“H-how is Zayne, Bea? How’s my son?” Claire’s question made the couple pause from eating. They exchanged glances, and Dylan subtly nodded at his wife, prompting her to smile and pull out her phone. “I have a lot of pictures, Claire! From the time you left up until now! I made sure to take videos and photos of him. I have every important moment in Zayne’s life!” Claire smiled at her friend’s words as she fiddled with her phone. But she couldn’t help feeling a pang of sadness and envy—Bea had witnessed her son’s growth while she had been absent for five years. “Ahem, Love.” Bea froze at her husband’s call and looked at him, only for him to gesture toward Claire. Realizing what she was doing, Bea quickly lowered her phone. “I-I’m sorry, Claire. I just wanted to show you. Please don’t be jealous.” Claire shook her head. “Come on, of course I’m jealous—but just a little. From the very beginning, I prepared myself for the fact that I wouldn’t be there for my child. That was
CLAIRE “How was the meeting, Claire?” I turned toward the living room at the sound of a familiar voice and saw Quinn waiting for me. I smiled at her and walked over, taking a seat beside her. “Judging by that smile, it must’ve gone well, huh?” My grin widened at her words. If only she knew how happy I was after reuniting with Bea. I had waited so long for this. It never even crossed my mind to meet her when we first returned because I had to stick to the plan. But things changed—and I was glad they did. “Would you believe that the girl you were talking about is my best friend?!” I said with a grin, making her frown. “That girl? Wait, don’t tell me—NO! No, Claire, no!” I laughed at her reaction and nodded. “She’s your best friend?! Mr. Anderson’s wife?!” I nodded again, and her shock deepened. “So she’s Bea?! Oh my God, Claire! She’s terrifying!” I laughed even harder. I knew why Bea acted that way—aside from being pregnant, she was also guarding the company, wa
“Be careful out there, Claire.” I smiled at nanay because of what she said. They walked me to the door today because it was time for me to leave. “I’ll be careful, nay, I promise,” I hugged her and kissed her cheek afterward. Next, I hugged Quinn. “Take good care of them, Quinn. I’m counting on you.” “Yes, ma’am!” We both laughed at his response. Last was Zoey. I stood at her height and hugged her tightly. “Be careful, Mommy. Call me every night, okay? If you don’t call, I’ll really get upset!” I smiled at her words and ruffled her hair. “I promise. I love you, my daughter.” She smiled at me and hugged me again. “I love you too, Mommy.” After our goodbyes, I got into the van. I had a driver with me. For the last time, I waved at them through the window. Once we were far enough, I quickly composed myself. I closed the partition between me and the driver. Inside the van, everything was complete—my suitcase was there, containing the few clothes I brought. I chan
I still can’t believe what happened earlier. Right now, I’m lying on my bed, staring at the ceiling. The place I’m renting is on the second floor. It’s not very big, but since it was built in the olden days, I really liked it. It’s made of wide wooden planks and varnished. The window is pure wood and swings open sideways. Yes, I grew up in the Philippines, but I don’t know what that type of window is called—I forgot a long time ago. My bed is also made of wood and has a space for a mosquito net, like the sleeping quarters of the wealthy back in the day, but with a touch of modern style. The place has been renovated, so from the outside, it looks pleasant and beautiful, while the inside is absolutely stunning. They say the owner lives abroad and just wants to rent it out so someone can live here. Now, back to what happened earlier—I can’t believe I just talked to Zekiel’s parents! Out of all people, why them?! Oh my God! I immediately sat up and grabbed my hair in frustration
Throughout the interview, I really gave it my all and did my best. I needed to impress them so I could get hired as Zekiel’s secretary. That way, I’d have a better chance of seeing my son—he’s the only reason I’m here anyway. When the interview ended, they both applauded me. A man named Hero was already sitting beside the couple—it seemed he was also one of the interviewers. “Do you mind if I ask why you don’t have a stable job? It’s stated in your resume that you graduated cum laude in fashion design. So why choose to be a secretary in this company?” I didn’t expect that question from him. All three of them were staring at me. “U-uhh…” I scrambled for an answer before remembering what had happened to me in the past. “Not everything in life goes the way you want. Not everything aligns with where you come from. Yes, I graduated with that degree, but fate wasn’t on my side. I’ve been applying to well-known fashion companies for a month now, but as you can see, I haven’t been a
I jolted awake from the cold, recalling what had happened, and I almost collapsed back onto the seat from the shock of my own memories. ”You’re awake.” I turned toward the voice and felt my breath hitch when I saw Zekiel sitting in his chair, sorting through some documents. I couldn’t speak—I was too stunned. But as I glanced around, I realized I was inside his office. What shocked me even more was the dark sky outside his office, visible through the glass walls. It was already night! I immediately checked my watch and panicked—I had to go home! If I didn’t leave now, I’d get stuck in traffic again. Besides, I still needed to call Zoey. She usually sleeps by eight, and I was sure she was waiting for my call. “You’re Venice, right?” I looked at him and saw his brows furrowed as he studied me. I nodded quickly. After getting his answer, he straightened his things, and I did the same—I really needed to leave. He stood up, so I did too, but I had to search for my phone on
