CHAPTER SIX

Marco’s POV:

“Will you ever stop being this foolish, Marco?!” my mom’s voice rang out as soon as she stepped inside.

She had just learned about Natalie ditching me again—something her assistant wasted no time sharing with the world.

I wasn’t surprised when she stormed into my place, ready to scold me into sense.

She loves me—too much, maybe. But even with all her anger and concern, she still hides the truth about her illness. No matter how hard I try to get her to open up, she won’t.

“Here it comes again,” I said softly, not bothering to look up as I turned the wine glass in slow circles, then took a sip.

“So, this is who you are now, Marco? Sulking and drowning in alcohol instead of helping me run the company?” she snapped.

I didn’t answer. I simply took another long drink, which only made her angrier.

She took the glass from my hand, pressed it toward my mouth until I swallowed the rest, then set it down with a sharp clink.

“Marco, can you stop drinking for once?!”

"Ma’am, please calm down… I’m really worried about you,” said the person behind her. I turned toward the voice—it was my mom’s secretary, her nerdy assistant. My irritation flared up again.

“Ugh! So, she’s here with you?” I nearly spat.

“Hi, Nerd… Nice to see you again,” I snapped as I stepped closer. She backed away behind my mom.

“Marco, control yourself!” she scolded and guided the assistant further behind her.

“Mom, I just wanted to say hi,” I said sharply.

“Son, please… you have to move on. I know it hurts, but Nathalie’s not coming back.”

“So, what’s your plan now? Set me up with this nerd just to fix the company?” I shot a finger in her direction. She blinked, clearly taken aback.

“Stop calling her ‘nerd’!” Mom slapped my hand away.

Angrily, I approached the secretary again, but my mom stopped me. I felt my anger rising.

“Hey, nerd! What the hell did you feed my mom to make her act like this?!”

My mom’s hand shot to my cheek, striking me.

“Mom?!” I said, stunned by her action. She glared at me with furious eyes—and it terrified me.

“This is too much, Marco! I don’t even know what else to do with you!”

I sneered. “Tssk.” Instead of answering, I left—didn’t want more hurtful words saying. I’d had enough.

“Marco! Get back here! We’re not done talking!”

But I kept walking.

“Marco!!”

“Ma’am!! Ma’am!” the assistant and Leo cried after me.

I looked back and saw my mom collapsed at the secretary’s feet, unconscious. The assistant was desperately tapping her, trying to wake her.

*****

“She’s suffering from a heart attack—worse than last year’s. We need to be extra cautious moving forward,” said the doctor.

“Fuck… it’s all my fault. I’ll never forgive myself if anything happens to her.” I held her hand as she lay sleeping. My chest clutched in pain, and I noticed tears rolling down my cheek.

“Mom… I’m sorry.” I kissed her hand over and over.

Just then, someone opened the door.

“How’s Auntie?” Aaron asked, stepping in with Leo.

I sighed. “She’s stable… she just needs to rest.”

“Thank God. Marco, stop acting up with your mom—”

Leo didn’t finish after I shot him a look that froze him. “She’s a handful sometimes.”

Aaron patted my shoulder. “Have you eaten, Marco?”

“No.” I realized I hadn’t since drunk earlier.

“We’re going to eat. We’re starving,” Aaron offered. “Just came from Davao.”

“Let Auntie rest—the nurse is looking after her,” Leo said.

I nodded, and as Leo opened the door, the secretary looked up at us, seated on the floor outside my mom’s room, worried and tired. How did she even get in here? I hadn’t noticed her arrive with the ambulance.

She stood when she saw us.

“Sir Marco, how’s Ma’am?” she asked. I just stared at her.

“And you are?” Leo asked politely.

“I’m my mom’s secretary.”

“Oh, really,” Leo said, surprised.

“She’s stable now,” Leo said soothingly. “She needs more rest.”

What a joke, I thought.

“By the way, we’re going to eat—join us. You haven’t eaten,” Aaron urged the secretary.

“I appreciate it, but I can’t… I’ll just wait until Ma’am wakes up,” she answered sweetly. Annoying, I thought.

“The doctor said we should let her rest. Let's eat while we wait,” Leo said, gently taking her arm.

“Will you be joining us?” he asked her softly.

“Y-yes, sir…” she stammered, and we walked toward the cafeteria.

While eating, Leo peppered her with questions about working for my mom. That’s when I found out she’d been with the company for a long time—as a secretary—and was extremely close to her. No wonder she was so worried. When I left, she was practically holding my mom in her arms.

“Looks like my little threat didn’t work—she’s even smiling,” I thought smugly.

A few hours later, we decided to go back to the hospital. Nerd was still with us—she said she’d wait until Mom woke up before going home. I just let her do what she wanted.

"Did you get full of that meal? It was such a small portion," Leo asked.

"Y-yes, Sir Leo... t-thank you again," she replied shyly.

"Tsk. That’s probably why you’re so skinny—you barely eat anything!"

"N-not really," she answered softly, looking down.

Hours passed. We returned to the hospital, the secretary still staying behind to wait until my mom woke. I let her do as she wanted.

“Let’s have the doctor check your bruise. Get you medicine carefully,” Aaron said, looking at her arm. I glanced too.

“Oh, it’s okay. It doesn’t hurt,” she said with a faint smile, though her head dropped. “I just… bumped into the door earlier. I was in a hurry.”

Something pinched at my conscience, but I ignored it.

"Are you sure?"

She just gave a shy nod.

"Sir, you came at the perfect time—the patient is awake!" the nurse watching over my mom told us.

"Thank God!!!" we all exclaimed.