All the scenes of my life since I met Sean ran through my mind like a live panorama. I remembered how he stared at me in the emergency room, where I first met him. That I was also the time when I felt attracted to another man. All my life had rotated around Eric, and his dominance in my life made me resigned to my belief that there would no longer be another man to take an interest in me. Or maybe because that’s how Eric led me to believe that I was already unworthy for anyone.
Another meeting followed during the launching of Laminae, where I wondered why he didn’t bring a partner. And why he seemed to have eyes only for me. He danced with me that night and even brought me to his room. He comforted me when I saw how Eric flirted with other women, and he even offered his shoulder for me to cry on.
All those series of events, where he always came in offering me those things I needed at the moment, rolled in. The house Philip offered the day I s
“Bring me to the Grey’s residence,” I ordered, having forgotten in my anger that these people were not the offenders.Hazel and Philip looked at me; their questioning gaze wastelling me to reconsider. If it would be an invasion of private property, I had all the right than Sean, because the blood running in my veins comes from the real Greys.“I’m afraid Mr. Grey would not allow us,” Philip objected, but a single glare from me had him cringe to obedience.“Call him, and tell him I am coming home.”Philip threw a glance at Hazel, and the latter nodded, although her expression was registering her sense of anxiety.They went out ahead of me, and when I stepped out of the mausoleum, they were already inside the car. Philip came out right away to open the door for me, and it seemed his treatment had changedthe moment I had confirmed my background. Not that he disrespected me, but the way he loo
I turned away from Sean before he could start making up lies to appease me. I no longer want to soften up and got deceived. Those few months I spent with him would have beenenough for me to see everythingthat I blamed myself for being so stupid and blinded. Too blinded because I did not see him through the lamb's cloak that he was wearing all along.He could have won an Oscar award for being so good at acting. Who would have thought that behind his gentle eyes, the real orbs of a wolf were lurking? And because I was too naive, I had become an easy prey.Hazel and Philip followed me to the car. I locked the door to the passenger's side, thinking that Sean might follow and beg for forgiveness.To my relief, he did not. I saw him standing beside his mother, who was too innocent of his wickedness. She waved her hand at us, even if I didn't take a look at her before I left.Fixing my eyes at him through the side mirror, I.watched him hugging hi
I could tell Sean’s eyes on me, but I never glanced at him, even when he turned to leave. The lawyer then showed me documents that were all dated a few monthsago, precisely the same month when Sean and I met at the emergency room. My hands then trembled as I picked up one of those thick sheets. “Why are all these in my name?” I asked; the sound of my racing heartbeats was louder than my breathing.“Yes. It’s because Mr. Grey had transferred the ownership of everything that Sir Thomas lefthim to your name.”“Just when?” All ofa sudden, my voice wouldn’t almost come out from my throat.“A few weeks before you were appointed as the new president of the hospital.”I scanned those other pages, and my eyes flew wide when something caught my attention.“Laminae Inc., and Thomas and Albert Grey Medical Center are also in my name?”"Of course
"Red, please hang on. The old man I adore so much is your grandfather. He adopted me and left everything to me. You know what, when he learned about you, he asked me to look for you and marry you."I sat abruptly from my bed. I had already dreamed about this before but I could not remember when. Sean was crying here while talking to me, and the dream seemed so real in my mind.Why am I dreaming about this? What does this dream imply?Then, I recalled that emotional moment he had when I got bitten by the Bronca bug. And I remembered that it was the time I dreamed about this. I got up from my bed and wentto the terrace. The freezing temperature outside constricted my pores in a couple of seconds but somehow, it chilled my heart from the flaming soreness it suffered.It was still three in the morning, but sleep had eluded me. I took a shower and changed into a business attire that I concealed through a thick trenchcoat. The climate
"You don't have to take your mother to your hometown. Her doctor is here, and she's used to the place. And besides, I have changed my mind. I am no longer taking back this place from you," I replied, but I looked away. I chose to ignore his statement about our status and our child."Thank you, dear, but we have never lived in your family'shouse, anyway. Mother only agreed to live close to Sir Thomas if he would sell a parcel of this residential lot to us by installment. And she has papers for that."I turned pale. That's maybe why thehouse was at the end of the fence, too far away from the main building. If it were not for thebeautiful landscape connecting to the front lawn garden, I would have thought this house did not belong to grandpa's property. I almost got tempted to believe that Sean and his mom were never after my family's wealth, but anger had already seeped into my core. The pain of his betrayal with Calla had dominated my
I entered the room with my heartbeats already on my throat. Gathering the kind of courage I never knew before, I wore a half-smile on my lips as I beat the board of directors' intimidating stares with my outward confidence. I realize how silly I was. The things these people do were beyond my comprehension. Give me surgical blades and other sets; I might have the full confidence to cut into a human's head and solve a problem, but not with these kinds of people who could kill you with their lethal gaze.The lawyer stood up while I was yet halfway to my seat. He bowed down with a polite smile, and I got surprised. It was only yesterday when he got so angry that he looked like a beast, ready to devour me."Good morning, Dr. Grey!" he said while ushering me to my seat. He then pulled a chair next to him and waited for me to settle down before he left.He then stood at the edge of the long table and cleared his throat before he spoke.
