CHAPTER 1

"You want mango shake?" Janice asked.

We just finished our classes and we passed the new cafe near the school. Janice wanted to eat ice cream but I insisted on trying something in the café. But now, I don't think I can drink anything anymore. Coldness spread all over my body. My mind went blank.

If only a few years had passed when I saw that, I wouldn’t be hurt like this. I wasn't dumb. Gossips about my mother, Priscilla Escareal, having multiple affairs with different man hurt. I ignored what I heard because I believed Mommy couldn’t do that to us. But to see her with my own two eyes was too much. It's only been almost two months since Daddy died!

"Audrey, what about you?"

Tears pooled my eyes. I was forced to sit on the bench outside the cafe. When Janice saw my tears she approached in a panic.

"Why are you crying? Did I say something wrong? Don't you want to be here anymore?"

I cried even more.

"I saw Mommy, Janice!"

With a cheap man, she went in with a car and drove to somewhere else! She didn't even bother to wait for a year! Did she even grieved for the husband she lost?

"Huh? Where?"

My friend looked around. I cried more. She panicked and sat down beside me. He hugged me and hugged me.

"Maybe it’s just someone who looks like her, Drey—"

"No, I'm sure! I know him well! And the car that Daddy gave him as a gift is the one she used! It's true, Janice! She’s having an affair!”

"Calm down, okay? I suggest you talk to your mom about it. I’m sure she has an answer.”

Back then, we were the picture of a perfect family here at Vida Riqueza. Daddy was a good leader and a loving father. He was this town's governor for years, he only retired when he fell ill. Mommy's family is old rich. We own factories and lands that fed many people here.

That is why we are highly respected by many. It's also the reason why even though Mommy is acting like this now, no one openly speaks badly to her. No one dared to tell me about her filthy doings. What I know I only hear from those who talk. And whenever he knew I was nearby, he kept his mouth shut.

My father was a very good person. I love him so much, I can't take Mommy's actions lightly. Dad loved her dearly. I ignored him not paying much attention to Daddy when he got sick.

But thinking of it now, what if even when Dad was alive he already had a male income like the ones I heard before? I didn't pay much attention on the gossips because I believed she couldn't do such thing!

"Drink first," Janice handed me the purchased mango shake.

I stopped crying and was relatively calm but still stunned by the absence. I don’t know which is better. To stay in the dark or know the truth even when it hurts.

"I'm sorry, Drey. I can't say anything about your situation. It's difficult when it comes to family. My only advice is, don't send too much emotion. Talk to your Mommy first. She still loves you, I’m sure.”

"I do not know..."

He looked at me and held my hand.

"Something like this really happens sometimes, Audrey. Nothing is perfect."

"But I wish she had spent a year before she started dating again, shouldn’t she? And what if the gossips are true? That even before Daddy died she already had affairs? If she truly loved us, her family, she wouldn’t be able to do that!”

She sighed.

"And just in case I find out she's really hooked up before, I don't think I can ever forgive her!"

"Look, you don't know what your mother is going through. What if she did it her way to cope up with the death of your Daddy?"

"No! If she's really mourning, she won't seek solace in another man!"

"People think differently, Drey. But I'm sure your Mommy still loves you."

I swallowed the bile in my throat. I feel like crying again. Mommy was indeed a loving mother. But her image in my head now is tainted with betrayal and my judgments.

"Real love is always true, Janice. When you're not true, that's not pure love!"

"Maybe he doesn't want to say because he doesn't want your brother to hurt you."

"If she truly loves us, in the first place, she won't do anything to hurt us. The truth is, she's so selfish! She didn't even think of Daddy!"

"Janice, what's going on?"

A baritone voice stopped me. I wiped away the tears and looked at those standing not far behind me.

Janice's cousin was there. Behind him were the boys familiar to me, mostly. Sons of the wealthiest people of the region. If not son of a politician, son of a businessman. I know because I often see it at gatherings.

By the way, they are mixed with others now. My friend's cousin isn't living as wealthy as them. Although he's the son of Don Hilario Melgarejo, he's just an outcast. He is just the son of a maid and wants to be given support, his mother preferred to live simply, without the influence of the Melgarejos. So despite of his very rich ancestry, he's living opposite to us.

The Melgarejos treated them well, so Janice and other relatives accepted her. I just don't get it why he has to live that poor life when he has all the rights of living like a rich boy. I mean, who would rather suffer?

"You fought?" His brooding eyes were looking at me with concern. But in the darkness of his eyes I doubted if that was true or just my imagination.

"No, Rustov. Just talking," Janice said.

"It's five o'clock, go home."

Janice nodded and picked up my cell phone so she could text my driver herself. Her cousin led the companions inside and waited until Janice and I arrived to pick them up.

I was then fourteen, at my eighth grade when I started hating Mom because of what I saw. That night, I wanted to talk to him. I waited for her to go home, but she didn't.

My suspicion grew that your man was with her, and my anger intensified when I saw them fighting with Ate Diana the next day. I listened to their argument. That's when I realized that Ate also knew everything. She was only suppressing it.

"Audrey is still young, Mommy! If she sees you, she'll probably see you too! Please have a little decency even just for her!"

"Don't lead me, Diana!"

"If you can't mourn for Dad, I hope you respect your children! The town is talking about your affairs! Someone else said that you even had a relationship with a married man! I can handle these, but what about Audrey? Thought Do you know the effect it has on him? Have you even thought about it?"

Mommy slapped Ate. I never watched the other completely and hurried back to the room. I just cried with so much resentment. So the people were right all along. My acquaintance with Mommy was really different. Respecting her was all a waste.

I grew up as a daddy's girl. So maybe the loss of Daddy had a big impact on my life. The perfect family I thought I had crumbled. I feel like even though Mommy is still there, she's lost to me. The gossips about her continued, and even though I knew that was true, I never confronted her again.

The following year, my life became even more chaotic. Ate Diana was on her first year in college when she got pregnant. Mommy kicked him out and I knew he had wanted to leave the mansion for a long time. She was just thinking about me. But that time, he couldn't stop himself from leaving. Mommy was very mad and shoved her away like she wasn't a disappointment herself.

Ate was picked up by her boyfriend that night. She was crying when she talked to me.

"I'm so sorry, Audrey. I have to leave. I don't want to hurt my baby. So please be good while I'm not here, okay? Take care of yourself. We're leaving Vida Riqueza and going to Klyde's province. We'll stay in touch, I promise," was the last thing he said.

I was even more angry with Mommy. Even Ate lost me because of her. If she was only considerate. He also made a mistake, ah? His many sins against us after Ate who just got pregnant, has been kicked out?

She’s a mother, and she should be the first person to help with it! But she shoved her away instead. For what? For no one to look like him in what he does?

Mommy wanted to ruin our family. I pinned that in my mind. I don’t know if that was the reason for how I behave today, but maybe that’s really the case.