WEDDING DAY…HUMUGOT ng malalim na hininga si Cassiuz habang patingin-tingin siya sa pinto ng simbahan. His bride was already five minutes late. And yes, he’s nervous. Napatingin lang siya kay Maverick nang marinig niya ang pagtawa nito.“Man, you’re sweating bullets.” Natatawang sabi ni Maverick at nag-offer ng panyo kay Cassiuz.Kinuha ni Cassiuz ang panyo saka pinunasan ang pawis na namumuo sa nuo niya. He took a deep breath. Kinuha niya ang cellphone mula sa bulsa ng suot niyang puting suit saka tinignan kung may mensahe si Wynter pero wala.Natawa si Maverick saka napailing. Tinapik niya ang balikat ni Cassiuz. “Relax.”Cassiuz looked at Maverick. “Hindi ako makapag-relax. My bride is not here yet. She’s already…” he looked at his wrist watch, “eight minutes late.”“It’s okay. Dadating siya, man. Hindi ka niya iiwan sa ere.”“Are you comforting me or teasing me?” Cassiuz glared at Maverick.Nagkibit ng balikat si Maverick. Hindi niya pinansin ang sama ng tingin sa kaniya ng kaibi
“SIR, you look inspired.” Ani Lester nang mapasukan niya si Sir Cassiuz sa opisina nito na nakangiti at mukhang inspirado.Cassiuz looked at Lester. Nagkibit siya ng balikat. “We had fun.”Lester chuckled. “The honeymoon.” Aniya saka napailing. “I understand you, Sir. Pero salamat naman dahil simula nang makilala niyo si Madam Wynter at hanggang ikasal kayo hindi na laging nakaseryoso ang mukha ninyo. When your face was serious, your employees are afraid to approach you.”Mahinang natawa si Cassiuz. “Lester, make a memo that all employees today of Velasquez Empire can go home. Wrote in the memo that there will be two days-vacation for all the employees of the Empire with double pay for this month.”Napatanga si Lester. “Sir?” Hindi siya makapaniwala sa narinig.“You heard me, Lester. Write it down now because I need to sign it.” Tinignan niya ang oras sa suot na relo. “Pupunta pa ako sa café ng asawa ko. May pupuntahan kaming importante.”“Okay, Sir.” Lester gestured an ‘okay’ sign. M
INSTEAD of working for the whole day in the Sweet Unique Café, Wynter went to her house in the afternoon, to talk with her father. She doesn’t like what’s happening. Her father is keeping the truth from Cassiuz. Cassiuz is now her husband. She could feel his pain whenever he mentions about his parents and it’s not good. She knew that her husband was seeking the justice for his parents. Masakit rin sa kaniya kapag nakikita niyang nahihirapan at nasasaktan ang asawa niya.Nasa labas pa lang siya ng gate, nakita niya ang magulang na nasa terasa ng kanilang bahay. Kinuha niya ang cake na dala saka bubuksan niya sana ang pinto ng backseat nang maunahan siya ni Dan na hindi niya napansin na naunang bumaba ng kotse.“Thank you, Dan. But I already told you not to open the door for me. I can do it myself.”Yumukod lang si Dan pero alam ni Wynter, hindi rin lang ito makikinig.“Madam, ako na.” Kinuha ni Nate ang hawak ni Wynter na cake at ito na bumuhat.“Thank you.” It’s useless to talk with t
WYNTER’S phone chimed and when she checked her phone, she just sighed and deleted the message. It was a picture again of her husband, Cassiuz with another woman, and their kissing, sometimes she even received a picture of Cassiuz hugging, and flirting with another woman. Dalawang linggo na simula ng nagsimula siyang makatanggap ng mga ganitong larawan. She ignored it.Why?Because she trusts her husband. Alam niyang hindi ito gagawa ng kalokohan na ikakawala ng tiwala niya rito. Though she was curious kung sino ang nagpapadala ng mga ganitong larawan sa kaniya. May ideya na siya pero hindi lang siya sigurado kung ang babae na ‘yon ang gumagawa nito. Hindi na niya ito sinabi kay Cassiuz dahil alam niyang abala ito sa Empire. Ayaw niyang dagdagan ang mga iniisip nito lalo na at may ginagawa itong project ngayon.“Your husband?” Valerie asked.Umiling si Wynter. “Just random strangers. Sending me nonsense things.”Ngumiti si Valerie. “Marami na talagang ganiyan ngayon. Hayaan mo na huwag
