Mabilis na tumayo si Rosie, ngunit bago pa man siya umalis sa mesa nila ay nilingon niya ang waiter na naroon saka tinuro ang mga pagkain na nasa mesa.“Pack all of this up. We’ll take everything. Thank you,” she ordered the waiter who was clearly dumbfounded by what she said.Isa itong mamahaling restaurant at maraming mayayaman ang kumakain dito araw-araw, ngunit ito ang unang beses na may nag utos sa kanya na itake home ang mga pagkaing inorder nila at babae pa ito. Usually, their guests will just leave them as it is.Napansin ni Elton na tila naguluhan ang waiter sa sinabi ni Rosie kaya tiningnan niya ito nang matalim.“What’s wrong? Does this restaurant not provide take-out service?”“N-no, no, sir. I apologize. Please give me a minute,” naaalarmang sagot ng waiter at agad na kumilos. Tumawag pa ito ng tutulong sa kanya.The two of them walked out of the Shang ri Restaurant carrying their packed boxes and got into the car. Just as Elton started the car, Spectra nudged at him.“Ca
Nanatiling pinagmamasdan ni Rosie ang lawa sa kanyang harapan habang kinakausap pa rin ang kanyang sarili. She felt sorry for the lotus, especially to the fish in the lake that she thought of taking them with her.“Sayang naman ang mga lotus na ‘yan. Ang gaganda pa naman. Do they really need to throw that away? Tsk!” Rosie pouted even more.Maya-maya pa, dumako ang tingin ni Rosie sa sasakyan na kararating lamang at pumarada iyon sa tapat ng villa ni Sebastian. Ilang segundo pa ay bumaba mula roon si Anita kasama ang iba pang mga kasambahay na may dalang mga grocery.Lalong nangunot ang noo ni Rosie nang makita kung ano ang mga dala ni Anita. Halos mapuno na ang sasakyan ng iba’t ibang mga karne, gulay, seafoods, at isda. Kitang kita niya iyon at nais niyang lapitan ang mga ito para lang pasaringan.“Oh my God, these people! Hindi pa ba sapat sa kanila ang mga isdang nanggaling sa lake? Puwede naman nilang ulamin ang mga iyon kaysa mamatay na lang ang mga iyon. Bakit kailangan pa nila
At the beginning, he was indeed in a playful and exploitative relationship with Ivy, but after a long time, he found that she really suited his personality, and this relationship, which had impure motives from the beginning, actually also contained some true feelings.“How did it happen?” Ivy bitterly said. Maya maya pa ay umalingawangaw ang halakhak nito sa silid habang patuloy na bumubuhos ang kanyang mga luha.“I fell! He pushed me after I tried hugging him! Na para akong nakakadiring sakit!” Pasaring ni Ivy habang patuloy na lumalakas ang iyak niya.Pakiramdam niya ay lalo lamang nadadagdagan ang sama ng loob niya sa tuwing bumabalik sa isip niya ang ginawa sa kanya ni Sebastian.Hindi niya maintindihan kung bakit. May kulang pa ba sa kanya? Pangit ba siya? Siya ang pinakamaganda sa lugar nila. Everyone envies her for her voluptuous body, pero bakit parang kinamumuhian siya nang husto ni Sebastian?“Sshh, stop crying, Ivy. Come here,” pang aalo sa kanya ni Seymour at niyakap siya
"That's right. Seymour still understands me…” She uttered while still looking at Seymour.Marahas siyang bumuntong-hininga.“If only Basti and your uncle were half as good as you, why is my life so miserable?”As she spoke, she felt grief welling up in her heart and wiped away her tears.“My husband doesn't understand me, and my son treats me like an enemy. Ni hindi man lang niya ako pinakikitunguhan nang maayos. Para lang naman sa kanya ang mga ginagawa ko…” Cornelia continued to fake her sob like a child.Para sa kanya ay wala dapat karapatang umangal si Sebastian sa mga ginagawa niya. Anak niya ito. HIndi dapat ito masaktan sa kanyang ginawa dahil para lang din ito sa kanya. She has the right to decide for his son’s life because she is his mother. Seymour saw that the atmosphere was almost created, so he seized the opportunity.“Well, you can't blame my brother for this. Think about it, the police now suspect the two of you. One of you and my brother must be the murderer…”“No… It
