Kasalukuyang nakatayo sina Laverna at Gunner habang pinagmamasdan sila ng dalawang matang mapanghusga kung makatingin. Gustuhin man nilang magsalita ngunit pinipigilan lang nila ang kanilang mga sarili lalo na at ang dalagang kaharap nila ay halatang malapit nang sumabog sa galit.“So...” panimula ni Liliana habang nakataas ang kilay. “You’re that stepmother of ours.”Hindi agad nakapagsalita si Laverna dahil kasunod ng mga salitang nabanggit ni Liliana ay isang halakhak na tila mula sa isang baliw.“This is utterly ridiculous! For years, I wanted to meet Laverna Hansley who dominated the runway, but it turned to nothing when I heard she suddenly died.” Her expression hardened just as how her glares grew sharper. “However, before I knew it, she divorced my brother to marry my father. Who would have thought that the woman I looked up to is nothing but a pathetic woman?!”“I already warned you about it before, but you never listened,” komento pa ni Gunner sabay kibit-balikat.Ngunit sa s
Two hours before Laverna and Gunner’s flight back to Mephis City, Liliana was with them at the airport. Panandaliang umalis si Gunner dahil may bibilhin pa ito sa may labas ng airport.Nang maiwan ang dalawang babae, agad hinarap ni Liliana si Laverna na ngayo’y iba na naman ang itsura niya at may gamit na prosthetic eye. She knew it was for her own safety from the enemies after her, but looking at Laverna up close made her feel like a stranger.“I thought it was just a joke that you can change your appearance with make-up, but I guess... I was wrong,” komento niya para basagin ang awkwardness na bumabalot sa kanila.Bumuntong hininga siya saka niya hinarap nang husto ang babaeng hindi niya pa rin kayang masikmurang tawagin na stepmother.“Gunner is the only family I have left,” saad niya sa pinakaseryoso niyang tono ng boses.Tinuon ni Laverna ang atensyon niya sa dalaga.“I know,” she responded.“Then, before you leave, I want you to promise me one thing.”“And what would that be?”
Laverna froze upon hearing those words. Her glass of champagne, which she was about to drink, broke after she gripped it too tight. Its content that used to be yellowish in color was now stained with scarlet as it spilled on her lap. “Oh, right. That poor little girl... I wonder who actually killed her on the night of Laverna’s wedding,” Lily commented after letting out a heavy sigh. She then turned to Clarrisse and caressed her arm.“And you are such a brave girl, Clarrisse, for trying to save her.” She paused. “Did you already mention this matter to Laverna?”Umiling si Clarrisse kahit alam niyang sa mga oras na iyon, alam na alam na ni Laverna ang katotohanan. Hindi niya maipinta kung ano ang reaksyon ng kaniyang pinsan ngunit sigurado siyang nasasaktan ito. Kumirot ang kaniyang dibdib dahil sa ganitong paraan niya pa malalaman ang totoo. Gayunpaman, hindi siya nagpatinag at pinagpatuloy ang kaniyang pakikipag-usap sa dalawa.Sa loob ng isang oras ng kanilang pag-uusap, nakatulala
“What?!” sabay na sigaw nina Liraz at Lily nang marinig nila mismo kay Clarrisse na dadalo si Laverna sa kanilang secret meeting.“You’re not joking, are you?” saad pa ni Lily na halatang hindi masyadong naniniwala sa kaniyang narinig. “I mean... I have been trying to convince her before, but she never listened.”“Well... She probably changed her mind after what happened a year ago,” sumbat naman ni Clarrisse. “Plus, she is just recovering now so I’d like to apologize in advance if she does something offensive or anything.”Tahimik lamang si Liraz. Sa hindi niya malamang dahilan, bumilis ang pagtibok ng kaniyang puso. Dahil ba iyon sa excitement dahil magiging kakampi na rin nila si Laverna o dahil ba sa takot na buhay ito at may malaking galit pati sa kaniya dahil sa ginawa ni Nicholas? She could not tell, but she wished it was the former.“How did you convince her to join us?” tanong ni Liraz.“She actually listened to our conversation the last time we met. I told her that she shou
