CHAPTER 2: The Homecoming

The next few hours passed in a blur. Adriana could barely remember how she managed to pack her belongings or book the earliest flight back to the Philippines.

Everything felt unreal.

It was as if she had been trapped inside a nightmare—one she desperately wanted to wake up from, yet couldn't.

"Please eat something, señorita," Yaya Jona pleaded softly as she handed her a meal tray. "You haven't eaten since you found out about your father's death. At this rate, you'll end up in the hospital yourself."

The two of them were seated in the first-class cabin of their flight.

"If your father were here, he'd be furious to see you starving yourself. He loved you more than anything."

Adriana slowly turned away from the airplane window and looked at Yaya Jona with cold eyes.

"Think before you speak, Yaya," she said bitterly. "If Dad were still alive, we wouldn't even be on this plane."

Yaya Jona bit her lip, instantly regretting what she had said. "Please lower your voice, señorita. Everyone's staring at us."

Adriana glanced around the cabin and caught several passengers secretly watching them.

"What are you all looking at?" she snapped. "Have you never seen a beautiful woman yelling in first class before? Mind your own business!"

Embarrassed beyond words, Yaya Jona quickly grabbed Adriana's arm and gently pulled her back into her seat.

"Señorita, please..."

"What?" Adriana jerked her arm away. "Do you want me to take my anger out on you instead? Because I can."

Yaya Jona sighed helplessly. "Just ignore them. Sit down and take a deep breath. If you keep frowning like that, we'll have to stop by a dermatology clinic before your father's wake. You wouldn't want to greet his friends looking full of wrinkles, would you?"

"Whatever." Adriana rolled her eyes dramatically. "I should've waited for the Ferrer Group's private jet. At least I wouldn't have to deal with these nosy people."

"Drink some water and calm down," Yaya Jona coaxed. "Don't vent your anger on people who haven't done anything to you."

"Stop defending them! My family pays your salary. Your loyalty should be with me."

"I've always been loyal to you," Yaya Jona replied gently. "But loyalty doesn't mean agreeing when you're wrong. Sometimes caring for someone means correcting them."

Adriana let out a long sigh before leaning back against her seat. She stayed silent—not because she had nothing left to say, but because deep down... she knew Yaya Jona was right. None of those people had done anything to deserve her anger. She turned her attention back to the window.

Outside, the night sky stretched endlessly across the horizon, dark and empty, just like the hollow feeling growing inside her chest.

Several hours later...

"Ladies and gentlemen, we are now preparing for landing. Please fasten your seatbelts and ensure your seats are in the upright position. Thank you."

As the captain's announcement echoed through the cabin, every passenger buckled up.

"So we're finally here," Yaya Jona muttered with a relieved smile. "Sixteen hours on a plane is enough to break anyone's back."

Adriana didn't even react. Instead, she pulled out a compact mirror and examined her reflection, making sure she didn't look exhausted before stepping off the plane.

Soon after, the aircraft landed at Ninoy Aquino International Airport. The cabin doors opened, and the warm, humid Philippine air immediately rushed inside.

"Welcome home, señorita," Yaya Jona said warmly.

Adriana simply shot her a look.

Carrying her designer handbag, she slowly descended the aircraft stairs with Yaya Jona following closely behind.

The moment her heels touched the ground, Adriana froze. Three tall men dressed in black suits were standing several meters away, staring directly at her. Yaya Jona noticed them too.

"Señorita... those men have been watching you." She discreetly pointed toward them. "Do you know them?"

"I've never seen them before." Adriana frowned and immediately reached for her phone. "I'll call Lorenzo. Something feels off."

Moments later, Enzo answered.

["I'm pretty sure you've already landed, Miss Adriana. I'll be there in a minute. Don't leave the airport."]

"Hurry up. I think someone's following me. Three men have been staring at us since we got here."

["Don't move. Wait for me."]

The line disconnected.

Following Enzo's instructions, Adriana and Yaya Jona stayed exactly where they were.

A few minutes later, a sleek Bugatti Chiron pulled up in front of them.

Yaya Jona's eyes widened. "My goodness... that man's incredibly handsome! I wonder who he's picking up."

Adriana rolled her eyes. "Seriously, Yaya? Aren't you a little too old to be crushing on younger men?"

"You naughty girl!"

Before Yaya Jona could finish scolding her, the handsome man stepped out of the sports car and walked straight toward Adriana.

The two locked eyes.

"Welcome back to the Philippines, Miss Adriana." He extended his hand.

Yaya Jona blinked repeatedly.

"S-Señorita... you know him?" She looked between the two before gasping. "W-Wait... Lorenzo?!"

Enzo smiled politely.

"Please call me Enzo, Yaya Jona. Lorenzo sounds too formal."

Yaya Jona laughed in disbelief. "I didn't even recognize you! You've grown so handsome... and look at this car! It must have cost a fortune!"

Enzo chuckled. "It was a gift from Don Alejandro. I originally wanted to leave it in the garage, but he insisted I use it."

"He was right," Yaya Jona nodded. "Cars are meant to be driven."

"Ahem."

The two immediately turned toward Adriana.

"You two are done catching up?" she asked coldly. "Or can we finally go see my father? I didn't fly sixteen hours just to watch you gossip."

"My apologies, Miss Adriana." Enzo cleared his throat.

Adriana rolled her eyes. Irritation flows in her vain.

"Yaya Jona, you'll ride with them." Enzo pointed toward the same three men Adriana had noticed earlier. "My car only has two seats. Only me and Miss Adriana can fit in it."

Adriana looked at the three strangers again. "Who are they?"

"They're your security detail."

"My security?"

Enzo nodded. "They'll be working directly under my command."

The three men stepped forward simultaneously.

"Miss Adriana," Enzo said, "I'd like you to meet the Trio. Your father personally assigned them to protect you."

"'Trio?' That's the best name you could come up with? Sounds ridiculous." She folded her arms. "So Dad really assigned me four bodyguards?"

"Three bodyguards," Enzo corrected calmly. "And one Head of Security."

Adriana rolled her eyes. "Whatever."

Enzo opened the passenger door of the Bugatti and looked at her. "Are you ready to see your father?"