Chapter 04

Matapos ang insidente na yun, ang apartment ni Mitch ay parang isang mausoleum sa sobrang tahimik. Nakaupo lang si Betty sa sahig, nakatingin sa kawalan, nang biglang mag-vibrate ang phone niya sa ibabaw ng table.

​Napataas ang kilay ni Mitch na kakarating lang galing sa labas dala ang mga ibinili niya. "Sissy, sino 'yan? Father? Akala ko ba matagal na kayong walang communication ng pamilya mo sa Europe?"

​In-accept ni Betty ang Video Call. Sa screen, bumungad ang isang lalaking may tindig na aristokrata. Ang aura nito? Pure power.

​"My daughter," bungad ng boses ng ama niya. Madiin, formal, at hindi tumatanggap ng sagot na 'hindi'. "I heard the news. The scandal, the accident, and the failed marriage. It was pathetic, my dear. Hindi ka pinalaki para maging laughing stock ng isang lalaking walang kwenta."

​Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Mitch. "Wait, what?"

​"Dad," mahinang sagot ni Betty, pero may bakas ng pait. "I handled it."

​"You handled nothing," sagot ng ama niya. "You wasted years playing house with a pauper. Tapos na ang freedom mo, Betty. You’ve explored enough of the 'common' world. It’s time to go home here sa Europe. The winery business needs you, and more importantly, the engagement to the Prince is already set. We need to finalize the arrangements."

​Mitch nearly dropped her coffee cup. "Prince?! Anong pinagsasabi nito?"

​"Dad, I’m not ready for that," giit ni Betty, pero hindi matinag ang ama niya.

​"It’s not a request, dear. It’s your legacy. You are the only daughter of a Moretti-Bergman. So, stop acting like a victim and start acting like the heiress you are. I have the private jet ready. Be here in 24 hours and don't embarrass me further."

​Namatay ang tawag. Nanatiling nakatulala ang screen.

​Mitch dropped the paperbag. "Wait, wait, wait! Sissy, paki-explain? Prinsipe? Heir? Winery business sa Europe? What the actual fuck? You mean to tell me na all this time, yung best friend kong nakikipag-share ng apartment sa akin at kumakain ng instant noodles ay isa palang heiress?"

​Dahan-dahang tumayo si Betty. Wala na ang lungkot sa mga mata niya kanina. Napalitan ito ng isang malamig na determination na halos ikakilabot ni Mitch.

​"All I wanted is to have a normal wife, sissy. To build something with Miguel, even if we started from the bottom," mahinang wika ni Betty.

​"But look at where that got me. Miguel wanted someone young, sexy, and beautiful? He wanted a trophy? Fine. I’ll show him what real royalty is like. And I will make sure he regrets the day he ever looked down on me."

​Mitch was still shaking, trying to process the revelation. "Sissy, totoo ba to? You’re leaving? And you're going to marry a Prince?"

​"Divorce na ako kay Miguel. At yun naman talaga ang gusto ni Dad in the first place," sabi ni Betty, her voice icy, sharp, and dangerous. "I'm going to marry that prince because that's the only way to destroy Miguel family's world, their entire legacy. He thinks he’s at the top? Wait until I unleash the real power I’ve been hiding all these years."

​Humakbang si Betty papunta sa bintana, tinitingnan ang city lights ng Mega Manila. "Enjoy your little life while it lasts, Miguel. Because when I come back? You’re not just going to be a nobody. You’ll be begging for scraps at my feet."

​Mitch looked at her best friend, not as the heartbroken wife anymore, but as a woman on a mission of total destruction. "Damn, Betty. I didn't know you had this 'evil genius' mode."

*****

Paglapag ng chopper sa private airfield sa mansion nila sa Northern Italy, parang eksena ito sa isang high-budget movie. Pagbaba ni Betty sa mismong estate ng mga Moretti-Bergman, sinalubong siya ng nakabibinging tunog ng trumpets at drum corps. Nag-line up pa ang lahat ng staff with that glittering red carpet moment.

