Alam ni Jon na hindi maganda ang naging relasyon nina Kieshna at Rosa noon pa. His expression darkened as he turned to glare at Kieshna and said, “Rosa and her son just got back. There’s no need for your sharp words. You’d better get along with them.”Her lips tightened, but before she could respond, a voice from the staircase broke the silence.“Mom, kaninong bata ito?” biglang singit ni Andrea mula sa hagdanan. Her curious tone echoed through the hall as she descended the stairs. Her gaze landed on the boy in her father’s arms, and her brows furrowed in confusion.“Kaninong bata? Anak ‘yan ng ate mo, ipinanganak niya sa ibang bansa,” sagot ni ina nito sa malamig na tono.Andrea’s eyes widened in shock. “What?” she blurted, hurrying down the stairs to confront Rosa. “You didn’t even tell us you had a child. Hindi ka ba nahihiya?”“Andrea!” His father’s voice snapped like a whip. “How can you speak that way? Brent is family, and I won’t allow you to disrespect him or your sister. Hind
The ambiance of the café was calm and elegant, contrasting sharply with the tension Andrea brought as she stormed in. Sheena dressed modestly yet with subtle elegance, sat waiting at a table in the corner. Her fingers tapped the side of her coffee cup as Andrea slid into the seat across from her.“You’ve been so elusive lately,” Andrea started, narrowing her eyes. “Nagpunta ka raw ng trip. Saan ka nagpunta?” tanong nito, puno ng kuryosidad.Sheena’s grip tightened on her cup. “Just a quick getaway,” she said, her tone casual. “Naglibot lang ng dalawang araw para mag-relax,” mabilis na sagot ni Sheena, pilit na itinatago ang katotohanang namuhay siya nang marangya nitong mga nakaraang araw.“Your shop must be struggling for you to take time off,” Andrea probed, suspicion in her voice.“Hindi naman, pero wala ring masyadong customer, kaya nagpahinga na muna ako,” sagot ni Sheena nang walang bakas ng kaba while she smiled faintly..Andrea leaned in, lowering her voice. “You won’t believe
Three days later, it was five in the morning.Nanaginip bigla si Sheena. "Ah...no!" Sheena sat up in fear, sweating profusely. When she looked at everything around her, she realized that it was a nightmare.Rosa’s face turned pale, but she quickly regained control, her eyes narrowing with contempt as she stared at Sheena. The memories of that night, though fuzzy, still haunted her. She hadn’t recognized the man at the time, but she was sure it wasn’t someone of importance."You're wasting your time," Rosa responded coldly, her voice steady despite the turmoil brewing inside."I don't care about the past, and I certainly don't care sa kung ano ang ginagawa mo ngayon.”Sheena leaned against the back of the chair, her lips curling into a smile that didn't reach her eyes. "Oh, really? You don't care? Yet here you are, trembling." She took a step closer, her eyes scanning Rosa’s face, trying to gauge her reaction."You think I’m scared of you?" Rosa snapped, her posture straightening. "You
"Get out! I don’t want to see you again!" Rosa’s voice was icy, her finger pointing resolutely toward the door. Sheena sneered, leaning lazily against the armrest of the sofa. "Ano? Hindi ba sapat ang lakas ng lalaki mo? Or are you disappointed in the... service?" Her mocking smile deepened. "Rosa, you’d better watch your tone with me. Otherwise, I’ll let the entire company know about your little secret. Tingnan natin kung paano ka mabubuhay sa trabahong ito." It only made her more angrier deep inside, wala siyang karapata para sirain na naman siya. She did it once, but never twice. She was the reason why her life sucked, and kung paano niya kinaya ang trauma ng magisa. Her expression didn’t waver, but her hand moved instinctively to the phone. Mariing pinindot ni Rosa ang telepono sa opisina at tinawagan si Vrest. Pressing the internal line, she spoke in a calm but firm tone. "Vrest, come to my office." Agad na dumating si Vrest, pawisan at nagmamadali. Itinuro ni Rosa si Sheena
