Nanginginig ang buong katawan ni Arianna habang nakasilip sa bahagyang nakaawang na pinto ng silid ng fiance niyang si Dominic. Mariing nakatakip ang kanyang mga kamay sa kanyang bibig habang tahimik siyang tumatangis sanhi ng tanawin sa loob ng silid. Si Dominic ay may kaniig na babae sa ibabaw ng kama nito. And the woman with him was not just some random girl. It was Bianca… Arianna’s best friend!She never once thought that two important people in her life would betray her. But nonetheless, kinalma niya ang sarili. She was taught not to react in the height of her emotion. Kaya sa halip na sugurin at komprontahin ang dalawa, pinili niyang tumalikod at maglakad palayo.Arianna had come in the middle of the night to surprise him because it was their third year anniversary of being in a relationship. Ayaw niyang maunahan siya nitong bumati kaya bago pa lang sumapit ang alas dose ng gabi, lumabas na siya ng silid para puntahan sa silid nito si Dominic. At siya ang nasorpresa sa dinat
“Can you believe it? I was dumped! That bastard! Who did he think he is?! And Bi? Such a thick face!” Arianna blabbered. “How could they take me for a fool?!”“Wait, I’m really a fool, right? I did not notice until I saw the worst… I’m so pathetic.”Nagagawa niyang maglitanya kahit na alam niyang buhat-buhat siya sa likod nang kung sinong sumagip sa kanya kanina. She was a total mess now. But she didn’t care. Wala nga rin siyang pakialam na tila hindi mabalanse ng may buhat sa kanya ang lakad nito. She trusted him already that she thought even if she fell on the floor, he would tend to her. “I can’t believe it myself! Akala ko napakaswerte ko kasi may boyfriend ako at may best friend ako na lagi kong kasama… I made them live in my house! All this while, I’m keeping snakes unaware!” Arianna didn’t know what else she blabbered about. But the man was being patient with her. Kahit nang makarating sila sa isang silid, inalalayan siya nito nang magsuka siya ng wala naman. He tended to he
Five years later…“It is lolo’s wake, why am I not allowed to see him for the last time?” Pwedeng pagsabitan ng kaldero sa haba ng nguso na maktol ng anak niya kay Arianna.“Because you are Mommy and Lolo’s secret. Did you already forget that?” malumanay na niyuko niya ito dahil tumigil na ito sa paglalakad. Naka-cross arms ito at naka-pout. “Maliah, listen to me. You promised to be a good girl if I take you home with me.”“But Mommy…” hindi umubra ang pagmamaldita kaya luha naman yata ang susubukan nito sa biglang pamamasa ng mga mata nito. “He’s my Lolo. I want to see him…”“I understand how you feel, anak. But right now is not the right time for everyone to see you.”Maliah smiled sadly.“How about we video call and I’ll let you see him?” Arianna offered, hoping it would work. “Then you will do it secretly too?” She nodded. Wala siyang pagpipilian sa ngayon. She cannot reveal Maliah’s existence yet. “Would you want that?”“I guess…” Natawa siya nang mahina. Tumayo siya at inaya
“Arianna, why don’t you rest first?” Si Bianca naman ang sunod na lumapit sa kanya makalipas ang ilang sandali. She even said exactly the same words as Dominic. “Hindi ako pagod,” sagot niya. Hindi naman talaga. Pero ang alam kasi ng mga ito, dumiretso siya ro’n galing airport. She did give them a wrong schedule of her arrival. Kaya hindi alam ng mga ito na dumating na siya kahapon pa. “I’m so sorry for what happened to Tito, Arianna,” sabi pa ni Bianca na ginagap ang mga palad niya. “We did our best. Pero hindi siya umabot sa ospital.” Anong sasabihin niya ro’n? Na hindi siya naniniwala na biglaan ang lahat? In any case, Arianna did not want to raise their suspicion.Sasagot sana siya kay Bianca, pero naagaw ng bagong dating ang atensyon nilang dalawa. If her eyes weren’t playing tricks on her, the man who arrived was the man from the airport yesterday. He was wearing white long sleeves and black slacks, and of course, sunglasses. Even so, his simple attire did not hide his obviou
“Atty., are you sure you read that right? Is there any chance you’re mistaken?”Dominic appeared to be so surprised upon hearing that Samuel Lucero left the company's thirty percent of shares to him. "There's no way Tito would give that much shares to me. It's bigger than Arianna's! Atty, you must have read it wrong!" "I only read what's in the will," sagot naman ng matandang abogado.Arianna remained silent. One way or another, in-expect niyang may maririnig siyang hindi niya magugustuhan. Kaya kahit nagulat siya sa nilalaman ng will ng ama ay kaagad niyang nakolekta ang sarili niya. Her face remained calm kahit pa magdrama sina Dominic at Bianca na hindi makapaniwalang pinamanahan ni Samuel. Yes, including Bianca who got the house and the cars. "Arianna, I'm sorry. Can we do anything to give it back to her, Atty.?" hirit pa ni Dominic."Yes, Atty., kahit ako ay hindi komportable na maiiwan sa akin ang malaking bahay na ito. I mean, who am I? I'm not family! Ang pagpapatira pa l
