had since I wanted to be faithful to my marriage? For days, I had turned a blind eye to Adams's calls and texts, knowing full well that he was trying to reach me. But I couldn't bring myself to talk to him, not after everything that had happened. Our last outing had been so perfect, so full of hope and possibility but they were a mirage. As I walked to the company's gate, my heart melted as I saw Adams was engaged in a heated argument with the security guard, who was trying to prevent him from entering the Premises. Several members of my staff had gathered around, draw
Amihan's POV, As the car made its way down the familiar streets of San Fernando, I found my mind wandering to memories of the past. I remembered the times when Dalisay and I would drive this very same route to visit Adam and explore the nearby town of Cabanatuan. Those were simpler times when the future was full of possibility and hope. Now, my life had taken a very different turn, and I wasn't sure what lay ahead. But I was determined to make the best of it and to cherish the memories I had made along the way while seeking my revenge. "Are you sure Adams still lives here," Judith asked cutting off my train of thought, and I nodded. "I can't imagine Adams ever wanting to leave San Fernando, he's always been so attached to his hometown. It's where he grew up, and it's where his roots are. I don't think he'd ever want to give that up," I said, with a tone of conviction. Judith nodded, with a thoughtful expression, "It's amazing how some people can be so connected to a place," sh
Judith's POV, Even though it had been a month since my conversation with Maxwell, I still couldn't fully digest what he'd said. Each day felt like an uphill battle as I dragged myself out of bed and faced the world - knowing that nothing was quite as it seemed. Work became all-consuming to distract my mind. any possibility of interacting with him was avoided at all costs. despite trying so hard to evade him, his presence lingered persistently in my life - almost haunting me every time our paths crossed. The tension between us continued to mount during these awkward exchanges which ultimately made things worse for me internally too. I deliberately avoided any contact with him as we went about our duties in the office and the few times we unavoidably met, I always had an excuse to keep our conversation short. I had to admit, part of me still cared about Maxwell, even after everything that had happened. But I was also furious with him for shattering my sense of reality and forcing me
Judith's POV, Days had turned into weeks, and still, I couldn't shake the pain. It was like an open wound, festering and refusing to heal. I had been through breakups before, but never had I felt such agony. It was as if my heart had been ripped out of my chest, leaving a gaping hole in its place. I tried to distract myself, to move on, but nothing seemed to help. The hurt was too deep, the ache too raw. I felt like I was drowning in my misery, with no way out.I put on a brave face every day, pretending that I had moved on, that I was okay. But as soon as I caught sight of Maxwell, all the pain came rushing back, like a dam bursting inside of me. We worked together, and there was no way to avoid him completely. Even if there had been, I knew that deep down I didn't want to. I was drawn to him, like a moth to a flame, knowing full well that it could only lead to disaster. I was caught in a web of my own making, unable to break free.I longed for the day I would wake up from this nigh
Maxwell's POV, Over the past weeks, I've been on an emotional roller coaster, from the ups and downs of my friendship with Judith to the tension in my relationship with my mother. It's been a tumultuous time, filled with highs and lows. I've felt a wide range of emotions, from anger to sadness to frustration. My world has felt chaotic and out of control. I'm struggling to make sense of it all and to find my footing again. Amihan's life has been a whirlwind of activity these past weeks, leaving her little time to spend with me in person. Even though we talked on the phone every day, it's not the same as seeing each other face to face. But I understand that she's a successful young CEO, and her time is precious. I admire her work ethic and drive, even if it means we don't get to spend as much time together as I'd like. I'm willing to make that sacrifice because I love her.I eagerly counted down the hours until the workday ended, eager to spend time with Amihan at the cinema. I had mis
Three years later, Amihan's Pov, Three years had passed, and everything had changed. I stood at the window, looking out at the world below, and a wave of mixed emotions washed over me. Nostalgia, regret, wistfulness, pride, hope. It was a complex stew of feelings, impossible to separate or label. I closed my eyes, letting the memories wash over me like a summer rain.As I thought about the journey that had brought me here, I felt a deep sense of gratitude. It had been a long road, full of twists and turns, but I was finally where I wanted to be. The funeral for Dalisay was a somber but beautiful affair, a fitting tribute to a life well-lived. As she was laid to rest, it felt like her soul was finally at peace.In the weeks and months that followed, Karl and Adams threw themselves into raising Bella. They loved her fiercely, determined to give her everything they could. And as she grew, she began to resemble her mother more and more, both in looks and in spirit. With little Bella by
Amihan's POV, I tried to sit up, but the pain in my head and stomach was excruciating. I could feel the grogginess of sleep slowly fading away, and I became aware of my surroundings. It was a hospital room, and the memory of the shooting came flooding back. "Mom," I said weakly, my voice hoarse from disuse. "Where is Dalisay?""Dalisay's getting the best care possible, honey," my mom said, her voice gentle and soothing. But even as she spoke, I couldn't help but sob. I felt so guilty, knowing that Dalisay had risked her life to save me."She's going to be okay," my mom said, rubbing my back comfortingly. "And you're going to be okay too. We're all going to get through this together."I wanted to believe her, but my emotions were still too raw. I couldn't stop crying. My gaze shifted to the corner of the room, and I saw Judith standing next to my father. Her eyes were red and swollen, and she looked like she had been crying. I felt a surge of anger well up inside of me."What is sh