CLAIRE arrived early for work to avoid being scolded by her boss, Zekiel. She had already spoken to her family last night, including her mother Lucing and Quinn, reminding the young woman once again to look after things while she was away from home. When she reached her desk, she found a pile of papers waiting for her. With no choice, she began organizing them, even though she wasn’t familiar with some of the documents. All she knew was that they were for Zekiel’s signatures. Sure, she wasn’t officially a secretary yet, but she understood some of what she was reading—stocks and the like. She busied herself for half an hour before deciding to take a break, leaning back in her chair. “Ms. Venice.” She froze mid-stretch upon hearing someone call her. Her eyes darted around, searching for the source, but to her confusion, no one was there. She dismissed it as her imagination and settled back into her seat. “Excuse me.” This time, she shot up from her chair. Claire was easi
“I’m the new secretary of Mr. Gray for now since Hero is on leave,” The woman raised an eyebrow at her words. “Listen to me, poor girl. Don’t try to get the attention of my boyfriend. I’m Camille Hernandez, daughter of Philip Hernandez—one of the biggest shareholders in this company. So don’t you dare mess with me. Got it?” Claire exhaled sharply at the woman’s words and was about to retort when Zayne suddenly grabbed her hand, making her glance at him. She saw the worry in his eyes as he shook his head. Left with no choice, she composed herself and forced a smile at the woman. “Don’t worry, Ms. Hernandez. Flirting with your arrogant boyfriend isn’t part of my plan. That’s the door—go inside and wait for Mr. Gray.” Claire even pointed at Zekiel’s office door for her. “Wait, what did you call him? Arrogant? What kind of poor language is that?” Claire was this close to slapping the woman because of her pretentiousness. She didn’t even know basic Tagalog. “It’s a poor lan
“No, YOU are being rude.” The man suddenly sat back down at her words, and the room fell silent. “May I remind all of you? We hired you to be the BALANCERS of this country, not the RULERS. WE are the rulers, and YOU are the balancers. So you have NO right to decide whether to accept me or my late mother as Princess and Queen of this country!” Claire held her head high as she spoke, leaving them speechless. Timothy grinned widely, almost clapping at his friend’s words. “I, the Princess of Spain, declare that the current council will be REPLACED with a new one!” Everyone stood up in protest, but Timothy acted swiftly, slamming his long gun on the table, silencing them. “The princess has given an order, so you MUST obey. Royal blood can make decisions without consulting the king.” Claire smiled as she saw the defeated looks on the men’s faces, then glanced at Timothy, who nodded back. Finally, she had avenged her mother. ’Mama, I know this is what you wanted. We miss you so
Breaking News: After a decade and a half of searching for the Queen and Princess of Spain, they have finally been found. Unfortunately, the Queen has passed away, and only the Princess, Princess Claire, has survived. Reports have also spread that the two royals had been staying in the Philippines, where they lived as ordinary citizens. --- Zekiel turned off the TV after seeing the news. A few days had passed since Timothy went with him to retrieve the body of the late Queen. He desperately wanted to see Claire, but he couldn’t—he had no right to ask about her. Especially now that she was known worldwide, with the strange circumstances surrounding her and her mother spreading everywhere. “Daddy!” He turned to the door and saw the twins running toward him. “Is there any news about Mommy yet?” Zoey asked with a hopeful smile. “Not yet, sweetheart,” Zekiel replied sadly. “Don’t worry, Daddy! Mommy will come back! Uncle Clark promised us!” Zoey said cheerfully. “Zoey’s ri
He was Timothy’s father and Kaithy’s husband. The right hand of the King, his own father. He was the one who taught them how to fight back then, so he could never forget the man—he had played such a huge part in his life. “I miss you so much, Tito!” She pulled away from the hug, and the man held her cheeks. “I couldn’t believe you’d grow up into such a beautiful lady.” Claire smiled even wider at his words. “Mama took good care of me, Tito.” The man’s smile faded at what she said. “I’m sorry about your mother.” “It’s okay, Tito. I’ve accepted it. It’s Papa I’m worried about.” Timothy’s father understood Tagalog but couldn’t speak it fluently since he didn’t grow up in the Philippines, unlike his wife and son, who had spent many years there. “I’ll go ahead now, Tito. I’ll see you later.” She smiled at him, and the man nodded. The news of the princess’s arrival spread quickly throughout the palace, and many wanted to catch a glimpse of her. Some even secretly positioned
