Hyperion wanted to convince himself that he had gotten the judge to side with him. However, his instinct was telling him to not be so confident, especially since he had not seen Gavin's actions yet. And if he chooses to overlook this matter, there would always be a possibility that Shantala's husband could turn the tables on him.
"Before the next trial, meet with the judge and make sure that she did not change her mind. And seeing that Gavin is already making a move, make all the necessary preparations to end the case at the next meeting," he said before receiving a nod from the lawyer.After going through the divorce paper, he handed it back to him.He added, "Once Stacey returns, present that to her and whatever she demands like money or properties, list it down and have her sign it as soon as possible. If she asks for something else, then contact me first."After their brief meeting, the lawyer left Hyperion in his study room all alone. He wentPhoebe, despite being so close to the two of them, felt like she was in another dimension. The way they spoke sounded professionally evil but thrilling as well. She does not really care about how they will separate the two as long as she gets to marry Gavin, she will be more than satisfied. Looking at her father, she bit her lower lip with the anticipation of hearing the plans he and Mr. Devon had come up with.Back at the Devon residence, Shantala left their room when she finally calmed herself. Looking outside the window, she only came to realize that it was already nighttime. Heading to the living room, she saw Gavin seeing the lawyer out while Trevor was in the other room playing.A little while later, Gavin came walking toward her."What did the lawyer say?" she asked.But instead of getting an answer from him, she received a warm caress on the cheek as if he was wiping away her already-dried tears."How are you feeling?" he ask
Shantala stared at Hyperion, thinking if she should believe his words or not. There was a possibility that it was indeed for that reason, however, she got the assurance she needed from her husband just the other night. That was why whether he went there for another matter or to meet Phoebe, she trusted him that he wouldn't be swayed.As a reply, she snickered. "He won't cheat on me," she said with confidence. "That aside, what kind of play are you trying to do now, Hyperion? Can't we just live in peace without seeing each other? Aren't you tired of all the shit going on?"Hyperion felt envious of Gavin, especially since he just witnessed how Shantala trusted him. He wanted to be the person in his place, however, that could never happen for as long as Gavin stayed with her. Gripping the steering wheel tighter, he could only think of using this chance to fully break the trust between Gavin and his wife. "I won't ever get tired until you surrender
Hyperion was filled with joy that he could no longer hide the smile on his face. Leaning his forehead on Trevor's chest, he felt like tearing up once again. "Why are you happy, uncle?"The mafia boss' smile vanished in no time and he looked at his son again."Uncle?" he questioned.Trevor nodded."Call me Dad like what you did just a while back.""You already smiled so I'm calling you uncle again."He could not believe what he was hearing. Just when he thought that his very son had finally recognized him as his father, Trevor immediately crushed that without batting an eye. Heaving a sigh, he asked, "So you called me Dad because you saw me crying?""Uh-huh."He simply shook his head, unable to think how he should react to that. But he did appreciate that simple gesture and he did not expect that it would be Trevor who actually came at the time he needed someone. "Where is Mommy?" Tr
Sitting in the living room with only one guard standing behind her, Shantala nervously waited. She clenched her hands upon hearing the gates opening. Her gaze, then, shifted to the direction where she saw a black van that was usually used by Gavin's men. She took a few deep breaths before she straightened her back and wore a poker face."Let me go! If he finds out about this, he will kill all of you! Fuck you all!"The woman's agitated voice broke the silence that long lingered in the residence. The two guards holding the woman down forced her to stand across from Shantala."You..." she said with gritted teeth upon seeing the woman in front of her. When the guards let her go, she glared at them before facing Shantala with a scoff."So it is you, huh." She sat on the sofa and flipped her hair. "What do you want?""Let me get straight to the point," she responded. "Are you Tricia Vexmore?"The woman leaned back on the sof
Upon leaving the stadium, Trevor's eyes were locked onto the stall where a woman was selling some ice cream."Uncle, I want some ice cream.""I'll buy you lots later. For now, let's head back home.""But I want some ice cream from that lady!" Trevor pointed at the stall.Still, Hyperion opened the door in the backseat to let him in, insisting that they must leave immediately. But instead of getting some cooperation from his son, he received a pair of puppy eyes."Dad, please?"Hyperion did not know how to react since he felt like Trevor was obviously coaxing him by using the word 'Dad.' But he cannot deny the fact that to be addressed like that made him happy.He let out a sigh as a sign of defeat. Nodding his head, the two of them walked to the stall. While waiting for his son to choose which flavor he wanted, Hyperion received another call from Guillard."Have you found her?" he asked."We lost track of her whe