Two weeks later, Judith's POV, The last two weeks had been a blur of pain and anguish. My best friend, Amihan, lay comatose in the hospital, clinging to life by a thread same as Dalisay. I blamed myself for everything that had happened. It was my selfish desire for Maxwell that had caused all of this. I had been so jealous of Amihan's relationship with him, that I had pushed her to move into the mansion, even though I knew it was dangerous. And now she was fighting for her life, while I was left with nothing but regret and guilt."Judith, you look exhausted," Amihan's mother said, her face filled with concern. "Why don't you go home and get some rest? You've been here at the hospital for days now."As soon as they had received news of Amihan's incident, her Foster parents had flown down from New York, arriving the next day. They had been at the hospital ever since, taking turns to stay with Amihan. She was right. I hadn't slept in days, and I was running on empty. But I didn't want
Karl's POV,"We have to be fast with whatever we have to do, because Chloe or Susan whichever you want to call her, is a crazy woman and wouldn't hesitate to do anything, her words shouldn't be taken lightly," I said to them who had been listening to me without interruption with my eyes wide open, I swallowed hard in an attempt to quell my panic that had gotten a grip of my heart,I was scared as I spoke which made my voice shake, I was scared if revealing the truth about my status with Chloe, the fear of making Luciana and Dalisay find out that I had been lying to them about my first wife made me pick my words with care."So, what are we going to do now? Because as long as I'm concerned, everyone of you here are suspect, and I'm going to get you all arrested." Maxwell responded unflinchingly, without any iota of panic in him, his expression was grimly as he spoke making everyone shift uneasily on their spot, except Luciana who had been sitting quietly with her fingers resting on her
Dalisay's POV,"Then who did?" he demanded, slamming his hand down on the desk, sending the files scattered across its surface into disarray. His eyes blazed with anger, and his frustration was palpable. "Who was the last person to see her? I need answers, and I need them now!"As I rolled my eyes in thought, a sudden realization hit me. It dawned on me that my mother could be behind Amihan's disappearance. My eyes widened in horror, and I bit my lip, trying to keep my composure. I knew that if I let my emotions get the best of me, this man would see through my facade. "Please calm down, we'll get to the bottom of...""I can't calm down!" he shouted, cutting me off in mid-sentence. His breathing was labored, and his eyes flashed with anger. The look on his face was terrifying, and I felt my heart skip a beat. He looked like a man possessed, and I knew that I had to tread carefully. Fear gripped me as I tried to find the right words to say. I knew that I had to diffuse the situation,
Maxwell's POV,My heart skipped a beat as I saw Amihan's name flash across my phone's screen. I hurriedly picked up the call, but the noise of the airport around me made it difficult to hear what she was saying. She sounded upset, her voice urgent and panicked. I tried to make out what she was saying, but it was impossible. I needed to find a quiet place to take the call.I began to look around for a secluded spot, but the airport was crowded and bustling with activity. Everywhere I looked, people were rushing around, their voices blending together into a cacophony of sound. I had been planning to move to the United Kingdom and start over, but Amihan's call had given me pause. "Babe," I said, my voice quivering as I answered the phone. "I'm sorry. Are you there?""I'm here," she said, her voice trembling. "Please...help me." And then, the line went dead.My heart sank, and I felt a wave of panic wash over me. What had happened? What could she need help with? I tried to call her back
Amihan's POV, "Bella, please wait!" I heard Adam's voice calling after me as I ran from the mansion, but I ignored him. I didn't want to talk to anyone, I just wanted to be alone. "Leave me alone!" I shouted, not even bothering to turn around. I just kept running, my feet carrying me further and further away from the pain and the betrayal.My heart thumped as I hurried away from the mansion, its weight pressing against my chest as if to crush me. Each step I took reverberated in my head, a pulsing reminder of the hurt that lay ahead. As memories of the betrayal that followed my misplaced trust flooded back, they threatened to drown me in despair. The images of the accident that had almost claimed my life ten years ago flashed before my eyes, a maelstrom of chaos and pain. I threw myself into the car, slamming the door shut as if to keep out the demons that pursued me. I could barely breathe, my chest rising and falling in rapid, panicked breaths. I knew I had to get away, to put
Karl's POV,"Where do you think you're going, sneaking off like that?" Luciana's voice rang out behind me, causing me to freeze in my tracks. She was sitting comfortably, cigarette in hand, a smirk on her lips. I felt like a deer caught in headlights, and I knew I had to think of something quickly."You're... here," I managed to stammer out, trying to regain my composure and collect my thoughts."I was just... I was just getting some fresh air," I stammered, my voice trembling with nerves. "Of course I'm here," she replied, a mocking smile playing on her lips. Her gaze was fixed intently on me, as if she were sizing me up, her eyes boring into mine. "I've always been here, and my eyes have always been on you."I felt myself flush under her gaze, feeling like a bug under a microscope. I knew I had to say something, anything, to break the silence that was hanging heavy in the air. But I couldn't think of a single thing to say."You have something urgent to take care of?" she asked, rais
Judith's POV,Despite the shame and pain coursing through my body, I climbed into my car and slammed the door shut. I had no destination in mind, I just wanted to get away. As I sat there, I realized that my hands were shaking and that my entire body was trembling.In a desperate attempt to relieve the pressure building within me, I let out a primal scream. But it did nothing to soothe the turmoil inside me. At that moment, I realized that Maxwell's mother was to blame for much of the mess I was in. She had played a part in orchestrating the events that had led to this moment, and she needed to take responsibility for her actions.The more I thought about it, the more I became convinced that the only way out of this situation was to confront her directly.With shaking hands, I rummaged through my bag for my phone. As soon as I found it, I dialed Maxwell's mother's number. The phone rang and rang, and just when I was about to give up hope, she answered. Her voice was cold and uninvitin