“BOSS, it’s was confirmed that it’s Mateo Del Moran who sent that man to shot you. At first he didn’t want to say a name so we didn’t have choice but to use violence against him.” Imporma ni Mark.Tumango si Cassiuz. “Good.” Uminom si Cassiuz ng juice na ginawa ni Wynter para sa kaniya. “Sana ibinalik niyo na siya sa amo na.”“Yes, Boss. Ibinalik namin siya sa amo niya.” Yumuko si Mark. “We beat him, Boss.”Tumaas lang ang sulok ng labi ni Cassiuz. “Okay. Thank you, Mark.”Yumukod si Mark. “Boss, ano ang susunod na plano niyo laban sa mga Del Moran?” tanong niya sa amo.Ngumisi si Cassiuz. “Saka na. Hindi pa naghihilom ang sugat ko ngayon. At isa pa hindi ako pinapayagan ng asawa ko na lumabas ng compound. Kaya saka ko na sila pagtuunan ng pansin kapag naghilom na ang sugat ko. Sa ngayon hayaan ko munang ang grupo ng mga kasama ko ang kumalaban sa kanila.”“Boss, you really regard Ranger, Hercules and Crimson as your partners now.”Ngumiti lang si Cassuiz.Yumukod si Mark saka umatras
CASSIUZ’ group was following Edwin’s car. Hindi nila alam kung saan ito pupunta. Initially, the plan was to visit Edwin in his house but unexpectedly, they saw his car moving out from the compound so Cassiuz decided to follow Edwin.Tumigil ang kotse ni Edwin sa tapat ng isang restaurant at ipinarada nito ang kotse sa nakalaang parking lot.Mark also parked the car beside Edwin’s car.Si Mark lang at Anthony ang kasama ni Cassiuz dahil may pinagawa siya sa iba niyang bodyguard.“Boss, Mr. Ferrer entered the restaurant.”Cassiuz looked Edwin Ferrer. He decided to follow him. Bumaba ng kotse si Cassiuz. Sumunod naman si Mark at Anthony sa amo. Pumasok ang tatlo sa restaurant at pasimpleng hinanap ng mata ni Cassiuz si Edwin.Natigilan siya nang makita niya kung sino ang kasama nito. Nasa isang sulok ito ng restaurant, sa parte na hindi masyadong nakikita at nakaupo ito doon. Hindi inaasahan ni Cassiuz nang makita ang kasama ni Edwin. “Dad…” he muttered after seeing Wynter’s father.Umup
NATIGILAN si Cassiuz nang makapasok siya sa mansion at nadatnan niya ang asawa na nakatulog sa mahabang sofa. Ngumiti si Cassiuz saka nakapamulsang lumapit kay Wynter. Tumayo siya sa tabi nito.“You can leave me now. Have a rest.” Ani Cassiuz sa mga bodyguard nito.Yumukod ang mga bodyguard saka sila umalis.Mahinang bumuntong hininga si Cassiuz at umupo sa gilid ng sofa kung saan nakahiga si Wynter. Ngumiti siya at hinawi ang ilang hibla ng buhok na tumatabing sa mukha nito. He dipped down and kissed his wife on her forehead.Nagising naman si Wynter nang maramdaman niyang may lumapat sa nuo niya. When she opened her eyes, she saw her husband. Ngumiti siya. “Welcome home, hubby.”Cassiuz smiled and held his wife’s hand. “I told you not to wait for me. Dapat nauna ka ng natulog.”Bumangon si Wynter. “What time is it?”Cassiuz looked at his wristwatch. “It’s already one in the morning.”Mabilis na bumaba si Wynter sa sofa. “Let’s go the Master’s bedroom. You need to rest.” Hinila niya
SINCE Cassiuz learned who is the Mastermind of his parent’s death, he started to investigate everything about the Del Moran. He will take down their business first before he will kill them. But killing them is too easy. So, he changed plan. Instead of killing the Del Moran after he stopped playing with them, he will make sure that they will live miserably.Tumaas ang sulok ng labi ni Cassiuz nang matanggap ang mensahe mula kay Mark na nagtagumpay ang mga ito sa ipinagawa niya. They sabotage Del Moran’s work. It’s a shady business anyway, when the products entered the market, mas maraming tao ang masisira ang buhay.And also, naibigay na sa mga awtoridad ang Old Black Book na nakuha noon ng ama ni Wynter at ngayon, ang hinahanap naman nito ang bagong Black Book that was in Del Moran’s possession. Edwin and Kingston already went back abroad but he can contact Kingston through his son, Kendrick. Pero sa totoo lang, nag-aalala siya sa ama ni Wynter. Ito ang nagprisinta na hahanap sa bagon