I woke up the next morning, feeling a sense of anticipation as I reached for my phone. I had agreed to go out on a date with Miguel, and I couldn't help but wonder if he had texted me back.As I unlocked my phone and checked my messages, I felt a sinking feeling in my stomach. There were no new messages from him.I frowned, wondering what had happened. Had he changed his mind about going out with me? Or was he just busy with something else?I decided to send him a text, trying to keep my tone casual. "Hey, it's Andrea. Just wanted to see if we're still on for the date?"I hit send and waited anxiously for a reply. But as the minutes ticked by, there was still no response.I sighed, feeling a sense of disappointment. Maybe I had been foolish to get my hopes up so quickly. After all, I barely knew this guy. He could be just like all the other men I had dated before.But at the same time, I couldn't help but feel a sense of frustration. Why had he agreed to go out with me if he wasn't ev
I left the restaurant feeling terrible about what had happened with Samantha and Angelo. I didn't know what to do or how to fix things, so I just went home, hoping to clear my head and figure out my next move.But as I opened the door to my apartment, I was surprised to see my aunt Clara sitting on my couch, weeping uncontrollably. I rushed to her side, trying to figure out what was wrong."Aunt Clara, what happened? Why are you crying?" I asked, putting a hand on her shoulder.She looked up at me, her eyes filled with tears."Andrea, it's Max. He's in the hospital and he's in critical condition. He's been having terrible throat pain and needs surgery as soon as possible," she said, her voice shaking with emotion.I felt my heart sink. Max was my little cousin, just a kid. The thought of him being in the hospital and in pain was unbearable."What can we do, Aunt Clara? How much is the surgery going to cost?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady."A hundred thousand pesos!"When she
"Miss," I swiftly sat upright on the black leather couch I was resting my arms on as I heard a scratchy voice coming from behind me. "Here, sign it!"The gentleman who is seated in front of me gave me a brown envelope. He is a bit older based on his appearance, and I would assume the man is in his early to mid-forties."Ok sir," I let out a long, deep breath and took the package from his hand with great care. I opened the cover, removed the documents, and then grabbed the pen that was sitting on the table.I am unable to prevent myself from gulping down much saliva as I fix my gaze intently on every clause of the contract that is stated in the documents. If I go through with signing this contract, I won't be able to talk to, or visit my aunt Clara or Max for an entire year.In another part of the deal, it says if I break the agreement, I will be responsible for paying back twice as much as I was originally offered. Consequently, this is a delicate deal, and I must adhere to it no mat
"How about this?" I asked as I strolled out of the dressing room. The midi lilac dress sits a little below my knee when walking and standing, rising a few inches higher when sitting. For my tastes, that's not a comfortable degree of sexy. A lot of women look amazing in mini dresses, and perhaps I would too, but I always felt that I wanted a longer length in dresses since I'm not used to such clothes yet. "Hmm, it's not too bright on your skin. Go change into another one!" The older lady with transparent glasses resting on the bridge of her nose, harshly said to me. She had hands placed on her waist as she stood beside the full mirror in the clothing store. She is the one in charge of dressing me up, and my life has been hell since we arrived at the store.The two ladies that brought me here were also present. They stayed closer to the entrance of the dressing room, hoping to help me out whenever I needed assistance with any dress. This dress I'm about to pull off now, is the fift
The more I think about everything happening, the more I get confused. I was wondering if, this young lady right here, is the real daughter of the family which Mr Paulo talked about. But he told me she is still in the US and would be back after I have finished my obligation to the family. "Who is she?" The young lady's charming tiny voice instantly brought me back from my thoughts. When I turned to look at her, she pointed at me with a much-disgusted expression. Seeing the way she was seizing me up with much hatred in her eyes, I became uncomfortable. "She is your new elder sister, so, accord her with respect." Mrs Dela Cruz replied as she saw how I looked a bit down with the lady's statement. Introducing us as sisters simply means, this young lady is their daughter as well. But why hire me in the first place when they have daughters? I was surprised, and still hoping to know the reason behind it. "My sister?" She rolled her eyes nonchalantly and continued; "But she doesn't loo
"She was adopted?" I inquired with a focused gaze at Rosa. Following my question, the two girls remain quiet, none of them seems to want to answer what I asked. I guess their silence means Alice was indeed adopted. The thought of her stand in the family kept amusing me with the way she acted rudely towards me last night. So, she was just their adopted daughter? I was baffled. "Miss beautiful, go take your bath quickly. The time is against us." Kate said, and I gently stepped into the bathroom. A few minutes later, I came out, all my hair wet. Both of them moved closer to me and made me sit in front of the mirror, as they attended to all my needs without making me lift a finger. Rosa that went out a while ago suddenly walked back into the room; "This is the dress you will be putting on." She uttered as she pointed to the black glitter dress on her left arm. "Oh, thank you," I gently collected it from her hands, and stared intensely at the dress. It's a long black dress, covered
