MARAJayson's car stopped in front of the Fernandez Corporation building, and Bobby stopped behind his car. The guard quickly opened the car, greeting him.I waited for him to enter the building before I thanked Bobby and exited the car. I went inside and went straight to the reception area. I gave a side glance to Jayson when I noticed that he was still in the lobby talking to someone. I ignored him and went to the receptionist."Good morning, Miss. I'm Mara Park, and Mr. Revira is expecting me." "Good morning, Ma'am. I'll escort you to Mr. Revira's office." She stood up from her seat smiling at me. I'm thankful that she seemed kind and friendly."This way, ma'am." I followed behind her, and Jayson glanced at me for a few seconds and nodded before he returned his attention to his companion.The woman led me to the third floor, and she stopped in front of the door and knocked on it."Come in." A male voice replied. She
MARA"You are the most beautiful in my eyes. Stop being insecure and do your work, or Camille will devour you later." He said, chuckling. I scoffed but went out of his office after he planted a kiss on my forehead.Camille's eyes were on me instantly. She was on my table glaring at me."What took you so long?""Mr. Fernandez just told me the do's and didn't in here, and he told me he doesn't want any mistakes because any mistake can hinder the business. He told me he doesn't like a flirty secretary. He likes his secretary to be efficient and has initiative.""Better he told you. I don't need to tell you about that. Now start your work.""Yes, Ma'am," I replied and settled on my seat. I was relieved when she returned to her office because I felt like the hair on my body stood up when she was near me. I picked up the first folder and started my work. Camille didn't even introduce me to my colleagues, but I don't mind because the four others are snobs, like the head secretary.At lunchti
MARAThese few days of working with Jayson have gone smoothly. Claire and I have become best friends, and I'm thankful I haven't bumped into Jared.Even though Camille gives me a load of work, I don't mind, and the others order me to send a document to other departments and sometimes ask me to Xerox, a bundle of papers. I endured it without complaint. Every time Jayson sees me doing a lot of work, he will call Camille and give him a load of work too, but of course, Camille will only pass it to other secretaries. They still treated me coldly, but I just ignored them. Bobby is following Jayson's car as always. We are heading back home after a long day of work. It's already seven in the evening, and I'm exhausted. I stepped out of the car as soon as Bobby parked in the garage, and I smiled to see my father standing at the front door, smiling at us."Dad!" I run to him and throw my arms around his neck. He chuckled and wrapped his
MARAI knocked on his door, and he quickly replied to come in. I pushed the door opened and walked inside, closing the door behind me."Lock the door, Mrs. Fernandez." I rolled my eyes and locked the door. He always called me Mrs. Fernandez when we were alone."What did I do this time, sir?" I asked."Come here." He motioned me to come closer to him, holding some documents. I went to him and stood beside him."You are the one who did this?" He asked, showing me some files. It was a document of a particular project that needed his approval, but I'm not the one who did it. Camille didn't assign me to do that kind of important document. The work she always gives me is to do a copy of some documents, not only one but lots of them that my finger hurts so much after. Segregate the files or checks Mr. Fernandez's schedule."I didn't do that. Why, what's wrong with it?""The budget listed here is higher than we agreed in the mee
After the incident, Jayson didn't let me return to my desk outside. He kept me inside his office until it was time to go home. He wanted me to go with him in his car, but I firmly disagreed and went home with Bobby.This past week I wondered why every time we came home, all the servants seemed anxious, and sometimes I saw some of them running inside. And when we entered the front door, they greeted us with a welcoming smile, including Nana. They don't do this before. It only started a week ago, and it always makes Jayson and I laugh looking at them.I asked Nana about this, and she said they love to welcome us home together because they are happy for us that we are now good with each other.Jayson and I chuckled when we walked past them after greeting them and went to our room."You know they are acting weird," I said as we entered our room."I noticed that too. I wondered what they up to." He replied, taking off his coat while I went int
MARAI joined lunch with my father and Amy, and my father was right. She is very caring towards my father. I kept giggling, which embarrassed my father every time became very sweet to him. Amy seems the woman who loves to show public affection, and they both look adorable.After lunch, I bid goodbye to them and went to the office. I arrived in front of the building around two in the afternoon, and as soon as I stepped inside the building, all eyes were on me, but I ignored them. I think what happened yesterday everyone already knows.I went straight to the elevator, and I'm thankful that I am alone, but it doesn't last because before the elevator closed a hand stopped it from closing and when I saw the face of the person my eyes widen to see who was it."So the rumors are true," Jared said and stepped inside the elevator. I ignored him. I don't want any connection with this guy anymore. He is not the Jared that I loved before. This person is
