Chapter 1

"This is unacceptable! How did this happen?!" angrily asked Don Fernan Sarmiento. He stood up from his chair and slammed the table hard. He was the owner of the most renowned shipping company in the entire country. He had just received news that his trusted vice president had flown to another country with a large sum of money from their company.

Everyone in the room fell silent and immediately turned their heads. They couldn't meet the intense gaze of the furious gentleman. They were in the middle of a meeting when an executive of the company suddenly entered to deliver the news.

"W-We learned that he created a g-ghost company abroad. He sends the funds he acquires from the company there. H-He used fake accounts--"

"Shut up!" Don Fernan interrupted. He threw the folders in front of him. He took deep breaths and tried to calm himself. He held his chest and sat back down. "Get out," he said softly.

The board members exchanged glances and hesitated to move immediately. But when Don Fernan gave them a menacing look, they quickly made their way out of the room. That's when Donya Paulina Sarmiento, Don Fernan's wife, entered the scene. She noticed her husband struggling to catch his breath in his chair.

"Fernan!" Paulina hurriedly approached Fernan. When she saw him pale, she quickly grabbed some water and prepared to give it to him. But Fernan let out a loud groan. "My God! Please help us! Don!" Paulina screamed, tears streaming down her face, as she embraced her husband who had a heart attack.

A group of men entered the room. They were Fernan's men. They helped carry Fernan to the hospital.

Paulina prayed fervently while they were in the hospital, waiting for the doctor currently operating on Fernan. He had suffered a heart attack due to intense emotions. Fortunately, he was immediately rushed to the hospital. Their eldest daughter arrived at the hospital shortly after to find out what had happened to her father.

"What happened to Papa, Mama?" Liza, their eldest daughter, asked anxiously. At twenty-five years old, she was already a famous model. Just by her posture, many admired her. It was undeniable that Sarmiento's eldest daughter was a beautiful woman.

"I don't know yet, Liza. I just saw him having an attack in their meeting room."

Liza sighed and hugged her mother, who was crying uncontrollably. "Don't worry, Mama. Papa is a strong man."

"He better be. I don't know what I'll do if your father is gone."

"Papa! Where's Papa? What happened to Papa?" Lirah, their youngest daughter, rushed in, panting. Unlike Liza, Lirah was a quiet child of Paulina and Fernan. She didn't like mingling with people. She preferred spending time with her plants and the animals she took care of. But among their siblings, Lirah was the one who appreciated beauty the most. She may not enjoy dressing up like her sister, but she had a keen eye for it.

Liza arched an eyebrow and faced her sister. "Why are you here just now, Lirah? And what is that smell? Did you even wash yourself before coming here?" she asked disdainfully. She even covered her nose due to the unpleasant odor coming from Lirah.

Lirah paused. "I'm sorry, sis. Chuchay just gave birth."

Liza rolled her eyes. She was about to say something but the door to the operating room opened, and the doctor came out. He immediately informed them that the operation had been.

However, Fernan was currently in a coma, so they couldn't say for certain that he was safe yet.

"Oh my God, Fernan!" Paulina cried.

"We're preparing Don Fernan's room now."

"Alright, doc. Thank you."

"Liza, what should we do? Your papa! I can't lose your papa!"

"D-Don't worry, Mama. We will make sure that he will recover."

Lirah bowed her head and quietly cried. She couldn't contain the overwhelming worry she felt for her father. She couldn't bear any harm coming to him.

Don Fernan was taken to his private room. Paulina felt even more pity and anxiety when she saw the state of her beloved husband. She lost count of how many machines were attached to his body. The sound of a machine monitoring his heartbeat was deafening. It felt like each beat of his heart was also quickening her own heartbeat.

The siblings decided not to enter the room yet and spoke to Don Fernan's secretary to find out what had happened.

"A large amount was lost from your company, Miss Liza. And it will be difficult to recover it until you catch the thief," said George.

"That's probably why Papa had a heart attack," Lirah said sadly. She bowed her head and bit her lip. She felt deep sympathy for her father. He loved their company dearly.

"What is the board doing about it? Have they caught him?"

"Sadly, no. But we have filed a case, and we have also reported it to the National Bureau of Investigation. But you need to think of something to fill the gap in your company. Otherwise, it might be lost."

Liza exhaled heavily. She nodded. As the eldest, she knew she had to temporarily take her father's place. She was also sure that her mother wouldn't be able to stand as the company's chairman because she was deeply hurt by what happened to their father.

"Okay, George. Thank you very much."

George nodded at them and took his leave.

"Now, what are we going to do, sis?"

Liza raised an eyebrow and faced her sister. "What are we going to do? You. Go home first and clean yourself up. You don't know anything about running a business because you're too busy with your pets!"

Lirah froze. With teary eyes, she looked at her older sister. Unbeknownst to many, Liza and Paulina didn't treat Lirah well. They treated her as if she wasn't their own family. Lirah couldn't understand why, despite her efforts to be a good daughter and sister. Her only ally in their home was her father. That's why she was crying so much out of excessive worry.

"I-I just wanted to help, sis."

"Then go home! You stink, Lirah. Do you want Mama to have an attack because of your smell?"

Lirah bowed her head and finally burst into tears. She quietly nodded and turned away from her sister. She peeked at her father through the door of his room.

"Dad, I'll come back. Please, wake up."

"Lirah! What else are you waiting for?" Liza asked irritably.

Lirah didn't respond and walked away from the room. She wanted to go in and watch over her father, but her current smell wasn't pleasant at all. Everyone she encountered avoided her. All Lirah wished for was her father's speedy recovery.