Chapter 1

CHAPTER 1

Escape 

Ang mga mata ni Felix sa rearview mirror ng isip ko ay tila mga sulo na sumusunog sa aking kaluluwa. Habang papalayo ang sasakyan ni Shion mula sa gallery, ramdam ko ang bawat pintig ng puso ko—mabilis, marahas, at puno ng takot.

Hindi ko kailangan ng kumpirmasyon para malaman kung sino ang nagmamaneho ng itim na SUV na iyon sa likuran namin. Felix is a hunter. And tonight, he finally saw the prey that had been missing for seven long years.

"Shion, bilisan mo. He's following us," bulong ko, ang boses ko ay basag na. Nilingon ko si Max na ngayon ay nakasandal na sa bintana, ang kanyang munting repleksyon ay tila multo ng lalaking pilit naming tinatakasan.

"I'm trying, Lucy! But we're in the middle of Makati traffic. Kung gagawa ako ng marahas na move, mas lalo tayong mapapansin ng mga pulis," Shion hissed, his knuckles white against the steering wheel.

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Alas-diyes na ng gabi. Ang kalsada ng Ayala Avenue ay tila isang maze ng mga pulang ilaw. Sa bawat hinto namin, ang itim na SUV ay nananatiling dalawang sasakyan lang ang distansya sa amin. It was psychological warfare. Felix wasn't just following us; he was letting me know that I was already within his reach.

"Momma, why are we moving so fast? And why is Tito Shion's face so scary?" Max asked, his voice small and sleepy.

"Nothing, baby. Tito Shion just wants to get us home so you can have your ice cream," pilit kong pinapakalma ang boses ko kahit ang buong katawan ko ay nanginginig na.

"Lucy, look," bulong ni Shion.

Biglang lumiko ang itim na SUV. Imbes na sumunod sa amin sa main road, pumasok ito sa isang shortcut. My breath hitched. He knew exactly where we were going. Or worse, he was cutting us off.

"Shion, take the underpass! Now!" sigaw ko.

Agad na kinabig ni Shion ang manibela. Nag-protesta ang mga gulong sa semento habang mabilis kaming bumaba patungo sa dilim ng underpass. I prayed to every god I knew. Huwag ngayon. Huwag si Max.

Nang lumabas kami sa kabilang dulo, wala na ang itim na SUV. Pero hindi ako naging kampante. Felix is not the type to give up. He is a Creed. Sa mundo nila, ang salitang 'sumuko' ay hindi kasama sa diksyunaryo.

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Nakarating kami sa isang lumang apartment complex sa Mandaluyong. Hindi ito ang marangyang condo ko. Ito ang lugar na inihanda ni Shion buwan pa lang ang nakararaan para sa ganitong sitwasyon. It was a unit under a different name, a sanctuary for the girl who knew that secrets don't stay buried forever.

"Baba na, Max. Carefully," binuhat ni Shion si Max na ngayon ay tuluyan nang nakatulog dahil sa pagod.

Mabilis kaming umakyat sa third floor. Bawat yabag namin sa semento ay tila tunog ng paparating na panganib. Pagpasok sa loob, agad kong ni-lock ang pinto. Triple lock. Chain. Everything.

"Lucy, breathe. You're hyperventilating," Shion gripped my shoulders.

"He took his hair, Shion! He took Max's hair!" I collapsed on the old sofa, my hands covering my face. "The DNA test... it's over. Bukas, malalaman na niya ang totoo. 99.9998%. Hindi siya magkakamali."

"Then we leave tonight. I have a contact in Batangas. Pwede tayong sumakay ng lantsa patungong Mindoro, then from there, we fly out of a private airstrip," Shion suggested, his eyes darting around the room, already planning the next move.

I looked at Max, who was now tucked in a small bed in the corner. He looked so peaceful. So innocent. Seven years ago, I ran away from the Creed Mansion to give him this peace. Pinalayas ako ng Donya sa gitna ng ulan, binayaran para mawala, at sinabihan na basura ang dinadala ko.

And now, Felix wants to claim him? Now that I've turned my pain into art? Now that my son is a person and not just an 'egregious mistake'?

"No," I whispered. "Hindi tayo tatakas tonight."

"What? Lucy, are you insane? Once that result comes out, Felix will bring a battalion of lawyers and guards to take that child!"

"And if we run now, we'll look like criminals, Shion. Felix owns the ports. Sabi niya kanina, he owns every airport. If he catches us running, he'll use that as proof that I'm an unfit mother. Na itinatago ko ang bata sa panganib," I stood up, my eyes burning with a new kind of fire. "I am L. Sander. I am not the maid anymore."

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Alas-dose ng madaling araw. Tahimik ang buong apartment maliban sa tunog ng electric fan. Nakaupo ako sa tapat ng bintana, nakatingin sa labas, nang biglang mag-vibrate ang phone ko.

Unknown number.

My heart skipped a beat. Alam ko kung sino ito. Sinagot ko ang tawag pero hindi ako nagsalita. Ang tanging naririnig ko ay ang mabigat at pamilyar na hininga sa kabilang linya.

"You always did like hiding in the shadows, Lucy," the voice was deep, velvet-smooth, but with an edge that could cut through bone.

