Diego's POV"Let me escort my mom to the hall, Dad," I interrupted spacing out and holding my mom's hand. "If you want to talk with your associates, you can go to them. I will take care of Mom. I promise."My cold Daddy chairman only looked at me for a few seconds, barely glanced at Mom, before he sighed like he was so tired, and then exited his way to make it through the venue hall. The bodyguard opened the door as I glared at his back.I hate him."Will you stop glaring at your father?" my mom whispered and glanced at other ways. "People might see you and say things that are not true.""That is how media works, Mom. You can't stop it," I said."The same stopping you to marry your half-witted secretary?""Mom," I called her with a warning in my tone. "First of all, Marissa is not my half-witted secretary. I think she is the most beautiful and intelligent woman I have ever known in my entire life. And whether you like it or not, I am going to marry her.""But, son-""Mom, you are scar
Diego’s POVWhile clapping for Zeana Tan, my eyes transferred to Tito George. My claps went slower when I noticed that he had gone serious and stern this time. I had to blink to make sure that I was seeing the right thing, but I confirmed that his stupid, boyish smile was nowhere to be found, his eyes were wistful, and his face was firm.And that is because he is watching the beautiful woman going through the carpet while waving her hand to the crowd!Even though someone, a woman (I have to include that in my description), was striking up a conversation with him, his full attention remained on Zeana Tan. He was not pleased with what he was seeing.I was already smirking like hell, this is the first time I have seen him so austere. Whenever we both see the women he had taken in hotels or dates, he would only laugh and treat them as nothing. But this Zeana Tan is indeed a different impact on him, huh?“Good evening, everyone,” Zeana Tan greeted the guests with a firm and deep voice, an
Diego's POV"Oh, I am delighted that you know me," I said and displayed a small, formal smile. "Anyway, perhaps you know my uncle? George Benitez?"I made a small push to my uncle who was trying to keep his call beside me and poked him to talk. Zeana Tan also gazed at him and even hovered her gaze casually, as if he was a stranger to her. She smiled and reached out her hand to my uncle. "Yes, I know Mr. Benitez very well. Nice meeting you again, Mr. Benitez," Zeana Tan said and even smiled hugely.See? She is not even bothered by him!When I looked at my uncle, he only stared at her face with a serious expression. He was parting his lips as the words he wanted to say were locked in his throat. The smile Zeana Tan was holding on her lips was slowly becoming constipated because her hand was still reaching out for my uncle who did not acknowledge. I had to secretly elbow him so that he would stop staring and start talking. That was when he snapped and cleared his throat. "O-Oh, yes, Mi
Marissa's POVThe nurse tightened and placed a bandage on my shoulder. I can still see the blood penetrating through it. She excused herself while I was left on the bed where I was brought in to tend to the wound I had when my grandmother had thrown the empty bowl a while ago.I swam in my deep thoughts as I remembered the fear she had in her eyes when I was so worried about why she was in hysteria.I should not see her?Who is the person I should not see that she even almost lost her mind when I was about to step forward?If it were not for the hospital staff and Jane who heard her screams. She tried protesting and getting out of the hospital bed, but thankfully, she was immediately sedated and calmed down until she dozed off. Jane escorted me to a room where a nurse could take care of my wound. I did not feel pain, though. I was more curious."Ms. Dela Cruz."My thoughts were interrupted when a doctor showed up in front of me. It was my grandmother's doctor. I had to stand up from s
Marissa's POVI showered first thing in the morning. Diego followed. Diego cooked. We ate. I double-checked everything to carry. Diego carried it. I made sure we had food on our trip. Diego took care of booking our hotel in Palawan. "Are you ready?" he asked when he sat in the driver's seat. "We'll go to Starbucks first so we can have coffee."I grinned. "That is the nicest thing we would ever do.""My treat.""As if you have let me treat the two of us. That was like never."We both laughed before we left the apartment building. Just like what he said, we went to Starbucks and ordered the coffee we desired to drink. Conversations and plans went on until we got to the airplane. I continued sleeping there with my head on his shoulder. "We're on board now, baby," I heard Diego whisper. "We have to get out of the airplane. Hey."I slowly opened my eyes and the first thing I saw was the small screen that was playing a Disney movie in front of me. I shivered as I felt how cold inside the
Marissa's POV"Grandmother, what is wrong? Are you okay?" I worriedly asked the other line. "Marissa, where are you?" she asked in a firm voice, meaning that she was angry right now. Why does she sound so angry, though? Is she not done yet?"Grandma, I am in Palawan with my boss for a business trip. Why? Is there a problem?" I asked, curious now. "Good," she said."Then stay there. The longer the better until that bitch leaves."My hand flew to my mouth because I was surprised that she knew how to cuss like this. Even before, she would even reprimand me when I cussed in front of her. I know her to be so old-fashioned and so set in her ways to always be respectful, dignified, and kind. "I do not know who you are, Grandma," I said, wanting to see who she is talking about."Just listen to me, Marissa," she said. "I can't let you see her because she will only ruin your life. You would hate it, so I hope you do not get to the point where you will be making the decision you will ever re
