Amelia and Ian went directly to the OB-GYN clinic her friend had recommended. Only Ian could accompany her this time, as Sophia was busy with work. They planned to meet later that evening at home, where Sophia would join them for dinner.They entered the clinic with excitement. It was spacious and well-lit, with plenty of child-friendly decorations near the entrance before reaching the receptionist desk. This was a private clinic, and Dr. Renata, a renowned doctor in the field, was highly respected. With such a reputation, it wasn’t surprising that check-ups here were pricey, though the website reviews were overwhelmingly positive. Ian, who had promised to cover Amelia’s medical expenses, had arranged everything directly with Dr. Renata, as she was not only his sister’s doctor but also a family friend.Ian had also scheduled an appointment in advance for this visit.“Hi! Good morning, we have an appointment under the name Amelia Montemayor!” Ian told the receptionist.The receptionist
Amelia and Friends“Sis! Look, baby is so cute!” Amelia proudly showed Sophia, as she repeatedly stared at the ultrasound picture the doctor had given her. The baby’s embryo was still small but visible in the scan.“Wow! Sis, it’s really there! It’s all real now!” Sophia replied.“Girl, we should start buying baby stuff! I’m so excited to find out if it’s a girl or boy. We can put the crib right here! And we should get a little swing to put there!” Ian said, practically acting like the baby’s mom, eagerly planning what to buy for Amelia’s baby.“Haha, sis, you’re more excited than the mom!”“How are you going to handle work now?” Sophia asked, gently touching Amelia’s belly.“I already talked to Ms. Isabel. She gave me a week off, and I’ll just stay updated through email,” Amelia replied.“Oh, that’s good, sis! At least Ms. Isabel knows. Because of that, you’re not allowed to stay up late, and no stress for you! Don’t worry about the household expenses; Ian and I will take care of it.
“Hello, sweetheart!” “Oh, sweetheart, why did you suddenly call?” Tim asked, surprised. “Sweetheart, I want to see you! We need to talk about something!” Sandra said affectionately to Tim. “Let’s meet at the condo later! I might be home a bit late; I have a big transaction to handle today and I need to secure it. We can’t afford to mess this one up. I’ll earn a lot from this, sweetheart!” “Alright, sweetheart, just come home tonight! I’ll wait for you. I’ll serve you some soup number 5.” “Alright, sweetheart. Get ready for tonight, You’ll be in touble with me! I want you showered when I arrive, and put on that red nightie!” Tim said eagerly. If it weren’t for this big transaction, he wouldn’t go with his team. He trusted them enough, though. Tim said goodbye to Sandra, hurrying because his business partner was calling him. They had to go to the site with their team, as their clients were also on their way. Tim’s group was the largest drug supplier in the Philippines! This
Sandra stood up again! Seeing that Tim was in a good mood, she brought out the pregnancy test she had taken and handed it to him. Tim looked at her, delighted. He suddenly pulled Sandra, making her jump with joy. “Yes, sweetheart, I’m going to be a dad!” In his excitement, he gave her a deep kiss. “Why didn’t you tell me right away?! I shouldn’t have been smoking in the room!” “But sweetie! We have to take care of something! I’m going to hold Arnaldo responsible as the father of this baby!” Sandra said firmly. Tim’s mood changed instantly at her words. “Are you crazy, Sandra?! Are you out of your mind? That’s my child, so I should be recognized as the father!” Tim yelled angrily. “Oh, come on, sweetheart!” Sandra caressed Tim’s chest. “Of course, you’re the father, but this is a good opportunity to speed up the wedding! We’ll use this baby as leverage with Arnaldo and his family. Don’t you think that once Veronica finds out I’m pregnant, she’ll insist we get married as soon as
AMELIA POV I’m excited again because it’s my fourth time visiting the clinic for my prenatal check-up! But today, I went alone. My appointment was early, so Ian and Sophia are still at work. It’s fine with me, though. So far, only Ms. Isabel knows that I’m pregnant, and my belly is still small! I don’t really mind if everyone at the office finds out, but I’m just not the type to chat much with my coworkers since my friends are all in different departments. I headed straight to Dr. Renata’s room, as the receptionist had let me in since the previous patient was finished. I had an abdominal ultrasound, and the doctor said my baby is healthy. On the monitor, I could see its little heartbeat. “Amelia, would you like to know the baby’s gender? I can already see it!” Dr. Renata asked. “Yes, Doc, so I can start buying baby items!” “There you go, Mommy Amelia. You see that?” (the doctor pointed to something on the monitor). “It’s a boy. Congratulations!” Amelia was thrilled at the news.
