MasukThey say I killed my sister. That I stole her husband. That I’m a thief, a liar, a murderer. But none of it is true. I gave up everything—my youth, my dreams, my peace—to raise her son and honor her last wish. But to them, I’m still the villain. My stepson hates me. My husband despises me. And no one dares to hear my truth. When my only comfort—my late father’s cat—is killed as a cruel message, something in me breaks. I’m done begging for love. I’m done living in silence. It’s time the world hears my side of the story… And sees what happens when a broken woman rises. This is not a love story. This is my fight for freedom.
Lihat lebih banyakChapter 1
Jacob Konstantin Avaceña is my stepfather's nephew. I was in my Grade 7 when I first met him. Kasama siya 'nung dinala ni Mama ang bagong boyfriend niya, si Tito Marcio. I knew for sure that he's years older than me.
"Anita, anak, si Jaco. Pamangkin ng Tito Marcio mo. Anak 'nung may-ari sa hotel." Natatandaan ko pa kung gaano kalawak ang ngiti ni Mama nang sabihin niya ito sa akin.
Ayaw ko sa kaniya. Nakakatakot siya. Mukhang pilyo. Mayaman. Walang gagawing mabuti sa akin kung lalapit ako. Iyan ang mga bagay na tumatak sa akin nang makita ko siya sa unang pagkakataon.
"Uy, ano! Magpakilala ka na." Kinurot ako ni Mama at sapilitan hinila paharap. Nakangisi si Tito Marcio habang nanonood sa pangyayari. Ganoon rin ang pamangkin nito na nakakakilabot ang tingin sa akin.
"Galing siya sa Amerika, anak! Kaya wala gaanong kakilala. Bumalik sila dahil tututukan ang hotel." Magiliw si Mama habang ikinukwento nito sa akin.
Hindi nakatakas ang pagsuyod ng tingin nito mula ulo hanggang aking paa. Umawang ang labi niya.
"H-hello, J-jaco... ako si Anita Diane Marrero." Tumingala ako dahil masyado siyang matangkad. Para akong batang musmos sa harapan nito.
Nilahad ko ang kamay sa kaniya. Hindi nagsasalita pero nakatitig ito sa akin, may ngisi sa labi.
Pero dahil mayaman siya, normal na di ito makikipagkamay sa isnag tulad ko. Minuto ata ang lumipas bago tinampal ni Mama ang kamay ko at pilit na tumawa. Nahihiyang naibaba ko ang aking kamay.
Hindi niya ako gusto. Iyon ang napagtanto ko. Sino ba ang magkakagusto sa isang Anita Diane Marrero? Anak ng isang babae sa aliw. Ulila na sa ama at ngayon naman, balak magpakasal ng ina sa nakilalang mayaman na lalaki.
Walang nagkakagusto sa akin. Bata pa lamang ako, nilalayuan ng mga kapwa bata. Sinasaway at pinagbabawalan ng mga magulang na baka maging katulad ako ng aking ina. That was a very harsh childhood life for me.
"Hindi ka niya gusto! Lintek! Akala ko magugustuhan ka niya. Ano ba 'yan, Anita. Sigurado ka bang naligo ka?" Tumango ako at nananatiling nakayuko.
Hinila ako ni Mama sa likod-bahay para pagsalitaan matapos ang pagpapakilala sa sarili ko kay Jaco. Kasalanan ko kung bakit di ako gusto ni Jaco Avanceña. Mga salita ni Mama.
"Ayusin mo nga ang buhok mo! Baka nabaduyan sayo! Ano ba yan! Akala ko magugustuhan ka 'nun." Umingos si Mama saka ako inirapan.
"Palibhasa, di natin kalevel sa buhay. Gusto ng mga taong kapantay nito."
Hindi ako makapagsalita dahil naiyak na lamang ako. Muli na naman akong nasaktan. Walang nagkakagusto sa akin.
Sinaway ako ulit ni Mama na ayusin ang sarili dahil babalik na kami sa bahay kung saan namin iniwan sino Tito Marcio at Jaco. Naging busy si Mama sa dalawa at inutusan na lamang ako na tumungo sa kwarto ko.
"Wag kang lalabas. Naiintindihan mo? Malilintikan ka sa akin." Dinuro niya ako at pinalakihan ng mata. Tumango ako agad. Naiintindihan kung anong pinupunto niya.
"Opo, mama."
"Target ko si Marcio ngayon. Malay mo ay balak akong pakasalan. Giginhawa na ang buhay natin." Di ako makapagsalita. Dahil tulad dati, paulit-ulit lamang ang mga katagang ito.