Marissa's POVIt took only a few seconds for us to pull each other's arms and kiss torridly with passion. I could feel how hungry he was for me, and I was also needing him. It was easy for us to remove the towels from our bodies because we were already naked. He lifted my buttocks to the sink and bit my cheek. I hung my head when his mouth grazed around my neck and sometimes bit it, making me moan. His hands explored my breasts, massaging them gently and firmly.Before I knew it, he was devouring both of my breasts and licking my nipples like he was a hungry infant. It was bringing me to heaven until his kisses went down. He parted my legs and wiped one of his fingers. He made me see how he licked it in front of me. "You are wet... and delicious," he said and leaned down while holding my legs apart. "Ah!" I moaned loudly when he began licking all of the parts of my core. "Oh, Diego...""Moan my name, baby," he said and continued torturing me with every flick of his tongue and did hi
Marissa’s POVThe long week of staying in Palawan was over, and the next thing I knew, we were flying back to Manila City. I was sad looking at the clouds in the sky, but what could I do? We still have work in the company, and Diego has been receiving a lot of phone calls.“Zeana Tan will visit the company this week and my father will also be included in the board meeting,” he said.“Wow, that is once in a blue moon to happen. Zeana Tan must be a very important businesswoman,” I commented and nodded while sipping on my hot coffee.“You have to research about her. She is not only an amazing businesswoman but also a philanthropist who has a huge empathy towards children and orphans. I met her in person and she was the kindest and very gorgeous, I must say. It must be one of the reasons why my Tito George is so crazy about her since I think he still has feelings for her,” he shared. “You will also meet him in the board meeting, and I will introduce the two of you sooner.”I squinted my e
MARISSA’S POV“Are you really sure about talking to him?” Brylle asked as he hid my view of Diego who was sitting on the couch in the living room.I sighed while I was crossing my arms. “He wanted to see and know about our daughter,” I said. “What should I do? Deny? He already knew before he could even reach here.”“But you vowed to yourself that you will never see him,” he said firmly and furrowed his eyebrows. “Don’t tell me that you still have feelings for him, Marissa.”I remembered how Diego kissed me a while ago, and I felt so guilty in front of Brylle. Ever since I left the Philippines, he was the one who comforted me together with Nica. They were both supportive of Lilith and I. So I know that he is just worried about me seeing Diego.I could not help but avoid my gaze. I saw from my peripheral vision that he nodded, as if he just confirmed something.“You still love him,” he reckoned.“I have been prepared for making Lilith meet her father,” I stated, meeting his gaze again.
I felt my heart drop when I saw Diego Montero entering the backyard with Lilith holding his hand and pulling him to her friends. Diego’s expression was mixed with confusion and surprise. The guests barely cared, because in their minds, Diego must just be a guest. “What is he doing here, Marissa?” Nica asked as I followed her going outside the house. “Do you think I know?” I exclaimed and muttered a crisp curse. “So why is he holding Lilith?” “I don’t know!” Nica and I kept exchanging frustrated mumbles because we have no idea why Diego was here. How did he even know my address? “Sir, you can get a slice of cake at the buffet table,” Lilith even said and pointed at the table with her head looking up to Diego. I was taken aback that I could not help and snatch her hand away when I got to the both of them. Diego parted his lips as he looked at me, his eyes digging into mine and searching answers from the questions he must be having in his mind. Out of urge, I held Lilith and moved
MARISSA’S POV“We have nothing to talk about,” I firmly said and dropped his hand. “Why don’t you go home to your family now, huh?”Before he could see the tears stinging at the sides of my eyes, I turned my back on him and went straight to my car with my heart beating fast and my mind so cloudy with memories. When I got inside my car and looked in front of me, his car was already running towards the exit, leaving me in the indoor parking lot of the company.I wanted to break down and hold my chest while mentally saying that everything would be alright. Whatever the reason he is here is solely none of my business. Whether he has a family or not, I don’t need him in my daughter’s life.But wait a minute, how did he know that we had a daughter? And did Madame Margarita Montero tell him about what we both agreed on in order for me to leave Diego?Nonetheless, what is done is done. I can’t go back to the past anymore. I have a life here in New York with my daughter. I may not be happy jus
MARISSA’S POV I only snapped when Mrs. Rivera called me. I regarded her who was eyeing me up and down, weirded out by why I was wet. Even Diego was also coldly staring at me, couldn't care less that I was in front of him. He did not even flinch, as if he had already expected that I am here. In New York! “I… I’ll just change, madame. I’m sorry. Excuse me…” I did not waste time and immediately turned my back in order to escape from that stupid embarrassment. My little run with my high heels was awkward as I made my way to the washroom. I gave a message to Ms. Desmon to find me a pair of clothes from my locker and fix myself. “Shit, what was he doing here?!” I said in panic as I paced back and forth inside the cubicle. “He can’t be here. I mean, he can, but for all the places on Earth, why here?!” And he has a wife. And a child. It’s just five years, and he has already moved on? Or am I the only one who distinguished five years to be a shorter time? “Ma’am, here are your clothes.”