Sandra left her check-up feeling restless. Dr. Renata had also given her a request for an MRI, which only added to her worries. “Bestie, Mommy Veronica cannot know about the baby’s condition. They might realize he isn’t Arnaldo’s.” Sandra’s mind was a mess, and she hadn’t moved from the doorway of Dr. Renata’s office. “If I get an MRI, that’s the end for me,” she muttered. Kenzo comforted her, though he was equally unsure of what to do. He felt sorry for the baby, knowing the potential issues that could affect its development. He took Sandra’s arm to support her, but then he noticed something in the hospital lobby. Sandra, lost in her own thoughts, hadn’t seen it. “Hey! Isn’t that the woman you caught in Arnaldo’s room?” Kenzo pointed at Amelia with irritation. He remembered her because she usually wore glasses at the office, but now she wasn’t. “Where?” Sandra’s attention snapped back, her interest piqued by Kenzo’s words. “There, sitting over there,” Kenzo pointed to where Amel
When she returned to the mansion, she was with Kenzo. She showed her in-laws the things she bought for her baby boy. She lied to them, saying her baby was healthy. She even showed them an ultrasound picture given by her doctor. Since they didn’t really know how to interpret the ultrasound results, Sandra simply showed them the image of her baby from the ultrasound. They were pleased that the gender was very visible. The elderly couple thanked Kenzo for always accompanying Sandra during her check-ups, as well as on her other errands.“Mom! Kenzo and I, along with some other friends, are having a get-together tonight because Olena is throwing a farewell party—she’s getting married to her fiancé from Canada!” Sandra explained to Veronica.“Oh, is that so, dear! No problem. I’ll have the driver pick you up when you’re ready to come home. Which hotel are you meeting at?”“Oh, no need, Mom! It’s going to end late. We’ll be staying over. I’ve been getting a bit restless here at home, and Arn
Tim greeted the doctor with a sly smile and casually sat on the couch beside her desk, crossing his legs as if he were in his own home. The doctor knew he had an agenda; her receptionist had been nervous when calling to announce his arrival. Not wanting any trouble, she had calmly instructed her to send him straight to her office. “Yes, Tim, what can I do for you?” the doctor asked professionally. “I heard Sandra has a problem with the baby,” he began. “I don’t want any beating around the bush. Sandra can’t have an MRI because then the Alcantara family will find out about the issue. They must not learn that there’s something wrong with the baby. Or, are you even thinking?” he said arrogantly. “If Sandra gets an MRI, there’s a chance they’ll discover the baby isn’t Arnaldo’s. You know Sandra has to safely deliver that baby! There’s something I need to know from you!” he said in a commanding tone, as if talking to
“Oh, you silly girl! Don’t worry about it. Consider it done,” Veronica said reassuringly, pulling out her checkbook from her bag and writing the amount. “Here, dear, 100 million—good as cash! You can withdraw it tomorrow.” “Thank you so much, Mommy!” Sandra exclaimed, hugging and kissing Veronica. “But please, Mommy, don’t let anyone else know I asked you. They’ll be mad at me.” “Of course, dear. It’s between you and me. Now go and rest—it’s getting late,” Veronica said, dismissing her with a smile. Sandra excitedly reported everything to Tim that night, including the fact that she could pay Mr. Kim 100 million as a down payment. The next morning, she went straight to the bank to withdraw the money while Tim eagerly waited at their condo with his men. When Sandra returned with the money in suitcases, Tim met her at the parking lot, grinning widely. “Thank you, sweetheart. You never let me down!” Tim said, kissing her passionately as he admired the suitcases full of cash. “S
“Alright, alright, I agree! But you have to make sure that judge keeps his mouth shut about this to the Alcantaras. Otherwise, you’ll be in trouble too, Sandra,” Tim finally relented, calming down. He knew his men were right—if he couldn’t pay Mr. Kim soon, the man would surely kill them for the huge amount they had embezzled. Worse, their families would also be dragged into it. “We still have another problem, Tim,” Sandra said seriously, just as they resolved one issue. “What now?” Tim asked irritably. “Amelia.” “What’s with her now? Sandra, if it’s not urgent, can we not talk about her right now?” “Tim, listen to me. We need to deal with her as soon as possible. I was at Eunice’s office earlier—the HR manager at Arnaldo’s company,” Sandra said seriously. “They must not meet, Tim. I found out from Eunice that Amelia is set to be the next head of their Finance Department. If their paths cross, everything we’ve worked for will be ruined.” Tim stared at her, processing what
AT TIM’S CONDOSandra headed straight to the condo she shared with Tim, leaving him a message that she’d be waiting for him there.POV: TimMeanwhile, Tim was in the middle of a major transaction when his phone kept ringing incessantly. Checking the caller ID, he saw it was Sandra, but he couldn’t afford any distractions now. This deal was too important, so he turned off his phone, ensuring nothing could interrupt. The contraband they were handling was bound for Cebu, and his contact had just arrived. The deal was high stakes — both sides were heavily armed, with guards stationed outside the abandoned warehouse to prevent any interference. The drugs they were handling were worth 500 million pesos, and they took every precaution to avoid law enforcement.“Charles!” Tim called his trusted associate, who handed him the suitcases containing the drugs.One of their contact’s men approached, each group keeping a respectful distance. The leaders
