Since that day when Jason met Stella with Jenkins’ help, what she said that day just won’t escape his mind. It gets him furious that Charles didn’t even believe Stella and it pushed her away.Charles is even stupid enough to have helped Andrea and got her to work in his company. It pisses Jason off. He wants to do something to help her so bad but Stella asked her not to help her. She told him not to get involved.“I can’t just stay still,” Jason frustratingly sighs after saying it.Tapping his finger on the desk, he thought of seeing Stella again. He really wants to see her again since that day. It’s just that he doesn’t have a lot to say.Not to mention Casper. He is the spitting image of Charles yet he acts like Jenkins. What the hell can he offer to that little guy? How to take care of people? How will he say that he was the reason his mother is hurting?After work, Jason went to visit Vanessa, knocking on her door. He had memorized her schedule that he knows when to come and not.
Two week ago a ghost came back to haunt Andrea of a thing she did five years ago. She thought she had won and buried that woman but just recently, news travels to her from Jennie that Stella is indeed back.Andrea has been suspicious for the past days that Charles is chasing Stella. She is being disregarded and recently Charles’ office has been empty of him. Only Dimitri was there. She can’t even get a hold of him anymore especially on calls.For five years, she could not make Charles look her way anymore. He was always gazing at the window.“Is the president in his office today?” she asked her workmates.“The president should be here since today is the grand investors’ meeting,” one of them answered.“What time is that meeting again?”“It should be ending soon.”She plasters a sweet smile and took a thick pile of paper. It wasn’t something she had a problem with, she just really wanted to go see him.So, Andrea rushed outside with her paper. On her way, she was bouncing and humming b
In front of the Marie Swan building, Stella waits for Jenkins to come and pick her up. He said they have a sudden meeting to attend to but it has been ten minutes and Jenkins was still nowhere.A minute later, a car stopped in front of her. She thought it was a resident like her in that building but when the driver went out her brows immediately knitted together.“What the hell are you doing here?” she asked to Charles who stood in front of her now.“Good morning to you too,” he greeted with a charming smile.“I’m asking what you’re doing here!”“Didn’t Jenkins tell you about the meeting?”“He did but he didn’t say you were coming,” she replied, glaring at Charles.Then suddenly her phone started ringing and she took it out. When she saw it was Jenkins, she answered and turned her back on Charles.“I won’t be able to pick you up but Charles offered to stop there. He should be here.”Hearing those words Stella shut her eyes. She could have taken a taxi to wherever the meeting is held i
Once the meeting was over, Stella decided to talk to Jenkins about that part. Everything happened so suddenly that she is as shocked as Charles.“Jenkins, that meeting. What was it about?” she asked, standing in front of the young man’s desk.“For our new product,” Jenkins answered.“No, that’s not what I am talking about, Jenkins.” She narrowed her eyes at him. “I’m talking about why? I didn’t know you had an agreement with the rest of the Castigado.”“I want you back, Stella.”Almost immediately Stella’s brows draw together. Questions started clouding her mind and before she could think of an answer, Jenkins spoke again.“I know you were awake when Charles last visited here. You just didn’t want to go on the hassle of arguing with him.”“So what if you are right? What’s this meeting have to do with that?”
On a private plane, Stella is seating uncomfortably on her own, a little further from Charles. She is waiting for Jenkins and the others to arrive. Charles and her in the same room make everything really awkward.A moment after, an announcement from the stewardess came saying to get ready for take-off. Hearing so made both of them stand from their seat, exclaiming the word, “What?” in chorus.They looked at each other and then both their phones chime and they turn away in sync. Both of them were left dumbfounded reading the text Jenkins texted them.“That trickster!” Stella screams, inhaling deeply and as she takes her seat exhaled loudly. She can’t believe that she fell for his trick.It was too late now, they were already flying up. How could he deceive everyone, especially her and Charles?Moments later, Stella was still getting over Jenkins betraying her when Charles came over, sitting o
Stella and Charles finally arrived in Osoda. There was only one Fugawa who was kind enough to take them to the center of that small island. His name is Kepa and he was kind enough to give them a ride with his tricycle.“You know, many tourist come here to buy small pieces of the silk,” Kepa said. “But if you are here for a much more than just a piece, you better leave our town. The elders will not allow that.”“What if we are here for that matter?” Charles asked Kepa. And the man laughed loudly.“Then good luck, sir! The elders will shoo you away and you’ll be sent home in no time!”Stella who is listening to Kepa noticed the accent. It was familiar to her, her grandmother, she was sure, spoke their language and told her about the Fugawas.As they road the bumpy way, she looks around, thoroughly fascinated by the landscape it has. She is reminded of the island they lived on but this place, Osoda
Eleven in the evening and Stella is still wide awake. Every now and then, she would look at the door, waiting for Charles to come back inside. It’s eleven, he should be back but he isn’t.“I shouldn’t worry myself about him!” she tells herself. Yes, that’s right! She should not ca--A loud bang made Stella abruptly look at her door. There she saw Charles holding tightly at the doorway, his head down and laughing like a damn devil.“What the heck? What’s wrong with you?” She asked with wide eyes.Charles slowly raised his head, looking at her, his hair messy and brought down to his brows. Then a corner of his mouth curved up, which made him look so charming.“Yo, Stella!” he said.From the way he sounds, he seemed drunk and Stella immediately stands up to get to his side. While he giggles, Stella acted as his support, carrying him to the bed.“You’re crazy!&r
