Chapter 1;

    

       Life is like a maze, full of different obstacles and requires a great deal of strength to survive. That is one thing that the four years old Desire Almonte learned from her father. He is a very busy man but he always finds time to bond with her. But today she received a very bad news from her grandfather saying that her father died due to an illness. Her mother died after giving birth to her and now her father left her at such a very young age. Tears started to fall from her beautiful emerald green eyes as she reminisces her past memories with him.

    

              "Hush now my princess, your father hates to see you cry," her grandpa comforted her. He sits beside her and tried to wipe her tears using his bare hands.

    

              "But grandpa if he does not want to see me like this,  he shouldn't have left me," the poor little girl cried. Her grandpa carried her in his arms and kissed her forehead.

    

             "Princess, if he only had a choice I'm pretty sure that he would choose to stay with us. But unfortunately we can't decide on how long we get to stay in this world," her grandpa explained. She looked at him with full curiosity.

      

           "Who gets to decide on our fate then?" the little girl asked curiously.

    

          Her grandpa chuckled before he speaks, "God is the owner of our lives. He will decide on when he will take it away from us."

    

           The little girl suddenly felt sad after hearing what her grandfather told her.

    

             "I'm scared grandpa," she said as more tears fall from her eyes.

    

            "Scared of what?" 

            "I'm scared that God would take you away from me as well. You're the only one I have now." Her grandpa smiled and hugged her tight.

    

            "I will never leave you my princess. You will never be left alone in this world," he promised that made the poor little girl smile. 

    

             "Am I going to live with you now grandpa?"

    

               "Yes sweetheart, infact your nanny already packed your things for you," her grandpa answered. 

    

                "Are we going to take my nanny with us? I will miss her grandpa. I want her to come with us," she sobbed. Her grandpa caressed her cheeks and gave her a warm smile.

    

                "Of course sweetheart, she will be living with us in my mansion. We will leave after your father's burial." 

    

                "Thank you, thank you grandpa!" She kisses her grandpa's cheeks, and that made the old man happy. He made a promise to his only son and he does not want to disappoint him. As long as he's alive he will fulfill that promise. He will make his granddaughter happy and give her everything she desires.

    

                  After his son's burial, Giovanni and his granddaughter together with their servants rode on their private plain back to Manila. He knows that it would be hard for her granddaughter to leave her home. But it's the only way he could look after her and for her not to feel being alone. 

    

                     "Welcome to your new home Desire!" Giovanni Almonte announced as soon as they arrive in his mansion in Manila. His granddaughter was fascinated with the view she's seeing right now.

      

                 They are in the middle of a wide garden with beautiful landscapes and a water fountain in the middle. Infront of them is a big mansion with a castle like features. There were maids and butlers waiting for them as well. Some were taking her things and bringing it inside the mansion.

    

                  "Wow! Is this really your place grandpa?" she asked in disbelief. Her grandpa just nod as an answer.

       

                "You are so rich grandpa! Come nanny let's have a tour on our new home!" She hurriedly run inside the mansion while giggling.

    

                "Go after her," Giovanni instructed his granddaughter's nanny. He can't help but smile seeing his grandchild happy despite the tragedy they have been through.

    

                 "Sir, we already prepared the lunch you requested earlier," one of his maids told him.

    

                  "Thank you Yasemin, I'm sure my granddaughter would love to try the food you prepared for us."

    

                  "It will be an honor sir," the maid politely answered while bowing down her head.

    

    

                     Giovanni entered his mansion and all the maids and butlers bowed their heads as a sign of respect. 

    

                      "Daddy you're home!" A little boy who's probably 3 years older than Desire run towards his direction. 

    

                      "How's my little warrior?" he asked the little boy and carried him in his arms. The little boy giggled and kissed his cheeks.

    

                     "Daddy, my nanny and I had so much fun earlier. We played a lot of toys and watched different kinds of movies," he answered with a big smile on his face.

    

                       "Well, that's good to hear. We could watch those movies and play together tomorrow," Giovanni said that made the little boy's smile grow bigger.

    

                      "Really daddy?"

    

                   "Yes my little warrior, daddy will spend time with you tomorrow," he promised his son. The child is not really his son but he treats him like his own flesh and blood. One of his maids got pregnant but died while giving birth. So he had to keep the child and adopt him in a legal way.

    

    

                     "Grandpa who is he?" little Desire who have just finished running around asked her grandpa when she saw him carrying another child in his arms.

    

                   "Who is she daddy? And why is she calling you grandpa?" the little boy asked as well. Giovanni puts him down and motioned them both to sit on the couch. The two children followed him and then he started to explain things to them.

    

                              "Desire, my beautiful granddaughter I want you to meet my son, your uncle Chase," he stated. Desire stared at Chase as if observing him.

        "But grandpa, daddy told me that he is your only son. How come you have another son now?"she asked curiously. 

        Chase glared at her but Desire glared at him as well. Giovanni noticed it and heaved a deep sigh.

           "Listen carefully, you are both precious to me. And I want the two of you to get along well with each other. I don't want to see you fighting, did you understand?" 

     

        "Yes grandpa," / "Yes daddy," the kids answered in unison.

            "Good! And as for your question sweetheart," He turned to face Desire. "He is not really my son by blood but I already considered him as one. So respect and love him because he is your uncle," he continued. Desire just nod as an answer.

           "And as for you my little warrior, Desire is your older brother's daughter. And from now on she will be living with us," he explained to Chase as well.

         "Where is my brother daddy? Why did he leave his daughter with you?"

        Desire suddenly felt sad because of her uncle's question. She remembered her dad and her longing for him. 

           "He's gone now, and he needs us to look after his daughter. Will you do that for him son?"

 

          "I will daddy, from now on I will treat her as my little sister." Giovanni smiled because of his son's answer. 

           After their small talk they went to the dining area to have lunch. 

    

                 "This food is personally prepared by Yasemin, how was it?" Giovanni asked his granddaughter who's currently enjoying her food. 

        "It's good grandpa!" Desire answered while munching some food in her mouth.

She is sitting beside Chase while her grandpa is sitting opposite to them.

       Giovanni smiled and turned around to look at Yasemin who's standing behind him.

       "See? I told you she will like it!" he said that made Yasemin proud. She's smiling from ear to ear. 

        "Here, try this one Desire," Chase said while putting some chicken calderata on Desire's plate.

       "Thank you uncle Chase," Desire answered shyly.

       "You don't have to be shy, we are a family here," Chase told her. Desire slightly nod and gave him a sweet smile. Giovanni smiled upon seeing how the two kids get along very well.

        "How I wish you will be like this until you both grow up!" he wished.

      "We will daddy, I will promise to be a good uncle to her," Chase promised that made his father happy.

    

             After eating lunch Chase went back to his room. His nanny is with him and  fixing his bed.

           "Nanny, I will finally have a playmate now!" Chase excitedly said. His nanny frowned and went closer to him.

         "Listen carefully Chase, she is not a playmate nor a friend to you. She is your enemy," his nanny explained that made him curious.

  

          "How could you say that nanny? She is my brother's daughter!"

          "Yes she is! And that is absolutely the reason why she is your enemy," she reasoned out. "She will slowly take everything away from you, including your daddy."

           "No! I don't want that to happen!" Chase shouted angrily. 

           "Then you have to get rid of her before she stole everything from you," she whispered like a devil.

         "You're right nanny, I will never let her have everything!" he said with full determination.

         "And I will be with you every step of the way. Together we will kick that girl away from her." Then they both laugh with their idea.