Clark bowed his head at her question. “The doctor said your body is completely exhausted, especially after you were hit by a bullet in the shoulder,” Claire touched her shoulder but felt no pain there. No wonder it didn’t hurt—she had been asleep for a week. “The twins, Kuya?! What happened to my children?!” she exclaimed in shock as she remembered her kids. “Calm down, Claire. They’re fine. I had our people watch over them, so everything’s alright.” Claire stopped her hysterics upon hearing this and let out a sigh of relief. “I’m sorry, Kuya Clark. I’m just scared something bad might happen to my family.” Clark nodded in understanding at his sister’s words. Even though he didn’t have his own family yet, he felt the same way about theirs. “Oh, by the way, Kuya, does Papa know I’m here?” Clark shook his head at her question. “Papa doesn’t know. I hid you, Claire, because I want you to be the one to talk to him about what happened to Mama.” Claire couldn’t help but feel
After Zekiel said that, he immediately shot the enemies, causing the other two to join in, each firing at the opponents trying to advance. Since there were three of them, they quickly defeated them, much to the delight of the other two. “Finally!” Hero exclaimed. “We can go home now! Kiel, come on, hurry!” Dylan was the first to run, making the other two shake their heads before following. Dylan stopped at a door where they knew Louise was. “You go first, Kiel, hehe,” Dylan said, scratching his head sheepishly. “See? Acting all tough but actually a coward,” Hero teased, earning him a glare from Dylan. Meanwhile, Zekiel didn’t hesitate—he kicked the door open. But he froze when he saw Louise and Camille lifeless, drenched in their own blood on the floor. “D-Daddy!” He turned toward the voice and immediately ran to the twins. “Zoey! Zayne!” He hugged them tightly as the twins cried into his chest. When an explosion echoed in the distance, Zoey started crying again, b
“IN the count of three,” Zekiel said seriously as they stood at the edge of the garden of the building where Timothy was hiding, holding his family hostage. “One... Two... Three... NOW!” Zekiel’s men quickly scrambled into action at his signal. When they reached the underground passage, two people opened it, and as soon as it was unlocked, they rushed inside one after another. “Go! Go! Go!” Dylan whispered urgently to their teammates leading the way inside. “Make sure to keep it quiet,” Hero muttered to one of the men, who nodded in response. Once everyone else was in, the three of them followed. They had only brought a few men underground since the others were on lookout and would join them once the trap was set. When they entered, they found themselves in an open space that was clearly abandoned. “Start setting things up as planned.” The men nodded and began working on their assigned tasks. They had agreed to place long, sharp metal rods so that when their enemies
Claire glanced at her trembling hands, the pain and fear of losing the child in her womb overwhelming her. Then, she saw the crown in front of her, picked it up, and placed it on her head before aiming the gun at them again. “A p-princess fears nothing.” Claire moved swiftly and pulled the trigger, but the two dodged. Camille quickly grabbed another gun and fired at Claire, hitting her shoulder, making Zayne cry even harder. “Mommy!!!” He desperately wanted to escape but couldn’t. The noise woke Zoey, and as her mind processed what was happening, she began to cry, drawing Zayne’s attention. “Z-Zoey, close your eyes!” No matter how much Zayne pleaded, the twin couldn’t stop crying. He looked at his mom, now lying unconscious on the floor with blood on her leg, and shut his eyes—he couldn’t bear to see her like that. He prayed that someone would save them when, moments later, he heard gunshots. His eyes snapped open, and he saw tall men in palace guard uniforms swiftly surroun
Her body and hands were tied to the chair, so she couldn’t move. She tried to turn her face away, but Camille grabbed it again, gripping even tighter than before. “Look at me!” Camille shouted angrily, leaving her no choice but to obey. “Do you see this scar?!” Camille hissed. “Yeah, it makes you even uglier.” Claire’s words only infuriated Camille further, who then slapped her hard, forcing her face to the side. “Btch! When someone talks to you properly, answer properly! I’ll make you feel what I went through! I’ll ruin your face because you don’t deserve this!” Camille snatched the crown Claire was wearing, making Claire’s eyes widen in shock—that crown was sacred, and their laws forbade anyone else from touching it. “This suits me better.” “Give that back! It doesn’t belong to you!” But Camille ignored her, placing it on her own head while Claire could only watch helplessly. “See? It looks better on me.” Camille admired herself in a mirror. “Wow, this must be expe
When I said no, it’s a no. No buts, Timothy—take her to the room and don’t let her out. Timothy nodded at the man’s command and grabbed Claire, who immediately tried to pull away. “No! You can’t do this, Zekiel! My child is in there! I won’t rest until they’re safe! Zekiel!” Zekiel ignored Claire’s screams as Timothy dragged her away, continuing with their planning. “Why did you send Claire away? She could’ve helped us too,” Zekiel shot Hero a sharp look for his remark. “Oh, so you’d be fine if I included your wife in this?” Hero fell silent at that and they resumed their planning. Meanwhile, Claire, furious, struggled against Timothy as he forced her toward their room. She was already thinking of ways to escape and save the children. “Don’t even try. I won’t take my eyes off you,” Timothy said flatly, which only made Claire glare harder. But her anger turned to shock when a man suddenly appeared in front of Timothy, holding a baton. “Behind you!” Her warning came to