All parts of my body, including my brain ceased to function at the moment. Even my heart softly beats twice within what felt like an eternity. A part of me wanted to push him away but my hands were numbed. The feeling was like his kiss was mixed with a dark magic spell for me to not do anything that he called, "stupid". If my counting served me right, the kiss lasted for about ten seconds or more, long enough everyone thought that I kissed him back. "Let's get back to the mansion, Yvanna," Norman said the second he moved his face away from me. "Our son has been waiting for you to come home." He reached out to my hand and dragged me out of the club, not by force, but my entire body was like voluntarily following him to the parking lot. Then he even fastened my seatbelt and took off afterward. After the magic spell he cast on me expired, I turned my head back to the nightclub, worried that something bad might happen to Tanner. "What do you think you're doing, No
But we are no longer considered a family. A family for me, comprises with parents and children shared care and love. Apart from that, Norman and I already had our divorce papers signed and sealed, my heart couldn't feel any love for him. He doesn't deserve to be loved and cared for unconditionally by me after everything I have witnessed. I love Noah because he is my son; however, I only consider his father as it is to us. Nothing more. Nothing less. And I don't care if hurt his pride, so I added "You like Uncle Justine, remember? He could be your father too. Don't bother Norman because he is now the mayor of the city. More people needed him." "Would Uncle Justine be fine with it?" Noah finally agreed, his gentle voice speaks it as clearly as day. "Can you invite him for me?" "Of course, honey." I eagerly caressed his head. "Uncle Justine would be delighted to hear it. I'll call him on our way to school and let you talk to him, okay?" "But would Dad be fine wi
No! What the hell is going on? What am I doing here? It was supposed to be Justine who found me after the collision. But what is Norman doing here? "Noah?" I softly breathed out his name after glancing at him from the car, bursting into tears, and his lips were trembling. "I'm taking you to the hospital," Norman uttered before he scooped me with his hands. I was about to dodge his filthy hands but my body was too weak to do it. Norman carried and brought me to the car with all his security guards, tailing us, and scanning the area with their eyes sharp like an observant eagle. Until we reached the nearest hospital. I refused to get admitted but Norman insisted. He and Noah were worried that I lost consciousness almost an hour earlier. "What are you doing here? How did you know that we are here?" Norman's loud voice echoed in my ears behind the wall across from me. "I'm here to see Yvanna." Upon hearing Justine's worried voice, I lifted half of my body and w
Everyone also let go of their gazes and focused on what lies ahead of us. "Alright, I know you are already aware that for the time being, I will be your professor. Please, turn your book to page..." In the middle of our professor's discussion, the thought of something bad happened to Tanner because of Norman started to bother me. Tens of 'what-ifs' kept on hunting me when I also had my participation in whatever happened to him. He went to join me in the club because I had a problem that I didn't know how to express in words, and he was the only person I could talk to at that time. If something bad happens to him, it's on me. I brought it upon himself. What if Norman ordered his men to beat him up to death? What if he was admitted to the hospital and was on the verge of death, yet here I am, sitting, doing nothing? After all my classes, I went straight home to confront Norman. But I got a call from him in the middle of my trip back to the mansion. "You got to be
Norman was caught by surprise as we exchanged glances, this not, no longer from the rearview mirror but face to face. He wasn't aware I still used Justine as my second option even if he already come with us to our son's family day. "Focus on the road, Norman." I demanded before I shifted my stares through the window next to me. "we might not be able to reach the family day but to the hospital again." Our intensified conversation stopped since then. The truth is, I was also getting worried about Jusine. I couldn't get a hold of him since this morning. No -- since three days ago -- the same night when he was dragged out of the office. Tanner already reached out to me but Justine didn't. Even though I knew he was doing fine through Mr. Emilio's words, that he had been working in his office for the past three days, it was not enough for me to confirm it. As soon as we reached the main entrance of the school, twenty of Norman's security guards immediately greeted us, an
I hate Norman would say such heavenly words knowing he is the devil himself. What else could I say? A lot of parents are looking at us, waiting for Norman to let his guard down. "Don't worry, honey," I happily seconded Norman's fatherly's piece of advice. Then I dropped onto my knees to join his father next to him. "For the next games, your dad and I will not let them win, okay?" "Of course, baby. It was only the first game." Norman agreed. "That's how movies work. The hero always fails at first but in the end, they always win, do you know what I meant?" Indeed the two are a father and son. Just like the horror movie we watched that night. The protagonist of the movie was beaten up to death a few times but he stood still despite falling onto the ground a few times. That's life. That's how it works. So for the next game is the parents. I looked into the crowd and searched for Tanner and his daughter. His lovely daughter is Noah's crush, but neither of the two wa
