"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
My chest began to hurt, so I pressed my hand against it. Even my head started to throb.Percival slowly went down to the floor when my body slid down his hold. We both sat as I screamed and sobbed."Mom..." I kept begging for her to come back. I asked for a miracle.I just couldn't face the reality where she's gone. This is too soon. She hasn't even seen my child yet. Oh please, not yet, don't take her yet, please!"Katalina?"I paused when I heard my father's voice. The fear I felt doubled because I didn't know how to tell him that his wife was... gone.My gaze slowly went up to look at him. I could see the horror in his eyes as he looked at me.He shook his head as if he already knew what had happened. Dad almost fell down too, but his driver was quick to respond and caught him.Father composed himself quickly and went to where the doctors were.After a few minutes, I felt my dad's hand on my shoulder. I looked up at h
"Hold on, you're pregnant?" Koen asked with wide eyes. I bit my lower lip when I had realized that I said too much. However, it felt good to tell my brother everything. It didn't worry me much that Koen found out. I know he can keep a secret. He might nag at me, but he will still trust and support me. I'm glad that I don't have to keep it a secret from him. At least one of my family knew. However, I still don't know how he will take it. So, my gaze dropped to the floor before I slowly nodded. "Katalina, does he know?" he asked. His hands were on my shoulders. "Cadmus doesn't know. Our parents don't know." "What about him?" I followed my brother's hand, and my eyes were directed to where Percy was. "I know," Percy answered for me. "She has been staying with me." Koen analyzed the two of us before he spoke to Percy. "I won't ask for the details now. But I will soon." I guess