Prologue

PROLOGUE

"SAY 'Your loss, big guy'."

"Your lo—"

"Akihiro Shion Huang! Ano na namang kayabangan 'yang itinuturo mo sa anak ko!" pagputol ko sa akmang sasabihin ni Max.

Paakyat pa lang ako ng hagdan patungo sa main hall ng gallery ay naririnig ko na ang kung ano-anong banat na itinuturo ng lalaking 'to sa anak ko. Paano ba ako nagkaroon ng kaibigang ganito? Kung hindi ko lang talaga utang sa kanya ang buhay namin ni Max, baka matagal ko na siyang ipinakain sa pating. Shion has been my rock for the past four years, but his influence on my seven-year-old son is sometimes... questionable.

"Ang high-blood mo, Lucy! Para 'pag nagkita sila nung tatay niyang bilyonaryo, alam ng anak mo kung paano mag-inarte nang may level! You know, strike a pose, then tell him he missed out on a masterpiece! Classy and savage, 'di ba?" Halakhak nito sabay kiliti sa tiyan ni Max.

"Shion, umalis ka na nga rito bago ko pa maipalamon sa 'yo 'tong palette ko!" Kulang na lang ay batuhin ko ng tsinelas ang nakangising demonyong 'to.

"Bad ka po, Tito Shion. You're making Momma's face turn red like a tomato. Sabi ni Momma, people who are too naughty won't get any dessert later," umakto pang galit ang pitong taong gulang kong si Max, pero kitang-kita ang pagpipigil niya ng tawa habang nakatingin sa tito niya.

Hindi ko alam kung paano nalaman ni Shion ang sikreto ko noon. Basta isang araw, noong tatlong taon pa lang si Max, bigla na lang siyang sumulpot sa maliit naming apartment. He claimed to be a freelance photographer, but he knew too much about the Creeds.

"Sige na, Shion. Dalhin mo na si Max sa VIP lounge. Mag-aayos lang ako ng gown," utos ko habang pilit na pinapakalma ang sarili.

"Roger that, Madam Artist! Tara na, Max! Ituturo ko sa 'yo kung paano maglakad na parang pagmamay-ari mo ang buong gallery na 'to!"

"Shion! Ayusin mo 'yang ituturo mo sa inaanak mo!" sigaw ko, pero huli na dahil nagtatakbo na sila palayo habang nagtatawanan.

🔅🔅🔅

Napatingin ako sa malaking salamin ng dressing room. I was wearing an emerald green backless gown that screamed elegance. Ang tela nito ay yumayakap sa aking katawan sa bawat galaw ko. Sino ang mag-aakala na ang babaeng nasa harap ng salamin ngayon ay ang dating "Lucy the Maid"? Na isa na ngayong tanyag na artist sa pangalang L. Sander.

Pitong taon na ang nakalipas mula nang palayasin ako sa mansyon ng mga Creed. Pitong taon mula nang iwan ako ni Felix sa gitna ng ulan, buntis at walang matuluyan. I survived because I had to. I painted my pain until it turned into gold. Every stroke of my brush was a scream I couldn't let out. Ngayon, ako na si L. Sander, ang "Rising Art Prodigy" ng Pilipinas.

This gallery event is the pinnacle of my career. My first solo exhibit in the heart of the city. But there's a catch. Ang main sponsor ng gabing ito ay ang pamilyang pinagtataguan ko. I thought they would remain anonymous, pero sabi ni Mr. Dela Vega, the primary donor is coming tonight to personally meet the artist.

"Momma! You look like a princess!" pumasok si Max sa silid, bitbit ang isang maliit na baso ng juice. His eyes were wide with pure admiration.

"And you look like a prince, baby," I smiled, kneeling down to kiss his forehead. "Remember what Momma said? Stay with Tito Shion. Huwag kang lalayo sa kanya, okay? Maraming tao sa labas."

"Yes, Momma. I'll be a good boy."

Lumabas na kami sa main hall. The smell of expensive champagne and the sound of violins filled the air. This is the world of the 1%. The world I used to serve—cleaning their floors and washing their clothes—and now, it is the same world that is applauding my work.

