**Isabella greeted his parents respectfully before leaving the office. She wont have felt embarrassed if they knew that she was dating Luciano. It was supposed to be secret.Luciano facepalmed before he turned around and greeted his parents. By now, Isabella already left in a hurry. She looked confused and ashamed.He wished he could have gone after her to calm her down.He hugged and kissed his mom. It was a good thing they came to his office, however he wondered why they did not call him first.Were they informed that Isabella works at his company? Fear gripped him as his eyes darted from one person to another.“Isabella?” don Julio shook his head as he smiled. His son surprised him with his newfound love for a woman.“I will explain later” Luciano looked down. A blush crept into his face and his cheek reddened. “sit down, dad and…”“No, I’m leaving now” don Julio took a glance around the office. As each day passed by, he became more impressed with his son’s talents. The boy has p
*Don Julio met up with his mother at the mayor’s office. He sat comfortably in one of the executive chairs beside his mother.The mayor was a chubby man with a pot belly. His glasses hung at the tips of his long nose. Anytime he speaks, he pushed the glasses up as though it will soon fall.However, Don Julio still wondered why the glasses returned to the tip of his nose.“So this property…what do you want to use it for?” the Mayor asked with a smile. His mouth widened, revealing some of his lost teeth. When he noticed that his question did not pleased the Reyes, he added “I-i just want to know because the Reyes family is known for development in Santa Marta and beyond.”Grandmother nodded. When her family was praised, it boosted her pride and she hung her shoulders high by adjusting her position.Apart from her sons' success, Luciano had made waves for himself in the country. The shipping company was so popular that she felt more proud than his parents. Paul was doing well too. He su
**Don Julio did not believe the accusation against his wife neither did he believe that Isabella was Boaz and Adela's daughter.He knew they had a child. In fact, God blessed them with twins but the male did not survived. Only the female was born healthy.They knew nothing about the girl right from the time she was born. None of the Reyes had an idea of what she looked like.Adela kept her away for years…from them. She wanted nothing to do with the Reyes. But who would blame her? She was just another victim of love.“She can’t be a Jimenez” grandmother shook her head. She was sure about it and knew that Juan was not a part of that foolish bloodline.The old woman had come to love the little boy. She was hoping that she would marry his mother to her grandson, Luciano."My mother is right. The Isabella you saw at our house is different. Maybe you are confused” don Julio nodded in support of his mother. He prayed that whatever he was thinking would turn out to be the truth.Mama Dora si
Chapter 42.Mrs. Adela Jimenez sat in the comfort of her office. She just called from her secretary, saying that Mama Dora wanted to see her. She was surprised. Even though, they had known each other for years, the woman never visited her at the office.They met at home, parties or the market. Why will she show up at her working place all of a sudden?The hotel she was working at, happened to be the only property her husband left her with. She has no idea was going on with the rest…whether he gave them out to his baby mama or side chicks!The pain she felt when she found out Boaz Jimenez had another kid outside their marriage almost led her to the grave. She went into coma immediately. It happened three years after Isabella was born.He broke her heart into pieces many time yet she never divorced him. Adela wondered if it was stupidity or fear. Her daughter, Isabella wasted no time to divorce Rodriguez when she caught him cheating. Even though she was carrying his child, she stood tal
Mrs. Adela Jimenez sat back when she saw the evidence. It was a picture of her daughter walking hand in hand with Luciano. She had no idea what Reyes' mansion looked like right now. But seeing them together was enough to back up her friend’s accusation.A cold shiver ran down when she realized the implications of what her daughter had done.It was difficult to believe that Isabella had disobeyed her rules. She was not that kind of person to break rules. What got into her all of a sudden? Did she fall for Luciano Reyes just the way her father did for Mrs. Julio?Adela refused to believe that Isabella was in love with Luciano. Maybe it could be that she was looking for answers and ended up at his side.“I did not mean to hurt you by showing you that picture” mama Dora spoke. She finally hit her target for the day and was ready to go back to her store. However, she could not leave her friend in this condition.Adela turned pale. Her hands trembled with fear, making her almost drop the ph
Chapter 46.Luciano darted back and forth in the living room. The other family members also got tired of waiting for their grandmother. She kept them for more than an hour saying she was on the way.“Do you know why they called us together?” Paul Reyes asked. He was called by the office to come home immediately. At first, he thought someone was dying, so he drove home like a maniac.“No, we all don’t know” Rosa answered. She sat on the sofa with her legs crossed. Her eyes were on the screen of her phone. “Maybe she wants to make an announcement.”“An important one…hopefully it won’t be about whom to avoid this time”, Paul Reyes said. He watched Luciano moving around like it was about him. Did he get caught?Paul wondered if his cousin knew the reason why they were asked to come here. He was worried. If Luciano was caught, then hell would break loose.He chatted Luciano up, asking if it was because of him that the meeting was called.Luciano took out his phone from the pocket of his tr
