“Luca, don’t be rude. Eat your vegetables,” Valentina whispered to her brother when she saw him just playing with his food.Luca whispered back to his sister, “I don’t get it. Rice and vegetables for breakfast? It feels like lunch.”“What? It’s a typical Filipino thing. Rice in the morning, noon, and night. You’ll need to adapt, since we’re not at home. Just eat your food.”With a pout, Luca reluctantly tried the vegetables with his rice. He thought it wouldn’t taste good, but was impressed when he tasted it. “Wow, what kind of vegetable is this?”Little Luca’s question was overheard by Lordes, who responded despite talking with Celeste. “That’s adobong talbos ng kamote, dear.”“What? I thought adobo only came with chicken or pork. There’s something like this too?”“Oh yes, dear. Out here in the province, you’ll find all sorts of different dishes! They’re delicious even if the spices aren’t expensive!”“Really?” Luca’s curiosity was piqued. “But too much rice might make me fat. I want
At Semion's Residence…“They killed them all,” Celeste uttered weakly after Diego handed her a document on Semion’s orders.“Yeah, it seems that eliminating lives is the easiest solution for the Allegra family,” Semion said, sipping red wine. “Your family lawyers, estate planners, accountants, and financial advisors—they’re all dead. And it can’t be just a coincidence because, according to the autopsies and investigations, they all died in car accidents—drunk driving, brake failure, rollover accidents, and even distracted driving. All ridiculously related! They didn’t even try to change their strategy.”“Even my parents and my brother were in car accidents,” Celeste rubbed her temples. “What are we going to do? We need them for the documents related to our family’s properties and assets. How can we prove the land is ours without legal documents?”“Well, before that,” Semion signaled Diego to hand Celeste another stack of papers. “These are the things you need to know first. Demetrio a
[FIGHT BACK, Don’t Be Afraid!][Kick the Allegra Family Out of Land That Isn’t Theirs!][You Will Not Silence Us!][Justice! Justice! Justice for All the Farmers They Massacred!][WE WILL FIGHT, WE WILL NOT BACK DOWN!]Governor Demetrio Allegra stared in shock, his mouth hanging open as he watched the news broadcast of the farmers rallying on their land, live on television.“Governor!” His secretary rushed to his aid as he felt light-headed and lost his balance.Demetrio grabbed the edge of his desk while the secretary supported him. “T-Turn off the screen now!” he ordered angrily.“Of course!” The secretary quickly grabbed the remote and turned off the TV.Demetrio’s broad chest heaved up and down as if struggling to catch his breath. His heart pounded loudly, and he felt all the blood rush to his head.“Quickly, contact that damned CBN production and get them to take down the news they’re broadcasting now!!” he yelled at the secretary, full of rage.The secretary, flustered, rushed
“We absolutely cannot do that. We can’t kill Celeste, Dad.” Darson firmly opposed his father.Demetrio’s eyes blazed at him. “What did you just say? Why? Do you have feelings for that woman? Are you seriously kidding me right now?”Before his father could lunge at him in anger, Darson quickly explained. “Do you really think they’ll be silenced if Celeste suddenly disappears in this kind of situation? It’ll only make things worse and put us in even more danger. Use your brain; this isn’t the time to act rashly. The Lombardis will only become more determined, and it’s likely we’ll end up being the ones who get taken down in the end!”He saw his father’s jaw tighten, but it didn’t scare him.When you think about it, what he said was true. The Lombardi family had already threatened them after publicly humiliating them, which showed how serious they were about protecting Celeste.Right now, Darson couldn’t think of any other reason why those farmers were back in the news except that Celest
*BANG*BANG*BANG*“Clean everything up now,” Semion ordered coldly to his men after firing his gun at the three men who had attempted to kill him.“Yes, Boss!” His men quickly set to work clearing away the bodies.“Hold my gun, Diego,” Semion said, handing his gun to Diego before wearily heading to his underground hideout office.Unlike his lavish office at his mansion and company, which sparkled with gold and diamonds, this office was the exact opposite. It was stark and dark, with only black decor, and the walls were lined with various weapons and torture devices.Semion slumped into the large black leather chair, propping his long legs up on the desk before pulling out a black cigarette and a lighter.He remained in that position, as if trying to relax, but every sigh he let out revealed that something was troubling him.“Boss, are you okay? You've been sighing a lot today,” Diego asked with a frown. “And you're acting so impatient. You didn’t even toy with those guys; you just kill
“Governor Allegra is currently facing a slew of cases and court hearings related to land theft, the mysterious disappearance of several residents and hundreds of farmers, and the illegal construction of infrastructure.”“Governor Allegra is under fire from netizens right now. Many young people are demanding justice for the farmers by rallying, visiting the victims, and providing small financial aid and relief goods.”“The spokesperson, lawyer, and party of Governor Allegra are calling for people not to spread false accusations about him and his family. According to their statement, they will do everything they can to prove their innocence, and the current issue is nothing more than black propaganda against them. Governor Allegra remains silent because anything he says could be used against him. However, his silence shouldn’t be taken as an admission of guilt.”Celeste happily sipped on fruit wine after hearing the news tonight. It wasn’t just one or two headlines about the Allegra fami
