Chapter 34

Chapter Thirty-Four

"I knew that appearing at this time would make look like a possible villain." ngisi ni Roland.

"Saying that won't lessen our doubt, Mr. Scarletti." Eleanor forced herself to call him that.

Mayroon parin siyang pagdududa sa pagkatao nito. Is he really a Scarletti? Is he really her family? She's been all alone for so long that it makes her doubt everything about him.

Kaya kailangan niya itong kilalanin.

The possibility of him to lie is half out of full. At sa mga sandaling naobserbahan niya ito sa party at sa pagpasok nito sa kaniyang opisina, ay hindi madaling basahin ang ekspresyon ng lalaki. He knows how to manipulate and conceal his own expression.

Eleanor remembers how Tanda bragged about her father's the same skills. Isa daw ito sa mga dapat na matutunan at maangkin nga mga Scarletti.

But that doesn't completely prove that the man in front of her is indeed her father's brother. They looked nothing alike.

"But at least, allow me to tell my story, Healia." anito, nangungumbinsi ang mga mata.

Binaba ni Eleanor ang hawak na folder at buntong-hiningang sumandal sa sandalan ng kaniyang swivel chair.

She should atleast, listen first. Observe him while he's speaking. Baka may mahuli siyang mali habang nagsasalita ito.

Iminuwestra niya ang kamay at ngumiti sa lalaki, "Of course, Mr. Scarletti. And I prefer to be called Eleanor." Puwersa siyang ngumiti. "Please, go ahead. I'm all ears." Magalang parin na aniya.

The man grinned and relaxed on his seat. "Then, let me start with," he hummed, tila nagdadalawang-isip sa susunod na sasabihin, "I'm not a real Scarletti by blood." He dropped.

Kumunot ang noo ni Eleanor, naghihintay ng susunod na sasabihin ng lalaki, "You mean?" Dugtong niya dito.

"I was adopted, Empress." Pagpapatuloy nito, "Mama, your late grandmother, had a low chance of getting pregnant. Nang pumunta sila sa isang bahay ampunan para sa isang charity event ay una akong napansin ni Mama. I was seven at that time, I think."

Naalala niya si Kael sa kuwento nito.

"Mama was the warmest and kindest person I knew." His gaze softed as he looked down, "Narinig ko na naghahanap daw sila ng batang aampunin. I saw my chance. I tried to impress them so that'll pick me." marahan itong tumawa, "I was desperate, not because I knew who they were or what kind of family they are. I was desperate because I want a family, and I saw that same desperation in their eyes as well. That they want to build a family."

"And they choose you." Dugtong ni Eleanor.

"I wouldn't be a Scarletti now if they didn't." Sarkastiko nitong tawa.

She bore him a serious look.

He coughed and adjusted on his seat, "They treated me like I'm their real son and gave me a chance to have a normal childhood. Well, until they were forced to introduce me to their real world behind our wholesome family." he snickered.

"Mama thought that she could keep me out from their dangerous world, but they couldn't. Papa was in charged of teaching me about the mafia. I was scared at first, yes, but I want to be of use to my adoptive parents."

"Everything was totally different from the simple life I dreamed of. But despite the danger, I was able to enjoy life because they're there for me."

"Then, a miracle happened. Mama got pregnant with your father." Pumait and mukha nito, "I'll be a big ass liar if I'll say that I didn't feel threatened and jealous of that happy news, but I was. I was scared to be abandoned and alone again."

"But your grandparents assured me otherwise and they didn't treat me differently after that. Mas lalo pa nga akong naging involve sa pagbubuntis ni Mama. I was Papa's wingman to serve Mama with her pregnancy needs and stuff. Mama, despite being busy, still noticed my worries, and she consoled and assured me that some things may change, but me, being their son won't."

"It was the most honest consolation, and her words washed away all my worries. That was all I needed."

His smile slowly faded and his eyes dropped with a brief glimpse of sadness

"But then, she was wrong about everything going fine. Dahil alam mo naman na namatay siya sa panganganak. Our world fell apart the day your father was born. We had him, but we lost her."

"A part of Papa died with her as well. Since then, I never saw him smile, he couldn't even look at your father. While I was torn between tending to my depressed father, and babysitting my little brother. I was just a teen, and also mourning the loss of my mother."

""However, I made a promise to Mama that I will take care of my little brother, that I will be his protector." Malungkot itong ngumiti. "Years passed and Papa was still too depressed to care for us. And that day came, I was sixteen and your father was just three years old. We were kidnapped. Yakap-yakap ko ang ama mo habang nagdadasal na mailigtas kami, not for me, but for my baby brother's sake."

"Noong araw ding iyon ay tila nagising si Papa. He came back to his senses and rescued us. Hindi man gaya ng dati ay bumalik ulit ang sigla niya. He took good care and became attentive to us. Fast-forward and we were finally recovering from Mama's death, when another tragedy happened. A transaction gone wrong in Italy and Papa was shot. He didn't made it to the hospital, the bullet pierced a part of his heart."

"Everything just felt hopeless for me. How can a fake Scarletti protect his weak little brother from our cruel world? I almost lost it, I thougt of running away, leave everything behind. But I couldn't just leave my brother and everything that my parents worked hard for. Kaya nanatili ako."

