Zyrone stood anxiously by the small security office where Belle’s penthouse was. Doon sila dumiretso matapos siguruhin ni Marco sa kanya na hindi siya binalak iwan ni Belle, nawawala ito.Marco was waiting in the lobby for Belle and Marie to come down from the penthouse. But when the lift opened when it reached the lobby, Marie was already on the elevator’s floor, unconscious. And Belle was nowhere in sight.Marie has yet to recover from whatever potent drug they had given her to knock her down. As well as Belle's driver, 2 guards manning the entrance at that time and the concierge. That’s why he’s there, to find for himself what really happened to Belle.He watched as Eliseo converse with a policeman just a few meters near the entrance of the building. Eliseo was devastated when he learned about the news of Belle’s disappearance. But the old man was strong, stronger than he thought. He collected himself quickly and pulled all his connections that could help them to locate Belle. Ng
“What now, Isabelle Ledesma? Cat got your tongue?” sarkastikong turan ni Laura Del Valle nang manatili siyang tahimik pagkaraan ng ilang sandali.Why wouldn’t she? She never had any clue at all that the mother and daughter would do such kind of atrocity on the very day of her wedding!Laura gave out a low and dangerous laugh. She looked very different from the woman she met a couple of weeks ago. Ang Laura na nakilala niya mabait, maasikaso at maayos kausap. Kaya naman hindi na siya nagtataka na naging malapit si Miranda dito mula nang humiwalay ito kay Richard. Odd as it seemed, Miranda found a friend in Laura, or so Miranda had related. Dahil bukod sa mabuti raw itong kaibigan, Laura was also the one who introduced her a good annulment lawyer. And because of that she and Zyrone never treated Laura Del Valle differently despite of what Grace did three years ago. She and Zyrone treated Laura as good family friend for the past weeks that they were preparing for their wedding. She e
Malakas sa tenga ni Zyrone ang pagtiktak ng orasan na nakasabit sa dingding. Bawat kumpas ng kamay ng orasan, sumasabay din ang pagkabog ng kanyang dibdib.He was standing on the other side of the interrogation room, the one that has a one way mirror. And he watched as Stephen Del Valle anxiously sat on the lone chair in the other room—waiting for the police investigator.Nang sabihin ng Mommy niya kanina na tungkol kay Belle ang ipupunta nila sa presinto, hindi niya inaasahan na si Stephen Del Valle ang makikita niya roon . He would’ve left as soon as he arrived, for he thougt he was just wasting his time. That it was just one of his father’s ploy to make him submit to whatever his demands would be. But when his father gave him a quick overview of what was happening, he made sure that he will choke the truth out of Stephen’s throat if that would make him talk about Belle’s location.Umingit pabukas ang pinto at pumasok doon ang isang pulis na mabilis na umupo sa harap ni Stephen. He
“Call Laura now,” mariing utos ni Paul kay Stephen. Zyrone watched as the pathetic coward called his crazy wife using the bastard’s own phone.Nasa police car sila ni Paul kung saan nakalulan si Stephen. He was on the passerger’s seat while Paul was with Stephen at the back of the car. The car was parked behind the bushes just a few hundred meters away from the Laura’s old family house in Bulacan. Si Stephen ang mismong nagdala sa kanila roon matapos ang interrogation.Wala sa sarili niyang hinayon ng tingin ang bubungan ng bahay kung saan dinala nina Laura at Grace si Belle.The old house was sitting alone in the middle of an abandoned property. Ikinukubli iyon ng makakapal na ligaw na mga damo at halaman na nakapaligid doon. Malayo rin iyon sa mainroad at wala ring halos katabing bahay. One wouldn’t really think that a house is there if one really doesn’t know the place. Making it a perfect hide-out for any atrocity.He huffed as he restrained his emotions.He’s not supposed to be
