"I didn't need you there," I said, a little doubtful of my own words.
Percival chuckled—bitterly, as if he expected my response but still hoped to be wrong. He kept quiet for a minute before he heaved a sigh.
"What are you doing?" I asked when he pulled my hand toward him and began to examine my arm.
"I can't trust your words about not getting hurt. I heard a crash earlier. Did you drop your phone?" He asked, his eyes still busy with my arm. "They even yelled at you."
"Stop that." I tried to pull away, but he was determined to check if I had any scratch on me.
I sighed in defeat.
"They just threw words at me, and that's nothing. The crash you heard was because of Minty's mother. She pushed me once. That was it." I did not have the energy to engage in another argument, so I was willing to give him what he wanted.
"She pushed you? Was it hard?" His eyes immediately went up to mine.
"A little." I looked away. "But, I'm fine.
Percival's hand held my chin. Then, he made me face him. In an instance, I felt like I was trapped in a trance, for all I could see was him.I wasn't the sort to be intimidated by anyone, but the way he gazed at me with such intensity made me want to look away—If only I could, but it seemed impossible to do so."If you want to, you can," he huskily said.His voice sent shivers down my spine, but I kept my composure. His eyes kept growing darker every passing second.My eyes busied themselves by memorizing his features. I couldn't help but admire how great they were together.It's been so long since I admitted to myself that I found him attractive. But that was it. I just find him attractive—I wouldn't be married to Cadmus if there's more than that.I did forget all about that for the past four years because my eyes were solely for Cadmus. Now, I'm perfectly reminded of just how good-looking this man is."Okay..." I trailed
"You don't know who I am?" He dramatically held his chest using his free hand as if I had hurt him there. "Wow, I'm really disappointed."He wants to play games huh? I tilted my head then smirked back at him.I gestured for my bodyguard to step in. He immediately stepped forward so, the guy in front of us backed up and raised his hand toward the guard."Whoa! There's no need for that. I'm Percival's brother. I live in this building too, just a couple of floors below this one." His eyes kept switching from my bodyguard to me.My bodyguard looked at me as if waiting for a signal. Using my head, I gestured for him to step back before I spoke to the guy that claimed he's Percival's brother."Percival never told me about you.""But, I know that he's your lover." He moved his eyebrows playfully.I frowned at him. I can see the resemblance, and I know how secure this place is. I'm sure they won't let some kind of lunatic in. Still, he
One of the main reasons why I didn't publicize Cadmus' affair, aside from the possible backlash, was because I'm not proud of what happened. There was still the feeling of shame, and I'm not fond of sharing my private life with strangers—especially the ugly parts.My mom sounded worried when I talked to her earlier. I told her that I'd see her some other time, hopefully, tomorrow. The agency, and possibly even my parents' house, is packed with reporters, and I wasn't prepared to deal with them today.This whole place is also surrounded. Everyone wants to hear from me. Fortunately, Percival was doing an excellent job of keeping them at bay."Tali?"I snapped back to reality when Percival called my name. He entered the room, leaving
"You read the comments, didn't you?" Percival asked, breaking the silence that enveloped us since dinner began.The side of my lips raised as my gaze went up to him. I didn't think it was obvious. Perhaps, I was just not aware."I did," I admitted.I heard him sigh before he spoke, "you seemed to be less curious now. So, I thought you finally had an answer."He was worried, I could see that. But there was no need for him to be. So, I thought I'd let him know that."To be honest, if the situation was a little different or problems weren't coming one after another. Those comments won't affect me at all--they won't make me ponder longer than they have today."Percival continued to eat with a frown. But I knew he was listening."But since that's not the case. It affected more than it should have. I thought about it deeply. But in the end, I still come to realize that they're nothing. Those people don't hold the truth. I do."
I thought I won't be able to sleep until I woke up in the morning, still feeling tired. I turned to look at Percival. He was on his laptop but instantly noticed me wake up."Your phone has been ringing for a few hours," Percival said the moment I sat on the bed."Good morning," I mumbled. Looking at Percy made me remember what he said last night.Even before then, I knew he cared deeply about me because he never failed to show me. My eyes avoided his gaze because I remembered how easily I had driven him out of my life for Cadmus."Good morning," he dryly said. I guess his mood hadn't changed since last night.I only nodded in response. Before I went down the bed, I checked my phone first.Koen's name was displayed on the screen. My lips parted when I saw all the missed calls and messages I got from him. My brother's currently in a different country, but the news had reached him already?"Who was it?" Percival asked.I loo
What?" I asked, standing up from my seat.Cadmus is already making his move?"Ex-husband," Percival corrected. "Where did you see that?"Percy's brother handed a phone to him. Percival walked around the table to show the phone to me too. The live interview was playing on the screen."Yes, there's an ongoing annulment between Katalina and me," Cadmus said.He kept a straight face as his eyes darted toward the camera.I felt my heart sink. I looked at Cadmus as if he was only talking to me."It was not because of a third party. Our marriage just fell apart. It was simply not working anymore. The years we spent together were proof that we tried, but a day came that our reason for staying was no longer enough.""We tried?" I scoffed.He broke my heart even before we could."So, are you saying that nothing is going on between you and Miss Hernandez? Isn't she, your ex-girlfriend?" the reporter questioned.