"Mom," Alice called out with a low grunt as she moved closer to Mrs Dela Cruz. I couldn't believe my eyes, seeing how Alice instantly switched her evil mood to a victim one. My mind was racing with thoughts of how I could explain what had happened to Mrs Dela Cruz. I had simply commented how Alice was adopted because I was furious. But Alice had taken it the wrong way. Before I could even begin to speak, Alice broke into mischievous sobbing and ran to our mom, telling her how I had treated her badly and called her "adopted." My heart sank as I watched my mom's face turn from confusion to anger. "How dare you call her adopted? You have no right whatsoever to do so!" Mrs Dela Cruz yelled angrily. "I'm sorry, it won't repeat itself anymore," I pleaded, not wanting to drag the issue. I can only blame Alice for everything. I can see how evil she can be and I need to avoid her at all costs. Kate and Rosa quickly left, leaving the three of us alone. I guess they don't want to ge
I grabbed the mask just in time, holding it firmly in place. I looked around, but thankfully, no one had seen my face. Relief flooded me, but only for a second.The ballroom erupted into chaos. Security guards sprang into action, chasing after the intruder, who was already darting through the crowd and heading for the exit. I watched in shock as the person disappeared into the night. The guards couldn't catch them.My heart pounded in my chest, my hands trembling as I clutched the mask tightly to my face. All around me, people were buzzing with excitement and confusion. The whispers turned into a roar of speculation."What just happened?""Who was that?""Did anyone see her face?"Flashes of light from cameras caught my eye. Journalists and photographers who had been attending the event were now frantically taking pictures. I quickly turned my face away, refusing to let anyone get a clear shot of me. Panic surged through me as I realized how much worse this situation could have be
Miguel took a deep breath before continuing, "There's been a lot of unusual activity on some of the Dela Cruz accounts. Small, frequent transfers. Almost like someone's trying to hide the movement of money by spreading it out."My stomach twisted. "You think it's Alice?""I can't say for sure. But it's suspicious, especially given everything else going on."I glanced over at Mr. Dela Cruz, who was watching me intently. "Miguel, can you track where the money's going? Any way to trace the recipient?""I'm working on it, but it'll take some time. Whoever's behind it is covering their tracks well.""Thank you, Miguel. Let me know if you find anything else."I hung up, relaying Miguel's information to Mr. Dela Cruz. He sighed, rubbing his temples. "She's moving money now? What's her endgame here?""I don't know," I said, my voice full of frustration. "But it feels like she's preparing for something big."The car pulled up to the hotel, and we stepped out, still deep in conversation. As
I sat silently in the car, my mind spinning. The name "Elena" echoed in my head, each syllable heavy with mystery. The last thing we needed was another unknown player in this already chaotic story. Carmen's unexpected visitor, the mysterious bracelet, Alice's whereabouts—all of it felt like pieces of a puzzle scattered everywhere. And I didn't know where to start.Mr. Dela Cruz was quiet beside me, staring out the window, his face etched with worry. As we drove back to the hotel, I could see him lost in his own thoughts. Finally, I broke the silence."Mr. Dela Cruz," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "What if Alice has more people working with her? What if she isn't working alone?"He turned to look at me, his expression serious. "It's crossed my mind, Andrea. But who could she trust enough to pull off something like this? Alice… she's always been stubborn and independent. And now, it seems she's desperate, too."I nodded, feeling a pang of frustration. "That name, 'Elena,'
The morning of the press conference came faster than I expected. I dressed carefully, choosing a simple but professional outfit that exuded confidence. Today wasn't just about proving my loyalty to the Dela Cruz family; it was about showing the world who I was and what I stood for. Whatever Alice had planned, I needed to be ready. As I checked my reflection in the mirror one last time, I couldn't ignore the nervous flutter in my chest. This was it.Miguel was waiting for me downstairs, his face serious but encouraging. "You look ready," he said with a small smile. "Remember, stick to the truth. Alice will have her lies prepared, but if you stay calm, she'll slip up."I nodded, feeling the weight of his words. "Thanks, Miguel. I'm not just doing this for me—I'm doing this for Carmen, too. She deserves a sister who will protect her, even if she's not here to see it."Miguel reached out and squeezed my hand. "Let's go show them who you are."As we walked into the press conference r
