JAC 2

"NO! I'm not leaving! I'm staying here. I'll recover my losses! I'll get them back!" A frown immediately creased Ashton's forehead upon hearing the loud outburst. He quickly located the source of the noise from where he was on the second floor, which gave him a clear view of everything happening on the first floor of his casino hotel.

He signaled one of his bodyguards who was standing close by. "Yes, Sir Ashton?"

"Where is the security? Why are you letting someone create a scene and cause chaos in my place? And you had to do it when I'm here," Ashton hissed, shaking his head.

He had built this casino hotel as his entertainment. He wasn't a fan of gambling, but his father used to take him to different casinos. He had decided that when he reached the right age, he would build a beautiful, grand, and big casino hotel of his own. And this was it!

"I'm sorry, sir. Let me handle this-"

"Wait. Let the old man cry because of his loss. He couldn't afford to lose his money and still gamble. Such a dumbass," the young man spoke to himself.

He continued to shake his head and then stood up from his seat. He planned to go to the old man and talk to him.

As soon as his staff saw him approach the table, they respectfully gave way, and they quickly followed when he gestured to release the elderly man who was still acting up.

"Sir Ashton-"

"Who are you? Who gave you the right to make a fuss and scream like an idiot in my casino?" Ashton sternly asked the old man.

"I-I am Danilo, D-Danino Vergara..." the old man stuttered in his response, his eyes glinting as if he remembered something.

"Are you related to the owner of Vergara's airlines?" the young man asked him again. His lips curved up in a smirk when he saw the old man nod slowly.

He seemed like he would have his own airline in no time. Exciting!

"Do you still have a chip to be able to continue playing?" the young man asked again.

He secretly laughed when the old man quickly shook his head and tearfully approached him. Poor old man. He probably had no money left. So pitiful.

"I can lend you some-"

"Oh please! Thank you. You're such an angel. You're heaven-sent-"

"Harsh, old man. You don't know what you're saying," Ashton said simply and just shook his head.

He quickly called his secretary and gave her instructions. "...assist Mr. Vergara, give him everything he needs, money, chips, and even VIP treatment. Do your best for him."

His secretary nodded before approaching the old man. She simply nodded when he kept thanking her.

Ashton was not a kind person. Everything he did and showed as kindness had a price. He didn't know whether the old man was lucky to have met him or unlucky because if he didn't repay his debt on time, he would ask for a heavy price in return.

He didn't kill people, but he never let anyone breathe again after they did something wrong to him.

"DAD, where have you been?! Do you know that your black card is no longer accepted-"

"Why do you have my black card? How did you get it?"

The young woman was left speechless upon realizing her father's question. Shit! That's right. Her father didn't know that she had snatched his magical black card.

It took almost three days before she was able to contact her father, and now they were having breakfast together. She felt like she had visited every casino hotel in the entire Metro Manila searching for her skilled father. Even Hans' location tracker, which they were relying on, was wrong.

"A-ah ehh... Ah ha! I asked you first so you better answer my question first, daddy!" Taphney teased her father.

The young woman frowned when she saw her father just shake his head in response. She sensed that something was wrong with him. He was not okay. What could have happened?

"Dad, are you okay? You seem worried and space out-"

"I'm good, honey. I just have a lot on my mind lately," Taphney's father quickly replied.

But Taphney knows her father. She knows when something is off with him, and she has never been wrong before.

"Dad, you're not okay! What's wrong with you? We're alone together, and you're still keeping things from me. I'm your daughter! I'm your only child. You can tell me everything. Is the airlines okay? How about your health? Are you okay?" Taphney didn't realize that she was asking too many questions.

Her concern was evident in her voice. She no longer has a mother, and she doesn't want to lose another parent. She might not be able to handle another tragedy in her life.

"Everything's fine, honey. Don't worry too much-"

"You don't look fine to me at all daddy! Look at you. You look like you aged five years. You even have big and dark circles under your eyes," Taphney continued to protest.

Her father was about to say something again when their housekeeper, Nanay Esting, suddenly came with an envelope. She quickly handed it to Taphney's father. The young woman's eyes widened in curiosity.

"What is that, Dad?" Taphney asked, full of curiosity.

Danilo just shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. He quickly tucked the envelope handed by their housekeeper.

Taphney was about to protest again when her father stood up from his seat. She furrowed her brows.

"Hey dad, you're not done eating. Where are you going?" Taphney asked him quickly.

Her father smiled at her before giving her a quick kiss on her forehead.

"I have to go to my office first, honey. I have something to take care of. After you finish eating, go visit your cousins first. I'll have the driver pick you up later-"

"What?! I don't want to. I'll stay here. Don't you want me to be with you?" Taphney protested. Her father shook his head.

"Of course not, Taphney. Just follow me-"

"Is everything okay, Dad?" Taphney felt that something was wrong again. She didn't know if it was fear or anxiety, but she knew something was off. Her intuition was telling her that her father was not okay.

"Everything is good, honey. Stop thinking too much. Your daddy is okay. I am okay, alright? Hurry up and visit your cousins."

Taphney didn't complain anymore as her father disappeared from her sight. She lost her appetite and just followed her father's request. Even though she was confused and scared, she would do as her father told her.