CHAPTER 5

AGNES LA TRINIDAD's POV

In an instant, it was as if all the pieces of the story suddenly connected in my brain… Grace repeatedly telling me that someone got her pregnant but refused to take responsibility… Her endless meddling, telling me over and over again to leave Henry… Her lectures warning me not to lose myself over that man…

“So, you just wanted my husband all to yourself… you’re brilliant. You’re so damn brilliant, you son of a b*tch!” I whispered through gritted teeth, staring intently at them.

I clutched my head with both hands, pulling at my hair. She was the one I ran to, she was the one who helped me every time Henry hurt me. She was the one who tended to my wounds… and she was the one who screamed back at Henry just to defend me. There was even a time when Henry told me how much he hated her…

Son of a btch… They are incredible! They are all sons of btches! She acted so furious when I told her I miscarried my baby, yet she was the one plotting my downfall that time, completely thrilled about the loss of my child!

It hurts... it hurts so much! It feels like my entire being is being crushed to pieces. For ten years, I played the fool. For ten years, they played me for a b*tch!

My crying grew louder and louder I no longer cared if they heard me. I no longer cared if I died. I’m fvcking tired.

My sobbing grew even louder until a large palm suddenly and quickly covered my mouth from behind. When I saw who it was, I froze…

It was Luis.

He held me tightly in an embrace to stop me from thrashing and screaming. I don’t know if my eyes were playing tricks on me, but I think I saw a tear fall down his cheek. He gently caressed my cheek and kissed my forehead.

“You really are so stubborn. Don’t let them see you. Come with me. I’m getting you out of here."

Before I could even answer, my vision completely faded into black.

"I will save you even if you no longer want to save yourself. Stubborn woman, don't you even know that I'm hurting too.”

I woke up in an unfamiliar room, a bedroom surrounded by red and gold furnishings. I slowly opened my eyes, feeling the softness of the bed. Beside the bed was a huge veranda with a direct view of the peaceful sea and a vast grass field. It felt like I was on a private island, far away from the noise and chaos of the world I came from.

“It looks like a paradise.”

I stared out at it for a long time. My attention was then caught by a full-body mirror on the side. I stared at my full reflection. I was wearing a red silk dress. Gone were my dirty clothes stained with blood and dirt from my escape. Despite the beautiful attire, the mirror still revealed the bruises on my skin and my swollen, bloodshot eyes.

Where on earth am I?

Before I could process everything, I heard the faint sound of the door opening behind me. I slowly turned around and saw Luis's father entering the room. A heavy sigh of relief escaped his lips the moment his eyes met mine.

"Thank God you're awake," he greeted, quickly approaching me and pulling me into a tight hug. "I was so worried, which is why I kept checking in on you every now and then.” Severe anxiety was evident on his face. "We were so worried about you. You've been asleep for five straight days."

"F-Five days, Sandro?" I asked in a whisper, my eyes widening in shock.

"Yes, my dear," he replied as he helped me sit up on the edge of the bed.

I couldn't believe he was here. "What happened? How did I get here?"

Sandro took a deep breath before speaking. 

."Luis suddenly rushed you here unconscious. You were covered in bruises and blood, Agnes. We quickly had a private doctor examine you to treat your wounds and fractures."

I looked around the highly luxurious room. "Where are we, Uncle?"

"You're in our private villa in Batangas," he gently explained.

I looked at him directly, feeling a bit awkward. Sandro used to treat me like his own daughter back when Luis and I were still together. But when we broke up, I suddenly turned my back on him too and stopped speaking to him. That's why I couldn't help but feel ashamed of how rude I had been back then.

"Where is Luis, Uncle?" I asked in a whisper.

"Oh! He's outside," he answered with a smile. "He's tending to his son, Mateo."

I stared at him. I froze, unable to process what I had just heard.

"L-Luis has a child?" I stammered, barely able to believe his words. "Since when did he get married?"

Uncle Sandro smiled at my question. "Why don't you come outside so you can meet Mateo yourself."