Seymour didn’t want to comply at first. Hindi niya maintindihan kung bakit bigla na lang siyang pinapaluhod ng kanyang lolo na parang nasa sinaunang panahon sila. Ano na naman ang kanyang ginawa na nalaman nito?Ngunit batid niyang sa oras na hindi siya sumunod sa nais ng matanda ay mas lalo lamang itong magagalit sa kanya. Napilitan siyang lumuhod nang dahan-dahan sa harapan nito.“Grandpa, what’s happening? Calm down. Hindi maganda para sa inyo ang magalit nang sobra.”“Do you know why I asked you to kneel down?” Matalim na tiningnan siya nito.Nang mga oras na iyon ay wala pa ring alam si Seymour sa nangyayari kaya umiling siya.“I don’t know…? What’s happening?”“Hindi mo alam o nagmamaang-maangan ka na naman?!” Hiyaw nito sa kanya. “You bastard, don’t you dare play those petty tricks in front of me. Alam ko lahat ng mga kalokohan mo mula pa man noon. I have protected you all these years because you are a descendant of my corporation, and you are usually obedient…”Kung anu-ano pa
After making several calls, Sebastian received a call from his grandfather. Agad na bumungad sa kanya ang malutong na boses ng kanyang lolo at iilang pagpapakawala nito ng marahas na buntong-hininga.“Basti, what did you do? Get back here right now! Jesus! Are you crazy?! Why did you do that?!” Sigaw nito sa kanya mula sa kabilang linya.Don Hugo was really about to be angry to death. Hindi niya inaasahan na pagkatapos maresolba ng isang problema ay ilang minuto lang ang lumipas ay may bago na naman silang kahaharaping malaking unos sa kanilang pamilya. Just when Seymour’s troubles were suppressed, Sebastian took the initiative to cause trouble again!Rosie had been missing for so long, and they had been looking for her in secret all along, in order not to affect the reputation of the Villafuertes.Ngayon, dahil sa ginawa ni Sebastian pagkatapos kausapin ang taong kausap niya kanina, nalaman na ng lahat na kinasal siya sa isang autistic at ngayon ay matagal na itong nawawala. Within h
She is active in various top financial forums abroad, has a sharp eye, and speaks as sophisticatedly as an old scholar who has been involved in finance for decades. So for a long time, Elton thought that Spectra was a sophisticated middle-aged woman!Hindi na nagdalawang isip pa si Rosie na sabihin kay Elton ang lahat ng nangyari.Her parents died when she was young, and she was then adopted by Armando. Her adoptive mother embezzled their property and tried to kill her. Sinabi niya rin dito kung ilang beses siyang sinaktan ni Ivy dahil lang sa nagseselos ito sa kanyang katalinuhan at kakayahan kaya nang maaksidente siya ay nagdesisyon siyang magpanggap na lamang na may autism.At first it was to escape danger, but later she got used to it. Iyon ang naging dahilan kung bakit nagbago kahit kaunti ang pakikitungo sa kanya ni Reniella. Although Ivy often teased her for fun, she actually never suffered any loss...Habang nakikinig si Elton sa kuwento ni Rosie ay hindi niya mapigilang magal
“What? Am I wrong? You deserve what’s happening to you right now. Kung hindi mo mahal ang isang tao, bakit pinakasalan mo? At kung sasabihin mo sa akin ngayon na kinailangan niyong magpakasal talaga, you should’ve treated her right! Now you’re acting like a good husband to her just because she’s missing? Why didn’t you do that when she was still here in the first place?” Elton continued speaking what was on his mind.Sebastian’s temples were throbbing with pain. Na kung magpapadalos-dalos siya at wala siyang kailangang itanong kay Elton ay kanina niya pa ito sinuntok.But after thinking for a minute, he suddenly remembered what he had to do. Tiningnan niyang muli ang kanyang cell phone at nag scroll sa gallery. There were very few cars during that time period, but among the cars coming in the opposite direction was Elton’s.Sa sobrang linaw ng kuha ng road CCTV ay kitang kita at malinaw na malinaw na nakuhanan ang ekspresyon ni Elton habang nagmamaneho ito nang araw na iyon. He was ex