That very next day, Stella woke up alone in bed. She stretched and sit up, wondering where Charles would be. He was drunk last night, shouldn’t he be having a hangover. But then again, some people don’t get hangovers.Stella got off the bed and realized her laptop was still on the small table. She didn’t even have the time to close it last night and she bet its battery is drained. With that in mind, she walked there and checked. She wasn’t wrong at all.After putting her laptop on charge, Stella fixed her hair and decided to go out of their hut. The sun was shining but it was not hot at all. Since she needed to eat for breakfast, she decided to go all the way to where Kepa said was the dining area. It’s the eatery.Along the way, the kids from yesterday were playing another game. Fugawas really does wake up early. When the kids noticed her, she was told to join but she decline because she has to eat breakfast and find Charles, of course.When she was near the eatery, she sees Charles.
Andrea has been shouting inside her room, breaking and throwing everything out of order. She is furious right now that she’s ruining everything and hurting herself is even an option for her.Because she hired someone to stalk Stella, now it made way for their family to come back to together. Andrea didn’t just fail in taking her life but also taking her son. Now everyone in the Castigado is happy because of that kid!“I want you all dead!” Andrea shouted, throwing another vase at the wall. It shattered and she laughed like a maniac. She was well aware that she wasn’t like this before but she could not control herself anymore.In Andrea’s mind flashes different images in which Stella, her son, and that daughter are killed. Blood was dripping from them and she laughed like the devil that Jason once called her.She took her phone dialing that special number that she once hired. Four years ago, she decided to delete this number but she didn’t know why she kept it. And now, it is clear to
When Stella and Charles arrived home, Stella was so surprised to see Casper getting along with everyone super fast. Everyone was surrounding him while Amunie was talking with Trixie. It seems liked everything worked out just fine for everyone.“Mom!” Amunie noticed their arrival. Casper and Amunie run to gave her a hug like they always do and she hugged them back. It was like the first time she was there, they were all looking at her weirdly.The funny part was they all went and said they were sorry they didn’t do anything. Stella was just afraid of nothing. Even Charles’ parents thought they were back together now.They also said the little boy had told them everything and now she didn’t have to explain to them what happened five years ago. Stella really didn’t have the intention to explain herself that time anyway.But, she was glad that everyone welcomed Casper and Amunie in the family. It was something that she wanted primarily, that they are treated right.“Stella!” And that voic
Jason, Stella and Vanessa are all waiting for Charles to come. Unfortunately for Jason, Charles insisted on coming to get Stella and driving her home so explaining to the family why she’s back there is smooth.As soon as Charles arrived, the criminals and the victim met with each other for the first time since that issue happened. It was a littel awkward, especially for Vanessa but thank fully they didn’t have to stay for a lot of time. They needed to hurry home.While Charles and Stella were in another car, Jason is with Vanessa. Their car was at the back of them and Jason can’t help but be silent with the fact that he’s still hurting to see Stella with Charles.Vanessa noticed that part. She didn’t know if it was a time for her to joke around, to lighten the mood or just simply let Jason feel his pain. She was well aware that Jason has feelings for Stella.“Quit staring at me like I’m a pathetic loser, Vanessa.”She immediately faced front, fixing her composure. Then she cleared her
“Where are we going, uncle Jenkins?” Casper asked. Nobody said anything to him. He just noticed how Amunie was acting weird earlier, looking all worried and all and now his uncle Jenkins is driving him somewhere.“Do you ever wanted to see your great grandmother, Casper?”It made his little mind wonder. To see his great grandmother? Are they going to see her?“Am I going to get introduced to her, uncle Jenkins?”“To everyone, Casper,” Jenkins answered. “You are staying in the mansion for the time being until we fixed the problem.”It shocked Casper to have heard that. At the mansion? Her mother don’t want to come back in that place ever again so why?“Does mother know about this, uncle Jenkins?”“Yes, she does. You don’t have to worry about hurting your mother’s feelings. She agreed on this. And this will keep you safe as well.”“What is this problem that you need to fix?”“It’s not a kid’s problem anymore, Casper. Trust us on this, okay?”Casper nodded. In his head, he still has so m
In the front desk, Stella and Vanessa asked to go see Jason. At first the lady didn’t allow them to go meet Jason since they didn’t have prior appointments but then Vanessa texted Jason. He called the lady in the front desk and let them enter.They were like careless teenagers forgetting to ask which floor, it was a good thing Stella’s been there. She visited Jason once with Jenkins.The moment they arrived outside the door, Jason’s secretary welcomed them both in. The kind mam even opened the door for them and they head inside. They immediately saw Jason on his desk, sitting like the boss that he is, looking at them with a poker face.“So, what are you two doing in here? You’re not trying to invite me in a reunion party, right?”“Tch!” Vanessa scoffed, walking to the side and sat down on a chair. “We were at the shop talking for hours when this guy started looking at us in a maniac way.”“Is this true?” Jason asked Stella.“How dare you!” Vanessa yells when Jason didn’t believe her.