"Be good and listen," Trojack said softly, stroking Sheena’s head.Hindi niya makakalimutan ang mga sinabi ni Trojack sa kaniya habang naglalakad palabas ng company.Her heart leaped at his gentle gesture. In that moment, she felt as though she had captured all the affection he had to offer. The warmth in his voice and the protective touch made her feel comforted, validated, and undeniably triumphant habang si kay Rosa, labis ang kanyang natatanggap. Ngunit sa sobrang takot niya na baka parusahan siya ng kanyang kasakiman, tumigil na siya sa paggagawa ng gulo.Could her greed lead to punishment? She suppressed the thought quickly, resolving to maintain her composure. No more provocations, at least for now. Wala naman siyang taglay na pambihirang kagandahan. Ang tanging paraan upang makuha niya ang pabor ni Trojack Yddro ay sa pamamagitan ng kanyang personalidad.That had always worked for her, and it would keep working. After all, Rosa would soon be out of the picture."She’ll be fi
HIndi makakalimutan ni Trojack ang mga sinabi ni Rosa bago pa ito umalis ng opisina niya.Lumingon si Rosa, sinulyapan ang lalaking nakatayo habang nakapatong ang mga kamay sa mesa, at mahinahong pinaalalahanan, "She isn’t as kind as she looks," she said coldly, her voice carrying a hint of mockery. "You’d better be careful not to be tricked by her."His eyes narrowed, his expression unyielding. "Ironic. The one who hit someone today was you," makitid ang mga matang sabi ni Trojack.Gusto talaga ni Rosa na hindi lang saktan kundi tuluyang tapusin si Sheena, pero tamad na siyang magpaliwanag pa. She resisted the urge to roll her eyes. No one will ever believe her tulad ng nakaraan, mismong ama niya pa nga ang mas pinili siyang palayasin sa kanila, and no one was there by her side.Kung ang lalaking ito ay napakabulag para gawing sentro ng buhay niya si Sheena, ano pa nga bang masasabi niya?Not only did I want to hit her—I wanted to throttle her.Nang makabalik si Rosa sa opisina nang
Sheena picked up her phone and dialed Trojack's number. She fidgeted slightly, a mix of excitement and anticipation lighting up her expression.“Hello?” His deep, steady voice came through. “Is it still painful?”A flicker of annoyance crossed her face, but she quickly masked it with a sweet tone.“Trojack, my love, gusto kong pumunta sa isang jewelry exhibition. Pwede mo ba akong samahan doon?” malambing at nagmamakaawang tanong nito.There was a pause on the other end. “What jewelry exhibition?”“Ipapadala ko sa'yo ang video,” sagot ni Sheena, mabilis na binaba ang tawag, saka ipinadala ang video. Not long after, her phone buzzed with a concise response.From Trojack:“Okay, I’ll take you there.”Her lips curved into a wide smile, but the movement tugged at her swollen face. A sharp pain shot through her, and she hissed in discomfort.Napahiyaw siya ng bahagya sa sakit at agad na napamura, “Rosa, bruha ka talaga! Aren’t you supposed to be some big-shot jewelry designer? Yet you can’
The top jewelry exhibition was held in an exclusive private exhibition hall, renowned for its impeccable security and opulence. The surrounding streets were cordoned off, with security guards stationed strategically and patrolling the area to ensure the utmost safety of the elite guests. Lalo pang pinaigting ang inspeksyon sa mga bisita.Rosa clutched her pearl handbag as she passed through the security checkpoint. The meticulous inspection left her slightly on edge, but when she was finally cleared, she breathed a quiet sigh of relief. Isang concierge ang nagbigay sa kanya ng marangal na pagtanggap at maingat siyang inihatid papasok sa exhibition hall.Pagpasok niya, tumambad ang napakagarang bulwagan na puno ng mga hilera ng glass display cabinets, each destined to hold some of the world’s most exquisite jewelry. The event had not yet officially begun, and the guests were invited to a high-end buffet in the adjoining restaurant.Inayos ang kanilang mga upuan, at ang upuan ni Rosa ay