"I'll do the same," said the other one, and this declaration hit everyone's mind like a domino effect."Unless Mr. Grey assures us in person, I couldn't allow gambling our investor's interest on some newbie."I felt like breaking down upon their distrust of me, but I could not blame them. Even if my grandfather or Sean may be the dominant controlling shareholder,they knew I was a doctor and had not been into any business before. These people were wise and experienced business magnates--some were even shareholders--and they were elected to see the company investors' overall interest."Calm down, everyone!" Atty. Evarez spoke, silencing the clamor that had started to break out. "It seems everyone has got the wrong impression. Dr. Red is here with us as someone who would go hand in hand with Mr. Grey. Is it not a fact, ladies and gentlemen, that when a man falls in love and gets his inspiration, he gets more efficient?""You're right, Atty. Evarez, but
"Eric, why are you here?" The embarrassment I felt must have prevailed over my surprise of seeing him again. And perhaps, it marked on the sudden change of my expression."To see you, of course," he answered, smiling. Something I never remembered when I was still with him.The more I had come to believe that I was his mere sex toy because I had never been with anyone else. Eric was highly meticulous, and he couldn't just do sex with anyone he came across with. I am sure that every woman he slept with was all untouched by other men yet, just like my best friend.He may have flirted with lots of women, especially during social gatherings, but that was all because he wanted to boost his pride. But those he brought to his bed must be all inexperienced.Why am I sure about that? It was because he made me swear I was telling the truth during that first night I gave myself to him. He couldn't just suck the nectar between a woman's leg if
"This is a mistake," I said, breaking the silence and awkwardness. "Because you thought that another man is coming in?" he said, and his lips broke into a tender smile. He strode fast towards me, then wrapped me right away in his arms. "I miss you, babe," he said in a hoarse voice, hugging me tighter. "I missed you so much." "You have no right to say that. In the next few hours, you will already have a new bride." Sean then held me at arm strength and looked into my eyes. "Mia?" "Who else?" I replied, my voice startingto crack. "My mother has long adopted Mia as my little sister. I'm sorry for not telling you this because it was part of the plan to mislead President Ric and his allies." My goodness! I felt like a candle, melting in too much shame. "I have always told you that there's no one else in my heart, long before I found you." Sean cupped my face, and when he was about to bend his h
I furrowed my brows while I took the paper bags from her hands."Dr. Mia would like you to be there at her garden wedding this afternoon."I froze in my seat, unprepared to take the big blow. Sean and Mia are getting married today? Why hasn't she told me about it? Is she afraid to break the news to me because I am sick?I felt a lump sticking inmy throat, summoning the floodgates of tears behind my eyes to open up. I chuckled loudly, but my tears trickled endlessly that I couldn't brush them enough with the back of my index fingers."Look, Dr. Red, the garden is already ready," the nurse said as she walked towards the glass wall, peeping throughthe narrow slits betweenthe curtains.I jumped off the bed after a while then sauntered towards the glass wall. A beautiful flower garden greeted my eyes, and there were rows of chairs and tables indeed, wrapped in cream and burgundy pleated skirts.I scanned the place furth
I ran to the window and parted the curtains to the side. I looked over the direction of the Kalasag Hill, and just as I anticipated, I saw black clouds of smoke rising from the forest. Instead of losing my strength in fear, I felt an adrenaline rush from within me. I stormed out of the room, and without heeding the manager's yells, I ran towards the direction of the forest.I felt within me a prodigy of strength that none of the resort’s staff was able to stop me. Not long after, I heard the sound of the galloping horse’s hooves.“Ma’am, hop in!” the manager yelled at me while I moved to the side to give way.I saw him pulling short both the reins. Then he braced one hand on the horse’s neck, holding the rein tightly and grabbing its mane. Raising the other rein up and back, he then pulled it toward his shoulder.The manager then got off quickly from the horse as soon as it pulled to a stop. Without waiting for his inst