Vanessa is really nervous, pinching her own fingers over and over again. She is to meet up with Stella, finally and she came an hour earlier because she’s excited and at the same time really nervous. She’s the reason for all of this.“Five minutes more,” she uttered, glancing at her wristwatch once again. Her hands were shaking really bad.“Vanessa.” When she looked up, she saw Stella. She was so different from the old Stella that she knew. This in front of her was glamorous.“St-Stella! Hi!” She exclaimed and abruptly stand up, still snapping out of her shock. Vanessa’s heart just keeps pounding that although she opens her mouth to speak, there was no voice coming out.Then just nowhere, Stella wrapped her arms around Vanessa. All Vanessa’s worry annihilated. The storm in her mind became clear and calm. All she could do was cry softly.“Thank you for coming to my rescue five years ago,” Stella cries as well. “I have not thanked you enough for that day because I had to go hide. I was
When Casper finally calmed, he could not stop but be talkative with Charles. They kept talking and talking. Stella could just watch her son being alive.“Casper is in cloud nine right now,” Amunie whispered to Stella. “I bet he is really happy.”“Yes, he is.” Stella smiled. Amunie and her was washing dishes but they can hear Casper’s giggles. “Are you okay now with the Castigado, mom? Or are you still not convinced to bring Casper there?”Right that takes Stella back to Crolletta and the rest. Earlier she realized, it’s not important anymore what Crolletta and the others will do.“I can’t keep him a secret anymore. I’ll just have to protect him with my life, Amunie. Whatever God decides our faith, then be it. I won’t have regrets.”Charles stayed with Casper the whole afternoon until the little guy just fell asleep for his nap. It surprised Stell how he fell asleep so fast and then Amunie told them that he was awake late at night. Guess Casper really wanted to meet Charles that bad.S
Back in Akane, Casper in his room stays wide awake even though it’s past midnight. He was just staring at his ceiling filled with different sizes of glow in the dark stars. He designed them himself but it didn’t make him happy.He wonders if he believed in shooting stars, does that make him a normal boy? If he wished to them, will his wishes come true?Actually, there’s only one wish that he wanted so bad to come true. It’s to meet his father. He tries to keep it a secret from Stella because he loves her mother and he knows the pain she goes to everyday.Tomorrow, if his uncle Jenkins’ plan went out fine, he will be able to meet his father in the airport. But if it failed, then tomorrow, it is Stella that he will come get at the airport.He doesn’t mind to be kept as a secret to everyone just not to his father.***The very next day, Casper was let down when he was told by Amunie not to get out of the car and just wait for Stella in the car. Casper didn’t have a choice and watch in the
On the other side of the elder’s place was Charles. The old man was giving these small wine glasses and he knows having just around two of those will get him drunk. He tries to refuse but he ended up having a drink. It was too strong.“I know what you are here for, young man!” the old man exclaimed. He has this loud voice when they are just in front of each other. Charles thinks it’s the old people's thing. “You are here for the silk! The old woman from earlier will not allow you!”“So I have been told a couple of times, gramps!” he needed to louder his voice too because the old man is kinda deaf. “But I am not entirely here for the silk. I’m here for my woman.”Then the old man’s laughter echoed across the room again. He lifted the bottle and filled his cup. And immediately drank it.“Your woman? That beautiful lady earlier with you?” the old man continuously asked. “She doesn’t seem to be fond of you!”“We were once in love!”“Once!” the old man repeated. “She is not anymore, is she