"Wag kang lalabas, Anita. Baka mabulilyaso. Di ka gusto 'nung binata at baka mandiri pa si Marcio." Iniwan na niya ako 'nun.
Napatitig ako sa malaking salamin sa aking kwarto. I remembered how I stared to my younger self that time. Tinitiitgan ko ang aking sarili.
Manang-mana ako kay Mama, kuha buong mukha ko. Dalawa lang ang aming pinagkaiba. Maitim at malalim ang mga mata ko. Nakuha ko sa Papa ko. Si Mama ay napakagandang kulay tsokolate. Parang nangaakit kong makatitig. Pangalawa ay may nunal ako sa gilid ng labi. Si Mama ay wala. Sa tuwing pinagtabi ay nagmumukha kaming magkapatid. Hindi naman gaano katanda ang Mama ko. Labing-anim na taong gulang siya 'nung mabuntis siya ni Papa.
Anong nakakadiri sa akin? Anong di gusto sa akin ng mga tao?
Muli ay naalala ko ang nangiinsultong tingin sa akin ni Jaco kanina. Marumi na rin ang isip nito sa akin. Panigurado. Dahil hindi naman linggid sa kaalaman ng buong La Felicidad kung anong klase ang trabaho ni Mama sa gabi. Kung papaano niya ako ipagkanulo sa mga kalalakihan.
Napaiyak ako. Hindi naman ako ganun'. Hindi naman ako kinukunsti ni Mama pero mahal ko si Mama. Kami lang narito sa mundo. Kung anong ikasasaya niya... gagawin ko naman.
Mula 'nun ay itinago ko na ang lahat ng mga salamin sa aking kwarto. Ang iba ay pinatungan ko na lamang ng tela dahil di ko makuha sa dingding.
I hated to look at myself in the mirror that time.
Naging masaya si Mama sa pagkalipas ng linggo. Dahil niyaya na siyang pakasalan ni Tito Marcio. Buntis na ang aking Mama.
At bukas na ang kasal.
"Mama..." napalunok ako.
Malaki ang ngiti niya habang nakatitig sa kaniyang eleganteng wedding gown. Bukas na siya ikakasal. Kaya kahit hatinggabi na ay gising pa rin siya. Kakatapos niya lamang magasikaso sa mga kakailanganin.
"Oh? Hija, halika nga dito! Ang ganda ng gown ni Mama, 'noh?" Wala sa sariling napatango ako. Ngayon ko lamang siya nakitang ngumiti ng ganito kasaya mula noong mamatay si Papa.
Gusto kong palaging masaya si Mama. Pero bakit ako nasasaktan ngayon?
"Nagustuhan mo ba ang tabas ng gown mo? Inayos ko ng mabuti ang sayo! Naku! Dapat pangalawa ka sa pinakamagandang babae bukas! Tatalbugan natin ang bisita nilang elitista!"
"M-mama..." Bumaba ang tingin ko sa tiyan niyang hinihimas niya habang kausap ako. Bigla akong naiyak.
"Aba! Bakit ka umiiyak?!"
"M-mama... i-iiwan niyo na ba ako?"
Hindi nakapagsalita si Mama. Pero alam kong iiwan niya ako bukas. Narinig ko 'nung magkausap sila ni Tiya Sela. Sasama na siya sa Manila kung nasaan naninirahan si Tito Marcio. Wala siyang balak na isama ako.
"Hindi kita pwedeng isama. Maiiwan ka rito."
"P-pero, Mama! P-papaano na ako..."
"Malaking pera ang iiwan ko sa'yo. Ipapagawa natin ulit ang panaderya. Alam kong pangarap mo 'yun."
Mas lalong nalukot ang puso ko sa narinig.
"Malaki ka na. Kaya mo na ang sarili mo. Maraming magbabantay sayo rito. Mga pinsan ng Papa mo. Binigyan ko na sila ng pera para di na makapagsalita."
"G-gusto ko pong sumama...." bulong ko. Umiling si Mama saka hinaplos ang buhok ko. Pilit kong hinahabol ang kaniyang tingin pero iniiwas niya ito sa akin.
"Kaya mo na ang sarili mo. Linggo-linggo o di kaya ay buwan-buwan ay libong pera ang ipapadala ko sayo. Gawin mo ang lahat. Bilhin mo lahat ng di ko magawang ibili sayo. Magpakabusog ka kasama mga kaibigan mo."
"D-di... ka na ba babalik?"
