0002: La Cresta

Edward gripped the steering wheel tightly with one hand, the other clutching a beer bottle—his seventh since starting the drive, he guessed. Rock music, something he wouldn't normally listen to, blared from the speakers. He sped down the winding road towards La Cresta, his foot heavy on the gas.

'Alice, will you marry me?'

The memory of his proposal to Alice on their fourth anniversary was still vivid in his mind.

'I do! I do! I'll marry you, Edward!' Alice replied, her voice choked with tears of joy, before crashing her lips onto his.

It had been one of the happiest days of Edward's life, a memory that used to make him smile, but now it felt like a knife twisting in his heart and mind.

Alice betrayed him, not just with some random guy, but with his closest friend. He felt utterly betrayed.

Edward slammed his foot on the accelerator, the car speeding up even more. Thankfully, traffic was sparse in this area, otherwise, he might have crashed, fueled by his rage.

Edward was a calm person. But when he reached his limit, he’s like a volcano about to erupt. It wasn't frequent, but when he got angry, he went all out. Alcohol was his way of forgetting, of calming the storm within him.

Moments later, he saw the towering, golden gates of La Cresta. It’s the place he had planned to spend their anniversary, a getaway for a happy celebration. Just a short while ago, he had envisioned a memorable vacation with Alice, but now it would just be a place to escape the bitter reality of the betrayal of the two people he cared about most.

Even from a distance, Edward could see the two distinct parts of La Cresta.

The Upper Crest Haven, a haven for people like him, the upper class, was private and expensive, inaccessible to ordinary folks. It boasted a casino, large malls and parks, five-star hotels, and other attractions designed to entertain the elite. The dominant color was minimalist, formal, and peaceful, a perfect fit for Edward's taste.

The Ground Crest Haven was a complete contrast to the Upper Crest Haven, vibrant and teeming with people, bustling with activity. It had a vast ocean, unlike the artificial one at the Upper Crest Haven. The Ground Crest Haven was more affordable, attracting a diverse crowd, rich and poor alike. It’s, in essence, a resort for the masses.

Edward frowned. A refined person like him couldn't imagine staying at the Ground Crest Haven. It’s too chaotic for his liking. He knew he wouldn't enjoy such a place.

His phone buzzed, and he answered it immediately. Toni, his staff member who’s going to be his tourist guide at the resort, was on the other end. He could picture Toni scratching his head.

"Sir, there's a problem," Toni began.

"What is it, Toni? Did something happen?" Edward asked, his voice strict. Despite his drunkenness, his speech was still clear.

"Ah, well, I've prepared all your favorite foods in your room, Sir. The problem is, I don't know what Ma'am Alice's favorite foods are. Could you ask her?" Toni asked hesitantly.

Edward sighed deeply, trying to keep his voice down because Alice's name had come up again. "Don't bother preparing any food for Alice. What's done is done. I'm the only one who's going," Edward replied, his voice emotionless, laced with bitterness.

"What? Why? Did you two fight? Aren't you getting married?" Toni asked, surprised. He had witnessed how much Edward loved Alice.

Edward pressed his lips together. Toni didn't seem to realize that things were bad between him and Alice. He just wanted to forget. "Let's not talk about it, Toni. Let things settle down... Fvck! Damn!"

“AHHH!" a woman screamed, as Edward nearly ran her over, the tomatoes she’s carrying spilling all over the road. She rushed to pick them up, brushing the dirt off her apron and placing them back in her basket.

Edward muttered a string of curses, his heart pounding like a drum in his chest. He almost hit a truck if it hadn't swerved out of the way. His tires screeched on the road and his car crashed into a pole.

In his intention to not kill anyone, he almost killed himself. He got out of his smoking car, slamming the door shut and walking towards the woman.

"Are you trying to commit suicide?!" Edward shouted angrily at the woman, who’s still picking up tomatoes on the road. He tried to keep his voice down, not wanting to cause a scene.

She stopped picking up tomatoes and turned to Edward, annoyed, "Me? You're the one driving like you're on a death wish! And you smell like alcohol, you know. If you're having problems, don't take it out on my tomatoes," she snapped.

Edward paused, momentarily struck by the woman's beauty. She had a goddess-like appearance, feisty despite her innocent eyes.

