Chapter 6

Ang pag-alis ni Charlotte ay nag-iwan ng isang malaking puwang sa mansyon, pero sa halip na katahimikan, tila napuno ito ng isang bagong uri ng enerhiya. For the first time since I arrived at the Scott Estate, hindi ko naramdaman na may matalas na matang nakabantay sa bawat galaw ko. Pero alam ko, hindi pa tapos ang lahat.

Charlotte’s parting words—na hindi ako karapat-dapat—ay tila isang sumpa na nakabitin sa hangin.

"Sofia, handa ka na ba?"

Napalingon ako sa pintuan ng kwarto ko. Nakatayo doon si Riguel. He wasn't in his dusty work clothes.

He was wearing a dark navy polo shirt that hugged his broad shoulders perfectly, and his hair was neatly styled.

"Saan ba talaga tayo pupunta?" tanong ko habang kinakabit ang aking gintong hikaw. I chose a simple but elegant sundress—floral, light, and very 'P*******t aesthetic.'

"Sabi mo, namimiss mo ang siyudad. I can't take you back to Manila yet, but I can show you that the province has its own version of luxury," sabi niya, may maliit na ngiti sa kanyang mga labi na bihira ko lang makita.

Sinundo muna namin si Lily. For the first time, nakita ko siyang nakasuot ng bagong damit—isang kulay pink na dress na binili ko para sa kanya. She looked like a little angel. Riguel picked her up effortlessly, and for a moment, they looked like a real family. My heart skipped a beat. *Stop it, Sofia. It’s just a contract,* paalala ko sa sarili ko.

Sumakay kami sa itim na SUV ni Riguel. Hindi kami dumaan sa main road. Sa halip, pumasok kami sa isang pribadong daanan na napapalibutan ng mga dambuhalang puno ng pino. Pagkalipas ng tatlumpung minuto, bumukas ang isang malaking gate na gawa sa bakal at salamin.

My jaw dropped.

In the middle of the rugged mountains was a modern architectural masterpiece. It was a private glass lakeside villa. Crystal clear water, a wooden deck, and a view that looked like it was taken

straight out of a travel magazine.

"This is yours?" gulat na tanong ko.

"Isa ito sa mga investment ko. I come here when the pressure of the business and the guilt of the past become too much to bear," sagot niya habang pinagbubuksan ako ng pinto.

Doon kami nag-lunch. Walang Charlotte na nagmamasid. Riguel himself grilled the steaks, and we had fresh salad from his own gardens. Lily was happy, drawing the lake and the swans swimming nearby. Habang kumakain kami, ang usapan ay hindi na tungkol sa utang o sa kontrata.

"Bakit ka nagtatago sa probinsya, Riguel? With your wealth, you could be anywhere in the world,"

tanong ko, seryosong nakatingin sa kanya.

Uminom siya ng wine bago sumagot. "Wealth brings vultures, Sofia. People who love your money but hate your soul. Dito, alam ko kung sino ang totoo. The land doesn't lie to you. If you work hard, it gives back. Unlike the corporate world."

"But you’re still a Scott. You still run the empire from your laptop in that dusty library."

Tumawa siya nang mahina. It was a rich, deep sound that vibrated in my chest. "You’re too observant for your own good."

Biglang humangin nang malakas, at tumayo ang mga balahibo ko sa braso. Riguel noticed. He stood up, walked behind me, and draped his jacket over my shoulders. The scent of his cologne—sandalwood and sea salt—enveloped me.

"Sofia, about the ninety days..." he whispered near my ear.

"What about it?" My voice was trembling.

"I’m starting to wish the days would move slower."

Haharap na sana ako sa kanya para sumagot nang biglang tumayo si Lily. Bitbit niya ang kanyang drawing pad at itinuro ang gubat sa gilid ng villa. She looked terrified.

"Anong problema, Lily?" tanong ni Riguel, agad na naging alerto ang kanyang mga mata.

Lily pointed frantically. Sa malayo, nakita ko ang repleksyon ng araw sa isang bagay na metal. Isang lens?

"Get down!" sigaw ni Riguel.

Hinila niya ako at si Lily pababa sa ilalim ng matibay na wooden table. Isang segundo lang ang lumipas nang mabasag ang glass railing ng deck.

Isang bala. Hindi ito aksidente. It was a sniper.

"Riguel! What is happening?!" sigaw ko, ang takot ay tila yelo na dumadaloy sa aking mga ugat.

"Paparazzi or hitmen—it doesn't matter. They found us. Sofia, listen to me. Take Lily and run inside the villa. May panic room sa ilalim ng kitchen island.

Go!"

"How about you?!"

"I’ll draw their fire. Go now!"

Binuhat ko si Lily at tumakbo kami papasok sa villa. Ang bawat hakbang ko ay parang isang taon sa bagal dahil sa kaba. Narinig ko ang isa pang putok ng baril. Lumingon ako at nakita si Riguel na gumugulong sa damuhan, may hawak na rin siyang baril na kinuha niya mula sa ilalim ng deck.

