Se connecterIn the bustling city of Charles State, the world of high fashion and jewelry is about to be turned upside down. Lydia Josephs, the long-lost daughter of the renowned Josephs family, returns to take her rightful place as the MD of Josephs LIFTX. Her elegance and determination captivate the city, but her arrival stirs up old wounds and hidden secrets. Frank Lanka, the charismatic MD of Lanka CULT, is haunted by the ghost of his past. His deceased wife, Ruth, left an indelible mark on his heart, and he has never been able to move on. When Lydia Josephs steps into the spotlight, Frank is struck by an uncanny resemblance—she looks exactly like Ruth. The lines between past and present blur, and Frank is forced to confront the choices he made eight years ago. Lydia, however, has her own secrets. She is Ruth, thought to be dead in a tragic explosion orchestrated by Frank's ex, Dera Pete. Rescued and given a new identity, Ruth has returned as Lydia to reclaim her life and seek justice. Her heart is set on revenge, but she is also drawn to Frank, the man who once broke her heart. As Frank and Lydia navigate the treacherous world of corporate politics and personal vendettas, their chemistry is undeniable. Frank's proposal of a business alliance with Josephs LIFTX is more than just a strategic move—it's a chance to reconnect with the woman who haunts his dreams. But Lydia is wary, knowing that Frank's intentions may not be as pure as they seem. In a dramatic turn of events, Frank's past catches up to him. Dera's jealousy and manipulation threaten to destroy everything he holds dear. As the tension escalates, Frank must choose between his desire for redemption and his fear of losing Lydia forever.
Voir plusAUTHOR’S FRIENDLY REMINDER: THIS STORY IS A WORK OF FICTION. WARNING: MATURE CONTENT AND NOT SUITABLE FOR YOUNG READERS. PLEASE, READ AT YOUR OWN RISK! R-18 STORY..KATHANG ISIP LAMANG PO ANG LAHAT NG NAKASULAT DITO. HUWAG PO SANANG MASYADONG SERYOSOHIN! THANK YOU PO!
LORIE LOVE
“Ninong?”
“Ikaw, ikaw ang ninong ko!”
“Inaanak mo po ako!” sigaw ko sa lalaking nakatayo sa labas nitong mall.
“Who are you? What are you talking about?” tanong niya sa akin habang nakakunot ang noo niya.
“Hindi po ako nagkakamali. Ikaw po talaga ang ninong ko.” nakangiti pa na sabi ko dahil masaya ako.
“Fvck! Nagkakamali ka lang yata, Miss. Ang bata ko naman para maging ninong mo,” sabi niya sa akin.
“Opo, bata nga po pero ninong talaga kita. Sabi ng nanay ko ay ninong kita noong SK Chairman ka pa lang,” sabi ko sa kanya at baka sakaling maalala niya.
“Sorry pero wala akong maalala,” sagot niya sa akin.
“Tulungan mo po ako, gusto kong makapag-aral.” Walang paligoy-ligoy na sabi ko sa kanya.
“Lumapit ka sa foundation. Kapag nakapasa ka at naibigay mo ang lahat ng requirements ay makakapag-aral ka na,” sagot niya sa akin.
“Bakit hindi na lang po ikaw ang tumulong sa akin? Ninong naman po kita eh,” tanong ko sa kanya.
“Sorry, Miss. Hindi ko alam at hindi ko matandaan. Excuse me,” sabi niya sa akin at tumalikod na siya.
“Kapag eleksyon lang talaga kayo magaling,” naiinis na sabi ko at mabilis akong lumayo sa kanya.
Hindi naman ako puwedeng mamilit lalo na ang sabi niya sa akin ay hindi naman talaga niya ako kilala. Uso kasi talaga dito sa amin ang ganito, may mga ninong o ninang na politiko. Lalo na late na ako nabinyagan noon at ang sabi sa akin ni nanay ay ninong ko siya noong SK chairman siya sa barangay namin. Binyagang pambarangay raw iyon noon.
Mas pinili ko na lang na umuwi sa bahay namin. Dahil nalulungkot talaga ako. Ewan ko ba pero ang lungkot ko talaga. Sa totoo lang ay tama naman ang sinabi ni Cong. Pero kasi hindi naman ako natanggap dahil every year ay may limit sila at marami na ang mas nauna sa akin.
Pagpasok ko sa bakuran namin ay nakita ko na nagsisibak ang tatay ko ng kahoy na panggatong namin.
“Mano po, tay.”
