Chapter 3

The Woman He Lost

“Isabel?”

Halos hindi makapaniwala si Alexander sa kanyang nakikita. Apat na taon na ang nakalipas mula nang huli niyang makita ang dating asawa, pero walang duda sa kanyang isipan. Si Isabel nga iyon.

Ang babaeng minsan niyang itinuring na walang ibang kayang gawin kundi ang maghintay sa kanya ay nakatayo ngayon sa harap ng daan-daang kilalang business leaders bilang tagapagmana ng Madrigal empire.

“Alex? What's wrong?” tanong ni Chloe nang mapansin ang pagtitig nito sa babaeng paakyat sa entablado.

Hindi ito sumagot.

Sinundan ni Chloe ang direksyon ng kanyang tingin. Ilang segundo niyang pinagmasdan ang babaeng nakatayo sa ilalim ng spotlight. 

Napakunot ang noo niya. “Who’s that?”

Lalo siyang napatingin sa babae. Nanlaki ang kanyang mga mata nang tuluyan niya itong makilala.

“What the heck? Is that Isabel?”

 Napatingin siya kay Alexander. “But what is she doing here?”

“She's the newly appointed chairwoman of Madrigal Global Holdings,” sagot nito.

Biglang napalingon si Chloe.

“Wait. What?”

“She's Don Rafael Madrigal's granddaughter. The rightful heir.”

Napanganga si Chloe.

“Are you serious?”

Hindi na sumagot si Alexander. Nakatutok pa rin ang kanyang mga mata kay Isabel.

Sa entablado, magiliw na tinanggap ni Isabel ang palakpakan ng mga bisita.

“Thank you for welcoming me tonight. For the past few years, I have learned that leadership is not simply about wealth, position, or influence. It is about responsibility, integrity, and the courage to make decisions that create lasting value.”

Sandali siyang huminto at pinagmasdan ang mga taong naroroon.

“The Madrigal legacy is not built on money alone. It is built on trust, hard work, and the vision of generations who believed that success should also create opportunities for others. And I am honored to continue that legacy.”

Muling umalingawngaw ang palakpakan sa buong ballroom samantalang tahimik lamang niyang pinagmamasdan si Isabel.

Who is this woman?

Hindi niya maikonekta ang eleganteng businesswoman sa babaeng minsang umiyak sa harap niya, humihingi ng kahit kaunting atensyon at pagmamahal.

Ang Isabel na nakilala niya ay mahiyain, tahimik, at laging naghihintay sa kanyang pag-uwi. Pero ibang-iba na ang babaeng nasa harapan niya ngayon. She carried herself with confidence, as if she no longer needed anyone's approval.

At higit sa lahat, hindi man lang ito tumingin sa kanyang direksyon.

…

Pagkatapos ng formal presentation, nagsimula na ang networking at cocktails. Isa-isang lumapit ang mga business executives kay Isabel upang batiin at makilala siya.

“Congratulations, Miss Madrigal,” bati ng isang matandang negosyante. “Your grandfather must be very proud of you.”

“Thank you, Mr. Villanueva. I still have a lot to learn, but I'm looking forward to working with everyone.”

Nakatayo sa tabi niya si Manuel, ang matagal nang personal assistant ng kanilang pamilya, na maingat na nag-aasikaso sa kanyang schedule.

“Miss, the representatives from Sterling Holdings would like to meet you,” bulong nito.

“Please ask them to wait for a few minutes, Manuel. I'll finish this conversation first.”

“Yes, Miss.”

…

Hindi kalayuan sa kanila, hindi pa rin maalis ni Alexander ang tingin kay Isabel.

“Why don't you go and talk to her?” tanong ni Chloe.

“Are you sure that's a good idea?” Napatingin siya kay Chloe.

“Why wouldn't it be? In fact, you’ve been waiting for this moment para pumasok sa Madrigal Global Holdings. It’s purely business, right?”

Hindi sumagot si Alexander. Tama si Chloe, matagal na niyang inaantay ang pagkakataong ito na makapasok sa Mardrigal Global Holdings para iligtas ang kanyang company na nanganganib.

Pero bago pa siya makalapit kay Isabel, may dalawang pamilyar na taong biglang dumating sa ballroom.

Sina Victoria at Marcus Montenegro.

Late silang dumating dahil sa isang private dinner meeting at hindi nila naabutan ang pagpapakilala sa bagong chairwoman ng Madrigal Global Holdings.

“Alexander!” tawag ni Victoria nang makita ang anak.

“Good evening, Ma.”

“I heard the Madrigals have finally introduced their new chairwoman. Where is she? I'd like to meet her. It might be a good opportunity for our company.”

“She’s over there,” sagot ni Alexander habang itinuturo ang kabilang bahagi ng ballroom.

Sinundan ni Victoria ang kanyang tingin.

“Who is that woman?”

Napatingin din si Marcus.

