CLAIRE couldn’t stop her tears when the baby boy was placed in her arms first, followed by the baby girl. She cradled one in each arm, and the moment she held them close, they suddenly quieted down. “T-twins… I’m your mommy,” Claire whispered. As soon as she spoke, both babies opened their eyes—revealing two pairs of striking gray eyes that made her cry even harder. “You got my eyes!” she said joyfully as they instinctively nuzzled closer. “Our grandchildren are so beautiful! Though it seems they only got your eyes, Claire. They must take after their father,” Lucing remarked. “Well, he must be handsome too—look how gorgeous they are!” Erin chimed in happily, making Claire glance at her through her tears. “Mom… I’m so happy,” Claire murmured as Erin gently wiped her tears away. Meanwhile, Dylan, who had been helping Bea walk toward the twins, froze the moment he saw them from a distance. Bea tensed up, her eyes darting to her husband—especially since the twins looked
CLAIRE A few days later, our lives returned to normal, but now it’s even happier because we have Zayne and Zoey. When I gave birth, Mom and Nanay were overjoyed, and even now, they’re still so happy taking care of the twins. Sometimes, they even fall asleep on my bed, so I just let them stay there while I sleep on the couch. I can’t contain the overwhelming happiness I’ve felt since the moment I saw the twins. I remember how Zoey’s and my life were almost in danger—I didn’t even know I had a heart condition. From what I know, that kind of illness is hereditary, but how? Has it ever been in our family? Maybe from Papa, since I’ve never met him. Thankfully, it was caught early, because otherwise, I wouldn’t have been able to bear losing one of the twins. There are two of them, and as much as possible, I want them to always stay together. As for Bea, from what I know, she’ll be giving birth any day now, but the thing is, they’re all in another country. They chose to have
“TELL me, nurse, my mom is okay, right?! She’s okay, isn’t she?!” I frantically asked, my voice trembling, making the nurse sigh heavily. “I’m sorry, miss. Your mother is gone. She was dead on arrival earlier and is now in the morgue.” I staggered back at her words, tears streaming uncontrollably down my face. Clutching my mouth, I immediately ran toward the morgue. “Miss! Miss, wait!” I kept running, my vision blurred by tears. I couldn’t accept the truth—I just couldn’t! When I reached the morgue, I peeked through the door and saw a lone figure lying inside, covered entirely by a white sheet. Hands shaking, I turned the doorknob and stepped in, gently closing the door behind me. I faced the body, praying it wasn’t her. Slowly, I lifted the sheet—and my knees buckled the moment I saw my mother’s lifeless face. I sobbed into my hands, collapsing to the floor. I couldn’t take it. I couldn’t bear losing her. What will happen to me now? What will happen to us? She w
“CHILD, are you sure this is where we’re going to live?” I looked at Nanay after she said that. She was holding Zoey while I held Zayne. I glanced around our new place. It was small compared to our old house, but it had a kitchen and a bedroom. The bedroom was tiny—just enough for a bed and a little space. The kitchen was also very small. “Don’t take this the wrong way, okay? I just want to make sure you’re fine with this. You didn’t grow up in a place like this,” Nanay said. After her words, I looked outside the house. A squatter area. No, I didn’t grow up like this, and I wasn’t used to it—but what else could I do? We had just been forcibly kicked out of our house earlier. There was nothing I could do—we were drowning in debt, and I never expected this to happen. I let out a deep sigh and looked at the baby in my arms and the one Nanay was holding. “I’m sure, Nanay. I can handle this. We’ll get through this,” I said, though I wasn’t entirely confident in my last words.