“Kaawaan ka ng Panginoon, anak. Kumusta ang lakad mo? Nakahanap ka na ba ng trabaho?” tanong sa akin ni tatay.
“Wala po, halos wala pong bakante. ‘Yong ibang trabaho naman ay gusto nila college graduate,” sagot ko sa kanya.
“Pasensya ka na talaga, anak. Ang kinikita ko kasi ay kulang pa para sa gamot ng inay mo,” malungkot na sabi sa akin ng tatay ko.
“Huwag ka po magsalita ng ganyan. Makakaahon rin po tayo, sa ngayon ay maghahanap na lang po muna ako ng ibang trabaho. May awa po ang Panginoon. Makaraos rin po tayo, hindi man ngayon pero habang may buhay ay may pag-asa,” nakangiti na sabi ko sa kanya at niyakap ko pa siya.
“Marumi ako, anak. Baka madumihan ang damit mo. Ilan na lang ang mga gamit mo na maayos,” sabi sa akin ni tatay.
“Pasok na po ako sa loob, tay.” paalam ko sa kanya.
Pagpasok ko sa bahay ay nakaupo ang nanay ko sa lumang kawayan na upuan namin. Lumapit ako sa kanya at nagmano ako sa kanya. Hinalikan ko siya sa noo bago ako pumasok sa silid ko para magbihis ako ng damit. Paglabas ko ay nakipag-kwentuhan ako kay nanay.
“Alam niyo po, nay. Nakita ko po si Congressman sa mall kanina. Kinausap ko pa nga siya, sinabi ko sa kanya na inaanak niya ako. Pero hindi naman niya ako kilala,” malungkot na sabi ko kay nanay.
“Hayaan mo na, anak. Hindi ka talaga niya kilala, lalo na marami ‘yan siyang inaanak. Matulungin kasi siya kahit pa noong SK pa lang siya,” sabi sa akin ni nanay.
“Tama ka po, nay.” sabi ko na lang sa kanya.
Gusto kong sabihin sa kanya na humingi nga ako ng tulong sa idol niyang politiko pero hindi naman ako tinulungan. Tinuro lang niya ako sa mga charity at foundation niya. Ayaw ko naman na maging pangit ang tingin ng nanay ko sa kanya. May sakit ang nanay ko at ayaw ko siyang bigyan ng sama ng loob.
Tumayo na ako para magluto ng pagkain namin. Nagsaing ako dito sa kusina namin gamit ang kahoy. Dahil sa hirap ng buhay ay hindi na kami nakabili ng stove na gamit ay gas. Ang pera namin ay gagamitin na lang namin na pambili ng gamot ng nanay ko. Kahit pa nagtatrabaho ang kuya ko ay wala namang natitira dahil sa maliit lang rin ito.
Mabuti na lang at natapos ko ang senior high school.
“Lorie!” narinig ko na tawag sa akin ni tatay kaya naman lumabas na muna ako.
“Bakit po?”
“Hinahanap ka ng tiya mo, pumunta ka muna sa bahay nila at may sasabihin raw sa ‘yo,” sagot niya sa akin.
“Sige po,” sagot ko sa kanya at naglakad ako papunta sa kabilang bahay.
“Tiya, hinahanap niyo po ako?” tanong ko sa kanya.
“Nakahanap ka na ba ng trabaho?” tanong niya sa akin.
“Wala pa po, tiya.”
“Nagkita kasi kami kanina ng kaibigan ko. Ang sabi niya naghahanap daw ng katulong sa mga Zuares, baka gusto mong magtrabaho sa kanila?”
“Katulong po?”
“Oo, marami naman daw kayo doon at hindi naman daw mahirap ang trabaho. Malaki rin ang sahod doon, kung ako lang talaga ay walang ginagawa ay ako na lang ang papasok–”
“Sige po, tiya. Magtatrabaho po ako doon, mas okay na po ‘yon kaysa maging tambay po ako,” sagot ko sa kanya.
“Sige, tatawagan ko na ang kaibigan ko.”
“Marami salamat po, tiya.” nakangiti na sabi ko.
Kinausap ni tiya ang kaibigan niya. Ako naman ay umuwi na sa bahay para magpaalam sa magulang ko. Alam ko na hindi ito ang pangarap nila para sa akin pero sa ngayon ay ito na muna. Marangal na trabaho ang pagiging katulong kaya wala akong dapat na ikahiya. Mahirap ako at sanay sa hirap kaya wala akong karapatan na mag-inarte.
“Sigurado ka na ba talaga, anak?” tanong sa akin ni tatay.
