Chapter 1

-(GELAL THEODEN FRANCISCO POV)-

It has been three days since I saw Corlyn. After that night, I woke up without her beside me.

It was the day of Dad's burial. It left me sleepless for three days but the guilt and anger inside me never faded away.

The six of us, no. Seven, wore white except for the visitors who visited Dad's wake. Pagkatapos nilang maibaon ito sa lupa, we let go of our balloons and let them fly through the vast emptiness of the sky.

Jana continuously cried in Khaleed's arms but I didn't care. I don't give a fucking shit if she bawled her eyes out in front of Dad's grave. Hindi na siya magigising kahit umiyak siya.

Attorney Delafuego immediately came to the house to discuss the will afterwards. We all sat quietly in the conference room in the east part of the house.

As they all sat together in front of the table, I was the only one leaning on the door. Obviously I don't want to sit beside them kahit na pinipilit ako ni Jace na umupo sa tabi niya.

"Okay, first things first. Let's start with the eldest, shall we?" Attorney started as he opened the folder.

"For Ameer, he will have a partition on the material things that Mr. Halid owns. Things like jewellery, cars, motorcycles and many other things. He will be sharing it with Khaleed and both of them will handle and inherit the business branches in Greece. As for Gelal-" He was cut off when he saw Jana stand up.

She walked out as he immediately mentioned my name. Naglakad ito patungo sa akin and bumped her shoulder on my arm as she made her way out.

But I don't give a shit about it.

Tumahimik ang paligid after what happened a moment ago, Khaleed clearing his throat to ease the awkwardness.

"You may continue, Attorney." Saad niya.

The Attorney cleared his throat. "Okay. As for Gelal, the properties on the south part of the country and the company will be legally transferred to his name. Also, he will inherit your Father's bank account that has a total of billions. As for Jace and Kaji, they will inherit your Father's restaurants in the east and north part of the country while Chase will inherit the house and the land where the house stands as he will also inherit the properties on the west part. As for your mother Jana, she will not get any inheritance from your Father." He spoke authoritatively, closing the folder afterwards.

"Attorney, can I ask?" Ameer butted in.

"Yes you may." Attorney answered as he glanced at him.

"Bakit walang makukuhang mana si Mama? obviously that will be the first to mention since she was the wife of our Father, am I correct?" He asked, his brows furrowed.

"You are indeed correct Ameer pero walang nilagay si Mr. Halid para sa inheritance ng Mama niyo. He just said to put all your names in the will, never to mention hers."

I shook my head, keeping the smirk to myself. Who would've thought na wala siyang makukuha after all the 'good things' she did to us? To Dad? Maybe she really deserved that.

"This is nonsense. How can she not get any? if she will have none, transfer the properties unto her name." Chase protested.

But I didn't give a shit kung magprotesta sila. May magagawa pa ba sila kung ganun na walang iniwan na mana si Dad para sa bruha kong stepmom? Obviously, wala. What's stated on the will is stated. Period.

"What did you say, Chase?" I looked to see a confused Jana beside me.

Attorney butted in. "Mr. Yvesmark would like to transfer the properties on the west to your name, Mrs. Francisco."

"W-Why? Why would you want to transfer those to me?" She asked curiously.

"Because your name was not on the will. Dad didn't inherit you anything kaya ko pinapapasa yung properties sa pangalan mo." He answered before looking back at the attorney.

"Obviously, what's stated in the will is already stated. Wala na tayong magagawa if hindi siya binigyan ng mana ni Dad. Well, only if you're gonna give her what's rightfully and legally yours." I butted in which resulted in me receiving glares from them.

Nakipag sukatan ako ng tingin sa mga ito, the anger slowly building up inside me again as I watched Ameer stand up.

"What if ikaw na lang ang kuhaan namin ng mana? Total hindi rin naman fair ang paghahati na ginawa sa mana kaya ikaw nalang ang kukuhaan namin." Saad nito na ikinangisi ko.

"Bakit? Sinabi ko ba na bigyan niyo ako? Bigyan niya ako? I didn't even want this shit. Pero anong magagawa ko? Sa akin nakapangalan so I should stick with it." I answered, keeping the laugh to myself nang makita kong namumula ang mukha nito dahil sa inis.

"Sampid ka lang naman. So bakit ka pa bibigyan ng mana when in the first place, hindi naman dapat?" He asked angrily.

I laughed softly before locking my eyes on his. "Sigurado ka bang ako lang ang sampid? Tandaan mo, hindi lang ako ang anak sa labas. Apat kami." I answered solemnly before I saw Chase grab me by the collar.

"Nangiinis ka ba talaga, ha?" Tanong nito, his jaw clenched.

"Hindi ako ang nagsimula kaya wag ako ang tanungin mo." Sagot ko as I aggressively removed his hands from me.

Pinagpagan ko ang aking damit, glaring at them one last time bago umalis sa conference room. Slamming the door behind me.

Naglakad ako patungo ng hagdan, making my way upstairs kahit na tinatawag ako.

"Gelal, lingunin mo naman ako." Kilala ko ang boses na iyon but I chose to ignore it.

I kept walking through the corridor ngunit hindi pa rin ito tumitigil sa katatawag.

"Gelal, please." Saad nito that caused me to stop from my pace.