Percival hopped into the elevator before it closed. However, I couldn't care less about what he wanted to do. My mind was fixated on seeing my mother."They said they already called an ambulance," he informed me.That did not make me feel any better. Instead, it gave me more anxiety."Why do we need an ambulance?" I asked, eyes still focused on the elevator doors. "Is it that bad?"Percival did not answer my question. He stood behind me and placed his hand on my back."Everything's going to be alright, Tali," he told me.You don't know that, I wanted to say. But nothing more came out of my lips. So I just forced myself to believe Percy.When the elevator doors opened, we witnessed the whole floor in disarray. Everyone was frantic until they all paused because of my arrival."Miss Kat!" Raya approached me with distress."Raya, where's my mother?" I asked her.
Percival did not waste a second. He pulled Cadmus' collar the moment he got near. He did not even hesitate to punch him straight in the face.Cadmus dropped to the floor. However, Percy wasn't done. He kneeled in front of Cadmus and punched him again and again. Until Cadmus fought back. He was able to get Percival off him.Percival's eyes grew dark. His punches became more violent.The two of them continued to fight, only for Percival to pin Cadmus on the wall, almost choking him with his arm pressed on Cadmus' throat.My mind was far from processing what was happening in front of me. I wasn't thinking straight anymore.Tears streamed down my face as I remembered what the nurse had told me. I got so scared of the thought of losing my mother. It made my whole body tremble.My body was heavy, and my knees were weak. I fell to the ground, hands pressing against the cold floor. I stared straight ahead as the f
It took two days before the doctors said that my brother's condition had improved and he would wake up anytime soon. I wanted to stay by their side, but we had to head home each night for Marcus. After three days, we decided to discuss the situation with Helena. My family was my top priority, but it was time they filled me in with everything that happened while I was occupied at the hospital and at home.We were at the house, in Percival's office, along with Andrew and Rocco. They laid out pictures of where Helena was spotted after the incident.She might've gotten away, but she'd have no place to hide or people to rely on. Even her trusted assistant had agreed to help us in exchange for a clean slate. Helena might have had the upper hand when we didn't know who was pulling the strings. But even her people knew she'd lose the battle the moment she was discovered. Because in the world we live in, for most people, facing the Marquez head-on was just not possible.All of Helena's crimes
We decided to transfer Aisha here since we couldn't send her back to the hospital where she was originally admitted. She was determined to be by Koen's side, so we let her. I was sure my brother would want her to be at ease. So, we arranged her room to be next to his.While Percy was busy, I brought Aisha to Koen's room. I knew she wanted to run to his side the moment we entered, but she stood with glazed eyes by the door until I told her it was okay to come close. She greeted him with the softest voice I had ever heard and continued to be so careful as she touched him. My brother was still strapped to machines, and I hoped whatever Aisha was saying to him would be enough to bring him back.After she finished talking to him, we both sat quietly in his room. The nurses kept tending to her, asking her to return to her room, but she would beg them to let her stay by his side a little longer.I didn't say anything for the first hour that we sat there. Aisha was clearly worried, and I knew
This was a private hospital with a floor dedicated to their VIP patients. The lounge near the ICU and the corridor to my brother's room were exclusive to us. The other areas and rooms on this floor were also exclusive to the patients occupying them. It was impossible to loiter around without permission.We weren't accepting visitors. That was why this girl here was being driven away by the security and staff. But she seemed panicked, and her voice was begging."Who are you?" I asked as I walked toward them. My eyebrows were knitted as I scanned her appearance. She was wearing a jacket over her hospital gown. Her face looked pale, and she was wearing a beanie. Another patient?She looked at me in shock. I could sense the hesitation, but we both knew the only way to my brother was through me. And she seemed desperate. "I... I'm Aisha. I just want to see Koen. I want to know if he's alright.""Why? Why do you need to know? Who are you?" I asked again. Firmly this time. I had never met th
Light pierced through our curtains, indicating that I had been sitting on this bed for hours. The guards had secured the area, and Marcus had been moved back into his bedroom. My father and Koen were still in the hospital, and I felt too defeated to rush there and see them.I suppose this was the time to feel angry and start thinking of ways to punish whoever did this to my family. After all, anger was the only emotion I knew how to deal with. Because anger meant I could make people pay. I could put them in their place and make anyone regret crossing me. Either that or I shut down my emotions until there was no point in feeling them anymore.Anger. Hatred. Resentment. All of that made me believe that I could do something about the insurmountable grief from my mother's death and from losing the life I used to have. I thought, who could blame me? The grief was inescapable, and there was just no way around it.But the anger that pushed me to victory had also damaged the people and things