“Are you okay, ma’am? You seemed stressed. Do you want me to get you some coffee?” an assistant of mine asked me when she noticed me staring at the wall of my office.“Huh? Oh!” I exclaimed and almost panicked, but I stopped myself and just grabbed the paperwork in front of me. “Don’t mind me. Just please get to work.”Shit. I did not like the idea of not focusing on my work enough and being distracted by what had happened last night with Madame Zeana. Everything she said seemed so absurd to me and impossible.How could she be my mother? She lives in the US, and I lived with my grandmother in the Philippines. I had a simple and convenient life as an assistant, while she is the most luxurious woman who people have known, bringing success from her business and showbiz. Now I could not imagine her kneeling yesterday in front of me, just so I could forgive her.I clenched my fist, crumbling the paper inside my hand.“Ma’am, you are destroying the contract…”“Oh, shit…” I cussed and looked
Marissa’s POV“I don’t understand why you are here,” the first thing I said to Madame Zen who was in front of me. “I don’t even have an idea how you tracked me.”The nanny of my son placed the two cups of tea on the dining table. I am currently sitting in the capital opposite to Madame Zen. She was wearing a fancy cardigan and above the knee leather skirt. Her Louis Vuitton mini bag was even boasting itself that she put on the corner of the dining table. Her sparkling success was very shiny that I had to clear my throat and mind who I was talking to.Madame Zen stared at me for a while before the corners of her lips rose a little. “I have tracked you down ever since you came here in New York. The last minute that I could not see you in the Philippines, I got worried, so I hired a private investigator just to find you.”I was so overwhelmed by what she spilled that I laughed in amusement and sipped on my tea. My head was shaking in disbelief because I thought she was just throwing a jo
Marissa's POV For five years, I only wanted to take care of Lilith, my daughter, as we left the Philippines to start a new life and a new career. After my grandmother died last year, I knew that I had to be strong for the steering wheel that I had been controlling all my life to be steady. Grandma was the reason I wanted to live for a long time. Now, it was Lilith. "Mom, I told you that I wanted to play in the park with my nanny. Why would you not let me?" Lilith said as she stomped her little feet under the dining table. I turned to her while fixing the valuable things inside my bag. Her nanny, on the other hand, was helping her eat breakfast. My beautiful daughter was looking up at me while pouting her lips. Her hair was already done into ponytails and is currently wearing the dress I just bought for her in the mall. "No," I said and smiled at her. "The park is too dangerous, my love. You have to understand me." "Nanny! Help me!" she said and then looked at Nanny Elisa. Nanny
Marissa’s POV I could feel the discrete and watchful stares of Nica and Brylle in front of me. I was just staring at the hot coffee inside a huge mug in front of me. They made sure I ate today, even though it was not a lot. It already satisfied them that I had something in my stomach. “I know you won’t open up to us,” Nica said in the middle of the deafening silence. “But I want you to know that Brylle and I will be here for you.” My eyes slowly darted on both of them. They were beside each other and their hands underneath were obviously intertwined just by the visual of their hands together. The only thing that was separating us was the dining table. Currently, we are in the dining area in front of me. The night was still young. “I am leaving tomorrow,” I started with a lump on my throat, but my eyes are already tired from crying. “And I don’t know if I will be back.” “What?” Brylle exclaimed. “What do you mean?” “Madame Margarita was the primary reason why my contract with Di
Marissa’s POV“Brylle! Oh, my goodness! What happened to you?!” Nica exclaimed in shock.The moment I let her inside the apartment, Nica rushed to Brylle who was caressing the white plaster on his right cheek. She was pressing his wound, while he kept telling her that it was alright. I could not help but furrow my eyebrows at how they care for each other. I can see it. “Marissa,” Nica mumbled my name and stood up so he could face me. “Who did this to him?”I crossed my arms after I locked the door of the living room. “It was Diego Montero,” I answered. “I am sorry.”Her expression changed from a serious one to a concerned one. The moment she did that, I already retreated. I shook my head.“We can talk tomorrow. For now, you should rest together with Brylle. Spend the night. I already prepared everything in my grandmother’s room. You can use it,” I said. “I’ll go to my room now.”I did not let her speak anymore and turned my back on them already. I could feel her stares following me