Belle was staring blankly at the white wall of the ER’s waiting room where she had been seating for the past half an hour Maingay ang paligid subalit mas malakas ang pagkabog ng kanyang didbib. Maayos siyang nakaupo roon subalit magulo ang isip niya. But despite of the chaos going on inside her, she sat there still. She felt numb.Her heart was crushed with worry and fear for Zyrone. She wanted to pray—to beg God to save the life of the only man she had loved, but words deserted her. Her mind was filled with haze and her gut was in knots since she arrived there at the hospital—with Zyrone’s bloodied body in her arms.She closed her eyes and draw in a deep breath in an attempt to calm herself. But her hands instantly trembled as the picture of Zyrone’s wounded body entered her mind.Agad siyang napamulat at muling humugot ng hininga. There was no escape for her. No. Not even for a brief moment.She felt like she’s drowning. Drowning in fear, worry and uncertainty.How did that suppose
Mabigat ang bawat paghakbang ni Belle papalapit sa ICU unit ng ospital. Nagtatalo ang isip niya kung tutuloy ba siya o hindi dahil hindi niya alam kung anong madaratnan niya sa loob ng ICU suite. Her grandfather had reassured her over and over habang nasa loob sila ng lift na stable si Zyrone for now. But then again she knew death like the back of her hand-- it comes when one least expects it, leaving grief and many tomorrows filled with uncertainty.That happened with her mom. That happened with Grandma Eve. At kahit na anong gawin niyang pagpapatatag sa sarili niya ngayon, she just can’t help but feel weak.But she has to see Zyrone. Kahit na puno ng takot at kaba ang d*bdib niya, she needs to see him. She wants to be there with him, go through that critical 48-hours with her by him side. And so she continued to walk that long hallway going to the ICU unit. She’s doing it afraid because there was just not other way.Nasa labas pa lang sila ng ICU unit subalit tanaw na niya agad sin
Umingit ang pinto ng private suite sa Angelicum Hospital kung nasaan si Zyrone. Agad namang napabaling si Belle sa direksyon niyon. Awtomatikong dumiretso ang upo niya sa sofa nang mapagsino ang nasa pinto. It was Richard.“Hi,” matipid nitong bati sa kanya bago tuluyang pumasok sa silid. Tahimik niyang tinanguan ang matandang lalaki at sinubukang umakto ng normal.But with Richard around, she knew she could never act normal. Heck! She didn’t have any pleasant memories with him, paano siya aakto nang normal?It has been almost a week now since the incident happened. Nakasampa na rin ang mga kaso laban sa mga Del Valle. At nai-transfer na rin nila si Zyrone sa Maynila—sa Angelicum Hospital and Medical Center. But still the same, her Zyrone is not yet awake. And though the doctors said that he is stable, no good news would count for her until he opens his eyes.Kaya naman, sa bawat araw na dumaraan, patuloy siya sa pakiusap sa Diyos na sana, bigyan pa siya ng pagkakataon kay Zyrone—pagk
Ten days. Ten lonely days.It has been that long since Zyrone was shot and yet… he is still unconscious. Doctors kept reassuring her though that he is stable and that they are confident that he will make a hundred percent recovery. But still, her worry will only stop when her husband will finally open his eyes and envelope her in his familiar warmth.Husband.She smiled bitterly. Tatlong araw na mula nang malaman niya kay Richard na hindi pinirmahan ni Zyrone ang divorce papers nila. And honestly, she doesn’t know what to feel about it. She’s happy that she’s still married to him and yet… the guilt that’s overtaking her was too much.She had spent three years hating Zyrone for the many things she thought he did but actually didn’t. She had deliberately hurt him several times but he stayed quiet and patient—telling her how much he loved her still despite of everything. She used to wonder where was his confidence was coming from. Ngayon alam na niya kung bakit.He really stayed true t
Thank you for sticking with me up to the very end of this book. This story is a witness to the many silent battles I had to face while writing it. And I'm still glad that despite the struggles, I can say that I have given Belle and Zyrone a beautiful ending they deserve. And just like Belle, we may enocunter a rough patch on our journey, but that doesn't mean we will have to remain in there. May we all find the courage to stand up after a fall, give forgiveness after getting hurt, and restore our faith in love after the pain. Thank you once again my beautiful readers. On to the next story! Keep dazzling!
