Chapter 2

“You can’t let the company go away from your father, Liza. We need to find a way!” Paulina said with concern. She had just calmed down after the incident with her husband, and they were discussing their eldest child, who was the reason behind her husband’s attack. They were sitting in the small living room of Fernan’s room.

“That’s what I thought, Mama,” Liza replied, looking at her father. “Dad won’t be able to handle that. I just can’t believe that Godfather did that.”

Paulina sighed. “Ninong Fidel has been jealous of your father since a long time ago. I wasn’t surprised that he betrayed us.”

“After what we did to him? This is what he’ll do for revenge? I swear I will find him and make him pay!”

“But the company, Liza. We can’t neglect it. It’s our only hope.”

Liza sighed. Her mother was right. While she had many connections through her modeling career, she was just starting in acting. And that wouldn’t be enough to support them or revive their company. They lost more than ten billion in their company. If they couldn’t recover it soon, they wouldn’t be able to pay their employees. Not to mention the shareholders who relied on their dividends.

“Didn’t you have an agreement with someone your dad knew before?”

Liza paused at Paulina’s question. “Who?” she asked.

Paulina thought for a moment. “The child of the Gomezes.”

The Gomez family. They were the most prominent family in the country. Not only known in the country but also in other countries. They had many businesses and were also partners with the Sarmientos. The Gomezes had two children as well. As business partners, the elderly Gomez decided to arrange a marriage between their eldest and Fernan’s child, as they were also close friends and grew up together. But it never materialized because Paulina didn’t want her daughter to marry. She refused because of rumors that the Gomez’s eldest child was cursed in marriage. The reason? Nobody knew.

“Mama, no!” Liza protested immediately.

Paulina let out a sigh. She knew her daughter would refuse. Just as she wouldn’t want Liza to marry a man with a curse.

“But what can we do? They’re the only ones who can help us now.”

“You know that I can’t marry that man! I don’t want to die, you know?”

“I know what to do. When is your useless brother coming back?”

“I don’t know, Mom. And I don’t care. He smelled so bad earlier. And no matter how much he cleans up, it won’t go away. She stinks too much–” Liza stopped. “Wait. Don’t tell me...”

Paulina smiled and nodded at her daughter. “Yes,” she replied before Liza could even ask. Liza burst into laughter and nodded vigorously. “Now call her and tell her to come back. I’ll contact the Gomezes.”

Paulina immediately called the Gomezes and asked for their help with their company. In return, they agreed to fulfill Don Manuel Gomez’s wish. To marry their eldest children. Don Manuel quickly agreed and even rushed to visit Fernan that day.

Meanwhile, Liza immediately called Lirah to come back to the hospital, which the latter promptly followed.

Wearing her yellow floral dress, Lirah quickly went to the hospital. In fact, she had been ready to leave earlier. She was just worried that her mother and sister might get angry if she came back immediately. Fortunately, her older sister called her.

“Mama. Ate. How’s Papa?” Lirah asked as soon as she entered the room, placing the bouquet of flowers she brought on the table near her father and going to his side.

Paulina’s face immediately lit up upon seeing the young woman. No matter what Paulina did, she couldn’t make her youngest daughter like her. Lirah was often scolded by her. So it was strange for Paulina when she smiled.

“Papa... I feel so sorry for you,” Lirah said sadly, stroking the back of Fernan’s hand. “Pa, wake up, please.” Lirah’s tears began to fall. It seemed like just this morning she was happily talking to her father. They were planning to expand the hacienda. They had just purchased the neighboring lands, and Lirah was excited. But it was all replaced with intense sadness because her father was now lying motionless.

“Lirah, come here,” Liza called her sister, sitting on the only chair beside their mother.

Lirah looked at her sister and approached them, sitting on the long sofa.

“Why?” she asked politely.

Paulina took a deep breath, trying to soften her expression as she looked at her youngest child.

“Lirah, my dear. I have something to tell you.”

Lirah’s heart squeezed when she heard Paulina’s soft call. She had never heard her mother speak like that to her. More often than not, her mother would just shout at her. So it was strange when she smiled at her mother.

“What is it, Mama?”

“Do you love this family?”

Lirah furrowed her brows. “O-Of course, Mama.”

“Are you willing to do anything for our family?”

“Yes, Mama,” Lirah replied again, feeling confused with her mother’s questions. Her excitement was replaced with a strange nervousness.

“You heard what George had told us earlier, right?” Liza added.

Lirah looked at her sister and nodded. “Yes, Ate. The company was stolen, and it’s in danger of being lost. Dad would be devastated if that happens.”

“Good. Do you know how your father will feel, right?” Paulina said. “We need your help, Lirah.”

Lirah’s heart suddenly pounded. In her entire life, she felt useless to them. And now her family needed her help? She gladly obliged!

“What is it, Mama? Anything. I’ll help. For Papa. For the company. For us,” Lirah eagerly said.

Paulina smiled broadly, as did Liza. They exchanged glances before responding to Lirah.

“You need to marry Ninong Manuel’s eldest child.”

Lirah was stunned. “What?”