"Felix," I said, my voice cold. "How did you get this number?"

"I am a Creed. I get everything. Including the address of that pathetic apartment you're in right now," Felix answered. My blood ran cold. Napatingin ako sa labas ng bintana.

Sa kalsada, nakaparada ang itim na SUV. Felix was inside. Watching me.

"Leave us alone. Sabi ko sa 'yo, wala siyang tatay. I raised him alone."

"Don't lie to me again!" sigaw niya, at sa unang pagkakataon, narinig ko ang lamat sa kanyang boses. "I saw him, Lucy! I saw his eyes! My eyes! I saw the way he pouts when he's confused! Do you have any idea how much it hurts to realize I missed seven years of his life because you decided to be a martyr?"

"I didn't decide! Your mother kicked me out! Pinilit niya akong pumirma ng waiver! She told me you were getting married to someone else!"

Natahimik ang kabilang linya. Silence that lasted for what felt like an eternity.

"I didn't know," mahina niyang sabi. "They told me you took the money and left for abroad with another man. Shion, I presume?"

"Shion saved me! He was there when I was screaming in pain while giving birth! He was there when Max had his first fever! Saan ka noon, Felix? Ah, busy ka sa pagiging bilyonaryo."

"I am here now, Lucy. And I am not leaving until I get what is mine."

"Max is not an object! Hindi mo siya pagmamay-ari!"

"He is a Creed. And starting tomorrow, the whole world will know. Matulog ka na, Lucy. You'll need your strength. My lawyers will be there at 8:00 AM."

Click.

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Naiwan akong nakatulala sa phone ko. He knew. Alam na niya.

Seven years ago, I was just Lucy. The girl who cleaned his room. The girl who he whispered 'I love you' to under the sheets of the servant's quarters. We were young and reckless. We thought love was enough to bridge the gap between a maid and a prince.

But the real world doesn't work like a fairytale.

I remember the night I was kicked out. The Donya's cold eyes. The way she threw the five million pesos check at my face like I was some cheap prostitute. I didn't take the money. I left it on the marble floor of the mansion, walking out into the pouring rain with nothing but the clothes on my back and the tiny life inside me.

I worked three jobs. I scrubbed floors until my fingernails bled. And in between those jobs, I painted. I used the soot from the stove, the juice from the berries, anything to let out the colors of my grief.

Now, I am famous. My paintings sell for millions. But to Felix, I am still just the girl who stole his heir.

I walked over to Max's bed and kissed his forehead. "Momma's here, baby. I won't let the big bad king take you away."

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8:00 AM sharp.

A knock on the door made me jump. I looked at Shion, who was already holding a baseball bat near the door.

"Open it, Shion. It's time," I said, wearing my most expensive silk robe. If I was going to face the devil, I was going to look like a queen.

Binuksan ni Shion ang pinto. Bumungad ang dalawang lalaki na naka-suit—lawyers. At sa gitna nila, Felix was standing there, looking impeccable in a navy blue suit. His presence was so overwhelming that the small apartment felt like it was shrinking.

He didn't look at Shion. He didn't look at the dusty furniture. His eyes went straight to me.

"Where is he?" Felix asked, his voice calm but authoritative.

"He's sleeping. At hinding-hindi mo siya gigisingin," I stood my ground.

Felix stepped inside, ignoring the protest of Shion. He looked around the unit, his lip curling in disgust. "You live here? As L. Sander? This place is a dump."

"It's a home, Felix. Something you wouldn't understand."

Inabot ng isa sa mga lawyers ang isang folder sa akin. My hands trembled as I took it.

"The DNA results, Ms. Sander. Mariano Xiandrei Sander and Feliciano Alexandier Josiefh Creed."

I opened it. The numbers were staring back at me, mocking my seven years of silence.

Probability of Paternity: 99.9998%

"Now," Felix said, stepping closer until I could feel the heat radiating from his body. "Pack your things. Both of you."

"And if I don't?"

Felix leaned in, whispering in my ear so only I could hear. "Then I'll call the police and report a kidnapping. I have the papers, Lucy. I am the biological father. And in my world, I always get what I want."

I looked at him, my eyes filling with tears of rage. "You egregious bastard."

He smirked, but his eyes were soft for a split second. "I've been called worse. Now, go. Max is waiting for a daddy, isn't he? Don't disappoint him."

I looked at Shion, who looked ready to fight, but I shook my head. This was a battle I couldn't win with fists. This was a war of hearts and power.

"Fine. I'll go. But under one condition."

"Anything," Felix said.

"You never, ever tell him that you didn't want him seven years ago. You tell him you were looking for us every single day."

Felix's expression hardened. He reached out and touched my cheek, his thumb brushing away a stray tear. "That wouldn't be a lie, Lucy. I was looking for you. I just didn't know I was looking for him, too."

I turned away, my heart aching with a familiar pain. The escape was over. The cage was closing in. But as I packed Max's dinosaur pajamas into a bag, I knew one thing for sure.

I am not the same Lucy he broke seven years ago. And if he thinks he can just take us back into his world without a fight, he's in for a masterpiece of a surprise.