PERCIVALI was livid. So much so that my fingers finally curled into a fist. Veins popped out on my arms and neck. But Helena was too busy unbuttoning my shirt to notice all that. Her lips touched my collarbone, and her hands crawled on my chest. It was a challenge to keep my breathing steady when every part of me was aching to know that my wife and children were safe--to hold them close and feel them breathe. But I took on that challenge for them. To save them, I must first save myself. Helena was nothing but a big distraction that I plan to properly get rid of later. I ignored her and kept my eyes fixated on the fingers I could finally move."You know, I have a better idea," she whispered into my ear. "I think you'd start listening to me when I give you a son that's yours. You might even find it easier to forgive me if I carry your child."My gaze shot back at her. Despicable. I would've given her a scoff if I wasn't planning to trick her into thinking that the drug was still in fu
My eyes scanned the place to spot anything unordinary. Then I looked at my son and checked his clothes. Since Natalie had been here, I had to move Marcus to a safer place. So, I had to make sure nothing would track him. I gazed at Grace and Marcus' nurse and pressed a finger against my lips.There wasn't time for my questions to be asked or for the betrayal to be felt. But something told me that my relatives worked with Helena because of my uncle's greed. He had always wanted my father and brother's company for himself. How could they do this to us? Their family?"Natalie. She's been here," I said quietly. Grace began digging through her clothes, and the nurse followed her lead. They both knew the protocols, and we couldn't be too careful. Rocco gestured for us to follow him, and everyone did. We hurried to the back, with my son still in my arms. The next thing we knew, we were running toward the woods and into a shed. Thoughts were racing in my mind, but I stayed calm and focused o
"Natalie? What are you doing here?" I asked when I opened the door to see my cousin instead of Raya. Despite being my relative, she doesn't know about Marcus, and this house is far smaller than the penthouse. So, we were careful with who we invited over.I told the guards that someone from my agency was coming over. They knew Grace, but anyone else was asked to identify themselves. Since Natalie was a relative and a person from my agency, they probably let her in without too many questions. "Raya and some of the other staff had food poisoning earlier. So, I came to bring you these instead," she said, handing me the magazine and portfolio I asked Raya to bring. "I also got you these. Saw them while I was on my way."Natalie handed me a box of what seemed like pastries. I smiled and thanked her as I took the box and everything else."Food poisoning? How are they?" I asked. "Was it from the cafeteria?""Oh, no! It was food from outside that they shared. But they all seem fine, just a bi
PERCIVALThere was no fighting whatever they put in my food. So, I stopped struggling to save my energy. Alarms were blaring, that much I could register in my mind. They were having a hard time getting me out of the building. The voices and shouting indicated that my security had been alarmed. But I was already held hostage. They wouldn't be able to do much now. What I was counting on was for Andrew to fix this mess. If our trained men weren't spread too thin, they would've been here by now. Perhaps Katalina was right. I was being too stubborn. I should've brought more of our guards on my side--no, I should've been more cautious even around our relatives.The rest of it was a blur. I lost consciousness along the way. I opened my eyes to an unfamiliar room. I still didn't have control over my body, but I wasn't as bad as before. I tried to lift my arm, but it was too heavy and numb. Dammit."How long have you been awake?" A voice came from the corner of the room. I couldn't figure out
PERCIVALTali was still asleep when I opened my eyes. In college, I'd often hear people say that she probably slept with her arms crossed over her chest. . . like a vampire. Would they believe me if I told them Tali slept with her arms wrapped around my waist? That she would snuggle closer to my chest when I touched her hair? I wouldn't believe it either.The hardest part of the day was to get out of bed. I wake up a little earlier than my alarm every morning for this little time with her. When she was sound asleep and unaware of how glad I was to wake up next to her every morning. I sighed and kissed her forehead. Despite my desire to stay next to her the whole day, I slowly untangled her arms from my body. Careful so I wouldn't wake her up. I wanted to slow down mornings to have more time with her, where I could lay in bed for a while before heading to my son's room to see if he was also still asleep. I want all that at the beginning of each day. Leaving the house where my son and