“Mommy, can we go out now?” ungot ni Maliah pagkagising na pagkagising pa lang nito.Arianna was back in their hotel. Kaya naman sinusulit niyang makasama ulit ang anak na ilang araw niyang tiniis na hindi makita nang personal.“You can always go out with Tita Daisy, Maliah,” sagot niyang hinahaplos ang ulo nito. Maliah will be okay as long as she was not seen with her by either Dominic or Bianca. Hindi naman kasi niya kamukha ang anak. Pero syempre kapag nakita ito na kasama niya, it would easily be guessed na anak niya ito. Lalo na nga at limang taon siyang nawala. “But I want to be with you,” ngumuso ang anak niya.“We can’t be seen together yet, anak. But I promise you, once Mommy is done with the bad guys, we’ll go around together before we go back to the States.”“You are not changing your mind?” malungkot nitong tanong.“I’m sorry, Maliah. Babawi si mommy, okay? It’s just that now, it’s dangerous for you to be seen with me.”There was really no threat to her life for now. Bu
Alistair Miller’s profile shocked Arianna. He wasn’t just some shareholder in AL Jewels, he was the brilliant mind behind Asia’s biggest, and currently expanding worldwide, jewelry brand– Exquisite. A multi-billion company! Arianna couldn’t believe it. It made sense to her now kung bakit may pagka-OA umistima sina Bianca at Dominic noon sa lalaki. Hindi pala ito basta-bastang tao lang. Kung gano’n ay bakit nag-aaksaya ito ng panahon sa AL Jewels? The company only ranked third in the country, Exquisite being the first. Although it was quite big, hindi ito maikukumpara sa Exquisite. Nagkaroon ng pag-asa ang dalaga. Baka hindi siya mahirapan na mapapayag ang lalaki na ibenta ang shares nito sa kanya. “Robert, did you already get a hold of Mr. Miller?” “He is currently out of the country, Ms. Lucero. And according to his secretary, may engagement siya pagdating na pagdating niya bukas.” “The day after?” “Wala siyang free time sa susunod na isang buwan.” Arianna sighed. Hindi siya
“A charity gala?” ulit ni Arianna sa imbitasyon ni Dominic sa kanya. Nasa opisina niya ang binata. “Yes, Arianna. Will you come with me?” Nag-isip siya habang tumitipa ng mensahe sa nakaopen niyang laptop para kay Robert. If it were only to come as Dominic’s date, then she’d pass. But if it could serve another purpose, she would surely take advantage of it.‘Find out if Mr. Miller will be at the charity event happening tomorrow evening.’“Do you mind if I give you my answer after I talk to my secretary about my schedules?” nakangiting tanong niya kay Dominic.“I don’t. Just give me your answer before noon tomorrow. Kapag hindi ka makakasama, Bianca is interested in going. The event will showcase unique jewels and art pieces. So I prefer my fiancee to be with me in the event.” “Okay,” aniya. He could bring Bianca instead and she wouldn’t give a damn. Wala na siyang pakialam sa dalawa. Bagay ang mga ito, parehong mga ahas.Tumayo na si Dominic pero hindi naman ito kumilos para umalis
‘Darling,Our little Rian is growing up so fast. Wish you were here and share this joy with us…’Arianna wasn’t successful in holding back her tears. Dahil isang oras na niyang iniiyakan ang sulat ng kanyang ama sa likod ng larawan ni Maliah. He wrote it for her mother, Celeste, who had gone ahead of them for almost two decades already. Celeste was the only one who called her Rian. Kahit ang kanyang ama ay bihira siyang tawagin sa nickname na iyon. Samuel preferred calling her by her full name instead. Kaya naman sobrang precious kay Arianna ang nickname niyang tanging ang namayapa niyang ina lang ang tumatawag sa kanya. It was the reason why she hated it when Ali called her Rian. For her, the man had no right… However he came up with that name to call her, was beyond her. Although she used that nickname when she was young, not even Bianca called her that way. Eh si Alistair, nakilala niya lang recently when ‘Rian’ was already a memory. ‘Five years is not recent, Arianna… ‘ her
