Monday morning…Alas singko pa lamang ay gising na ang dalaga upang makapag handa sa panibagong tatahaking yugto ng kanyang buhay. Her birthday party celebration last friday night was just the start of how she accepted the entire ordeal which was specifically arranged by her father just for her. The news about her sudden existence as the Don's heiress spread like wildfire shocking the entire city overnight but the scenario at the garden never appeared on the news. It was like it never happened and just pushed aside.Now, she was ready to face what was coming on her way and this time she swore to enjoy and embrace whether it was pleasure or pain that comes with the consequences from all of it. She had tried her best to fulfill her mother's dying wish before but she only failed. She even lost her child in the process and that was her bottom line."Rue?" Tommy knocked on her door gently."Come in," she urged while sitting on her dresser facing the mirror. She was still wrapped in her bath
The meeting lasted for almost two hours.It was kind of grilling and drilling the young lady but she played cool and confident in front of them. Since she finished business administration before, she was able to express her insights whenever they asked for her opinions about the projects they were handling.During the process, nakikinig lamang ang dalaga at kalmadong sinagot ang mga katanungan ng mga nakakatanda sa kanya. Tommy was sitting beside her whispering his explanations from time to time to ease her curiosity and confusions. As he was appointed to be her assistant for the meantime by the Don, he tried to fulfill his task to make it easier for her to understand everything about the business ventures they were in. Numerous pairs of observing eyes were aiming at them from time to time but they both left them into oblivion. Tommy's gentleness towards Ruella didn't escape from those drilling gazes. They obviously looked like they had an ambiguous relationship in everyone's observa
Tumango na lamang si Emman sa kanyang narinig mula kay Tommy and thought to himself. 'Oliver, goodluck man! It seems that you got a dangerous opponent this time!'Tommy jerked on his seat when his mobile phone rang inside his pockets. He shoved his hand, fished it out and answered his caller right there and then. Ruella was calling…"Rue," He greeted gently as he aligned his phone in his ear. "Alright. I'll be there. Wait for me." He then dropped the call and stood up. "Mr. Velasco, thank you for the coffee and the chat but I have to go. Ruella needs me right now." He sounds somewhat anxious."Is there any problem?" Emman became anxious as well. He also stood up from his seat obviously getting concerned."Nothing. She just needs me right now." Pagkasabi ay nagmamadaling umalis na si Tommy sa kanyang office leaving him alone to analyze the situation but his mobile phone rang as well in his pockets. Oliver was also calling him…"Yes, Oliver." He groaned."Come to my office right now." H
Sa Kabilang banda, nagmamadaling bumaba si Tommy lulan ng elevator ngunit sa hindi inaasahang pagkakataon, ito ay tumigil sa kalagitnaan. Nagtaka siya at napatingala sa floor button indicator and he found out that he was stuck on the 20th floor of the building. Buti na lamang at dala niya ang kanyang mobile phone and he started to scroll down Emman's number to call for some help.Emman was currently in the CEO'S office facing his boss's unnatural interrogations."Tell me what you got." Oliver demanded as his eyes cautiously darted at the door of his private lounge. Just a couple of minutes ago, he called him through the phone but Emman got an urgent call from his mother so he only said something about Ruella's sudden call which made Tommy looking anxious that is why Oliver also came into Ruella's office to have a look and he found her looking extremely pale and sweating profusely while her eyes were tightly shut. He suddenly became worried about her and immediately carried her to his
Oliver watched Ruella while sleeping soundly with different emotions swirling in his heart. He dragged a single seater sofa to her bedside at marahang naupo. He reached out for her hand and kissed her knuckles lovingly."I'm so sorry if I made a terrible mistake by turning my back on you. I swear to you that that wasn't my intention." He whispered while displaying a regretful expression on his face. Tinititigan niya maige ang mukha nito at bumuntong hininga. He genuinely felt worried about her."You seem to have lost a lot of weight. What happened to you?" He continued to talk as he lifted his other hand to touch her cheekbones, trailing his finger on them.Ruella suddenly flinched at his touch. She stirred into another position and doved her face on the pillows, leaving him speechless.Oliver loosened his hold on her hand and stood up from his seat silently. He felt like he was being stabbed in the chest by just a single flinch from her. Even in her slumber, she clearly shows how much
The moment Ruella arrived at the mansion, pumanhik kaagad siya sa kanyang silid at nagbilin na huwag siyang istorbohin. She locked her door and took a quick bath to get rid of the stickiness of her body. After a few minutes, she wrapped herself with her black bathrobe and went to the corner near the window with a goblet and a bottle of wine clutched between her fingers. She was staring at nothingness for a long time as she sipped the crimson red liquid from time to time until she fully consumed the entire bottle.There were lots of thoughts that kept on swirling in her mind but the constant thought of her daughter was the strongest to make her tears slowly streak down her face. It was pouring like rain. No matter how she tried to wipe them, it still continued to stream. She closed her eyes and recalled the days of her pregnancy.After her third trimester, she roamed around and went to a baby's boutique. She bought anything she desired. Pagkalabas niya sa store, she accidentally bumped