Rosie quickly sent the link to them, and they clicked on it. Nakita nila ang mga litrato na ipinost ng isang milyonaryong celebrity, ipinapakita ang tatlo sa kanilang kumakain nang magkasama. Sebastian at Elton ay nag-uunahan sa pagsilbi ng pagkain kay Spectra, parehong sobrang maasikaso.Kasunod nito, may isang litrato ng tatlo habang papasok sa villa. Kahit hindi masyadong pasabog ang pamagat, malinaw na nagpapa-isip ito ng kung anu-ano."When three people are together, there must be a love rivalry!"Mukhang normal lang ang mga litrato, pero ang mga komento sa ilalim nito ay halatang nagpapaligoy-ligoy, gumagawa ng maling kahulugan. Habang tumatagal, nagiging mas outrageous at sobra na ang mga sinasabi ng mga tao..."Master, your uncle!" sigaw ni Elton sa galit.“Bang—”Hinampas ni Elton ang computer sa sobrang inis.Matapos niyang mabasag ito, napagtanto niya na hindi pala ito ang computer niya. Nakita niyang nakatitig si Spectra sa kanya nang may galit, kaya dali-dali siyang humin
After buying things, Spectra suggested, "Let’s have lunch outside? How about going home after eating?"The food in the restaurant outside was delicious. Every time she went out, she would indulge in a full meal before heading home.Noon pa man sa pamilya Samaniego, hindi pinapayagan ang pagkain sa labas. Ang mga kinakain lang ay ang mga niluluto ng mga katulong. Sina Reniella at Armando ay mas pinipili ang mga pagkaing may magaan na lasa, kaya karamihan sa mga pagkain sa pamilya nila ay nilalaga lamang na may kaunting asin, bihirang may seafood.Rosie always thought food was supposed to taste that way. But when she was sixteen, she tried seafood and spicy dishes for the first time and immediately fell in love with the flavors, never forgetting them.Nang tumira siya sa villa ng pamilya Villafuerte, masarap din ang mga luto ng chef doon. Ngunit nang pinalayas siya ni Cornelia matapos ang maikling panahon, doon lang siya nagsimulang makatikim ng iba’t ibang luto mula sa labas.Doon lang
Hawak ni Elton ang ilang kahon ng seafood sa kaliwang kamay at mga fast food snacks, prutas, atbp. sa kanan. Dinala niya talaga ang mga ito para kay Spectra, pero nang makita niya si Sebastian, agad na nawala ang kanyang ngiti.Sebastian pointed to the other side and said, "It's too noisy over there. I have no choice but to come to your place for peace and quiet."Ibinaba ni Elton ang mga dala niya sa coffee table at hindi na pinansin si Sebastian. Tumalikod siya at sinabi kay Spectra, "Spectra, siya na ang nakatira dito. Bakit hindi ka nalang sumama sa akin? Gustong-gusto ka ng nanay ko. Nitong mga nakaraang araw, reklamo siya nang reklamo kung bakit hindi ka pa bumibisita. Nakakabagot sa bahay, wala man lang makausap... Halika na, sumama ka na sa akin?"Hindi naman siya talaga madaling mairita, pero sa pagkakataong ito, parang hindi siya mapakali. Pagkatapos niyang sabihin iyon, hindi na siya naghintay ng sagot mula kay Spectra at agad na hinila siya.Ayaw talagang sumama ni Spectra
Elton was puzzled. He had to ask, "Did you just say that Samuel is the chairman of Alpha? Who told you that? Not many people know about such a confidential matter. How did you find out?"Seymour, thinking he had uncovered an incredible secret about Alpha, wanted to show off.Mataas ang pagtingin ni Seymour sa sarili, kaya itinuro niya ang kanyang baba at nagsalita nang may kayabangan, "I can't tell you that. Of course, I have my ways of knowing these things. Don’t think your internal affairs are that tight. If I want to know something, I’ll find out."Matapos niyang sabihin iyon, umalis siya nang taas-noo, mayabang na naglalakad palayo. Elton, though initially confused, quickly pieced everything together after exchanging glances with the others. Hindi inasahan ni Lucas na ang kanyang simpleng komento ay magiging "inside information" na ipinagmamalaki ni Seymour. Bigla siyang nabilaukan sa tsaa at halos naidura ito kay Elton.Nagtawanan ang grupo, bagaman tila pilit ang ngiti ni Samuel
Spectra deadpanned, "Oh, I was just busy talking and didn’t have time to introduce myself." She ignored the man beside her and turned to the crowd, "Hello everyone, my name is Spectra, and I am the chairman of Nexus Ventures. I’m very happy you could attend this party today. I hope you all have a pleasant and unforgettable evening!"Walang nakakasiguro kung magiging masaya nga ba ang gabi, pero isang bagay ang sigurado—ito’y hindi malilimutan!Sa sandaling iyon, biglang tumahimik ang buong kwarto. Kadarating lang ni Baltazar at bago pa niya mapaalalahanan ang kanyang anak, napansin niya agad ang nangyari. Wala nang kailangang paalala—nangyari na ang kinakatakutan niya!After a brief silence, a voice spoke up."Hello, hello! I’m the general manager of Rising Sun Company. I’ve heard so much about you. Seeing is believing! I didn’t expect you to be so young and beautiful…"Sobra naman ang pambobola niya. Pero ito pa lang ang simula—at siguradong hindi ito ang huli.Bago pa matapos mags
