I received a message from Sever the moment my private plane touched the ground. Ilang oras na raw nang umalis si Zalaria na ang paalam ay bibili lang ng kape pero hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa bumabalik. “I already tried tracking her location, pero hindi ko magawa. The tracker could work whether her phone is on or off. But her location won't show up. Isa lang naman ang ibig sabihin niyon, walang signal sa kung nasaan man siya.” I ended our call after knowing what I needed to know. Nakarating na ako't lahat sa condo ko ngunit hindi pa rin siya matawagan. I haven't felt this hopeless before. I have a lot of connections and it was only this time that they all became useless to me. We later found out about the message she received after reporting for her mission. We couldn't read the content since it was a destructive message, but when Sever logged in to the system, he was notified about it as one of the operators. “It was probably your brother. He used your name. I already blocked his
“Kung hindi mo makalimutan kung paano ako humalik, puwede mo namang sabihin.” I didn't expect that. But well, mali ba siya? “Why? Will you kiss me again?” I asked that instantly made her look away. “If I tell you that I am attracted to you, anong gagawin mo?” dagdag ko pa. Nang hindi pa rin siya lumilingon ay ginamit ko na ang hintuturo ko upang iharap ang mukha niya sa akin. “I like how you answered my kisses, Elora. I am fucking addicted.” “I-Isang beses—” “That doesn't really matter.” I leaned closer to her until our faces were just inches away from each other. “Be my personal assistant.” Her eyes looked at mine bravely. Tila hindi manlang tinatablan sa ginagawa ko. “I don't think you need one.” I don't need a personal assistant, but I was sure I need her. “If that means you'll be with me every fucking day, why not?” I raised a brow at her with a teasing smirk plastered on my lips. “Sabi mo gusto mo nang laging may ginagawa. I can assure you that you will not be bo
I let Zalaria talk to our sons and her mother through video call. Bumaba ako mag-isa nang mag-umpisa na ang ceremony. Pagharap ko pa lang sa hindi mabilang na mga camera at maiingay na tao sa labas, alam ko na hindi ko na 'yon uulitin pa. I decided not to continue my plan of attending the grand opening ceremonies. Ang sabi ni Leon ay hindi na talaga kayang maghanap pa ng magiging representatives ko, but when I told him I would triple the pay, my problem was solved. I immediately went back to our room after cutting the ribbon and delivering a short speech. The media wanted to ask me several questions, but I declined. Hindi ko alam kung bakit may kailangan pa silang itanong sa akin kung hindi naman ako relevant dito sa bansang 'to. Isa pa, the hotels would be under Sever's name soon. Isa 'yon sa mga kondisyon niya sa pagpayag niyang maging kanang-kamay ko. The construction of the hotels was already ongoing when he told me his condition was just a fucking joke. Ilang araw siyang tul
The video testimony was playing in front of me. Evidence such as records, photos from a CCTV footage, and stolen pictures were scattered in front of me above the table. “I just received the video testimony last night. Ilang linggo rin ang kinailangan bago siya nagsalita. Malas lang ng nanay mo dahil kailangan ng pera ng dati niyang tauhan na nakalimutan niya yatang ipapatay.” Victoria Lemery Alanis Davion. Hindi siya karapat-dapat para sa apilyedo ng ama ko. The man exposed everything he knows about the assassination of my father and a little bit of information about Vanda. It was my stepmother who planned the assassination, personally. It was her who picked the agents who killed my father— her husband. It was her who leaded the death of my father. Tangina. Hindi ko maisip kung paano niya nasikmurang gawin 'yon sa taong walang ibang ginawa kundi ang mahalin siya. My father never failed to show how she loved her. Halos hindi ko natapos ang video dahil hindi ko kinakaya ang mg