Tommy and Ruella went to one of their clubs to have some fun with a black van tailing behind them."Tommy, I want you to call Emman Velasco and ask him out for a drink." Marahang utos ng dalaga.Tommy evokes a boyish grin as he speaks. "Got it. I owed him this morning and now I can finally pay the gratitude.""Emman is a good person opposite to his boss. He used to be my client's son. They're actually nice." Ruella narrated nonchalantly.Tommy nodded in agreement but then he recalled the bodyguards tailing them. He was confused and couldn't help asking his lady boss. "What's with the bodyguards? I thought you despised being treated like a high profile individual?" He joked."Dad, give them to me for my safety. I couldn't say no and you know him very well that he won't take no for an answer." She sighed in defeat. Watching the street lights fading from her sights she suddenly babbled something that made Tommy go speechless. "Why didn't you tell me that you've been watching me for three
From the corner, Oliver's jealousy was getting out of control. He inhaled sharply, clenching his fists inside his pockets before he marched brusquely towards the dance floor. The crowd gave him a way enough to pass by. Seeing his murderous expression, everyone was distancing away from them and feigned to face their own businesses. He looked like he was about to strangle someone which also made them confused.Ruella's bodyguards slowly took a few steps towards them but she signaled them to stay out if it."Deputy CEO, can you be more rational to think of the company's reputation before displaying your private affairs like this?" Oliver spat accusingly.Ruella and Tommy detached their lips and darted their gaze at the furious guy."I'm not good at hiding Mr. Mitchell, perhaps you can give me some tips?" She grumbled sarcastically. "After all, you are good at hiding, isn't it? I would love to learn a few from you." She added with a hint of provocation.Oliver suddenly turned speechless a
"She never said anything about it," Oliver flatly replied. "I don't want to meddle in your affairs right now but you've got to get her as soon as possible," Don Antonio said hurriedly. "Her Aunt was freaking out right now!""Is that Oliver?" He even heard Aurora's loud voice in the background which meant that she was indeed throwing a tantrum. "Tell him to get his wife right now or I'll do it on my own!"Don Antonio sighed helplessly. "You heard her. You've got to hurry before she calls someone else to take her away from that race track!"Holding his phone, Oliver didn't know how to react. From the way Don Antonio speaks, he seems a little scared of Aurora which makes him quite baffled.His mind immediately wondered. 'When did he allow Aurora to boss him around?'After quite some time, Oliver's thoughts became steady again once the line was dropped dead and Emman's confused face came into his view.Startled, he blinked several times before he snarled. "What are you doing?""When are
Oliver gazed at her in shock. It took him a couple of minutes before he finally managed to ask. "What did you just say?"Ruella's hot tears streamed down her face as she repeated. "I... I am pregnant!"He finally snapped out of it. The next second, he smiled and began kissing her happily."Isn't this good news for us? We're having a baby!" He looked elated in contrast to her melancholic reaction.He was all smiles but his moment of happiness slowly vanished seeing Ruella's endless tears. It was only then that he remembered her question earlier. His expression began changing."Are you telling me that I'm not?" He asked. His expression turned gloomy.Ruella, still crying, nodded and shook her head at the same time.Meanwhile, Oliver was getting confused. He clumsily wiped her tears before he asked. "Rue, I don't understand. Please stop crying and explain it to me clearly."Sniffling, Ruella opened her mouth to speak. "The baby might belong to him or yours, I'm not sure!""What?" Oliver w
Oliver sensed something odd about her behavior lately but he pushed it aside. He went on comforting her until she eventually calmed down.After quite some time, Ruella finally felt so much better. She closed her eyes and soon drifted to sleep.Meanwhile, Oliver just observed her. He jumped out of her bed slowly after ensuring her breathing became even and went to the balcony. He stood there for quite some time, looking into the distance. No one knew what he was thinking as his face was unreadable.The night has deepened but the lights in the hollow streets shine brightly like the sun, creating a morning glow. The sky turned dark and the wind became chilly followed by a slight drizzle of raindrops.Oliver was immersed in his deep thoughts when the sound of his mobile phone snapped him out of it.It was then he realized, he had been standing there for a long time. Moments later, he went back inside Ruella's room. Shortly after, he received Aurora's phone call stating that they'd stay a