Since so many people could think of it, Elton naturally considered it too. He wasn’t going to show up now and make himself a target. Let them guess all they want. The higher their expectations, the greater their shock will be when they finally see who’s really behind everything!Hayaan silang maliitin ang iba.Many people attending tonight’s event had received favors from Mr. Hugo Villafuerte and Sebastian in the past.But during the old man’s funeral, none of these people showed up, afraid to offend Seymour. Sising-sisi sila mamaya.…The car pulled up in front of the hotel.Sebastian and Spectra stepped out. Their attire was so plain that it seemed almost inappropriate for such a grand event. They handed over their invitation at the entrance and made their way inside the hotel.Before they even reached the gate, someone with sharp eyes noticed Sebastian. The person who saw him first quickly turned away, pretending not to notice.Pero mabilis niya ring binulungan ang mga kasama.“Si
Seymour hesitated.Frances looked at her son and said, “Pumunta ka na sa itaas at magpahinga ka muna. Ako na ang bahala dito.”“Okay, pero huwag mo siyang masyadong pahirapan,” sagot ni Seymour.Seymour could never harden his heart towards women, not just Ivy, but any other woman he had had physical contact with.“Naintindihan ko. Sige na, umakyat ka na,” Frances insisted as she gently pushed her son away.Once her son was gone, Frances went to the gatehouse to meet Ivy.The young woman was curled up on the narrow bed, her face pale and her lips blue and purple from the cold. Her entire body trembled as she tried to warm herself.Mukhang kaawa-awa ang batang ito.Frances thought to herself that it was a good decision not to let her son see Ivy like this. If he did, he would definitely be soft-hearted.Without wasting any time, Frances took out a bank card and handed it to Ivy. “Here’s ten million. Iwanan mo ang anak ko.”Ivy shook her head vigorously, her eyes brimming with tears. “No
Spectra's shoulders started shaking, and tears streamed down her face. She couldn’t control herself anymore and ran out of the room.“I’ll go see her.” Elton chased after her.Siya lang ang nakakaalam ng tunay na pagkatao ni Spectra, at alam din niyang naantig ito sa nakita kanina.Nang lumabas siya para sundan ito, hindi naman lumayo si Spectra. Nagtago lang ito sa isang sulok at humahagulgol nang tahimik. Agad na nilapitan siya ni Elton at inabutan ng tissue. “Here, wipe your tears. Don’t cry. You have to control your emotions—baka mapansin ka.”Tumango si Spectra at sinabi habang humihikbi, “Yeah, I know. I won’t cry.”Sinabi niyang hindi na iiyak, pero bakas pa rin ang labis na kalungkutan.Napabuntong-hininga si Elton at pabirong sinabi, “I’ll lend you my shoulder. Lean on it whenever you want.”Biglang sumubsob si Spectra sa balikat ni Elton at humagulgol nang walang pakundangan. Bago niya makita si Armando, pakiramdam niya ay matapang siya, at malaya kahit papaano sa labas.Bei
Baltazar rolled his eyes and leaned back heavily on his chair with a loud thud!“Honey!” Frances ran over immediately.“Dad, Dad, what’s wrong?” Pumunta rin agad sina Seymour at Samuel para alamin ang nangyari. Agad na naging magulo ang buong conference room.Kumikibot-kibot ang talukap ng mata ni Baltazar, at agad itong naintindihan ni Frances. Mabilis niyang pinaalis ang bunsong anak, saka mabilis na sinabi kay Seymour, “Stop saying nonsense. Kung magkamali ka na naman ng salita, ni mga diyos hindi ka na kayang iligtas.”Mabilis na tumango si Seymour bilang senyales na naintindihan niya.Kahit hindi siya kumbinsido, napagtanto niyang bawat salita ni Sebastian ay puro patibong, at kusa siyang nahulog sa bawat isa. Marami na siyang natutunang leksyon. Hindi na siya magpapadala muli!Habang binibigyan ng oras ang anak para makapag-isip, unti-unting “nagising” si Baltazar mula sa kanyang kunwaring pagkakahimatay. Hindi siya maaaring pumunta sa ospital sa oras na ito. Kapag umalis siya a