Matapos maghanda ng snacks at maiinom ni Brent bumalik siya sa sala. Naabutan niyang nagbabasa ng magazine si Agent Santos.
“Kain ka muna, kukunin ko lang ang laptop ko sa kwarto para maisend ko yung copy ng evidence sa lawyer ko. He asked me to send it para makapag-process na siya ng request for a warrant of arrest. Tiyak aabutin ng ilang oras bago tayo makakaalis dito.” sabi ni Brent sabay lapag ng dala niyang tray.
“Salamat po. Sige, Sir Brent antayin na natin. Gawin niyo muna yung dapat ninyong gawin, dito lang ako.”
Mabilis na siyang nagtungo sa kwarto bitbit ang folder at usb drive na dala ni Agent Santos kanina. Nagsend kaagad siya ng copy nito kay Atty. Moran. Mabilis naman itong sumagot sa email niya at sinabihan siyang within the day sisikapin nitong makakuha ng warrant of arrest pa
He felt so tired the whole day yet he wanted to come to the office early the next day. He had gone for two days but it was very productive. Soon, he will achieve the right justice for his father’s death. Tumagal man ng halos apat na taon pero di siya nawalan ng pag-asa. Bukas makalawa haharapin niya ang asawa niya sa loob ng opisina, inisip pa lang niya ang paghaharap nilang dalawa bumibigat na ang pakiramdam niya. Habang tumatagal lalong lumalala ang galit nito sa kanya, she misunderstood him, accused him several times without any basis. It was a tiring cycle of their lives, yet he loved her so much. He just wishes things will turn out better after she knew that the person behind their parent's death was Celso Chan. Humiga na siya sa kama at muli sinubukan niyang tawagan ang cellphone ng Daddy Edward niya but it still off. He tried to call his assistant, Allan.Ilang ulit na niya
“Excuse me?! Say it again?” biglang tanong ni Catherine kay Shantal. Si Brent naman ay nagulat sa sinasabi niya. Di niya alam kung bakit sila nito inaakusahan.“Oh, pretending to be deaf? What’s your name again, Miss Mistress?” she mocked her.“Hey, what are you talking about? Shantal, please stop this nonsense issue you’ve blurted out.” sita ni Brent sa kanya.“Mistress? Are you referring to me? Shantal Santillian?” biglang tayo ni Catherine mula sa upuan at matapang na sinalubong ang tingin niya. Binalewala nito ang sabay na pagsinghap ng mga kasamahan sa office ng marinig ang sinabi ni Shantal“Yes! Did I talk to anybody else aside from you? Aren’t you a mistress of my husband and you really
Pasado alas-sais na ng gabi ngunit nananatiling nakaupo lamang sa madilim na bahagi ng sala si Brent. He felt so much pressure about the arguments between him and Shantal. He wants to approach her again but he doesn't have the courage to do it. He grab the car keys and went down to the parking area, driving his car going to Erick’s house. He only had his best friend who is always willing to listen every time he got a problem. Sunud-sunod na doorbell ang naririnig ni Erick sa main gate nila. Mabilis siyang lumabas at binuksan ito, nagulat pa siya ng makita ang sasakyan ni Brent. Matapos nitong magpark ng kotse sa garahe sinalubong niya ito kaagad.Bakas sa mukha nito ang labis na kalungkutan.“Dude, are you okay?” Erick asks him“No, dude! Can I stay here tonight?” Brent replied
Ilang araw na ang lumipas ngunit di nagawang pumasok ni Brent sa company. Dala ng labis na pagdadalamhati nanatili siya sa loob ng condo. Sa pagkawala ni Edward parang nawalan na rin siya ng ganang bumangon sa bawat araw. Ilang araw na siyang natutulog at di bumabangon sa kama, ayaw niyang mag-isip at madilim ang buong kwarto. Hindi rin siya nag-abalang magcheck ng kanyang social media account. He wanted to be alone in silence, thinking makes him feel lazy and tired.Samantala, naisagawa na ni Celso Chan ang lahat ng plans niya. Dala ng sobrang takot ng dalawang tao na pinapadukot niya nag-produce ang mga ito ng fake evidence at Audit Report pointed out Brent, as the person behind those suspicious transactions and who took the money from Rodriguez Group of Companies. According to Celso’s plan, he plotted a frame-up situation to force Brent to abdicate his position as Chairman of the Board. Pinuntahan
