As agreed, Nestor picked her up in front of her house to accompany her in talking to other fishermen in the town of Eldoria. Initially, their plan was to bring a vehicle. But eventually, they opted to walk since their destination wasn't that far."I'd like to introduce you to my girlfriend and partner, Victoria," Nestor introduced to her the beautiful woman he called Victoria."Hello," Carmela greeted, extending her hand for a handshake, which Victoria warmly accepted.A radiant smile graced Victoria's lips, accompanied by her cordial acceptance of the handshake. "I'm pleased to meet you, Carmela. I'm also happy to have the opportunity to reopen the Eldoria Hotel, Restaurant, and Resort. It's a significant help in providing jobs for the people here aside from fishing," Victoria shared.Carmela felt the sincerity in Victoria's words and responded with a smile. "That's our plan too, Papa and I. To help the locals and provide them with job opportunities.""So, my love, I'll accompany Ms.
It was a Saturday morning when Carmela was suddenly struck by relentless bouts of vomiting.“What happened to you? My God, I don’t know what to do. Your father isn’t here yet; he’s still in Manila. He won’t be back until the day after tomorrow!” This was Nanny Ising’s lengthy tirade as she assisted Carmela back to bed.She had been perfectly fine earlier in the morning. What she couldn’t understand was why, after having breakfast, she suddenly felt like her stomach had turned upside down. And it was all because of the corned beef she had for breakfast.Carmela quickly deduced the situation. She remembered the day she and Nestor went to the cottage. It had been over months. They had been successfully keeping their rendezvous secret for more than nine months now. She believed Nestor loved her dearly, even though, in reality, they were deceiving Victoria, who considered her a close friend.In her final thoughts, guilt consumed Carmela. She didn’t choose this. She never even thought about
Those days passed quickly for Victoria. That day was special for her because it marked the anniversary of her relationship with Nestor.Just like before.Nestor left early for a fishing expedition, while Victoria immersed herself in household chores, including shopping for the special dinner she planned for later."Hey, Victoria, you look beautiful today!"As usual, Victoria quickly blushed at the compliment from her friend Sinang."Are you earlier than usual?" Dolor asked her, smiling sweetly, much like Sinang."Yeah. And also, we didn't see you here yesterday. Maybe Nestor didn't leave; that's why?" Sinang teased her, causing her face to turn even redder.Victoria shook her head in succession and hesitantly opened her mouth to answer her friends' consecutive questions."No, he left yesterday. The truth is, I didn't come here because I accompanied Carmela to their place. She wasn't feeling well," she said, her voice carrying a hint of sadness that she couldn't hide.Victoria couldn't
"Isn't he such a handsome baby, Nestor?" Victoria asked Nestor with excitement that night.Lucia was buried that afternoon. And as Aling Simang hoped for, Victoria took care of Lucas and willingly embraced him as her own.Truth be told, it wasn't just because Aling Simang talked to her that she decided to take the baby. As she mentioned, she wanted to give a chance for a family with Lucas and her beloved Nestor."Are you sure about what you want to happen, Victoria? Taking care of a child is a significant responsibility. Plus, we're not wealthy," Nestor remarked as he sat at the table, sipping on hot coffee.Victoria smiled as she glanced at Nestor, then gently lowered her head to smell the head of the peacefully sleeping baby in her arms."Of course. And besides, I want to experience being a mother. You know the real reason why, despite being together for so long, I haven't gotten pregnant, right?" Victoria asked."Because your witchcraft-practicing mother cursed you," Nestor sighed
"Why don't I know about this, Carmela?" Martin's voice carried anger, yet it refrained from outright shouting. He caught Carmela in a compromising situation, vomiting in her bathroom, which wasn't the first time he had discovered her in such a state. Perhaps that's why he had already come to his own conclusions about her condition, even before she had a chance to reveal it to him."I-I'm sorry, Papa," she stammered, her voice teary.Carmela observed the complex emotions playing across her father's face, a tumultuous mix of concern and frustration. Even though she hadn't explicitly informed him about her pregnancy, it seemed as though he had already pieced it together. Her apology served as a form of acknowledgment, a non-verbal confirmation of the news he had likely deduced."Who is the father of this child?" Martin's question remained charged with anger.Before Carmela could respond, Nanny Ising entered her room. Worriedly, the older woman approached Carmela, who, at this moment,
"We're thrilled for you, Victoria. Your long-awaited dream of motherhood has finally blossomed!" Sinang's joyful proclamation elicited a radiant smile from Victoria, a testament to her deep-seated happiness. Such news wasn't a surprise to her; it had been long anticipated and fervently hoped for. Sinang and Dolor, Victoria's steadfast friends, shared in her joy, their warm camaraderie evident in the way they celebrated this significant moment.Plans for Lucas's celebration were initially straightforward in Victoria's mind—simple, yet heartfelt. However, as Carmela, Lucas's godmother, took the reins, the event took on a new level of significance and beauty. Carmela's meticulous attention to detail was evident in every aspect of the occasion, from the meticulously crafted decorations to the mouthwatering array of delicacies adorning the tables. It was a feast fit for royalty, prepared with love and care that only a friend as dear as Carmela could provide.Despite her eagerness to contri