The question thrown at him sounded like Shantala already knew something, catching Hyperion off guard. However, he did not want to believe it and wanted to think that it was simply a facade. Besides, if he acted out of character, she might become suspicious of him."If I found her, then I should not have proposed to your sister and met you that day. I would have married her like what we already planned for long," he replied. "Shantala... Did you find Tricia?""What do you think?""I think you did."This made her smile as she nodded her head. She could not really tell what Hyperion was thinking or what he wanted to do at the moment so it was hard for her to plan on what she should do next. She was about to speak but then, the head of the guards suddenly came up to her.Standing before her to get in between her and Hyperion, he held his earpiece and instructed, "Spread throughout the vicinity. Those who are stationed at the entrance, rush he
"Ma'am, may I ask when will you be available for the discussion regarding the next trial?" her attorney asked."I will go to your office tomorrow morning... probably around 8. Is that okay?" she responded.Upon getting confirmation, she ended the call only to notice that Hyperion was staring at her. She rolled her eyes out of annoyance."So... are you going to confess the truth for the next trial?" he asked.She simply shrugged, not wanting to talk about it with him. Besides, after she had regained her suppressed memories, she had already come to a final decision. She has yet to open it up to Gavin but she will do just that once the problem in their company gets resolved.On the other hand, Hyperion wanted to make her talk so he thought of provoking her indirectly. Leaning on the car, he commented, "But aside from worrying about the trial, I think you should also start worrying about what is happening in Vidale City at the momen
An hour had passed already and yet, nothing really happened in the Devon residence. Thus, Shantala got out of the car and faced Hyperion who was still leaning on the car with his arms crossed. "Did your men fail to see what they were searching for? If yes, then tell them to leave my house alone," she stated. "And you left Trevor all by himself long enough. It is time you go and see what is going on with him." Using Trevor as his excuse, Hyperion indeed left the premises and headed back to his mansion. "Sir, we found nothing even in the right wing. It seems like they hid Replica A1 somewhere else," one of his men reported. Heaving a sigh, he said, "Vacate the premises. Install some bugs around the house before leaving." Recalling Shantala's words just a while back, it seemed like she was indirectly telling him that Tricia's impostor was within the Devon residence. He may not have succeeded in taking her back that day but it does not mean that he will just stop. Upon arrivin
"Mr. Devon had been trying to do that but you might as well know that Hyperion is keeping a close watch on her. Our men could not even get near her. But if you want to get killed first by him, then you can go ahead and hurt that woman." Phoebe clicked her tongue. If only Hyperion was out of the picture, things could have been easier. But then, her mood slowly changed when she came up with an idea. If she cannot get rid of Shantala by killing her, then she will resort to using Hyperion. "I will go and see Hyperion," she said before storming out of the office. "I am such a genius for thinking that way." Just like that, she drove to Heartland Company and immediately went to the reception desk. "Is Helios Ranford here?" she asked. "Yes, ma'am. Did you make an appointment?" This made the young heiress roll her eyes to the side. "A Romalia heir does not make any appointments," she rep
"Stop acting like a saint, Shantala!" Stacey screamed in rage as she stood from her seat. She tried to grab her, baring her teeth but the glass that separated them stopped her from laying a finger on her sister."You are fucking tainted by tons of men! So you are no fucking saint! You know that better than anyone! And don't you act like you are the victim here when you are the one who stole my husband! You ruined our relationship, keep that in your mind. And do not ever look at me with those eyes because I do not need your pity! If you ever forgive me, I will hate you even if I forever suffer in the fires of hell!"Shantala smiled bitterly and said, "I never said that I am forgiving you, Stacey. Whether you are my sister or not, it does not change the fact that you killed my son who did nothing to you. Seeing that you do not regret anything, then I shall let you rot in here. I owe you no explanation since it is your husband who messed up. I intervened before to sav
Meanwhile, Hyperion and Shantala were already on their way to the cemetery where Trevor's funeral was to be held. Only silence ruled over the two as they patiently drove through the heavy traffic. But after a few minutes, Hyperion finally broke the ice surrounding them."About what you said a while ago..." he said. "Do you really mean it?"Instead of answering him either a yes or no, she threw questions instead and along with it was a hint of sarcasm and anger."Why? Are you happy that you are finally getting what you wanted? And since that will happen in the future, are you going to divorce my sister now? Should we celebrate then?""We already settled our separation yesterday."Shantala immediately turned to him with wide eyes. She thought that it would take quite some time for it to happen, especially since Stacey did not want to divorce him. "What did you do?" she asked with gritted teeth.But even after a minute of