Laverna opted not to visit either Liraz or Lily that night. She wanted them to be in their white rooms for two or three days to make sure that they would slowly lose their minds. Kinaumagahan, mag-isang kumakain sa dining area si Laverna. Tanging ang ingay lang ng mga kubyertos ang naririnig sa silid na iyon.Maya-maya pa ay sumabay sa kaniya si Mino na ngayo’y kitang-kita ang eye bags niya. Para bang tatlong araw din siyang hindi natulog.“Kamusta naman si Clarrisse?” tanong ng lalaki bago kinain ang unang slice ng kaniyang steak.Nagkibit-balikat si Laverna.“She volunteered to become bait.”“Magandang ideya din ‘yon lalo na at alam ni Nicholas na pinapangalagaan mo ang pinsan mo...”Napatigil siya nang makitang umiling ang dalaga na siyang dahilan para tumaas ang kilay niya.“Anong...” Ginaya ni Mino ang pag-iling ni Laverna. “I sent her to a private island. Sa tingin mo talaga na hahayaan ko na naman siyang mawala pagkatapos kong malaman ang lahat?”Natahimik ang binata pagkatapo
Napahawak nang mahigpit si Laverna sa baso ng kaniyang kape habang hinihintay ang mga susunod na sasabihin ni Liraz. Ngunit sa sumunod na limang minuto, purong katahimikan lang ang nanggaling kay Liraz.Nakatalikod ito sa CCTV habang nakasandal sa puting dingding. Napabuntong hininga na lamang si Laverna, senyales ng kawalan ng kaniyang pag-asa na malaman ang katotohanan sa likod ng pagkamatay ni Anna. Gayunpaman, hindi niya inaalis ang tingin kay Liraz.Bigla naman itong lumingon sa CCTV habang nakangiti. Her smile was wide as if the edges of her lips could reach her ears. Her eyes widened with thrill and excitement, making it seem like she was about to drop the most pleasant news.“I killed her!” sigaw niya bago humagalpak sa tawa. “Alam mo kung bakit?”Liraz glued her sight on the CCTV as if she knew that Laverna was watching her. The grin on her lips never left as another word left her mouth.“Because you and Nicholas treasure her so much. She is the only hope that my husband is h
Attached with the message sent to all bidders was the image of Laverna with her middle finger raised while holding the printout of her bounty. Right to next to her was Joseph, a declaration that the founder of Black Stallion truly had Laverna under his wing as of the moment.Isang malakas na tawa ang pinakawalan ni Julian habang nakatingin sa mensaheng natanggap niya. Hindi naman kasi niya inakalang pati si Laverna ay ibebenta ng Black Stallion. All this time, he had been thinking that they were going to use her as one of those people who would take guard at the final item for the auction. Mas natatawa pa siya sa kadahilanang alam niyang maiinis at ikagagalit ito ni Nicholas.“Things involving this Laverna woman really do spice things up,” komento ng consigliere habang kaharap ang bagong pinuno ng Luciano na hinahasa niya upang maging kasing-galing o mas gumaling pa kaysa kay Caesar.“Should we go to the auction hotel ourselves?” tanong ng bagong pinuno na siyang nakapagpabago agad sa
Habang nag-uusap si Liraz at ng boss niya, binisita naman ni Laverna si Lily sa kwarto nito. Hindi na niya hawak-hawak ang espadang ginamit niya sa pagbugbog kay Liraz. Nagkatinginan ang dalawa. Katulad noong mga nakalipas na araw, tahimik lang si Lily ngunit nang magsara ang pinto ay agad siyang napabangon.“How’s Liraz faring?” tanong nito.Ito ang kauna-unahang pagkakataon na umimik siya mula noong nakulong siya sa white room kaya naman nabigla si Laverna. Hindi niya inaasahang tila walang epekto kay Lily ang tinatawag nilang “white room torture.” Gayunpaman, hindi masyadong halata ang pagbabago sa ekspresyon niya. Naupo siya sa nag-iisang puting lamesa habang kaharap si Lily.“You must have enjoyed beating her up after going through hell because of her and her husband,” dagdag niya habang nakangisi. “Anyway, there is one thing I am curious about.”Tumayo si Lily saka dahan-dahang nilapitan si Laverna.“Now that my ex-husband is gone and the man closest to him is my son, are you