If their encounter had been more pleasant, maybe he would have tried to flirt with her, to forget Alice. But no, so he quickly dismissed the thought, she had almost gotten him killed.

Edward crossed his arms. "So, you saw me coming? You knew I was driving fast, and you're the one who's sober, yet you still crossed the road?" Edward countered, his voice laced with self-righteousness. Even drunk, he wouldn't admit fault.

The woman's jaw dropped. She couldn't believe that she’s the one who had almost been hit, and yet she’s being blamed. It’s a good thing her tomatoes were safe, or she might have had a meltdown. Aunt Nadia had paid for them, and she would be in trouble if she delivered less than she’s supposed to.

She pointed to the red traffic light. "It's red, which means stop. I thought your car would stop, so I crossed. I didn't know you were drunk and blind and couldn't see the traffic lights," she retorted.

Edward glared at the woman, his jaw clenched. He knew she had a point, but his ego wouldn't let him admit it, "You should have waited to see if I actually stopped. You jump to conclusions too much, which gets you into trouble. Didn't you think you might get hurt if you got hit? You look like a scrawny, money-grubbing tramp. Do you even have enough money for the hospital? Think before you act!" he said, his refusal to yield in the argument unconcealed.

The woman gasped. She didn't understand how he’d managed to twist the conversation to make her seem guilty.

"You're the one who's at fault, and you're insulting me? Just apologize," she commanded, her words causing a small chuckle from Edward.

"What, are you ordering Edward Harrington to apologize to you? Who are you?" he asked sarcastically.

If he had been talking to anyone else, especially someone from the city, they would have probably dropped to their knees at the sound of his name. He’s Edward Harrington, one of the most successful and famous business tycoons in the Philippines. But this woman wasn't intimidated. She didn't even seem to know who he was.

"I'm Shiela Lockheart, La Cresta's owner's daughter. Now, apologize to me, Edward Harrington, or I'll have you arrested by our security," she said casually, her voice filled with arrogance.

Edward was speechless, taken aback. This was the first time someone had challenged him, and it’s a provincial girl at that.

Besides, his godfather was Mr. Gold, the owner of La Cresta. He knew that Mr. Gold was infertile and had no children, so there’s no doubt in his mind that the woman was lying.

"Oh, so you're the owner's daughter?" Edward asked, testing her to see if she would keep lying.

Shiela smiled confidently before answering. "Yes, I'm the owner's daughter. You lost your swagger, didn't you? Your tail is between your legs?"

"Shiela, what are you doing, bothering Mr. Gold's godson? Just help him carry his luggage. You're just staff here, not the boss," another La Cresta staff member chided her. Compared to Shiela, her attire was much more refined.

Shiela’s smile faltered, her eyes narrowing as her lie was exposed. Edward's gaze flickered towards her, secretly chuckling. Her face was flushed with embarrassment.

"Aunt Margarette, how are you?" Edward greeted the woman.

Shiela fell silent, afraid she might soil Aunt Margarette's elegant clothes. Aunt Margarette held a high position at La Cresta, she's Mr. Gold's right hand. Her position was even higher than Aunt Nadia, the one Shiela worked for.

“Where's your car? Oh, did you crash? Oh, dear, I'm so sorry, the roads are slippery here," Aunt Margarette apologized, seeing the state of Edward's car. She immediately approached it and called for staff to fix it.

Shiela could barely meet Edward's gaze. "Y-You're really Mr. Gold's godson?" she asked, unsure.

Edward crossed his arms and laughed. "You're Mr. Gold's daughter, aren't you? Why don't you know?" he teased.

Shiela glared at him, as if she wanted to slap him. If Aunt Margarette wasn't there, she probably would have slapped him with her slippers for his arrogance.

"Shiela, help with fixing the engine, you know how to do it, right?" Aunt Margarette shouted from afar.

"Go on, fix my car," Edward commanded, condescendingly, as if he were her boss.

"Ha Ha Ha, I'll just wreck it for you," Shiela retorted sarcastically, lowering the basket she’s carrying and going to Aunt Margarette.

"Shiela!" Aunt Margarette called again, this time louder.

"I'm coming!" Shiela shouted back.

She fixed Edward's car engine as instructed, grumbling under her breath whenever Aunt Margarette wasn't looking.

Edward crossed his arms, shaking his head as he watched the girl.

"Shiela Lockheart," he said, repeating her name and grinning ear to ear.