“Opo, para po ito sa atin. Para po pandagdag sa gamot ni inay. Uuwi po ako dito tuwing day-off ko,” sagot ko sa kanya.
“Mag-iingat ka doon, anak.”
“Opo, mag-iingat po ako palagi. Alagaan niyo po ang sarili niyo,” parang naiiyak na sabi ko sa tatay ko.
“Ikaw rin, anak ko.”
Kitang-kita ko ang lungkot sa mga mata nila ng nanay ko. Ginagawa nila ang lahat para sa amin. Dahil daw sa hindi sila nakapag-aral noon ay nais nila na makatapos ako. Sa sobrang pagtatrabaho ay nagkasakit naman ang nanay ko. Kaya ngayon ang kuya at tatay ko ang nagtatrabaho.
Pumunta ang pinsan ko dito para sabihin na mamaya daw ako pupunta doon sa bahay ng mga Zuares. Ang bahay kung saan nakatira ang ninong ko na hindi naman ako kilala. Sigurado naman ako na busy siya kaya baka wala rin siya doon.
“Kaya natin ito self,” sabi ko sa sarili ko habang nag-aayos ako ng mga gamit ko na dadalhin ko.
EpilogueThe hospital room was filled with relief and warmth as I sat next to Bianca, lightly holding her hand. The past two days had been an emotional rollercoaster, and now, now that she was safe and on the mend, I felt a sense of calm I hadn't experienced in years.Bianca's father, Eric, and her mother, Evelyn, had not left her side, their love and support never waning. They had refused to be kept away, but I had known she had to be given time to heal, both physically and mentally. The bruises on her face were slowly fading, and the strength she had lost was slowly returning. Each day gave me a little more of the old Bianca, the woman I had grown to love.I had used all the time I had with her, conversing with her, recounting tales, and just existing. It was during one of those moments of quiet that she eventually talked about what had transpired."I remember being in the bathroom, and I felt dizzy all of a sudden," she began, her tone soft but authoritative. "The next thing I was
Hours ago.I had been hit by a truck.I ached with all the cells of my body. It hurt to breathe like I was swallowing fire.I had not eaten the last two days, so I was very sleepy and my wounds were healing extremely slowly."Have some soup. You will feel better and get some energy," the old woman who was caring for me advised.With some effort, I sat up and grabbed the bowl. Then I gulped down the soup quickly and the old woman looked at me with a smile on her face.My face too was swollen and bruised and my facial features could not be distinctly outlined."Thank you," I whispered when I finished, my voice rasping."Oh don't say anything," the woman said. "My name is Rita Pierce. The man who saved you is my husband, Josaphat Pierce. Don't worry, you're safe here. We live with our daughter, Serena and our three grandchildren." I nodded, looking around and realizing that I was in a small bedroom. The curtains were old and the bed was small but it was warm."Do you have someone we can
But I could guess from how the woman was lavishing me with gooey eyes. Frank was right. She had a crush on me and saw Bianca as competition. Anger ran through me. I fought to answer, "Yes. Someone just called and said that they saw someone who looked like Bianca in the east of the city."I narrowed my eyes as Cheryl looked relieved. She smiled and answered, "That's good, boss. Can't wait to have Miss Jones back."As I was walking out of the building with Frank, my face went cold."I can hard as nails guarantee she had a hand in this. She is smiling so much because Bianca is missing," I growled through gritted teeth. "I lied and told Bianca I'd seen her somewhere and then she looked like she'd hit the jackpot." "I will have the police on standby while we look at the footage. They will arrest her as soon as we are sure that she was the one who hired the car," Frank replied.."How could she?" I seethed, pounding my hand on the security office table at the car rental company. "I'm going
"Are you saying none of you could locate my fiancée?" I shouted. "Then what the devil am I paying so much money for?""We are trying, Sir," the IT man replied. "We need time-""Time? Does my fiancée have the luxury of time? Every second she's out there, she's at risk. I need to find her ASAP," I sneered, bloodshot eyes burning from lack of sleep.Two days had lapsed since Bianca had gone missing. Two days since the individual who had hacked into the CCTV at the club had disappeared and two days of complete silence on Bianca.I was going crazy.Who would be so insane to kidnap my fiancée? I couldn't think of any enemies I had recently. Was it maybe someone with a past grievance?Grievances were common in business. The rivalry was intense and getting some of the projects came with being hated by the others who lusted after the same projects.I hired the best hackers in Charles State to track Bianca. But they could only trace the first vehicle she was kidnapped in. The kidnapper had swit


















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