**Eumerriah’s Point of View**“How are you now?” I asked Shaira.“I’m fine, you don’t need to worry. Sorry that I didn’t pick you up. We just finished Justine’s program at school,” Shaira apologized.“It’s okay. The kids should be our priority. How did Jerome find out you were here?”“Actually, I don’t know either.” She glanced at Justine, who was busy unpacking my things. He knew they were all for him. Even though Justine was already big, he was still a baby in our eyes. “The teacher said a man was looking for my name.” I frowned.“He’s really persistent, isn’t he? Don’t be afraid; as we discussed before, they can’t hurt their own blood. Justine is their only heir.” I held Shaira’s hand.I don’t know, but the Shaira in front of me is so different now. She’s been through so much at Jerome’s hands. She exhausted herself for a love where she was the only one fighting. “Justine is the only heir? Isn’t Dustine also an heir?” Shaira and I exchanged glances. I gave a bitter smile.“You’ve a
**Eumerriah’s Point of View**“Why didn’t you tell me? You know I can’t work with him,” I asked Manager Kim.“To be honest, I didn’t know he would be your partner either. I just found out today. Apparently, he was personally picked by the brand owner. So there’s nothing I can do to change that. You’ve already signed the contract, so you can’t back out now.” Manager Kim’s answer frustrated me.I knew she wasn’t at fault, but I couldn’t find anyone else to blame. I came back to the country to return to being a talent or commercial model. The kids are growing up, so I need to work hard for them. I couldn’t rely on my parents for my obligations. This is the only job I’m good at and enjoy doing.In the U.S., we also tried to start a business, but the market there was tough. So, I planned to save up again and start a business with Shaira.Disappointed, I sat on a bench at the studio where a photoshoot was taking place. After my solo take, Jerome suddenly arrived. At first, I thought he was
**Eumerriah's Point of View**Last night, Dustine and Jayson arrived. Jayson went straight to them, so here we are now, bonding with Shaira and Justine. We went to the mall, watched a movie, and had a meal. I stayed outside the mall’s restroom while the kids and Shaira went in. I didn’t want to go inside because I might attract unwanted attention.Fortunately, no one recognized me in my disguise. I wore shades and a shawl over my face, styled like a hat. “Okay, sweetie, I’ll wait here. Take your time,” I heard someone say. It was a man in his mid-30s talking to a young woman. They must be father and daughter. I glanced at them, but they wouldn’t notice me looking because of my glasses.Since my spot wasn’t in the way of people coming in and out, the man moved next to me. He looked me up and down, and I felt uneasy under his gaze for an unknown reason. I sighed and crossed my arms, turning away from him.“Is that your favorite perfume?” I heard him ask. I didn’t speak, unsure if he was
Eumerriah's Point of View"How's work?" Jayson asked."It's fine. Just getting used to it," I replied."I've told you, just let me work for us, for the kids," Jayson said with a convincing smile."You've made me feel useless. I know how to earn money, so let me. Besides, who are you anyway?" I asked him sharply."That attitude of yours! Hahaha, you're always so feisty. I'm just concerned about you and the kids," he said, laughing."Yeah, yeah. I know, you don't have to keep repeating it," I teased.For almost six years, he’s been there for me and the kids. He’s been my partner in everything, even though I didn’t let him at first. It took him a long time to convince me. Honestly, I didn’t want any connection with Gabrielle’s family or those close to him. I didn’t want any trouble, especially since he's happy with his own family now."I’ve already told you, I’m not expecting anything in return. I just want to be with you, to see you. I’ve grown attached to the kids, so stop pushing me
Eumerriah’s Point of View“When is my next shoot?” I asked Manager Kim. He’s here at the house again, saying he’s done with office work. His other artists are currently at their tapings with their respective PAs, so he has no other tasks to do.“There’s an offer for you, but I’m not sure if you’d want to accept it,” he replied while on his phone.“Why? What’s the problem with it?” I asked him.“The PR team of the company owned by Gabrielle’s wife wants to hire you,” he said simply.“I need work, and it’s not like they personally chose me, right?” He nodded. “Then go ahead. I’m a professional, so there won’t be any problems.”“We’ll just sign the contract tomorrow.”“Mommy, Kuya Justine is teasing me,” Dustine said, running to me.“What? What?” I hugged Dustine as Justine followed closely behind.“Didn’t I tell you not to run? The tiles are too slippery; you might get hurt or bump your heads.”“Dustine won’t get hurt; he’ll just bounce,” Justine teased.I wasn’t sure whether to laugh o