Celeste had been staring at her reflection in the mirror for a long time, seemingly lost in deep thought.“Señora Celeste, are you alright?” Lisa’s voice pulled her back to reality.Lisa and Lyn were currently doing her hair and makeup, while Celeste sat silently in front of the vanity table.She nodded listlessly. “I’m fine, why do you ask?”“Hmm? Are you sure? It seems like you didn’t sleep well last night, and you look low on energy this morning. Did you stay up too late?” Lisa asked, her concern evident.Celeste sighed heavily. “I’m not sure… It feels like something happened last night while I was asleep, but it’s all so jumbled that I can’t remember.”“That might explain why your eyes are so puffy and red today, Señora,” Lyn said, noting her unusual demeanor.“My eyes are red?” Celeste looked at herself in the mirror and was startled to see how swollen her eyes were, complete with dark circles. “I look like I’ve aged five years. Do I look terrible?”“Oh no, Señora Celeste! You don
Two months versus nearly two decades. Diego chuckled to himself.He understood that it wasn’t easy for Celeste to erase her feelings for her ex-husband, especially in such a short time. It was impressive how she managed not to show any emotion whenever the name of that man came up.Love, pain, trauma, resentment, and anger towards her ex had all mixed together. Anyone who had gone through what she had would likely choose to harden their heart.Even Diego, who had been single his entire life, understood these things. He grew up watching his mother being cheated on repeatedly by his father. Diego remembered the physical abuse his father inflicted on his mother and the way he poisoned her mind. For Diego, a child at the time, it was traumatic and the reason he now avoided romantic relationships.In the end, his mother chose to end her life by hanging herself right in front of him.Diego sighed as he recalled that memory. He shook his head and pushed the thoughts away.The point was, he c
Anna quickly turned around, pulling Danica away from the dangerous scene. They ran as fast as they could, her desperate need to escape the forest pushing her forward. The faint light ahead told her they were nearly out—the low clouds overhead slowly beginning to disperse.But even as they moved, her mind swirled with confusion. Killian’s words kept echoing in her thoughts, and she couldn’t make sense of them. How could he be willing to kill to save her life? Tears welled up in her eyes. She had been wrong. She had misjudged him. Killian wasn’t like Primo Alessandro. Just because he was a Lombardi didn’t mean he was an enemy. Her thoughts were interrupted by a sudden, blood-curdling scream: "UNCLE, NO!!"Without thinking, Anna stopped running and turned. She knew exactly who the voice belonged to.But before she could even react, a loud gunshot echoed through the air. A searing pain ripped through her shoulder, and she stumbled, feeling the blood begin to trickle down her arm. She ba
"No! No, no, no!!" Danica’s voice broke with desperation as she dropped to her knees in front of her. "No, Anna, I won’t do it! I—I can't!" Her gaze shifted to Primo Alessandro, filled with defiance, as she stood up. "Who the hell are you to do this?! Do you really think I’ll play your disgusting game?!""Danica," Anna called out firmly, standing up beside her. Her voice was steady, but the uncertainty that gripped her heart was clear in her eyes.Primo Alessandro stood up abruptly, his sudden movement sending a chill through the air as he swiftly pulled out a gun, aiming it directly at her. Anna’s eyes widened as she instinctively took a step back."Primo," KIllian’s voice rang out, his grip firm as he seized his uncle’s arm, halting him mid-action."What!" Alessandro snapped, grabbing Killian’s arm in turn, but Killian didn’t even flinch.Their actions drew the attention of everyone in the room. Killian's gaze, full of intensity, was locked on his uncle. He gripped Primo Alessandro’
"Déjà vu." Primo Alessandro's smile was maddening.Anna could hear every beat of her heart, so loud it felt deafening. The wind’s chill brushed over her hands and feet, sending a strange shiver through her body. Her skin prickled, refusing to settle, as she stood frozen, her eyes wide open and fixed on him. Her breath was heavy as she stared into his eyes, and memories of seventeen years ago came rushing back.The pounding in her chest screamed with fury, a fury born from his murder of her parents. The memory of his men beating her mother was still fresh in her mind. The sound of the gunshot that ended her mother’s life echoed in her ears."We've met again," Primo Alessandro said, his smile dripping with the promise of death.Anna couldn’t speak. Her tears had dried up, but the sharpness of her glare remained, piercing through him. If her glare were made of knives, his head would have been severed from his neck by now.He hadn't changed at all in appearance or posture. But the gray in