Habang kinakausap ko ang ilang art collectors, biglang tumahimik ang paligid. The atmosphere shifted, becoming heavy and tense. The heavy doors of the gallery opened, and a group of men in suits entered. My heart hammered against my ribs. I knew that aura. I knew that scent—sandalwood and expensive cigars.

"Ms. Sander, our sponsor has arrived," bulong ni Mr. Dela Vega.

I turned around, and my world stopped. Time seemed to freeze as the air was sucked out of the room.

Nakatayo sa gitna ng hall si Feliciano Alexandier Josiefh Creed.

He looked even more powerful than before. His shoulders were broader, his jawline sharper. His gaze was cold, calculating, and predatory. He was scanning the room with the eyes of a king until they landed on me. Nanigas ako. I felt like a deer caught in headlights. His fierce eyes pierced through me, searching for the ghost of the girl he used to know.

"Felix..." I whispered, the name tasting like ash in my mouth.

Hindi siya nagsalita. He just stared at me as if he was seeing a ghost, his hands clenched into fists at his sides. Pero ang atensyon niya ay mabilis na nalipat sa bata na humahawak sa gown ko.

"Momma! I found Daddy!" masayang sabi ni Max sabay turo kay Felix.

"Sh, no, that's embarrassing baby. He's not your daddy," saway ko sa anak ko habang hindi tinatapunan ng tingin si Felix dahil sa sobrang hiya at kaba. I felt my face heating up from the sheer humiliation. My heart was thumping so loud I was afraid he could hear it.

"But Momma! Look!" Binuhat ko si Max at nakita kong may hawak siyang isang litrato.

It was a small, torn photograph of Felix from seven years ago—the only thing I couldn't throw away, my only link to the man I once loved. Where did he get that? It must have fallen from my purse earlier when I was fixing my things.

"No, Max. That's just a person who looks like the man in the picture. Let's go," I tried to pull him away, my voice trembling.

But it was too late. Felix was already in front of us, his shadow looming over me. He looked at Max, then at the photo, then at me. His expression shifted from shock to a terrifying kind of realization. He knelt down, his movements slow and deliberate, panting as if he had run a marathon just to reach this moment.

"What is your name, kid?" Felix asked, his voice thick with an emotion I couldn't name.

"I'm Max, po. Are you the man in Momma's picture?"

I saw Felix's eyes water. A sight I never thought I'd see from a Creed. Without a word, he reached out and gently ruffled Max's hair. It looked like a fatherly gesture, but I saw his fingers move with the precision of a thief. He plucked a single strand of hair from Max's head.

"Ouch! Why did you do that, po?" Max frowned, rubbing his head.

"I'm sorry, little man. Just checking if you're real," Felix stood up, his height intimidating. He was clutching the hair strand in his palm like a treasure, his gaze now burning with a mixture of betrayal and rage. "Seven years, Lucy? You hid my son for seven years?"

"He is not your son, Mr. Creed!" I spat, my voice echoing in the silent hall. "Wala siyang tatay. I raised him alone while you were busy being a billionaire. My son has no father, only a mother who survived your family's cruelty."

"We'll see about that when the DNA results come out tomorrow," he leaned in, his breath hot and dangerous against my ear. "Don't even think about running, Lucy. I own every airport and pier in this country. You're not going anywhere. You're back in my world now."

Napaatras ako nang dahil sa nakita kong determinasyon sa kanya. It wasn't just anger; it was possession. Mas napahigpit ang paghawak ko kay Max. I looked at Shion, who was now standing behind me, his hand on my shoulder as a silent promise of protection.

I walked away as fast as my heels could take me, hearing Felix's voice calling my name one last time, a haunting sound that vibrated through my soul.

Mabilis ang bawat hakbang ko palabas ng gallery. Hindi ko na pinansin ang tawag ni Mr. Dela Vega o ang mga flash ng camera ng mga reporters na tila mga buwayang nag-aabang ng eskandalo. Ang tanging nasa isip ko lang ay ilayo si Max sa bilyonaryong iyon.

