Caroline's POV After a long process, Mommy was able to regain ownership of her previous company. Today is the official launch of the company after it closed down for several months. Many were surprised by Mommy's comeback. They could not believe she was still alive. Many were angry and accused her of being deceitful and a usurper. Mommy remained steadfast because she believed that it's never too late. Sa tulong ni Don Ernesto, nakahanap ng bagong mga investors na mapapagkatiwalaan si Mommy. Tinanggal niya ang mga dating investors na konektado kina Daddy at Glenda. Ibinalik niya ang dating pangalan ng kompanya bilang alaala sa yumaong niyang ama. Nalaman namin na isinangla pala ng kapatid niya ang ilang mga ari-arian nila. Ang mga hotel, malls, at mga resorts na pag-aari ng pamilya Gutierrez ay ibinenta ni Glenda. Gustohin mang bawiin ni Mommy ang lahat-lahat, hindi niya na lang ginawa matapos naming malamang hindi pa pala fully paid ang iba. Baon sa utang sina Daddy at Glenda kaya
Ipinagsiklop ni Miguel ang mga kamay namin habang hinihintay namin ang pagdating nina Cecile, Glenda, at Daddy. Nandito kami ngayon sa kulongan. Dadalawin namin sila. Hindi ko na maalala kung kailan ako huling dumalaw rito dahil naging abala ako sa pagtulong kay Mommy sa kompanya at palagi rin kaming wala sa Pilipinas. Ibang klase rin kasi 'tong si Miguel kung magyaya ng date dahil sa ibang bansa niya kami dadalhin ni Kalix. Hindi rin siya papayag na iiwan si Kalix. Nagtataka tuloy ako kung ako ba ang nililigawan niya o ang anak namin. "Patungo na po sila rito, Ma'am," saad ng babaeng pulis na nag-assist sa amin para makita ang pamilya ko. "Ayos ka lang ba?" tanong ni Miguel at hinalikan ang kamay ko. Ngumiti ako at tumango. "Hindi mo na dapat ako sinamahan dito. You cancelled all your meetings para lang dito." "Don't worry about it, Baby. Hindi naman ganoon ka importante ang meeting." "Kahit na, Miguel. Hindi sa lahat ng oras o panahon ay kailangan mo akong samahan. May buhay ka
Isinubsob ko ang mukha ko sa dibdib ni Miguel matapos kong basahin ang liham ni Daddy para sa akin. Paulit-ulit siyang humihingi ng kapatawaran sa akin. Para akong nawalan ng tinik sa puso nang mabasa ko sa liham niya ang salitang mahal niya ako. Gusto niya lang ako bigyan ng magandang kinabukasan pero sa maling paraan niya ito nagawa. Hindi niya inisip kung ano ang mararamdaman ko. Nagsisisi siya dahil mas binigyan niya ng atensiyon si Cecile. Hindi ko rin siya masisisi dahil pareho naming hindi alam ang totoo na anak pala sa labas si Cecile. Bumuhos lalo ang mga luha ko nang naramdaman ang mahigpit na yakap ni Miguel habang hinahaplos niya ang likod ko. "At last, nakita ka niya bago siya namatay, Caroline," bulong ni Miguel at hinalikan ang buhok ko. "Baka ikaw lang ang hinihintay niya. Sa ngayon, makakapagpahinga na siya ng maayos. Hindi na siya masasaktan pa at magtitiis sa sakit niya. He died peacefully because you forgave him." "Ang hirap tanggapin. Hindi ko aakalain na 'yon n
Huminga ako ng malalim pagkatapos kong ligpitin ang mga gamit ko. Pasado alas sais na ng gabi pero hindi pa rin tumatawag si Miguel sa akin. Umuwi na rin ang ibang mga empleyado. Kinuha ko ang cellphone ko at dinial ang numero niya. Ring lang ito nang ring. Nag-text na lang ako sa kaniya na magta-taxi na lang ako pauwi sa condo ko. Hindi ako pwedeng gabihin sa pag-uwi dahil naghihintay ang anak namin sa bahay. Hindi kakain ng haponan si Kalix ng wala ako o hindi niya kami kasama. Papasok na ako sa loob ng elevator nang pag-vibrate ang cellphone ko. Agad kong sinagot ang tawag nang nakita ang pangalan ni Ate Norma. "Mommy, where are you?" tanong agad ni Kalix sa akin. "I'm on my way home, Kal," I replied and pressed the ground floor button."Make it quick, Mom. I'm hungry," Kalix said."Yes, Kalix. If you can't wait any longer, go ahead and eat first. You might get a stomach ache again. I'll end the call now. I love you," I said. Napatingin ako sa labas nang napansing marami pang t