“Isabel,” mahinang sagot ni Alexander.

Agad na kumunot ang noo ni Victoria.

“Isabel? Your ex-wife?”

Bago pa makapagsalita si Alexander, mabilis na naglakad si Victoria papunta sa kinaroroonan ng dating manugang.

…

“Isabel!”

Napalingon si Isabel nang marinig ang pamilyar na boses.

Nakita niya si Victoria na papalapit kasama si Marcus.

Agad niya silang nakilala, pero hindi nagbago ang kanyang ekspresyon. Bahagya lamang siyang ngumiti bilang paggalang.

“Good evening, Mrs. Montenegro.”

Huminto si Victoria sa harap niya at tiningnan siya mula ulo hanggang paa.

“Well, well. Look who's here.”

Hindi sumagot si Isabel.

“Hindi ko akalaing magkikita pa tayo rito. What are you doing here?”

“I'm attending the event, Mrs. Montenegro. Just like everyone else.”

Napairap si Victoria.

“Don't be clever with me. Sino na naman ang nabiktima mo para makapasok ka rito?”

Napalingon ang ilang bisitang malapit sa kanila.

“Victoria, let's not make a scene,” mahinang saway ni Marcus.

Pero hindi ito pinansin ng babae.

“Tell me, what is someone like you doing at an event attended by business leaders and wealthy people? Did you find another rich man to support your lifestyle?”

Huminga ng malalim si Isabel.

“I'm afraid you have mistaken me for someone else, Mrs. Montenegro.”

“Oh, please! I know exactly who you are. Don't pretend to be someone important just because you're wearing an expensive dress.”

Nanatiling kalmado si Isabel. “Are you finished?”

Lalong namula ang mukha ni Victoria. “How dare you speak to me that way!”

“I'm simply asking because I have other people to attend to.”

“Ma!”

Isang matatag na boses ang pumigil sa kanya.

Napalingon ang lahat.

Nasa likuran na nila si Alexander.

“That's enough, Ma.”

Nagulat si Victoria.

“Alexander? Why are you interfering?”

“Because you're embarrassing yourself.”

“I'm embarrassing myself? She's the one who—”

“Do you even know who you're talking to?”

Napakunot ang noo ni Victoria.

“What are you talking about?”

Huminga ng malalim si Alexander bago tumingin sa ina.

“She's Isabel Madrigal. The newly appointed chairwoman of Madrigal Global Holdings. She's Don Rafael Madrigal's granddaughter.”

Ilang segundo ring hindi nakapagsalita si Victoria.

“What?”

Napatitig si Marcus kay Isabel.

“Is that true?”

Bago pa makasagot si Alexander, lumapit si Manuel.

“Of course, Mr. Montenegro. Miss Madrigal is the rightful heir of the Madrigal family. I would appreciate it if you exercised more caution when speaking about her.”

Lalong namutla si Victoria.

Hindi niya akalaing ang babaeng minamaliit niya noon ay tagapagmana pala ng isa sa pinakamalalaking business empires sa bansa.

“That's impossible,” bulong nito.

Bahagyang ngumiti si Isabel.

“There's nothing impossible about it, Mrs. Montenegro.”

“Miss, shall I call our legal counsel?” mahinang tanong ni Manuel.

Tumango si Isabel.

“Yes, Manuel. Please coordinate with Atty. Reyes. I want all the defamatory statements made against me tonight properly documented. Let him assess the appropriate legal action against those responsible.”

“Understood, Miss.”

Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Victoria.

“What? You're going to sue us?”

Dahan-dahang humarap si Isabel.

“Mrs. Montenegro, you've repeatedly insulted and publicly humiliated me. Tonight, you accused me of deceiving wealthy men and questioned my presence at an event where I am an invited guest. I believe those statements deserve proper legal attention.”

“But we—”

“I'm no longer the woman you used to bully.”

Malamig ngunit malinaw ang bawat salitang binitiwan niya.

“And I will no longer tolerate it.”

Lumapit si Alexander.

“Isabel, can we talk?”

Hindi man lang siya nilingon ng babae.

“Miss, your next appointment is waiting,” paalala ni Manuel.

“Thank you. Let's go.”

“Isabel, wait!”

Sinubukan ni Alexander na lumapit, pero nagpatuloy lamang sa paglalakad ang babae.

“Please. Just give me a few minutes.”

Sa wakas ay huminto si Isabel.

“There's nothing to discuss, Mr. Montenegro.”

“Isabel, I—”

“Four years ago, I wanted nothing more than for you to listen to me. I wanted you to defend me, to believe me, and to treat me with respect. But you made your choice.”

Natahimik si Alexander.

“Now, I've made mine. I suggest you respect it.”

“Can we at least—”

“Good evening, Mr. Montenegro.”

Hindi na niya hinintay ang magiging sagot nito. Muli siyang tumalikod at nagpatuloy sa paglalakad.