"Lucy, wait! Ang bilis mo maglakad!" hingal na tawag ni Shion habang bitbit ang mga gamit namin patungo sa parking lot.

Hindi ako sumagot hanggang sa marating namin ang sasakyan. Isinakay ko si Max sa backseat at mabilis na pumasok sa loob. My hands were shaking so hard I could barely lock the door. The adrenaline was starting to fade, replaced by a paralyzing fear.

"Drive, Shion. Please, drive now," pakiusap ko.

Tahimik na pinaandar ni Shion ang sasakyan. Ramdam niya ang tensyon na bumabalot sa amin. Sa rearview mirror, nakita ko ang anino ni Felix na nakatayo sa entrance ng gallery, pinapanood ang pag-alis namin. He looked like a hunter who just found his long-lost prey after years of searching.

Naging tahimik ang loob ng sasakyan habang binabaybay namin ang kalsada ng Makati. The city lights were a blur outside. Maya-maya, naramdaman ko ang maliit na kamay ni Max na humawak sa braso ko.

"Momma..." mahinang tawag niya.

Huminga ako nang malalim at pilit na kinalma ang sarili. I forced a smile I didn't feel. "Yes, baby? Are you okay? Masakit pa ba 'yung ulo mo?"

Hinaplos ni Max ang parteng binunutan ni Felix ng buhok. "It's okay na po, Momma. But... why did that man look at me like he was sad? Did I do something bad?"

Tumigas ang panga ko. "He was just surprised, Max. Maraming tao sa gallery, 'di ba? And people act weird in front of art."

Tumingin si Max sa labas ng bintana, tila malalim ang iniisip. "Momma... is he my Daddy? Is he the man in your picture? Sabi ni Tito Shion, my Daddy is a king."

Napatigil ako. Ito ang tanong na pitong taon kong pinaghandaan pero ngayong nandito na, hindi ko pa rin alam kung paano sasagutin. "Max, diba sabi ni Momma, Daddy is away? He's in a far, far place. Hindi siya ang lalaking 'yon."

"But he looks like me, po," giit ng anak ko, ang boses ay puno ng inosenteng pag-asa na nagpapaluha sa akin. "And he smells like the perfume you sometimes cry over when you think I'm asleep. Sandalwood, 'di ba?"

Nanigas ako sa sinabi niya. Maging ang pagmamaneho ni Shion ay bahagyang bumagal. Hindi ko alam na napapansin pala ni Max ang mga gabing umiiyak ako habang hawak ang lumang panyo ni Felix na naiwan sa akin sa mansyon. My son was too observant for his own good.

"Max, listen to Momma," hinarap ko siya at hinawakan ang magkabilang pisngi niya. "That man... he is a powerful man. Pero hindi siya ang Daddy mo. Hindi lahat ng kamukha natin ay pamilya natin, okay? Do you trust Momma?"

Max bit his lower lip and slowly nodded, though the doubt was still in his eyes. "I trust you, Momma. But why did he get my hair? Will he use it to find us? Is he a bad wizard?"

I pulled him into a tight embrace, hiding my tears in his hair. I felt his small heart beating against mine. "Hinding-hindi ka niya makukuha sa akin, Max. Over my dead body. Momma will protect you."

Tumingin ako sa labas ng bintana at nakita ko ang isang itim na SUV na sumusunod sa amin mula sa malayo. The headlights were like eyes watching us. Hindi ko kailangan ng confirmation para malaman kung kanino iyon. Felix is already making his move.

"No, he's not your daddy, Max. Hanap tayo ng ibang daddy mo, andito naman ang Tito Shion mo," muli kong bulong sa kanya, pero sa loob-loob ko, alam kong nagsisimula na ang impiyerno.

Felix didn't just pluck a strand of hair. He plucked the peace I spent seven years building. And I knew, before the sun rises tomorrow, the secret I've been hiding will be the very thing that chains me back to him. The predator has found his mate, and he is not planning to let go.