Bumuntong-hininga ang lalaki saka nagpatuloy sa kaniyang kuwento, "The partner families, or the elders as we call them, tried so hard to kill me and my brother in order to fully control Scarletti. Thanks to my late parent's will, I was able to protect your father and everything they owned. They gave me an equal right to everything."

"You might not know this, but I also became an Emperor of this prestigious organization. But it was only for some time, I knew my place. I agreed to be Emperor in order to protect the throne from those who wants to take it from your father, who was still a child that time."

Eleanor's brows met, "But you're not in the records, neither on the family registry." aniya.

"Because of the equal rights that our late parents willed, everything became chaotic. May mga nanudyo sa akin na patayin ang kapatid ko at angkinin na ng tuluyan ang trono. But I made a promise to my Mama, it's my brother before anything else. In order to protect my brother from such conspiracy and conflict, I gave up my rights. He was old enough, and much more wiser at that time. Alam kong kaya na niya. And I want to protect our brotherhood from such evil intent, na maaring makasira sa amin. He's my only family left, my only reminder of both my adoptive parents who loved me too much. I cannot lose him."

Mapait na ngumiti si Eleanor nang maalala ang pagkamatay ng kaniyang ama.

"I flew somewhere in Europe, and lived a normal life for quite some time. Until I decided to build my own power. I was your father's secret backup during his reign." Natawa siya na tila may naalala, "We solved the mystery behind our father's death and took revenge. Everything was going well. We we're able to strip down some elders who are conspiring against your father's dethronement. He made Scarletti what it is today after the loss of our parents. Habang ako naman ay pinapalakas din ang sarili kong organisasyon."

"You were a year old when your father told me about you and your mother, and your situation." lumungo ito, "Nagtampo pa ako noon." Malakas siyang tumawa, "But we became quits when I told him about my daughter a year later as well."

Nadala si Eleanor sa tawa nito, "You have a daughter?" Tanong niya.

"And a grandson." He smiled softly.

Tumango siya saka ibinaba ang tingin.

"Nagtampo din ang Papa mo dahil sa ginawa ko," tawa pa niya, "But we had the same reason for hiding our loved ones, to protect them."

"How about your wife?" Dagdag pa ni Eleanor.

He sighed heavily, "Just like Mama, she died while giving birth to Emily."

"Emily." nautal ni El.

Tumango ito, "Your cousin, not by blood but, she really wants to meet you." he appealed.

Muling umiwas ng tingin si Eleanor, can she believe everything that this man said?

"I know you still have doubts, and my existence not being on the records doesn't help with easing those." Anito, "This is the only evidence I have," tigil nito may kinuha sa pitaka.

Natapatitig si Eleanor sa hawak nitong isang litrato, "What's that?" Aniya.

"The only photo I have with me." Sagot nito at inilahad sa kaniya ang litrato, "Nakuha iyan ng pumunta ang mga magulang mo, kasama ka, sa 3rd birthday party ng anak ko." Dagdag ng lalaki.

Tiningnan niya ito ng mabuti. Litrato iyon ng kaniyang ama at ni Roldan habang hawak-hawak ang mga anak nila. She couldn't remember it. She was still a baby back then.

Malapad ang ngiti ng mga lalaki habang nagmamalaking karga-karga ang mga sariling anak sa braso nila. They both looked happy and proud.

Her father had that same smile in her missing family photo.

"Here," naangat ni Eleanor ang tingin at dumapo iyon sa panyong inilalahad ni Roldan sa kaniya, "I miss him too." Anito.

Lumungo siy at kumuha ng tissue na nasa mesa lang niya, "No, but thank you." Magalang niyang tanggi dito.

She didn't notice the tears coming out from her eyes.

"Why now? Why did you come back now?" Aniya at inilahad pabalik sa lalaki ang litrato.

Lumungo ito, "You can keep it, I have a copy at home." Ngiti nito.

Humigpit ang hawak ni Eleanor sa litrato, she couldn't say no with her father being in that photo, "Thank you." she replied.

Ngumiti lamang ito, "To fulfill my promise to your father."

sagot nito sa tanong niya.

"A promise?" Aniya

He nodded, "You'll need an elder to back you up after revealing you're real identity to the world, Empress. And I promised your father to come back before your twenty-first birthday." He answered. "Seguradong gumagalaw na ang mga elders ngayon."

"I never had any encounter with them. Si Tanda ang nagrereport at nakikipagtransaction sa kanila."

"Gaya mo ay sekreto sa nakararami ang pagkakakilanlan ng mga elders." Anito. "I know that you still have a lot of questions, Empress. At alam kong kailangan mo munang eproseso ang mga nalaman mo ngayon. It's been a very long talk." Muli itong may kinuha sa kaniyang bulsa at ipinatong iyon sa kaniyang mesa. "This is my calling card. I'll respect any decision you'll make." Hayag nito nang may ngiti sa labi.

Ano ba'ng tamang desisyon na dapat niyang gawin? Will she believe this guy and make him her ally?

"Thank you for telling me your story, Mr. Roldan Scarletti." Ngiti niya at nakipagkamay dito.

"Emily really wants to meet you, Healia Eleanor." Bitaw nito.

"I'll think about it." she replied.

What if he's just another guy who's a hiding enemy? Can she afford to give her trust?