Nestor's voice echoed with a mixture of anguish and frustration as he poured out his heart, "How can you say that, Carmela? What about me?"He sat alone in the humble hut, the silence around him punctuated only by the faint rustle of leaves outside. It had been more than a week since Carmela had departed Eldoria with Martin, leaving Nestor to grapple with his emotions and thoughts in solitude.Carmela's voice, filled with its own turmoil, responded from afar, "I'm struggling too, Nestor. But I hope you can understand the complexity of my situation and the sacrifices I've had to make for the sake of us and our child."The weight of her words hung heavily in the air, mingling with the uncertainty that clouded Nestor's mind. He couldn't help but wonder how they had reached this point, where their love seemed entangled in a web of challenges and sacrifices.Carmela's voice trembled with the weight of her struggle, her words echoing the depth of her pain. Nestor, in the solitude of th
Within moments, the rhythmic symphony of Carmela’s alluring moans filled every corner of the cozy hut, drowning out the cacophony of thunderous roars and the relentless cascade of raindrops outside.Nestor’s senses were ablaze with heat, a fervor that seemed to ignite anew as if this were his initial conquest of Carmela’s being. With deliberate care, he had shed every layer of clothing that veiled her exquisite form, leaving her gloriously exposed to his hungry gaze. He stood there, unabashedly admiring her, his eyes tracing every curve and contour, his desire palpable in the intensity of his stare.Despite the profound love that he harbored for Carmela, the sight of her nakedness never failed to stir a primal hunger within him. Each time he beheld her beauty in its purest form, devoid of any coverings, his mind raced with a myriad of passionate scenarios, each more intimate and enticing than the last. It was as though every inch of her exposed skin whispered tantalizing invitations
Jessa was right. Clarissa’s death had broken the curse that had been placed upon her, the curse that had prevented her from living freely, from choosing her own path. Queen Marasela had the power to undo it, to restore Clarissa’s life and give her the opportunity to live as a human, free from the shadows of her past.The Queen knew that, deep within her, she had the ability to make that happen. But a new fear gripped her heart—if she brought Clarissa back, what guarantee was there that Victoria wouldn’t kill her again?As a human, Clarissa would be even more vulnerable to Victoria’s wrath. And if Clarissa died a second time, this time as a human, Marasela would never be able to bring her back again. The thought of losing Clarissa permanently was something she could not bear.“I will bring her back,” Queen Marasela said at last, her voice firm and steady, as she wiped away the last traces of her tears.Her gaze never wavered as she met Jessa’s eyes, and in that moment, it felt as if the
"SON?" Victoria's voice trembled with both relief and fear as she gently grasped her son's hand.Lucas had been in a coma for three long days, and the anxiety that had consumed her during that time was almost unbearable. She had stayed by his side, watching him, praying for his recovery, but the uncertainty had gnawed at her. Now, seeing him slowly open his eyes and blink at the harsh hospital lights, it felt like a weight had been lifted from her chest. She had feared losing him, but here he was, awake and breathing, a sign that perhaps the worst was over.Lucas’s voice was weak, barely a whisper, but the concern in his eyes was evident as he tried to focus on her. "M-Mama, how’s Clarissa? Is she okay?"His question struck her like a blow, and her heart faltered. Clarissa. The name hung in the air, filling the space between them with an unbearable silence. Victoria felt her throat tighten, her eyes welling up as she fought to control the flood of emotions threatening to overwhelm her
“MY SON must not see that mermaid again. I want you to kill her, Marlon!” Victoria's voice cut through the air with chilling command, her face contorted with fury.The words tumbled from her lips, each one a venomous strike aimed at the very heart of what she could not control. Her eyes, typically calm and calculating, were now wide with rage, the fire of her anger burning through her every word. This was no longer a mere request—it was an ultimatum.Her hands clenched around the steering wheel, knuckles pale from the force, as she glared at the man beside her. Every fiber of her being trembled with the thought of her son, the light of her life, being tainted by the mermaid, Clarissa. She would not—could not—allow such a thing to happen. The idea of losing her son to someone so foreign, so incomprehensible, drove her into a frenzy. No, this mermaid was an obstacle she was determined to eliminate.Victoria’s heart pounded in her chest, her mind a whirlwind of thoughts, but at its core