As soon as I got out of the toilet room, I removed the hells from my feet so I could run comfortably. But I put them back the second I started seeing employees coming in and out of the hallways with me. Those who managed to recognize me as Norman's wife greeted me with a smile and bent half of their bodies until I finally reached Justine's desk. But he did not arrive yet. So I dropped my butt on the chair next to his desk and put the heels back on my feet. While waiting for him, I could not help but think about what I discovered earlier. A part of me wanted to do something about it -- to correct or get her arrested -- but I didn't know which side I was going to take. Would it be Norman who provided me with everything I needed in the meantime or the woman who shared the same thought as mine - to see this shopping mall getting bankrupt? What's the point of defending the mall's reputation if those people who managed it were nothing but evils? I dreamed of see
In the middle of my journey back to the mansion, my tears couldn't stop pouring. I wanted to cry out - to scream Norman's name. Curse him to get struck by lightning in the middle of the daylight. Why? Why would he go that far threatening everyone to me? I didn't do anything to him - he and his entire evil family did to me. They ruined my life. Now that I want to forget everything they did and move on with a new life, they won't let me. "Please, speed up the car, Mister," I begged the cab driver who kept on stealing a glimpse at me from the rearview mirror. Imagine my surprise when the cab driver recognized me when he defensively replied, "I'm so sorry, Mrs. dela Vega, but this is the fastest we could take. I am simply following the required speed limit." he awkwardly smiled at me and bowed his head. Leaving with no other choice, I learned to be patient. I have to. But as soon as I stepped out of the cab, I sprinted to the main house at the speed of light, ignoring
The tick-tock of the clock in our world has seemed to stop, accompanied by the heavy weight of the sensation rested on our helpless shoulders. His back rested on my chest, arms lying on both sides, and his smiling face pointing at me. "Why, Norman? You could have run away and saved your life. Why did you catch the bullet for me, huh? I'm not worth it. Have you forgotten I still hate you?" "Because I love you, Yvanna," he spoke out. "Remember those flowers, chocolates, and food containers?" I nodded as my tears kept pouring down my cheeks like an open faucet, especially when he started ejecting a bulk of blood from his nose and mouth. "Someone gave me that kind of idea eight years ago," he added. "I don't know how to make it up to you so I copied what you did when we were in college. When you confessed your feelings to me and wanted to be my girlfriend. Do you still remember? Because I do remember everything, Yvanna. That was also the day when I started to get annoye
Mr. Emilio attempted to snatch the phone from me but I swiftly dodged his grasp and held onto the phone tightly. Then I slid to the corner to make sure no one could interrupt our conversation. "This is how it is, Yvanna," he continued. "Finally, I can seek my revenge on the person who ruined my life in the past sixteen years. You should join me." "But you kidnapped him, Tanner. The police officers are also looking for you." I responded softly as if my lips hadn't moved a bit, still hesitant about his proposal even if it tempted me. Tanner's continuous laughter roared like thunder from the other line of the phone. "Police officers?" he asked with conviction. "Are you kidding me? How do you think I managed to get him out of prison without being noticed, Yvanna? Police officers are nothing but frugal. With the right amount of money, they will help you no matter how hard and impossible the jobs are." After giving it much thought, I agreed to Tanner's proposal which was
In the middle of the profound conversation, Elaine approached and showed us something we did not expect. Something I never expected to get leaked. "Mr. Emilio, are you aware of this?" One of the company's lawyers blurted in disbelief. The utter disappointment was written in everyone's faces apart from me. The news Elaine showed us was the footage of Norman having sex with another woman. "No, I'm not even aware Norman had an affair with another woman. And I barely recognize her." Mr. Emilio defensively replied. "Her name is Kristine Kate. And I am well aware of the existence of that footage because someone sent me a copy of it a few days ago." I confessed. Everyone's sharp eyes were pointing at me as if they were suspecting me. Can someone assist me to my office? I am going to check the flash drive in my drawer. And for the record, I didn't leak the footage." "I'll come with you, Mrs. dela Vega. I have to get something on my desk too." Elaine proposed. Without asking further ques
