Chapter 4 - The Clashing of the Palmers and the Leventis

"I'll be honest. I am opposed to this marriage," Aurora Palmer stated candidly as the Leventis's sat down.

Danley, Danica, and Danny's faces show surprise and bewilderment, and Dianna Leventis' face shows the same surprised expression. While the rest of the Leventis' just raised one brow, as if they couldn't believe what they were hearing.

This is the first time someone has stated that they do not wish to be a part of their clan. 

"Excuse me?" Nakataas pa rin ang isang kilay na sabi ni Albina Leventis. 

"You heard me, Mrs.Leventis; I said I am opposed to this marriage; I'm not sure what you heard from your father-in-law, but this marriage is nonconsensual."

No, wait. This is not supposed to happen. Danley thought.

Danley is sitting next to her mother, and her sisters are next to her, while the Leventis' are on the other side, with Irnes, Dianna, and Isidore in the center. Danley faced her mother, but she was ignored. Danley is unable to signal her mother because her gaze is fixed on the Leventis'. She reached for her mother's hand, but she had already crossed her hands on her chest and continued speaking as she looked at Albina, "The head of your family, Irnes Leventis, basically threatened my daughter to marry your son, and in case you didn't know, my late husband owed a lot of money to this old man," she looked at Irnes Leventis, "and this marriage is his offer to my daughter to settle the debt. And, as I stated, he threatened my daughter, threatening to kill me and my younger daughters if she disagreed."

Danley's eyes widened. She had never told her mother about the threat to their lives, so she was surprised that her mother was aware of it. Her mother looked at Danley and answered the question she had in mind, as if her mother could read her mind. "Do you really think I won't catch up? I know you better than anyone else, Danley. You're not someone who will just let anyone dictate to you, especially if it's a Leventis'. Unless, of course, it's us, your family on the line, and knowing Irnes Leventis, I knew he'd use that tactic."

Hindi makapaniwala na nilingon ni Dianna Leventis ang asawa at tinanong ito, "Is this true, Irnes?"

"I just did what I had to do, Mrs.Palmer." Sagot ni Irnes Leventis sa sinabi ng ina ni Danley. Hindi man lamang nito binalingan ang asawa na may nagtatakang tanong sa mukha. "Do you really believe that your daughter's salary will be enough to pay your late husband's debt to me? It's four million and six hundred thousand pesos, Mrs. Palmer."

"And that is why my daughter is working so hard to pay off the debt."

"Hard work alone is not enough, Mrs. Palmer. How much is your daughter's monthly salary, Mrs. Palmer? Fourteen thousand? Fifteen thousand? And after deducting her benefits, how much will be her remaining salary? Twelve thousand? Thirteen? Now, with that salary, she will divide it with your younger daughter's tuition fees, projects, and anything related to their studies. Then there are bills that she has to pay. How much will she have left over to pay your late husband's debt to me? How long will it take for your daughter to pay off the debt if we only rely on her hard work? And since you appear to know me well, Mrs. Palmer, then you are aware that I am not a patient man."

"Irnes!" Saway ni Dianna sa asawa, bewilderment can still be heard in her voice.

"I am just taking back my own money, Dianna." Matigas ang boses na sabi ni Irnes. "It's not like I offered Dante Palmer to use my money; it was him who came to me and asked for my help; it was him who promised me that he'd definitely pay it back and with twenty percent interest; so, why are you, Mrs. Palmer, now acting as if it was my fault?"

"It was my late husband's debt, not ours. Pero bakit kami ang ginigipit mo? You already took our land and our business. Hindi pa ba sapat iyon?" Puno ng galit na sigaw ni Aurora.

"Your husband and I had a contract; he used your land and business as collateral, and even made you his guarantor; you even had your signature on the contract, didn't you, Mrs. Palmer?"

"You knew that my husband forged my signature!"

"It's no longer my problem, but if you really can't accept it, go get a lawyer and we'll settle this in court if you still have the means to do so. If you can't, then just sit your ass down, zip your mouth, and let your daughter do what needs to be done to save you and her sisters. After all, isn't that what you've been good at, Mrs.Palmer? Letting your eldest daughter do all the work."

"Irnes!" Muling saway ni Dianna Leventis.

Hindi na rin naman nakapagpigil pa si Danley at tila bula na lamang na naglaho ang kaba na kanina lamang ay naramdaman niya sa pagdating ng mga Leventis. She had already decided to remain calm and lower her pride, but after hearing Irnes Leventis insult her mother, she decided she could no longer do so. She simply cannot sit back and watch the old Leventis trample on her mother's pride and dignity.