"Baka hindi na. Mas maayos ang buhay ng kapatid mo doon, Anita. Intindihin mo."
Pati si Mama. Di na rin ako gusto. Iiwan rin ako.
Sofia's point of view."Be mindful of your words, woman! What do you mean she's my real child?" Vincenzo's father scolded the woman, clearly offended by her confession. "Are you saying we're blind and can't identify our own child?"Everyone was eagerly waiting for the weeping woman to continue. Some were giving her a crazy look, as though she had gone crazy, while others were quietly whispering amongst themselves."Guards, bundle this crazy woman and get her out of here!" Vincenzo screamed, his voice vibrating with fear. No one noticed, but I did.The woman fell on her knees, shaking her head desperately. "I swear, I'm telling the truth, alpha. I'm the midwife who delivered your wife's baby," she paused as she pointed an accusing finger at Vincenzo. "His father made me switch your child with him.""What?!" Everyone exclaimed."Do you know the repercussions of your words? Do you realize you're likely making a false allegation against an alpha?" Vincenzo's father asked.The woman nodded
Sofia's point of view.My brows furrowed as the tears I was fighting to hold back flowed down my face, and I stared speechlessly at Vincenzo, who was trying to comfort Viola."I swear, I did not touch her," I tried defending myself, but that only earned me another slap from Vincenzo's mother."Shut up!" she snapped. "You think we're all blind and can't see that you have selfish intentions towards my son?"She turned back to Viola and quickly helped her up. "You are staying by Vincenzo's side, hoping you'd get a chance with him, but listen, let me break it to you: I will not accept any other girl but Viola. She is the only one fit to be Vincenzo's wife!"She's the only one fit to be Vincenzo's wife. What about his soulmate? Does his soulmate have no place in his life? Like, they could just pick a random girl and make her his wife? Oh, I forgot, Viola is not a random girl; she and Vincenzo have known each other since childhood, and besides, her father is Alpha Micah's younger brother."
Sofia's point of view.Wearing a fake sad smile, I shook my head as I turned to face him. "No. I guess my stomach is just having a hard time digesting the new diet," I played it off coolly, silently praying he believes me."Oh." He sounded and looked disappointed at my response, but quickly wore a smile as he took my hand and led me back to our bed. "There's been a change of plans, my love. You know, since my dad's the celebrant of tomorrow's occasion, we're expected to be there today. It wouldn't look good if we went there tomorrow, so you're going to pack up a few things, and we'll hit the road."Obviously, he's just using his father as an excuse. He's definitely going there early because his mistress wants him to be there."Come on, pack up. We're leaving in fifteen minutes." He said, planted a kiss on my forehead, and exited the room almost immediately – I saw an irritated look on his face before he left. I should be the one getting irritated – I screamed mentally.Anyways, I drag
Sofia's point of view.Vincenzo quickly snatched the phone from the table and shoved it into his pants pocket, unaware that I had already seen the incriminating message his mistress sent to him. They're still targeting my unborn child. They've not had enough; they'll never have enough. I bit my tongue as tears threatened to rush down my face, and unfortunately, I was able to hold them back."Why aren't you eating, my love?" he asked when he noticed my sullen expression. I looked at his face, wondering why I couldn't figure out his true colors sooner, and I couldn't hold back anymore – I let myself break down, letting my tears flow freely.Fake concern instantly flushed his face as soon as he saw my tears. He jumped out of his chair and crouched next to me. "Are you alright? Why are you crying?" Worry laced each question. If I hadn't known his intentions towards me, I'd have leaned on his shoulder and let him comfort me. But right now, I couldn't help the irritation brewing inside of m
Genevieve's Point of ViewEnzo cried for a while. I let him cry to his heart’s content, and when he’s had enough, we sat in a moment of silence."Are you okay?" I asked, breaking the silence."Yeah.""You can stop. You don't have to tell me everything," I told him, but he shook his head in disagree
Genevieve's Point of View"Are you sure you're okay?" Enzo asked me for the nth time."Yeah."He stared at me for a moment before returning his focus to his phone. We're currently in the car, heading to the mall.After a few minutes, we arrived, and the driver parked the car in a space in the parki
Genevieve's Point of View"Mrs. Enzo," I heard Cora whisper as she tapped my shoulder gently."Hm," I groaned sleepily, pushing her hand away as I tried to go back to sleep.It was a long, terrifying, and sleepless night for me. I was traumatized by last night and could barely get any sleep."Mr. E
Third Person's Point of View> Fred's Home
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