"Isasama ko si Kalix sa opisina. Doon na rin kami kakain ng breakfast," sabi ni Miguel pagkatapos niyang ayosin ang necktie niya. Sinilip ko si Kalix sa kaniyang likuran. Nakapagbihis na rin ito. "Kalix, stay here. Your Dad won't be able to work properly if you go with him.""Mommy, I'll go with Dad," Kalix rolled her eyes. "No. Hindi ka pwedeng sumama sa kaniya," pag-uulit ko at inilagay sa ibabaw ng mesa ang gatas. "Drink your milk." "Drink your milk first, Kalix, so we can go," saad ni Miguel pagkatapos niyang ubosin ang kape niya. "Yes, Dad," tugon ni Kalix. Umupo siya sa harapan ko pero nasa kay Miguel pa rin ang paningin niya. "Miguel, baka makaabala si Kalix sa 'yo -" "Never siyang nakakaabala sa akin, Caroline. Gusto niya rin namang sumama," malamig niyang saad. Ngumiti na lang ako ng pilit at nilingon ang anak namin. "Huwag kang malikot doon. Pupuntahan kita roon mamaya para sabay na tayong mag-lunch." "Sa labas kami kakain ni Kalix. Huwag kang mag-aksaya ng oras para
I glanced inside his room impatiently when I realized he had no plan of letting me in after we escorted Kalix to Don Ernesto's room."Aren't you going to let me in?" He looked pained as he opened the door wider. I glared at him, slightly offended that it seemed to pain him to let me in. I entered his room and sat on the bed. I furrowed my brow when I caught him staring at me."Why does it seem like you're forcing yourself to let me in here?" I couldn't hide my disappointment. I crossed my arms and walked towards him. Mas lalong kumunot ang noo niya habang palapit ako. The way he looked at me, even in his dimmed lights, made me realize that he was desiring something so much. He is fighting it so hard. He swallowed and open his mouth to speak but he didn't continue. "Miguel?" I probed. I saw how his eyes tore off from my body painfully. I smirked and started walking towards him. Pakiramdam ko gusto niyang umatras, pero nang nakita ang pagngiti ko, alam niyang gagamitin ko ang pag-at
Padabog na isinirado ni Caroline ang pintuan ng kaniyang kwarto pagkatapos niyang nalaman na bumisita na naman si Alexander sa kanilang bahay. Niyaya siya nito na makipag-date at agad naman pumayag ang kaniyang ina. Labag ito sa loob ni Caroline dahil natatakot siya kay Alexander. "Open the door, Caroline. Alexander is here to visit!" Glenda, Caroline's mother, shouted as she knocked on the door."I don't want him, Mom. Yes, he's rich, but he's an addict and a psychopath. I don't want to marry him!" Caroline shouted in frustration.Alexander Mercedez is the son of one of the wealthiest individuals in the business industry here in the Philippines. He is indeed an addict and a psychopath. He has had feelings for Caroline for a long time, and he has intimidated all of Caroline's suitors. Caroline's parents and Alexander's parents found out about this, leading both families to believe that marriage between the two would be the solution to reform Alexander."Alexander loves you, Caroline.
Miguel's hand firmly rested on Caroline's waist as he guided her towards the elevator. Caroline tensed up as they stepped inside. Miguel's proximity and the evident tension and anticipation in his grip on her waist sparked her imagination. She felt nervous because she didn't have any neighbors here. She owned the entire floor.Caroline lifted her gaze to the front as the doors closed. She caught their reflections in the mirrored walls. She swallowed repeatedly as she saw Miguel's unfamiliar face. He looked so refined in his coat and tie. She wanted to step back and reconsider her decision. Her lips parted when she noticed him watching her intensely and darkly. It was evident in Miguel's gaze that he was losing his composure.She tried to avert her eyes, but it was as if they were magnetically drawn to his. His eyes pulled her back."What's the matter? Are you scared?" he whispered, his voice so close to her ear. It sent a ticklish sensation down her spine, almost making her shrink awa