"I'm simply telling the truth, Dianna: Mrs. Palmer has done nothing but rely on her daughter since her husband died; as a parent, shouldn't she be ashamed—"

"Enough, Mr.Leventis!" Mabagsik ang boses na putol ni Danley sa matanda, making her the center of attention of the Leventis'. "You've already crossed the line. The only condition I've accepted is that I marry your grandson; allowing you to insult my mother is not part of that condition. Now, if this is how you want to do things, then let's end this and forget about our agreement. I can't be married and be a part of a family who's done nothing but look down on my family."

Aurora's lips formed a hopeful smile as she looked at Danley and whispered, "Danley..."

Danley apologized to her mother, "I am sorry for putting you through this, Mama; I should have listened to you."

Aurora was about to respond to Danley when Irnes Leventis interrupted, drawing Aurora and Danley's attention back to him. "That won't do, Ms. Palmer; you can't go back on your words."

"I just did, Mr.Leventis, and if you don't have anything else to say, our door is open for you."

Idris Leventis finally spoke up at that point. "You'd better watch your words, Ms. Palmer; in case you forgot, we are the Leventis."

"And I don't give a fuck about your name, Mr.Idris Leventis; in fact, I never did. We welcomed your entire family into our home, and this is how your son and father repay us? By insulting us? We may not be as wealthy as your family, but we still have our pride and dignity."

"Pride and dignity that you almost threw away for money," Albina Leventis said.

"I threw it away for my family, which you, I believe, will never do."

Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Albina Leventis. Danley is willing to bet that no one has ever responded to her in that manner. It must have come as a surprise to her to see and know that someone could stand up to her. And Danley is certain that it isn't just Albina Leventis who is taken aback. She is certain that all of the Leventis' do.

What? They truly believe they are so powerful that no one would dare to oppose them? Danley thought.

Nang makabawi na sa pagkagulat ay nanlisik ang mga mata ni Albina Leventis. Halos umusok na rin ang ilong nito sa inis at galit. She turned to face her father-in-law. "This is insane, Papa; I can't believe you want this disrespectful and valueless woman to marry my son! I cannot accept her as my daughter-in-law!"

"How daring of you to say something about being disrespectful when it was your family who disrespected us first; we were simply repaying the favor," Aurora said.

"You're too brave for someone who's buried in debt, Mrs. Palmer. If I were you, I'd let go of the hostility you're displaying toward us; we're the ones doing you a favor here, not you and your daughter."

"Ha! You call this a favor? Forcing my daughter to marry your son, threatening her if she says no, and insulting us is what you call favor?" Aurora looked at Irnes Leventis again and said, "We will pay our debt just like we have always done, and no wedding will take place."

"That's good then. Hindi ko rin naman gusto na maging manugang ang anak mo na walang modo." Galit na saad ni Albina.

"Walang modo? Are you referring to yourself, Mrs.Albina Leventis?" Sagot naman ni Aurora.

Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Albina Leventis at nagngalit ang kanyang mga ngipin. "You---" ngunit bago pa man matapos ni Albina Leventis ang sasabihin ay natigilan na siya ng biglang tumawa si Isidore na kanina pa tahimik na nakikinig sa kanilang palitan ng salita.

Everyone looked at Isidore. Nakatayo ang binata habang nakatawa pa rin na tila aliw na aliw ito.

Tila lalo naman na nagalit si Albina. "You find this funny, Isidore? This poor family is making fun of our family and is insulting me yet you still have the audacity to laugh?" Ani Albina habang nagngangalit pa rin ang mga ngipin, but Isidore just continues on laughing and it made his mother to go ballistik. "Isidore!" Mabagsik na sambit nito sa pangalan ng anak. Pulang-pula na ang buong mukha at maging ang leeg ng ginang. She looks like a tiger about to bare her claws at her own son, but Isidore Leventis doesn't seem scared, even though he's already trying to hold back his laughter.

Isidore looked at his mother with a wide grin and menacing eyes, as if he was mocking his own mother. "What? Don't you find this entertaining and amusing, mother? A family who has nothing but their home had the nerve to insult you and say it right in your face what a bunch of self-entitled and self-centered people our family is. No one has ever done that to us, right? Not even those who came from the alta-sociedad like us have ever done that to us." He then looked at his grandfather with a grin. "Now I understand why you're so eager to force me to marry Ms. Palmer," he said, looking at Danley, "she's definitely interesting."