Lumingon ako rito, seeing his blue orbs filled with so called worry irritated me.

"What is it?" I asked, my eyes showing no emotion.

"Why'd you say that?" He asked back, his brows slightly furrowed.

I shrugged. "I didn't say anything." Sagot ko na nagmamaang maangan.

"Bakit kailangan mong mag cause ng scene-" He was cut off when I spoke.

"Ameer started it kaya tinapos ko. Don't fucking talk to me kung ganyan lang din naman ang itatanong at sasabihin mo sa akin." Saad ko bago ito iwanan sa corridor.

Naglakad ako patungo sa kwarto ko. Turning the lock nang makarating ako before packing my things. Kahit na naririnig kong may kumakatok sa labas ay pinagsawalang bahala ko nalang.

I don't want to stay in this house any longer. I'm so fucking fed up by their attitudes and useless shits.

Nang matapos ako, I zipped my luggage before opening the door. Seeing Jace in the front door ngunit hindi ko na siya binigyan pa ng pansin.

"Gelal, where the heck are you going?" He asked as he tried to keep up with me.

"Away from you bastards." I plainly answered before heading downstairs.

"You know Ameer didn't mean that. Come on, man." Saad nito ngunit lalo lang akong nainis sa sinabi nito.

"He definitely fucking meant that, Raj. So stop convincing me. Kahit anong sabihin niyo hindi ako magsstay dito." Sagot ko sa kanya bago tumungo sa front door.

Agad akong lumabas ng bahay at pabagsak na isinara iyon as I pull the suitcase behind me, making my way towards my car and putting it in the trunk.

Tumungo ako sa driver's side at pumasok roon, quickly starting the engine. Mabilis kong pinaandar ang kotse paalis sa hell hole na iyon.

I decided to stay at my condo for awhile since hindi pa naman ako nakakabili ng sarili kong bahay na pwedeng matuluyan. Also, ako lang naman ang titira so maybe it's best if sa condo nalang talaga.

It was a 40 minute drive from the mansion plus the traffic so I had a hard time arriving quickly.

Nang makarating ako ay linabas ko ang bagahe ko sa trunk, making my way inside the building and heading towards the elevator.

Pressing the up button, I waited hanggang sa bumukas ito. Making my way inside nang bumukas iyon and pressing the floor on to where I live.

The silence was deafening as I waited for the elevator to arrive on which floor I live. The number continuously changed bago bumukas iyon sa floor na tinutuluyan ko. Agad akong lumabas roon, hatak ang bagahe as I went to my condo unit.

I quickly entered my passcode and opened the door but my body froze as soon as I opened it. My eyes locked on the woman standing a few feet away from me.

How the fuck did she get in?

The awkward silence was deafening as I mustered up the courage to speak ngunit inunahan na ako nito.

"Theo..." She called out, her emerald orbs focused on mine.

I smirked. "Hey sexy bunny, what are you doing here?" I asked nang familiar na siya sa akin.

It's Corlyn, no doubt about that.

She didn't mimic a word as I let myself in before closing the door.

Tinabi ko ang suitcase ko sa living room before striding towards her na nakatayo sa harap ng glass wall.

"I came by to talk to you." She answered worriedly.

"Really? About what?" I asked, snaking my arms around her waist before pulling her close to me.

"Theo, stop." She stated, taking my arms away from her.

"I just missed you, sexy bunny." I answered as I bit my lower lip.

Pinigilan kong ngumisi nang mamula ang mukha nito, she looked like a tomato to be honest.

I sighed and removed my arms around her, keeping my hands in my pockets.

"Is it still sore down there?" I asked, seeing her nod eased me a bit.

"What do you want to talk about?" I asked her again, this time it was solemn.

She pursed her lips. "It's about marriage. Dad also wants to talk to you" She answered, her brows slightly furrowed.

"What marriage?" Tanong ko na nakakunot ang noo.

The fuck?

"Dad arranged a marriage for us, Theo." Sagot nito, bakas sa tono nito na nangangamba siya.

"W-what? That's impossible." Utal ko, disbelief was laced in my words.

"It looks impossible pero nandito na tayo sa sitwasyon na to. I already knew you were Gelal too. I looked into your wallet three days ago before I left." Sambit niya na ikinagulat ko.

I sighed before nodding "Yeah ako nga si Gelal. So what do you want me to do?" I asked her solemnly.

"Diko rin gusto ang pakasalan ka. Pero kailangan mong umaktong asawa pag nasa labas tayo. Pinatatawag ka rin ni Papa para mag usap kayo."

Tumawa ako ng mahina "Me? Act as your husband in public? You must be joking." Disbelief was laced in my words.

I'm not ready to settle in for marriage. Ito na nga ba ang sinasabi ni Dad. Ang pakasalan ako sa babaeng anak sa isa sa mga potential investors niya.

"I'm not joking, Theo. Ayoko rin malagay sa situation na to." Sambit niya as she crossed her arms over her chest.

"Edi sabihin mo sa Dad mo na ayaw mo. Period." Sagot ko pabalik, my brows furrowed.

"Sinabi ko na iyon but he still insisted. Please, If you don't want to act, Father will ruin your Father's name and your reputation. I'm doing this to help you and keep your name and your Father's name clean."