Halos maibuga ni Seymour ang tubig na iniinom niya nang marinig niya iyon. Nanlalaki ang mga mata niya nang balingan niya si Baltazar.“Buhay pa si Basti?” gulat na gulat na bulalas niya.Nang masiguro nilang kumalat na ang apoy sa floor ng unit ni Sebastian nang gabing iyon ay agad siyang umalis sa lugar kasama na ang lalaking kanyang inutusan na gawin iyon. Mabilis silang bumyahe patungo sa airport at bumalik lamang siya nang masiguro niyang nakaalis na ang eroplano lulan ang lalaki. Ni hindi niya pa napapanood ang mga balita o kaya naman kahit ang article tungkol doon online kaya wala siyang ideya.Umismid si Frances nang maalala ang balita.“Not only did he not die, he wasn't even injured, his eyes are fine. You two should think of a solution quickly. At this rate, our second branch will never make it."Dali-daling sinearch ni Seymour ang balita tungkol sa nangyaring sunog kagabi at doon niya nalaman ang lahat ng kailangan niyang malaman. Hindi lang nabuhay si Sebastian, ngunit na
Meanwhile, Sebastian stood in front of the closet and looked at the neatly arranged closet, but what he was thinking about was Rosie sitting inside.Matagal nang nawawala ang kanyang asawa matapos silang ikasal nito. Lagpas na isang buwan itong nawawala at hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa rin siya natatagpuan. The longer the time goes, the slimmer the hope of finding her. Is she still alive? Sa isip ni Sebastian ay sana ay buhay pa ito at nasa ligtas na kalagayan.He hoped that there would be a kind-hearted person who would take her in and wait for him to find her back. If he finds her back, he will definitely compensate her well and let her live a life of luxury as his wife and as a Villafuerte. This is what his family owes her, and he also owes her.Nang makaalis si Seymour ay agad na pumanhik sa taas si Anita para puntahan ang kanyang alaga."Young master, nakaalis na si Seymour,” ani Anita mula sa labas ng pinto.A knock on the door interrupted his thoughts, and Sebastian came out of t
"What? No way,” agad na tanggi ni Rosie at mabilis na bumaba ng hagdan upang harapin si Sebastian.“Did I hear you right? Dito ka titira?”“You heard me right. I’m going to stay here for a few days. Now where should I stay?” kibit-balikat na sinabi ni Sebastian na parang normal lamang sa kanya ang sinabi nito.Lalong lumukot ang mukha ni Rosie. Na kung puwede lang ay sapakin na niya ang mukha ng lalaking ito dahil sa kakapalan ay ginawa na niya."What do you mean by which room you live in? Hindi ka puwedeng manatili rito! There’s no way I will agree to what you want, Mr. Villafuerte,” mariing sinabi ni Rosie. Kulang na lang ay itulak na niya ito palabas.She was so furious. Hindi na niya maintindihan kung paano mag isip ang lalaking ito. Thinking that everything is fine with him at hindi na iisipin pa ang iba. Hindi naman niya ito pagmamay-ari at mas lalong hindi niya ito bahay. Bakit kung makapagsalita siya ay tila ba ipinaparating niyang wala dapat kumontra sa gusto niya.Sebastian
Rosie carried the luggage upstairs, but when she came down, she was carrying a bigger suitcase."I will fax you the rent consent form later. Don't forget to sign it and send me a copy.""Where are you going?" He closed the computer and put it aside, frowning slightly when he saw the suitcase she was carrying.Sebastia came here not because he had nowhere to go, but because there were many suspicious things about Spectra that he wanted to figure out. Kung aalis ito, para saan pa ang malaking binayad niya para lang manatili siya sa villa na ito nang kasama ang babae?"I'll stay at the hotel. You've paid so much for the rent, and it would be too rude for me to stay here. I'll make room for you. The whole villa... no, the whole area within a hundred miles is yours,” deklara ni Rosie nang nakangiti. Agad na naalarma si Sebastian nang marinig niya iyon.“No. You can’t leave me here alone,” Sebastian objected."Uh…” Rosie smiled, but because of the mask on her face, she looked a little stiff
