"Whew! I had no idea your family is... that fierce!" Enrique whistled as he took a deep sigh while driving.
He still couldn't believe that he was chased by an angry woman with a big knife. That was so far the first time that he ran away from a fight."I'm sorry! I don't know what has gotten into them today. They're not like that to guests and other people. Especially my Aunt Maria, she's very kind. I don't know what happened to her today!" Samantha was so abashed that she couldn't look Enrique in the eye.When he saw she was still in shocked and her cheeks were getting redder, he cracked the awkward atmosphere."On the contrary, I found them funny. Especially when your mom spoke like a Roman soldier. I was tongue-tied!" he chuckled.Samantha glanced at him and thought of what he said. She also couldn't help but to laugh. Her mom who was a typical in-house wife, suddenly spoke like an untiring advocate of an abused group."Samantha, your family is jolly.In Enrique's villa..."Dad, we're doing our best to find Isabella. Our men work non stop to look for her!" Enrique was talking to Jackson on the phone.He was at the terrace of his room. He scanned the darkness with his eyes and stared at the four guards in the main gate. They were standing in foot watching the whole villa.He had been in the USA for half a year. Isabella had been missing for two weeks. His parents were losing hope. His father was calling him almost everyday threatening him not to go back to Ireland and live on his own if he couldn't find his sister. His mother was brought to the hospital for weakening of her heart thinking of Isabella day and night.He knew well where Isabella was. Although he didn't see her with his own eyes, he knew his sister was in the care of Samantha's family. He immediately dialed a number and glanced around before he talked."Young Master!" it was Antonio.They had been working round the clock looking for Isabe
"Señorito, how are you doing?" Antonio asked upon getting out of his car."Antonio, I'm glad you can speak English well now!" Enrique replied as he patted Antonio's shoulder.They just both arrived in the seaside 30 minutes away from Benjamin's and his villa."I have to, Señorito. For you and Isabella's sake. For the Houston clan's sake!" Antonio meaningfully replied as they both faced the calm sea.They leaned their backs against Enrique's car while they both crossed their arms over their chest."Antonio, I'd like you to promise me one thing. That you remain loyal to us. Only to mom and dad's family. No relatives involved!" Enrique started after a weird silence.Antonio faced him with a baffled look. He seemed not to get what he meant. Especially the relatives part."Señorito, Qué quieres decir? (Young Master, what do you mean?)"His eyes were searching for answers. His mouth was itching to ask more. His gesture wa
The next day, Samantha woke up in a different environment. She blinked her eyes till she got used to the light peeping through the glass window. She slowly got up using both of her hands to carry herself and glanced around.When she looked at the time on the digital clock mounted on the wall in front of her, she sighed."I'm an hour early to my usual time!" she mumbled.She stepped her feet on the wood floor and wore the house slippers she saw on the foot of the bed.The door made a creaking sound when she closed it. She pursed her lips thinking she might have woken up the man sleeping opposite to her room."Sorry!" she whispered imagining Enrique was listening to her.It was six in the morning but the lights in the living room were already on. The servants were now preparing for breakfast. She stealthily crept downstairs towards the kitchen. The servants turned around and smiled at her when they saw her in the entrance."Good morning!" she shyly g
Sizzling Seafood!One of the best seafood diner in the heart of the city. It was a three-storey building with five professional chefs all around the world. Thirty servers, ten each floors. Two basements parking space plus front yard landscape.Owner?No other than Lance Swan!On the roof deck, there were four nipa hut gazebos and a lap pool in the middle. In one of the gazebos sat three men, two of them were middle aged men and one was in his early twenties. He was actually just twenty one."Your choice either witness how your father would spend his life in prison or marry my daughter on the last month of autumn!" Lance sneered at Albert while Benjamin was staring at him in rage.Albert remained quiet. He was analyzing everything. So far, his father had no idea that he started receiving threats by the Swan family since he met Madeline's parents in their wedding anniversary."You're lucky to marry a fine and beautiful woman, Albert Michaels. Is it h
After their tryst, he rolled down beside her like nothing happened. She cried in silence. When she felt his breathing was steady, she slowly got out of the bed. She picked up her clothes on the floor, wore them, and stealthily walked out of his room.Her legs were hurt but there was no more painful than what Albert had done. She went to her room, locked the door, and curled up herself like a lost kitten.She cried in both pain and disdain. She was dreaming for that time to come. With him giving her heart, her first, embracing and enjoying each other's touch. But she had no idea she would face the exact opposite of what she was dreaming to be romantic."Albert, you're cruel!" Samantha muttered.She had no idea how did she sleep but when she woke up it was already ten in the morning and Andrea's nonstop call was making her deaf."Hello, Andrea!" Samantha hoarsely uttered after reaching for her phone on the side table."Samantha, where are you? Are you com