She had always longed for a connection with him, something pure and filled with love. But instead, all she had now were painful, fragmented memories of a man who had been driven by revenge rather than affection. The sobs wracked her body as the emotional turmoil threatened to swallow her whole.She felt as if everything she had known about her life had been a lie, and her father's absence in her world now felt like a deep, unhealable wound. The grief mixed with fury, and the sobs came harder, each one more desperate than the last.“That’s how cruel humans are, Clarissa,” Queen Marasela said softly, her voice filled with both sorrow and understanding. She gently took Clarissa’s trembling hand in her own, offering what little comfort she could in this moment of raw emotional turmoil. As the queen held her hand, there was a quiet strength in her touch, a silent reminder that even in the most heartbreaking moments, Clarissa was not entirely alone. Marasela's eyes glistened with compassio
“What is your relationship with that man from the human world, Clarissa?” Queen Marasela asked, her voice firm and tinged with a seriousness that demanded an honest answer. The weight of the queen’s question struck Clarissa like a tidal wave, leaving her breathless. Her heart pounded relentlessly, as if trying to escape the mounting tension in the room.But it wasn’t just the question itself that had her in turmoil. The piercing tone of authority in Queen Marasela’s voice and the unwavering intensity in her eyes as she locked gazes with Clarissa made it impossible for her to hide the truth any longer. For a moment, the room felt stiflingly silent, save for the sound of Clarissa’s quickened breaths. She could sense the weight of the queen’s expectations pressing down on her shoulders. Still, she hesitated, her lips parting as though to speak, only for her courage to falter. “I thought we had already reached an understanding long ago,” Queen Marasela continued, her words heavy with a
The sound of Clarissa’s voice was like a jolt to Lucas’s system. It made his heart leap in his chest, and for a moment, he was frozen. He had spent so many sleepless nights thinking about her, wondering if they would ever cross paths again. And now, here she was, walking toward him with a warm, familiar smile that seemed to light up everything around her. He felt a mix of relief and joy flood his chest as his eyes locked onto her form, drawing closer with every step.Without thinking, Lucas stood up from the large rock he had been sitting on, as if his body was reacting to the instinctive pull of her presence. His fingers subconsciously reached into his pocket, a nervous habit he hadn’t realized he’d picked up over the years, but he didn’t mind. His heart was pounding in his ears as he watched Clarissa move toward him, her graceful steps carrying her closer. He couldn’t tear his eyes away from her, unable to stop smiling as he took in the sight of her. She had changed, grown even mor
“NEXT WEEK, will you come back? Your grandfather will be arriving with Nanny Norma. I’ll be heading back to the mansion, and your daddy has to go to the clinic,” Carmela informed Clarissa later that same day, after breakfast had passed. The light from the late afternoon sun filtered in through the windows, casting a warm glow across the room. There was a calmness in the air, but Carmela’s words brought with them a ripple of change, signaling another shift in their already complicated lives.“Daddy is going to Manila?” Clarissa asked, her voice tinged with curiosity and a touch of sadness. The thought of her father being away, even for a short time, felt like another piece of her already fragmented world slipping out of reach. The house in Eldoria, while full of love and comfort, never quite felt the same without him close by.Carmela nodded, understanding the weight of her daughter’s unspoken emotions. “Don’t worry. It won’t be long before he moves here to Eldoria. We’re selling
"IT'S GOOD you thought of visiting us, dear," Carmela said, her voice warm and gentle as she carefully combed her hair, the soft brush strokes providing a rhythmic comfort. Her words held the familiarity of a mother’s love, and though she was busy with her task, her gaze never strayed too far from Clarissa, the quiet concern in her eyes evident. She had always been attentive to the smallest changes in her daughter’s demeanor, and it wasn’t lost on her that something seemed different today. But she didn’t press; for now, she allowed Clarissa the space she needed.Clarissa smiled at her mother, her lips curving upward in a way that felt more automatic than genuine. She felt a deep warmth in her chest at Carmela’s words, but her thoughts were scattered, tangled in the emotions she had tried to suppress. As her mother’s gaze moved toward the mirror, Clarissa’s attention drifted to the vastness of the sea outside the window, its endless stretch of blue almost beckoning to her. She sta
PRESENT DAY A sweet smile spread across Jessa’s lips as she glanced at Clarissa. Her eyes sparkled with the hint of mischief, the kind that only someone as close as Jessa could manage. “Come on, Queen Marasela is looking for you,” she said, her voice light and teasing. Reaching out with a gentle but insistent hand, she tried to pull Clarissa along, guiding her through the cool, shimmering waters that lapped at the edges of the rocky shore. The water sparkled beneath the sun, and the air was thick with the sounds of the waves crashing gently against the rocks. It was the perfect moment for a peaceful stroll, yet Jessa’s impatience was palpable. But to Jessa’s surprise, Clarissa didn’t move. She remained seated on the large, smooth rock that jutted out from the water, her gaze fixed on the horizon. Her posture was still, as if she was lost in thought, caught in the depths of her own world. Her fingers lightly gripped the rock beside her, her knuckles white as she seemed to an