MARA"Mara is my wife. ""What? Since when? And how?" Felix asked in surprise."You already know that she is Mr. Perez's daughter, and I already told you about Ara.""Yes, your first love," Felix said, and Jayson smiled."Yes, and I found out that day, you know, that I almost marry that woman. God, I'm so thankful that I found out before I married that bitch, or I will regret my whole life.""That's why I wondered you didn't go crazy after what happened." Jayson hissed at Felix's comment, and I chuckled. "I was wondering how you recovered so fast after the tragic incident, and Grandpa Phil is still in a coma, but I saw you return to your normal life, and I noticed you always smiled compared to before; it's because you married the love of your life.""Our marriage didn't start in a good term. Grandpa just forced us. He wrote it in his will. He will give all his assets to charity If I don't marry Mara before the end of the month after his accident, "This woman has been mean for two mon
"He is not my son. Why would I care?" The woman angrily said and slammed the door in our faces."Oh, god. What happened to that poor child? That woman is so heartless." I whispered. I wanted to cry, my heartache inside just by thinking of the four years old boy. " Let's check room 320," Jayson said and tugged me to the stairs, and we climbed up and searched for room 320. When we found it, the tears I held burst out of my eyes when I saw a small figure leaning on the closed door.I rushed to him with Jayson behind me. I kneeled beside him and took out the picture in my pocket, and it was him. He is asleep. He looks dirty, with some bruises on his arm and face, and he only wearing a shirt that is too big for his small form, which has ripped everywhere. His tiny form is shaking a bit, maybe because of the cold cement floor and the less clothing he is wearing. Jayson kneeled on his other side, and I saw his eyes brimmed with tears whi
EPILOGUE GIAN I smiled as everyone enjoyed Gia's seventh birthday with my pregnant, beautiful wife beside me. Mom, Dad, and Grandpa entertain our guests while Sander, Christian, and Gia entertain the children. I cannot leave Lyza because she is already nine months pregnant and needs help every time she moves from one place to another. We will have our baby boy soon, and Gia was so excited to meet her brother. I chuckled as I watched Dustin chasing their three-year-old daughter around. Dina is a hyper child. You won't see her staying in one place. She's always running or jumping. Christine and Dustin got married when Christian turned two years old and a year after Christine got pregnant. The twins Alice and Ana are also present with their husbands and children. Ana has two children, a boy and a girl. Annalise is five years old, and her brother Adan is two years old. Annalise is Gia's best friend, together with Christian and Alex. Alex is Alice's five-year-old son, a timid boy,
GIAN"Sissy, Yan! Yan! I groaned and covered my ears with a pillow. It's only six in the morning, but Sander is already knocking at the door. "Mommy and Daddy are still sleeping. Everyone is still sleeping. Let's go to the park ourselves and Lily. Come on, uncle. " I heard our six-year-old daughter whine. "I told you to stop calling me uncle. I'm only five years older than you. " Sander said, and I could hear the annoyance in his voice. "But you're my mommy brother, so you are my uncle.""I feel old every time you call me uncle. Just call me by my name. It's fine with me. ""But mommy and daddy will get mad at me. They will think I don't respect you if I only call you by your name.""Just tell your parents I asked you to call me by name. So please stop calling me uncle, okay? ""In one condition." I chuckled. Sander was always fooled by Gia when it come to not calling him Uncle. "What condition? ""Let's go to the park, please. ""It's still early, and your parents will get mad at
GIANAfter a week of my return, Dad called a press conference. We hid my return from the public, and this would be my first appearance. We held the press con at the Fernandez Corporation main building, and all media outlets sent their representatives. The function hall is packed with reporters anticipating what Mr. Jason Fernandez wants to announce. There is some speculation that he might announce that I'm already dead after almost a year of searching, and some speculate that it is about the company. I watched in the waiting room with Lyza and our little Princess as Dad and Grandpa talked to the media and answered their question about the company, waiting for my turn. When the press started to ask questions about me, Dad signaled to Inspector Ronald, who was standing on the sideline guarding the people around him together with his men.Inspector Ronald nodded, and he came inside the waiting room. "It's time, Mr. Ramirez. " "Okay, Love, wait for Inspector Ronald to escort you to joi