"Thanks, God! You're finally awake!"I shut my eyes back when the blinding light of the sun entered my eyes. I then opened them slowly until I got adjusted to the glare. I stared at the woman who stood by the bedside, brushing the tears in her eyes with the back of her hand."Mia?" I exclaimed, my eyes glowed at the sight of my rival in my love for Sean."Why are you here?"Her lips trembled right away, and her eyes welled with tears. "You scared us so much, especially Sean. I got so worried that he might not be able to handle his grief."I furrowed my brows as I gathered back my thoughts on what happened before I drifted off to sleep. The ache on my back, the muscle pain, and my grogginess told me I had been in bed for days. Then, I remembered I was running after Sean and ended on escaping from the president through the cave. And I recalled everything that followed after that. A bronco bug bit me, and Philip's voice was the last thing I heard befo
The manager gestured with his hand to let me follow him to the elevator. Once we were there, he took me to the seventh floor. He waited until I stepped out before he came up by my side. Then he led me to a room at the end corner of the floor. It had mechanical locks that seemed difficult to break in, but the manager keyed in the codes with deft fingers. In less than a minute, the door opened, and he led me inside.My eyes caught the huge screen right away, displaying multiple windows that showed different areas of the hotel. The manager then ran his fingers on the keys, and the lobby where the president and his men were dining,zoomed in.“Did you hear something from them that scares you?” he asked, turning his head to look at me.I just held his gaze, but I did not nod nor shake my head.“Is this the reason?” he asked again, and after some clicks, a window opened to an area by the outskirts of the forest.My eyes flew
I tuned in a sharp ear while I was sipping from my cup, listening to their conversation. Pretending to be occupied, I picked up a magazine from under the table. These men were just a few meters away from me, though a pillar blocked me from their view. I knew they saw me, but perhaps thinking I was harmless, they did not seem to mind my presence.“Have the troops arrived already?” one of the men asked, his voice louder than a whisper. But because of the deafening silence of the place, you can hear even a needle dropping.“Yes, they are already surrounding the forest of Kalasag.”“How far is it from here?”“It’s the next hill from here.”So, I am now in a resort close to Kalasag, Sean’s homeplace. Mr. Ian and all his allies must have brought me here to blackmail me into selling the other half of my shares by using Sean as a pawn. But of all places in the face of the earth, why does Mr. I
I got up from my bed and walked towards the window. Parting the curtains to the side, the blinding light of the sun piercing through the window panes made me close my eyes for a moment. I closed my eyes tightly then opened them slowly until I got adjusted to the glare. The moment I gazed into the distance, all I could see was the rich and sprawling greeneries below the wide canopy of the sky, animated by its sailing, fluffy clouds. From where I stood, it looked like I was on top of a hill overlooking the rolling stretch of farms and plain below.I then looked around the room. My huge bed satatop a carpeted floor under a chic ceiling design illuminated by white, LED lightings underneath a rectangular frame. Aside from a set of couches, a coffee table, and built-in lockers, only a set of television, a phone, and a refrigerator graced the room. But what caught my interest in being here was the glass walls that allowed me to see the spectacular views of the rows of trees, t
I couldn’t seem to imagine that my grandfather had other women. Perhaps, he did it while grandmother was still alive. But who am I to judge him anyway?“It was a short-term relationship with his secretary, back then. When your grandmother found it out, she almost left; but luckily, your grandfather was able to persuade her to save their marriage. From then on, he never had a female secretary, and that was how Philip came in.”“So, Philip was grandpa’s secretary?”“And Sean’s, when he passed away. He is your grandfather’s most trusted assistant.”My heart sank as I heard it. I still remembered how Philip affirmed Hazel’s confession about my real identity. If it were not for him, I would not have trusted Hazel’s claims. If it were not for him, I would not have come to believe that Sean was making lies all along.“Sadly, he has betrayed them,” I said, my lips tur
“Dr. Red, I just received a report that Prospero City is now on complete lockdown,” the pilot told me after I climbed into the plane after our last stopover for refueling and engine checks.“Is it because of the spread of the Bronc X virus?” I asked, stiffening in my seat; my eyes unblinking.“Your city is the only place negative of Bronc X infection,” the pilot replied while his hands were fumbling over some keys on the cockpit. “But it is heavily guarded since Mr. Sean Grey’s business establishments are there. No one is allowed an entry or exit for the moment.”My thoughts then went on Sean and I was wondering if this pilot beside me was the one who transported Sean to wherever he may be at this moment.“Is Sean in Prospero now?” I tried to sound dry, presuming that everybody already knew our status. And surely, this pilot who brought every dignitary to each of their destinations had also