**Isabella was scared to go and meet her mother. Her name was called again for the third time. Manuela ran to Juan’s room. She couldn’t sleep due to the noise downstairs.“Are you going down to meet your mother or do you want her to bring down the roof of this house?”“I-i…scared to go and meet her,” Isabella said, biting her nails. She knew that it was for obvious reasons.Manuela was confused. She leaned against the wall to give it some thought. What could possibly be wrong?Mrs. Jimenez sounded furious. It was strange because she had never come back from work by this time... she didn’t scream Isabella’s name like that.“Wait…did she know about you and the Reyes?” Manuela asked. Her friend nodded and sat on the floor.Mrs. Jimenez' voice rang again.“We need to go downstairs” Manuela told her. She was calm because there was no use panicking. It would scare Isabella more.She called one of the maids to stay with Juan while they went downstairs to meet Mrs. Jimenez.“You? Why did yo
**A cold shiver ran down his spine. His blood boiled in anger. It was hard to believe what his father said. Years ago, when he asked what happened to his aunt, the elders told him that she left the gas on and got burnt.The male workers from the farm were able to save her just on time. She delivered Teresa on her way to the hospital and kicked the iron bucket.It was a very difficult moment for the family. Luciano remembered clearly who called him to deliver the news…it was grandmother.He left the mysterious woman on that one-night stand and traveled back to the city where they were.“Now, do you still want to associate with such a family?” grandmother asked with her left brow raised. She knew that they got him on this one.“They made Teresa motherless”, Roberto added.Luciano wondered if this was the truth, or they were trying to buy time for themselves. “I don’t believe you” his hand tightened as he held his jacket. “Back then, you told me that she died from carelessness. How do y
Chapter 75.“Mother, you tricked my son” Isabella reminded her mom when she got downstairs. By now, Juan had already finished two slices of pizza. His grandmother poured juice into a glass and gave it to him.“I didn’t, your son fell for my pizza,” Mrs. Jimenez told her. She ran her hand through his hair and kissed him. “You will always be my favorite.”'Not after you find out he is a Marquez', Isabella muttered to herself. She was already dressed. Manulita had a few calls to make upstairs. As for Juan, he gave her the double work. She had to change his outfit.“Juan, come here,” Isabella called and when he came, she whispered “your daddy is waiting. Can we go and change your clothes?”“Yeah,” Juan jumped. However, he did not drop the piece of pizza in his hand. He bit it and rushed to where his grandma was and handed it over to her. He ran back to his mom and they went upstairs.Quickly, she changed his clothes and they headed out.The driver was asked to stay behind. Isabella did no
Chapter 64.She still wore her night dress. Her eyes barely opened as she asked the question. Her face looked more like it had received several slaps while asleep. “Who is Juan's father? She asked again.Isabella froze. Her lips parted, but no word came out. For a second, she thought her heart would come out through her mouth. It was beating faster than a drum. She felt her pulse quicken. If it dared to stop, it would be the end of her.Over the years, she managed to hide the truth from Mrs. Jimenez and everyone in Santa Marta. It was going to be hell for her and Juan if the truth came out. How will she face her mom? Will the poor woman be able to bear the news? What if she gets another heart attack after knowing the truth?“Eh… We were talking about Rodriguez, aunt” Manuela lied. Beads of sweat appeared on her forehead. Her palms were also sweaty. She shivered at the thought of Mrs. Jimenez found out the truth. The old woman may never forgive her daughter for it.“Rodriguez?” Mrs Ji
After dinner, Isabella took Juan to his room. It was a small room filled with the wallpaper of captain man. He also drew his dreamed family. He always wanted a dad to be presented in his life, and she knew the boy was right. He deserves a father.“Mom, where you scared today?” Juan asked as they sat on the bed beside each other. His mom looked at him with tears in her eyes. She had no idea what to say to him.“I-I was scared at some point. But your mom is strong. Do you know that?” Isabella said, fighting the tears.“Well… I got scared too, mom” he told her. “Grandma said it’s okay. Everyone gets scared at some point in life, and it doesn’t matter. We are all fine now.”Isabella was speechless. She didn’t know when the hot tears rolled down her cheeks. Her boy has grown so big with a good sense as well. She knew exactly what he was trying to do. He wanted to make her feel better just the way his godmother, Manuela, would do.Juan saw the tears rolling down his mom’s cheeks. He wondere