LYZAThe following day, we returned home. Christine and her mother returned to their home together with Dustin. He doesn't want to separate from Christine and his daughter anymore. He was scared that something might happen to them if he wasn't beside them. Aunty Amy supported his decision, and after Christine and her mother coop up with what happened to them, they will talk about their marriage. I'm happy for them, and I hope Christine and her mother recover from the trauma that Maximi caused them. I smiled as I watched Gian's sleep. We are currently in our room because we didn't sleep properly last night. Gian was sleeping while I was afraid to close my eyes. I'm worried that once I open my eyes, Gian won't be here anymore, and everything will turn out just a dream. I caressed his face and pressed my lips on his cheek. He lost so much weight and was pale. He looks like a fragile thing right now, which I need to handle with care—gone my hero and my pillar, Gian. The eyes that were
GIAN I listened as my mother narrated what happened in the past and how she and my father suffered all these years in Maximo's hands. I hated her so much without knowing the suffering she went through. I believe what people told me, why my mother left me, and Dean didn't correct the lies the people said and let me feel them. I hate to know that the man who I love and saw as my father is the reason why I was separated from my family. I wanted to hate Dean, but I couldn't because he loved me as his son, and he provided me the things I needed, and he loved me unconditionally. He didn't lack as a father. "I'm so sorry, Gian." My mother said, snapping me out of my thoughts. Her eyes were brimming with tears as she looked at me. "Your father and I didn't mean to leave you in Mr. Fernandez's care, but we thought you would have a better life than being with us. When Dean died in prison, that's when we found where you are, and we found out that Mr. Fernandez took you in. During that time
GIANAround four in the afternoon, we left for the Cabin. My mother and Christine ride in Dustin's car while I go with Daddy Jason and Grandpa Carlos. I know my mother wants to talk to me, but it can wait later after I meet my wife and my daughter. I'm dying to meet them. I feel saddened that I wasn't there beside Lyza during her pregnancy and when she gave birth. I missed a lot of time being with her and my daughter. When the car entered the gate of the Cabin, my heart pounded in excitement. I could already see Sander, Amelia, Tommy, and another kid I don't know chasing each other. When they noticed the car approaching, they stopped running and waited for us. When the car stopped beside them, Sander went to the driver's side, waiting for Dad to step out of the vehicle. He looked a lot bigger the last time I saw him."Dada! Grandpa," Sander grinned and hugged Dad's legs. "Hello, little Prince. Where's your Sissy?" "She is inside the cabin with Moma, taking care of Gia and the baby
DUSTINMaximo was screaming as he struggled from the tight grip of Inspector Ronald's men, who were dragging him and his men out of the mansion. "Inspector Ronald, thank you for helping us. " Sir Jason said. Gian stuck beside Sir Carlos as if afraid to be separated from them again. "Asking us for help is the right decision, and it helps us a lot as well. Finally, we can put Maximo behind bars after all these years. Ma'am, can you come with us, as well as you, Doctor Alfred, to the police station? You are our witness, so we can imprison Maximo until he rots inside. " "Okay, and I will tell you all his illegal dealings and where he keeps his goods. "Christine's mother said while Doctor Alfred nodded. "Doctor Alfred, thank you so much for saving me. I know what you went through, and if you need my help, don't hesitate to tell me. I owe you my life. " Gian held Doctor Alfred's hand, face full of gratitude. "It's my work, and I did it willingly, but Maximo just in prison me without giv
GIANEarly in the morning, we left Tinay Island. I glanced at Christine, who was stuck beside me like glue as if I were her salvation, and my mother, sitting on my other side, looked so tense. Maximo is sitting in front of us, a smile not leaving his lips. Doctor Alfred is seated behind us with two of Maximo's men. We are in a boat heading to the City. I knew everything that was happening around me. I was in a coma, but I heard all their voices. Christine and my mother is my constant visitor during that time, and they are always crying, begging me to wake up. "Now, I know what happened back then. Dean is not my real father but my kidnapper. My mom told me everything while I was in a coma, but I couldn't bring myself to hate Papa Dean, who raised and loved me as if I were his real son. My parents didn't hate Dean as well because if he hadn't kidnapped me, I would live like Christine, my sister, or Maximo already killed me. I don't have an amnesia. Christine was right. It's better t
DUSTINWe went to the cabin Friday afternoon. Everyone is excited except Sir Carlos, Sir Jason, and I. We set up four tents outside the cabin for the adults while the children, Maam Mara, and Lyza will stay in the Cabin tonight. Everyone is laughing, helping each other prepare our food for dinner. While we are busy here, Inspector Ronald is also busy in the mansion preparing his men for Maximo's arrival tomorrow morning. They will wear a civilian uniform and post as guards, but some will stay hidden. We found out that Maximo had a record of selling illegal drugs before, but he billed out. The authorities have been on his tail these past years, but they couldn't find evidence that could put him behind bars. A few years ago, the authorities intercepted a massive shipment of illegal drugs. Someone tipped them about the shipment, and the informant told the authorities that it belonged to Maximo, but someone took the blame, and Maximo got out of it unscathed. And the authorities are ea