Arianna couldn’t believe what Alistair told her.Why must fate play with her this way? How did the man she spent a night of mistake with five years ago be the same as the only man who could help her reclaim AL Jewels now? “Are you crying, mommy?” Mabilis niyang tinuyo ang kanyang mga luha sabay umiling nang nakangiti sa anak. “No, anak. Parang sisipunin lang si mommy.” Tiningnan lang siya ni Maliah nang nagdududa kaya mabilis niya ring dinugtungan ang sinabi. “Did I wake you up?” Tulog na kasi ito kanina nang tabihan niya ito.Maliah shook her head bago sumiksik sa kanya. “I dreamed of daddy,” sabi nito.Parang kinurot ang puso ni Arianna. Hindi mapaghanap ng ama ang anak niya. But since she saw Alistair at the airport, lagi na nitong bukambibig ang salitang daddy. And to think nagkawayan lang ang mga ito noon.Did she somehow feel they were connected? But wait… If Alistar knew about Maliah all along, then did that mean he was really waiting for them at the airport? He knew they
Five years earlier…“Have you found her yet?” kalmado kahit iritable nang tanong ni Ali kay Oliver na kanyang right hand man. “Not yet, Sir. All the CCTV footage didn’t catch a good recording of her.”“That’s impossible. That place has a lot of CCTVs!” “She purposely blocked her face from the cameras, Sir.”“Not even one clear shot?” Umaasa pa ring tanong niya.“I’m afraid there’s none, Sir. We searched thoroughly but she disappeared by the next block where there were no longer cameras installed.”“How about the taxis that came by that area?” “We investigated every car that we got a clear plate number in the CCTVs. But we didn’t find the girl.”Napabuntong hininga na lang si Ali. It seemed that the woman did not want to be found. At wala siyang magagawa ro’n. If only his eyesight didn’t betray him, he could at least remember her face. Pero tuluyan na ngang bumigay ang kanyang paningin. In fact he was slowly losing it even before she saw the woman being harassed by a bar regular. W
“Mr. Miller, what a coincidence!” This time, legit na coincidence lang na nakita ng dalaga ang bilyonaryo. She was supposed to be out on a romantic dinner date with Dominic. Pero ang magaling, thirty minutes nang late. Tumanggi kasi siya na magpasundo rito, kaya ang resulta, nauna siya sa restaurant.Nakita niya si Alistair sa mesang hindi kalayuan sa kanya na mukhang mag-isang kumakain ng dinner. Thinking she was wasting time waiting for a traitor, she decided to approach Alistair and tried to make use of her time well.“Are you alone?” she asked, sitting across him uninvited.“You just sat on my companion’s lap, Rian…”Napakunot noo siya saglit bago na-realize ang corny joke nito. Ali was suppressing a smile while chewing his food gracefully. Ayon na naman ang dimples nito na kusang lumilitaw kahit hindi nito sadyain.Arianna managed a smile. “Well, she didn’t say anything. I guess it’s fine with her.”“How did you know it’s a she?”“Well—”“I’m kidding.” He wiped his lips and lea
“Mommy, is he my daddy?” Nagulat si Arianna nang biglang sumulpot sa likuran niya si Maliah. Nakita nito sa laptop screen niya ang mukha ni Alistair. Nagbabasa kasi siya ng article tungkol dito at sa Exquisite. “No, anak,” sagot niya at hinayaan na itong sumiksik sa kandungan niya.“But I think he looks like me,” giit ng bata na inilapit pa ang mukha sa screen. Natawa siya. Sa katunayan, tumatawa pa siya nang matigilan siya. Why, Maliah was correct. She didn’t realize that until now that her daughter mentioned it. Bukod sa parehong asul ang mga mata ng mga ito, Maliah looked like a younger female version of Alistair. Mabilis niyang ipinilig ang ulo. No, nadala lang siya sa sinabi ni Maliah. “Why are you looking at his picture?” “Nope. I’m reading an article about him. See, this man is called Mr. Alistair Miller. He owns a big company of jewels,” sabi niya sa anak, dismissing her earlier thoughts about her daughter’s similarity with Alistair. Nagkataon lang iyon. Marami talagang
Three days later, the auction items were still delivered to Arianna’s office. Pero nainis lang siya nang makita ang mga iyon. “Robert, send them back to Mr. Miller,” aniya sa assistant.“Ms. Lucero, have you given up on your plans?” Sa halip na tumalima sa utos niya ay usisa pa ni Robert. He even sighed like he was disappointed in her.“There must be some other way,” sagot niya. “How is it going with the acquisition of the smaller shares?”Umiling ito. By that, alam niya na walang progress ang backup plan niya. She had initially assigned someone to come to the other minority shareholders to buy their shares on her behalf. Well, hindi iyon pangalan niya sa ngayon, because like Alistair said, they did not trust her. Nainis siya lalo nang maalala ang lalaki. That night, they didn’t part well. Okay lang iyon dahil hindi na niya ito hahabulin para kumbinsihin na tulungan siya. He had made it as clear as day that just like the other shareholders, he also had doubts about her abilities.