"Sir, why do you want Samantha to go back to Ireland?" Fe asked when the two youngsters left."Since Isabella is in your place now and Samantha is with us, it is for the best to bring them both back to their real family!" Christopher carefully replied.He knew Fe was hurting. He could feel she wanted Samantha to be with her till she had her own family. She treated her like her own daughter and it pained her to the core if she would leave."But they are in danger and Enrique Houston. He is here. What about tell him his sisters are here? What about explain well to him that incident 14 years ago?" Fe was still doubting and reluctant to face the truth.Sebastian was patting her back keeping her calm. As much as possible, he also didn't want Samantha to leave but that was the sad fact. She was not theirs. She had a family. She had her real life. A Houston life!"Fe, it's the sad truth. We have to face it!" Sebastian uttered while he kept on stroking his wife's back.But
Albert's assistant left his office after their meeting but Christopher hadn't come back since then. He got up from his seat and looked for his father. When he saw Christopher at the parking lot, in the smoking area, he slowly walked towards him avoiding to disturb whatever it was in his mind that time. But Christopher saw his shadow illuminating from the brick wall. He turned around, put off his cigarette, and threw it in the bin."You know that mom Lauren will never allow you to smoke. Do you disobey your wife now?" he teased as he stood straight beside him. His hands were in his pockets.Christopher chuckled at his remarks as he tapped his shoulder. He was about to go back when Albert stopped him with his question."Who called dad?""It's Sebastian. He was with his daughter. By the way, is there something going on with you and Samantha?" he intentionally asked channeling their conversation to another topic."Yes! We both have feelings for each!" he replied frankly a
A month had passed...Samantha walked like a zombie beside Andrea going to the canteen of their school. They just had their practical exam and would go to a hospital nearby for their internship after. They were both interns in Adamson Hospital, a ten minutes walk from their school."Sam, would you like to go with me in Cymbals after our schedule?" Andrea asked while wrapping her hand around her arm.Andrea was always the energetic one. After their hospital schedules, she could still jam and have some booze at the bar. Sometimes, she was with Edward and Chester. Other times, she was alone."I'm going home after our hospital sched. I wanna rest!" Samantha said in a weak tone."Are you okay? Sam, to be honest since last week, you look so down. Is there something wrong with you? You're still staying at Enrique's villa, right?" Andrea halted in her steps and glanced at her pale look. She touched her forehead if she had fever but her temperature is normal."I
In a high-end restaurant in the heart of the city, two beautiful single moms were going to talk to clear a slate. They were both calm, grace, and dignified."You will always be my sister-in-law no matter what!" Liz sincerely told Samantha while the latter still felt embarrassed that she was one of those narrow-minded people who believed something was going on between them with her ex-husband."I'm sorry. I don't know what to say!" all she could say was this.But her actions spoke a lot of meaningful words she couldn't express in sentences."It's all right. It happens to people. And we are not exempted!" Liz just shook her head as she gave Samantha a genuine smile.Samantha left a light chuckle with her phrase and just like her, she also shook her head."Yeah! We are not exempted!" she repeated."So, when will you two get back together? Tristan is at his age to have a sibling. He's already almost ten!" she channeled their talks to another topic when they were done clearing things out."
"Albert is in Ireland now? Is that true?" Candice who had overseas photoshoots for months was surprised when Grace told her about what happened three months ago.She who never liked to watch nor read the news was really ignorant when it came to those current events but when it was all about fashion, she was number one!"Yes, Miss Candice. The hospital here transferred him to Houston Medical Hospital two weeks ago!" Grace sternly uttered."But why? The hospitals here are also good!" Candice still insisted on digging for more information about him."It was Dr. Houston's command!" Grace still casually replied though deep inside she would like to yell at her saying 'Stop wasting my time! Just fly to Ireland if you want!'"Okay, thanks for the info. Bye!" Candice told her in haste before she strode towards the lift.Inside the lift, she called her manager right away."Get me a ticket going to Ireland tonight. I need to see Albert!""Okay, right away!" her manager obeyed at once..After abo
"Sam, Isabella told me to come here to help you today and tomorrow. How's Young Master?" Laila was speaking to her as she opened the door while she strode to Albert's VIP Ward.However, she also halted in the middle and her exciting orbs went open as she saw who were Albert's visitors at that time.The four including Albert's doctor glanced in her direction and smiled. Laila would like to turn around and run away for a while but her flat shoes were nailed to the floor."Laila, right?" one of the doctors asked as he sauntered toward her.She just gawked at him. She couldn't believe she had just eaten her tongue. She flickered her eyes and tried to speak, but she staggered in her voice."Yes, dictor...I mean doc...tor...!" she shut her eyes for a moment while shaking her head. Then she composed herself and spoke again."Yes, Doctor Arnolds!" Laila finally uttered...without looking at him. Her eyes glanced around instead."Beautiful name...Like the owner!" Sean commented before he went ou