​"Welcome home, my lovely daughter," bungad ng daddy niya, na ang mukha ay bihira makitaan ng emosyon, pero ngayon ay halatang proud. "The Moretti-Bergman has waited for its true heir."

​Ngumiti si Betty, pero it was calculated. Ang mga tao naman sa paligid ay nagbubulungan, humahanga sa pagiging down-to-earth ni Betty dahil sa pagiging simple lang nito, malayong-malayo sa pagiging isang mayaman at modern-day royalty. Pero sa loob-loob ni Betty, ang bawat hakbang niya sa red carpet ay isang step closer sa pagwasak kay Miguel.

​Pero habang papasok siya sa grand hall, biglang kumirot ang kanyang puson. ​Isang matinding cramp ang tumama sa kanyang lower abdomen, parang may humahaplit na mainit na bakal. Namutla siya, napahawak sa braso ng kanyang daddy and everything went pitch black in just a snap.

​Pagmulat niya, she was greeted by the familiar scent of lavender and expensive silk sheets sa loob ng kanyang silid na mas malaki pa sa condo nila ni Miguel sa Manila. ​Ang kanyang daddy ay palakad-lakad sa loob na parang hindi mapakali, habang ang kasama nitong personal physician ay nakaupo lang sa paanan ng kama.

​"What happened?" tanong ni Betty. Dali-dali namang lumapit ang daddy niya at chini-check siya na puno ng pag-aalala.

​"Miss Betty," panimula ni Dr. Lundaverg. "As we performed an emergency scan based from your initial diagnosis in the Philippines, we have found the lost baby was one of your twins."

Twins? Bumagting ang diwa ni Betty matapos sabihin ng doktor na kambal pala ang nasa sinapupunan niya. Nagulat talaga silang lahat. Halo-halo ang nararamdan nila sa sandaling iyon.

"One fetus didn't survive the trauma of the accident. But the other one? It fought hard. It’s a miracle. The baby is alive and healthy. You are still pregnant."

​"A miracle," bulong niya, habang ang kanyang kamay ay dahan-dahang napunta sa kanyang tiyan. "Buntis pa rin ako?"

"This changes everything!" her father exclaimed, voice trembling with ruthless delight. "Magiging lolo na ako? Magiging lolo na ako!"

Without wasting a second, nag-dial siya sa phone niya and barked orders at his secretary.

"Cancel my meetings. Have the chef prepare a feast. Open a few bottles from the private cellar. Tonight, we're celebrating!"

The moment the call ended, he turned back to Betty, his eyes gleaming with ambition.

"My lovely daughter, do you realize what this means?" isang matamis ang gumuhit sa mga labi niya. "You now hold the ultimate leverage. You're carrying the heir to the Moretti-Bergman fortune."

He let out a disbelieving laugh and shook his head.

"Of all the miracles in the world, this is the one I never saw coming. I still remember you telling me years ago how difficult it was for you to conceive. Yet here you are, carrying not just a child, but the future of one of Europe's most powerful families."

His gaze sharpened, calculating and triumphant. "That baby changes everything, Betty. Everything!"

On the other hand, ​nakatingin lang si Betty sa salamin sa tapat ng kama. Her eyes were different. Wala na ang babaeng umiiyak sa opisina. Ang nakatingin sa kanya ngayon ay isang babaeng handang sunugin ang mundo ni Miguel.

​"Ilalayo ko ang batang ito sa walang kwenta niyang ama, dahil hindi niya deserve na kilalanin pa si Miguel. At kapag nalaman naman ni Miguel na buntis pa rin ako? He will know exactly what it feels like to lose everything."

"Abangan mo ang pagbabalik ko soon, Miguel. You will regret all of this, yung regret na hindi kailanman mabibili ng pera."