The next morning, everyone in the mansion was swamped but excited apart from me as it would also be the same day Norman and I would have our second wedding. What I discovered in front of Justine's apartment remained a huge mystery to me. Norman did not come home last night because it was in our tradition that the couple must be separated on the day of the wedding and will meet at the church. But since I have nowhere else to go, my parent's house is on the other side of the world, I used the mansion while Norman used the dela Vega Group and Companies building. "Smile, Mrs. dela Vega," says the makeup artist who has been preparing me for almost an hour. "You are about to get married but you looked like the entire weight of the world fell onto your shoulders." "Why? Do you have any regrets about remarrying the mayor, Mrs. dela Vega?" her assistant asked. Regrets? A lot. If and only my family was born as rich and powerful as the dela Vegas, only a fool would remarr
"Wait, do you, by chance, are you the one who...?" I couldn't bring up the question when we have someone with us in the car. So I decided to wait until we reached the office. Last night. It took Norman almost an hour to get back to the rehearsal dinner after sending Veronica and Malia out of the hotel. But I have no idea what he and his security guards did to them outside, and why he took almost an hour to get back. Not that I don't want the two dead, the news was just too sudden. As soon as we arrived, I quickly headed to my desk to start working. Norman followed me, lost in his thoughts, I can tell. He dropped his butt on the couch next to my desk and fixed his eyes in one direction - toward his uncertainty. "Good morning, Mr. and Mrs. dela Vega!" Elaine greeted us with a smile after the successful rehearsal dinner last night. Based on my abrupt observation, she hasn't heard of the news yet. "Here's your cup of coffee and tea, Mr. and Mrs. dela Vega! Enjo
"So you mean that one of those cops could have killed the man on our way to his house?" I continued his statement when that was what I believed. He nodded. "Or more. And that's what we need to know. And I highly suggest you work on it behind Tanner's knowledge." "You want me to stab Tanner behind his back? Have you forgotten he's my lawyer?" I asked, debated to be precise. "Tanner was pretty convinced earlier that you agreed to the result of the cops' investigation regarding the case. Better keep it that way. I'll recommend a loyal police officer who can work on the case with confidentiality." Then he asked me to get his phone from his left pocket to search for the contact person. I believed Norman had nothing to do with the attempt of killing me so I agreed to his proposal. And, of course, for our conversation to be put to an end. After getting the man's contact information, a deafening silence dominated the rest of the travel toward the hotel. Fifteen minut
After the call ended, we continued the photo shoot, buying enough time to better think about what to do in this kind of situation. Putting my situation into words, I was having second thoughts about whether I should tell Norman about my deal with Tanner or have to face and tell Tanner myself about remarrying Norman. Either way, I don't know the answer once I picked one when both of them were not to my advantage. There are no choices that won't hurt anyone in the middle of the process. "Do you mind if I ask what time will the rehearsal dinner be?" I asked Norman as soon as Noah and I were settled in his car. "Why? Do you have any other appointment that I am not aware of?" He asked back. "Tanner and I will have a meeting at three. He said that he had something to tell me. Perhaps it has something to do with the case he's working on. Would you like to come with me?" I proposed, with the hope that he would say no. "Why can you just reschedule that meeting?" Lik
"Let go of us, Yvanna!" Veronica cried out as she attempted to remove my hand from their hair. "We didn't do anything wrong." Malia debated. "In fact, we are someone else's escorts." A few security guards attempted to break us apart from after catching a glimpse that it was me, they backed out. Instead, they followed us outside the building. The moment we stepped foot outside, I pushed the two harder. Hard enough they both stumble to the rough and muddy surface of the ground. Their once glimmering expensive evening gowns are now stained with dirt and mud. And I have no regrets dragging them away from the event. "Do you think I am that fool enough not to notice what you two are doing to my husband?" I growled at them. "Even if you were someone else's escort, doesn't mean you cannot flirt with him." Veronica and Malia burst into tears as they looked around. Hundreds of flashing cameras surrounded us, catching every angle of the commotion. Malia tried to cover her face with her bar
"Come on, Mom, Dad! Can you just hear me out, please?" I insisted as I tailed them heading out of the mansion. "Get back, Yvanna!" Dad exclaimed. He and Mom doubled their pace toward the main road. "We don't have a daughter now. Go back to that hell of a place." I was about to stop them from hopping into the cab but they took off at the speed of light, leaving me alone in the road. "Please, get back inside, Mrs. dela Vega." One of the security guards followed me and helped me up as I dropped my knees to the rough surface of the ground. "Let me follow them on your behalf instead." The man next to him proposed. "We'll keep you posted once we can talk to them." They then hailed a cab and took off. I attempted to hail a new cab but two new security guards appeared and begged me to get back to the mansion as it was a strict order from Norman. Leaving with no other choice, I went straight to Noah's room. "Mom, are you alright? Are you crying? Did those evil hurt