Shantala grew up as the breadwinner of her family. She worked harder and even sold her body to earn money for their expenses. There was not a time that she thought of doing something that put herself first before anyone else until Gavin proposed to her. He was the man she never knew who would make her feel wanted, loved, and adored despite her bitter past... even though she had a son from another man.However, all she had been fighting for up until this moment seemed to be slowly being taken away from her. First, she lost her brother and her sister hated her. And now, her son also left her. Will she also lose her husband? That question never left her when the doctor told her that Gavin's situation was still unstable even though the surgery conducted was successful.Half a day had already passed and yet, there was still no sign of Gavin ever waking up."He was driving at full speed and was about to crash into another car. He immediately steered to the right
This time, she pulled away from him and looked him directly in the eyes."Can you, at least, explain to me how he ended up like this? I gave way and let him be under your supervision, Hyperion, with the hope that you would look after him... because whether I like it or not, you are still his father. But what exactly happened?"The mafia boss felt cornered for the very first time. This was no situation he could get away with because, first and foremost, she deserved to know the truth. Lying to her would not make things any better.Thus, he replied, "Stacey gave him the poison."Hearing his response, Shantala immediately slapped him across the face. Her hand throbbed in pain but seeing the red mark on Hyperion's cheek satisfied her nonetheless."And you did not do anything about it!" she hissed."I did not know, Shantala. I thought she decided to finally accept Trevor–"She slapped him for the second time but this time, sh
The words of the doctor seemed to have killed Shantala's soul as they replayed in her mind like a broken record. Her sobs ceased and her tears stopped falling down her cheeks as if everything inside her had been frozen over. Without saying another word, she walked past the doctor and nurses and slowly entered the emergency room filled with deafening silence. Her eyes were locked onto the bed where her son was lying–unmoving and breathless. When she stood near him, she held his small hand and cupped his cheek. She wanted to believe that this was not real... that she was just having the most terrible nightmare. However, the reality was that she was holding her son right there and then just slapped her with the fact that it was no mere nightmare."Honey," she muttered, "Mommy's here already. It's okay now, please. Please, honey, open your eyes. Let's go back home. Papa is already here... He is coming for you... for the both of us so we could all go back home. Ho
Before she could take the time to digest the bombarding information, another person entered the scene—Hyperion showed up with his men just behind him. Valerie saw him and her resolution of helping Shantala instead of fleeing fueled her to go up to him and tell him the secret she had kept for years. She also considered this as a way to finally drop the burden she had been carrying as well as to free her and Machiavelli from having to hide and run away. Walking in his direction; she gathered every ounce of her courage."Drop the charge against Shantala, Helios. She... She did not kill Tricia... she did not kill me. I-I actually planned to deceive you that night and run away with another man because I never loved you. It was the only way I thought of to escape from you. And it just so happened that Shantala got there–""Get out of my way," Hyperion demanded. His piercing gaze was cold and the tone of his voice sent shivers down Valerie's spine, mak
When Shantala's trial was ongoing, Mr. Devon called the head bodyguard at the residence of his son."Why did you report that matter so late?!" he yelled.He was referring to the imprisonment of Replica A1 and since that woman was involved in Shantala's kidnapping, Mr. Devon feared that she would confess the truth to his son's wife. If ever that happens, not only will their plan fail but there would be a high possibility of his son being already out of his control. And not to mention, Gavin was also looking into the matter of his wife's kidnapping."I apologize, sir." That was the only response of the head bodyguard which simply angered his boss even more."You better release that woman before she nonchalantly opens her mouth," he instructed with gritted teeth. "Let Hyperion deal with her.""Right away, sir.""And keep your eyes on my son. He is already on his way back there so make sure he will file for a divorce as soo
"There," she whispered upon seeing a small black bug underneath the side table. Her immediate thought on who most likely installed it was the intruders the other day. It was a good thing she did not speak a lot about the whereabouts of Tricia's impostor. Not wanting to alert the ones who installed it, she let it be and simply left the room. The first person she approached was the head bodyguard."There is a listening device in my room. It was probably done by those men the other day. Search every crook and cranny of the house to look for the other devices. Just locate them and do not ever destroy them," she instructed with a low tone of voice. Who knows? There might be another bug just around them. The head bodyguard immediately alerted the others and started the search. She could only heave a sigh. Just when she thought she was finally going to have her rest, it seemed like she had to deal with Tricia's double first. Thus, she headed down to t