TODAY is my first day at work, and I’m excited to start. I left home early to avoid being late—the twins were still asleep when I left. I made sure to leave money for Nanay to cover their expenses for the day since I won’t be off until seven in the evening. Getting to work wasn’t hard—just one jeepney ride and a short walk, and I was already at the restaurant. I wore a fitted skirt and a fitted blouse, layered with a black blazer to look formal since I’m a manager. When I arrived, the restaurant was still empty because I came an hour before opening—better early than late. As I stepped inside, I was amazed by what I saw. The place was huge and beautifully designed, with many tables adorned with flower centerpieces. The tablecloths were white, and menus were placed on top, probably so customers could easily see the offerings. There weren’t many staff members around yet. I hadn’t seen the inside of the restaurant before because my interview with the former manager was held in the
“Y-YES, you were little when we last met,” but that made me smile because at least Mom had some friends. It made me happy—I thought all she knew was work. “I’m glad to meet you, Ms., but Mom’s gone. She just passed away one month ago.” Both Talia and Ms. Kaithy gasped at what I said. But what surprised me more was Ms. Kaithy breaking down in tears. “Miss! Talia, Miss is crying!” We helped Ms. Kaithy sit on a nearby chair and got her water because she couldn’t stop sobbing. She must have been really close to my mom. She cried for several minutes before finally calming down. I was impressed her makeup stayed intact—it must’ve been waterproof. “Are you okay now?” I asked worriedly, making her look at me. “T-take me to Erin Claire, please. I want to see her,” she said tearfully, making me avert my gaze. I was done with that—done with crying. “Don’t worry, I’ll come with you.” After that, we immediately went to my mother’s grave. I guided her while we sat in silence in the
CLAIRE quickly left her job after saying goodbye. Carrying her bag, she headed straight to the hospital her mother, Lucing, had told her about. Her heart pounded with fear during those moments because her child was in danger. She would never forgive herself if anything bad happened to Zayne. Upon arriving at the hospital, she immediately asked the front desk for her child’s room number. Once she got it, she rushed there and saw her mother, Lucing, sitting on a chair across the room’s door, crying. “Nay, what happened?” Lucing immediately looked up at her and stood. “C-Claire, it’s Zayne…” Claire quickly took Zoey from her mother’s arms and held her close. “Nay, calm down. Nothing bad will happen to Zayne, okay? What exactly happened?” Claire spoke with forced bravery. Even though she was also terrified and worried for her child, she had to stay strong—she was her mother’s only source of strength, and she couldn’t let Zoey down. “Zayne had a fever earlier, child. I tr
THE NEXT DAY, Claire arrived early at her former workplace, expecting a joyful return to work. However, her happiness vanished when she received devastating news. “Ms. Claire! You’re back! How have you been?!” the guard greeted her cheerfully. “I’m fine, Kuya. How about you? I was gone for a while, but I’m back now,” she replied with a smile, only to notice the sudden shift in his expression. “You came back? Didn’t you know, Ms. Claire? There’s a new manager now—Ms. Kathy replaced you two days ago.” Claire’s smile faded as if she had been punched in the gut. The realization that someone else had taken her job hit her hard. She closed her eyes, remembering how she had left without proper notice. “Ms. Kathy even mentioned—well, I overheard—that she was disappointed in you because of your sudden disappearance. They couldn’t find you for so long.” Claire felt even weaker hearing those words. She knew Ms. Kathy was close to her mother, and now she had let her down too. Tear
“We can finally get married now, right? And you can finally say yes to me, right?” Claire nodded while Zekiel smiled through his tears. The crowd erupted in cheers at the sight of them, especially since they immediately recognized Zekiel—one of the most renowned businessmen in the world. “Will you marry me, Princess Claire Fuentes?” “Say yes! Say yes! Say yes!” The people around them chanted loudly, making Claire’s family smile and even the twins join in. “Say yes! Say yes!” Claire slowly nodded, still crying. “Y-yes! Yes, absolutely, Zekiel!” Zekiel quickly slipped the ring onto her finger and stood to meet her gaze. He studied Claire’s face, wiping away her tears. “You don’t know how happy I am right now,” Zekiel said with a smile. “M-me too, Zekiel! I’m so happy! So, so happy!” Zekiel kissed Claire, making the crowd cheer even louder, some even screaming in excitement. They accepted whatever made their princess happy, and they accepted whoever she chose to m