The loud commotion pulled her out of a restless sleep. Anna's eyes snapped open, her head pounding and her vision blurry. It took her a moment to realize she had fallen asleep on the cold, hard floor of her room the previous night.Her sluggish thoughts were quickly jolted into clarity by an ear-splitting explosion that shook the entire mansion. The tremor was so violent it felt as though the earth itself had shifted beneath her.What’s happening?She bolted upright, twisting the doorknob and stepping out into the hallway. Her ears rang with the deafening sound of gunfire, and her breath hitched as she peered down the staircase. Smoke engulfed the mansion like a suffocating shroud.Her eyes widened in horror. Men clad in all-black tactical gear swarmed the premises—uncannily similar to the Lombardi’s men. She froze on the spot, watching as the Costas guards exchanged relentless gunfire with the intruders.“A-are those…?” She covered her mouth, a trembling hand betraying her growing p
Decades ago, when she was only six years old, Anna vividly remembered the night her life changed forever.It was late evening when she arrived home from school, walking alone because she had assumed someone would pick her up. Innocent and unaware, she returned to find their house in chaos.Scattered belongings littered the floor, shards of broken glass crunched under her small shoes, and droplets of blood painted a chilling path across the ground. Still clad in her uniform, her bag slung over her shoulder, she froze in the doorway, her voice trembling as she called out.“Mama?”“Mama? Mama!” Her cries echoed as she searched the house, growing more desperate with each unanswered call. The sound of a baby’s wailing drew her to one of the rooms. There, she found her infant sister, Danica, locked inside a wardrobe.“Danica!” she gasped, her shock momentarily paralyzing her. Without hesitation, she scooped her into her arms. The baby babbled incoherently, managing only, “A... A!”—her attem
"Can you please just stop?!"After an hour of non-stop crying from the baby, Chiarra couldn't handle the frustration anymore. She clutched the infant in her arms even tighter, which only made the baby wail louder."Enough! Enough! Stop it!" Overwhelmed by the incessant noise, she nearly dug her fingers into the small, swaddled body of her child. Her eyes filled with tears, no longer sure what to do to make the crying stop.The exhaustion from sleepless nights spent caring for her baby, combined with the constant arguments with Darson, left her drained and on edge every day. Because of this, all her pent-up anger and frustration were taken out on the maids in the mansion—and on her own child."I told you to stop already! I can’t take this anymore! Please, just give me a break!" Chiarra pleaded tearfully, her voice shaking with both rage and desperation as she yelled at the baby."M-Madam… I'll take care of Chrystal for you. Please, just get some rest—""If I could, I already would have
Celeste woke up the next morning feeling like she had just competed in a championship sport the night before—her body was sore and battered.She rubbed her eyes, stretching and turning her gaze to the man beside her, who was holding her tightly.Sunlight was streaming onto his handsome face. It was no longer the early morning peek but rather noon.She lifted her weak arm to smooth out Semion's thick, disheveled hair. Her eyes traced his prominent brows and long eyelashes. She ran her fingertip down his high nose and over his thin lips.Then she realized Semion was awake, as he couldn’t suppress the corners of his mouth lifting into a smile. His cheeks also rose, trying to fight returning to their usual state.Unable to help herself, she smiled and closed her eyes. “S-Se…” She stopped, her voice hoarse, likely from all the shouting and cheering from the previous night’s joy. “Are… um, have you been awake for a while?”“No.” His eyes remained closed.She tried to remove Semion’s heavy a
Celeste leaned back against the wall as she sat on the low cabinet. The items that were neatly stacked there earlier were now scattered across the floor.Her heartbeat was as rapid as her breaths as she watched Semion’s head between her parted legs.This was the second time he had lowered himself like that in front of her. She was used to seeing Semion with his head held high, as if he never bowed to anyone. But now, the scene before her was the complete opposite.There was something in her feelings she couldn’t explain, despite the darkness enveloping the room and the single dim light providing scant illumination.He was torridly kissing her intimate parts, just like how he had kissed her lips earlier. Hungry and thirsty for her essence.“Ahhh… Ummm, ahhh!” The heat was overwhelming. She was leaking slick fluids that mingled with Semion’s lips and tongue. The addicting sound only ignited every muscle in her body.She gasped for air as Semion spread her long legs further apart. The on
“S-Semion…”Celeste gasped as Semion’s soft lips descended on her neck. Biting her lower lip, she dug her nails into the luxurious fabric of his black coat.“Mmhhmmp!” She couldn't help but moan at the sensations coursing through her.The room was dark, perhaps because as soon as they entered, Semion had seized her with a kiss, like a thirsty stranger.Her plan to shower and change into comfortable clothes was quickly forgotten due to what Semion was doing to her body.His large hand slid up her dress, moving toward her underwear. Semion’s fingers pressed down on her lower body with a mixture of intensity and possessiveness. Celeste felt it acutely when he suddenly bit her neck!“Ahh!” She cried out in pain, her throat dry as she gasped for breath.“My wife,” Semion’s warm breath invaded her ear, making her shiver and raising the hair on her arms. “I want to mark you as mine…” He kissed the spot he had bitten. “Just for me…” He licked the mark. “All mine.” His teeth brushed against he