Earlier...When Albert saw the group of policemen about one kilometer away waiting for them, he did his best to draw Madeline's attention to something else while removing the cloth that was wrapped around his wrists."Why are you doing all of these? What happened to you?""What happened to me? It was you who made me this way. If you didn't cancel our wedding before, we're supposed to be husband and wife now, and maybe, we're supposed to have children now!" she yelled as her glare was burning his eyes."But you feel disgusted by me. Since that monster kidnapped me, you never talked to me again. You avoided me like I was a plague!" she kept on releasing everything that's been keeping her bottled up for too long."Then you suddenly fell in love with a servant? How dare you, Albert?" her fantasy was making her blind but Albert never really listened to her prattles."What's your plan on me now?" he asked as he sneered.Finally, he loosed the cloth. He sideglanced at Rona whose eyes were shu
"Grace, could you get me the reviewed documents from Houston Group? The one I approved yesterday!" Albert called Grace on his intercom but to his surprise, she didn't answer."Grace, the contract from Houston!" he repeated but still it was dead air."Maybe she went to the restroom!" he whispered as he walked out of his office to get the documents himself.But to his shock, he saw Grace lying unconsciously on the cold marbled floor. He was about to call 911 when somebody just hit him on his head. He irked in pain but he didn't lose his consciousness. As he turned around while holding his head that was hit, he squinted his eyes when he saw a sneering Katie appearance but he knew that was Madeline."You?" he exclaimed but even before he could push the alarm button, he received another hit that was stronger than the first. This time, he had lost his consciousness.Simon carried him back inside his office while Madeline followed. However, an employee who happened to pass by saw a glimpse of
She released an evil laugh while staring at the headline that bannered their glorious names:'Madeline Swan, Wanted! Lance Swan Captures!'She laughed at the authorities who always failed to arrest her.She laughed at Houston's men who were waiting for her arrival.Above all, she laughed at Albert and the Michaels for not sensing her closeness in their visibility."St*pid powerful people!" she aggravatingly snorted.She was holding a red wine while sitting on their usual white Italian leather couch.Where?In an originally breathtaking place that became a haunted house.Indeed, Lance helped her escape and fooled the authorities that she was going to Ireland. Her father prepared her hideout once again. But this time, no one would even think she went back to the city of opportunities, to that penthouse where two wanted criminals were killed more than two years ago. The one was killed by her."Miss Swan, they all thought you're in Ireland now!" Simon grinned.He was pouring Madeline a gla
"Even if you will kill me, I would never tell you where my daughter is. She deserves to do those things after everything that happened to her!" Lance Swan shouted at length in a wild, impassioned way."Congratulations, President Lance! You've just admitted you know where your daughter is!" Jake spoke in a contemptuous manner rather.The police station where Vanessa and Jake were assigned immediately arrested Lance Swan when Vanessa called that day.When the doctor in Maui nodded that it was Lance who ordered them to make Cheska's condition worst, she instructed her team to arrest him right away."I'm gonna be behind bars anyway. But I'm not going to tell you where my daughter is!" Lance firmly told him.Jake slowly leaned on the chair glaring at him while his fingers were rhythmically tapping the table. Just one more he thought. He might give this middle-aged man a knuckle sandwich.They were both startled when Vanessa opened the door and announced."Good news! The eel is in Ireland!"
At dinner, Albert brought Candice to a western diner. Her favorite. When the waiter arrived, he ordered almost all of her favorite food such as beefy casserole, cheesy turkey broccoli pasta, and biscuit topped chicken pot pie. He also ordered some dessert and a glass of red wine."Thanks for accepting my invitation, Albert. Even if our relationship is just a sham, at least you're still gentleman enough not to decline!" Candice shyly told him while she tucked some strands of her hair behind her earlobe.But Albert was way too busy glancing around while his hands were clasped on the table. As much as possible he didn't want to see Candice anymore since the latter started showing some interest in him."Ahm! I always love beefy casserole. Here, try some!"She stuffed a cube of meat in his mouth and because it was sudden he wasn't able to shun it. He reluctantly chewed the food while frowning at her."It's delicious, right? Oh, there's a sauce left at the corner of your lips!" She even took
In Maui Medical Hospital...Chester was staring at her weak pale face while his hand was gently brushing her hair. She was still unconscious but the doctor said, her condition was getting better.He gritted his teeth everytime he remembered what the doctor told them. He had been violated not just once. Based from the findings of a single pubic hair they saw on her thigh when the swat team saw her in the big empty house, the owner was Simon Flord."I'm gonna kill you, bastard!" he muttered while staring at her.He had been looking for Cheska since she suddenly left more than two years ago. He tried to call her but her phone was disconnected. He thought she intentionally cut ties with him so after months of trying, he finally gave up.When he heard a soft moan, he sat straight as he moved closer."Cheska!" he gently called her name.His blurry eyes were glued on her pallid face. He touched his cheek while his other hand clasped her hand with an IV dr