"And you are an asshole." Mabilis naman na tugon ni Danley.

Isidore's grin grew wider. "She appears to be feisty as well, which I like."

"The feelings aren't mutual," Danley says as she raises one of her brows.

Sumipol naman si Isidore na animo'y hangang-hanga sa ipinapakitang katapangan ni Danley. "Don't worry, you'll change your mind once we're married and in the same bed; I'm good, you know?"

Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Danley at pumula ang kanyang mga pisngi matapos marinig ang sinabi ni Isidore. "Pervert!" She said in pure embarrassment.

Looks like this man is not only an asshole, but he's also a pervert! Not that I expected much from a playboy.

"Oh, that reaction," Isidore exclaimed. "Are you a virgin?" he asked, as if unable to believe it.

Dianna finally stood up and scowled at her grandson. "Enough, Isidore! How could you say such things in front of these young girls?" she said, referring to Danny and Danica, who remained silent and had flushed faces like their sister. Dianna Leventis then turned to face Idris and Albina. "And you two, we came here to have a civilized conversation with Danley's mother and siblings, and you kept insulting her? How could you two stoop this low? Especially you, Idris! I didn't raise you to be like this!" And now she turned her gaze to her husband, "and you old man, we have a lot to talk about and you have a lot of explaining to do!" The four Leventis remained silent after that. They looked like dogs who bowed their heads and turned away after being reprimanded by their owners. Dianna Leventis then turned her gaze to the Palmers, specifically Aurora and Danley. Dianna Leventis bowed her head and began apologizing, "From the bottom of my heart, I am truly sorry. I know nothing about the debt and the conditions that my idiot husband made, and I feel terrible about it. I came here not knowing what my husband has put you through, and for that, I am sorry. I really am."

Dianna Leventis is different from them. Iyon ang naisip ng mag-i-inang Palmer.

Mrs.Dianna Leventis, unlike the other Leventis, appears to be a good and rational person. From the genuine hug she gave me when we finally met, to her apology for her grandson's rude comment about me earlier, and her apology now for the rest of their family members, even though she didn't have to. She's not like those who insulted and degraded us. I've always assumed that all Leventis are the same. But I guess I was mistaken. Danley pondered.

"You have nothing to apologize for, Mrs.Dianna. Your family member's fault is not yours. They are not children, so why do you have to apologize for their sake?" Aurora sighed, "Besides, we are also wrong. I was wrong to say and think that all Leventis are alike when you are clearly different from them. It's almost as if you are built differently. However, I will not retract everything I said because I believe that nothing I said was wrong. I was just telling the truth."

Hindi napigilan ni Danley na humanga sa ina. Her mother does not look scared nor even a bit nervous while saying those words in front of Dianna Leventis, totally different from how she acted before the Leventis' came.

Nakangiting tumango si Dianna. "I understand." Tumango naman pabalik si Aurora bilang tugon. Dianna then turned around to face her husband, Idris, Albina, and Isidore. "Let us all go home," she said commandingly as she stood up and began walking. Dianna was already a few steps away when she realized her husband and the rest of their family hadn't moved an inch, so she looked back at them and said, "Get all your asses up before I lose my patience," in a cold and dangerous voice. 

Kaagad naman na tumayo ang mag-asawang Idris at Albina at nagsimula ng lumakad. Ramdam na ramdam ng mag-inang Danley at Aurora ang napakatalim na tingin ng mag-asawang Leventis nang lampasan sila nito upang sundan ang kanilang ina.

Dianna Leventis seems to have her fingers wrapped around her husband and the rest of the Leventis family.

Sunod na tumayo ay si Irnes Leventis. But before walking away, he looked at Danley first and said, "This conversation is not yet over, Ms.Palmer."

This old man is not really giving up, huh?

"So this is how this will end? What a disappointment." Kaagad na nabaling ang atensyon ni Danley kay Isidore nang marinig niya ang sinabi nito. "I thought this would last a little longer. Ah, what a let down. Just when things were getting interesting." Isidore began walking but stopped when he was beside Danley. He then said, "Well, this is fun and I want to experience it again, so as my old grandfather said, this is not yet over, Ms.Palmer. I can't wait for what more entertainment you will be providing me." He then resumed his walk until he finally exited the Palmer's home, where the rest of his family was waiting.

Napatingin na lamang si Danley sa pintuan ng kanilang bahay na siyang dinaanan ni Isidore. "What a weirdo." She commented.