“Jax Dominic!” nag-aalalang tawag ni Belle sa magtatatlong taong gulang na anak nang bigla itong kumawala sa kamay bago nagtatakbo sa direksyon ni Zyrone.She tried to hasten her walk kahit na alam niyang kahit na anong gawin niya hindi niya mahahabol ang anak dahil kabuwanan na niya sa ikatlong anak nila ni Zyrone. And according to her last prenatal check up with Doc Angel, she’s due to give birth any moment. And running is not just prohibited, it’s nearly impossible!She sighed and turned to Willa na siyang yaya na ngayon ni Jax. Nanikwas ang nguso nito bago nagmamadaling hinabol ang alaga nito. Natawa na lang sila ni Marco na siyang kasama nila ni Lillie na naglalakad patungo sa loob ng Prime Mall.Jax, just like Lillie, is really a handful. More active than Lillie was, actually. Her little boy loves to explore and discover new things like any kids his age. And he particularly has interest in cars and buildings. He has endless questions too with just about anything under the sun. E
Marahang naglakad sa aisle si Belle kasama sina Eliseo at Lillie. She still cannot wrap her head around what’s happening because she still thinks it’s impossible to happen at that very day when she received an answered prayer and a gift, but then again … it’s really happening!She’s really getting married to Zyrone… again!She looked up at the night sky peppered with stars, blessing them with their dazzle and beauty—a perfect background for their wedding ceremony. The air smelled soft and delicate, coming from the flowers surrounding them. And the music, sweet—full of promises.She quickly surveyed their guests. They were the same people who came and visited Zyrone today, people who had shared with their joy that finally the storm had passed and her little family is complete again. Their guests were just a handful compared to the number of people included in their original guests list. But she’s fine with it. They are the most important people in her and Zyrone’s life anyway. And she
Panay ang kabog ng dibdib ni Belle habang binabaybay niya ang hagdan patungo sa rooftop ng hospital. She took the stairs because the elevator on the floor were Zyrone’s hospital suite was in, suddenly was not working. And so she took the stairs instead. She’s actually quite thankful that the lift was not working because she had more time to think things through. She wanted to buy some time to think. She wanted to take careful steps on how she would handle the situation all by herself.Yes, by herself. Dahil apparently, wala siyang makontak sa mga kaanak niya—not Miranda nor Richard. Not even Eliseo! She had tried countless times to call their phones but her calls just won’t go through. Mukhang sabay-sabay na nag-off ng cellphones ang mga ito. Which is just so freakin' weird! Maging sina Marco at Leon, hindi rin niya matawagan. Not even Willa and Marie!At first she was having second thoughts about the note. Why wouldn’t she? She had just survived a kidnapping incident two-weeks ago. A
Lalong naiyak si Belle sa sinabi ni Zyrone. Walang sabi-sabi niyang kinalong si Lillie bago umupo sa gilid ng hospital bed. She looked at Zyrone and more tears fell from her eyes.Her emotions were overwherlming her, leaving her speechless but grateful.That day, she woke up and prayed to God to end her waiting. She thought that today, like all the other days that has passed, would be just another day of hoping and waiting. Never did she know that today, God will grant her pleas and bless her with a gift-- her very own miracles.Masuyo niyang hinaplos ang pisngi ni Zyrone. He leaned on her palm and another wave of warmth rose from her chest. “Y-you are really here. I-I missed you,” she tearfully confessed.Zyrone just smiled and said, “I missed you too and Lillie.”She smiled as she sobbed and gently pressed his free hand on her cheek. They are much warmer now—alive.Oh how she missed his warmth.Maya-maya pa, bumungad na sa pinto sina Eliseo, Leon at Marco. His grandfather quickly s