“You don’t seem to be waiting for somebody’s arrival. Did you really dare to come without a date, Mr. Miller?” sabi ni Arianna na bahagyang tumabi sa kakabakante lang sa kausap na si Alistair. May dala-dala siyang maliit na platito na may maliit din na serving ng sliced cake. She was trying to look like she just happened to be there by the buffet table and it was convenient to strike up a conversation with him since they knew each other. Nangunot ang noo niya nang imbes na humarap ito at kausapin siya, inuna nitong pansinin ang isang babae na kakalapit lang. The lady was wearing a mermaid cut tube gown, highlighting her curves and exposing half of her boastful chest. “Rude,” she remarked, low enough for him to hear bago siya nagretreat pabalik sa mesa ng mga pagkain. She lost the chance to talk to him. Pangit yata ang bungad niya. Feeling close masyado. Sa inis ay kumuha siya ng wine at inisang lagok iyon habang dinudurog ng tinidor ang cake kanina sa platito. Kukuha pa sana siya
“A charity gala?” ulit ni Arianna sa imbitasyon ni Dominic sa kanya. Nasa opisina niya ang binata. “Yes, Arianna. Will you come with me?” Nag-isip siya habang tumitipa ng mensahe sa nakaopen niyang laptop para kay Robert. If it were only to come as Dominic’s date, then she’d pass. But if it could serve another purpose, she would surely take advantage of it.‘Find out if Mr. Miller will be at the charity event happening tomorrow evening.’“Do you mind if I give you my answer after I talk to my secretary about my schedules?” nakangiting tanong niya kay Dominic.“I don’t. Just give me your answer before noon tomorrow. Kapag hindi ka makakasama, Bianca is interested in going. The event will showcase unique jewels and art pieces. So I prefer my fiancee to be with me in the event.” “Okay,” aniya. He could bring Bianca instead and she wouldn’t give a damn. Wala na siyang pakialam sa dalawa. Bagay ang mga ito, parehong mga ahas.Tumayo na si Dominic pero hindi naman ito kumilos para umalis
Alistair Miller’s profile shocked Arianna. He wasn’t just some shareholder in AL Jewels, he was the brilliant mind behind Asia’s biggest, and currently expanding worldwide, jewelry brand– Exquisite. A multi-billion company! Arianna couldn’t believe it. It made sense to her now kung bakit may pagka-OA umistima sina Bianca at Dominic noon sa lalaki. Hindi pala ito basta-bastang tao lang. Kung gano’n ay bakit nag-aaksaya ito ng panahon sa AL Jewels? The company only ranked third in the country, Exquisite being the first. Although it was quite big, hindi ito maikukumpara sa Exquisite. Nagkaroon ng pag-asa ang dalaga. Baka hindi siya mahirapan na mapapayag ang lalaki na ibenta ang shares nito sa kanya. “Robert, did you already get a hold of Mr. Miller?” “He is currently out of the country, Ms. Lucero. And according to his secretary, may engagement siya pagdating na pagdating niya bukas.” “The day after?” “Wala siyang free time sa susunod na isang buwan.” Arianna sighed. Hindi siya