She raised an eyebrow, genuinely surprised by the question. She turned to face him, her posture relaxed but with a hint of wariness. "Do you know Shan?" tanong niya, may halong pagkamausisa ngunit sinadyang ipinapakita ang hindi gaanong interes."I know him," he replied, his tone indifferent. He looked out over the balcony, though his eyes never strayed far from her.Hindi alam ni Rosa kung ano ang pakialam ni Trojack kay Shan, ngunit hindi niya balak na magpaliwanag. "And?" she asked with an edge of annoyance, taking a casual sip of her wine. "Why should I tell you?"Before he could respond, Rosa turned to walk away, clearly signaling she had no interest in continuing the conversation. Wala siyang dahilan para makialam, lalo na't si Trojack ay kasintahan ni Sheena. But He wasn’t done. He moved swiftly, cutting off her path, his dark eyes fixed on her with an intensity that made her pause."Hindi mo sinagot ang tanong ko," sabi niya, his voice unwavering. "What is your relationship wi
“Love, I want that one,” Sheena cooed, tugging playfully at his arm. Her manicured finger pointed to a dessert that was slightly out of reach, her tone laced with the sweetness of a spoiled child.Inabot ito ni Trojack gamit ang kanyang mahaba at matipunong braso at inilapit sa kanya. Sheena’s face lit up with delight as she immediately took a bite, savoring the dessert with exaggerated enthusiasm. Agad itong kinain ni Sheena nang may kasiyahan, at hindi nakalimutang bigyan si Rosa ng isang mapanuyang sulyap.Rosa barely concealed her disdain, her eyes subtly rolling.Hindi niya maintindihan kung paano nakuha ni Sheena ang atensyon ni Trojack, lalo na’t tila binibigyan nito ng importansya ang lahat ng gusto ng babae, treating her as though she were the most precious thing in the world.Unable to sit through more of their display, Rosa stood up. “Excuse me, I need to use the restroom,” she said, her tone polite yet firm.Sa ilalim ng liwanag ng kandila, nagniningning ang kanyang evenin
The top jewelry exhibition was held in an exclusive private exhibition hall, renowned for its impeccable security and opulence. The surrounding streets were cordoned off, with security guards stationed strategically and patrolling the area to ensure the utmost safety of the elite guests. Lalo pang pinaigting ang inspeksyon sa mga bisita.Rosa clutched her pearl handbag as she passed through the security checkpoint. The meticulous inspection left her slightly on edge, but when she was finally cleared, she breathed a quiet sigh of relief. Isang concierge ang nagbigay sa kanya ng marangal na pagtanggap at maingat siyang inihatid papasok sa exhibition hall.Pagpasok niya, tumambad ang napakagarang bulwagan na puno ng mga hilera ng glass display cabinets, each destined to hold some of the world’s most exquisite jewelry. The event had not yet officially begun, and the guests were invited to a high-end buffet in the adjoining restaurant.Inayos ang kanilang mga upuan, at ang upuan ni Rosa ay
Sheena picked up her phone and dialed Trojack's number. She fidgeted slightly, a mix of excitement and anticipation lighting up her expression.“Hello?” His deep, steady voice came through. “Is it still painful?”A flicker of annoyance crossed her face, but she quickly masked it with a sweet tone.“Trojack, my love, gusto kong pumunta sa isang jewelry exhibition. Pwede mo ba akong samahan doon?” malambing at nagmamakaawang tanong nito.There was a pause on the other end. “What jewelry exhibition?”“Ipapadala ko sa'yo ang video,” sagot ni Sheena, mabilis na binaba ang tawag, saka ipinadala ang video. Not long after, her phone buzzed with a concise response.From Trojack:“Okay, I’ll take you there.”Her lips curved into a wide smile, but the movement tugged at her swollen face. A sharp pain shot through her, and she hissed in discomfort.Napahiyaw siya ng bahagya sa sakit at agad na napamura, “Rosa, bruha ka talaga! Aren’t you supposed to be some big-shot jewelry designer? Yet you can’
HIndi makakalimutan ni Trojack ang mga sinabi ni Rosa bago pa ito umalis ng opisina niya.Lumingon si Rosa, sinulyapan ang lalaking nakatayo habang nakapatong ang mga kamay sa mesa, at mahinahong pinaalalahanan, "She isn’t as kind as she looks," she said coldly, her voice carrying a hint of mockery. "You’d better be careful not to be tricked by her."His eyes narrowed, his expression unyielding. "Ironic. The one who hit someone today was you," makitid ang mga matang sabi ni Trojack.Gusto talaga ni Rosa na hindi lang saktan kundi tuluyang tapusin si Sheena, pero tamad na siyang magpaliwanag pa. She resisted the urge to roll her eyes. No one will ever believe her tulad ng nakaraan, mismong ama niya pa nga ang mas pinili siyang palayasin sa kanila, and no one was there by her side.Kung ang lalaking ito ay napakabulag para gawing sentro ng buhay niya si Sheena, ano pa nga bang masasabi niya?Not only did I want to hit her—I wanted to throttle her.Nang makabalik si Rosa sa opisina nang