**Eumerriah’s Point of View**I woke up early because I needed to get ready at the office before heading to the main building of the Hernandez Group of Company. I had researched that this company is owned by Kristine and her husband.“Good morning,” I greeted various crew and staff in Manager Kim's agency building. “Where’s Manager Kim?” I asked since he wasn’t in his office. I went straight to my glam team. I didn’t hire a P.A. because I don’t accept jobs that consume too much of my time. I’m fine with commercials that only take eight to twelve hours. That way, I still have time to bond with the kids every day. The glam team is enough to handle my clothes, makeup, and shoes.“We haven’t seen him since last night. He left early,” one of his crew members answered. I just smiled, knowing where he was last night.“He’s here,” someone said. Everyone who had been talking or sitting around doing nothing returned to their work and fell silent. I raised an eyebrow. This was the first time I w
Gabrielle's Point of View"My secretary informed me that Jerome backed out for the sake of the company’s image. The company's anniversary is approaching, and there are many events planned as part of the celebration, one of which includes introducing a new face.""They're looking for a replacement who will match well with Ms. Eumerriah," she added, surprising me."What do you mean? They chose Eumerriah?" I asked, still trying to process the information.My secretary nodded. "Yes, sir. The public's response to her return to the industry has been very positive. Many people missed her pairing with Jerome. You didn’t know?" I shook my head."It seems that bringing back old models will enhance the company's image. Our products and services would gain more attention," she explained further."But what if Eumerriah doesn't have a partner? Will the shoot still proceed?" I inquired."I'm not sure, but I know that you, Ma'am Kristine, and your daughter are expected to be there," she replied. I kn
### Eumerriah's Point of View"Why? What did she say?" Manager Kim asked immediately after we finished talking."She didn’t say anything good.""Of course not! That woman is furious with you. Do you think she'd have anything nice to say? If she didn’t need you here, she might have gone wild and pulled your hair out," Manager Kim said irritably.**FLASHBACK**“Oh, don’t you know who the CEO of the Hernandez Group of Company is?” she asked. “I know who he is, but didn’t you hire my partner?”“Actually, your supposed partner backed out. Since we also need your picture with the owner, we decided that Sir Gabrielle would be your partner instead.” What?“Why? Do you have a problem with that? Are you scared?” I looked at the beautiful woman who had just entered the studio room.Based on her appearance and clothing, she held a high position in the company, but why did it seem like she knew me?"Good morning, Ms. Kristine." Some of the staff bowed to her. So, she was the Kristine I knew. I l
Eumerriah's Point of ViewFor so long, Gabrielle and I had been at odds. I couldn't understand why he needed to distance himself from us. All the truths had come out—their marriage to Kristine and how his life had unfolded with Paul. He regretted his choices, and even Paul seemed to notice his mistakes."You really don’t understand me," Gabrielle said, frustration lacing his voice."Then explain it to me!" I shot back, unable to hold back any longer."Okay, let me ask you this. Why did you choose to distance yourself and hide, huh? Fifteen years! Fifteen years I haven't seen or been with my child, and then I find out he's legally Shaira’s child! How do you explain that to me, huh?" he questioned, filled with anger and disappointment."Listen to me!" I said, barely able to contain the pain in my voice. "Shaira lost her child because of your marriage! What do you think I should do? Of course, I thought about our child's safety. If I hadn’t done that, we might not have a child anymore. S
Eumerriah's Point of View“Where is he?” I asked Kate, my curiosity evident.“If you want to know, follow me,” she replied, getting into her car. I nodded, but instead of driving my own car, I hurried into the passenger seat of hers.She furrowed her brow and gave me a questioning look. “Why are you too lazy to drive?” she asked, a hint of irritation in her voice.“I just want to ride in the car of the girl who used to really like me,” I said, trying to make a joke to lighten the tension.“Tsk! If it weren’t for Kuya Gabrielle, I wouldn’t like you,” she retorted, but a playful smile was on her lips.“What do you mean?” I asked, a bit confused, but I knew she was hiding something.“Secret,” she replied, laughing as she drove.I looked out the window, but I couldn’t help smiling. I never thought that the cheerful little girl who used to cling to me, who liked me so much, would turn into a woman who was now even more assertive in front of me.Behind her teasing and boldness, I was please
"Eumerriah!" Kate called out to me, her voice filled with concern.I turned to face her and saw the serious expression on her face."Do you still think about him?" she asked, her voice full of worry. "Do you ever wonder how he’s doing?"I stood silently, trying to block out the people around us. A heaviness settled over me. I thought of Gabrielle. Despite everything that happened, he still held a place in my heart, but I didn’t know how to face him now."What are you trying to say?" I asked, struggling to hide my emotions."I just wanted you to know," Kate began, her voice serious, "that even back then, he struggled with the thought of losing you like that. And now that you’ve suddenly come back, he feels like he failed you, like he didn’t even try to look for you."As I absorbed her words, it felt like a sharp pain erupted in my chest. I could feel Gabrielle’s anguish over the years I was gone, but I couldn’t ignore how he had avoided me and chosen someone else during those times.We
