Chapter 06

KEI

Was what I learned really true? Was it really Gio that I spent the night with? This can’t be happening—why him? Of all the people I could’ve ended up with last night, why did it have to be Gio Evangelista?

I held my head in my hands, feeling the stress build up inside me. My thoughts were racing, and I didn’t know what steps to take next. The events of the night before were a blur, but the realization that it was Gio, of all people, sent a jolt of panic through me. I could still feel the warmth of his touch, the way his voice had softened when he spoke my name. How could I not have recognized him?

I bit my lip, trying to suppress the flood of emotions threatening to overwhelm me. I needed to get out of here before Gio returned, before I had to face the reality of what had happened between us.

Quickly, I gathered my belongings, my hands trembling as I dressed. My heart raced as I looked at the door, knowing that with each passing second, the risk of Gio finding me increased. I couldn’t bear the thought of seeing him, of the questions he might ask or the emotions he might stir within me. I had to leave now.

I rushed out of the room, only to be stopped by his maid as I reached the hallway.

“Where are you going?” she asked, her voice polite but firm.

“Uh—I need to leave. There’s an emergency, and I have to go. Sorry,” I replied hastily, avoiding her gaze. My heart pounded in my chest as I waited for her to respond, praying she wouldn’t question me further. Thankfully, she nodded, seemingly satisfied with my excuse.

As I hurried down the stairs, I couldn’t help but glance back at the closed door of the room where I’d woken up. Memories of the night flashed through my mind—Gio’s intense gaze, the way he’d held me close, the way I’d let myself get lost in him. I shook my head, trying to clear the images. This was a mistake, a huge mistake.

Once outside, I was hit by the cool morning air, a stark contrast to the warmth I’d felt inside. The realization that I had spent the night in Gio’s house, right next to his bar, made me shudder. How could I have been so careless? I spotted a taxi on the highway and quickly flagged it down, eager to escape.

When I finally arrived at my condo, I felt a wave of relief wash over me. The familiar surroundings were a stark contrast to the whirlwind of emotions I’d experienced since last night. I barely made it inside before collapsing onto my bed, utterly drained. My mind was still reeling, trying to make sense of everything that had happened. How could I have ended up in such a situation with Gio? And why did it feel like there was something more between us than just a night of passion?

I closed my eyes, letting the exhaustion take over. My body ached, not just from the hurried escape, but from the intensity of what had transpired. The last thing I wanted was to think about Gio, but his face kept creeping into my thoughts. I could still feel his hands on my skin, his breath against my ear. The memory was too vivid, too fresh.

Before I knew it, I had drifted off into a deep sleep, the weight of the situation pulling me under. I slept for hours, my dreams filled with fragmented images of Gio, of the moments we’d shared and the confusion that now consumed me.

When I woke up, the sun had already set, casting a dim light through the curtains. I stretched, my body still heavy with fatigue, and reached for my phone. The screen was filled with missed calls and messages from Vanessa. She must be worried sick about me.

Feeling guilty for not answering her earlier, I quickly called her back. “Hey, sorry I didn’t pick up earlier. I was really tired,” I explained, trying to keep my voice steady.

“Where have you been?” Vanessa’s voice was laced with concern. “I’ve been calling you since yesterday. I was worried something might have happened to you.”

I sighed deeply as I got up from the bed and took a sip of water. “I’m fine, don’t worry. I’ve got a lot to tell you, but maybe we can talk in person?”

“Did you see Gio last night? Zion told me he went to see him. Then suddenly, Gio disappeared, and you were nowhere to be found either,” Vanessa said, her tone curious.

I swallowed hard, feeling the weight of the truth pressing down on me. It was like she already knew Gio and I had spent the night together.

“Actually, about that—” I started, but I was interrupted by the sound of my doorbell ringing. “Van, I’ll call you back later, okay?” I quickly ended the call and headed to the door to see who it was.

Peeking through the peephole, I froze when I saw my mom standing outside. What was she doing here at this hour? It was already late, and I couldn’t imagine why she would visit me now.

I opened the door and gave her a puzzled look. “Mom, what are you doing here? What’s going on?”

She looked at me intently, her gaze sharp. “Why haven’t you come home? Don’t you care about your father and me anymore?” Her voice was filled with anger, and I could sense the tension between us.

I took a deep breath, rubbing my forehead in frustration. “Mom, you know Dad doesn’t want me there. So why should I go home? You and Dad even cut off my bank accounts and credit cards because you disowned me, remember?”

She sighed deeply, clearly struggling with her emotions. “Can you really just leave us like that?”

“Mom, the moment you kicked me out, you were the ones who left me. You didn’t consider how I felt. You just wanted me to follow what you wanted. Why don’t you ask my brother to come home instead? He’s the eldest, and he’s already accomplished so much. Why don’t you ask him?” I shot back, my voice tinged with bitterness.

“I don’t know where you got this newfound boldness, but look at you—you can’t even take care of yourself in this tiny condo apartment,” she retorted.

I couldn’t understand why she was here, of all places, to belittle me. Was she here to mock my situation? Did she think I still needed them to survive? I was determined to prove otherwise.

“Mom, so what if it’s small? At least I have a place to stay. Besides, I used the money I saved to buy this place.”

“Money that came from us.”

“Money that I saved! Even if I asked for it, you gave it to me, so it’s mine. I don’t know why you’re here, but if you’re planning to take this condo from me, well, this property is under my name because I paid for it with my money. And if you’re here to give me back my bank accounts, then just do it,” I said, crossing my arms defiantly.

“You won’t get those accounts back. That money came from your father and me. We worked hard to save it for you,” she replied coldly.

I shrugged, smiling bitterly. “Then there’s nothing more to discuss. Send my regards to Dad. If he wants to know how I’m doing, tell him I’m fine, still alive, and managing just fine without your money.”

I was about to close the door, but she stopped me with her hand.

“I didn’t come here for that. I came to tell you that your brother is coming back to the country, along with your childhood friend, Stephen Sanchez,” she said, her tone softening.

“What for? What am I supposed to do? Say hello and then leave? Isn’t Dylan one of the people who agreed to kick me out? So why should I?”

“For your brother, Kei. Show some respect, and also for your friend. He wanted to meet you. He talked to me earlier, so I decided to come here and tell you. Remember, the Sanchez corporate group is also big in other countries,” she said, raising an eyebrow.

“Are you serious, Mom? Are you telling me this for what reason—to marry Stephen? No way!” I exclaimed, feeling both angry and incredulous.

“For our family. If you want to get the money you’ve been asking for and all the things you used to own, then do it,” she urged.

I couldn’t believe she expected me to do this for the sake of our family.

“No, I won’t do it,” I replied firmly. “If you won’t give me what I need, then I’ll earn it myself. I have plans, and I’ll work hard to get enough money to support myself.”