"Here we are, bitch!" Arnault paid the taxi.Gillian peered at the sprawling mansion disinterestedly. She was languidly neutral.They entered a large door with two guards. They did not question them but they stared at Gillian very closely. Arnault cleared his throat."The dungeon, Mr. Schmidt," the first guard said courteously.The wide hallway was full of lavish objects. They were not there to decorate. They were on display to boast the riches of the owner.After the long array of extravagant purchases, like the diamond studded of life-like bust of Medusa, they turned to a narrow corridor. The eyes of the snakes on its head were glittering menacingly. An invisible door opened when Arnault touched the wall."Come in, Mr. Schmidt!" a booming voice called from within.There were no windows. The walls were lined with books and magazines. There was one wall that had several television screens with black and white images.Gillian glanced around impassively. There were a handful of balding m
Gillian knew a brief respite from hell when Lupo was imprisoned.After Arnault died and Lupo was caught by the authorities, Genova was able to find Gillian."Li-an, you are four months pregnant. You must be strong." Genova was crying every time she talked to Gillian.Gillian remained silent. She was in a state of shock. She did not recognize anyone. She ate, slept, and woke up. She walked when Genova urged her to go to the health center.The bruises on her body had healed but her mind remained on the white beach and white waves... Until Gillian gave birth to a baby girl. She looked at her child disinterestedly."Li-an, here's your baby! What a beautiful girl!" Genova had named the baby 'Genevieve'.Ginny had been six months old when Gillian woke up from her trauma."Mother, there's a baby!" she croaked happily. "She looks like you?""Yes..." Genova thought Gillian had gone to so much sufferings at a young age. She would tell the truth to her distressed daughter at a later time.Genova
"Gillian?" Her mother called out her name groggily.Gillian was startled. She was suddenly aware of her present surroundings. She had looked back on the dark part of her past with a new perspective. And she felt revived and reawakened.Wiping her wet cheeks, Gillian smiled tearfully at Genova.
Rye held Gillian in his arms. He let her cry on his shoulder. All movements ceased. Only their breathing shook their bodies gently."Did I hurt you?" he murmured thickly."N-no, you didn't..." Gillian raised her head to look at him. They gazed at each other. "I'm sorry. You must think of me as a cry-baby.""You are brave and strong. I admire you, Gillian. You are untouched by the venom of the underworld." His hand cupped her cheek. His thumb crushed the teardrop which was about to flow down.The gesture was tender but she did not want to talk about her past.Gillian twirled her tongue on his flat nipple. "Gillian!" he groaned his surprise.She was kneeling over him. "I don't want to waste our time together, Rye.""You recover fast!" He observed while his hands cupped her breasts."I want you, Rye!" Her palms worshipped his wide chest and muscular shoulders. "I don't deserve you but I will take this night for us!" she declared throatily."Oh, Gillian!" he moaned aloud when she kissed t
"Sir Rye, I submit my resignation to you today," Nurse Sanchez expressed her intention honestly."I accept it," Rye replied distractedly."I had submitted all your medical reports to the doctors.""Thank you very much for an excellent service, Nurse Sanchez! I'll send your c.o.e. an
Gillian knocked on the door of her parents' house.The structure was made of six container vans. Four vans were attached to each other. Two vans were the living area and the other two were the office and bedroom of Jamil and Genova. The makeshift house was painted with colors: pink and sky blue.There were two small container vans on each side, painted simply in white. One was occupied by Tita Chedeng or Nurse Sanchez and the other by Ginny. The nurse left Rye's employ to be a companion to Genova.Presently, Ginny was staying-in at the hospital with Gillian. They were both working as physical therapists. Ginny was just an internist. She enrolled at the nearby university."Come in, Li-an!" Her mother and the nurse were in the garden at the back of the structures."Hello, Mother! Hello, Tita Chedeng!" Gillian greeted cheerfully. "I brought grapes and oranges." She raised the bag of fruits."You need them more." Genova kissed her cheek. "How's the baby?""My monthly check-up and ultrasoun
Gillian woke up bright and chirpy the next morning. She seemed light and bouncy. There was a heavy weight lifted from her chest. A large chunk of darkness in her mind was raised. She had better perception of her life.Gillian was proud of herself because she was not afraid to act in behalf of a stranger. The young woman was traumatized but her condition was stable in a hospital."Hello, baby! We'll have a glass of milk and some exercise first."
Rye held and comforted Gillian until the sobs became occasional hiccups. She was slouched on his lap. Her face was on his neck. She could smell the masculine perfume that he wore. Desire rippled like winding river down her spine.Gillian wiped out her tears with a hand."I'm sorry I cried on your shirt again." She used the handkerchief Rye had wordlessly given her. She blew her nose.
Rye had given the President himself the thick bundle of money. He had closed the three accounts of Gillian, Genova and Ginny. It was late in the afternoon when they reached Manila. He was given an audience by the President."President, I give you a hundred and fifty million pesos. Fifty million is intended for kids who couldn't go to college and get an education. One hundred million is intended for the victims of the three typhoons, which ravaged our country in one month! The money is inherited by my wife and her family. Please, do not name them. "
The big wedding started coming upon them one week before the exact day. The Tinbul family clan went on pouring from different parts of the globe. Helicopters went to and from the site where half of the hotel was finished.The finished half of the hotel was occupied by the guests, all relatives and friends of Jamil Tinbul."I don't want to overwhelm you, Genova dear." Jamil introduced his family, batch by batch.
After the trauma created by the 'shed' incident, life had been peaceful and serene.Ginny continued her studies. She had resigned from her hospital work."Grandpa Jamil is building a clinic for me," Ginny said proudly."That's a good idea," Genova praised her granddaughter.
Aduelo's clan and Tommy Manlupa's team of people worked together to fight the remaining army of Sualo. They were unreasonable. They were deaf to Aduelo's pleas. They drunkenly ran into their deaths.Rye could see the battle happening in front of him very clearly. Aduelo was old and exhausted but he did not stop until the rebels were defeated.Afterwards, the creature faded one by one. Aduelo was the last one. He was waving his hand solemnly.
"You are so brave, Chedeng," John praised her again about a dozen times."Genevieve is such a sweet child. I'd do anything to help," Chedeng said primly. Ginny was Genevieve now, as per instruction of Rye. "If you'll excuse me, I shall dress now.""It's too early." John glanced at the wall clock.
"Are you afraid that I'll leave you and go somewhere?" Ginny asked thoughtfully. She stared at Sam unblinkingly.Sam thought for a second before he sighed in a resigned manner. "I promised myself that I'll never keep you in the dark. Wait, here."He got up and picked up the bathrobe. He went to his room and when he came back, Ginny was dressed again. She was sitting on the bed while waiting for him. Wordlessly, he handed over the paper.
"Siblings don't marry within one year!" Genova was the first to protest half-heartedly."But Gillian and Genevieve are not siblings, my dear Genova," Jamil reasoned calmly. "They are mother and daughter.""Oh! I forgot! Yes, of course.""So there's no more problem?"
"What's bugging you, Sam?" Rye asked Sam.He was walking by the beach one full moon night. He didn't think his former employer had seen him pacing the sands."It's the shed," Sam blurted out. "I'm hearing voices--and one them sounded like me!""I'm not hearing voices but I believe y
Genova was fussed over by everybody when she came home. Chedeng became the official nurse. While Gillian, Ginny, and Rhys were the companions."I cannot carry you yet, Rhys."The baby gurgled and chortled as though he could understand what her grandmother said."I heard you farted l