Ronald decided to take me out and take me to the restaurant which was owned by one of his associates. His associate took us inside without people in the restaurant getting suspicious and drawing attention to us. Inside, there's also a table and chair just like how it appears outside.
"I have organized this and asked him to make this for you," said Ronald, smiling. "I'm sorry if I wasn't the one who made this, I was just busy dealing with my personal stuff," he explained and planted a kiss at the top of my forehead. "It's okay, I understand," I replied. He pushed backward a chair for me so I can sit before he went to the left chair and pushed backward a chair for himself. There's a musician playing a romantic violin for us and at the center of the table there's a flower vase containing roses, and a lit candle. Hinintay namin ang i-se-serve na pagkain para sa amin. Nang saktong ilalagay na sa mesa namin ay naamoy ko kaagad ang mabangong aroma ng pagkain. Napangiti ako ng makita ko kung ano iyon. “Chicken Marsala is one of our specialty, so enjoy the food,” sabi ng waiter. Napansin ko rin na inilapag nila ang iba't-ibang uri ng masasarap na pagkain kabilang na ang Braciole at Pappardelle with White Bolognese. Napatingin ako sa kaniya at tinigan siya sa kaniyang mga mata. Agad naman itong nag-iwas ng tingin at tila pinipigilan nitong ipakita ang nararamdaman niya sa gabing ito. Inilapag rin nila ang inumin namin na Iced fruit teas at sparkling water. Sinadya niyang mag-order ng non-alcoholic drinks dahil nga buntis ako at dala-dala ko sa may sinapupunan ko ang batang magdadala ng pangalan niya. “Thank you for these delicious foods,” nakangiti kong sambit sabay kuha ng plato at binaliktad ito Kinuha ko na rin ang kutsara at tinidor, saktong kukuha pa lang sana ako ng pagkain ng nilagyan niya bigla ng Braciole ang plato ko kaya palihim na lang akong napangiti. May mga nagbabantay pa rin siyang tauhan sa paligid namin at nakamasid lang ito kasama ang mga tauhan ko. Tumikhim naman ang associate niya. “Enjoy the night, boss.” Nakangiti niyang sambit sabay talikod at umalis. "You can eat all you want for you to be healthy and for our baby," sambit nito sa akin kaya tinanguan ko na lang ito. "Just tell me, if you still want more food," dagdag pa nito at kinuha ang sparkling water sabay higop rito. "I appreciate this, Ronald," I said, a warm smile spread across my face. The food was delicious, and his thoughtfulness touched me deeply. He glanced up, a slow smile playing on his lips as he swallowed his food. "You're welcome, la mia regina," he said, his voice deep and warm. His eyes held mine, a warmth spreading through me as they stayed on my face. He reached for a napkin, his fingers brushing against mine as he pulled it from the dispenser. With a gentle touch, he wiped a bit of food near my lips, his thumb pausing there for a moment before he pulled away. Habang tumatagal ang pagtugtog ng musikero sa violin, parang pakiramdam ko parang kaming dalawa lang ang narito. Nagsisimula na namang bumilis ang tibok ng puso ko at ang pakiramdam na tila ba may kuryenteng dumadaloy sa buo kong katawan. Parang may isang pulang tali na nagkokonekta sa aming dalawa na tila ayaw kong putulin at hayaan na lang habang buhay na matali ako sa lalaking nasa harapan ko ngayon. "How's the operation you were doing?" I asked, so he paused for a moment. "It's all fine," he replied. "We also did smuggling to gather more weapons since the arm dealer doesn't want to sell firearms and other strong knife weapons we can use," he explained and took a plenty sip of his drink. "Oh, you're doing well then," I responded, and his eyes gazed up to me. "But doesn't he report you to the police?" I asked, and his expression became serious. "He will keep his silence at the eternity of his life," he uttered seriously. "And can we stop talking about these matters please?" he asked, so I nodded. "We should talk on how we will going to take care of the baby and how could I keep you away from your father," he suggested and stood up from his seat, planting a warm and gentle kiss on my forehead. "Yeah, you're right," I said, forcing a smile that felt tight and unnatural. My cheeks burned, and I could feel the heat spreading up my neck. "I want this night to be romantic, so I guess we should talk about our love because we are on the darker side of love, la mia regina." He uttered that, a wave of dizziness washed over me. I didn't want to be a weak woman,but my knees felt shaky and I could felt like I could pass out. "Are you okay?" he asked gently, it was evident in his voice that he was concerned. He even touched my hand and placed his hand on my forehead to check if I had a flu