Nagising si Belle na nakahiga sa isang hospital bed. At first she was confused. Why wouldn’t she? The last thing she remembered was she just arrived at the hospital together with Marco after her secret visit with Laura and then…She gasped when the events came back to her all in one go. Nahilo siya sa parking lot. It was not long before that when everything around her went black. And now this… she’s waking up in a hospital bed, which she can surmise, based on the noise and curtains surrounding her, is located at the emergency room. Unti-unti siyang bumangon. Sakto namang nahawi ang kurtina na nasa may bandang paanan niya. Nagulat pa siya nang biglang lumitaw doon ang bulto ni Eliseo. His face was contoured with worry. She saw a glimpse of Leon and Marco outside the cubicle she was in nut they didn't come in with her grandfather. “I came as soon as I can. Itinawag ni Marco sa akin ang nangyari,” anang lolo niya nang tuluyan itong makalapit sa kanya. Marahan nitong hinaplos ang buhok
“Why are you here?” bungad agad ni Laura kay Belle, hindi pa man ito nakakalapit sa mesa na malapit sa kanila ni Marco. Bumaling si Laura sa kasama nitong pulis. “Ayoko silang kausapin. Ibalik mo na ‘ko sa loob,” utos nito.Subalit imbes na tumalima, tinulak lang ng pulis si Laura. The crazy bitch was forced to step forward until she was just a few steps away from her. The policewoman never left. She just stood behind Laura, alert.Laura looked at her with all the hate she could muster from the world. Like all she did for the past decades of her life was to live and breathe to hate. Well, that’s what Laura really did with her life—wasted life.Laura was wearing plain clothes. Her hair was in a messy bun and dark circles were visible under her eyes. Kumakalansing din ang mga posas na nakakabit sa mga kamay at binti nito. Malayong-malayo ang hitsura nito ngayon sa glamurosang Laura na nakilala niya.“Oh please, save your pity line to yourself.” The old lady rolled her eyes in annoyanc
Ten days. Ten lonely days.It has been that long since Zyrone was shot and yet… he is still unconscious. Doctors kept reassuring her though that he is stable and that they are confident that he will make a hundred percent recovery. But still, her worry will only stop when her husband will finally open his eyes and envelope her in his familiar warmth.Husband.She smiled bitterly. Tatlong araw na mula nang malaman niya kay Richard na hindi pinirmahan ni Zyrone ang divorce papers nila. And honestly, she doesn’t know what to feel about it. She’s happy that she’s still married to him and yet… the guilt that’s overtaking her was too much.She had spent three years hating Zyrone for the many things she thought he did but actually didn’t. She had deliberately hurt him several times but he stayed quiet and patient—telling her how much he loved her still despite of everything. She used to wonder where was his confidence was coming from. Ngayon alam na niya kung bakit.He really stayed true t
Umingit ang pinto ng private suite sa Angelicum Hospital kung nasaan si Zyrone. Agad namang napabaling si Belle sa direksyon niyon. Awtomatikong dumiretso ang upo niya sa sofa nang mapagsino ang nasa pinto. It was Richard.“Hi,” matipid nitong bati sa kanya bago tuluyang pumasok sa silid. Tahimik niyang tinanguan ang matandang lalaki at sinubukang umakto ng normal.But with Richard around, she knew she could never act normal. Heck! She didn’t have any pleasant memories with him, paano siya aakto nang normal?It has been almost a week now since the incident happened. Nakasampa na rin ang mga kaso laban sa mga Del Valle. At nai-transfer na rin nila si Zyrone sa Maynila—sa Angelicum Hospital and Medical Center. But still the same, her Zyrone is not yet awake. And though the doctors said that he is stable, no good news would count for her until he opens his eyes.Kaya naman, sa bawat araw na dumaraan, patuloy siya sa pakiusap sa Diyos na sana, bigyan pa siya ng pagkakataon kay Zyrone—pagk