I told her everything she wanted and needed to know. From the history of Derrivy, to my connection with Rye, and about the death of my father. Nagpanggap lang ako na hindi ko alam kung sino ang nagpapatay sa tatay ko at sa kapatid niya dahil hindi ko gustong makilala niya ang babaeng 'yon. I promised to give them justice, at hangga't maaari, ayaw ko siyang gumalaw tungkol doon. Alam kong hindi imposibleng damay na siya at kilala na siya ng babaeng 'yon, kaya hangga't kaya ko siyang ilayo ay 'yon ang gagawin ko. Nilinaw ko na rin sa kaniya kung sino ako sa Sleverions at ang pinagkaiba niyon sa katauhan ko sa Derrivy. Hanggang sa mauwi ang usapan tungkol sa aming dalawa at sa mga anak namin. I answered her questions. I told her the things I thought she needed to know. Mula sa unang desisyon ko para sa mga anak namin hanggang sa huli. I showed her the room filled with my collection of photos of her and our twins. Dinala ko rin siya sa isang kuwarto kung nasaan ang isa pa na koleksyon
“W-Where are you? Ruan, y-yung mga anak natin—” “D-Don't come here, okay? Stay where you are, Zalaria.” Kinasa ni Rye ang kaniyang baril. Hindi siya nagdalawang isip na itutok 'yon sa direksyon ng nanay ni Zalaria. A silenced gun shot followed, causing the woman to collapse after realizing that the bullet hit the wall just inches away beside her. I quickly signaled my men to come and get her, ngunit naging mabilis ang mga tauhan ng lalaki na 'di hamak na mas malapit sa puwesto ng ginang. Dinala nila ang nanay ni Zalaria sa labas ng kuwarto kung nasaan kami. I dropped the call with Zalaria and threw deadly glares at Rye who was already laughing evily while shaking his head. “Make a move and I won't hesitate to kill these two, dear brother,” he warned. Suddenly, silence enveloped the place. The whole room was hushed, yet the silence only fueled the danger around. The fear inside me was ignited. It was the first time I saw my sons in person, but with guns pointed at them. Nakat
“And just like that, we're done!” Zalaria came. For the first time ever, I was in the same room with my sons and her, but all we could do was to stare at each other and talk with our eyes. Hindi ko sila malapitan. Hindi ko sila mahawakan. Hindi ko sila mayakap. Rye made me choose between Zalaria and our twins. I didn't want to choose, handa na akong isuko ang lahat ng meron ako kay Rye huwag lang malayo ang mag-iina ko akin, but Zalaria answered his question for me. “He's choosing his sons over me.” I was released from the ropes ngunit hindi pa rin ako hinayaan ni Rye na makalapit kay Zalaria. I couldn't be careless because my sons were still in danger. It was also the first time I carried Ruin in my arms. Nanginginig pa ang mga braso ko noong mga oras na 'yon habang pinapatahan siya mula sa pag-iyak. It was the weakest point in my life. Hindi ako makapagdesisyon nang maayos sapagkat ang mga anak ko at ang babaeng mahal ko ang nakasalalay. When Zalaria entered the room,
Dalawang araw na ang nakalipas simula nang mangyari 'yon. “Your mother must be furious right now. According to our spy, Vanda have lost half of their income globally in just one week.” It was a good sign. Sooner or later posibleng malaman na ng grupo na ang Sleverions ang dahilan kung bakit unti-unting pumapalya ang kanilang mga transactions, ngunit wala akong pakialam. Handa ang Sleverions sa anumang gagawin nila. It was my goal— to make her aware that I would cause her downfall and she would pay for everything she did. Wala siyang magagawa upang maisalba ang lahat ng bagay na akala niyang mananatili sa buhay niya. Hindi niya ako anak. She was never a mother to me. “Sooner of later, Vanda would lose its assets too.” I couldn't wait for it to happen. Altro and I were talking at the balcony. It was raining outside. Medyo naninibago rin ang mga anak ko sa lugar kaya hindi ako makaalis. Nahihirapan ang mga kinuha kong katulong sa pag-aalaga sa pagpapatahan sa kanila sa tuwing s