or something. I was unable to speak, and it seems I had lost words again. I was speechless. "Yes, I am fine, and you know I am just thinking about something, and maybe we should enjoy the rest of the night." I said, my voice a soft whisper that barely reached his ears. The words felt strangely distant, like they were coming from someone else. His smile spread across his lips and face, a bright light in the darkness. Every time he touched my hand, he was around, my heart hammered against my ribs, a worried drumbeat in my chest, shouting his name repeatedly. His eyes were like stars shining brightly in the darkness, and his lips were like a warm and soft pillow that I'd always love to touch with mine. His lips tasted come il mio.Nangunot ang noo ko nang masulyapan ang matandang lalaki na may bilugang katawan na papalapit sa amin ni Daddy. Nakasuot ito ng magarang suit at may hawak na tungkod na sumusuporta sa paika-ika nitong paglalakad na dulot ng katandaan. Bali-balita na biyudo na ang nasabing lalaki. "You will marry him," my father gestured his hand toward him. Is Dad really serious? Ang akala ko pa naman ay ipakikilala niya na ako bilang susunod na leader ng Dayron Organization kaya niya ako inutusang maghanda para sa party na ‘to—pero nagkamali ako. "No, I won't. Dad naman!" mariin kong sambit sa kanya. "Nakikita mo ba ang agwat ng edad naming dalawa?" inis kong dagdag. "It doesn’t matter. The most important thing is saving our business," pangangatwiran nito. My father's words stunned me, leaving me speechless. "But I am not a thing you can just use so that you can pay your debts! " I yelled at him. "How could my own dad do this to me?" "How could we pay all the debts if you don't do this?!" gal
CHAPTER 2 Ronald took me to his mansion, and I was amazed at how big his entire property estate was. I and my mobsters even noticed that there were a lot of Black men guarding the whole estate. “So, Miss kung kailangan mo ang tulong ko,” panimula niya. “huwag kang mag-aatubiling sabihan ako,” pagpapatuloy pa nito sa sinasabi niya. "I will, and I didn't know this is how big your fortune is," I commented, wandering my eyes in the surroundings. "And it's bigger than our fortune," I added. Napangisi naman si Ronald sa narinig niya, "I am one of the top mafias in the city, and the whole authorities are looking for me," he uttered while fixing his black suit. "I am also a mafia queen but got abandoned because my dad wanted me to marry the old man because his business went bankrupt,” naiirita kong paliwanag na naman. Napangisi na lang siya sa naging reaksiyon ko at naghithit ng sigarilyo. Napansin ko rin na tila naging seryoso ang ekspresyon nito at parang bang may mga nalalaman siya.
Sa maiksing panahon na magkasama kaming dalawa ay paunti-unti nang nahuhulog ang loob ko sa kaniya. Sinusubukan ko namang pigilan pero hindi ko kayang labanan ang damdamin ko. Tuwing sinusubukan ko itong pigilan ay hindi ako mapakali. Hindi ako matahimik na tila ba gusto ko itong ilabas at iparamdam sa kaniya ang tunay na nararamdaman ko.“Airah,” biglang pagtawag ni Ronald sa pangalan ko.Nasa living room ako, umikot ako para harapin siya. “Bakit?” nagtatakang tanong ko ngunit nginitian lang niya ako. “Bakit nga?” pagtatanong ko muli."Hmm, breakfast is ready," he uttered in a soft voice. "We'll be going to have your training today as promised," he added before he left me here in the living room. Pumunta na agad ako sa kusina at pagkarating ko doon ay nagulat ako dahil iba't-ibang masasarap na pagkain ang nakahain sa mesa. Narito rin ang dalawa nitong kasambahay at nakatayo malapit sa mesa.“Ma'am, may kailangan pa ba kayo?” nakangiting tanong ng isang kasambahay sa harapan ko."No
"What's this all about? Why did Ronald hold my hand and we look so close together?" I asked, still confused about it. "Why didn't he even tell me about it?" "Maybe, it's time to ask him or you should call your grandma since she left a letter for you," my mobster suggested. I took a deep breath. "My grandma wouldn't answer it," I replied. "Also him, so we should do something that he must confess it himself," I stated my idea. "No, let him confess, Miss Airah." My mobster suggested so I glanced up to him. "Okay, that's a good idea," I replied. “Labis lang ang pagtataka ko dahil wala siyang sinasabi sa akin tungkol dito,” komento ko habang nakatingin pa rin sa mga larawan, medical records at ang sulat na iniwan ng aking lola.Napatingin ang tauhan ko sa likod niya nang mapansing biglang pumasok si Ronald kasama ang kaniyang mga tauhan sa pintuan.Malimit itong ngumiti sa akin kaya ngumiti ako sa kaniya ng pilit. Sumenyas siya at itinuro ang hagdan, "I'll rest," I heard him state i