Luciano arrived just in time for Paul's funeral, his heart heavy with grief but filled with determination to honor his cousin, his brother, in the best way he could.The sun was hidden behind clouds, casting a grey light over the crowd gathered at the cemetery. The entire town had come to pay their respects. Friends and family, dressed in black, stood together, whispering condolences and recalling fond memories of Paul.Even friends from abroad had flown in, further testament to how much Paul had meant to so many people.Luciano looked around at the faces of the people, some who had known Paul since childhood, others who had only crossed paths with him later in life.They all shared the same somber expression, united by the loss of a man they admired and loved. The air was thick with sorrow, but there was also a quiet reverence, a collective determination to honor Paul in the way he deserved.The ceremony was simple but heartfelt. A local priest led a brief prayer, offering words of co
The air was thick with tension as Luciano drove away from the villa, leaving the preparations for Paul’s funeral behind.The road ahead blurred in his vision, but his mind was clear. Today was the day of Paul’s funeral, a painful farewell to the cousin who had been like a brother to him.But there was one more matter that needed to be settled before he could say goodbye properly. He was heading to the prison yard, where Rodriguez was awaiting execution. The day of reckoning had arrived.Luciano gripped the steering wheel tighter as he approached the prison gates. The sun was just beginning to rise, casting long shadows across the barren landscape.He could feel the weight of what was about to happen, but there was a sense of grim satisfaction in knowing that justice would finally be served.Rodriguez’s death would never bring Paul back, but it would close a chapter that had been filled with betrayal and pain.As the guards escorted him through the sterile halls of the prison, Luciano k
*****The afternoon sun poured softly through the windows as Manuela, Isabella, and Luciano sat around the dining table, their faces marked by a quiet sadness.The house felt different since Paul’s passing, quieter, as if even the walls were mourning his absence.The weight of his death still hung heavy in the air, but today they needed to focus on something else—Paul’s upcoming funeral.“We have to make it special,” Manuela said, her voice barely above a whisper. She had been crying on and off for days, her heart still breaking at the thought of losing Paul so suddenly. “He deserves the best, after everything.”Luciano sat silently for a moment, staring down at his hands. It was still hard for him to think about Paul without feeling a sharp pain in his chest. His cousin had been more than family; he had been a brother, a friend, and a source of strength. “He does,” Luciano finally agreed, his voice thick with emotion. “I want his funeral to reflect how much he meant to all of us. He w
**Two weeks had passed since the accident, and Juan was finally ready to leave the hospital. The doctors had been impressed by his recovery, considering how serious the injuries had been.Now, the hospital room was filled with a sense of relief and anticipation. Isabella and Luciano sat by Juan’s bedside, the weight of everything that had happened slowly lifting, replaced by the joy of seeing their son healthy again.Juan, now more energetic, sat up in bed, swinging his legs back and forth as he played with a toy car Luciano had brought him the day before.His eyes darted between his parents, excitement bubbling beneath the surface. He was finally going home, and for the first time in his young life, he fully understood that Luciano was his father.The bond between them had grown stronger in the days since the truth came out. Juan, who had always been attached to Luciano, now clung to him even more.“Are we leaving soon?” Juan asked, his voice full of hope.Isabella smiled, gently str
Luciano sat in the dimly lit living room, his mind spinning as he tried to process the news.The revelation that Rodriguez had conspired to kill him, along with Dora, his so-called lover, was beyond anything he could have imagined.Manuela and Isabella sat nearby, equally shaken, as the weight of everything they had just learned hung heavily in the air.The silence between them was thick, filled with disbelief and the echo of unanswered questions.They had never once suspected Rodriguez or Dora of being capable of such malice. Rodriguez, yes—he was a volatile man, full of jealousy and bitterness—but Dora? Sweet, quiet Dora, who had always seemed so devoted to Luciano? It didn’t make sense.“I still can’t believe it,” Manuela whispered, her voice barely audible. “I never liked Rodriguez, but I didn’t think he would go this far.”Luciano’s face was tense, his brow furrowed in deep thought. He had been sitting in the same spot for hours, staring off into space, trying to make sense of eve
****The tense silence in the hospital waiting room was shattered when Rodriguez stormed in, his face twisted in anger.Dora trailed behind him, a smug look on her face as she watched the tension rise. He had just heard about the accident, and without bothering to gather all the facts, he immediately set his sights on Isabella."This is all your fault!" Rodriguez bellowed, pointing an accusing finger at her. "How could you be so careless, Isabella? You were supposed to take care of him, and now look what’s happened to my son!"Isabella's heart pounded in her chest as the words hit her. She had been struggling with guilt and worry ever since the accident, but hearing Rodriguez hurl those accusations at her in front of everyone felt like a slap in the face.Luciano, who had been sitting beside her, clenched his fists but said nothing. He knew better than to escalate the situation with Rodriguez, but his silent fury was evident.Isabella stood up, her eyes blazing with a mixture of anger