*He’s not just a billionaire; he’s trained,* isip ko.

Nakarating kami ni Lily sa kitchen. I found the hidden latch on the floor. "Lily, hide. Huwag kang lalabas hangga't hindi ko sinasabi, okay?"

Tumango si Lily, nanginginig pero matapang.

Isinara ko ang pinto ng panic room pero hindi ako pumasok. Hindi ko maiwan si Riguel. Kinuha ko ang isang mabigat na cast-iron skillet mula sa rack. It was a stupid weapon against guns, but it was all I had.

Sinilip ko ang deck. May dalawang lalakeng naka-maskara na papalapit sa villa. Riguel was nowhere to be seenn.

"Nasaan ang babae?" tanong ng isa sa mga lalake.

Ang boses niya... pamilyar. Ang lalakeng sinaksak ni Lily ng shears!

"Hulihin niyo ang babae! Charlotte wants her dead or alive bago tayo umalis ng probinsya!" sigaw ng isa pa.

Charlotte. She didn't leave. She stayed to finish the job.

Pumasok ang isang lalake sa kitchen. I held my breath, hiding behind the large refrigerator. Nang lumampas siya sa akin, buong lakas kong inihampas ang skillet sa likod ng ulo niya.

*CLANG!*

Bumagsak siya, tulog agad. Pero ang ingay ay nakatawag ng pansin ng pangalawang lalake.

"Boss! Nandito ang babae!"

Tumakbo ako patungo sa sala, pero naabutan niya ako. Hinablot niya ang buhok ko at itinulak ako sa pader. "You bit*h! Dahil sa iyo, nawalan kami ng trabaho!"

Itinutok niya ang baril sa noo ko. I closed my eyes, praying for a miracle.

*BANG!*

Pero hindi ako ang natamaan. Pagdilat ko, nakatayo si Riguel sa pinto. Ang kanyang polo shirt ay may punit at may dugo sa kanyang braso, pero ang hitsura niya ay parang isang demonyo ng hustisya. Ang baril niya ay nakatutok sa lalakeng humahawak sa akin.

"Touch her again, and I’ll make sure you don't even have a body to bury," malamig na sabi ni Riguel.

The man dropped his gun and raised his hands, shaking in fear. "Please, Master Riguel! Si Charlotte lang ang nag-utos! Binayaran lang kami!"

"Tell it to the police," Riguel growled.

Pagkalipas ng isang oras, ang villa ay puno na ng mga tauhan ni Riguel at ng mga pulis. Charlotte was caught trying to cross the border of the next province. This time, she wouldn't be coming back.

Nakatayo kami ni Riguel sa deck, pinapanood ang paglubog ng araw. The tension from the fight was still in the air, but it had turned into something else.

Something magnetic.

"You’re hurt," bulong ko habang nililinis ang sugat sa braso niya gamit ang first-aid kit.

"I’ve had worse," sagot niya, nakatitig lang sa akin. "Why didn't you hide in the panic room, Sofia? You could have been killed."

"I couldn't leave you, Riguel. Contract or no contract, you’re... you’re my husband."

Riguel reached out and cupped my face with his large, warm hand. The contrast of his rough palm against my soft skin made me shiver. "You fought a man with a frying pan to save me."

"It was a heavy pan," biro ko, pilit na itinatago ang kaba.

Dahan-dahan, inilapit ni Riguel ang mukha niya sa akin. I could feel his warm breath. "Sofia Hatheaway... you are the most stubborn, brave, and beautiful woman I’ve ever met. And I think I’m in serious trouble."

"Bakit?"

"Because I don't think I can ever let you go after ninety days."

And then, he kissed me.

It wasn't a gentle kiss. It was hungry, desperate, and full of the fire that had been building up since the day I arrived at the mansion. It was the kiss of a man who had finally found something worth fighting for.

Nang maghiwalay kami, pareho kaming hingal.

The stars were starting to come out, and the lake reflected the moon.

"Sofia, look," bulong niya.

I looked down and saw my **Sun & Moon necklace** glowing under the moonlight. Then, Riguel reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, old, worn-out drawing. It was a drawing of the same symbol, but on the back, there was a name written in a child's handwriting.

*Sofia.*

"Ikaw ba... ikaw ba ang batang 'yun?" tanong ko, ang luha ay nagsisimulang pumatak.

"I’ve been looking for you for fifteen years, Sofia. Why do you think I chose your father’s debt to pay? It wasn't about the money. It was about finding the girl who gave me a reason to live after my brother died."

My heart felt like it was exploding. The man I thought was my jailer was actually my savior.

Pero bago kami makapagsaya, isang tawag ang natanggap ni Riguel sa kanyang cellphone. Ang mukha niya ay agad na naging seryoso.

"What? Who is she?" tanong ni Riguel sa kabilang linya. "Bella? Claiming she has the necklace?"

Nilingon ako ni Riguel, ang kanyang mga mata ay puno ng kalituhan at galit. "Sofia... your sister is at the mansion. And she’s claiming that *she* is the girl from my past."

The real battle was just beginning.