“Now, I know what you’ve done for my sibling, and I accept you into our family,” Zekiel smiled at Clark’s words, and Clark hugged him briefly, patting his back. “I thought something had happened to you, my child! I was so scared that we rushed here without a proper plan,” Claire said tearfully. “That was the plan, Mommy—to completely defeat the enemy,” Zayne explained, furrowing his brows. “I let myself get captured on purpose, while I sent Zoey here to rescue you. There are no more enemies, Mommy. They’re all gone because Daddy made it up here, which means they’ve been defeated.” Claire couldn’t believe what Zayne was saying, her mind struggling to process it. “Your child is right, my love,” Claire turned to Zekiel at his words. “Zayne planned everything, which is why we were able to save you successfully.” Claire teared up and looked at her son. “Z-Zayne, thank you so much! You’re such a smart child!” She hugged Zayne, and the child hugged her back. “Daddy trusted me
“ON my cue,” Clark said seriously to their companions, as they were now scattered in the same place where he had been kidnapped before. They had discovered the enemy’s hideout thanks to Zoey. The child had mentioned that Zekiel found out its location, which was why he took her sibling. Zayne was right—they didn’t hesitate to storm the place, but the King and Zoey were left behind in the palace. “Go!” Clark shouted, and the sound of gunfire soon dominated the forest. Claire was fiercely exchanging fire with a group of enemies she encountered. The place had changed, and she was disoriented, but as soon as they entered, she and her brother were shocked when a net suddenly fell over them. “I’ve seen this before with Camille!” Claire yelled at her brother, recognizing it from the CCTV footage when Zekiel had captured them. “Louise and the rival Mafia are working together, so this must be their doing!” Clark replied, trying to break free, but the net was too strong. Moments la
“Oh my God, Zoey, it’s really you! I miss you, my daughter. Mommy misses you so much!” Claire showered her daughter’s cheeks with kisses, overwhelmed with longing. It had been almost two months since she had last held her child under Zekiel’s care. “I miss you too, Mommy!” “Zoey? Is this my grandchild?” The mother and daughter turned at the voice, and Zoey saw an elderly man wearing a crown—someone she recognized from TV, where she had seen him with her mother. “Grandpa!” Zoey immediately ran toward the King, who smiled warmly and scooped her up into his arms. In return, Zoey covered her grandfather’s face with kisses. “Wow, Grandpa, I can’t believe it’s really you! You’re the King? That’s so amazing!” Claire laughed, wiping tears from her cheeks as she watched them. “Haha, my dear, Grandpa’s getting tickled. That’s enough,” the King chuckled as the child finally stopped covering him in kisses and beamed up at him. “You’re so beautiful, my grandchild. You look just
“She’s terrifying!” Hero said. “That doesn’t seem like Zayne! He’s possessed by his father’s spirit!” Dylan exclaimed, earning a smack from Hero. “Damn! Bloodline really makes a difference! Look at him—Gray lineage, the sharpest in business, while Claire’s lineage carries noble blood and excels in combat!” The two fell silent when Zekiel shot them a glare, so they quietly followed him to the hideout. When they arrived, the child reached up to his father. “Daddy, can you trust me?” “Of course I trust you, son,” Zekiel said with a smile, pinching his nose. “Thank you, Dad. Now, here’s the plan...” “WE NEED to act now,” Clark said seriously. “Why does Claire have to come? Just your brother and I should go. Claire, you’re pregnant—you can’t,” the King insisted. They were in the main room, a day after the chaos had unfolded. They had released a statement claiming that a Mafia group had attempted to assassinate the princess and that they would fight back, urging the publ
“Are you okay, Claire?” Clark asked his sister worriedly as she drank something to calm herself. “I-I’m fine now, Kuya. I was just shocked by the sudden gunshot—I didn’t expect that,” Claire said, making Clark nod in response. “Me neither. It’s your day, Claire. But they did this on purpose to kill you. Thankfully, the shooter had bad aim and missed,” Clark replied. If this were any other situation and not so serious, Claire might have laughed at the thought of the shooter missing. But right now, her life was on the line. “What are you two talking about? What’s really going on?! I thought the Mafia was gone, Clark?!” They both turned to their father, having forgotten he was there—and that he had heard everything. “I-I’m sorry, Papa. I lied. I needed to keep your mind at ease after what happened to Mama, but the truth is… the Mafia isn’t gone. They’ve been lying low for a month, waiting for today—this is when they’re starting their war.” The King still couldn’t process wh
“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