Chapter 3

“OH, man, I thought you were going on vacation for a few days?” It was the voice of Chris, his friend, and partner in the law firm.

Tri smiled. “You know me, man. I can think better when I’m in the office and piles of work.”

“Whatever floats your boat, bro. Just let me know if you need a coffee buddy.”

Tri smiled at his best friend. He knew what he and Lyv were going through. But if there’s one thing Tri has learned as he gets older, it was to separate his personal life from his professional life. He pours his energy into working to temporarily forget what happened.

He entered his office with full enthusiasm. The Legal Legends Law Firm was the result of the dreams and efforts of him and Chris. After they passed the bar exams, they started building this company. Although this was a private law firm, they also accept pro bono cases, especially those cases where the victims have absolutely nothing in life. Both of them were not born with the ability in life so they know where these people were coming from.  After all, the rich or poor have the right to achieve justice.

He was currently reading important papers when he heard a soft knock. Then, the door spat out his secretary.

“Sir, someone wants to see you.”

Tri frowned. “I didn’t know I had an appointment this morning.”

“You haven’t,” answered his secretary. “But the woman said you’ll be happy to meet her once I told you she was here because of your sister.”

“My sister?” the young lawyer repeated. “Send her in.” Although confused, he agreed to face the unexpected visitor.

After a while, his secretary came in again followed by an old woman. Just by her elegance, she obviously has something to say in life. Her dress was similar to the outline of the favorite dress worn by Queen Elizabeth of England. Her skin was adorned with a gold ring and pearl necklace. Behind her stood three men in uniform. Based on their black suits and black shades, they look like agents of “Men In Black”.

 “You must be Atty. Dimitri Castillo?” the old woman opened the conversation after being left by his secretary.

 “Yes, madam,” Tri greeted casually as he gestured for her to sit in the prepared chair. “And you are?”

 “Anastacia Veronica Gracia Trinidad Dela Vega. I am Sandro Dela Vega’s grandmother.”  The young man’s face showed surprise. The old woman seemed to understand what the young man was thinking so she continued to speak. “In case you didn’t know, Sandro Dela Vega was the man your sister was abducted with.”

 “And what does it have to do with my sister?” he directly asked the lady. “As far as I know, they both moved on with their lives after that unfortunate incident.”

 The woman laughed lightly. “Believe me, Atty. Castillo. Everything has to do with your sister, especially now that she is carrying my grandson’s child.”

 Tri swallowed and was slightly surprised by what the other person pointed out. He did not expect the words that came out of her mouth. Above all, how did she know about his sister’s pregnancy when only the three of them—Lyv, Jhaz, and him—knew about it?

 The second time, the old woman seemed to guess what he was thinking. “Maybe you are wondering how and where I got the information about your sister’s pregnancy but that is not important. What is important is to discuss the welfare of the baby she is carrying.”

 “With all due respect, Mrs. Dela Vega,” replied Tri. “Why are you so interested in the child my sister is having?”

 “Sandro is my only grandson, the current heir to the Dela Vega Empire,” she explained simply.

Tri knew the Dela Vega’s. He knew how rich they were. Their lineage was famous among their high-end clients. They were really known in the business world.

The old woman spoke again, “The child your sister is carrying is my grandson’s only heir.”

“An only heir?” the young man repeated. “How can that happen when your grandson is a man? If he wants to, he can have children with any woman he wants. Why do we have to feel sorry for this?”

“I wish it would be that easy, Atty. Castillo. But Sandro will never have children again because his manhood was damaged when he was kidnapped together with your sister.” The young man was stunned by what he heard but chose to remain silent.

The lady’s face showed deep sadness. However, it was replaced with gentle hope. “You see, your sister’s child is the only hope of our dying clan. And I am willing to marry off my granddaughter to your brother for the sake of the baby she is carrying.”

Marriage? The old Dela Vega was asking for the hand of his beloved sister!

The young man brought his palm to his face. It was no joke for a man to lose the ability to have children, especially in families like the Dela Vega’s. He understood where the emotion the old Dela Vega was showing was coming from. But his sister’s life and future are at stake here. Will he be able to entrust his sister to a family he just met now?

No, he wouldn’t agree. He promised his parents that he would protect his sister as much as he could. Especially now that she will have a child because of a disgusting incident. Lyv has no one to rely on but him.

“And if I don’t agree?” answered the young man firmly. “What do we care if your family will be erased from the world? My sister and her child’s future are at stake here. I will not allow your grandson to marry my sister just like that.”

The old lady did not move. She waved her hand at the uniformed men. One of them responded by holding out an envelope. The woman gently placed it on the table. “That envelope contains all the assets and properties of the Dela Vega Empire; not only in the entire Philippines but also in different corners of the world. If you think we don’t—”

“I’m not selling off my sister!” he groaned. “I can take care of them and support their living. We don’t need your money! I’m sorry but you better leave before I say something I’ll definitely regret.”

Tri saw that the lady’s guards were alarmed by the rise of his voice. One of them turned slightly to the left as if whispering something in the air. He saw the gesture of Madam Anastacia’s hand again. After that, the uniformed men immediately calmed down.

He did not see the slightest sign of shock in the lady. She remained calm. But something changed in her eyes. From her peaceful gaze, it was replaced by an inexplicable ferocity. For reasons unknown to him, he felt mildly frightened by it.

“Excuse me, Atty. Castillo. I don’t want to insult your ability to support your sister. Most of all, you have impressed me with your tenacity of principle. But how far will your integrity take you if your loved ones will destroy it? If it is easy for me to find out about your sister’s pregnancy, it will not be difficult for me to single out the people around you.”

“Are you threatening me, Mrs. Dela Vega?” he kindly asked the old woman. He also stood up with emotion.

“You know very well that this is not an empty threat. There is nothing I can’t do to get the child your sister is carrying. I’m not a bad person, Atty. Castillo. But I can become a demon in exchange for the certainty that our family will continue. Like you, I can do everything for my family.”

 A deep sigh was the young man’s only answer. He knew what the woman could do. Even laws could be broken by rich and influential people like them. It’s not like the ones he faces in court in the past. He knew that he was about to collide with a very dangerous person.

 “I promise on behalf of our clan that I will take care and protect your sister and the child in her womb. I will not allow anyone to hurt and oppress the girl who will save our family. Think carefully, Atty. Castillo. I know you’re smart. Right now, start fixing your sister’s future. Especially since your health is in a bad condition right now,” she said meaningfully.

 Tri’s eyes widened upon hearing this. “Don’t tell me you know about—”

 “I know everything about your family, Atty. Castillo. I’ve done my research well. I know you are sick and what happened to your sister is not good for your health. I am offering you a deal of a lifetime. If you would agree for your sister to get married to my grandson, I will make sure that she will be well. Even if you don’t succeed in fighting your disease, you will die with a smile on your face because you know that your beloved sister is in good condition.”

 Tri sat down in his chair. He did not know how to react to what was happening. Even a lawyer like him who was used to these kinds of discussions seemed to have nothing compared to the old woman's wit. He knew in himself that the other person had cornered him. He knew that if he persisted, not only his sister would perish but also the people around them. And his conscience couldn’t handle that!

 “You don’t have to make a decision right now. I know things went fast. I’ll give you enough time to think—”

 “There is no need. Why are we going to prolong this matter, if in the end, I will still be forced to agree to what you want?” Tri said in a sarcastic tone. 

The old lady just grinned. 

“I have only one concern,” continued the young man. “How about your grandson? Does he know what is going to happen between him and my sister?”

“Leave everything to me, Atty. Castillo” said the lady. “I will take care of my grandson.”