The two of them finished their meal quickly, almost devouring it in a flash. Napatingin si Sebastian kay Spectra at napatitig sa babae. Hindi siya makapaniwala sa mga nakita. Paanong ang isang maliit at payat na babae ay kayang kumain nang marami? Most of the food on the table went into Spectra’s stomach.The good appetite of the person opposite him was also passed on to him, and he was able to eat one more bowl of rice than usual.Matapos ang dinner na iyon ay pasikretong tumungo roon si Anita. Tahimik niyang niligpit ang dining table at nag serve ng paboritong tea ni Sebastian. Iniwanan lang niya iyon sa mesa at agad ding umalis.Rosie was just enjoying the days of being served, when Sebastian suddenly asked her again. Tila hindi na yata mauubusan ng tanong ang lalaking ito.“How tall is that woman?”“Which woman?” naguguluhang tanong ni Rosie.Sa tuwing busog na busog si Rosie ay hindi kaagad napoproseso ng kanyang utak ang mga bagay-bagay kaya hindi niya kaagad naintindihan ang ta
Ivy’s face immediately turned red—hindi dahil sa galit kundi sa kahihiyan.“Mr. Villafuerte, please respect yourself. I don’t know you well, don’t try to get close to me,” masungit na sinabi ni Ivy kay Seymour na ikinagulat ng huli.Nasa harapan sila ngayon ni Cornelia—ang future mother-in-law niya kaya hindi maaaring magbago ang tingin nito sa kanya at magbigay ng duda dahil sa sinabi ni Seymour sa kanya.Agad na napansin iyon ni Reniella kaya mabilis siyang tumayo sa gilid ng kanyang anak at matalim na tiningnana si Seymour.“With all due respect, Mr. Villafuerte, my daughter is pure and our family is good. Don’t talk nonsense and affect her reputation.”Nangunot ang noo ni Seymour nang makilala ang matandang babae. Dalawang beses pa lamang nakakapunta si Seymour sa bahay ng mga Samaniego, at sa dalawang beses na iyon ay si Reniella lamang ang palagi niyang naabutan. Hindi niya maunawaan kung bakit tila bigla itong nagbago.Sa tuwing pumupunta siya sa bahay ng mga ito noon ay inaasi
It was more than an hour after dinner time. The butler put food on the table while explaining why he was late.“Pasensya na, Young Master. Bigla hong dumating ang mommy niyo kaya hindi kaagad kami nakakilos.”Napaawang ang bibig ni Sebastian nang marinig ngunit agad ding tinanguan ang butler na may dala ng mga pagkain nila.“It’s fine.”Ni hindi na niya tinanong kung bakit nagpunta ang kanyang ina dahil alam na niya ang posibleng dahilan. Marahil ay tungkol ito sa totoong kalagayan ng kanyang mga mata at gagamitin na naman nitong dahilan iyon upang maging mapagmataas sa iba.Or maybe her purpose is the same as those uninvited guests, who just want to find him his next wife. Maybe she has already found one and is here to take credit. In any case, it’s definitely not good news.The meal was the same as at noon, and the table was again full of food, but there was an extra dish of spicy crab!Nang makita iyon ni Sebastian ay agad siyang nagtaka.“Why did you put this in as well?” tanong
Sebastian suddenly pulled Spectra out and pushed the door open. Agad niyang nilock ang pintuan mula sa loob, leaving the woman outside. Agad na nakaramdam ng kaba at takot si Rosie dahil roon.It's completely dark outside. The lake in front was flashing with a faint light, and the shadows of the trees beside the road were swaying like monsters. Nang biglang umihip ang malakas na hangin ay tuluyan nang niyakap ni Rosie ang kanyang sarili dahil sa lamig na dala ng malakas na hangin.Although her body was cold, the fire in her heart was burning brightly.Naiinis na binalingan niya ang pintuan at kinalabog iyon nang marahas.“Open the door, Sebastian! What do you think you’re doing leaving me here outside?! Nakikituloy ka na nga lang dito at ngayon ay iiwan mo ako rito sa labas? You’re going too far!” Hiyaw niya mula sa labas habang patuloy ang takot na nararamdaman niya sa kanyang puso.Muli niyang kinalabog ang pintuan ngunit wala siyang nakuhang sagot kahit isa. Seryoso ba ang lalaking