"Another movie you slay!" Shaira greeted, hugging me tightly."My mom is really amazing," Justine complimented. He was now dressed like a young man, his hair neatly styled, and his suit covering his whole body. He looked at me with great admiration, as if he had learned all these things from me."You always look pretty, Mommy," said Dustine, who, despite being young, had simple words that could warm my heart. He smiled at me, his eyes full of happiness and love."Beautiful and endlessly talented," Jayson praised, standing beside me, his eyes full of respect.We had just finished the premiere night of one of our most successful movies with Jerome. The story was filled with emotion, and I never imagined it would turn out like this. After weeks of hard work and exhaustion, this moment brought joy and success to us.We were in the middle of guests, media, and fans who were all celebrating our achievement. Cameras kept flashing, capturing our photos, but my eyes wandered to the loved ones
Eumerriah's Point of ViewFor six months, everything was in order. No fights, no drama, even though I worked closely with Jerome more often now."Is it still him?" Jerome asked."What’s it to you?" I replied, my tone sharp.It was as if he didn’t care about what happened in the past, like he wasn’t the man I once went crazy for."If you had just kept being crazy about me, maybe I could have learned to love you," I teased."Whatever you say," he responded, seemingly indifferent."You’ve become so tough now, like you weren’t once crazy over me," I pressed."It’s been 17 years, and still? Haven’t you moved on? You couldn’t even fight for my best friend, the first man you loved. So why would I expect you to fight for me, when you just used me?" His words stung."It wasn’t my fault my family couldn’t accept him.""It’s your fault you led him on and didn’t truly love him.""And what do you know about real love?""Well, what about you? What do you know? We’re not kids anymore. If you think y
Eumerriah's Point of ViewThree months have passed since Gabrielle’s sudden disappearance, and no one has heard any news from him. Everyone is worried—even Kristine and Kimberly are confused about what’s happening. I don’t know how to tell them that even I have no idea where he is or when he’ll return.Despite everything, Shaira and I have slowly resumed our daily lives. I continue to work for our family, while Shaira stays home to handle the household chores and take care of Justine. The days have flowed smoothly, but the weight of unanswered questions remains ever-present."Has there still been no word from Gabrielle?" Shaira asked as she arranged Dustine's toys on the floor.I shook my head, feeling the sadness settle in my chest. "Even Kristine has been asking me. She said things are chaotic at their company because of his sudden disappearance. Some employees have also asked me if I know anything, but I have nothing to tell them."Shaira paused and sat down beside me. "Anyone woul
Eumerriah's Point of ViewJustine has recovered from his illness, and despite everything that has happened, I am deeply grateful to Gabrielle. His support for us is something I will never forget. However, after our meeting and discovering that his close friend Paul is Kimberly’s real father, it was as if a heavy burden was lifted from him, but I still cannot fully explain what he's truly feeling.It's been two weeks since I learned the truth, but I haven't heard from Gabrielle since. He’s disappeared, and no matter what I do, I can’t find him. His absence feels like a new torment added to my trials.Amid all this, Jayson has been visiting our house more often. Justine refuses to be bathed by anyone else, so we chose not to hire a personal nurse. Sometimes, I see Jayson hiding his true emotions, trying to act like everything is normal, but I know it’s not easy for him.Because of what happened, I had to change my plans. I no longer accepted new jobs and instead started working from hom
Gabrielle's Point of ViewI don’t know how I managed to leave everything behind. Sometimes, it feels like all of this is just a dream—the life I left, the family I destroyed. But this is the reality I created for myself, and with each passing day, it becomes clearer how big a mistake I made.Kristine, the woman I spent so many years with, the mother of my daughter, Kimberly. We built a family together, a family I once dreamed would be happy and whole until the end. But now, that’s gone. And it's my fault.It all started when Eumerriah came back into my life. I never expected to see her again, never thought I’d feel the emotions I had long buried. I thought everything between us was over. I thought I could forget her and move on with my life with Kristine and Kimberly. But when I saw Eumerriah, all those feelings suddenly came rushing back—feelings I never thought would resurface.That’s when my confusion began. I no longer knew what was real or what should be. I started looking for wa
Serenity's Point of ViewI never expected Gabrielle to come back into my life. It’s been a long time since we last saw each other, and so much has happened between us. Yet now, it seems he’s slowly finding ways to reenter my life, even though we don’t share the same roof.It all started with small things. Sometimes, I’d suddenly receive a message from him. They were simple questions like, "How is Justine?" or "Don’t work too hard; you need rest, too." These messages were straightforward, but I couldn’t help but feel a strange warmth in my chest whenever I read them. I never expected to get such messages from Gabrielle, especially since we haven’t been together for a long time.Justine often asks about Gabrielle as well. I know the child struggles to understand our situation, so I just tell him, "He cares about you." But every time I say that, I feel a pang in my heart. Why does Gabrielle still care? What’s the reason?Whenever Gabrielle visits to see Justine, he always brings the chil