"Be good and listen," Trojack said softly, stroking Sheena’s head.Hindi niya makakalimutan ang mga sinabi ni Trojack sa kaniya habang naglalakad palabas ng company.Her heart leaped at his gentle gesture. In that moment, she felt as though she had captured all the affection he had to offer. The warmth in his voice and the protective touch made her feel comforted, validated, and undeniably triumphant habang si kay Rosa, labis ang kanyang natatanggap. Ngunit sa sobrang takot niya na baka parusahan siya ng kanyang kasakiman, tumigil na siya sa paggagawa ng gulo.Could her greed lead to punishment? She suppressed the thought quickly, resolving to maintain her composure. No more provocations, at least for now. Wala naman siyang taglay na pambihirang kagandahan. Ang tanging paraan upang makuha niya ang pabor ni Trojack Yddro ay sa pamamagitan ng kanyang personalidad.That had always worked for her, and it would keep working. After all, Rosa would soon be out of the picture."She’ll be fi
"Get out! I don’t want to see you again!" Rosa’s voice was icy, her finger pointing resolutely toward the door. Sheena sneered, leaning lazily against the armrest of the sofa. "Ano? Hindi ba sapat ang lakas ng lalaki mo? Or are you disappointed in the... service?" Her mocking smile deepened. "Rosa, you’d better watch your tone with me. Otherwise, I’ll let the entire company know about your little secret. Tingnan natin kung paano ka mabubuhay sa trabahong ito." It only made her more angrier deep inside, wala siyang karapata para sirain na naman siya. She did it once, but never twice. She was the reason why her life sucked, and kung paano niya kinaya ang trauma ng magisa. Her expression didn’t waver, but her hand moved instinctively to the phone. Mariing pinindot ni Rosa ang telepono sa opisina at tinawagan si Vrest. Pressing the internal line, she spoke in a calm but firm tone. "Vrest, come to my office." Agad na dumating si Vrest, pawisan at nagmamadali. Itinuro ni Rosa si Sheena
Three days later, it was five in the morning.Nanaginip bigla si Sheena. "Ah...no!" Sheena sat up in fear, sweating profusely. When she looked at everything around her, she realized that it was a nightmare.Rosa’s face turned pale, but she quickly regained control, her eyes narrowing with contempt as she stared at Sheena. The memories of that night, though fuzzy, still haunted her. She hadn’t recognized the man at the time, but she was sure it wasn’t someone of importance."You're wasting your time," Rosa responded coldly, her voice steady despite the turmoil brewing inside."I don't care about the past, and I certainly don't care sa kung ano ang ginagawa mo ngayon.”Sheena leaned against the back of the chair, her lips curling into a smile that didn't reach her eyes. "Oh, really? You don't care? Yet here you are, trembling." She took a step closer, her eyes scanning Rosa’s face, trying to gauge her reaction."You think I’m scared of you?" Rosa snapped, her posture straightening. "You
The ambiance of the café was calm and elegant, contrasting sharply with the tension Andrea brought as she stormed in. Sheena dressed modestly yet with subtle elegance, sat waiting at a table in the corner. Her fingers tapped the side of her coffee cup as Andrea slid into the seat across from her.“You’ve been so elusive lately,” Andrea started, narrowing her eyes. “Nagpunta ka raw ng trip. Saan ka nagpunta?” tanong nito, puno ng kuryosidad.Sheena’s grip tightened on her cup. “Just a quick getaway,” she said, her tone casual. “Naglibot lang ng dalawang araw para mag-relax,” mabilis na sagot ni Sheena, pilit na itinatago ang katotohanang namuhay siya nang marangya nitong mga nakaraang araw.“Your shop must be struggling for you to take time off,” Andrea probed, suspicion in her voice.“Hindi naman, pero wala ring masyadong customer, kaya nagpahinga na muna ako,” sagot ni Sheena nang walang bakas ng kaba while she smiled faintly..Andrea leaned in, lowering her voice. “You won’t believe