Ruella rushed to the bathroom and retched everything out. Unbeknownst to her, Oliver followed her immediately."Rue, are you okay?" he asked, sounding worried as he supported her bent form over the toilet.Ruella couldn’t speak; she continued to vomit, feeling as if her intestines were about to come out as well. She had sworn never to experience something like this again, yet here she was, back in the same situation. The difference was that Oliver was now by her side, unlike before.He rubbed her back gently while holding her long hair and grumbled anxiously, "I'll bring you to the doctor!"Ruella was alarmed and instinctively replied, "No!" Wiping her mouth, she looked up at him and forced a weak smile. "I... I'll be fine, Ollie. I'm just not feeling well."She looked pale and exhausted, which worried him even more. He tried to convince her, "Rue, don’t be so stubborn. You can’t afford to be sick at this critical time..."She shook her head adamantly. "That won't be necessary."Dragg
Ruella didn't know what was running in her father's mind.The words he spoke just now made her uncomfortable, so she quickly stepped in before he uttered other offensive words."Dad," Eyeing her father seriously, she said, stealing his attention from them. "I'd like to have a word with you."Don Antonio raised his eyebrows, amused at her daughter's quick intervention. But noticing Ruella's expression, he pursed his lips and stood up. "Follow me to the study."Ruella and Oliver went up with him leaving Aurora, Philip, and Lily.As soon as the door to the study closed, Ruella promptly occupied the couch followed by Oliver."Dad, where's Sierra?" She confronted. "Haven't I told Tommy to bring you to the island? Why are you still here?"She just recalled that Sierra tried to threaten their father's life a couple of days ago but after that, she lost contact with her. She thought that he might've captured her."I can manage my affairs," He muttered in disapproval. "I ain't too old to run aw
His heart almost leaped from his chest thinking she might've heard him speaking over the phone."How long have you been there?" Oliver asked nervously.Ruella remained staring at him in silence. Her face was blank, devoid of any emotions.Her stare made him uneasy, but he approached her regardless of how he felt."What's wrong?" His voice immediately softened.Ruella was in fact, in a daze. It may seem like her eyes were focused on Oliver but her mind was elsewhere.She still couldn't believe that she was pregnant. It was like a dream. An impossible dream.At first, she thought that her Aunt Aurora was trying to cheer her up but she was wrong.She showed her the medical results taken overseas in their hospital and she was indeed two months pregnant.She recalled the scene that day.Her blood samples are taken before she undergoes the final test. There were a lot of nurses tending to her which she found a little odd.Moreover, it was very crowded so she argued with the doctor telling h
In the living room, the atmosphere became chilly.Oblivious to what Ruella talked about with her Aunt upstairs, Oliver settled down on the couch across from the three persons.He noticed that each had different expressions plastered on their faces.The woman, he assumed to be the doctor, Victor discussed with him over the phone was busy taking notes to God knows what. However, her expression was a little strange after looking at Ruella for quite some time.Aurora's husband had his sharp gaze aimed in Don Antonio's direction and the same goes for the latter as if they were planning to stab each other any moment from now.Men are protective when it comes to their territories which was quite reasonable for Don Antonio but looking at Philip, Oliver suddenly felt curious, wondering why he was looking at him with such hatred in his eyes.As he waited, Philip finally broke his silence."I didn't know that Mr. Ventura was capable of ruining a crowned princess's life. If I had known you'd fail
Under her scrutinizing gaze, Oliver felt nervous."Why would you think of that?" He asked trying to be nonchalant.Her stare made him feel slightly uncomfortable. It was like she wanted to drill holes all over his face, and man, he wasn't good at lying, but he couldn't tell her about everything yet for fear that she might get mad at him.Ruella seized him up and down several times. Seeing his facial hair intact and perfectly trimmed, she asked. "You look more mature than before. What's with the beard?"Oliver thought that she might've been suspicious of him for talking too much thus he tried to refrain himself a little.Pushing aside his nervousness, he suddenly grinned, asking. "Does this look better on me?"Ruella didn't dwell on it too much and just nodded. "Not bad."Oliver felt relieved. Then he leads her downstairs to eat the sumptuous meals he prepared for her.Moments later, after finishing their meals, Ruella stood up from her chair."I need to go home," she announced. "Sierra
Two days later...Ruella woke up in a daze, looking as if she was floating somewhere in the clouds.She looked around and found herself lying in an unfamiliar bed under an unfamiliar ceiling. The chandeliers were quite familiar to her sight but she couldn't recall where she exactly had seen them. Her head swirled on the other side, the walls had paintings she was not familiar with.'Where am I exactly?' She thought.She had no recollection of whatever happened after she passed out.She made a quick rundown of herself, she was still wrapped in her silk robe which somehow put her guard down. Then she tried to recall the events bit by bit, and Oliver suddenly appeared in her mind.She jumped out of bed to look for him but the door tore open, revealing Oliver himself dressed in his famous pair of blue suit, white shirt and pants and a pair of black leather shoes which made him look like a Greek god who just descended from somewhere between heaven and hell. Not only that, but his beard was