AT ARNALDO’S COMPANYSandra called her friend, who was the head of the HR Department, and arranged to meet with her in person. This time, Sandra didn’t use the VIP elevator but instead took the staff elevator, avoiding a direct encounter with Arnaldo. Her main concern was dealing with Amelia first.When Sandra reached the HR Department floor, she walked confidently to the HR Head’s office. People around her greeted her, but she ignored them, striding smartly without even a glance.Before she reached the door of the HR Head, her friend Eunice came out to meet her with a big smile and a warm greeting.“Hi, Sandra! It’s been so long since you visited! It’s great to see you!” greeted Eunice, the head of HR at SB Group.Sandra kissed her on the cheek. “Yes, Eunice! I missed you too!” she replied, her words dripping with fake sweetness.Eunice laughed. “Sandra, I know that look! Come inside,” she said, inviting her in.Eunice offer
Inside the bathroom, Sandra carefully took Arnaldo’s comb and placed it in a small bag. She needed it for the DNA testing, and she kept glancing at the door to make sure he wouldn’t suddenly come back into the bathroom. She felt relieved when she finally managed to secure the comb in her bag and saw Arnaldo leaving the mansion.She then looked for the right moment to excuse herself from her in-laws because she needed to meet with Tim at a coffee shop far from their subdivision.Tim greeted her at the door, and together they went straight to the counter. They ordered cake and cold coffee for Sandra. While they were waiting for their order, Sandra handed Tim the plastic bag with the comb inside. She placed it on the table, and Tim quickly took it. Sandra assured him that she wore gloves when she took the comb.Tim smiled at her with admiration for executing the task so well, lightly tapping her cheek in a playful manner. Sandra then happily ate her cake, whi
When Arnaldo entered their bedroom, he saw Sandra seated on the plush sofa by the bed, watching a movie.“Sandra, if you’re not too tired, would you like to go out for dinner with me?” he greeted her.Sandra was taken aback by the sudden change in his behavior. Arnaldo rarely initiated conversations when he came home from work; he usually headed straight to the bathroom for a shower, then disappeared into his study room connected to their bedroom. He would only come to bed when it was time to sleep, settling on a small bed he had set up separately.“Oh! Hi, Arnaldo. I’m not tired; I don’t have anything going on. Sure, I’ll just change quickly,” she said, leaping up eagerly. Like a child, she rushed to get dressed, afraid he might change his mind. After all, this was a rare occurrence. Actually, in their entire time together, this was the first time he’d invited her out for dinner.Arnaldo also changed into something casual to feel comfortable. He
Tim greeted the doctor with a sly smile and casually sat on the couch beside her desk, crossing his legs as if he were in his own home. The doctor knew he had an agenda; her receptionist had been nervous when calling to announce his arrival. Not wanting any trouble, she had calmly instructed her to send him straight to her office. “Yes, Tim, what can I do for you?” the doctor asked professionally. “I heard Sandra has a problem with the baby,” he began. “I don’t want any beating around the bush. Sandra can’t have an MRI because then the Alcantara family will find out about the issue. They must not learn that there’s something wrong with the baby. Or, are you even thinking?” he said arrogantly. “If Sandra gets an MRI, there’s a chance they’ll discover the baby isn’t Arnaldo’s. You know Sandra has to safely deliver that baby! There’s something I need to know from you!” he said in a commanding tone, as if talking to
When she returned to the mansion, she was with Kenzo. She showed her in-laws the things she bought for her baby boy. She lied to them, saying her baby was healthy. She even showed them an ultrasound picture given by her doctor. Since they didn’t really know how to interpret the ultrasound results, Sandra simply showed them the image of her baby from the ultrasound. They were pleased that the gender was very visible. The elderly couple thanked Kenzo for always accompanying Sandra during her check-ups, as well as on her other errands.“Mom! Kenzo and I, along with some other friends, are having a get-together tonight because Olena is throwing a farewell party—she’s getting married to her fiancé from Canada!” Sandra explained to Veronica.“Oh, is that so, dear! No problem. I’ll have the driver pick you up when you’re ready to come home. Which hotel are you meeting at?”“Oh, no need, Mom! It’s going to end late. We’ll be staying over. I’ve been getting a bit restless here at home, and Arn
Sandra left her check-up feeling restless. Dr. Renata had also given her a request for an MRI, which only added to her worries. “Bestie, Mommy Veronica cannot know about the baby’s condition. They might realize he isn’t Arnaldo’s.” Sandra’s mind was a mess, and she hadn’t moved from the doorway of Dr. Renata’s office. “If I get an MRI, that’s the end for me,” she muttered. Kenzo comforted her, though he was equally unsure of what to do. He felt sorry for the baby, knowing the potential issues that could affect its development. He took Sandra’s arm to support her, but then he noticed something in the hospital lobby. Sandra, lost in her own thoughts, hadn’t seen it. “Hey! Isn’t that the woman you caught in Arnaldo’s room?” Kenzo pointed at Amelia with irritation. He remembered her because she usually wore glasses at the office, but now she wasn’t. “Where?” Sandra’s attention snapped back, her interest piqued by Kenzo’s words. “There, sitting over there,” Kenzo pointed to where Amel