Sa Mansyon ng Chan masayang ibinalita ni Celso kay Mike ang mga naganap sa kompanya. Matapos ang naganap na emergency meeting narinig nilang lahat na ipinag-uutos ni Shantal ang dismissal ni Brent mula sa kompanya. Gagawin ito kinabukasan in front of public media which will be a live stream in the whole country.“Dad, what did you say? Is that true that tomorrow there will be an announcement in the Rodriguez Group of Companies? Does uncle Edward approve all Shantal’s decisions?” tanong ni Mike sa ama.“Nothing to worry about Edward, dahil anak niya ang gumawa ng pasya and I’m pretty sure he knows everything. And it turns out that all my plans go well, dahil naniwala siya doon sa binigay kong fake evidence na ginawa ng Finance Head, bukas ng umaga mawawalan na ng credibility ang mayabang na si Brent Santillian.” na
Malakas na bulungan ang pumuno sa paligid ngunit walang naglakas loob na sumunod kay Brent. Sinundan lamang ng tingin ni Allan ang papalayong si Brent. Gusto niya itong ipagtanggol ngunit batid niyang wala siyang magagawa ng mga sandaling iyon. Si Mica na nasa isang sulok hilam ang mata sa luha at labis na hinagpis ng masaksihan ang lahat ng kaganapan. Tila ba isang palabas na tanging nagbibigay ng masakit na alaala sa bawat nakasaksi nito. Mabilis siyang bumalik sa office nila at kinuha ang cellphone at nag-send ng message kay Brent.Mica’s Message:“Sir Brent, I know you are innocent and a good man. I can’t stand my feet to save you against their accusations because I am just a nobody's secretary that has been serving you for how many years. I saw your effort to make this company expand faster than before, and I al
Brent walked away from Shantal’s life without hesitation. He was fed up with her capriciousness and accusations. He gave up loving her and only pain has left in his heart. He was tired of living but he needs to face Celso Chan to seek justice for his father’s death. Ilang ulit siyang tinawagan at pinapaalalahanan ni Atty. Moran na kailangan niyang magpakatatag. Ito ang naging sandalan niya ng mga panahong iyon. Ang sabi nito nakarating na sa kampo ni Celso Chan ang inihain niyang demanda laban dito. Dahil malakas ang impluwensya nito nagawa nitong harangin ang kahit anumang balita sa kasalukuyang kaso na isinampa ni Brent laban dito.Day and night Brent spent his time drinking inside the condo. He hasn't cleaned himself, he was lost and he was far from the old Brent. Bakas sa maamong mukha niya ang labis na kalungkutan. Ayaw tanggapin ng isipan niya na nagtatapos ang pagsasama nilang mag-asawa
Shantal went home earlier because she felt so tired and lost. Pag-alis ni Atty. Moran sa office niya nawalan na siya ng ganang magtrabaho. She can’t explain her sudden mood swing. Pagdating ng bahay she walks towards Brent's room. Pagpasok niya sa madilim na kwarto ramdam niya ang bigat ng paligid, Brent's voice echoed in her mind. “Miss Rodriguez, from now on I will forget you and I hope our paths will never cross again because if it happens I don’t know if I will be the old Brent Santillian you used to know.” Pagbukas niya ng ilaw tumambad sa paningin niya ang empty room nito. She walks closer to the table near the bed. She slowly opens the drawer. She’s shocked when she saw Brent’s wedding ring left there, may kung anong kirot sa puso ang naramdaman niya. Doon lang niya naisip that he must really tired of her.