Mr. Dela Cruz glanced at her warily. "Alice, this is a serious matter. We're handling it."Alice smiled sweetly. "Of course, Father. I only want to help." She turned her gaze to me, her eyes glinting with a hidden challenge. "And I'm sure Andrea is ready for all the responsibility, right?"I bit back my irritation. She was testing me, waiting for me to make a mistake. But I wasn't going to give her the satisfaction."Yes, I am," I replied firmly. "I'll do whatever it takes to protect this family and the company."Alice's smile widened, but there was no warmth in it. "I'm glad to hear that. Because if this doesn't go well, the consequences could be… severe."Miguel shot her a sharp look. "Let's focus on solving the problem instead of pointing fingers, Alice."She shrugged, unfazed. "Just making sure we all understand the stakes."The tension in the room was palpable, each of us on edge, waiting for the next bombshell to drop. I couldn't shake the feeling that Alice had more up her sl
I walked to the greenhouse that night, my mind racing. Alice's note still weighed heavy in my pocket, her words running through my head over and over. *"Meet me in the old greenhouse tonight. Alone."* It felt like a trap, but I had to go. If there was any chance to get to the bottom of her lies, this was it.As I pushed open the door, I was greeted by the musty smell of damp soil and old plants. Shadows played along the walls, and the air was thick with an uncomfortable silence. In the dim light, I saw Alice standing near the back, her arms crossed, looking entirely too calm."Alice," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "Why did you want to meet here?"She gave a sly smile. "Oh, Andrea. I thought it was time we had a little… chat." Her eyes held a gleam I didn't like, a kind of cold amusement that made my stomach churn.I took a deep breath, forcing myself to stay calm. "What's this all about, Alice? Why the games? What do you really want from me?"Alice's smile faded, and her
Miguel leaned in, reading over my shoulder. "Do you think…?"I looked at him, my mind reeling. "Miguel, what if Carmen isn't my sister? What if… what if 'Elena' is?"The realization hit us both like a thunderbolt. If there was another sister, another person who had been hidden away, then everything I knew about my past could be a lie. The family, the secrets, even Carmen's illness—what if it was all connected?Just then, footsteps echoed in the hallway. We froze, quickly shoving the letter back into the envelope and hiding it under a stack of books. The door creaked open, and Mr. Dela Cruz stepped inside, his eyes narrowing as he saw us."What are you two doing in here?" he asked, his voice calm but with a dangerous edge.I forced a smile, trying to look casual. "Oh, we were just… looking for a book."Mr. Dela Cruz's gaze lingered on us, suspicion flickering in his eyes. "This is a private study," he said slowly. "If you need anything, you can ask me or your mother."I nodded, my h
As Miguel left the room, I sat there, letting his words sink in. But doubt still lingered. I wanted to believe I belonged here, but everything seemed so fragile. One wrong move, and everything could shatter. And with Alice? I didn't even know where to start.I decided to give myself a moment to breathe, to try and clear my mind. Maybe some fresh air would help. I made my way to the garden, finding a quiet spot on a stone bench surrounded by flowers. The air was cool, and the scent of jasmine filled my senses, calming me slightly. I was so lost in thought that I didn't hear anyone approaching until a voice startled me."You know, for someone who's supposed to be family, you're really good at keeping secrets."I looked up to see Alice standing there, her arms crossed, her expression colder than I'd ever seen it. My heart sank. This conversation wasn't going to be easy, but I knew I couldn't avoid it."Alice, I'm sorry. I didn't want to keep anything from you," I said, trying to ke
The moment I opened my eyes that morning, I knew today was going to be different. There were still so many questions hanging over me, making it impossible to feel completely settled. No matter how much I tried to fit in here, every new answer seemed to come with a dozen more questions. Today, I was going to get some real answers, or at least try my best.I took a deep breath, got dressed, and made my way out of my room. As luck would have it, I spotted Mr. and Mrs. Dela Cruz seated together in the living room, leaning in close as they spoke quietly. They looked deep in conversation, almost like they were discussing something serious.I approached them, taking a moment to compose myself before saying, "Good morning, Dad. Morning, Mom."They both looked up, and the warmth in their eyes was instant. Mrs. Dela Cruz's face lit up with a proud smile, and Mr. Dela Cruz looked at me with that same approving gaze. There was something so genuine about the way they looked at me that I coul
The next day, I woke up with a knot of nerves in my stomach. Today was the board meeting. Today, I was officially stepping into the Dela Cruz world. I got dressed, choosing a sleek, professional outfit, and mentally prepared myself for whatever was coming.Just as I was adjusting my blazer, Alice barged into my room without even a knock. Her eyes were sharp, and her face was twisted into a sneer."So, you think you're one of us now?" she spat, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "You can never be part of this family. You're nothing but an outsider."I took a deep breath, feeling a surge of anger rise within me. I wasn't going to let her intimidate me, not today. I stood up, meeting her glare head-on."Alice," I said, my voice steady and cold, "you're the one who doesn't belong. I am their real daughter, and you're just… adopted. Remember how you love to say that 'fake can never be real'? Maybe it's time you take your own advice, little sister."For the first time, I saw her face go pal