Chapter 02

After the confrontation, Stella and Fernand leave the room. Disappointment was seen in Fernand’s eyes, while there was a sly smirk on Stella’s lips when she turned around. The mother and daughter pair surely planned this all along. They make sure she can't retaliate against them.

Only Hazel and Lauren were left inside the room.

Hazel smiles triumphantly. She slowly walked towards Lauren – who's crying right now. She even mimics Lauren's cry and acts as if she's wiping her tears.

“Tsk. You really look pitiful right now.” A wicked smile clearly showed on her face. “You will never win against me. Don't you know that?"

Lauren glared at her. "Are you happy now? You destroy my reputation in front of our father."

“Duh, of course! Dad doesn’t even care and believe you anymore. And soon, you will be kicked out of this house! But too bad... you’re not yet destroyed to the point you can't stand on your feet." Hazel laughed, then grabbed Lauren's hair. “If you want to at least live here peacefully, you should know your place! This will be a simple warning for you. Enjoy while you're here… my dear sister." Hazel said, emphasizing the last three words before she storms out of the room.

Lauren felt her knees lose their strength. She sat down and hugged her knees. She silently cries in her room – that looks like a total mess right now.

She hates them.

But…

She hates herself even more.

Why the hell did she cry over that matter? Isn’t she used to it? 

Since the day she takes a step inside this house, the mother and daughter pair keeps on making her life miserable. Even her father was oblivious to what they were doing to her. 

All he knew was that they have a harmonious family and only Lauren was the one that keeps on making trouble. Therefore, he doesn’t even know what the real situation in his house is and the truth behind their lies.

Or maybe… maybe he was just pretending not to know. It was an act all along.

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Meanwhile in the Alvarez Residence.

A manor in the West River Palace – a village where prominent families reside.

A warm atmosphere will welcome you, with calming classical music being heard and played in the house.

“Good morning, everyone!" Amara energetically greeted everyone in the dining hall.

“Good morning, sweetheart!" Her mother greets her back. Amara kisses her parents' cheeks before she sits down. She put some pancakes and fruits on her plate. While the maid poured apple juice on her glass and some water on another glass.

Amara looks at her father who’s busy reading the newspaper, then at his brother.

Kaizer ignores her sister and just silently eats his meal, yet he can't concentrate because of Amara's gaze.

He stops eating. 

He furrowed his brow and asked, “Do you need anything?"

Amara shakes her head. But the truth is, she wants to ask her brother about something but doesn’t know how to start.

She sliced the pancakes on her plate and started eating. The truth was, she’s focusing on her food because she’s thinking about how she can ask her brother about a certain topic.

Their father faked a cough, then folded the newspaper. He sips his coffee.

Emily put down her utensils and shifted her gaze on them. 

Kaizer felt that they wanted to ask something but was still hesitating. Therefore, he was the one who initiated the conversation.

“Just ask what you want to ask." Walang ganang saad ni Kaizer saka ibinalik ang atensyon sa pagkain ng agahan.

Amara gathered enough courage to say what's on her mind. “Brother, I’m just curious... Are you gay?" she innocently asks.

Kaizer almost spit out the food in her mouth after hearing those ridiculous things.

Ibinaba niya na rin ang hawak na kubyertos. Pinunasan niya muna ang bibig bago magsalita. “What did you say?" He glared at his sister. 

There’s even a hint of threat in his voice.

“I asked if you are gay." Amara blinks her eyes as she bluntly repeats her questions. She even rolled her eyes before continuing to eat her food. She acts as if that topic is just a normal conversation they are having everyday.

Emily joined in their conversation. “Well, in just a few years you will be 30, yet you don't have a girlfriend. You also don’t have any interest in girls. You kept on rejecting the girls I set up for your blind date. Kaizer, you don't have to hide it. We will understand you, it's just that we are worried about you."

Of course, she only said that, but the truth was Emily wishes for her son to marry soon. She can’t wait to have grandchildren to hold. It's been years since Kaizer met and dated a girl. 

Emily thinks that Kaizer's last relationship was when he's in high school.

“Where the hell did you hear this? You know that it's total nonsense! A baseless rumor."

Kaizer got pissed off. He feels that his family was doubting his sexuality. Hindi ba dapat ay sila ang nakakaalam ng totoo at hindi naniniwala sa mga naririnig mula sa ibang tao.

“Mom, I think… brother is in the denial stage. Maybe we need to arrange someone for him as soon as possible." Amara suggested.

Amara needs to work hard from now on to find a suitable sister-in-law. All her mother’s candidates get rejected in a short amount of time. First, she needs to find out what type of girls he’s interested in.

Kaizer scoffs at their words. “Why do you think I’m gay? Just because I don't have a girlfriend right now, means I'm gay. I know myself well, and you know that I’m not like that. I am happy with my life right now and I'm not planning to change anything at this moment. What I want to do in my life and whom I want to spend my life with is my right and my decision alone. I won't bat an eye just because there’s a false rumor spreading about me."

“Then, you were saying you're not gay?" This time… the one who asks, was his father.

‘Was I’m not clear on my explanation?’ Kaizer grunted.

"Yes. Although I'm not seeing, nor dating any woman right now, that doesn’t mean I like or want to sleep with men. I won't look for a woman, because I need to. I won't date anyone that I'm not interested in or because you want me to. Don't worry, one day I will change myself because I want to, so you don't have to worry or force me anymore."

“Well then, that's reassuring." His father sighed in relief. As a parent, they don't want their child to be alone in their life when they are gone.

Sayang naman ang genes nila kung sakali. And knowing his wife, Emily won’t stand still, not until Kaizer gets married or even after he gets married. She won’t be settled not until she carries a grandchild in her arms.

“I'm finished. I need to go to the company because I still have a meeting this morning.” Kaizer excuse himself.

“I will be the one to visit here again when I'm not busy." His intention was clear. 

Don’t bother him again with those trivial matters. He's busy, for him to come over every day to the main house, and he has a villa where he can live, especially since it was near his workplace.

Amara, who was still not finished eating, quickly swallowed her food.

“Ah… brother, wait for me!" She drank some water and hurriedly followed her brother.

“Goodbye Mom, Dad!"

Emily shook her head and chuckled as she looked at the two figures walking away.

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“May kotse ka naman, bakit ba lagi kang nakikisabay?” Naiinis na saad ni Kaizer nang pumasok sa loob ng sasakyan si Amara. Sa harap ito umupo, nilingon niya ang nakakunot-noong si Kaizer sa backseat at sinagot ang tanong nito.

“Nakakatamad mag-drive.”

“Hire a driver then.”

“I don't have time.”

“We have a family driver. Doon ka magpahatid.”

Amara shrugged. “Mom needs it when she's going somewhere.”

Napa-facepalm na lang si Kaizer sa mga sagot nito. 

Tahimik naman ang assistant slash driver nito habang nagtatalo silang dalawa. Away pamilya… mahirap na at baka pati trabaho niya ay madamay kung makikisali pa siya.

Hindi pinansin ni Amara ang pagsusungit ng Kuya niya.

“Anyway, I want to ask what type of girls you prefer, so that I can introduce you to someone that might interest you this time.”

Kaizer massages his temple. If he knows that his sister would insist on this topic, he wouldn’t give her a ride.

As Amara kept on talking about girls, he distracts himself by looking at the reports on his laptop. Mabuti pang basahin na lang ang mga business reports tungkol sa mga projects nila kaysa makinig kay Amara.